Hikoru

Hikoru held back a laugh as Kit stumbled, but he kept his quiet composure. Hikoru was stopped when he felt his hand being taken by hers. He froze and tried to pull away out of instinct, but the girl held firm to his hand, and he couldn't get away. He looked down at her as she said she didn't meant it seriously, and he could see the worry in her eyes. This girl knew something, or she knew that she had crossed a line. Hikoru grit his teeth. Was he really that readable? Was he able to truly be read by a person so much that they would stop to apologize? No, no he had been far too good at what he did. His mind thought of Aru, and he mentally sighed. Of course he would say something, his meddlesome apprentice. He would have choice of words with him later. He listened as she explained it was just a goofy question, and even told hers. He just sighed and nodded as the girl charged at him into a hug, burying herself in his clothes. She asked for a hug, and he knew he couldn't argue. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, and picked her up, holding her up like a child and letting her head rest on his shoulder, holding her tight.

"I'm sorry I read the situation wrong.... That was my fault..." He said with a small sigh. "A Secret of mine.... I secretly wanted to be a clown when I was younger..." he said, trying to get a small laugh out of the girl, and stroked her hair gently.

Hikoru felt a small smile as the small woman teased him with the knowledge. He just shook his head and walked at his normal pace, letting her stay a little ahead of him as he surveyed the area around them. He let out a small sigh. "Well yes, it's why I asked..." he said quietly, and she spoke of how she took a snake on floor 16. "Ah, Snake out of Water. I just about two-shot that thing back in the day..." He said with a chuckle. She asked about the meeting, and he rolled his eyes. "Oh don't get me started. It was all business and correcting things that were misspoken or done incorrectly." He said with another small sigh. "It was a long and tedious night, and i'm still trying to recover." He looked over to the crossroads as Kit asked what his favorite flower was, and he just shrugged.

"I've never really gotten into flowers, other than to get materials for meals. So I guess I can't say I have one..." he spoke, then followed her as she turned left. Then the girl turned and told him to tell her a secret. He immediately stiffened up, and avoided eye contact. "I don't have any secrets that I wish to disclose." He spoke with a quiet tone, and continued to walk in silence.

Hikoru felt his blush only grow as Kit mentioned that she loved his hugs. He didn't know why he was so flustered. Usually, he was very comfortable around girls, and girls that were flirting with him... Oh what was he saying, he was never chill with doing it. He was always a flustered, blushing mess. He let out a small sigh and noticed that Kit had walked a ways out, and was waiting for him. He caught up to the blonde-headed girl and started to walk along side her. He saw that her hair was blocking her face, and he realized that it was in the way of her vision. He reached to fix it, then immediately recoiled from doing it. He didn't want her thinking that he was weird, and he didn't want to lose another friend because of his actions. He let out a small sigh, then thought for something to ask.

"So.... What level are you now? It's been a little while since we've seen each other..." He asked, trying to make small conversation. Although it seemed like a stupid thing to people outside this game, seeing peoples level was a good way to see how strong they were becoming, how much guts they had to go out and try to defeat bosses, take on quests and do what they needed to get out of here. He let out a small sigh and walked quietly, waiting for her response.

Hikoru waited a moment in silence as Kityuisa seemed to think for a moment, then spoke that they should go with the flow, and start with a walk. A smile formed on his lips, and Kityuisa mentioned a trail with wild flowers, then seemed to stutter a little, mentioning that he liked flowers. He gave a small chuckle, and just pat her head lightly. "That sounds like a great idea Kit." He said, then felt a blush form as he realized what he was doing. He pulled away awkwardly, and went back towards where he was standing, staring at the water with a small pink tinge on his cheeks. Kit brought his mind back to reality when she said she had items for him, and a trade window opened up. His eyes grew wide as he looked at the items, and she mentioned what they were.

