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The intense warmth of unfiltered sunlight made midday feel like the height of summer. At least the trees provided enough shade to make being outdoors bearable.
While Sinclair was just itching to take off his school uniform vest, Kromer seemed completely unbothered, contently humming as she walked through the grass. He didn’t know how she did it, but it wasn’t the most questionable thing about her either.
Eventually, he gathered the courage to break the silence, clearing his throat, “You, um, wanted to talk about something?” He asked.
The girl perked up attentively. “Hm, yes! But that can wait until we find a place to settle down.” She answered enthusiastically, continuing to skip ahead through the grass.
The grassy clearing wasn’t the most open due to the forest surrounding the town of Calw, but at least it was quiet. Sinclair was the one to suggest they take a walk while the weather’s nice. “A place to settle down?” He curiously inquired.
Kromer nodded before quickly walking towards a lone tree. With the current position of the sun, the area of the shade was only enough to fit one person. Apparently this wasn’t an issue to Kromer as she sat down in the grass, just on the edge of the shaded area.
Sinclair hesitantly followed, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the shade. Finally, some relief from the sunlight beating down on him…
“You’re wondering why we’ve stopped to sit down, right?” Her voice interrupted Sinclair’s thoughts of the cool shade saving his body temperature. She sat on her knees in front of him, looking as content as ever — not that Sinclair had ever really seen her particularly upset around him, though. Sunlight reflected off of her silver-and-gold hair, almost too bright for Sinclair to look since he was engulfed in the tree’s shadow.
He nodded confirmatively. There was something strangely off-putting about sitting in a secluded area with Kromer, sitting and staring directly at him, but he brushed it off. “This isn’t going to take long, is it? We spent long enough just walking here…”
She hummed, leaning back out of the shade. Does she just not overheat? “No, it shouldn’t. I just happened to notice you were tired. Not everyone can handle the heat!” She added boldly; Sinclair was unsure if it was out of pride or mockery.
At the very least, he was relieved to hear it was as simple as stopping to cool down. He only suggested taking a walk because he expected their talk to be short, but enjoying the weather this way was nice too — even if it made wearing more than two layers feel unlivable.
Kromer didn’t say much after that. She ran her hand through the short grass a couple times, feeling its unexpected softness. The midday heat had evaporated the dawn’s dew on each blade, so it was more comfortable to touch. Her smile softened a bit, seeming more soothed than usual.
Sinclair didn’t try to say anything either, sitting silently in place, fidgeting in his lap.
Minutes passed in silence; Sinclair idly looking down at his lap; Kromer playing with the grass. She was especially uncharacteristically at ease, basking in the warm sunlight. A soft sigh of contentment left her lips and a soft rustle of grass followed.
“Ah, Sinclair, I don’t understand how you have such a low heat tolerance.”
He looked up at the sound of his name.
Kromer was now laying on her side, knees tucked, hands still brushing through the grass. She looked completely unbothered by anything; contently laying bathed in sunlight on a heated blanket of grass. It might’ve just been his imagination, but she seemed especially peaceful with her attention on the grass rather than him.
She continued to speak to him, “It's a shame you can’t experience the comfort of laying in the sunlight like this.” Her tone was partially pitiful.
“A-Are you trying to encourage me to, or…?”
“Hmm?” Kromer looked up with feigned innocence. Her hands moved away from the grass as she stretched her arms above her head, then rolled onto her back, before curling up facing away from Sinclair. Her behaviour wasn’t far from a big sleeping cat’s by now.
Her silver-and-gold hair lay splayed out on the grass, the sunlight gracing every silky strand. The soft grass was comfortable against her skin and clothes, creating a combination that made her feel lightweight. Even for someone like her, she was especially tranquil and comfortable just savouring this simple moment. She could get used to this…
“...U-Um, so, what was it that you wanted to talk to me abou—”
“Hush,” she cut Sinclair short for rudely interrupting her peace and quiet, “that can wait till later.”
It was clear that she didn’t plan on getting up for a while.