It's an interesting change of pace to be sitting before an open fire and roasting fish for dinner. And yet it isn't an uncommon experience for a knight, and it's somewhat nice to see that even Zen has gotten used to this.
Mitsuhide remembers being the one to teach him how to spear the fish to best roast it over the fire and how to hold the stick. And yet, here they are, sitting cross legged and cooking dinner together.
"It's definitely different out here." But the way Zen says it is all warm, without even a hint of wishing to be somewhere else or regret, like a casual comment meant with all the joy one can muster at a moment's notice.
"It is." Mitsuhide smiled, "But familiar."
"That's the best part." Zen replied, "There's no formal stuffiness."
And Mitsuhide laughs, for a moment taken aback by his friend and liege, who sometimes really let it show that being a prince wasn't all fun and games.
"What?" And Zen looks away, to stare up at the trees above their heads, as if adding on that he isn't sure he's happy with it being seen as humorous.
"I don't hear that so often from you, anymore." Mitsuhide shrugged, "And that is a nice part. Really not a comparison that everyone has experienced before."
"I still think about it sometimes." Zen admits without any nonchalance; it's too real what he's went through sometimes, "But I like how it feels to be out here, no rank, just two knights."
Mitsuhide nodded, "And two friends."
And when Zen looks over, it's easy to read the gentle warmth on his face. It's always a pleasant surprise to be able to read him so well and get to witness his genuine enthusiasm. Zen's face is very honest, no matter any attempts to the otherwise that he could have tried if he wanted to.
He's sincere and sincerely trusting and friendly. And it's a quality Mitsuhide has witnessed time and time again from him and yet it still fills him with that awe that reminds him of every admirable quality of Zen's.
"And two friends." Zen repeats back, softly and gently, as if testing the words out and yet he means them so deeply too.