Fate Weaver's convergence

C12

"Kiyomi! Stop covering your face; I need to be able to wash it!"

"No!"

"Kiyomi, come on, don't make this hard."

Hatsumi was pleading to me at this point.

"No, I can wash it myself! With my eyes closed!"

How did it come to this?

Sometime earlier...

We had just left the forges, and I was eyeing my sword as we walked. Lorn and Hatsumi had been discussing lunch along the way. It was already early afternoon, and the walk also burned all of our energy enough to encourage them on the decision.

"We should probably go light; we don't want Kiyomi passing out while we're still out."

Lorn proposed.

Wait, do you think my constitution is that weak?

"Skewers would be good. Some of the stands back in the plaza aren't too bad with them."

Hatsumi replied quickly.

"So it's skewers then; how does that sound, Kiyomi?"

"Sounds tasty, I can't wait."

Lorn and Hatsumi both ended up smiling at me.

What, did I do something?

Hatsumi just placed her hand on top of my head, and we kept walking.

"So Kiyomi, I'm curious. "

Hatsumi shook my hand to try and get my attention in case I had not heard her.

"Curious about what?"

I tilted my head some.

"Your tastes, do you recall any of them? What you may or may not like?"

Is this a prompt for something bad?

"In what way?"

I responded, trying my best not to squint.

"With food and clothes, since we'll be getting you clothes later. If we know what you like, we can help direct the search with the tailor a little."

Hatsumi flashed a toothy smile, seemingly unbefitting of her age. She seemed like a girl who'd found a new friend to do something with.

I think I might disappoint her here.

"Uhm, food-wise? I think that I like savory food. Meats that are cooked rare, and fresh or grilled vegetables."

"Hm, so feeding you should be easy then."

Woman, is that what you think of feeding me?

"I...guess?"

"Sorry if that sounded strange. I mean, it would be hard to keep you strong if you had difficulty with too many foods."

I do have a sense of discipline, you know.

I found myself puffing my cheeks, coaxing a small giggle from Hatsumi.

"I didn't intend for that to sound mean; I'm sorry, Kiyomi. It is just setting you up for your future; we'll need to give your body a good foundation. It will give you an edge. Most people that become adventurers at such an age tend to not be in the best position, and they can't eat much or eat well."

Has she been thinking this through all day? I didn't think of that reason for the question.

Hmmm, so about the clothes?