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Kokomi has always liked birds.
A strange thing to say, perhaps, given that there are no birds on Watatsumi, but it is nonetheless true. There's something to them that draws her eyes, and the way they're free to simply fly around and choose their own destiny has always drawn her imagination.
And so, when she visits Narukami, she always takes the opportunity to birdwatch.
It's not as if it isn't practical, either. Sara typically wants to meet in the forest, and that's where the birds tend to be, so she has both an excuse to do so, and the time to spend before Sara arrives.
(If she gets there a bit early every time, just enough to let her watch hem a bit longer, surely no one can blame her, yes?)
When she'd arrived in Ritou, Sara had, as always, met her on the docks.
Unlike their regular meetings, though, Sara had excused herself.
"I would like to introduce you to someone. As we are companions, he has requested to meet you.", she'd said, and told Kokomi to meet her at their usual spot and time before she'd left to "arrange a meeting"
Sara, in typical fashion, hadn't really elaborated. She tends to do that, Kokomi has noticed, assume that things are as clear to others as they are to her, even though she never really gives context to what she's saying unless asked.
She's already met Sara's brothers. Even if she does not admit it, she dislikes the rest of the Kujou Clan. She would never introduce Kokomi to anyone from the Tenryou Commission.
In short, Kokomi has no idea what to expect.
At least she has plenty of spare time.
There are few birds around today, though. None of the small and colourful ones that usually flock to her whenever she arrives to claim the treats and nuts she brings with her.
There is one, though. A large black crow that approaches her on the ground before it stops to stare.
"Hello, little guy. Although I suppose you're not very 'little'."
The crow tips its head to the side, as if in though, before flapping its wings thrice.
"Hello."
It makes Kokomi jump. She knows that there are birds that are able to mimic human language, but she had no idea crows were among them.
It's voice sounds hoarse and deep, like some sort of demon.
It tilts its head again, as if analysing Kokomi's reaction.
"Hi."
That makes Kokomi stop. She didn't say "hi", now did she?
The crow flaps its wings again.
"Greetings."
The third attempt sounds rougher, more urgent, almost frustrated. As if it's trying to tell her something without her getting it.
Then she remembers the lessons her tutors always gave her. Most of the time, the simplest answer to any mystery is typically the correct one.
"Are you trying to say hello?"
Immediately, the crow starts jumping and flapping its wings wildly as it caws loudly enough to echo across the trees.
"Well, hello to you too, then. I've already said that, though."
The bird puffs up into a ball of feathers. It makes Kokomi laugh to see that it somehow manages to look affronted.
"Ah. You are already introduced? Excellent, that saves some time."
The bird jumps around to face the voice, and when Kokomi does the same Sara is looking at them both with a small smile.
Immediately, the crow starts jumping over, cawing wildly as it goes. Sara crosses her arms in response.
"This is her, yes. As I have assured you, I have made no exaggeration as to the colour and lustre of her coat." A few moments of silence pass, and then Sara frowns. "As for the second part of your statement, that is not kind. She is simply unused to converse with birds of your esteem."
Kokomi has been trained in diplomacy and negotiation since she was a child. She's spent her entire life in contact with others.
She has no idea what to say.
"You. . . Know each other?"
Sara's frown immediately disappears.
"Indeed. As I told you, I had wished to make appropriate introductions. It would seem that it is no longer necessary to do so, as he has already taken initiative on the matter." She turns towards the crow, and it stares back unblinkingly. "Now, this is Sangonomiya Kokomi. She is my companion, and as such I should hope that you will also become friends."
Again, Kokomi is left stumped. The crow tilts its head, and Sara mirrors the motion. Both of them blink at the same time.
"What is his name?" That's a good thing to ask when being introduced, right?
Sara and the crow both turn to her and blink owlishly.
"He is a crow. He has no need of a name, as we already recognise him."
The crow caws and jumps in a circle.
"He would like to apologise for his earlier hostility. He had assumed that you were also able to converse with him as I am. In return, he humbly requests to partake in the nuts that you have brought."
"The . . . nuts?"
The crow jumps up and down, and Sara nods.
"Indeed. The other birds often speak of the treats you bring them when you arrive. I had to exchange the prospect of coming here for food to convince them to allow this meeting to remain private."
That's true, she does do that. Perhaps she shouldn't be surprised that the birds tell others, if they can truly talk like Sara says they do.
The crow caws, and even Kokomi can hear the approval in the sound.
