[Day: Monday, April 11th. Time: 12:00 p.m.] [Weather: Hot, clear.] [The bell rings and it's lunch time! You gather in the cafeteria, where somehow you all run into each other.] [Session Start!] * Katie is in the cafeteria! She's seated at a table, idly tapping it. She has no lunch. * Haruko walks up holding her bag out before her. She's got a fairly blank look. Hi Haruko. * Satoshi is in line buying food! * Haruko nods in acknowledgement of Katie. "I really shouldn't have anything on me but my robes. I'm not sure how to do that though." * Haruko 's voice is steady but flat. [The pizzawiches are very good! But they sell out fast.] * Taki walks into the cafeteria with a small bento box in her hands, and without her backpack. She looks around for a moment and then sees Haruko standing so she walks to her. * Katie sighs and sets her chin on her hand. * Kaede sets down his own lunch far away from everyone else and opens it. He's also got his kaban out on the table, though nothing's out yet. * Taki swallows and then speak quietly and flatly. "Hi Katie... Haruko." * Haruko nods to Taki and sits. "Maybe one of you should hold my hairpins. We may need them." * Taki shakes her head. "I... I'm faster... and I've been in there and I... yeah." * Katie holds one hand out to Haruko. * Satoshi finishes getting his lunch and starts to head over to a table where some of the hockey team is waiting, but then sees the Arcana crew all gathered and goes over to see what's going on. * Haruko takes the pins out of her hair and it falls down over her shoulders. She hands them to Katie. "I should probably change in a bathroom. One of you could stow my bag and we leave from there." Hey, guys. ( Nah, change in the lunch room. ) * Katie takes them and tucks those pins away. "Sure." She looks to Satoshi. "Hi." * Haruko looks up to Satoshi and smiles warmly for a moment. "Hi Satoshi." * Kaede takes out his computer and sets it out on the table. He starts it up and lifts the lid off his lunch, leaning on one elbow. * Taki sits down and opens her bento, its mostly full of rice, then she looks up at Satoshi and tries and fails to sound a bit cheery. "Hey Satoshi." What's going on? * Katie sighs. "We're going on a trip." She gets to her feet. "I don't think you want to come with." * Satoshi looks at Katie for a minute, then says quietly, "No, I guess not." * Haruko sighs and stands up. She looks over to Katie. "Nothing I could say at this point would matter, would it?" * Taki looks down at her lunch. * Katie smiles a little at Haruko. "Sorry." * Haruko nods. She looks unhappy but resolute. * Taki nudges her bento box with her finger and then rubs her face. "Uhm... Satoshi? I'mkindanothu..." She takes a longer pause than usual and tries again. "I... can't eat this. Do you want it?" * Satoshi looks at his tray full of food, then at Taki. "Um, sure? Mind if I eat some of it later, though, or do you need the bento back now?" * Kaede idly types at the computer, his focus on the computer. He's hunting and pecking and not noticing. * Haruko just stands there. (He's hunting and pecking?!) * Taki shakes her head. "I'll... after school. You can keep it until then... yeah." Better get going, Haruko. * Haruko nods and heads to the nearest women's bathroom. * Katie walks over to Kaede. * Taki watches Katie go one way and Haruko go the other, meanwhile she just sits. (Yes. Yes he is.) * Kaede doesn't acknowledge Katie. His focus is fully on the computer screen. (@_@) [Chikako interrupts Katie on her way! "Um... Hi Katie. Is it cool if we talk?"] * Katie blinks at Chikako. "Um... Chikako?" She looks confused. * Chikako has an unusually serious look. "Please?" I... have to... * Kaede does happen to look at Chikako. He looks up at the two of them. * Katie stops. She looks at Taki, then Kaede, then sighs. "Okay, if we can make it fast. Give me one second." * Haruko isn't really being observant right now, and she heads in to the bathroom. * Satoshi sits down next to Taki and starts eating. * Chikako smiles. "Cool! Um... But not here. Let's go to the office." * Katie nods and hurries back to Taki and leans down, telling her, "I have to talk to Chikako. Let Haruko know that it'll be a while, okay?" * Taki nods. "...Good luck." I think I'll need it. You... need to