<@Ardweden> [It's Febuary 24th in Maine and February 25th in Tokyo, evening and morning respectively. Haruko and Satoshi have arranged for a video chat! They... probably have quite a bit to chat about, let's be honest.] <@Ardweden> [Paul is off studying for a test (it's that or anime to get him out of the room, really) and Maki's in class (surprisingly, NOT because there's food). So the roommates are away! Hopefully that's where they'll stay.... long enough for a chat, at least.] <@Ardweden> [Let's see how these guys are getting on.] <@Ardweden> [Start!] * @Haruko gets a relieved smile on her face as the connection starts up. "Hi Satoshi, glad technology hasn't completely abandoned me." * @Satoshi laughs. "Hi, Haruko. Not been treating you well lately?" He's wearing a comfy-looking bright blue hoodie that says Maine Hockey on the front and his hair's pulled back. * @Haruko has on a slightly greasy t-shirt and a small bandage on one of the fingers of her left hand. "No, my project to develop a motorcycle helmet suitable to Katie hearing has gone from merely troubled to an string of disasters. The club's races have been distracting me from classes. And when I try to catch up my computer is being remarkably laggy. But at least it likes you, so that's something." She gives an attempt at a grin. * @Satoshi gives her a sympathetic look. "Well, I'm glad to be of, uh, remote assistance? Also I have a racing story for you, whenever you'd like to hear it." * @Haruko's eyes light up. "Yes, you can divert my self-pity parade talk to me. You're making an excellent start. Also, I should be okay..." * @Haruko holds up a notebook with a calendar page and some diagramming. "I've got a plan through the end of the semester. The Taki-Nicola meetup threw it off a bit, but I think I'll actually get there if I just keep my head down. Means I'm being a bad date for Hibiki, but he'll live." * @Satoshi looks like he needs a second to parse that. He leans in a bit closer to his laptop screen so he can look at the diagram. "Good engineering, there. And you're meeting them tomorrow?" * @Haruko holds it up for ease of viewing. "Yeah. They're meeting me in a library study room. I was hoping to finagle some Taki cooking out of it, but it was the only thing that met Nicola-san's criteria and my schedule. * @Haruko's diagram actually looks pretty sane. She's broken out study period, time spend on various papers, and a few notes to actually submit a project or two early because her attention needs to be completely elsewhere. * @Satoshi leans back in his chair. "That's too bad. Well, for what it's worth, I hope it goes well." * @Haruko lowers her diagram. "Thanks, I'm not too worried. Arai-san might be a little uptight, but I like to think once we meet in person it'll be fine. * @Satoshi nods. "Have you heard much about her otherwise? I'm kind of confused as to why she seems to want to meet us." * @Haruko thinks. "A bit from Taki." * @Haruko shrugs. "The Heirophant is apparently a protective sibling and is demanding regular reports. But that was covered in the email..." * @Haruko thinks. "Given Taki has this whole section of her life that she left behind but can't really talk about, it makes sense to me that Arai-san would want to talk to some of the people that were there instead." <@Satoshi> Ah. * @Satoshi looks rather impassive. <@Haruko> I'm also really curious if she dresses anything like her sister. I'm guessing not given what Taki's said so far. * @Haruko muses. "Probably less physically demonstrative as well." * @Satoshi nods, keeping up the neutral expression. * @Haruko tilts her head, taking a closer look at Satoshi. * @Haruko taps a finger against her chin. "Even that doesn't get a reaction?" * @Satoshi sighs. "I feel like I should be happier for her than I actually am." * @Haruko shakes her head, bemused. "It's okay to feel weird about your ex dating someone new. Even when you're the one that saw the need for the seperation." <@Satoshi> Yeah? * @Haruko nods. "I'm pretty sure I've expressed similar sentiments." She stretches, "I mean I've mostly been the one dumped of late, but they did give me a chance to pick them." <@Haruko> Like I think Takumi might have found someone. He's even being classy about it. Still, irksome. * @Satoshi makes a hmm sound. "Well, I mean, it's not like the breakup wasn't a good thing. It's just... I guess I'm a little envious, which