"How.. Who... When..." Was all he could mutter, looking at the items and his mouth starting to slightly water. He had only heard stories about S-grade food, and here this girl has three pieces of it. He could make a full course meal with these items. He looked at Kit, and just smiled and gave her a large hug. "Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! I've been trying to get info on these for months, and me being on the wrong floor? Why didn't I even think of trying to check other floors like Floor seven, it was so silly of me an-" He realized that he was rambling. He felt a larger blush form, and he set the small girl down. "I-I mean, thank you, i'll definitely owe you a part of the meal I cook with this, once I study it's stats for the Info Brokers..." He said, then coughed awkwardly. "Well then, shall we be going?"

Tier: 3
Build: Crit DPS
Discord (Must have ID #): Hikoru#9642

Hikoru watched as the girl turned and played with her blonde hair, and asked if he liked the change. Albeit it was different, it looked nice on the small young lady, and he nodded quietly, taking a step back to give some space, the leaning onto the bridge. "Yes, yes it does. It's good to be okay with your natural hair color." He said with a small chuckle. "But I digress. What would you like to do today?" He asked silently. As he overlooked the three rivers that ran below him, he truly enjoyed the sight and the wonder of the game. Even though this was their prison, he loved that the game designer, the cruel man that he was, had made such a gorgeous place. He just let out a small chuckle mentally, and enjoyed the view for what it was worth. When he got home, he decided that he would have to try and find more beautiful places that were real, that he could enjoy with people that weren't trying to survive a game of pixels, eat real food that he had cooked. He had made a bucket list of things to do, and making his own food that wasn't helped by a mechanic was definitely something that he was excited for.

Hikoru had received an invitation from Kit earlier in the day, and he had been a flustered mess the whole morning, trying to find the right outfit for the occasion. Aru was help, but he teased the Master of Shadows all along the way. Eventually, he made his way to a nearby mirror and was happy with the outfit he wore. Satisfied with how he looked, he bid Sir Rolland and Aru farewell and started to head towards the 8th floor. He hadn't been on this floor much as he should have been, being one of the lead people in the IBS, he knew enough information as to where they needed to meet and to get to the location. Once he was near the vicinity, he opened up his friends list to make sure that he really was on the same floor. Once it confirmed that, he started to look around. He didn't see a lot of people, but he didn't notice the pink-haired girl anywhere. He saw a girl in the middle of the bridge, and an older couple, probably NPC's, and another male player fishing nearby. But no sign of the girl he had met. He sighed, and decided to ask around. Missing Pink hair was extremely difficult. He went over to the blonde-headed girl and tapped her shoulder.

"Excuse me, i'm looking for-" His mouth stopped and he looked into the girls eyes, and they were all to familiar. As the girl turned around, he noticed the petite form and height all fit the profile, the only thing that was amidst was the color of her hair. The dress she wore was elegant, and it left him a little awestruck. He felt a blush slightly form as he found his tongue to work again. "Kit?..."

Thread to link to receiving weapon: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/18028-a-trade-to-change-the-tides/

Maiden's Kiss - T2 Curved Sword - 2 Holy DMG, 1 DMG (+8 Holy DMG, +2 DMG)

Using Both Heart Sticker [Received here] and Snowflake [Received a long time ago but given back after cloak was destroyed] 

Maiden's Kiss - T3 Dagger - 2 Holy DMG, 1 DMG (+12 Holy DMG, +3 DMG)

Hikoru smiled quietly, making the trade window with Morgenstern. They had prepped things and made the decision of the trade, and the agreement to what he wanted. He asked for Maiden's Kiss, and waited quietly.

"I seriously can't think you enough for this, and I promise to keep my end of the bargain." He said with a smile on his lips

Quote

Trading:

Morgenstern:

Maiden's Kiss

Hikoru:

N/A

Hikoru listened as Mac gave a shout to go against what the King had said. He grit his teeth and tightened his grip on this dagger. His attack would help to finish the reign of the Rain King, and even though that was a pun, he knew that it would be a good fight for the books. They had truly been too overpowered for this boss. If this what Kayaba had to offer to him, then they would honestly get through this game faster than ever before. He sprinted forward, striking the creature within it's liquid body, gritting his teeth as he felt his viatlity draining, but he continued on until he had eventually completed his sword art, landing with a small tumble back into his group, his body feeling weary compared to whatever he had felt before. This creature while weak, had truly fought him in a way that he hadn't been challenged in a long time: His energy levels.

