Recently, Daichi forced himself to get into a work out regime considering his volleyball team’s start up. He begins with an easy three mile run around the cultural sector early in the morning before the shops open up. It’s chilly, quiet, and secure enough to avoid the bad seeds that spill in from the so-called ghetto. By the time he concludes it is eight am and he’s at a corner catching his breath. He steps off from the corner and makes his way towards an open restaurant for breakfast. Amidst his meal he starts to drift and his will to fight it off is weak; his head hits the table and he passes out.

A noisy crowd stirs him from his sleep. He sits up to see the establishment’s customers has grown since he arrived. He blinks the sleepiness out of his eye and searches his area for a clock, or someone with access to one. Daichi lazily reaches out to the person that passes by his table and grabs hold of their sleeve.

     There was something off about him today. For that handful of occasions in which their paths crossed, he’d always seemed sharp. Maybe even dangerously so. Unless he was standing next to Nina, then he was all softness. But that was an expected outcome. The thought made her smile inwardly, well aware that fondness for the little nurse was pretty much universal.

Today; however, he seemed unfocused. His usual guarded quietude replaced by a tiredness that weighed down the angling of his broad shoulders. It was also unusual for Theo himself to be absent from his own clinic, but she knew that she didn’t have to worry about the good Doctor. He could take care of himself. She was there for a special delivery, so she would be waiting for his return anyways. If she could help out one of his patients meanwhile, even better.

“Oh, whoops.” She repeated the corrected sign, as a way of saving it to memory and to apologize for the mishap. “I still get tripped up by American sign language.” She was a little better with British sign language, but not by much. “I am pretty good with Japanese, though.” Alice declared proudly with a smile. “Would that be okay?”

He seemed reluctant to discuss his health, which was fair enough. She was aware of Theo’s practice, and could very well be considered a partner given what she supplied him with. But none of his patients were aware of it. So she would keep it casual. I’m Alice. Deft hands moved in accordance to JSL with a lot more confidence than before, going on to explain that she was a colleague of Theo’s. She considered them more than that, but calling herself his friend sounded weird even to her own ears.

If she had just been on her way without getting distracted, Aoi would have made it to the library a lot sooner than this. Considering the reason, she could at least say that it’s justifiable. So what if she loses a little bit of time from studying? These opportunities just don’t come often enough!

It’s hard to ignore the impulse—it’s a radar that’s constantly on, searching, looking. The very second that signal goes off, she’s on her way. Aoi’s nose is one of her greatest assets, and her sense of smell is something to be reckoned with. This is just something she can’t afford to miss out on.

Aoi’s path to the library has long been broken, as she turns the corner of the block onto the other side of the street to go back in the same direction she came from. She stops by a nearby CD shop, something she hasn’t noticed being there before. Her gut is telling her to go in, just see what’s inside, and it doesn’t need to tell her twice before she steps through the door.

Her nose scrunches, sniffing the air. She eventually travels down an aisle to a corner with a shelf full colorful CDs and even some posters hanging on the wall. They’re promoting some group of pop stars. With closer inspection, she catches the gaze of a girl with black hair, twin tails, and...

yxzawa

[ ★ ]—— Having found both of her old third year companions has lifted Eli’s spirits quite a bit. Nozomi left earlier, but she and Nico have decided to warm up and do some practice by themselves over the beach sand, regardless of how many people are watching them. They’re exercising more to keep themselves in shape than prepare for a concert. 

It’s not like she meant to break the store window.

OK, maybe she did a little. After all, that was where she aimed. But it’s not her fault it’s where these army invaders decided to stand and open fire. It was just the most convenient place to throw them with a strong-armed swing of her weapon. It felt good to wield after so long of being without it, the weight in her gloved palms being as natural as breathing as she brought it towards her opponents and sent them flying through glass with relative ease. 

Hopping through the now broken storefront window, pink and yellow sign above declaring the obvious once sneakers step onto glass-sprinkled linoleum. The isles are lined with colorful plastic and stuffed animals of various designs, one shelf knocked over and sending a spillage of teddy bears over the floor. She finds her opponents unconscious, and quick as a wink Nora sets to disarming them, throwing their guns somewhere in the store where they’d have to search through dolls and model airplanes to find again.

She’s satisfied with her handiwork, Magnhild leaning on her shoulder, but the crunch of glass underfoot alerts her to another presence. There’s a sickly-looking boy near the front of the store, and with a squint the redhead points her weapon at him with a glint of turqoise eyes.

❝ Hold it right there, buster! I don’t know who you are, but this is Nora territory. 

If you’re looking to cause trouble, you’re gonna get it! ❞

                 The white-clad sword would stand idly on the side walk, watching the plethora of people pass by him. Golden irises scan each person, wondering who to surprise that day. Eyes would land on a particularly short girl-- red eyes contrasting his. Gazes would meet --how surprising-- for a brief second. Wide smile across his face, the sword would stop the female in her path, before letting out a yell--

                 "UWAH!"