happilyeverbeginning | Growing Closer - Centorea & Milord

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Growing Closer - Centorea & Milord - i mean kimihito

Ever since she had started her new life in Kimihto's household, Centorea had learned that her knowledge of Japan and its culture was not exactly what she had gleamed from anime and manga. After being embarrassed about this one too many times, she had decided to finally fix this error and properly learn about the proud culture of this country. and what better way to learn than a festival!

What grand occasions these were - with games lined up, delicious food being sold, beautiful girls in kimonos...

... Which... she couldn't really wear...

On this hot summer day, when the festival was going to open that night, Centorea was late coming out to eat her lunch. Instead she was holed up in her room, going through fashion magazines and lamenting the gorgeous dresses she could not wear. It was silly for a proud knight to care about such trivial maters, but... she was still a maiden at heart.

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[Kurusu knew that today was the day of a festival. He also knew a few things he'd pieced together just by the "subtle" hits Cerea had been leaving around the house; sighs, muttered thoughts, magazines left open at certain pages. He was pretty dense sometimes, that much was true, but he could still put two and two together given enough time, and that was what had brought him here right now.

To that, Cerea would hear a few quick knocks at her door, followed by his voice calling into the room.]

Cerea, are you there? I have something for you.

[Startled, she quickly closes the magazine she's currently reading-]

W-wait! Don't come in, Milord!

[-And very quickly she shoves it and all the others she has under her little table. It's not a perfect hiding spot, but it'll do. She swallowed, and then came to the door, trying to pretend all was perfectly calm and normal.]

Did you... say something?

[He waited patiently for Cerea to...finish up whatever it was she was doing. Maybe a few lascivious thoughts crossed his mind, maybe they didn't, but even if they did he quickly swatted them to the back of his mind in preparation for the situation at hand.

Eventually the door did open and he greeted Cerea with a soft smile; he honestly didn't even bother drawing things out, he'd never been overly good at surprises anyways. From behind his back, he drew out a decent sized, square-shaped parcel wrapped in brown paper and held it out to her.]

Here, I got you this! I think you'll like it.

[Confusion fluttered over her face instantly. A gift? For her? From him? As usual, her entire face turned crimson without her permission. It could have been a saddle under there for all she cared, the actual idea of him treating her was wonderful enough.]

Ah... M-Milord, you hardly needed to go to such trouble... It's not my birthday, nor any holiday, I believe....

[... Despite her protests, she's already opening it up. And very very eagerly, it should be noted, like a hyperactive child on Christmas. All with a nobly calm face.]

[And inside was...a Kimono. A very big, obviously custom made Kimono that would easily fit Cerea and protect her modesty. It stuck to her usually black and white color scheming, but there were a lot of floral and earthen designs embroidered in gold across it.]

I know you wanted to wear a Kimono for the festival tonight...so I got together with Rachnera to put this together for you!

[And by that, he meant that he begged Rachnera to put this together for you and paid out the nose for it. But he wouldn't mention that, he didn't want to bring down the mood.]

So...what do you think?

[She had no idea her jaw was hanging open so loosely when the reveal was made. She couldn't believe what was in her hands - it was just like in those magazines, but... the way it was shaped... it could fit her naturally. Her eyes begin to tear up, and she clutched the dress to her chest as if it were a treasure - which to her it was. She then bowed forward-]

This.. thank you so much, M-Milord! It's... this is the best gift I've ever received... Please, you must tell me how I can repay you for your generosity!

[Honestly, he'd been expecting a more physical reaction, he'd even braced himself for the hug that usually came with things like this...but he was just getting bowed at which turned his face a bright red.]

D-don't worry about it! I just wanted you to enjoy the festival as much as possible, so you don't have to repay me or anything, alright?

[Maybe that would put her mind at ease? ...Possibly?]

[Her teary face then turned absolutely serious, and she even stomped two of her hooves as she came up closer to him.]

Absolutely not! You've done me a great kindness, it would be selfish for me to do nothing in turn! Name it, and it shall be done! I can... clean the entire house! Make dinner for everyone! Wash all of your clothing!