is just kind of silly, really." * @Haruko makes a face at the end of her earlier comment but then listens attentively. "You're human like the rest of us Satoshi. Sometimes your emotions will be silly and wrong." <@Haruko> You don't have to feel happy for her, you just need to act in a way that gives her a chance at happiness. And you're I think you're doing that. * @Satoshi frowns a little bit, but he nods. "It's not that I don't want her to be happy, because I definitely do. So I guess if that means meeting the Heirophant's sister somehow, I can do that." * @Haruko nods. "And you can set some reasonable boundaries. Just," Haruko deepens her voice and tries to mimic Satoshi's frown, "This is a little awkward for me Taki. I'm alright to meet with her, but could we keep it short?" * @Satoshi laughs. "Okay. Man, do I really sound like that?" * @Haruko nods solemnly. "Exactly like that." <@Haruko> I am a master of impersonation. * @Satoshi grins at her. "Good to know." * @Haruko grins and holds up a finger. "Before we get on to this race story, one other thing, if you feel up for it." <@Satoshi> Yeah, sure. Oh, wait, before I forget... thanks for the Valentine's pretzels. You know, when you said you had something for me, I was expecting you to just give it to me when I got back to Japan. <@Satoshi> Which, admittedly, would be a while. * @Haruko smiles. "Oh, you're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them." * @Satoshi sighs. "I can't believe it's still over two months until I can come home. I mean, not that things are going badly here. It's kind of the opposite, really. But I just miss you guys." * @Haruko nods. "That might be *part* of what is driving the envious feeling. Like Takumi's new mystery girl is bugging me more because I don't have time to do things with Ken. We shouldn't let our feelings rule us, but we should pay attention to the patterns behind what they're saying." * @Satoshi considers this for a moment. "Yeah, I guess so." Then he grins. "Well, here's something. You may very well be getting White Day chocolate from America. And, uh, a favor to ask that goes along with it." * @Haruko smiles and leans forward, brushing back a bang that falls in over her eyes. "You know I always make time for my admirers. What is it?" * @Satoshi laughs, although he's blushing a little bit, too. "You know how my roommate is doing the online long-distance dating thing with one of Taki's friends?" <@Haruko> Paul-kun and Shizaru-chan? Is that too familiar? But yeah, I remember. * @Satoshi grins. "I think he'd like that. I've been calling her Yamada-san, but I haven't really interacted with her at all, so. Anyhow, she sent him Valentine's chocolates, so he wants to send her something in return for White Day. So we were thinking of sending a combined package, if you'd be okay with getting his gift to Taki so she could give it to Yamada-san." * @Haruko brings her hands together, arching her fingers. "Delightful, I've been conniving to actually meet Taki's new crew for some time. It would be my honor." * @Satoshi chuckles. "I am fully behind this particular scheme of yours. Thank you." * @Haruko gives a slight bow. "Now that I can rest assured that a handsome man from beyond the seas will be thinking of me on White Day, let's get on to this story of yours." * @Satoshi blushes even harder. "You said you had one other thing, though." * @Haruko has a slightly feral grin. "Oh, just the reminder that your envy might be telling you that you might be wanting in the relationship department." She intertwines her hands and stretches. "I mean, I might just be in top form, but that might be part of the homesickness too." * @Satoshi looks a bit shellshocked. "Uh. I... uh... so, um, it snowed a bunch Sunday night and classes got cancelled yesterday." The last sentence was delivered in a rather hasty fashion. Blatently obvious subject change time! * @Haruko nods. "Oh yeah, like how much snow?" * @Haruko settles back into the chair to listen attentively. <@Satoshi> Like a foot and a half. Which is close to half a meter. <@Haruko> Wow! * @Satoshi nods, relaxing slightly. "Yeah. It's not unusual for around here, but it's enough that it takes a while to clear the roads, so some of the off- campus students would have had trouble getting to classes." <@Satoshi> Also there's been a little less snow so far this season, so I guess they figured it was