020: Thinking of titles is harder than actually writing an entry

[abare_gokutor]

I find myself with less and less time as the days go by. Updating this as frequently as I should is very difficult. I apologize.

Thanks to an anonymous renovation to my kitchen, I've been able to cook food a lot faster, and with Momoshiro-kun and Shinji helping with that, I think our efficiency in the deli has improved a lot. It's nice. It means I can do more with my time, such as make more food for the soup-kitchens and spend more time coming up with recipes for the Youtube cooking show. It's a pleasant way to spend my time, thinking of new ideas for dishes and ways of cooking things. It involves a lot of cooking with foreign fruits and finding obscure, high-scale grocery shops so I can experiment, but it's worth it.

Renge's also been very busy. She has a dance recital coming up in a week, so she's very nervous for that. I promised her that I'd go see it, so I will be missing for a couple of hours next Friday morning. She's been trying so hard and I can't wait to see it. Though, at times, I still feel like she's trying to pay me back by doing everything perfectly, instead of just acting like herself, like a normal child. I don't know what to say to her to make her feel less like her life is a favour she has to pay back.

Sometimes I wonder why we live in a world where some children are forced to grow up so fast and think that everything has a price.

-Tachibana

Comments

[shh-im-talking.livejournal.com]

You're thinking the wrong things were Renge-chan is concerned. I don't think she is aiming for perfection to pay you back. At least not completely. I know from myself and from my sisters, where we grew up... you aren't offered many chances in life. It's a struggle, it's always a struggle. You've given her a chance, an opportunity she would never have had before. A chance to be the best she can possibly be. And had I been in her shoes I would be doing the exact same thing and wasting no time in doing the things I want to do. If she wants to dance, then dance she will. And if impressing you and making you proud of her happens along the way, then it will make her all the more happier.

I hate to say it but she will never be a 'normal child', whatever one of those are. Being born in Fudomine ensures that. You have to grow up fast otherwise you won't survive. But she's retained some of the innocence of childhood and I'm eternally grateful for that. When I was her age I was a bitter little thing... At least Renge-chan is happy.

What you say to her... You tell her you are proud of her. Show her you are happy. That will be payment enough, I would think.

And don't worry. I'll watch the deli while you watch her dance. Take pictures. Lots of them. I want to see.

[abare-gokutor.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I have been busy these past few days. but thank you for your insight, Shinji. You're probably right. I didn't grow up here, not really. I just moved here, so I suppose I wouldn't understand.

I'll always support her and be proud of her, no matter what she does. Unless she's a serial killer in disguise, which I doubt.

And thank you again, Shinji. I'll take plenty of pictures.

[shh-im-talking.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[atoberex.livejournal.com]

[ooc: Atobe sent a bouquet as big as she is to Renge, delivered to her after her recital. Because he likes her.]