Zeno lets out a content sigh as he finishes the last of his soba.
It's starting to get late and Zeno should decide if he wants to get back to the estate today or tomorrow. If he leaves now then he should be there by a time he could tuck Kiriga and Fumiko to bed. On the other hand, if he decides to go the safe route by sleeping through the night and leave tomorrow morning he would be back after breakfast has already passed.
And Zeno really doesn't want to miss breakfast. Akari makes extremely good food.
Zeno nods to himself sagely as he finally decides to just leave now. He pays for the soba and stands up to start walking away. Gaben stirs from where he was sleeping on a tree branch and flies towards Zeno. The kasugaikarasu lands on Zeno's shoulder and Zeno pets the crow as he nuzzles his beak into Zeno's hair.
A butterfly flies just by his face, then Zeno feels something hit his leg and thump down to the ground. Zeno glances and comes face to face with a child that looks about 5-years-old. It looks like the little guy ran in to him while he was chasing the butterfly. Zeno blinks before crouching down with a bright smile.
"Hello, are you okay kid? You had a little tumble there." Zeno holds a hand to the kid as the child stares at Zeno's hair.
"Crow. Butterfly." The kid says these 2 precise words while pointing first at Zeno's shoulder then to his head. Zeno blinks a little and shifts his offered-up hand to go back and pet Gaben.
"This guy? His name is Gaben, maybe you can pet him if he allows you to. But sorry, Zeno doesn't see any butterflies. One went by earlier but it's probably already gone." Zeno gives the kid a grin which the dark blue haired kid responds to by scowling.
"Butterfly! Head!" Zeno blinks once again this time in confusion. The child's vocabulary is very limited as expected so Zeno has to figure it out the meaning himself.
The child furrows his brows in agitation before trying to swat a hand at Zeno's head.
"Is there something weird about Zeno's head?" He frowns. Trying to rub his hand over his head to find just what is so agitating to the kid but the kid stops Zeno by grabbing the hand.
"Stop! Butterfly rest'in!" And suddenly it feels like a light bulb is switched on in Zeno's head. The butterfly from earlier landed in Zeno's head to rest there. It was so light that Zeno didn't notice it but the kid did.
"Oh! Zeno sees now, thanks little guy. Now let Zeno help you up." This time the kid grabs the offered-up hand and gets to his feet. Zeno grins as he swipes any dust off his haori while getting up.
The kid tugs at the hem of said haori. Zeno understands and grabs the child's hand and starts following while the kid drags him off to probably his parents. The kid contemplates something before opening his mouth to say one word.
"Name?"
"Ah, Zeno's name is Zeno. What's yours little guy?"
"Kouen."
"Mm Kou-kun then, how old are you? You look the same age as the son of a friend of Zeno's."
"6. Zeno?" So Kiriga is the same age as Kouen.
"Ahaha, Zeno's age you ask? Well compared to Kou-kun Zeno is already an old man, an old man for sure. Do you live here with your parents?"
"With Kaa-san. No Tou-san"
"Oh, Zeno is sorry. Are we at your Kaa-san's place soon? How far did you wander Kou-kun?"
"Far." Zeno glances at Kouen who is dragging Zeno towards his home. He looks ahead with extraordinarily pretty green eyes and a head full of blue hair. Zeno's mind is clicking, telling him that this kid looks suspiciously like one of the main three boys.
Isoshiro? Inumaru right? Hashiriko something? The guy who wore a pig head. Why did he wear a pig head again? Zeno focused more on memorizing the strict plot points not the traits of the cast.
The boy stops suddenly staring at the closed door of a small house. Zeno nods off at Kouen, who looks at Zeno before letting go of his hand. Kouen glances at Zeno once again before running towards the door.
Zeno is about to turn around before a small sound stops him. Kouen is looking back at him a hand reached out towards Zeno while the other is halfway to opening the door. The 6-year-old blinks before pursing his lips.
"Will..." Kouen stops again, cheeks taking on a red tint and eyes watering.
"Go on Kou-kun, what is it?" Zeno grins at the kid. A sudden noise comes from the house and then a woman is opening the door. Zeno listens halfheartedly as she rants at Kouen about how worried she was and how he should never wander out at night. She finally stops and notices Zeno before smiling.
"Thank you, you are the one who brought him home right? My name is Tachibana Kotami, that is standard Tachibana and Kotami in 小small 黎dawn if you want to write it." She smiles a gentle smile as she writes the kanji in air. Zeno puts it somewhere in to the back of his mind as he smiles a gentle smile.
"Nice to meet you Kotami-san, this one is named Ouryuu Zeno." Zeno glances at Kouen who is still reaching one hand out to him while the other is now tugging at the hem of his mother's kimono.
"Zeno is afraid it is time for him to leave, Zeno hopes to see you again if Zeno has any business here." He smiles and gives a little bow. This time as he turns around Kouen lets out once again a small sound of distress.
Zeno turns his head back with a tilt, still facing away. Kouen shifts, pretty green eyes shining with moisture.
"Will I see you, Zeno-san, again?"
The darker green eyes of Kotami widen as Kouen speaks. Zeno grins as he turns his head back and starts walking away.
"Maybe, we'll see in time Kou-kun!" Zeno shouts back. He'll have to visit this boy if he comes around here again.