ID: 121261 BD: 7+3-2=8 Hit!

Hikoru used Swarm: 14 x 16 = 224 - 100 = 124 Damage to Rain King

Party Stats:

Skill(s) Being Dropped: Martial Arts <<Rank 2>>
SP Refunded: 13
Cost: 13,000

Hikoru nodded and let out a small sigh and nodded. He missed the kids. Although they could be troublemakers at times, they had a way of making people laugh and reminisce in their own childhood, Hikoru was no different. Watching them play and run around reminded him of his time with his brother, taking stick weapons and fighting one another. The memories were fond to him, and he held onto them dearly. He let out another small sigh as he went to the door, opening it for the lady. "I am sorry, really. I'm sure you'll find your way home. And good luck on the quest." he said with a small smile. As the young lady passed, he pat her head. "And don't worry, we'll get to that tour eventually." he spoke with a smile, then watched her go. He found himself staring at her for a few minutes, eyeing the girl to make sure she was safe, and when his eyes started to lower he looked away. He let the door close slowly, and Aru just chuckled from the desk

"You were staring." Hikoru just scoffed. "With what proof can you make that statement?." He asked. Aru just shrugged with a sly smile on his lips as the door shut to the Shadow's Den, and their meeting begun.

THREAD COMPLETE

Hikoru - 2 SP, 400 Col

Kityuisa - 2 SP, 400 Col

Hikoru gave a small chuckle as she said he had good luck. He just shook his head as he shook her hand. "Luck isn't real, it's all probability. Learn to read the probability, learn to have 'Good Luck'." He said as he started to pick up the dirty dishes. He took them over to the sink to be washed later. She asked him about his thoughts on Halloween and he just shrugged his shoulders. "Personally? I was never a fan. The candy was nice when I had a sweet tooth, but it just faded and became an annoyance. Never got good sleep when they came to my door." He said with a sigh. "Although now, I do miss the children at times. They had a way of brightening a room." He came back to the table and nodded as Kit said she would bring him ingredients.

"Sounds like a fair deal. We'll see how long this lasts." He said with a small laugh. Kit asked if he would give her a tour, and he heard a clearing of the throat, and looked to see Aru sitting quietly, tapping his wrist. A basic signal to tell him it was about time for the meeting. Hikoru sighed and shook his head to Kit. "I'm afraid I cant. I have prior engagements that have to take priority. I'm terribly sorry." He spoke with a bit of a frown. He stood and was about to motion towards the door when he heard Kit say she liked to spend time with him. Aru eyed him with a small eyebrow waggle, and he felt his cheeks flush. He coughed and turned towards the door. "I'll see you to the door, i'm sorry that the night couldn't continue on." He spoke, and Aru just nodded, getting up to prepare the desk for the meeting.

Hikoru was running late, and he knew it. While this usually was a problem, he had been trying to work on not being tardy, but he had overslept far longer than he had anticipated to. When he had woken up, he knew something felt off as the sunlight in his room was a little dimmer than it usually was. Opening his HUD, he saw that he had overslept by about an hour. That jostled him out of his sleepy stupor. He got dressed, made sure all his armor was equipped and whistled for Sutetchi, who soon ran onto his shoulder, and he bolted out of the door of his shop. While he was still on the same floor as they had planned, it still didn't mean that he didn't regret being late. He soon saw his orange-haired mentor a ways away and he slowed his running to a jog, and he was met by the usual quips towards him. He just felt a small smile form on his lips as he came over.

