Audi alteram partem

Reisi Munakata from 「K」 affiliated with Toshi City

[aisarenai]

敬

[knightlyideal]

One of the pastimes that she had adopted since her arrival in the city was one that occupied the breaks between her more rigorous scheduling. Namely, she took the gourmet spirit that her time in Japan had cultivated and put it to proper use in sampling the many offerings of the city’s cafés and eateries. She had yet to find a single establishment without its merits, a fact to which she had no objections.

A modest order from her latest candidate had occupied much of her attention, causing her to take no notice of the phantasmal weight of a gaze across the tables.

That preoccupation notwithstanding, it was not so deep a focus that it could not be directed to the man who was certainly a stranger, despite addressing her by name.

❝I am.❞ The words came without hesitation, even in the wake of her clear confusion. Her knowledge was by no means categorical, but she had not seen him before at the offices. Had she already gained notoriety among the general populace in such a short time? ❝Do you have need of our assistance?❞

[lawfulblue]

The moment the blonde woman turned to look at him, he scolded himself and realized that he had been too deep in his thoughts to realize that he was interrupting the young woman's meal. With a slight grimace, he clasped his hands behind his back and pushed down the slight uncomfortable feeling in his chest. He was already there, so...

"Oh, no, not at all," he assured, pushing that grimace off of his face. "I apologize for interrupting your luncheon, but I simply must inquire about the state of which the Force is operating..."

For a moment, he was oblivious to the fact that, aside from him knowing her name, they had never actually formally met. When it dawned upon him, he chuckled deep in his throat and grinned slightly.

"I am Munakata Reisi. You see, I co-founded the TCDF with Kudou-kun, but I retired and left the city for a year."

[lawfulblue]

Libraries...|| Munakata & Konata

[shiftless-shorty-blog]

"Damn." She thought to herself, looking around at the manga in front of her.      “Sure, they got good titles but….they’re just for renting!” She continued to think quietly to herself.       ”Not only that…..but when you’re in a library with manga, dont’cha feel like you gotta read it all while you’re there? Like, why go to the library to rent one manga; you’d have to rent the whole series for it to be worth it, but then there’s the sad dissatisfaction of not owning it! Plus I’ve already read most of these…” She thought to herself with a sigh. 

She blinked though, feeling a presence nearby before turning to look at the dark haired man not far from her now. “Huh.” She muttered to herself at first, realizing she had been caught in her own world and thoughts if she hadn’t noticed this guy coming before he was already that close. 

"Oh, hey, am I in your way, or…" She muttered as she stood up all the way to face him, head tilting way up to look at him. Man, this guy was tall. At that height she figured she probably looked even more like a middle schooler than to the average person. Tall guy with glasses….. She thought to herself. Wonder if he’ll do or say something the typical tall good looking guy with glasses would say. 

[lawfulblue]

When he'd realized that he'd disturbed the thoughts of the young lady a row down from his inspections, Munakata's eyes flickered to her and he seemed to be slightly taken by surprise at her words. "Oh, no, please do excuse me. Although, if you do have any questions, I would be happy to answer them for you."

Just as the girl thought, Munakata mistook her for younger than she was. At first he wondered if this student's parent was the woman he saw earlier, but then he recalled a certain male who was actually the headmaster of the Academy at one time and retracted his silent assumption.

Come to think of it, there was a smaller male from Shizume who was also much older than anyone initially assumed of him...

Returning to the present, Munakata finally reached the manga section as he milled about and took mental notes on enhancements the library could use. If this patron was in the manga section, perhaps she might have interest in it, or even better, some comments or advice for how he could make it better. Clearing his throat softly, he smiled down at the student, gesturing slightly to the books before her.

"I apologize for interrupting you once again," he started with a genuine tone, "But would you happen to know much about manga? Unfortunately, I haven't much knowledge of it and am currently considering expanding this section. Would you have any recommendations?"

[arthwyr]

Arthur was a bit weak to situations like this. He could hold grudge upon grudge when he wanted to, but the moment he was presented with something comfortable and warm, he latched onto it.

Which was probably why Reisi’s offer, instead of making his stomach flutter with nerves, makes it flutter with a bit of hope as well.

"I would like that very much," he answers, working so very hard to speak without rushing. He was a bit of an open book, but in this instance it might be useful.

After all, he wants to believe that had Munakata really wished, he could have left without making a single offer.

[lawfulblue]

Relief. At hearing Arthur's response, at feeling the atmosphere deflate slightly, at the thought of spending quality time with Arthur for the first time in a year. Munakata's chest settled and he felt less like a rock and more like a feather.

