<@Grysar> [Date: Wednesday February 25th, dusk.] <@Grysar> [After club activities were over, Taki and Nicola met up to go to the Arai residence. While outside together walking home from school, Nicola has been friendly but mostly business. Indeed, after getting inside, the prudently prepared platinum took care to lay out study materials with sufficient dedication that Taki may have been left worried that this was just an academic session.] <@Grysar> [However, once all was arranged, Nicola has relaxed. They've both chatted about their days and planned out the visit to Tokyo Tech tomorrow. The mood is finally light enough that Taki thinks she can steer the conversation most anyway she wants. So what do you do, Taki?] <@Grysar> [Start!] * Taki flops across a math problem that's failing to solve itself. "Wheeeeeeeeee. I'm overthinking tomorrow already. What are you planning to wear?... Wait, no we don't actually have time to change. Nevermind." * @Nicola looks ever-so-slightly amused. "I was just going to make sure that I did something nice with my hair." * Taki nods and plays with her braid acoss her fingers. "Hmm, you'd look cute with it braided, but that might take too much time, maybe a bun or a side tail? I miss having long hair sometimes, but I felt so much lighter after I cut it off. Maybe I should start growing it out again." * @Nicola smiles a tiny bit. "If I braid it in the morning, I can pin it up afterwards. As for you..." She looks over Taki's hair. "Your style is very interesting. The lack of symmetry works well for you, especially with the colors. I would say that I like it the way it is right now." <@Grysar> [Meanwhile, Taki and Nicola hear two voices from outside one harder and accented, another softer but deeper. They're approaching the side door and almost to it by the time you hear them.] * Taki grins, blushes, and then attempts to pokerface. "Ah?" * @Nicola starts. "Ah!" She scoots away from Taki on the couch and reaches for a textbook. "It is my parents. They are home early." * Taki sits up and scrambles to get her pencil in hand. "Uh, which equations did you you for number fifteen?" <@Grysar> [The door opens and in walk the Arai's. A statuesque woman in a business suit sharing Nicola's silverly blond hair enters first, her features are sharper and the extent of her height become more apparent when her husband follows her in.] <@Grysar> [Nicola's father is half a head shorter than his wife, but judging by the doorway about of ordinary Japanese height. His features are soft, although by the hang of his jacket he's a bit heavy set but keeps himself in rather good shape.] * @Nicola glances at her textbook, which is open to a page full of equations. "The third one on page 237. Equation 13f." Then she looks up, sets her book aside, stands, and inclines her head politely. "Good evening, Mother, Father." <@Grysar> * Zhanna takes in the scene. "Oh Gaku, we have a guest." She looks at Taki with amusement. "You don't play the hard worker constantly, we do allow our daughter to have friends." * Taki stands and bows back. "Friends still need to finish their homework." * @Nicola relaxes almost imperceptably. "This is my classmate, Taki Shimiru." Her voice is even and steady and she's focusing more of her attention on her parents. <@Grysar> * Gaku's face lights up and but he gives a formal proper bow. "Too true. You two look like you have been very busy. But we should feed our guest." <@Grysar> * Zhanna has about a quarter circle of an eye roll at that, but accepts that this duty falls to her and heads into the kitchen. If it wouldn't be too much trouble. * @Nicola shifts some textbooks so that there is space on the table for her father to set his briefcase. "How was work today?" <@Grysar> * Gaku also takes a moment to introduce himself, Arai Gaku and his wife Zhanna. "No, of course, it's no trouble at all." There's a quiet snort from the kitchen. * Taki sits back down again, and scribbles Nicola's advice on her answer sheet so she doesn't forget it. <@Grysar> * Gaku removes his shoes, as Zhanna had done earlier. "Covered in red tape. We're going out to an evening meeting that might help with that." He gives an easy shrug, rolling his shouldes. "Nothing we haven't dealt with before." * @Nicola nods. "It does seem to crop up very often." She looks over to Taki. "My parents deal in the import and export business." * Taki nods. "Ah, I wish you the best of luck finding a path through it." <@Grysar> * Gaku hangs his jacket and sits down, taking a moment to sort out papers in his briefcase. "Thank you." <@Grysar> * Zhanna emerges from the kitchen with a tray of sliced mango bread and two cups of a dark red juice of some sort. <@Nicola> So when is your meeting tonight? * Taki shuffles most of her papers, and a few of Nicola's by accident into a pile to make room for for the bread and drinks. <@Grysar> Soon, we're just