Sara's mouth turns downward again. "indeed." A sigh. Kokomi needs to strain her eyes, but she's certain there's a mild flush on her cheeks as well. "That is, however, not an appropriate description of our relationship. We are merely companions."
It's with a deep fascination that Kokomi watches the crow practically scoff before cawing again.
Sara's frown deepens, and the flush on her face is now definitely there.
"Tengu do not lay eggs."
That makes Kokomi's eyebrows rise.
"What are you talking about?"
Sara jumps, as if she'd entirely forgotten that Kokomi was there, and her entire face shifts colour to match her mask.
The bird flaps its wings. Kokomi can see on its little face that it would be smiling smugly if it had lips.
"Eggs!" the crow croaks, and Sara looks like she wants to disappear.
"There will be no eggs!" Sara responds, and reaches for the bag of treats that Kokomi has tied to her belt. "Take this and be silent!" She tosses the bag on the ground and the crow quickly hops forward to claim his prize.
Sara sits down, crosses her arms, and looks away with a huff.
Kokomi would be lying if she said that it isn't charming. Sara is always so stern and serious, so it's a curious thing to see her huffy like a petulant child.
She moves to sit beside her.
"Now, why are you debating eggs, Sara?"
"Eggs!" the crow responds, before returning to the nuts, and Sara huffs again.
"He is simply mistaken about the exact nature of our companionship. He insists that this is not a proper place for us to safeguard our eggs. Naturally, such things are no concern, as neither of us lay any."
"And what is the 'exact nature' of our relationship, then?"
Sara freezes. The crow stops rummaging through the nuts to stare.
For several moments, everything is silent, as if the forest itself is holding its breath to wait for Sara's response.
Kokomi can see the way her throat bobs, and the look of a solider mustering courage to do what she must is unmistakable on her face.
"It is . . . " she begins, and Kokomi can see the tension in her entire body. She stops, eyes shifting back and forth, towards the trees, the ground, and then locking onto the crow.
It blinks. Slowly, the white membranes dragging across its beady eyes. Sara's jaw clenches in response.
"That is to say . . ." she starts again, and then her mouth closes with a clacking noise as her face grows redder again.
Well, she's certainly sending signals, alright, but in typical Sara fashion they're not exactly easy to decipher.
Finally, the Tengu clears her throat.
"It'swhateveryou'dwantittobe!"
Her voice is drawn and choked, and she speaks so fast that Kokomi needs a few seconds to piece it together.
"Caw!" the crow calls, as if agreeing.
Then it takes flight, wildly flapping its wings, to land on Sara's shoulder and starts pecking on the side of her head.
Sara makes a noise of complaint, not dissimilar to the crow call itself, and tries to lean away from its beak. It's a lost struggle, since the crow is firmly attached to her shoulder and her body can only bend so far until she falls over.
And she does.
Right into Kokomi.
Sara gasps. Kokomi, having seen the painting on the wall, is already prepared to catch her.
The crow, work seemingly done, caws triumphantly as flies back down to the nuts.
"Traitor!" Sara groans from where her face has landed in the nook of Kokomi's neck. Then she seems to realise where she is.
It is a curious thing, to physically feel her face heat up until it's almost uncomfortably warm, but it does, and Kokomi is once again her pressed to pretend that it isn't charming.
"I. . . Uh. . . Apologise for his. . . "
Kokomi tuts to make her stop.
"Now, you said the nature of our relationship could be whatever I wanted, didn't you? What if I say that I want it to be like this."
Sara freezes in her arms. Genuinely freezes, like a statue, and Kokomi can feel how the thick muscles of her back flex, as if she's preparing to make a dash for it.
"I . . . You do?"
She sounds so genuinely surprised that Kokomi's heart hurts a bit, because that shouldn't be that unbelievable, should it?
"Mhm-hm", she hums into Sara's temple. She hasn't really thought about how fluffy Sara's hair is before, but it's far softer than it looks. "Well, perhaps a bit more than this, too, but we can talk more about that when we're actually in private."
The crow looks up at her, right into her eyes, and blinks. "Private"
Sara huffs out a breath. "Be silent." she mumbles as she lowers her face back into Kokomi's shoulder in an obvious attempt to hide it, and Kokomi can feel the humidity of her exhale as she does.
When Kokomi looks back at the bird, she could swear that it is smiling.
Well, she does like them all for a reason, doesn't she?