talk to her. * Katie takes a breath, then lets it out. She walks back to Chikako. "Okay." * Chikako heads out of the cafeteria! * Katie goes with her! * Kaede says something quietly under his breath. Only Katie hears it as "Yes, she does." * Haruko changes in a stall offscreen. * Taki stands up. "E...excuse me... need to go find Haruko." She doesn't quite run out of the cafeteria, but she's definitely walking fast. * Satoshi sighs and keeps eating. Every so often he glances over at Kaede. * Kaede gestures down the table to Satoshi, not looking off the computer screen, but definitely in a way that lets him know he wasn't just furniture all this time. "Satoshi, come here for a second..." Mmm? * Satoshi walks over, still chewing. I'm not going to yell across the table... * Satoshi swallows. "Makes sense. What is it?" * Kaede types away. He's no longer hunting and pecking now. "Do you think we're losing any friends lately?" Outside the group? Take my question at face value. What do you think? * Haruko comes walking back with Taki after a bit. Well, I don't hang out with the team quite as much as I used to... and Chikako certainly doesn't come around any more like she did... That's just it...sometimes you need an anchor... * Kaede goes back to silently typing. Oh by the way, Chikako missed her the other day too. When was Chikako looking for her? * Kaede doesn't answer. He just keeps typing. * Haruko comments quietly to Taki as they walk. "I really need to sew up a pair of underwear. But it's not something I really want to work on at school." * Taki nods after a bit, but as far as blushing goes she only seems a bit less pale. * Haruko grins slightly at Taki for a moment and then sighs again. "I suppose it's silly to have hope about that conversation. I don't even know what to hope for." What conversation? * Taki shakes her head. "...Sorry, Haruko I'm just... just not feeling very well right now.... It... it's nothing Kaede." Oh, it could go either good or bad. Probably both. * Kaede hasn't looked up from his computer as he talks. Dead focus. * Haruko smiles a little. "It should help in the long run." She sits. * Taki nods slightly and goes to sit down near Satoshi. * Kaede clicks on something and then leans his head over, sighing. "Geez...it really needs everything custom..." * Haruko takes a seat of her own. She digs through her bag a bit and gets out a Mars manga and starts reading it. "Charge them more." I can't. I already made a deal. Besides, they can't really afford more. * Satoshi goes back to eating, but he does seem to be thinking about something. (Satoshi? THINKING?? OH EM GEE!) * Haruko nods. "Well put in a clause for future contracts. For those that can afford it." * Haruko 's tone is fairly flat again and most of her attention seems like its on the book. There is on most of them. This one's special. ( Satoshi is thinking about which came first: The chicken or the egg. ) * Haruko smiles a little at that. She doesn't comment though, she just flips a page. (Answer: Jin) * Kaede keeps typing and puts a pen in his mouth as he works. * Haruko turns another page. Her eyes widen for a moment as she reads. She then hmms for a moment and doesn't look up. "Are you guys all planning to go to college?" * Satoshi blinks at Haruko. "Yeah. I was thinking about going to someplace in the US. But I've been so busy lately that I haven't really had time to work on it..." * Haruko glances up looking a bit surprised. "The US? Why?" * Taki blinks at Haruko. "Hockey." * Haruko nods. "Oooh." She goes back to her manga. * Satoshi nods. "Yeah. I want to play college hockey over there. Maybe get into the minor leagues, maybe go on from there. But with everything going on here... I might put things on hold for a bit." * Haruko frowns. "You shouldn't let it fall by the wayside so easily. We don't know how long this will last, we can't put our lives on hold because of it." I'm worried that Fortune won't favor me trying to leave Japan. ...Or Tokyo. Isn't there an expression that "Fortune favors the bold"? Something like that. ( Actually it's "Fortune favors the mold". Mold is good for you. ) (Mhm, penicillin) * Haruko puts her book on the table and looks over at Kaede's eyes. "Are you alright Kaede?" Well, it doesn't seem to be favoring