01-15-2021, 08:35 PM
While she waited for the food, she slowly and methodically began to tidy the books she had amassed on her table. Much as she might prefer to lose herself in their pages rather than risk further uninvited conversation, she did not wish to spoil them with carelessness. At least the task kept her briefly occupied.
The dish was not long delayed, and arrived with enticing aroma. She was not especially hungry, though she would not be wasteful, and likely Kōta would fall upon anything that might be left. She thanked the server, and asked them to again pass on her gratitude to the General Manager for his recommendation, and for his attentiveness.
Meanwhile, she was aware, of course, of the low hum of conversation about the room. Eido seldom paid overt attention to the things around her, but long years of training bred a purposeful awareness. She did not look up straight away; not until that peripheral awareness felt the weight of attention from another table. Though she’d heard them she had not assumed the words to be for her, and she found the invitation singularly strange. Her gaze skimmed the two men, but did not linger long on either. Her head dipped a greeting, not cold, but not overly receptive either. She was not offended by the offer, but her company was not something to covet. There was no way to explain the reasons for that, though, and she would not be rude to strangers. And perhaps especially not to ones who spoke of honour.
“Thank you for your generosity. I am waiting for someone,” she said. Her voice was low for a woman’s, and soft. She was not curt; if anything she seemed apologetic. “But they are quite late, and they are not expecting food. It was an imposition to sit here without it for as long as I have been waiting, without patronising the establishment.” He was unlikely to take umbrage with such a polite refusal. She imagined his attention would soon divert.
The dish was not long delayed, and arrived with enticing aroma. She was not especially hungry, though she would not be wasteful, and likely Kōta would fall upon anything that might be left. She thanked the server, and asked them to again pass on her gratitude to the General Manager for his recommendation, and for his attentiveness.
Meanwhile, she was aware, of course, of the low hum of conversation about the room. Eido seldom paid overt attention to the things around her, but long years of training bred a purposeful awareness. She did not look up straight away; not until that peripheral awareness felt the weight of attention from another table. Though she’d heard them she had not assumed the words to be for her, and she found the invitation singularly strange. Her gaze skimmed the two men, but did not linger long on either. Her head dipped a greeting, not cold, but not overly receptive either. She was not offended by the offer, but her company was not something to covet. There was no way to explain the reasons for that, though, and she would not be rude to strangers. And perhaps especially not to ones who spoke of honour.
“Thank you for your generosity. I am waiting for someone,” she said. Her voice was low for a woman’s, and soft. She was not curt; if anything she seemed apologetic. “But they are quite late, and they are not expecting food. It was an imposition to sit here without it for as long as I have been waiting, without patronising the establishment.” He was unlikely to take umbrage with such a polite refusal. She imagined his attention would soon divert.
![[Image: cherry-blosson.png]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cherry-blosson.png)