sunshineverse | [Open] Finally an afternoon to himself!

Where: Konoha's Ichiraku
When: From about noon to a leisurely 3pm before he wandered off to read a book on a bench nearby.
Notes: For the first time in what felt like forever, he was free. Freeeeee.

He had started to think he'd never escape the vortex of paperwork that had become his life in the last few months. If it wasn't his class, it was the mission desk, if it wasn't the mission desk, it was running files from intel to the Hokage tower. If it wasn't that then by all that was sane, he was asleep and may mercy be on the soul of anyone who thought it a good idea to wake him for anything less than an emergency.

But now, now, he had a day free and clear of all paperwork. Not a bit of grading was to be had, he was on an official weekend for anything to do with the tower in any capacity, and that left him able to fully, truly, relish the sensation of eating well made noodles as he savored them.

It was a perfect, brilliantly sunny afternoon, and the only thing that could improve it was some good company stopping by to say hello.

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For once, the smell of Ichiraku's spices and broth was appealing to one kunoichi who had been taking a training day. The petite red head was using a towel to wipe sweat from her brow as she approached, blinking at the familiar back and hair of the man before grinning. Man... It had been so long since she'd seen him. She was never particularly close to any of the teachers, but it was hard to forget a man like him.

"Iruka-Sensei?" Without further prompt she sat down on the stool next to him, nodding to Teuchi and Ayame respectively and signalling that she was going to take a second to decide on her order before turning to Iruka once more, "It's been a long time."

He wasn't eating, at the moment, but he did have a bowl in front of him, empty with it pushed back away from him near the counter. It was no effort at all to break off his conversation with Ayame and give another of his students, it seemed people were hungry today, a bright smile.

"You're looking well today. Training hard?"

"Always, when I'm not ordered to rest," It was a mild joke as she grinned for the elder, pausing before finally ordering a seafood based Ramen. When that was on the way she turned to him once more, both eyes focused on him as she spoke, "You're still working with hell-raisers? I'm surprised you haven't begged to not teach anymore, Iruka-Sensei."

She remembered how awful she could be, even when she was trying not to be. And if there was one thing that was consistent in Konoha, it was how excitable academy students could be when they were trying to learn to be the coolest people in the village.

He blinked, then laughed, shaking his head and leaning on the counter as he turned to face her properly. "What? Oh no. No, I'm a teacher through and through. You won't be finding me anywhere but with the youth of Konoha any time soon."

He paused a beat, his look turning a touch wry. "Unless you catch me handing out missions that is. But that's my free time."

"I haven't seen you around there lately, so I probably just missed you or something. Still, it's got to be nice to have a day off."

Her smile turned a touch warm as she looked to the counter, watching Teuchi and Ayame work before she murmured, "A lot more time's been dedicated to training lately though. I need the extra so I can adjust for handicaps."

"I heard. You seem to be doing well with it though, so I'm pretty sure you have nothing to worry about." He leaned in, peering at her thoughtfully. "WHy don't you tell me about your training?"

"I'm still working on scheduling with someone specifically to work on blind spot compensation, but I've been working on my aim and reacting to unseen threats more, on top of my regular ninjutsu and kenjutsu training. It's really tiring, but it's gotta be done."

"I think you'll do fine. You're already moving easily and seem to have gotten the day to day movements down. You wouldn't believe how many people I've seen falling over their own feet because of a black eye since I've been teaching."

"It's been a couple of months, it'd be kind of sad if I couldn't move easily by this point," Adela shook her head as she was served her ramen, paying for the bowl before quickly rubbing stray splinters off of her chopsticks, "I was kinda clumsy when I first got out of the hospital too."

"You've always learned well, even if not as quickly as some Adela, I saw that while you were int he Academy. I'm sure you'll overcome this and surpass what you were before. It's just your personality."

"... It's still frustrating when I can't get to where I want to be quickly," Adela sighed dramatically, but it was followed by an easy grin as she looked to the other again, "But that won't stop me from trying. I've finally gotten a new goal so I have to work even harder than ever."

That earned the teenager a fond smile, and Iruka nodded his head once, clearly approving of her plan. "I'm sure that you will go far."

"I'm looking at the top, so we'll see how far I get," She nodded, focusing on her bowl and eating a bit more eagerly. Gods, just how hungry was she? She needed to eat, badly, even if this wasn't the healthiest thing.

"I believe in you Adela." It was a brightly stated thing, and he nodded once as he settled back to watch her. "You've grown so much already."

She paused a bit, flushing red and shaking her head after a few moments so she could turn back to her ramen, "You don't need to say things like that, Iruka-Sensei..."

"I know. But that doesn't mean I don't think you need assurance that you have someone believing in you, right?" He smiled gently. "I mean it sincerely."

"... Thanks," It was a soft murmur before she took another mouthful of noodles, trying to ignore how hot her cheeks burnt with that commentary. Even after all this time she wasn't quite used to it, even if encouragement like that did feel sort of nice...

"It's the least I can do." He shook his head with a soft laugh. "If belief is all I have to offer, then that's what I'll give, mm?"

"You're embarrassing me," It was a soft murmur as she looked to the broth in her bowl, failing to control how much she was blushing then.

"Ah, shame on me then. I'll leave you to it." He was smiling as he turned back to his tea, contemplating a second bowl.

[Open] Finally an afternoon to himself!

Just a quick starter before bed but EEEEE IRUKA! You'll be seeing blondie later :P

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