any of us lately. Mm? I'm fine... * Kaede doesn't meet Haruko's gaze. (Can she see his eyes? They check out?) [If Haruko tries hard enough, she sees his eyes swirling with the pools of Chaos itself.] [Just kidding. They're hazel.] * Haruko nods and keeps looking at him for the moment. "Alright..." Her tone is fairly dubious. * Kaede finishes up his meal and slowly closes the lid. He scrolls over the trackball, fully focused on the screen. * Haruko goes back to reading after a bit. "Are you planning to go Kaede?" Go where? College. [Time is passing!] I haven't actually given it my thought. *click* I guess entrance exams will be here before we know it... * Haruko smiles and goes back to her book. "What would you major in? Computers? Business?" * Taki checks her watch and looks at the door a few times but that's all. ( "Computers? Business? Computer business?" ) Mmm? Both I guess. But my interests don't really matter much... ( Kaede will major in Microsoft Office ) (He'll major in Basic Programming) The store will be your career? The store isn't going to close no matter what I choose, Haruko-san. I can't let it... ( I had to take a class on Microsoft office. Taught by an idiot who didn't know a thing about computers -.- ) (Why would you need a *class* for Office?) How long has it been in your family? ( Because they're morons. ) ( He thought I cheated on the Microsoft Works test, because there was "no way" I should be able to get done that fast. ) Mmm..well it was originally my grandfather's. Though I'm not certain if it goes back beyond that... (/me snerks) (I am disturbed.) Did he work with bicycles too? ::Haruko flips a page:: ( It was absurdly stupid. One of the questions was "How do you exit the program?". >.< ) (/me snerks more) * Satoshi listens and starts eating Taki's lunch. I don't really want to talk about this, okay? * Haruko lowers her book and looks at him oddly. "I respect that you need to keep up your family honor. If I have a son and it suits his temperament he might become a priest. I'd just like to understand it better." Understand what? The store. What it means to you. What's there to understand? Every family has slightly different traditions. Preserving the name or the business can mean a range of things. * Kaede doesn't respond to that. He types. Typing is good. Most of all I want to better understand you. I can't do that if I don't understand what the store means to you. Why? Because of what we do together. Because of the stress we're all under. When I act without understanding I can make things worse. Learning about my store won't help you understand me any better. * Haruko looks confused. "But it is such a large part of your life." * Satoshi does not want to interrupt this conversation, so he keeps eating. [Whole lotta time has passed.] * Taki sits and is lumplike. You can study a biography on the greatest men in history. Can you say you'd know how to talk to Hirohito if you knew what school he went to? ( They had a class on that. XD ) * Haruko looks down for a moment. "I don't think I would ever know what to say to an Emperor." She looks up again after a few seconds. "But no. I would not. But I would start on the path of preparing myself by studying his biography, by knowing how he felt about his school and how it affected him." [Less than 30 minutes of lunch remaining!] And that's such a waste of time. What you should be looking at is how he acts as a person. * Taki looks at her watch and then to Satoshi. "...Uhm... I... Satoshi?" But even that doesn't help with an emperor. But it is more worthwhile for real people.. * Kaede folds up his computer. * Satoshi looks at Taki. "Yeah?" Acts matter too. I'll agree with you, they may matter more. But you and I don't learn in the same way Kaede. This has helped me better understand others. I... we... Even if Katie comes back now... I ... there's not enough time for us to come back... I... My bag. I'm sorry... I don't want to force this on you. * Satoshi blinks. "What?" * Taki takes a breath and tries again. "...There isn't enough time for us to come back to school after.... after we ... you know. .... My backpack is still in my classroom and..." * Haruko glances over at Taki and Satoshi but then she looks back to Kaede. * Kaede isin the middle