"Yeah, sorry i'm late, I slept a little bit too much." He said with a small and awkward chuckle. He was asked if he was ready for his first stealth mission. He felt a bead of sweat go down his back. Although he had been working on his stealth for some time, he still hadn't mastered it, and he was nervous about the mission. "Y-yeah, sure. Ready whenever you are." He bluffed, and Sutetchi gave a small squeak of satisfaction, giving Lowenthal a small greeting as to climb up onto his neck and nuzzle his chin. He then went back down and crawled back to his master's shoulder, ready for whatever the two large players would throw at the small familiar.

[OOC Note. Since this is a flashback, I am using the stats from the Floor 18 Boss Fight, as this was a time shortly after Hikoru had acquired Shadowed Path. I will be using the older Shadowed Path. So no extra damage from stealth, no Stealth bonuses from Shadowed, and i'm able to run away without rolling. I will still be using the same Sword arts as the normal one however, as the old ones were completely broken]

Stats:

Hikoru watched as the boss gave off a large aura. He felt a chill go down his back, the same fear that he had felt before, which was the thing that stopped him in his tracks. He breathed in deeply, and let out a ragged sigh. He wouldn't let this fear cripple him. He took one step forward, and another, and one after another, the steps turned from single steps to multiple, ending in a full on sprint, Hikoru giving off a small battle cry as he charged towards the enormous creature, stabbing into it's side repeatedly. He was overcoming the feeling of fear, almost guilt off of his shoulders. After his sword art was completed, he retreated back to the area that he was standing, his body feeling extremely tired and sluggish. He could only do so much more of those, as the water made it very difficult for such a short weapon to reach the flesh of the boss, and it showed in his damage.

ID: 120352 LD: 18
ID: 120353 BD: 5+3-2-=6 Hit!

Hikoru used Swarm: 14 x 19 = 266 - 100 = 166 Damage to Rain King (-26 EN)

[6] Calrex: 1737/1850 HP | 143/176 EN | 7 DMG | 126 MIT | 4 ACC | 2 EVA | 9-10 PLZ | 0.6 ACH  [Safeguard] 
[2] Zandra: 1920/1920 HP | 114/162| 22 DMG | 155 MIT | 3 ACC | 2 EVA | 8 LD | 84 THN | 36 BRN THN | 6-8/12 FLN | 8-10/36 BRN | 96 BH |  9-10/24 TV | 27 PRB [Antioxidants] [Antidote 3/3][Squeaky Clean][Barrier 0/2][Hyperactive 0/3]
[0] Hikoru: 1550/1550 | 77/152 | 94 MIT | 3 ACC | 3 EVA | 78 BH  [Concentration: 2/5] [Vanish: 1/3]
[3] Jomei: 1565/1565 HP | 86/153 | 17 DMG | 6 ACC | 4 EVA | 52 MIT | 2 Savvy | 78 B. Healing [Concentration Recharge 4/5]
[1] Itzal: 1,750/1,750 | 117/160 | 19 DMG | 0 MIT | 4 ACC | 6 EVA | 1 KEEN | 2 BLD | 1 TXV |

Hikoru chuckled as Kit admired how he took care of his familiar. While yes the familiar was... unique, he had grown quite a fondness to the little Pumpking. He wished that he could have the same sort of pet in the real world. It was one of the things that he think he'd miss when he got back to the real world. He let out a sigh and ate his food quietly. Aru was silent and continued to eat his food. Kityuisa commented on how good the food was, and Hikoru only felt his blush grow. He ate quietly and avoided eye contact. She then asked about how he found Sir Rolland, and he took a small sip of his coffee. "He was actually won. I had entered a Halloween raffle and... Well, I won him. My old familiar, Sutetchi, went into early retirement, and he stays in my shop. I don't know how I got away with it in the code, but i'm not complaining." He went back to eating quietly. She promised to introduce her familiar when she got it next, and he nodded silently in agreeance.

When everyone had finished their plates, Kit mentioned how good the food was, and that he would basically be the first person he called. He just let out a little laugh and held the coffee to his lips. "I might have you bring ingredients. This meal alone cost me a big chunk of them..." He spoke, then took his final sip of his coffee. But then she said that she would be his personal alchemist. He felt a smile on his lips and held out a hand. "Very well then, it's a deal."

