Finally, the food was just about to arrive. In truth, it was rather hard to follow everything that was happening within the restaurant. Asuka had burst out in anger and left, Shingetsu followed her cheer her up, Taibushi appearently paid...for the whole table...and left. The food hadn't even arrived yet. The ones still in the restaurant were Mao, Toko, Seichi, Reiji and Seiji. Damn, that was a mouthful. Through the event however, Toko had been talking with Seichi and a sudden flinch indicated pain, it was subtle but still visible for anyone who would be looking directly at him. He was trying to hide it, that much was obvious. Had Toko not had his eyes on the boy, he would never have noticed. "Should I comment on this?" The thought spiraled around in his mind but Seichi probably had a reason for hiding his pain. No reason was good enough, however. If he was in pain, it would endanger him and in length, his squad.
It was rather hard to get to know everyone when half the table just left and one of the remaining people was hiding his feelings. Reaching his hand out softly, Toko placed it on Seichi's shoulder and offered him a tender, warm smile. "You're right. Of course we should grow together as a team, in both skill and bonds. I hope that further down the line, we'll be able to always be honest with each other and be there for one another." While he meant every word, the young swordsman wanted to make it quite obvious to Seichi that he knew that something was up. He just didn't want to make a big deal out of it. There was no need to ruin Seichi's evening by prodding at things he didn't want to talk about.
Finally the sushi would arrive at the table. It felt like it had taken an eternity, but it was finally there. Twirling the chopstick between his fingers gracefully, Toko grabbed hold of a sushi and put it in his mouth. For any onlookers, it would be quite obvious that Toko had been taught table manners from a young age. With a straight back he chewed with his mouth closed and made sure to express his appreciation of the food. "I sincerely apologize for starting before everyone has come back. I was not able to surpass my hunger..." He shook his head slightly, looking to the entrance of the restaurant as he saw Asuka and Kanon coming back in. Now Shingetsu and Taibushi were left. "I believe we should all thank Taibushi-San for treating us to dinner." The boy would beam with his typical, tender smile as he looked at his teammates, reaching for another sushi on his plate. Toko would also make it quite obvious to Seichi that he genuinely cared for him. Pain in any amount should never be hidden from one's team. It won't help to move the mission along, but would rather endanger it later down the line. "It is quite sweet that we're already taking care of each other, isn't it?" The boy would speak softly, referring to Taibushi treating the group.
As for Mao, had he actually forgotten his wallet or was this another test to make the group grow closer by paying for each other? Toko's family had no shortage of money as it was and he could as well have paid. However, it would be incredibly rude to deny Taibushi his act of kindness by paying for himself.
Looking back at Mao made the boy freeze up for a moment, as if flashes of future events would pass through his mind every time. Back at the academy things were incredibly rough and he managed to pass by the skin of his teeth. Now he was a part of a quad, he was part of a unit whom all would look after one another and always be there for each other. He hoped that Mao would see what Toko could actually do and highlight those skills in both combat and outside of it. He was afraid that Mao would simply discard him shortly after their missions would begin because he failed to see what the young ninja could bring to the table. Moving his eyes back to the sushi on his plate, it was quite obvious that Toko was in deep thought and barely even noticed Asuka and Kanon returning to the table. Luckily, barely was enough for him to break through and managed a soft yet rather fake smile when seeing them. His worries had overcome his thoughts and it was hard to surpass them. "Welcome back Asuka-San, Kanon-San. By the looks of your expressions, I assume you two have mended your bond. I am glad." He would nod, but quickly returned to his previous state of silence and worry once he managed to get those words out.
For someone so good at hiding his external emotions with a smile which was in the absolute majority of cases genuine, he wasn't quite as good at handling these emotions within neither heart nor mind, it would appear. Staring at a single piece of sushi so intently would however make his worries quite obvious. He was smiling at others, but not at the plate, as if no one would see simply because he wasn't looking directly at them. How ironic, he tried to get Seichi to open up about what pained him but Toko himself couldn't possibly bring himself to expressing these worries. He should have, of course. However, he was trying to excuse his inability to express it by proving himself on the field. But then, by that point it could be too late. He felt his hand shaking slightly but he quickly moved his other hand top of it to prevent anyone from seeing, and stopped the shaking. "Why am I so worried about this?" The answer was of course obvious. If he couldn't manage to live up to Mao's expectations, he would bring shame on his clan. That and his father while loving and understanding, would be quite disappointed. Not to mention the fact that Toko had to scrape by to get through the academy simply because they weren't able to let him bloom the way they should have. "I hope...I won't disappoint you, Mao-Sensei..." The words came out as a quiet, melancholy tune, almost a whisper. He was uncertain if Mao could even hear him but expressing that sentence would be enough for now.