[Oh boy, she was in one of those moods. He had to think about where to go from here, and he had to think fast. Not one of his strong suits.]

Well...everyone else is actually...busy tonight...

[Oddly enough, not a single person was able to go to the festival that he knew of. Papi and Suu had some plans together...what those were he'd probably never know; Mero hadn't wanted to travel out for so long in such dry circumstances, not that he could blame her; Rachnera had said she wasn't all too much a fan of such large gatherings; Lala had just spouted off some warning of impending doom; and Miia had come down with a small cold, though she'd insisted that he go enjoy himself.

So...]

How about you go with me? Would that be a fair trade for you?

... Huh?

[That red face from before? It's blown out of the water by how tomato her face is looking now.

Alone. With him. At a festival. Wearing the clothes he gave her.

Alone. With him.

ALONE.

She stammers, with hints of a whimper in her voice.]

I... If you... would... really be comfortable with... someone like me... I-I would be... honored...

Of course! I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun.

[Kurusu, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice the shift in atmosphere. If anything, he was looking forward to a nice, relaxing evening of fun, fried foods, and games.]

Hmm...do Centaurs have festivals back where you're from? What are they like?

[That thought struck him, somehow it hadn't before. He figured they probably would, though his imagination told him they were probably more like the European medieval festivals he'd read about online. At the very least though, he'd learn a little more about Centaur culture now and that was always a plus!]

["Ah, Cerea, you look so beautiful tonight."

"Do you really think so, Milord? ... Wait, before you answer, you've got something on your cheek. Let me get that."

"Cerea...your skin, it's so soft...I..."

Whoops, fantasy-land took over for a moment. He was saying actual words now, wasn't he? She shook her head hard, trying to plant herself back in reality.]

U-Um! That is! We do have some celebrations, but they are mostly competitions of strength, and the occasional race. Almost every one of them held a jousting tournament. They're time-honored traditions.

Ah...well, that makes sense.

[From what he knew, Centaurs were very steeped in tradition and culture, so it didn't come as much of a surprise to him.]

Maybe one day you can take me to one! Or maybe we can set one up around here?

[He'd have to pay for space...but that could be a fun idea for everyone! Kind of like a culture day festival just for them!!]

What do you think?

[MENTAL BREAK DOWN IN PROCESS. Showing off her lord in front of her fellow species back home? Or showing off her own natural talent in front of him? It was almost too much to handle!]

Milord!

[Oddly, it's this that gets the hug going. Hope you weren't needing oxygen anytime soon, because right now you're getting a face full of boobs.]

To think you would cherish my culture so much, when I struggle to properly learn of your own... Your kindness knows no bounds!

[Of course he cherished her culture! He wanted to know and learn as much about the cultures of everyone who lived in his house so he could better accommodate them and make them happy! He might have even said as much...if he wasn't currently being suffocated by boobs.

At best he was going to wiggle fruitlessly against her superior strength and gently but repeatedly tap her on the forearm in hopes she might let go before he lost consciousness.]

Mpfh...pfphfmmmm!!!

I promise, not only will tonight be full of cherished memories, but this future festival you speak of shall be constructed from honor!

[His wriggling doesn't really register to her - when does it ever? - but something else does. This closeness can only mean one thing - ]

... The kimono! It'll get wrinkled!

[So he mercifully is let go - maybe dropped is a better word - as she gallops back into her room - turning so fast it wouldn't be stretch if her large rear accidentally smacked him - so she can carefully lay out the dress on her table.]

To think I was being so careless with your thoughtful gift... I shan't touch it until it is time to leave!

[He hit the ground on his knees when he was dropped...which did smart, he wasn't going to lie, but it wasn't too terrible. Getting clothslined by Cerea's rear end however was enough to spin him like a top before he hit the floor in a daze.

It took him a minute to get his world to stop spinning and a few moments more to actually get back up...but by the time he was topside again, Cerea likely wouldn't notice that he'd gone down in the first place.]

Cerea...its fine, really, that thing was made from the best stuff I could afford, I doubt just squishing it is going to do anything.

[Annnnnnnd he didn't even realize he slipped up there in mentioning that he'd actually PAID for it. Good job Kurusu, good job.]

