❝ do you want me to make the others leave? or we could go, get some fresh air. ❞
The Kamisato estate was a lot busier lately.
With the borders open came a lot of changes. It may have been a relatively short amount of time they’d been cut-off from the outside world, but the way the other commissions were acting, you’d think they’d never seen an outlander in their life.
Which apparently meant they all needed to gather somewhere and have discussion after discussion about it. And that place was, for no particular reason, the Yashiro Commission headquarters.
At this point, the others had gotten into the sake and were less-than-professional, though harmless. Ayato wasn’t exactly afraid they’d hurt someone or cause property damage. Still, it was absolutely exhausting.
“…I’d rather have them run out of steam and fall asleep here than in the middle of the trek back to the city,” he said. “Yes, let’s just… step out for a bit.” He doubted Thoma would be missed, and they were still talking like Ayato was right there with them so they wouldn’t notice he was gone.
Between tending to their patrons and finishing up the last of his evening chores--Thoma could feel it; a steady shift in the atmosphere. One he anticipated the moment he handed off a glass tokkuri to another attendant to serve their company. Though initially it was no real cause for concern, the steady increase in noise across the estate gave rise to worry. It was only a matter of time before the ever-vigilant Thoma began to fret. Not over their guests, of course--but the lord commissioner himself.
Much to his relief, it didn't take much convincing to get Ayato to join him under the pavilion where they might find a second of reprieve; a break in the noise he was hopeful the young lord might enjoy...Despite the chill of the nights wind. Thoma held his face to the breeze for a moment, thankful--in a way--to be away from the commotion in the estate.
"You looked like you could use a breather," he said, feeling the corners of his mouth lift as he regarded the commissioner. Delighted though he was to be in the company of a friend, Thoma's concern would not be so easily assuaged; his smile didn’t quite make it to his eyes. "Are you alright? Can I get you anything?"
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