okay. <@Haruko> Oh right, Maine is like America's Hokkaido. Or maybe America's northern Tohoku. * @Haruko nods. * @Satoshi thinks for a second. "Midwestern America is a little more agriculture-focused, and also full of snow and cold. There's some good hockey universities out that way, too. Maine has blueberries, though, like I brought back stuff with for you guys, and also lots of seafood." <@Haruko> Huh, yeah, they were tasty. I've also enjoyed playing with that water you brought back. It feels different, although I haven't blind tested it or anything, so it might just be me. * @Haruko doesn't sound like she thinks it's just her. <@Haruko> But I keep interrupting, go on. * @Satoshi smiles. "I thought you'd like it. It may be something as simple as salt levels, but who knows? Maybe Acadia has its own spirits. Man, I'd love to see what it looks like there right now. We're thinking about going back over spring break." He pauses and makes an amused sound. "Which is next week. A half-meter of snow the week before spring break. Anyhow. So apparently a tradition in American universities when it snows is to, uh, borrow trays from the dining halls and go sledding." * @Haruko makes a note or two with the Acadia discussion before giggling. * @Haruko makes as straight a face as she can. "Satoshi, you know that stealing transportation, even temporarily--" She loses it to a fit of laughter. * @Satoshi grins madly. "But we put them back when we were done." He laughs too. "Yeah, I know. My younger self is having fits right now." * @Haruko bites her lip. "Well, your younger self can point out the many differences and we'll ignore him. So how did the sledding go?" * @Haruko puts an elbow on her desk and uses it to prop up her head as she listens to the story, trying to not to giggle too much. <@Satoshi> It was so much fun! It was just me, Liam, Grant, and Joshua at first. We met up for breakfast, got our trusty improvised sleds, and then headed off to one of the hills near the dorms. * @Haruko nods, twisting her arm slightly in the process before reverting to a resting position. <@Satoshi> It started out being kind of a mess. I mean, everybody kept falling off, I nearly hit a tree... But we got the hang of it eventually, and more and more people came out to join us. * @Haruko nods. "The sleds likely spun. They dont have the tracks to keep them going in one direction. Although that can just be part of the challenge." <@Satoshi> Yeah, steering was ... kind of nonexistent. <@Haruko> Yeah, and spin outs are already a problem because of the snow. But if you stay away from the trees, I'll be that still pretty exhilerating * @Satoshi nods enthusiastically. "It really was. And so as we got even more people - Paul came to join us, and Elise's friend Jane, and some of the other guys on the team - well, since Liam was there, he decided we needed to set up a race tournament sort of thing." <@Haruko> I can see that, otherwise it'd just peter out after a while. <@Satoshi> He is like, ridiculously organized. Seriously. <@Satoshi> I swear if he'd brought paper with him he would have drawn up a bracket. * @Haruko snorts. "He should talk to some of the race coordinators here. The rules get so convoluted and they have to update them because of complaints about balance." <@Satoshi> Huh. I could ask him. He might be interested. <@Satoshi> Anyhow, he set us all up and we started racing! * @Haruko makes a face as she ponders whether that suggestion would make things better or worse, she then focuses on the story again. <@Satoshi> Oh, yeah. Liam being Liam, he totally made sure that it'd be a bracket that the only time we'd potentially be able to face off would be in the finals. 06[22:00] * @Haruko nods. "I can respect that, tension and drama is like half of bracketing." <@Haruko> So did you both get there? * @Satoshi shakes his head. "Sadly, I failed to follow the script and wiped out in the second round." * @Haruko clicks her tongue. "I judge, but I'm not sure I'd have done better. I can handle things without steering, but on a dining room tray it isn't so much driving as sitting at a high speed." <@Satoshi> I went out pretty spectacularly, though! <@Haruko> Ooh, that totally counts for something. * @Satoshi points triumphantly at the ceiling with his left hand. "Nearly fell over backwards, kicked up a giant spray of snow, got lots of applause." * @Haruko brings her other hand