stopping home to change. <@Grysar> Do you have any other needs? <@Grysar> * Zhanna's accent is definitely thicker than Nicola's but she enunciates quite well and speaks at a deliberate pace. * @Nicola smiles and shakes her head. "No, Mother, I think we are fine. Thank you very much." <@Grysar> So Nicola has mentioned you before, but I didn't think to meet you. Typically it was our other daughter that brought guests. <@Grysar> The word I believe you want is dragged, not brought. * Taki nods and smiles. "I have met Hinako-san and would belive it." <@Nicola> She can be rather... forceful. * Taki takes a drink to distract herself from wondering who Hinako would drag in. Does she recognize the flavor? <@Grysar> [Pomegranate and of good quality.] <@Grysar> * Zhanna looks at Taki for just a fraction of a second after that comment, curiosity in her eyes. <@Nicola> She is coming to dinner next week, yes? <@Grysar> * Gaku gives an earthy chuckles at the discussion of Hinako and then nods. "Yes, an overdue visit if I must say." <@Grysar> * Zhanna sighs. "You'll have to excuse him young Shimiru, he does so enjoy playing the, how do you say, " <@Grysar> * Gaku shuts his briefcase and snorts at this. "What do you mean, 'playing?'" * @Nicola has another tiny smile and then busies herself with drinking juice. <@Grysar> * Zhanna shakes her head. "You collect traditional customs like your other daughter collects belts. A habit that's just as costly as I must say." * Taki attempts to cover her grin. "I'm not sure who is winning that competition." <@Grysar> * Gaku snorts again but beats a retreat upstairs. "I'll leave you womenfolk be. But don't be too long Zhanna. The clock, it ticks." He says that last bit with just a trace of russian accent. * @Nicola laughs quietly and drinks more juice. <@Grysar> So how did you come to meet both of our daughters? * Taki sits back a moment to compose herself. "Well, Nicola-chan is in the same year as I am, even if we arn't in the same class, and as for Hinako- san... I used to be friends with the sorts of people she probably drags home. We only met in passing though." <@Grysar> * Zhanna nods. "Ah, another of Nao's friends perhaps." She then glances out the window for a moment, thinking. * @Nicola lets out a small breath and places her glass down. "She has been known to whirlwind though her friends and acquaintences. She rather always has." <@Grysar> * Zhanna then looks at the clock and notes the time. "Yes, and speaking of, I should whirlwind myself." <@Grysar> * Zhanna heads up stairs as well. * Taki waves. "Thank you for the food." * @Nicola calls after. "Thank you again, and best of luck at your meeting, Mother!" <@Grysar> [Zhanna gives a dismissive wave, but smiles. After an indeterminable awakward period of waiting and homework small talk, the parents are back and headed out the door.] <@Grysar> * Gaku, after giving his goodbyes and parting bows, does remember something. "Oh Nicola, in April, there is going to be quite the party at the consolate. Perhaps just the thing to drag some impressionable young man to." * @Nicola nods politely. "Ah. Yes, I shall keep that in mind." <@Grysar> * Zhanna shakes her head. "You meddle like a , she works now and will find a man when she is ready." She then looks back at Taki. "Please help yourself to more food and drink." * Taki nods because not freezing up completly right now would be good, and she doesn't trust herself to say anything without sounding very strange. <@Grysar> [And like that they whirlwind away, must run in the family.] * @Nicola lets out a breath after they depart. "And so, my parents." * Taki starts to flop dramatically across the table, remembers the glasses and just slides off the couch onto the floor instead. "They're quite nice, except for the part where they want you to have a boyfriend next month." * @Nicola looks down at her. "There is that." She sighs. "I do not suppose you have a spare unobjectionable boy lying around?" * Taki shakes her head. "Every one I know is either dating somebody else, a jerk, uncontactable, lives in America, or I only met a few weeks ago." <@Grysar> [And scene!] <@Grysar> [Later...] <@Grysar> [Afternoon of Saturday March 6th.] <@Grysar> [Korubane University is quite welcoming to the potential incoming class, those that are still deciding and those that want to start preparing asap.] <@Grysar> [The biology program had a small open house, including poster presentations that were open to general public. Nicola invited Taki along as it was the only chance they had to spend time together that weekend.] <@Grysar> [Currently they're being shown around campus by a biology student about a year older than you two that's walking backward and pointing out some of the key buildings and dorms.] * @Nicola has her hair pulled back into a simple, practical ponytail. She has a pad and pencil and is taking notes as they walk around