#ayanothread

Being eighteen years old and employed didn't necessarily mean that one was in complete control of their motor skills and maintained perfect balance - Tateyama Ayano was probably the best example of this, somehow finding ways to bump into people and dropping things while she was at it.  Though she was a lot more aware and conscious of her surroundings than she used to be, it was almost as if there was some kind of variant of the concept of Murphy's Law, a theory created just for her - but this version mostly pertained to tripping and simpler acts compared to the grander scheme involving more unfortunate events of the original.

Fortunately, Ayano wasn't carrying anything as she walked hurriedly towards her home in Mocha Valley that breezy afternoon, but she did however end up bumping into someone.  Heat flooding her cheeks as her head whipped around to apologize to the stranger she walked into, it took a while for her to realize that said person was shorter and was probably years younger than her, her gaze slowly shifting downwards. Hands clenched into fists and concerned brown irises observed the other, hoping the girl wasn't hurt.  "Ah!" She exclaimed anxiously, leaning forward a little as words tumbled out of her mouth.  "I'm so sorry!  I think I spaced out a bit there - I'll make it up to you if you want?"

Ayano typically showed around groups of at least ten people at a time during this time and season, since summer vacation had always meant more tourists and arrivals. However, she was greeted by a (pleasant?) surprise today as she blinked at the lone figure in front of her. "Hello!" she said with a cheerful voice, giving the stranger a small smile, "I'll be your tour guide for today. I think it's just going to be the two of us, but we can wait for anyone else who wants to join last minute! You can call me Ayano if you'd like."

Though she was certainly shocked by the sudden decrease in attendees, she was determined to make sure this tour would be just as fun and eventful as all her previous ones were. Quickly removing the microphone attached to her blouse in a fluid movement, she silently observed the stranger. She felt as if she had seen him before, but she couldn't place him in any of her memories. Maybe he just looked like someone she knew... ?

"Uwwahh..." Ayano fumbled awkwardly with the cans of cat food in her arms, immediately regretting coming in here so unprepared. She should have at least brought a shopping bag with her! She was close enough to home to get one.

She was forgetting things left and right today, wasn't she? Not only did she forget to bring a bag, but she had also forgotten the sale that only lasted until the end of the hour. At least she only forgot for a while - it was only when she saw an advertisement of it on the way back home from work that she ran straight for the Mini Mart and mentally scolded herself, the sun quickly setting behind her.

The eighteen year old yawned as she stocked up on food for herself and her assigned partner, piling it all on top of the cans. Oh, well! What can you do? She was a pretty dumb person, anyway. It's not like it could be helped.

From her right, Ayano could hear the roll of shopping carts on the linoleum floors, and she felt her face burn in embarrassment. Or she could have just used those instead. Was she reaching a new level of absentmindedness or was she just sleepy?

The eighteen year old sighed in relief as her food was delivered to her table. Thank goodness she got in here early! God knows that this new cafe had started to get popular and was most busy on Mondays like these. To be honest, it wasn't really a struggle to get here on other days, but Tateyama Ayano just happened to be around the area during the time it usually opened. The food was good, and the deserts were to die for, so why the heck not, huh?

Munching away contently, Ayano closed her eyes and relaxed. She was alone today, too, but she supposed getting some quality "me time" wouldn't be so bad. Not to mention that she was feeling somewhat cranky at the moment, due to not being able to sleep the other night. She was at that kind of tired state in which she was more prone to accidentally let bothersome things she'd regret slip.

"... and that's the end of our tour!"  Ayano smiled brightly at the tourists gathered around her, her voice loud and clear through her microphone headset.  "The gondolas won't come back for another ten minutes, so feel free to get some souvenirs from the shops to your left!  I hope you enjoyed the tour and come back again soon."

It was nearing the end of her shift, and she was glad she could be able to squeeze in this last tour before she had to head home.  Even if her job was a bit tiring, working seven hours six days a week, it didn't matter to her.  She loved to help people and she loved the city, so she wasn't complaining.

Her gaze shifted back over to the tourists, waiting patiently for them to wrap up and for the gondolas to come back.  However, something (no, someone!) in green caught her eye, and she found herself staring at a boy who seemed no older than thirteen.

"... eh?"  Her confusion formed a small, unusual frown on her face, and without realizing it, her feet moved towards the stranger.

The eighteen year old adjusted her scarf absentmindedly as she stood on her toes, looking over the heads of the passerby.  She was supposed to meet up with a new acquaintance today, and although her friend was new to Koi, she had a lot of faith in the other girl and knew that she wouldn't get lost along the way to this side of the city.  The old Tateyama Ayano may have been one to fuss over things like this, but ever since she came here, she had slowly started to change.  So, to say that she was worried would probably be the exaggeration of the year... but it still had a ring of truth to it, much to her dismay.

(Besides, if it got too late, Ayano knew she couldn't possibly live with herself if she didn't try to look for her.  Her friend was only fourteen, after all.)

Though Ayano had a few female friends back home and here at Koi, Kaname Madoka was a bit different, since she was a lot younger and a lot more innocent.  Not that it was a bad thing, though - Ayano found the girl extremely sweet and felt compelled to defend her if needed.

Ayano squinted, the rays of the sun blinding her slightly.  They agreed to meet each other at ten minutes to five, and there was still lots of time before that, so there wasn't any need to get concerned just yet.

"Ah, here you go!"  The petite girl smiled as she knelt down and held out a hand to feed a couple of stray tabby cats, who took the cat food gratefully.  She watched fondly as they ate, making the funniest expressions and noises.  They were all just adorable, and as much as she'd like to take as much of them home, under her care, all she could afford was a couple of cans of cat food from the Mini Mart and her unlimited affections.

"Looks like you guys haven't caused any trouble while I wasn't around, have you?"

In truth, Ayano had stopped by Holly Park a little earlier than she usually did and carried an extra ration of cat food mostly out of excitement.  Unlike her obligations, specifically (and only, rather) for school, which she sometimes forgot until the day or hour before they had to be done, she had remembered her conversation with a friend she had become acquainted with the other day with clarity.  The arrangement was that they'd meet up at one o'clock by the bell tower, and although there were still five, ten minutes until the agreed time, Ayano found herself feeding some of the cats that recognized her already.

'Would she mind... ?'  Though she didn't know Sakura well enough to figure out the answer, she still felt somewhat guilty, and stood up from her crouching position.  Adjusting her scarf, which she had always insisted on wearing despite the temperature, she scanned the crowd that had begun to assemble before her.