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[Returning to the Star Rose after the battle at the Saotome Labs, Kei was even more quiet than usual.
A few hours later, she can be found occupying a kitchen in the UG base at the side, mixing something in a bowl, with a cutting board covered in chopped chocolate standing next to it. Despite the apparent domestic happiness of the scene, she has a largely blank expression on her face and her movements are unfocused as if her mind is clearly on something else.
Approach her?]
A few hours later, she can be found occupying a kitchen in the UG base at the side, mixing something in a bowl, with a cutting board covered in chopped chocolate standing next to it. Despite the apparent domestic happiness of the scene, she has a largely blank expression on her face and her movements are unfocused as if her mind is clearly on something else.
Approach her?]
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I'm baking a cake...I probably made some mistakes but I guess it can still be saved. Maybe you could make the frosting?
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[Already, Kaname's digging through the various cabinets for ingredients, utensils, anything.]
I like baking, but my apartment back in Japan didn't actually have an oven.
[Pretty standard for a Japanese kitchen, unfortunately.]
But when I lived in the US, I used to bake cakes all the time with my younger sister, Ayame.
Do you cook a lot, Kei?
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[Kei smiled slightly, relaxing at the conversation moving to a less stressful topic like this.]
And I was thinking of using the chocolate for it...I think I've mixed the dough too much to easily mix it in.
[She paused for a bit.] You've been moving around a lot?
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[Those two are her specialties.
Kaname pulls out a bowl and a whisk; before long, she locates some powdered sugar, a stick of butter, and some milk.]
Yeah, I grew up in Japan, but then I lived in New York for a couple of years before returning to Japan. My dad works for the ESUN, so it's more convenient for him to be in New York than Japan, so he moved back a few years ago with my younger sister.
[Kaname says this all matter-of-factly.]
Then I got moved out of my apartment and to Sakihama Base about a month ago, so yeah, I guess you could say so.
[She starts mixing the ingredients.]
What about you? You move around a lot, too?
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[Kei on the other hand moved on to beginning to pour the batter into a cake tin for baking. She was slightly hesitant before answering the final questions.]
No, until I came here, I'd been living at the academy for four years.
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It's expensive and busy. Don't bother trying to go anywhere unless you're walking or on bike. Or using public transportation, anyway -- and even that's a high risk scenario. It doesn't matter when you leave, either; you'll never get there on time if you're driving.
[It sounds like Kaname's speaking from experience.]
Don't get me wrong -- it definitely had its perks. I just prefer Sengawa to New York any day.
[Which is part of the reason why Kaname stayed behind when her sister and dad returned to New York.]
So where does your family live?
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[Clearly imagining New York was doing a good job of distracting Kei from her worries for a bit...]
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I don't know...I don't know anything about them, really.
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[Which unfortunately for Kaname, doesn't start until the end of July/beginning of August.]
I wonder if Book of Mormon will be playing then.
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[Kaname taps the whisk against the bowl, letting the icing drip from the wire.
She has absolutely no idea what giant robot pilots are into.]
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[Kaname taps her whisk against the bowl a few times, then deposits it in the sink.]
Okay, all done! Now to just wait for the cake to finish.
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[Kei relaxed, checking the time to see how much more the cake needed. She also had an awkward pause, looking overly serious for a bit before continuing more softly.]
Thanks...I really needed that.
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[She's just relieved that she doesn't have to pilot anything.]
I just wish I could do more.
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[Kaname makes a small, non-committal noise.]
You guys are always out there fighting, and I'm just... sitting in my room, doing my homework or listening to the new Suppin Girls album. If it were just a matter of me being a high school girl, that would be one thing. But there's pilots out there that are my age.
[A beat.]
I'm not saying I want to pilot a giant robot or anything. [She's quick to make that clarification.] I just wish there was something I could do to help you guys when you're fighting off skinless zombies or something.
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[A small pause as Kei tried to figure out what to say.]
But you've managed to at least help me today. I'm not sure what else...Maybe some people need help around the base.
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[She offers Kei a smile.]
You'll have to let me know how it came out, okay?
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[Kei returned the smile, very, very faintly, but still]
See you.