Hikoru's eyes widened a bit as Kit reacted to the dish. She seemed... upset, and he didn't know why. He thought that he had done something wrong, but then she said that she would love some. It wasn't his place to know, but he just nodded and took a spoonful and put it onto her plate, then onto Aru's, then onto his own, leaving only a few pieces in the pot with the broth. He left the ladle in the pot in case they wanted to grab some, and he took a seat quietly and started to eat. Aru didn't speak much of a word as he was enjoying the food too much. Ever since Hik had picked up cooking, they had been eating well. He used to always grab the equivalent of take-out from any restaurant on Floor 21, but the food always seemed cold and bland. But the flavors Hik added were always good. Sir Rolland silently munched on a plate of candy on a small table nearby, perfectly made for a small pump-king. He let out a sound that seemed to be happiness and enjoyed his own view on good food while the players ate at the table near him.

"Well, Rolland seems to be happy." Aru said with a chuckle. Hikoru just nodded and sipped on his coffee. "Yes, I always know his favorite types of candy when I can afford it. He lives up to his name well enough, his candy is always the most expensive..." He sighed and shook his head. "And he's picky at times. The candy has to be fresh, else he wont eat it. If the candy is a week old, he wont even look in the direction of the bowl its in." He let out another sigh. "Luckily, I've cut a deal with the guy in town, since i'm his best customer. It put less of a dent in my wallet to feed the little monster." He chuckled at the thought, and took one last sip of his coffee.

Hikoru finished his coffee, ignoring when Kit asked if it was too much. He had done his best to hide his emotions but his mask had shattered when she walked into the room. She knew her style and could pull it off well. He was about to take a sip when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and almost spilled his coffee, able to catch it at just the last second, the honey-colored coffee licking the brim of the cup gently, almost spilling but not quite there. She thanked him for letting her come over, and he just sipped his coffee quietly. He thought it be better to hold his tongue and not embarrass himself. Aru was enjoying this far more than he would ever let on. Kit thanked him for the coffee, and he just gave a nod.

"Not a problem at all. It's one of the few things I've learned from Hik since he became my mentor." He shot with a small smile on his lips. Hikoru just held back a laugh. "Please, if this is the only thing you learned, then you learned poorly. It's far too watery for my taste some days." He shot back. Aru glared at him, but he was happy that he had broken the ice that was starting to form between the group. Kit asked what the master chef had cooked, and Hikoru came over to the platter, and put his hand onto the handle. "I have made for us tonight..." He lifted the lid, and steam poured out to reveal a large bowl filled with broth, steamy looking potatoes and a sweet, stewed meat with vegetables and seasoning. "Nikujaga." He spoke, and grabbed a ladle. "Who's hungry?"

Hikoru heard the cry of Kit exclaiming that she wanted to use the bathroom. He finished setting the table as Aru came in, a small smile on his lips. "Hiko? That one's a first." He laughed. Hikoru just felt a small blush on his face as he spoke. "It's new to me too, trust me." He said as he set the table, setting the covered platter in the center of the table. He pulled a seat out for Kit near the center of one side, and Aru sat across from him. Aru just let out a laugh and took off his cloak, sitting at the table and waiting. "You know, she seems to be a nice girl..." He looked at Hik. "Be nice, and give her a chance, okay? I know that since Vale left-"

"Don't say her name." Hikoru said with an icy tone, like a dagger thrown at Aru's throat. Aru froze and realized he was crossing a line. "Right, right, sorry." He spoke. Hikoru stopped and let out a sigh. "No, i'm sorry. Still a touchy subject. You have a right to speak here." He spoke as he grabbed a few cups filled with coffee, putting Moo Milk and Spider Sugar on the table, the closest things he could find in this game to its counterparts. Aru nodded. "It's fine. But, just give her a chance. I see how you are with her, you usually aren't that kind..." He spoke softly. Hikoru just pat Aru's shoulder. "I know you care, but I can handle-" He was about to finish, when Kit walked in, in a completely different outfit. Hik felt a blush on his face as he saw it, and coughed, turning around to fix his coffee and get his emotions under control. Aru gave a lighthearted smile to Kit. "Looks good kid." he spoke, and gave a thumbs up.

