"Once," she said, getting into step alongside him. "With Kuchiki Tsugiharu-san, actually, well.. not to the forest quite, but the lake? I've seen those moths you were talking about though!" she said, a little smile.

"There was some pollen or something, got to sticking to our clothes," she waved a hand, "we had to turn back."

"Well if you want to see the rest and you know Utaku Hyeon-ju-san, she took a video of the trip. You could ask her to show you", he offered and rounded a turn in the path, arriving at a bench.

"Oh!" she exclaimed a little, following him along toward the bench. "You know Utaku Hyeon-ju-san?" she said with a smile, "She's my roommate! She's nice.." she chuckled a little, "in her way, you know?"

"In her way", he agreed. "Not everyone is easy to understand, but making the effort makes us better people, usualy."

As long as everyone fits her tolerance and agrees with her. Sure. She's great. Being a woman probably helps, but that's just a guess on my part, Ichika-san.

"Have a set, huh?" he motioned at the bench and set his bag down. He took out some items. Sake, cups, a small box of wagashi, a few sea food? tuna...ish? Onigiri.

"There's tea also, but we can save it for after a drink or two so we don't overdo it."

"Is-" she twisted her bottom lip a bit. Sitting down on the bench with him. "Are you alright if I just drink the tea, Daigotsu-sama?" she asked, glancing up with a sheepish look and smile.

"Yes", he answered. "If that's what you want, then yes."

Then he sat down.

"Am I hurt, disappointed, crushed, ego cut down by such swift action?"

He poured a drink for himself and downed it.

"Also yes."

Then he put his empty cup down, rested his ankle on his knee, then his elbow on his other knee, his head swiveling on his hand and he smirked.

"But am I offended...? No, silly thing to have expectations, after all."

He poured her some tea, still smiling.

Ichika regarded him a moment, furrowing her brow. She'd placed her hands in her lap as she studied. It took her a little while, but by the time he was pouring the tea she asked, "Why are you hurt, Daigotsu-sama?"

"Well it's bad luck to drink alone, also it sounds like you wouldn't join me, or trust me", he said truthfully. He didn't sound angry, anyway, but his eyes were not meeting hers. "This is just how we do, i guess, somwtimes."

He was quiet for a while, and found a smile.

"I was saving the tea for when you said that you'd had enough, that's all."

"Sorry I.." she shook her head, then dipped it. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Daigotsu-sama. I just.. don't like drinking sake that much," she said, a soft but awkward laugh. "I do it when it's all I've got but.. really, I just prefer tea when I can," she said, looking to him, watching him a little.

"That's an interesting conundrum", he said, suddenly more cheerful. "Do I only bring sake knowing you'll drink but not like it, or do I bring options knowing you won't drink with me..."

He shrugged, then sat down, leanded on his hand, and pointed at her with the other. "And that's exactly w why I brought both, so both would be had. And my preemptive compromise is defeated."

He sighed, leaning back again, the hand that pointed resting on his face. "What shall I do to drink with Doji-san, oh the Fortunes..."

Chuckling a little at the show, watching him for a little while. As she already had her tea poured she brought it up and took a sip while she did so.

"Have you ever played a role in the theater Daigotsu-sama?" she asked, innocently enough with a not-so innocent giggle behind her cup.

"The galaxy under heaven is my stage", he shrugged, letting out a sigh. "I guess I'm always acting, heh."

He didn't say anything else, or touch the bottle, or his.empty cup. He just stared at the night sky through the mushroom caps silently.

Ichika sat with that thought for the moment, watching him as she did.

He was going to let that go, but decided not to.

"Can I ask you some things? Like serious things." he picked up his cup and held it out to her. "But first if you can fill my cup, I'd be honored."

"Oh, oh course, Daigotsu-sama," she said, finding the sake he brought and preparing it. While she prepped the bottle, "What did you have in mind to ask?"

Looking down for the moment, she carefully poured the sake. Setting the bottle aside she took up the cup and even offered it to him with a small smile.

"Well...", he took the cup with a nod of thanks. "I've thought of a few things but...", he cleared his throat, then sipped long and slow. After an appreciative nod he put the cup down and looked at her directly again. "I don't want to offend you, but I feel like I need to ask you about your eye."

He bowed slightly in apology.

"Please."

With the question her smile slowly faded, "O-oh."

Placing her hands into her lap when he took the drink, she started fiddling with her index finger. "W-what do you want to know about my eye, Daigotsu-sama?" she asked, her voice was distant as she looked down.

"Well, I'm curious...I mean...", he scooped up the cup and drank, then laid it in his lap, looking down. He nodded and looked back to her. "I want to hear your story, Doji-san."

"Does-" she shook her head. Focusing a little more on the fiddling with her index finger. Softer, slower motions as she brushed along her finger. Moving onto the next she placed her thumb at the top, pushing it up and down a little as she spoke. "Curious.." she muttered to herself, a little.

For a moment she sat there. Inhaling a little, she exhaled the same. "It- it's a painful memory, Daigotsu-sama."

"No, you are right. Very right", he said with his hands up. "It's a hard thing to ask, and harder to tell, I can only imagine. And my words are horrible", he asserted. "Curious? Yes, but that's not the word to describe it, I don't have just one for it, and they're clawing at my throat, trying to kill me right now."

he looked down at his drink.

"I'm selfish, and a bit whiney about it, but...I care about what your life has given you. The good and the bad. So, I'm still asking."