Kenta seemed momentarily taken aback at Hayate's correction of his assumption, but clearly the man had practice in keeping his expression neutral. "I...see." He dipped his head respectfully. "My apologies for the assumption; I only wished to ensure my children had not disturbed your day too much."
Risa thought that was a little rich, coming from the man who'd specifically dragged Ori to the temple to receive a blessing from someone who, she knew now, clearly had other things to be doing with his day. But of course she couldn't say that--she could barely think it without a new flush rising to her cheeks.
Though part of that flush might have been from the suddenly soft way Hayate addressed her. She lifted her head when he bade her, looking up at him with wide eyes for a moment before she nodded quickly and straightened out of her bow. "I... Thank you, Master Hayate," she murmured, sounding mildly stunned. Her stomach was uncomfortably tight, but suddenly she wasn't so sure that was from embarrassment at her father's reprimand. And--and she wasn't convinced it was a bad kind of discomfort either. It was...new.
"You speak wisely, of course," Kenta said with another respectful nod. "Risa has always been a helpful girl."
Ori, not so well practiced at hiding his emotions as their father, pulled a brief face that displayed exactly what he thought about Kenta's abrupt change in tone. Risa caught her brother's eye and shook her head minutely: Not worth it.
"Thank you for your time today, Master Hayate," Kenta continued, "We will leave you to your work." He turned to sweep from the library, beckoning for his children to follow. Ori slouched after him, with another quick nod in Hayate's direction, and Rise moved to bring up the rear--then she hesitated.
Turning back to the librarian, she started automatically, "It was an honor..."
She paused, reconsidered, then said in a slower, softer voice, "It was--it was really nice to meet you...Hayate." Her stomach flipped nervously as she dropped the honorific; but he'd introduced himself to her without it, and so she thought...maybe he didn't really care for it all that much. At least not when he was working as a librarian.
She did give him another quick bow before she scurried after her family, but her tiny smile somehow spoke volumes of the gratitude she couldn't properly express in the moment. Gratitude that had nothing to do with his blessing.