of putting away his computer Oh. I'll get it for you. * Haruko watches him put it away. Th...thank you Satoshi... I... I'll make all of this up to you somehow. * Kaede picks up his kaban and makes to walk out, blinking at Haruko looking at him and pushes up his glasses. "Yes?" * Satoshi just smiles a little at her. My ways of learning may be ::she pauses to think of a word:: inefficient, but they are my ways. Yes, but for some people it may be ineffective as well. If you'll excuse me... * Taki gives him the beginnings of a smile and the quickly looks at Kaede. "Wh... never mind." * Kaede glances at Taki curious. [Less than 20 minutes of lunch left!] Perhaps, perhaps not. But I have seen your actions and I do not understand much of you. But I'll pester you no more. * Haruko picks up her manga and goes back to reading it. * Kaede shrugs at Haruko and then stares at Taki until she says something * Taki shakes her head. "Do...don't mind me, I'm... just ... just a little sc... out of it right now." Yeah. We all are. If you want me, I'll be taking a little walk outside. I could use the fresh air. * Kaede turns around and walks out of the lunch roon! * Taki nods twice. * Haruko turns a page and keeps reading. She comments flatly. "For better or worse we seem to be missing our chance for today. But Chikako must have something very important to say for Katie to stay this long." * Taki shakes her head. "I...if she goes home for lunch... the...then we'll miss her." [About 15 mins. left.] * Haruko looks oddly at Taki. "Home for lunch? What do you mean?" ...He... he was talking to somebody yesterday... that's why we're doing this now. What? * Haruko doesn't feel the need to echo Satoshi's comment. Katie heard them... from the floor below. * Haruko nods. "So why is today important?" * Taki rubs her arms. "Be... because I don't know how much longer ... I or... she can take the waiting... He needs to be stopped Haruko. He has to be." * Katie walks back into the cafeteria and over. ( Awareness checks, -4 bonus ) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6-4) and gets 0. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6-4) and gets 7. 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-8) and gets -2. 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6-6) and gets -3. [Everybody notices the cafeteria suddenly go silent! Except for Taki. They're all staring at Chikako, who stumbled into the cafeteria shortly after Katie, crying.] * Katie glances around. ( Hearing checks! +3 ) 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6+3) and gets 9. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-5) and gets -2. 2d6+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6+1) and gets 9. 2d6+3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6+3) and gets 11. * Taki is the oblivious to everything. * Haruko puts down her book and looks over to them and frowns and comments sadly. "That isn't good at all." Wha...what isn't? Katie's back, and Chikako came in right after and she's crying. * Satoshi nods. [All eyes are on Katie and Chikako!] * Katie turns her attention to one table in particular. The one with Ken at it. * Taki turns around to look. She whispers to herself mostly. "No." [Ken smiles and waves at Katie.] * Satoshi mutters, "What's *he* want?" * Haruko looks to Taki. "I think you should be ready to put up a field." [Less than 10 minutes left before lunch ends.] * Taki swallows and starts to shiver slightly. "...I... don't know how." I don't know if we have enough time. [Some teachers come in and escort Chikako out. They ask what's wrong, but she just cries and doesn't answer.] * Haruko looks up to Katie. "What's going on?" * Ken says something to the people at his table, and they laugh. Yeah, we're not going today. * Katie walks over to Ken. * Satoshi lets out a sigh, although it's probably not one of relief. * Taki blinks in confusion and just watches Katie. * Haruko frowns. "I'm betting Ken just said something rather impolite." * Taki doesn't respond. * Ken grins. "Andrews! To what do I owe the pleasure?" * Katie smiles pleasantly. "Hi, Ken. I was just wondering. What's so funny?" * Haruko puts her book back in her bag and watches. Oh, nothing. * Satoshi mutters again. "When does he ever say anything