the campus. <@Grysar> And so our sister school in Hokaido actually provides a small number of animals each year for the farm, but if you pursue a veternary path, most of your experience will be with city animals and pets. * @Nicola raises her hand. "Ah, excuse me?" <@Grysar> * Hotaru stops and nods. "Go ahead." <@Nicola> You are in the veterenary concentration? * Taki glances up at Nicola as she speaks. <@Grysar> * Hotaru nods again. "Although as a first year student, it's more an aspiration than a concentration." * @Nicola writes something down. "Ah, I see. This is the path that I wish to pursue as well. So it is nice to meet another student with the aspirations." <@Grysar> * Hotaru's eyes light up a bit, in a way they haven't for the rest of the tour despite her chipper tone. "Excellent, I do hope you don't mind dissections, they do scare some of the animal lovers away." <@Grysar> [Notably including a guy and a girl standing nearby. They thought this tour was supposed to focus on the appealing parts.] @Nicola looks solemn. "I am prepared to do what is necessary." * Taki nods. <@Grysar> * Hotaru bites her lip at that expression and returns the serious nods. A few other students agree as well. * @Nicola is wearing, by the way, a stylish yet modest white blouse, black skirt, and cute little black scarf under a red coat. <@Grysar> That's the right attitude, better to learn from the dead than to accidentally harm the living. Although I will admit even I was a bit surprised at an art student the other day that was requesting a big carcass. I don't even want to know what that's about. So, on to the cafeteria... <@Grysar> [Once her duties are completed, Hotaru exchanges information with Nicola, always happy to make a potential new friend.] <@Grysar> [Scene! Later...] <@Grysar> [Date: Monday March, 8th] <@Grysar> [It's after school and Nicola and Taki are on Shizaru's hanami planning subcommittee.] <@Grysar> [Taki is likely used to this, but Nicola was surprisingly okay with it.] <@Grysar> So, our location and timing has been chosen for us, but if we get the logistics right we'll have a better viewing and can actually take a moment to breathe and contemplate the successful completion of our senior high career. <@Grysar> * Shizaru says this, but you're not sure she's stopped to take a breath in the time you've known her. <@Grysar> [The student council room you are meeting in is a bit cluttered and smells of drying paints from various decorations.] Oh? I didn't know there was anything we could change. * @Nicola decides that since she has not really known Shizaru very long, she will not point that out. She has a simple plait today, tied back with a plain black ribbon, and is taking notes on the same notepad she used on Saturday. * Taki's hair is ... slightly shinier, and still hanging in front of her face giving half of everything a rose tint. <@Grysar> * Shizaru gets a glint in her eye. "The key to success in many things is to accept the restraints that are put on you and then finding a way to get what you need anyways. If we are familiar with the territory and move as a group in a organize manner, we'll spend our time enjoying the assigned location rather than jockeying position with those that arrive later." Ah, that makes sense. So, do you know when the groups around us are going to arrive? <@Grysar> * Shizaru nods and then lays out a plan in some detail. It does seem like it actually works, but it will require Taki making a site visit or two and actually coordinating with the respective heads of a the different home rooms (in game terms, spending a +Direction tag or equivalent). "So are you up for that Taki-chan? It's a lot, but it will be a day to remember for all of us." * @Nicola takes notes and appears to be sketching a diagram. "What is to be done about food?" <@Grysar> * Shizaru looks over at Nicola, distracted from her attempt to charm Taki into more work. "We do have a small budget allocated for that. I was thinking bentos as it would be a great challenge to find a place that could feed us nearby and going back to the school is too far. Do you have any ideas?" * Taki thinks. "Bento and hot saki are traditional, but we're all under age, so hot tea instead.... and there's no way that I can make enough to feed the entire class. I remember how that went last time we tried." * @Nicola ponders. "Carrying a samovar would be impractical." <@Grysar> * Shizaru nods. "Even I wouldn't ask that much of you. And we do have some time, so we could always prepare some.. samovar?" <@Grysar> * Shizaru's question is interrupted by a sharp rapping on the door to the room. * @Nicola opens her mouth to speak and then looks at the door. "Perhaps I will tell about it later." * Taki head tilts and then looks at the door. <@Grysar> * Shizaru goes to open the door and looks displeased at what she sees beyond it. <@Grysar> * The first year