[Centorea paused then. Her large ears even twitched a little. Her back was to him.]

... You spent... money on this?

[Was she heart-broken that he hadn't made it by hand? Wounded that her treasure wasn't as thoughtful as she once believed?

Pfft, nah.

Her hands covered her face-]

You already spend so much of your hard-earned money on us all, and yet you chose to still spend on me...! I am... such a leech! I'm a dishonorable wretch! Not once have I ever earned any money on my own!

H-hey! That's not true at all!!

[Dammit Kurusu watch your words! He was doing his best not to rile himself into a panic, that wasn't going to help anything. He needed to diffuse the situation!]

You help around the house all the time! And you're always here when I need someone to talk to, and you always help me when I need help.

[And sometimes when he didn't.]

You do a lot of things Cerea, more than enough to have some nice things. I wanted to do this for you...so don't feel bad about it, okay?

Milord...

[Thankfully this time when she turns around it's much slower, so there's no chance for harm yet. Her hands are shyly clasped together, hanging low.]

... I don't... understand you at all some times.

[That's right, this is becoming a slightly serious moment.]

... I don't understand why you are so different from other humans. I have to wonder if even you know how good you are. And it's because of this I worry...

... I worry you wouldn't know if you were taken advantage of. If, when things are unfair to you, you would even notice. I want to protect you from such people, but I'm so concerned with how kind you are... even when it's your best trait.

Eh?

[Well...that was a bit out of left field, but it wasn't like she didn't have a point. He could take care of himself, but sometimes he had a tendency to look the other way on things as not to burden others...in that way, it was pretty easy for him to get taken advantage of.]

I...I just want the people around me to be happy, especially all of you. You're all trying your best here despite everything, so I want to do my best for you.

[He was worried now though. Worried that he might inadvertently be exposing the girls to being taken advantage of by not being strong enough on his own. He did his best but...]

Am I not...doing enough?

[It was the concern that always ate at him, the doubt that held a place in the back of his mind at all times. How could he say he was trying his best for them if he couldn't even try his best for himself? Of course that wasn't at all true, he did more than enough...but doubt had a powerful way of turning certainties into questions in the worst possible way.]

Th-that's not what I mean!

[Noooo she hadn't wanted THAT outcome! If he began to doubt himself because of her, she would die right there and then! In this great state of worry, she grabbed his shoulders.]

What I want is... for you to take care of yourself, too! As much as you take care of us! You should care and worry and treat yourself as much as you do for myself and the other girls.

Out of anyone in the world... you above all deserve to be... a little selfish now and then.

Hmm...

[A little selfish, huh? He'd thought about it, considered it at times, even almost followed through. Sure he indulged in a few luxuries for himself from time to time...mostly heating pads and heavy duty bandages...but occasionally he sprung for some quality take out just for him.

But that wasn't what Cerea was talking about. And she had a point...he often took everyone else into consideration at the risk of his own personal health and safety. Surely it couldn't hurt to be just a TINY bit selfish?]

Well...then maybe I could start taking a day off during the week? Just a day to relax and recharge...

[It wasn't a bad idea. It would give him some better time to recuperate and it would show the girls that he trusted them to handle things without him. He did trust them...just with various things.]

I think that's a good start, don't you?

[Unfortunately, even in his own selfishness...he couldn't not think of them as well. It was just in his nature by now.]

[It was an excellent start as far as she was concerned. She even let out a heavy sigh of relief to hear such an admission from him. She then beamed with pride over him, giving his shoulders a tight squeeze.]

Yes, that is a wonderful idea! A day of rest is exactly what you need! In fact, on this selected day, you should not do any chores or shopping at all... We shall take care of this house we call a home!

[A hard affirmative nod. He really had no choice in this anymore.]

Well...I'd have to go with you if you went shopping, but...yeah, I get what you're saying.

[You know...the whole them not being able to go out without him around thing. But then it would be more of just a walk rather than anything else.]

This is everyone's house now, it wouldn't be fair if I just kept doing everything, right?

[Even though he was still going to do most of everything. He still had control of the other days of the week and he wasn't going to slow down in making them happy.]

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