that isn't impolite?" * Katie looks slightly down at Ken, which happens when one person is sitting. "I was pretty sure you said something about Chikako." This must be something special.. yeah. I'm not sure Katie would bother for herself at this point. Nah. Why are you lying to me, Ken? You never bothered hiding that you make fun of me before. * Haruko sighs and glances over to Taki's lunch. There anything left? * Ken chuckles. "Who said it was about you, Andrews?" Well, I think I was involved. That's what made it funny, isn't it? * Taki speaks quietly, not that it matters when it's Katie she's talking to across a large room. "Wh...what are you doing?" * Satoshi didn't eat it all yet. You wouldn't go and laugh at girls who are crying, would you? [By now, the lunch room is starting to fall back to its usual chaos.] What'd you do to make her cry, Andrews? She's sticking up for her friend Taki. ::Haruko looks to Satoshi:: Mind if I have some of the bento? * Satoshi shakes his head and pushes it towards Haruko. * Haruko eats somewhat fairly quickly. Unlike Taki she doesn't seem to have lost her appetite. [It's guud foodings.] ( Probably has a pinch of Mary Anne ) I talked to her. We didn't agree on something. (Ack! Did I bring the !Saki special? Sorry guys.) Really? Wouldn't have guessed. Right. And I don't like it when people laugh at her. * Haruko mmmms. That's tasty Mary Anne. She keeps eating. So? So don't do it. You can go back to laughing at me, if you want. Ooooh. Are you threatening me? I'm quaking in my shoes. ( Awareness rolls! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taki (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Haruko (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Satoshi (2d6-2) and gets 10, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "I can recommend some good Dice Cleanser, if you like." 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katie (2d6-8) and gets -2. [Katie hears a chair scrape across the floor as someone gets up and starts over to where she and Ken are. Haruko verifies that Taro is the one doing it. Satoshi finds himself wondering why he doesn't recognize that brilliantly handsome bishonen coming to Katie's aid.] * Satoshi squints at the guy. * Katie turns to look at Taro. She glares. [After a few seconds of focusing, Satoshi realizes he's not that handsome at all, and it's actually just Taro.] * Satoshi shakes his head and wonders what was in Taki's food. * Taki is paying too much attention to Katie herself and misses that somebody else thinking about getting involved until it's too late. * Ken snickers. "Oh, so now you'll get your boyfriend to try to beat me up, huh?" Shut up, Ken. He's not my boyfriend. [Taro comes over. He looks pissed. "Are these guys bothering you, Katie?"] No. I'm bothering them. * Haruko sighs and keeps eating. Suuuuuure he's not. * Taki starts to stand up. [The bell rings!] * Haruko glances to Satoshi and Taki. "Either of you going want to finish this?" Nah, go for it. * Taki ignores Haruko and starts to walk towards Katie and Taro. * Haruko rolls her eyes and eats hurriedly. * Ken gets up, depositing his trash in a nearby wastebasket. "You're a real player, Andrews. I never would've guessed." He heads off with his cronies. [Taro calls after him, "Hey, man! Don't you give her any trouble, or else!"] * Katie covers her ears a little too late. * Ken is now known as Taro * Taro slams a fist into his palm. "Grr... That guy pisses me off so much. Katie, he ever bothers you again, just let me know and I'll take care of him." * Haruko finishes the meal. "I'll return it to Taki unless you'd prefer to Satoshi." I don't want you to. * Taki walks up. "He... he's not worth it." * Taro smiles comfortingly (well, maybe not so much in his case). "Don't worry about me. I'd never let him hurt you." He then runs back over to his table to deposite his trash before he's late for class. * Satoshi looks over at Haruko. "Doesn't matter." * Haruko nods and cleans it off before putting it in her bag. "See you later." She gets up and heads to class. * Satoshi gets up and throws out the remains of his lunch, then heads off to class. * Katie shivers. "Yeah, okay." She walks over to Kaede. "C'mon." * Katie just goes to class, then. [Session End!]