class representive, Akane-chan stands outside. "Oh, Shizaru-senpai, I was hoping to find you here." Her Senpai is notably less credible than the red tips of her hair, which may or may not be natural, and her red nails which certainly aren't. * Taki leans over to look at Nicola's notes, and then frowns as she remembers an awkward dinner conversation. <@Grysar> * Shizaru is so done with this girl. "Yes?" * @Nicola continues to add details to her diagram. It is precise, though not particularly artistic. <@Grysar> * Akane glances around the room. "Huh, guess the old couple is out. No matter." She looks at Taki and Nicola for just a moment longer than she should before looking back to Shizaru. "We'll help with your meglomaniacal graduation plans, but only if you allow for more merit in the sports clubs and beyond." * Taki shakes her head and points at something. "No, we fill thermos bottles with tea and then send them with each gro...up." she scowls at the door. <@Grysar> It's up to each club to decide... Oh please, we all know the Principal is a stickler for enforcing the senpai-kohai system. He didn't even bat an eye when the tennis team lost this year because I didn't replace some of the deadweight, and that's supposedly a strength of this school. <@Grysar> * Shizaru looks like she's actively contemplating slamming the door in Akane's face and carefully picks her words. * Taki hasn't been paying attention to what the sports clubs are doing, but boggles slightly that a first year is somehow in charge of one of the clubs enough to be doing roster cutting. <@Grysar> * Akane looks over to Taki. "C'mon Taki-senpai, do everyone a favor and tell Madame President to let this one go. According to my research, you were on the Sakuragaoka hockey team rather than being forced to spend your first year retrieving errant pucks and skating in circles." She gets this slight smirk. "And that's hardly the only time you've taken an unorthodox course." * @Nicola stares at Taki. "You are a hockey player?" <@Grysar> * Shizaru looks a little surprised at this too. * Taki turns around. "If you have enough people in your tennis club that you can still afford to cut some, then you arn't in nearly as dire straights as the hockey club was when they came begging their freinds for enough members to even keep the club open and field a line." * @Nicola frowns slightly. "I thought that Sakuragaoka was supposed to be a good team." <@Grysar> * Akane holds up her hands. "Yes, sometimes desperation is the only thing that drives people to do what makes.." She then smiles. "Yeah, that's right. They did well the year before too and had a first year on that team as well." * Taki turns to Nicola and says softly. "We had several amazing players, and I turned out to have some talent on the ice, but there were only nine of us total." <@Grysar> * Shizaru can't really hear Taki so she turns her attention back to Akane. "If you spent half the time you spend preparing to stymie me actually working to the teachers and administrators, you'd have what already." <@Grysar> * Akane's grin expands a bit. "Actually, checking up on your friends has gotten a lot quicker of late Madame President, now that the fortuneteller and the ballplayer are mostly avoiding one another." * @Nicola hmms softly. "I suppose it is less popular here than in Russia." * Taki nods. * @Nicola glances briefly in Akane's direction before saying quietly, "Are we to intervene?" <@Grysar> Just let it go. You'll be the star of the tennis team this coming year if you're a quarter as good as you think you are. <@Grysar> And what if the next class has a great talent? It's a team, I want the best to actually get a chance to play. <@Grysar> * Akane has been making a name for herself around the school for a bit now. She's fairly popular, a genuinely skilled athlete, and a hard worker. But she's chafed under Shizaru's sense of order. She genuinely wants to shake up the system, but she'd also settle just to see Shizaru shown up or corrected by one of her few friends. <@Grysar> * Akane could have gotten everything she knew through conventional means, but it would have taken some work. Then you get to continue your fight to change the rules of this school to force the clubs to field first years from inside the team and against a new president. And the year after that you can make yourself president and fix the whole thing to your liking, if you can convince the rest of the students to go along with you. And leave knowing that you've made a bigger mark on this school than we did. <@Grysar> * Akane glances at her nails. "Sure, I could do that. But you think I'd be the first to try? If the principal gets a grudge against me, do you think I'll still be at the top of the lists? Anything I can win from the teachers favorite pet I won't have to fight to constantly defend. <@Grysar> I'm no one's pet. I'm just not a b-- not a -- rude person all the time. Well, no at this rate you're not going to try it at all, just complane at whoever does that they arn't doing enough to help you. <@Grysar> * Akane stares her down. "Tell me Taki-senpai, what have you done to actually reform a system that gives you the right to lecture me? You mostly seem happy to keep your head down and hope no one notices *things.