It was rather hard to get to know everyone when half the table just left and one of the remaining people was hiding his feelings. Reaching his hand out softly, Toko placed it on Seichi's shoulder and offered him a tender, warm smile. "You're right. Of course we should grow together as a team, in both skill and bonds. I hope that further down the line, we'll be able to always be honest with each other and be there for one another." While he meant every word, the young swordsman wanted to make it quite obvious to Seichi that he knew that something was up. He just didn't want to make a big deal out of it. There was no need to ruin Seichi's evening by prodding at things he didn't want to talk about.
Finally the sushi would arrive at the table. It felt like it had taken an eternity, but it was finally there. Twirling the chopstick between his fingers gracefully, Toko grabbed hold of a sushi and put it in his mouth. For any onlookers, it would be quite obvious that Toko had been taught table manners from a young age. With a straight back he chewed with his mouth closed and made sure to express his appreciation of the food. "I sincerely apologize for starting before everyone has come back. I was not able to surpass my hunger..." He shook his head slightly, looking to the entrance of the restaurant as he saw Asuka and Kanon coming back in. Now Shingetsu and Taibushi were left. "I believe we should all thank Taibushi-San for treating us to dinner." The boy would beam with his typical, tender smile as he looked at his teammates, reaching for another sushi on his plate. Toko would also make it quite obvious to Seichi that he genuinely cared for him. Pain in any amount should never be hidden from one's team. It won't help to move the mission along, but would rather endanger it later down the line. "It is quite sweet that we're already taking care of each other, isn't it?" The boy would speak softly, referring to Taibushi treating the group.
As for Mao, had he actually forgotten his wallet or was this another test to make the group grow closer by paying for each other? Toko's family had no shortage of money as it was and he could as well have paid. However, it would be incredibly rude to deny Taibushi his act of kindness by paying for himself.
Looking back at Mao made the boy freeze up for a moment, as if flashes of future events would pass through his mind every time. Back at the academy things were incredibly rough and he managed to pass by the skin of his teeth. Now he was a part of a quad, he was part of a unit whom all would look after one another and always be there for each other. He hoped that Mao would see what Toko could actually do and highlight those skills in both combat and outside of it. He was afraid that Mao would simply discard him shortly after their missions would begin because he failed to see what the young ninja could bring to the table. Moving his eyes back to the sushi on his plate, it was quite obvious that Toko was in deep thought and barely even noticed Asuka and Kanon returning to the table. Luckily, barely was enough for him to break through and managed a soft yet rather fake smile when seeing them. His worries had overcome his thoughts and it was hard to surpass them. "Welcome back Asuka-San, Kanon-San. By the looks of your expressions, I assume you two have mended your bond. I am glad." He would nod, but quickly returned to his previous state of silence and worry once he managed to get those words out.
For someone so good at hiding his external emotions with a smile which was in the absolute majority of cases genuine, he wasn't quite as good at handling these emotions within neither heart nor mind, it would appear. Staring at a single piece of sushi so intently would however make his worries quite obvious. He was smiling at others, but not at the plate, as if no one would see simply because he wasn't looking directly at them. How ironic, he tried to get Seichi to open up about what pained him but Toko himself couldn't possibly bring himself to expressing these worries. He should have, of course. However, he was trying to excuse his inability to express it by proving himself on the field. But then, by that point it could be too late. He felt his hand shaking slightly but he quickly moved his other hand top of it to prevent anyone from seeing, and stopped the shaking. "Why am I so worried about this?" The answer was of course obvious. If he couldn't manage to live up to Mao's expectations, he would bring shame on his clan. That and his father while loving and understanding, would be quite disappointed. Not to mention the fact that Toko had to scrape by to get through the academy simply because they weren't able to let him bloom the way they should have. "I hope...I won't disappoint you, Mao-Sensei..." The words came out as a quiet, melancholy tune, almost a whisper. He was uncertain if Mao could even hear him but expressing that sentence would be enough for now.
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