[Meanwhile, at Kaede's bicycle stand...] * Kaede works next to the stand on a bike. His hands are gloved and slightly greasy. Good thing he wore a short sleeve shirt today, even if it is white. And a decent pair of blue jeans. * Nanami stands behind the booth wearing a cute overall outfit. Her hair's done up in a little bun and it looks like she's trying to look particularly cute today. Hey it sells. She's calling out. "Come one, come all to your very own student-owned, student-run local bike shop. Takeuchi bike repair!" * Nanami grins at Kaede for a moment then gestures her hand over to him. "Yes, today get a free tune-up from our very own Kaede Takeuchi. The third most popular guy during Valentine's day! That's right! You know you love him so give him a hand!" (*grins madly*) * Kaede twinges slightly at that and glares over at Nanami. "Nanami!" ( Geez. I don't even have to do anything at this one :P ) (What can I say? I love torturing my brother ^_^) * Nanami just grins and goes back to announcing. * Kaede shakes his head irritatedly and goes back to work, grumbling, but looking up for potential customers. [Kaede looks up to see Remi. Yay! 'Cause this means she's not dead :P] * Kaede looks up at Remi and lets out a faint smile because she's not dead! You came. * Remi grins. "I said I'd try to get down here today." [It's about now I should say this scene is taking place more like 3:00 p.m. 'Cause otherwise Remi'd still be in school :P] * Kaede hefts his wrench up on his shoulder and stands up a little. "Well, if you brought a bike, I can look at it..but all the same, glad you could make it." Though I'm not in the most...presentable condition. Come on, you look fine. * Nanami continues through her announcements, keeping one eye on Kaede. "...see, he's already attracting the cute girl customers by the handful...come while he still lasts!..." * Kaede winces again. * Remi snickers. * Kaede opens his eyes and groans. "Oh come on, not you too..it's bad enough that I have a sister to do it..." I think it's cute. Yeah..well...Nanami's just..that way. * Kaede 's looking off to the side, blushing embarrassed. That's not so bad. At least she doesn't think everything's funny, like mine does. Yeah...I was wondering if I was listening to a bad sitcom listening to her...no offense. Errr...I mean... * Remi raises an eyebrow. ...nothing. * Nanami calls over to Remi. "Don't mind my brother. He's just a moron at times. Do you have something we can look at for you?" Nah. I just came to say hello. Oh? Another female friend? No wonder he was so popular on Valentine's * Remi nods and grins. "I think your brother is totally awesome!" She clasps her hands to her chest and sighs. "He just makes me want to swoon in ecstacy." (Bwahahahaha!) Nanami, I TOLD you to stop bringing that u...um...Remi. Are you okay? * Nanami blinks then bursts into laughter. (I keep looking at this channel and laughing. It's so cute. ^^) (Hee! Remi rules.) (What about me? ;_;) * Remi breaks into laughter too. * Kaede blushes...hard. "...you're all against me." * Katie calls from her booth (which isn't terribly far away), "Yes, we are!" * Nanami waves over to Katie, then leans on her elbows. "Come on, bro. You're such a stick in the mud." * Katie waves back, grinning, and adjusts something in one of her ears. * Remi grins. "But a nice stick in the mud." * Kaede doesn't comment..he just...doesn't comment. ...thanks...I think. [And, a few booths away at Katie's facepainting stand, where she's been painting faces all day long...] * Katie is sitting, still grinning from the exchange with Kaede and company. She's wearing a black shirt with a few spots of paint on it; her doodling from last night seems to have gone farther than her hand, as all the way to the rolled sleeve her left arm looks rather like a rosebush. * Katie idly cleans her brush and adjusts the mirror, waiting for her next vict- er, volunteer. [When Katie looks up, she sees... Taro!] * Katie blinks, sighs, but tries to keep her smile up. "Hi Taro." (Stick with victim..please stick with victim) * Taro smiles. "Hi! Have a seat and pick a design. Or just let me know what you want, if it's something else. * Katie points at the suggestions on one of the signs. How about a big heart? (Yeah, a big, black heart!) * Katie winces inwardly. "Okay. Red?" * Taro nods. * Katie waves for Taro to sit down and dabs her brush in the red paint. "Which cheek?" Left. * Katie nods. "Look to your right, then, and hold still." * Taro does that. ^_^ * Katie leans forward and paints a good-sized heart on Taro's