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Then I'll be nice and keep the spice levels low.

I can be ready in a few minutes if you want to go now.

[grakraka]

My mouth thanks you profusely. You can experiment any other day, I promise.
But that would be wonderful. In that case, I'll be waiting outside.

[Which he does indeed do, reading a book in the meantime since unsurprisingly he was ready to go at that moment.]

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[ He doesn't bother sending a confirmation, already moving to get ready to leave the house, and it indeed only takes a few minutes for Akira to join Akechi outside (the benefits of being next door neighbors). Despite having to adapt to the clothes of their new world, he still has the schoolbag tucked over his shoulder, a habitual piece of home he refuses to part with. ]

What are you reading?

[ It comes in lieu of an actual greeting. When Akira peers over at the book, it may be obvious that his ears have grown slightly longer, the fur a bit thicker. ]

[grakraka]

[Akechi glances up with a smile, quickly taking in those details. He wishes he had at least his clothes from home. Oh well.]

A pulp novel I picked up about some rich family and their inheritance drama. It's completely over-the-top and ridiculous.

[He sounds cheerful about that, so it doesn't seem to think it's a mark against it.]

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Sounds entertaining. [ Kind of like a daytime drama or something. There aren't exactly any TV shows or movies around here, though, and Akira misses reading, so: ] Lend it to me once you're done with it?

[ He starts moving as he speaks, stepping onto the street and making to exit the Haven. ]

[grakraka]

[So Akira too is a man of culture. It occurs to him he doesn't know what his tastes are, so he should find that out. Akechi closes the book and tucks it into a small, simple bag he carries with him as they walk.]

Of course. If you like those kinds, I've been buying them when I can. I need something to read and frankly they really are entertaining. I enjoy melodrama. It's kind of fun to watch fictional lives becoming increasingly complicated.

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[ It's less that he's a man of culture and a lot more that he'll read whatever's put in front of him. Books, magazines, the preparation instructions on food packages—Akira really isn't picky. Then again, he isn't when it comes to most things. ]

As opposed to ours, right? [ Because his really has gone off the rails this past month. It would be kind of comforting to read about some fictional drama. ] What kinds of things are happening in it?

[grakraka]

[A brief grin flashes over his face. There is a bastard child in this, so maybe it isn't that different, but he doesn't comment on that aspect.]

Right now, the youngest sister is trying to position her son to be heir of the fortune but doesn't know he is planning to marry a young servant girl and disown the family. Meanwhile, the eldest son is in some shady black market deals involving magical item peddling and has gotten into trouble by encroaching on another family's business. A servant is also planning to blackmail the head of the family with another servant, who she doesn't know is her brother. I'm not sure why that part is being hidden yet.

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[ It's every bit as convoluted as Akechi said, which brings a half-smile to his face. Luckily he's not the type to care about having a story spoiled for him beforehand, although it sounds like this one probably has many more twists and turns than the ones spoken of so far. ]

It sounds like none of them are going to end up getting it in the end.

[grakraka]

In a mystery novel, this would be the precursor to a series of murders. [A pause.] Well, it might still be, but it won't be a book about solving them and they would have started by now if it was.

[Not that he minds that, really.]

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Just from what you've said, I'll be surprised if someone doesn't die before the story is over.

[ It seems they're determined to cash in on any source of drama possible, after all. ]

[grakraka]

I'd be more surprised if they didn't, yes. [But he turns his attention to their mission, if it can be called that.] What ingredients are we looking for, by the way? Leblanc's curry was rather unique in taste.

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[ Akira pauses. He can almost hear the tone of Sojiro's voice at the thought of revealing the secrets of Leblanc's curry, but they're about as far from home as they can get.

He lists off the obvious things, like vegetables and spices, but then there are the less common ones. ]

Apples, honey, red wine... [ Those, he thinks they can find without much trouble. ] And chocolate, yogurt, and steak sauce. But I'm not sure some of those even exist here.

[grakraka]

Wine, apples and honey should be just fine. Chocolate they definitely have. [Says the boy with a sweet-tooth.] Steak sauce, though? Huh. I don't know. I haven't looked for it but you know, it's a fairly simple sauce. Yogurt is also simple if needed...

[He gives a pleased hum.] This is such an interesting recipe. No wonder it has a distinct flavour profile.

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[ He only has a nod for the observation. Akira can make the compromise of sharing the recipe with Akechi, but the story behind it is personal, something that isn't for him.

Instead, he latches onto another point. ]

You know how to make steak sauce?

[grakraka]

[Akechi smiles at him. There isn't much harm in explaining his process here at least.]

I don't cook, so it isn't like that. What do adults like to talk about? You can't subsist off weather alone. But they love food. I mean, everyone likes food but an interest in food, in the history of it, in the composition of it—knowledge of the culture of food marks you as more 'mature', right? Thus adults will hold real conversations with you.

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[ Akechi's explanation makes his mouth press a bit tighter with... something. Sadness isn't the feeling, but it's close to that, hearing the implication that he built the interest with the goal of being acknowledged as an adult.

It does make him curious, though. ]

Is that why you came to Leblanc the first time?

[grakraka]

[He didn't expect that question and hesitates before deciding to say something that is at least partially the truth.]

No no, that wasn't it. I didn't feel comfortable anywhere at the time, so I picked somewhere that wouldn't be crowded. Sae-san said it was a small, slow place.

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[ It's far too easy to conjure up the mental image of the cafe's interior at Akechi's words, the empty booths and smell of coffee set into everything. Akira shuts his eyes against it, just for a moment. ]

You got what you were looking for. [ And perhaps a bit more, supposing Akechi really didn't know that he was boarding there at that point. ]

[grakraka]

[It earns a soft laugh. He did find a lot in Leblanc. Even during the worst days, somehow being there always felt comfortable. Chatting with Akira or sitting in silence with his coffee, it didn't matter—he couldn't fully relax anywhere but at least he could be himself there. He could just breathe.]

I did. It's a very lovely place.

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Yeah, it is. [ And he misses it so much that it sometimes feels like a physical ache.

Akira's thoughts drift to home, to his friends, and whether time is still moving along there without him. It's been almost a month. If it has, what's happened since then?

But he can't dwell on it for too long; it's already starting to show on his face. Brushing his fingers through his hair, he glances over at Akechi. ]

So just those two things. If it turns out we can't make them, we might be able to find something with a similar taste.

[grakraka]

[While he misses conveniences, he doesn't feel it deeply. There is no one to miss him and no one for him to miss. But he does miss the kind of peace he had in those moments in the cafe. At least he did gain a moment of that here, with the person beside him.

Not that he'll say that. He just smiles when Akira speaks again.]

I know quite a lot of types of substitutes. Food science is actually pretty fascinating. So if you do wind up needing to experiment, leave it to me. I can give you options.

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Thanks. Maybe we'll end up putting our own twist on it.

[ Between Akechi's knowledge and his own, it's bound to taste decent even if they do have to improvise on the ingredients.

The rest of the way to the shopping district is filled with small talk and intermittent silence. The bright colors of the entertainment district give way to the markets, and Akira's steps slow as they come up to the main street, looking for a good place to start. ]

[grakraka]

[He takes a small notebook out of his pocket and flips it open, consulting it.]

Let's see. Why don't we start with the spices? They're going to be the cost the most... followed by the wine, I think. The rest shouldn't be too bad.

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Sounds like a plan.

[ He peers over, somewhat curious about the contents of the notebook, but ultimately Akira ends up scanning down the line of shops until he sees one that looks like it might fit the bill.

With a tip of his head to indicate the shop, he begins to lead the way over. ]