up under her cheek, clasping them together. "Delightful. Far better than failing by just skidding to a halt halfway down and then walking off in a safe but boring manner." * @Satoshi brings his hand back down to rest on the computer desk. "Yeah, that was half the other people who wiped out." * @Haruko rolls her eyes. "Silly people. The key to low stakes fun is to commit." <@Satoshi> So anyhow, the final actually ended up being Liam against Paul. * @Haruko looks surprised. "I like Paul-kun, and we've had fun with Japanese, particularly that time you left us together when you had to run off and use the bathroom, but I wouldn't have bet on him." <@Satoshi> He spent a lot of time between his rounds watching how everyone else was going down the course. <@Satoshi> Hill? <@Satoshi> Is it a course? <@Haruko> Course. * @Satoshi nods. "Yeah, well, Liam was doing the same thing." <@Haruko> I'd expect no less. * @Haruko gets a distant look for a moment, still listening. <@Satoshi> Well, the honor of Canada was ultimately upheld. <@Haruko> Ah, so they didn't try for the same route and crash? I suppose that presumes better steering. <@Satoshi> Nah, most people were trying to avoid each other. I mean, we were in coats and scarves, not full hockey gear. * @Satoshi grins. <@Haruko> Wise. <@Haruko> Thank you for that story. * @Satoshi smiles. "You're welcome. So, uh, one more thing while we're talking about brackets..." <@Haruko> Oh? <@Satoshi> ...guess who's the third-ranked university hockey team in the US? <@Haruko> Oooh. <@Haruko> Well, I only know like three universities in America, and i'm not going to guess Harvard. Congrats! * @Satoshi practically bounces with excitement. "Thank you! Unless we completely collapse over the next few weeks, we're a lock for the NCAA tournament!" * @Haruko has no idea what that acronym means but mimicks the excitement, sitting up. "That's so cool!" She then laughs at herself for a moment before focusing on Satoshi. "Congratulations on everything you've won so far!" * @Satoshi grins. "Thank you even more!" He leans back in his chair. "For all that I miss you guys and I wish I were back home sometimes... I really love being a part of this team." * @Haruko nods. "As you should. You don't love us any less for the camaraderie you feel with them. The heart is stronger than that." * @Satoshi closes his eyes for a moment and smiles. "It's nice to have more friends. It really is." * @Haruko gives a moment to enjoy that and chatters with him about some incidental topics before glancing at the clock and frowning. "I know we're getting near the end of the time, and I hate to turn talk more serious, but if you don't have anything else you really wanted to talk about I have a question. It can wait, but with my end of term plan scheduling calls gets a harder." * @Satoshi shakes his head. "No, go ahead. Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on quite so much." * @Haruko bites her lip for a moment before asking a practiced question slightly quickly. "So I've got a thing I've been thinking more about as I've been staring at budgets. I could ask you about it now when I don't have lined up yet and risk disappointing you. Or I could wait until I've had some other talks, but risk making possible plans on your behalf that you'd handle differently." * @Satoshi blinks, confused. "Is this about the road trip you were talking about doing?" * @Haruko shakes her head. "No, though I still want to do that." * @Satoshi tilts his head slightly. "So... what's this about, then?" <@Haruko> So you'd want me to talk about it now, even if I'm not sure I can pull it off? * @Haruko is actually looking a bit to the left of the monitor right now, making her avoidance of eye contact even more noticable thanks to the nature of the video chat. <@Satoshi> Would you really prefer that I wait? * @Haruko shakes her head and seems caught a little off guard by the question and answers in a flurry. "No... I just don't want to hurt you. Maybe let's talk it through and think about it and don't think I'm weird for asking or terrible if my parents say no." * @Satoshi looks even more confused. "Uh, all right? Haruko, is everything okay back home? Did something else happen?" * @Haruko plays with her hair. "No it's just... Well, your vacation is super long right. Like mid-May to end of August versus late July to September for us. * @Satoshi nods, still looking