cheek, filling it in afterwards. Hearts are really simple, so it doesn't take long at all. Okay, done. * Katie sets the brush down and moves the mirror so Taro can see. * Taro looks and smiles. "It looks great!" [Ken just happens to walk by. "Hey, Nishizaka, you've got a ketchup stain on your face."] * Katie rolls her eyes. "Want a turn, Ken? I can avoid 'ketchup stains' for you." * Taro gets up in a start. "What did you say?" Ken: "I dunno. Your freaky boyfriend might get jealous." * Katie takes a deep breath, then says, "He's not my boyfriend." Ken: "Oh really. Which one of you dumped which?" Taro: "Why I oughtta..." * Katie eyes Ken. "I broke up with him." Ken: "Really? I didn't think you'd be that smart." (Ooooh.. two insults at once, nice) Taro screams, "That's it, Hibiki!" He runs forwards at Ken and pulls his fist back. I didn't think- Taro! [Before Taro can launch his fist forward, someone grabs his wrist.] * Kaede narrows his eyes from across the way and picks his wrench back up. He was watching wearily for some time now. * Kaede rushes over and stops, blinking at the wrist grabber. * Katie blinks, then sets the glass of water down. Hey man. You wanna fight? Go do it somewhere else. Er...Eriko.. * Kaede slowly turns his face to Katie. "Are you okay?" I'm... fine. I'm fine. [Taro glares at Eriko, looking like he's going to hit Ken anyhow. But instead he just snaps his arm from Eriko's grip and stomps off.] * Kaede sighs and notices he still has his wrench in hand, setting it to his side. "Honestly, what is he thinking?" * Katie puts her head in her hands, then runs her fingers up through her bangs. "He wasn't. God, that kid scares me." She looks back up at Eriko, Kaede, and Ken. Ken says simply: "He's a moron. Who knows what they think?" * Kaede glances over his shoulder at Eriko. "Good timing though..thanks." * Eriko lights a cigarette and looks at Kaede. "Yeah, well... Didn't have anything else to do today anyhow." I've got to head back to the booth..but I'm just over there if something else comes up... * Katie nods. "Yeah, thanks Eriko." She pauses for a moment, then says with forced cheer, "So, anyone want their face painted?" * Kaede heads back. Ken shrugs. "Let's see if you can paint a skull and crossbones on my arm." * Katie chuckles. "Sure. Have a seat. Which arm, what color?" [Ken sits down and puts his right arm on the table, as though getting ready to arm-wrestle. And man, his arms are thick. "How about black?"] * Eriko sticks around and watches. * Katie raises an eyebrow. "All black?" She cleans her brush and points with it. "Upper arm?" Ken shrugs. "I guess. Make it look menacing." * Katie snickers. "With sharp pointy teeth." She moves the mirror out of the way, swishes her brush in black paint, and gets to work. * Katie paints. "Can I use red for the eyes?" "Go ahead." Highlights are okay, I assume. * Katie dips her brush again. "Whatever." * Katie finishes after some time; it wasn't all that difficult, but it certainly took longer than Taro's heart. The end result is a particularly menacing black grinning skull (complete with demon red pupils!) and crossed bones beneath it. Ken looks down at it. "Hmm... It doesn't totally suck." If you wanted it to totally suck, you should have said so. * Katie cleans her brush. Ken rolls his eyes and stalks off. * Katie snickers as he stalks off, then turns to Eriko. "Hi. Want a seat?" * Eriko shrugs. "I guess so." She sits down and doesn't bother to ask if Katie minds if she smokes :P * Katie didn't expect her to, either. "Thanks for helping with Taro there. He's so..." She tries to think of the right words, then sighs. * Eriko nods. I don't know what to do. * Katie takes the brush out of the water and sets it on her towel. * Eriko shrugs. "Just try to stay away from him, I guess. Learn how to defend yourself, too. Or just tell Saki." Trying, trying, and maybe, but I don't know if knocking his teeth out would be good or bad. Staying away from him is hard. He's in one of my classes. Might not even matter, knowing him. * Katie laughs a little. "Yeah. Breaking up with him didn't." Maybe he knows he has no chance. People like that... They can be dangerous. * Katie tilts her head. "How do you mean?" Sounds like he's obsessed. He'll probably try to ven his frustrations one way or another. Guess it's kind of like a water balloon. Fill it too much and it pops. * Katie mmms and nods. * Katie looks up and sees someone waiting for their face painted. She sighs. "Well, I guess we'll see what happens. Thanks for stopping by, Eriko." * Eriko nods.