|Tom's Farm| 24.03.1178|
As Yuki finally stirs awake, his eyes snap open, and he lets out a startled yelp at the sight of Tom sitting in the armchair across from him.
"Morning," Yuki mutters, quickly regaining his composure.
Tom, whose gaze had been fixed on him, shifts slightly. A soft smile spreads across his face—one that seems hastily put on, as if to hide the fact he'd been watching Yuki for a little too long.
"Now that I think about it, I can understand why Naomi mistook you for a girl back then," he starts, although the smile does not reach his eyes. There is something within them that Yuki can't quite put his finger on.
"She did?" Yuki asks, running a hand through his disheveled rug of hair.
Tom nods, his fingers tapping on the armrest. "No offense, but you do kinda look like one."
Yuki cracks a soft chuckle, looking up at him and shaking his face. "I think I hear that phrase more often than 'Hello' now."
Tom shows a hint of relief that the boy doesn't seem bothered by his bluntness.
"You better?" he asks, his eyebrow raising in curiosity and concern.
Yuki nods, showing off his healed wounds in a casual way while standing up.
"I really have to say, you have top-notch medicine here," he says, walking toward the counter of the kitchen.
Tom chuckles as well, a deep grumble leaving his lips. "What can I say—"
He starts scratching the back of his head.
"A farmer should always be very careful with his potions and herbs, especially when he lives so remotely and with family."
Yuki nods, looking back. >> So it's not typical, huh, << he thinks, leaning against the counter.
Tom starts again. "Say, I know after such an event it's probably insensitive to ask such a thing," he says, scratching through his beard.
"But what even brought you into this situation?"
Yuki shuts the faucet, using a towel while letting out an inaudible whistle for some reason.
"Say, Tom, even if it seems a bit insensitive given the situation, might I ask who drew the paintings that are scattered all over the place?"
Tom nods in understanding, following the implication of Yuki's counter-question.
"I did. You must know, even though I don't look it, I suffer from dementia. And to be honest, sometimes painting helps me calm down," he says, standing up as well, heading to the kitchen and getting a cup out of a drawer.
He opens it for a little longer, looking at Yuki with a raised eyebrow. As Yuki nods, he gets one for him as well and closes it again.
>> dementia? Well, isn't that a coincidence that both Eldoria and my world have the same terms for this disease... Or were you just too lazy? <<
"You aren't going to shit yourself now, right?"
Tom rolls his eyes, starting to boil some water by putting in a shade of violet material that Yuki isn't familiar with at all.
"Nope, my son, who did the check on me, said that I have..." He thinks for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose slightly. "I don't remember it fully, but I think it's an STD."
Yuki's face contorts into a snicker.
"I don't think you mean STD... FTD would fit, however," he says between harsh breaths, regaining his cool at this sensitive topic.
Tom's face lights up in recognition, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I think that was it. Misha said something about my behavior also changing slightly, which I myself can't really verify or not, since I don't remember how I used to act before."
Yuki watches the water start to steam in the air as Tom carefully sets it aside and starts to rummage in one of the many drawers, which holds a collection of diverse herbs and leaves.
Tom's face grows more distant, as if he had forgotten that Yuki stood next to him—although he's still talking, either to him or to himself.
"As Misha went to the capital, he asked me several times if I wanted to come with him so professionals could take care of my condition. However..." His gaze shifts back to Yuki, reassuring him that he is indeed being addressed. "The little accident yesterday tells me I'm not completely brain-rotted yet," he says with a soft nudge at Yuki's side.
Yuki chuckles as well, nodding. >> So much for 'It will be hard to gain his trust.' <<
His gaze shifts out the window to Naomi, who approaches the house after whatever she was doing outside.
>> However, something about her seems off. She seems lost in thought. Not in the same way Tom was, though—it's as if her thoughts are painful. <<
Yuki's face shows no sign of doubt, instead remaining neutral.
As Tom, now putting a mixture of dried leaves and herbs into both his and Yuki's cups, follows his gaze, he smiles at the sight of Naomi, though she doesn't acknowledge his look.
"She already did the karabols, huh? She isn't often this productive in the morning. Your presence seems to have a good influence on her," he says with a wink before taking his own cup and walking to the kitchen table.
As the door opens, Naomi enters with a sigh of exhaustion, her hair all disheveled. "I hate those beasts," she says with a soft groan, looking at Tom.
Yuki raises an eyebrow at her sudden shift. >> Hiding the thoughtfulness now, huh? << he thinks, turning to his cup.
"I don't know what your problem is. They just show their affection," Tom responds with a nod and an almost mocking smile, to which Naomi rolls her eyes.
"You only say that because your hair isn't long enough for them to grab."
Tom shrugs at this, returning to his cup. "Well, then I don't want to know what happens when Yuki gets in there."
Naomi's gaze shifts to Yuki, her eyes trailing over his face and—for some reason—his hands, which Yuki notices but doesn't question.
She then looks back at Tom, her face showing signs of relaxation. "Anyway, I'd like to go to the river. Is that okay?" she asks, to which he nods.
"Though the water's a bit cold for swimming," he adds.
Naomi shrugs from the doorway. "No problem. I won't swim."
Yuki watches her leave the house, his lips forming a quick smirk as she closes the door.
>> How interesting. <<
He takes another sip of tea and turns back to Tom. Before he can speak, Tom takes a deep breath.
"Yuki—"
Tom's gaze grows a bit more serious.
"I must apologize for saying you look like a girl."
Yuki frowns slightly. "Bit late to come back to that topic, don't you think?" he says with a chuckle, patting Tom's shoulder.
"Maybe, but now I understand. You really are a decent guy."
Tom stares at the wall, eyes avoiding Yuki's. "I don't know if you noticed, but I was a bit startled when I saw you first."
Yuki lowers the cup back onto the table. "Startled because you thought I was a girl?" he asks, a soft chuckle in his voice.
"Because I thought you were a girl I once knew."
Yuki nods, the chuckle fading.
"What was her name?"
"I don't know... you just seemed familiar."
He then looks back at Yuki, his smile returning.
"Anyway, you sure have some questions about us. After all, you're new here. And if your past is so bad that you don't even want to talk about it, I guess you definitely won't leave so soon."
He looks at Yuki with an expectant expression.
"Well, actually, there is something..."