Apparently, he thinks to himself, I am still very much in love with this man.

He'd never questioned it.

"Well, then... 行きましょうか?"

[lawfulblue]

Although he isn't entirely sure why he feels this way, and it does pose as sort of an annoyance to him, Munakata feels a vague sense of responsibility for the Defense Force of Toshi City...

Again, unprecedented and irritating.

This in mind, he knows that he should mind his own business. There is nothing for him at the Force. He has retired from police work. That's that. But he can't help but find himself staring at the blonde woman across the way, thinking about how he'd like to hear what has been happening at the HQ.

Munakata has never met the woman personally, but his own detective work that Kudou-kun would certainly not be pleased by produced the knowledge that she was affiliated with the Force.

After a while, his apprehension is unbearable and he confidently stands from his seat and crosses the space between his abandoned table and the one the blonde is sitting as. Might as well ask, he convinces himself. Get it over with and move on...

Onto more important issues...

"Pardon me, miss?" he starts, nodding his head politely to the woman when he stops by her table. "Would you happen to be Arturia Pendragon of the Toshi City Defense Force?"

[arthwyr]

"Something tells me you are not very sorry over this fact," chuckles the Briton lowly. Certain quirks of Munakata had become relatively well-known to Arthur.

The ease of conversation was returning quicker than he’d expected, and he liked it.

"I….no, I wasn’t particularly, to be honest with you…"

[lawfulblue]

"You caught me," he chimes, smiling easily. It feels less tense and unfamiliar on his face, now. Being with Arthur after so long, despite the circumstances...

Munakata quirks a brow at Arthur's response and tilts his head thoughtfully, bringing his fingers to his chin.

"Is that so?" he muses. "Since it's been so long and I haven't anywhere to be myself, would you care to sit down for tea?"

He's far too hopeful, he thinks to himself. The truth of the matter hangs over his head like a blade hanging by a horsehair...

[arthwyr]

"I’m afraid you have, love."

The name rolled off his tongue without a thought, and while Arthur startled himself a little with it, he didn’t take it back.

Its naturalness would be taken as a good sign.

[lawfulblue]

"What a pity..." He huffs, very quietly, as if he hadn't at all in the first place. Just a facade, of course. What isn't a facade with him?

But he's in good spirits upon hearing that pet name. It...really has been a while.

"Ah-- sou, I should let you go. You weren't in a hurry, were you?"

[lawfulblue]

[ I'm procrastinating on starters.... I'll do them today! ]

[arthwyr]

"For some reason, I’m not surprised to hear you say that…"

It’s a half tease, but even so it’s difficult to smile for longer than a moment. Perhaps he has an inkling of something like those letters.

(For he tried to write a dozen times over, too.)

[lawfulblue]

"Have I really become so predictable?"

Even if it's for a split second, Reisi can't help but feel a little hopeful at that smile. If it was a put-on or if the grimace he spied was genuine: he didn't care.

It was enough.

[arthwyr]

At least there’s that.

"…and why is that, Reisi?"

[lawfulblue]

"Everything will be alright."

Such optimism for a man who has a drawer full of papers covered in marked-out failed letters of apology.

[arthwyr]

At least they were mutually agreed on that one.

"Yes… It has taken some time to get it clean again…" 

Arthur wonders vaguely if he’s ever mentioned how much he detests small talk.

[lawfulblue]

He has.

"...There is no need to look so downtrodden."

[arthwyr]

"…it was… it went well." Vaguely. Not really. "But… I actually moved back, Reisi."

Perhaps the clambering back and forth down the hall had gone unnoticed.

[lawfulblue]

"Hoh... Is that so?" He knows exactly where that expression comes from.

He doesn't like it.

"Well, that's fantastic, isn't it? Your tea shoppe has probably been long awaiting you."

[arthwyr]

"…Yes… it has been." 

Would it be foolish to admit he had momentarily forgotten the time that has passed?

[lawfulblue]

"Did you enjoy going back home? Hoh, could it be that you have returned to visit?"

For once, Munakata dances around the subject.

[arthwyr]

"Reisi…!" 

Oh, no, there was that little brightening of the eye.

[lawfulblue]

Cue a plain smile.

"It has been a long time, hasn't it...?"

[lawfulblue]

arthwyr replied to your post:

{ my gay heart is in pain }

[arthwyr]

Hm…!

[lawfulblue]

"...Arthur!"

[lawfulblue]

heiseihomo liked your post:

Hmm…

[shitnichi]

#[ a wild incompetent ex-coworker appears ]

[lawfulblue]

#you got beef with me?

Enough to fill a deli.