Sheepish laughter rang against the melody of the rain which fell
to the earth; fingers which felt like ICE from the cold, rubbed at the
back of her neck carefully. “Oh no, I’m not really skilled in the
slightest, I just had to learn to cook at a young age is all.” The
student’s lips twitched; remembering the DARKER times of those
years and how she fended for herself food wise.
What a COINCIDENCE that the nickname she had bestowed was
a part of his name; strange as it may sound, she did rather wish
that her name had a ‘special’ or joined meaning when it came to
her own nae. “I-Isana-san, alright, I’ll remember that, ah, right
I ALMOST forgot; my name’s Ashley.” See, not so much impact
as his own; but still it was at least better than NO NAME.
❝ Ah, is that so---- ?
But...I think that's still very impressive... !! ❞
He speaks in softened tones, gentle notes that are almost
lost in the continuous, steady fall of rain----words without
time to linger, phrases that flit away as though gravity were
not enough to hold them down. It's imbued with a certain
friendliness, a warmth that emanates from the kindness
of the heart----and yet, wary, tentative. Somehow always
held back, there's a slight distance kept at constant----barely
there, but existing nonetheless.
There's a pause, a second of comprehension, and his
response is released haltingly, yet barely touching upon
hesitation. Broken apart between words, separated by
spaces that -- despite empty, devoid of the energy of a
spoken reply -- still feel as though they carry weight, a
faint lightness. It blooms in cheerful, almost eager clarification,
and he punctuates this query with a childish tilt of the head.
❝ Ooh...okay ~ !! Then---- Ashley-chan, right-- ? ❞