Hikoru was about to attack beforehand, but something stopped him. He wasn't sure what it was, but all the muscles in his body wouldn't move, and only the attacks against his fellow comrades brought him back to reality. He felt his body loosen and he let out a deep, ragged breath. Why was he nervous? He had never been nervous about a boss before, except his first one. Heck it's health was already way past the halfway point. But it was a feeling he couldn't shake. Was it something that the boss could do? He didn't know what it was, but he moved quickly. He fell down from his vantage point and stuck the creature, leaving a large gash in his side. He looked and his energy bar took a very large dip, and he realized he could only do a few more of these kind of attacks. His Shadowed Path Sword Arts proved to be too strong for him to use, he may have to tone it back and watch what attacks he used.

ID: 119877 LD: 2+7=9 Stealth Rating (Immune to Passive)
BD: 8+3-2=9 Hit!

Hikoru used Swarm: 14 x 19 x 1.20 = 370 - 100 = 270 Damage to Rain King

Party 1:

Aru crossed his arms and listened from the couch as the girl asked if Hik would ever leave her. Then asked if he'd ever judge for the things she did. He just sighed and leaned back, his arms resting above his head, his hands resting behind said head and gave a sigh. "Y'know, I can't speak for a man like him. His mind is hard to crack and understand sometimes, he can make the weirdest decisions sometimes." He spoke, then smiled and closed his eyes. "But, he's never given up on me, and I know that i/m not the perfect person. And he still tries to keep up with the people in his old guild, making sure that they are okay. Even though he's not in their life, he makes sure that they are alive and safe, and is ready to help them at the drop of a hat." He said with a small chuckle. "He's not the 'leaving' type, unless you messed with his family. He's a scary guy when you get on his bad side... But, he's also understanding, to a certain degree." He spoke, a finger pointing in the air. "And he won't act unless he has all the facts, so he wouldn't make a judgement unless he had every scrap of info that was available. It's the Info Broker in him, and it helps him with big decisions." He spoke, and turned to Kit. "So I wouldn't worry about him too much."

Hikoru finished the meal and let out a triumphant sigh. He had done his best to cook with the ingredients lying around, and smiled. "Alright, I think that's-" He looked around, and saw that nobody was there. He groaned and mentally slapped himself. He had zoned out again. After she had asked about his personal stuff, he had turned his brain off, not wanting to talk about it. He cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud voice. "Aru! Kit! Dinner is ready!" He spoke, then set the table for them to have a plate of the meal.

Hikoru slowly cooked the meal, completely oblivious to anything around him. Aru on the other hand, he was dealing with an interesting perdicament. He listened to the girl a moment, then let out a small chuckle. "Oh come now, I can see it in your eyes. While it's very faint, there is a spark of something whenever you talk to Hik. It's faint, but it's there. I can see it, but only because I know what im looking for." He teased, making his way close, and laying a hand on her shoulder. "Look, just trust me when I say that it's not the best thing to keep your distance with Hik. You keep an inch away, he'll try to make it into miles. He's gotten better than what he used to be but... He's still a bit hurt. Besides, your not the only one I see the spark in between the two of you." He winked. "He never invites anyone here, take it as a compliment." He spoke, then made his way towards the door of the kitchen, when Kit poked at him for a question. He turned around, his blue cloak picking up a bit from the sudden velocity change. "Yeah sure, whats up?" He spoke, taking a seat on the nearby couch. The girl seemed to have a lot of questions, and he couldn't blame her. Hik was a hard nut to crack, and even he didn't have the strength to get beneath his hard outer exterior, minus a few times where it wasn't business and they had a playful banter, as if it were like brothers, or father and son. Aru held onto the memories dearly, as those were the times where he felt Hik actually connected to him more than a Mentor, but as a friend.