confused. "Yeah, I'm going to come back some time in the second week of May and I'll be leaving probably the third week of August or so. So it'll be about three months." <@Haruko> And your apartment sits empty most of the year, and for most of the next three years. But it would be tricky to sublet because you'd need it in the summer. It wouldn't even work for a Japanese student because the summer breaks don't match up. * @Haruko is looking off to the side again. * @Satoshi lets out a slow breath. "Yeah. I've... I've actually just started thinking about moving. To a smaller place. I don't really need to be there anymore, I guess." He sighs. "There's a lot of memories associated with the apartment. Some good. Some not-so-good. It's... it's the only place I've ever remembered living." <@Satoshi> I mean, aside from here, of course. * @Haruko looks back at Satoshi, eyes closed and showing hints of tears. "What if you had someplace to stay over the summers and winter holiday?" * @Satoshi looks at her, concerned. "Haruko, are you okay? I mean... As long as I have you guys to hang out with sometimes, I'll be fine no matter where I am." <@Haruko> I'd like to talk to my parents about whether we could *transfer* my room over to you, until you graduate... * @Satoshi looks utterly stunned. "Uh. What? Don't you kind of need that for when your classes aren't happening?" * @Haruko opens her eyes. "We only overlap for like three weeks, and if we do a road trip, that would mean I'm only on a living room futon for two. And I've done longer than that when we've had honored shrine guests taking a Tokyo sabatical." * @Satoshi shakes his head. "I couldn't... Haruko, I couldn't ask you to do that." <@Haruko> Well, would you be able to help out around the shrine and maybe pay something for groceries? I think that'd be a big help for my parents and Father has the whole list of repairs we work on when I come home anyways. * @Haruko is crying now and her voice is getting a little jagged. * @Satoshi looks increasingly concerned. "Is your family having difficulties?" * @Haruko looks up with slightly red eyes, her voice gaining a sudden steel. "What? No. We're fine. I'm not asking you to beg." * @Satoshi takes a sharp breath. "Ah, I'm sorry. You were just so upset, I... I apologize." * @Haruko nods. "I accept. It's just... I've had loving parents protecting me for nearly twenty years. I can afford to share them for several weeks out of the year. I wanted to make sure it was a fair deal for them too, that's all." <@Satoshi> That's... understandable, I... this is rather overwhelming. <@Satoshi> Can I think about this for a bit? * @Haruko nods. "I know. I'm sorry for that. And yes. You have time. I won't talk to them until you've decided." <@Haruko> And I can't make any promises then, and you'll have to decide how much of your situation I can share. * @Satoshi nods. "When would you need my answer?" * @Haruko settles slightly now that we're talking logistics. "Start of April maybe? Then they'd have a month and a half to prepare." <@Satoshi> Okay. You'll definitely have an answer by then. And if I say no... it's not intended to be a slight against you or your family. Not at all. This is a more than generous offer. * @Haruko nods. "I understand. You've got a lot of things to weigh. I want to make sure you're not alone when we're all off at classes. If you think of another way, I'll help you with that." * @Satoshi exhales slowly. "Yeah. Okay." * @Haruko glances at the clock again, showing a bit of worry. "I'm sorry to bring things down like that, particularly when you've got so many things to be happy about." * @Satoshi shakes his head. "It's all right. Nobody's kidnapped, nobody's having weird past life dreams... by the way, thanks for keeping me posted after everything went down." * @Haruko smiles just a little at that. "I've got your back." <@Satoshi> I appreciate it. * @Satoshi smiles back. <@Satoshi> I should let you go now, shouldn't I? * @Haruko lets out a breath, "Yeah, thanks for taking the time Satoshi. I missed you too." <@Satoshi> Anytime. * @Haruko exchanges quick goodbyes, turns off her monitor, hastily packs her bag, and books it out off her room, despite her original plan to take a harder look for a nicer shirt before she doing so. * @Satoshi leans back in his chair after the connection closes and just stares at the ceiling for a while. <@Satoshi> [End!]