The smell of the warm food was quite good. And he was very hungry. Hayate slipped a hand in the box and pinched off a piece--hothothot--and popped it quickly into his mouth. Thus, instead of nearly-burning his fingers, he nearly burnt his tongue.

...just as Tsume asked him a question.

Ah curses. Today was not the best of days--once again he looked like an idiot in front of her.

After a moment, he swallowed the very hot morsel, with a little wince for his burnt tongue. He eyed Tsume and the bench, hesitating, unsure if he should just sit down. Did his welcome run that far? Also, he hated explaining that he was allergic to trees of all things. Most people laughed at that. At least he wouldn't have to convince her he was not sick....

"...I've got allergies," he answered, aware that he'd been silent a moment too long, hanging back a little too long.

To cover the lapse in manners, he smiled politely at her, and moved to sit on the bench.

Which was really, really cold. Hayate winced and perched on the very edge of the seat. It left Tsume's head higher than his, put her almost at his back. He shrugged away the little niggling shiver of unease at that.