As Hikoru gathered the ingredients, Kit came into the room. Aru, who hadn't seen the guest, felt a sly smile appear on his face and pulled his blue cloak up, turning around and focusing on cleaning the coffee pot. If Hik saw any hint of that, he would be put on desk duty for a month. Kit started to ask about Hikoru's personal life, and the things of himself. He let Kit finish her speaking, then started to cook without a word, not giving even a look to Kit as his mind grew focused on cooking. Although it was simple mechanics to make it cook in the game, he found a way to take time and prepare food as if he was in the real world. It always ended the same way, but he felt much better doing it this way. Aru, noticing the way that Hik was being, came over to Kit and tapped her shoulder lightly, motioning for her to follow him to the living room. If she followed, he would lean on the mantle, his back to the flames

"That's sorta brave for you to do..." He spoke, and pulled his cloak down. "The names Aru, Hik's my mentor." He spoke. "And Hik... don't take it personal, he doesn't share a lot with anyone, even me. I don't even know his real name... There were only two people that he told it to, and both.... Well, they aren't around him anymore. One went crazy and the other disappeared. So please, for the sake of your relationship right now, i'd suggest staying away from those questions until he's... comfortable, okay? He seems to be in brighter spirits around you, best not let that go to ruin." He spoke with a sly smile.

Hikoru walked in and took a seat in his big black chair by the fireplace, enjoying the comfort that it brought as Kit asked about him. He thought for a moment, scratching his chin, trying to find the right words. "Well... I've been on the frontlines since Floor 14, and ever since then i've been doing nothing but getting stronger and providing damage output when I needed to. Recently, i've been focusing on Critical damage, trying to get the perfect weapon for it. But that's enough about my frontlines info. All you need to know about me for now, is that i'm just a guy trying to escape. I enjoy my time with naps though, naps and now cooking has become a hobby. Speaking of which, I should probably get started soon..." He spoke, then looked at Kitsuya. "You can have a look around the house, I have nothing to hide, although I will primarily be in the kitchen so you'll know where to find me." He spoke with a lighthearted laugh, then made his way to the kitchen, Sir Rolland, his familiar following him.

"Having a fun time?" Aru teasted, pouring a cup of coffee for his Mentor. Hikoru just chuckled. "I'm attempting to. Although i'm not excited for tomorrow. Got another grinding session, plus the meeting we have tonight is in my mind. Today has been good though, a nice getaway." He said with a smile on his lips. Aru knew that there was more than he was letting on, but he decided not to meddle with his mind as of now. He would ask him later in private, but he knew a guest could be here, and he didn't want to embarrass the man who had been teaching him.

Hikoru helped up Kit without much effort. His Strength stat was at moderate level, and it made things such as climbing and helping people easy, although it wasn't crazy high, as using a dagger didn't take much. Kit continued to hold his hand, and he felt a slight blush, but he thought nothing of it. As they arrived in the home, she looked around happily and he smiled. He had done his best to make the house cozy within the dank cave that he had chosen to live in, but the place had really come together. He had his old boar tusk, from the first boar he ever defeated on the mantle, having never used the material for his own purposes, and a nice wolf skin rug in front of the fireplace from Floor 2. He had made it feel homey, in a sense. Kit asked what he was thinking of cooking, and he looked at the ingredients.

"Hm.... I guess you'll just have to wait and see." He said with a sly tone, taking the ingredients into the kitchen and running into Aru. Aru looked up, a bit curious. "Guest for the evening?" Hikoru just chuckled to the young man "Yes, an unexpected one but nonetheless. Could you make us some coffee? We'll have to push back our meeting an hour or so, but we will get this info done." He spoke, and Aru nodded. "Sure thing Hik, just don't touch my desk." He spoke as he went to the coffee pot. Hikoru just laughed. "The desk your borrowing." He retorted as he made his way back to the living room to Kit. "The coffee is being brewed."