moved to Lovelornings!

Since Misato was about twelve she’s been part of her father’s  Omiai arrangement ( A Japanese tradition close to that of matchmaking in western world ). She’s been paired with a boy her age with the intention of unifying two influencing fashion businesses in a more amicable way. 

 Though not legally binding, these “arranged marriages” are already common within the town of  Okaki, and Misato’s desire to cooperate has never been a factor in the set up. 

Even putting the “problem” of her sexuality aside, Misato doesn’t have, nor will she ever have any desire of being with her arranged partner. In addition to being as morally bankrupt as the rest of this greedy town, she finds his advancements disrespectful and his attitude reprehensible.  

Overshadowing and overlooking the more obvious slums of Ankadomari is the more well known town of Okaki to which Misato calls home. Regionally known as a sort of  Japanese “Beverly Hills” of sorts, it was built as the living place of wealthy businessmen and retired political officials. The fact that it also houses the most powerful members of the Yukuza branch ruling over Ankadomari is an open secret, however. 

It was natural for Sissel to worry about her students. She just can’t help it. If there’s something she can do to help them, she would do it. So she’s not surprised when another student came to her asking about Yumi’s condition.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Hopefully. It’s okay to be worried about her, dear.  I wish I could have done more for her too…” Sissel may not be her mother, but she doen’t really care. “If you notice she’s not well, you can come tell me, okay? I’ll do what I can.”

🎭 - It’s okay to be worried about her.

The words are so refreshing to hear, Misato had to make a conscious effort to not let an exhale of relief. Despite the self-proclaimed strength of her soul, feeling as though she was the only sane person on the earth was an exhausting burden to carry. 

She instead instead raises her head to look over the teacher once more - trying to read her body language more accurately, find some sort of proof to back up this gut feeling that she might be different from the others. That Yumi might have one adult ally in this rotten town that had turned against her so unjustly.

It was time to make a leap of faith.

“Sensi, with all due respect....what you ask is a more monumental task than you might think. Yumi is....never well. Nor would I expect her to be in her situation. Ts’ a miracle you were able to hold a conversation with her at all, some might say.”

She takes the time to collect her thoughts, holding out her clasped hands in front of her. It was so cruel to rob her classmate of the small bit of privacy having a new teacher would grant her....but she didn’t want Sissel learning about it from someone with a more wicked and judgmental heart. 

Feeble-minded. She did like that descriptor of those around her and being rightfully refereed to as a woman of culture did definitely boost her ego quite a bit. Honestly humanity was a bit of a tragedy, going in circles with so many lessons and never seemingly learning completely. But she knew a lot of things got better, no matter what pessimists said.

“It’s a sad fate really. You’re right that I shouldn’t surround myself with the uneducated masses, such things is nothing but suffering to my mind.” Perhaps a light exaggeration, maybe even a large one, but she wouldn’t want to surround herself with those who don’t know half the things they are talking about.

She leaned back into her chair slightly, her eyes still keenly reading her book “Nothing is quite as tragic as those who don’t understand the arts, half the artists here belong in the streets rather than at the academy. But life’s unfair to us all sadly.”

🎭- “You shouldn’t - and yet we have little choice in the matter, don’t we?” She replied to Satomi’s previous statement with a sigh, a lock of red hair twirled between her fingers as she thought back to her old school - and all the fools within it. Mindless sheep that followed outdated traditions so blindly when it came to their beliefs....enough to drive an innocent girl into insanity. 

But she shouldn’t dwell too much on the past, not let those hideous emotions resurface in front of her classmate. She’d save that energy for the stage.

🎭 - “Excuse me, sir?” 

The vampire had to make sure her voice was slightly hesitant, reflecting the age of her appearance rather than her true lifespan. She didn’t have to fake the slight pitch of panic in it, though - certain her heart would be racing if was still able to beat.

“Have you seen another girl around here? She’s short, with black hair ? I’m looking for my little sister...she went chasing after a black cat...”

🎭- “You’re free to deny, of course.” Though that sort of statement was usually added as a courtesy, Misato had every intention to pose it as a challenge here. Perhaps that would give her enough incentive to make her join her set crew.

“I just - get worried about my other two girls handling all the work, with both of them having psychical limitations..”

“…”

Reina had only wanted to say hello, wanted to try and make more friends in the school and hopefully erase some rumours in the process… She did not expect to be stuck listening to a rant. Was she an actor of some sort?

“I…Must admit I do like listening to Rakugo… My Father took me to see a performance once, it cheered me up after an upsetting day at work… I must admit I like to tell stories myself however they are not…Of the comedy sort.”  She doubted most people would like to listen to a good ghost story unless they actually wanted to be scared or genuinely wanted to listen. 

“Is there a genre of sort you prefer? I assume actors have their preferred genres and roles they like to play yes?” 

🎭 - “I by no means speak poorly of it - but an actress such a myself can’t work under those harsh conditions.” She states it was a an exaggerated puff of her chest, despite the fact that she knew fully well that the girl before her couldn’t see it and trying to overblow her fragile self esteem. “I am...how would you say....a method actor? To switch roles so quickly is near impossible to me when I so heavily try and reflect a character’s very soul.” 

The proud smile in attempt to cover up her own failures was disturbed by the mention of Reina’s father - side of her mouth twitching ever so slightly. The topic of parents was still a very sore one after her move here. She clearly felt a pang of jealously; though she would not be so cruel as to name it. No need to ruin a good memory for other girl. 

“A worthy question, dear! I’m wonderfully pleased you’d ask!” 

It didn’t take an astute mind to see her classmate was hesitant about something - though whether it was about the conversation or just a general sense of shyness she could not determine.

“Though I try my best to find the artistic value in all genres, I do have the expect taste of the classics; Shakespeare being a childhood favorite of mine. Anything that has withstood the test of time has done so for a reason, don’t you agree? Medieval settings and tales of heroism are equally something I’d loved to give modern life to, in addition.