❀

         ❝ Oh ? ❞

She had stiffened slightly when a hand tapped against her shoulder, golden hues just staring momentarily before they lowered to the book. A slow blink later && she carefully retrieved her book; when had she dropped it ? Her bag didn’t feel any lighter then it should have. Maybe it was recently ? It was a good thing though, that this stranger picked it up. The book wasn’t hers, she never took any books home. It was her fathers.

&& he’d be disappointed in her if she lost his book.

         ❝ Ah, thanks. Didn’t realized I dropped it. Thank you. Is …             there anyway I can repay you ? ❞

she has to bite her lip to prevent her from blurting out the answer she so wants to give-- she wants to make friends and tries to take any opportunity to do so, but to ask this girl for her time in exchange for returning a book? it just feels unfair. ❝ ah, it’s... no problem, aha. ❞ the laugh is forced, she knows, but she beams at the other girl nonetheless. ❝ there’s no need to pay me back, really! i didn’t do much, after all... ❞

a hand finds the back of her neck, rubbing the area lightly-- a show of sheepishness, one that comes perhaps far too naturally.

So engaged with the Shadow before her she has no time to react to the one sneaking up behind her. She had seen it slinking out of the corner of her eyes, for her keen eyesight never misses even the slightest of movement, but she had hoped it would back off. How wrong her hopes had been, for in the next moment the taller of the two is blocking a physical attack.

“Thanks!” She cries out before summoning Jeanne and taking out the Shadow in front of her. The moment that one has been taken down she whips around, her violet eyes watching the Shadow that had backed off warily. When she speaks again her gaze continues to stay pointedly on the Shadow, waiting to see if it’ll strike again. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Are you all right?”

[ @antecurscr​ ]

❝ i’m a-ok! no worries! ❞ she spares the time to shoot the other a thumbs up before toyoukehime flares to life behind her, and the shadow that had attacked before is enveloped in bursts of colour, the psio being enough to take it out. it’s then that she practically hops backwards, a bright smile present on her face. the more time she spends in the metaverse, the more confident she becomes in combat, it seems.

[ i am officially back! all of my exams for this year are over and the school year is coming to a close, so i’ll be back on my blogs once more! activity may still fluctuate because i’m going to be on holiday from the 17th-21st of july, as well as the 29th & 30th because mcm is a thing~ ]

“Would that be Kamoshida?” The shogi player asked. She was curious what started the Phantom thieves in the first place. She felt she deserved to know the group’s history.

“May we strive to change the hearts of evil.”

❝ ...mmhm. ❞ she doesn’t like to think about that place-- it shows on her face, she knows, but she soon brushes it off. one would think she’d made peace with their first target ( because not one person would think that she held grudges relentlessly-- she does, though, and there’s not a single person who knows that fact ) ❝ the first palace was kamoshida’s. ❞

“Don’t be sorry, I’m the one imposing on you.”

Correcting people was always a pain, it was an irrational annoyance on his part but he couldn’t help but enforce it.  Preferred names aside she seemed nice enough, dedicated to her work and willing to help him out; even if he was a bit rude.  Though she did seem nervous, maybe more so than he was when he walked in.  He let out a sigh, resting a hand on his hip as he looked around the small shop.

“How about the basics?  I think it’d be helpful if I knew some stuff before the manager gets into anything too advanced.”

❝ well, first thing’s first... ❞ she makes her way over to her bag, left on a high-up shelf on the east wall of the store. with her height, she quite easily reaches it and takes it down ( though it takes a few minutes of rifling through it to find what she wants ) before retrieving a book, holding it out to him. ❝ flowerpedia! if you don’t already know about the language of flowers, that’s pretty much essential for working here. ❞

returning her bag to its place on the shelf, she turns to him once again. ❝ customers will come by and ask for bouquets with specific meanings, and to properly fulfil those requests, you’ll need to have some knowledge of their meanings. if you’re not super interested in flowers already, or if you don’t intend to keep working her for too long, then i wouldn’t try to memorise it or anything. ❞ a sheepish laugh accompanies her last comment-- she has most flower meanings memorised, after all, though that stems from her interest in the subject rather than a love for her part-time job.

He had to admit, learning better cooking skills would probably be great for him. Considering he had basic knowledge (when he wasn’t living off of junk food and instant ramen), it might mean actual decent meals in the future. He might not have a huge appetite like most teenagers his age, but he could appreciate good food. 

So the offer being coupled with an added benefit of being taught… well how could he refuse. His interest seems much more apparent as she’s speaking, and her last words more than obviously seal the deal. To think such a chance encounter would lead to an opportunity to spend time with a friend of a friend. To find a common interest – or at least something he could learn from them to create a bond of friendship between them maybe!

“I-I want to!” There’s a pleasant flutter of butterflies in his stomach. He’s nervous but he’s excited - It’s a feeling he hasn’t felt among others in such a long time. “I’d be greatful if you could teach me, senpai. I’m not great at cooking, but I’d like to learn and get better.”

❝ it’d be my pleasure! ❞ she’s beaming as the confirmation leaves her underclassman’s lips, though such a bright expression can be attested to the fact that she knows she’s just given herself the opportunity to make a new friend. of course, she’s heard nothing but good things from keiji-- she’s wanted to reach out to mishima for quite a while now, and there’s no better way for her to form a bond with another than through cooking.

within minutes, her excitement has completely taken hold-- she may as well be bouncing on the balls of her feet where she stands. ❝ is there anything you want to make first? oh, we should stop by the supermarket on the way! i have some ingredients at home, but i might not have the right stuff depending on what we make-- ❞

she’d been under the impression that the roof was off-limits, so the strange clattering sounds drifting down the stairwell had instantly caught her attention. of course, she’s surprised to see one haru okumura crouched on the far side of the roof, undivided attention on what ( from where she stands, in the doorway ) looks like several planters. now that is unsurprising.

❝ watch your back! ❞ despite the shout, she’s there in a flash, knives held up to block the incoming attack-- thankfully, a physical one, because in hindsight her knives would do little to defend against a bufudyne. in fact, that would only result in them both taking the hit, though it would leave the elder of the two far worse for wear than it would leave her ( though the ice skills are never pleasant to be on the receiving end of, she thinks )

“Y'know you’re the best, right?” Oh no, and you best like kiss barrages Goshi! She’s not letting her go any time soon either.