*" <@Grysar> Don't spread rumors. <@Grysar> * Akane holds a hand up. "I'm not saying anything outside this room." * @Nicola bites her lip and appears to be writing something down. I can't say I've fought this system very hard at all, but I also haven't *not* threated rumors. There are way to change things for the better, and I'd think they'd start with your upperclassmen in the tennis club. Are they really that unreasonable? <@Grysar> No, they mostly just sit around and enjoy the privileges that they believe they're entitled to. They're practically vegetables, eggplants, like you. C'mon, it's obvious that you know I'm right here. <@Grysar> * Akane steps forward as she's saying this and Shizaru shuts the door behind her. Voices are getting louder and now that the girl has stepped forward some the President doesn't have any easy way to get her out of here. * @Nicola looks at Akane. "I do not believe that insulting people is the way to get them to agree with you." * Taki shakes her head. "It's true, this is Japan, land of harmony, and we forget that so easily." <@Grysar> * Akane nods at Nicola's comment. "Fair enough. I'm sorry." She looks to Shizaru, "You're a remarkably effective president, you're just unwilling to use that authority in a way that scares anyone with real power." She looks to Taki, "And you are a person, not a vegetable, just a soft one. You're a great cook, but you talk a good game about fighting for change, but can anyone actually rely on you to do it?" She looks back to Nicola. "There, better?" * @Nicola seems slightly mollified. "It is an improvement." <@Grysar> * Akane is tenacious, but she isn't actually incredibly touchy. Her response to Nicola actually shows a larger personality trait, fighting her can be a better bet than half-heartedly molifying her. That said, she's pretty sure she's got her best chance at a proper channel right now. So redirecting her would require actually demonstrating that she can get better things elsewhere or by actually getting Shizaru to help her. <@Grysar> * Akane also did soften a little on the threat talk. A third path might be to convince her that you've seen more than she really knows about. <@Grysar> * Shizaru grumbles. "Not much of one." * Taki rubs the scarred side of her face. "Even if the student council forces the sports clubs to accept freshmen, they can't force them to play them, or even play their best members. They have their pride and their foolishness. And, while it's a little bit amusing to imagine them falling on their tennis rackets rather than play somebody who went over their heads, I would rather not give them the opportunity." <@Grysar> * Akane smiles. "I've got three clubs ready to buck the principal if we have Madame President's blessing. No force required. Deal?" <@Grysar> * Shizaru looks rather pained at that proposal. <@Nicola> I have not the horse in this race, but it seems a reasonable idea to me. * Taki looks at Shizaru. "Uh, how many sports clubs do we have anyway? I never counted." <@Grysar> Five plus seven other. <@Grysar> Strictly speaking, I've got two sports clubs and the theater club. Still three. <@Grysar> * Shizaru then reopens the door. "I've heard your proposal. But I do really think it's a matter for the next class to work out." Taki does recognize this as a fairly firm tone. It's going to take more than just an argument to sway her, though actual leverage may do the trick. <@Grysar> * Akane prepares to walk out. "Fine, we'll be sure to provide proportional effort to your graduation schemes. * Taki nods and says mostly to herself. "Maybe if you actually had a majority of the current clubs behind you, or being pushed along, you'd have better luck with the holdouts." <@Grysar> * Akane nods. "So four more? That's a lift, particularly without any third year leadership. Guess I could start with baseball." <@Grysar> * Akane walks out the door, hesitating a moment beyond the threshold. * Taki turns to Shizaru. "And I just put my foot in it, didn't I? Sorry." <@Grysar> * Shizaru shuts the door. "Well, if we manage the Hanami right, may the other bits don't have to be that special..." She then packs up her bag. "That's -- " She not so subtly keeps her head down and back to the other two girls. "That's uh, probably enough for today." * @Nicola simply nods to Shizaru. * Taki sighs. "I'll do my best to make up for this. I just wanted to slap her for being an idiot about this and that's completly the wrong thing to do." <@Grysar> [And with that commitment, we end.]