"Your hair is so soft."
"I wouldn't have thought it was something you liked."
She rested her chin in her palm and continued writing. The humid heat that made the windows sweat oppressed the room. It forced her hair to stick to her nape. Her clothes clung against her as if to meld with her skin. Despite it all she continued to sign and stamp down an 'Approved' or 'Declined' mark on each paper. The gentle passes along her hair let her put on a smile. She leaned her head toward Eli's fingers and closed her eyes. Her pen was set down.
"You can braid it a little, if you want. School should be done soon so it won't look suspicious."
"It's a good thing classes are over at this time too."
"After I file these away for tomorrow, do you want to grab a parfait?"
Eli stopped her work and looked up. An unfinished plait was knotted between her fingers. The glow of excitement was frozen on her face.
"The usual place?"
"Where else? Of course."
Nozomi opened her eyes and stared waiting with an air of calm. When she gazed over Eli's face, her mind weighed less. The quiet question pinched her face.
"There won't be another incident will there?"
"I can only promise if someone calls you that word they'll lick the floor."
Eli gasped, blushed, then shyly smiled and looked down. She tucked her hair behind an ear and busied herself with the plait once more.
"You always say that."
"I always mean it."
There came a pause. The sunset poured in through the wet windows to bathe them in orange. The plait was finished.
"Thank you."