1039/Cram School Ami meets Workaholic Mami

Cram School Ami meets Workaholic Mami
Date of Scene:	25 January 2024
Location:	Game Crown Arcade
Synopsis:	Mami decides she needs to take some me-time, and heads to the arcade where she is instantly overwhelmed. Ami shows up and comes to her rescue. They team up to play the multiplayer Sailor V story mode, and fight crime while forming a new friendship.
Cast of Characters:	Mami Tomoe, Ami Mizuno

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Mami Tomoe has posed:
When Mami joined Obsidian, it was with the promise of having resources and a team behind her so that she could spend less time hunting witches and still have all the grief seeds she needs. But the girl doesn't know what to do with herself except work, and joining Obsidian has just shifted her focus.

School is out of session, and she's already stressed baked her way through her entire supply of flour. She hasn't been able to get the store, so now she's out in the city trying to figure out what to do. It's been years since she did anything other than go to school, bake, and hunt witches. She's almost forgotten how to have fun.

But she knows the arcade is fun. She hears students talking about it at school all the time. So here she is, standing just inside the front doors, surveying everything there is and trying to decide what to do.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno had a theory she was working on. One that required a lot of data be compiled, which was currently in the 'waiting for it to finish' state. Through with her own homework for the school break, as well as insuring her friends were also caught up, meant that she had free time to. She'd even updated her wardrobe with a few shopping trips!

All that was left now was to... Have fun.

With her friends currently busy with their significant others, or families, or just wanting to take a break in their own way that left her with deciding to visit the arcade. At least this way she could say she was having fun if they asked what she'd been up to. Dressed in jeans, cute ankle boots, and a slouchy pink and white blocked sweater with a beret on top she actually looks sort of fashionable today. A bit updated than her past outfits at least.

Her path is blocked by the girl at the door though, and she regards Mami from behind before quietly speaking up. "Excuse me. Do you mind if I scoot past you? I heard someone put a new high score on the Sailor V machine and wanted to reclaim my title." Of course, unknowingly it was half of the other Sailor girls she was in competition with on those high scores.

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami Tomoe doesn't really ever dress casual. Today she's wearing a green plaid pinafore dress over a black, long-sleeve shirt, belted at the waist with a brown leather belt. It's cold so she's wearing black wool tights with her black leather mary janes, a brown double-breasted wool cloak, and a cute tan beret. She could have walked in right off a Parisian street.

She turns around when Ami excuses herself and says, "Oh! Sorry, of course," then a moment later, "Actually, do you mind if I watch? I've never been here before. I don't know how to play any of these games." She makes big eyes and smiles hopefully.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Thank you very much," Ami responds politely and sweetly as if she really does mean it, and wasn't just reciting the polite phrases out of habit. A step to the side is taken to begin walking past when Mami speaks up again drawing her attention.

"Oh?" Blue eyes turn back to the stylish girl only to offer a rather warm and inviting smile in turn. "Of course! It would be nice to have some company as it is. Most of my friends are off with their significant others today," she explains with a chuckle.

"I'm Ami Mizuno, at Radiant Heart Academy, grade nine." A little half-bow is given. Not super formal, just formal enough. "Pleased to meet you."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
"I tried to get my boyfriend to come out and do something with me," Mami says with a wistful sigh. "But he's a bigger workaholic than me." Not true. They're both just as bad. He's just under more pressure than she is. He has to deal with upper management. She just has to deal with him. She laughs lightly.

Then Ami introduces herself and Mami's eyes widen. "Oh Mizuno-san! I've definitely seen your name. You're top of our class!" She smiles. "I'm Mami Tomoe. Also at Radiant Heart Academy. Also in grade nine. I'm so delighted to make your acquaintance."

She looks around the arcade. "So, you were going to play the Sailor V game?" The way she says it, suggests that maybe she's not super familiar with Sailor V in general.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno gives a sympathetic noise at the mention of boyfriend. It wasn't that she didn't understand the thought of wanting to spend time with someone in that manner, she just had no experience in it. So instead she remarks, "Hard work can be good," rather lamely. "So long as he still makes time for you, right?"

When her name is recognized she smiles broader. "I see! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you then. I'm usually studying or have my nose in a book," she admits with a guilty expression, and sheepish grin. "This is part of why I'm here today honestly. My friends have pointed out I don't really *relax* much, so I've started to make an effort to do so." At least an hour a day! She had it scheduled.

Gesturing further in she points out the game in question. It's easy to spot with the topper that was flashy and bright. "Yes, it's a very popular game about a crime fighting girl working to save the city. There are even rumors it's based on a real person-- Though I find that hard to believe." There's more than a little humor in that. She knew Minako after all! The character in the game, and Minako, had such different personalities.

"If you'd like, I can show you how to play it? It is multi-player."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
There are few things Mami likes to talk about more than her boyfriend. "Oh yes, he does," she says. "We spend quite a bit of time together." At work. "He took me to Paris for Christmas. We had dinner at Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower." She brings her hands up together in front of her chest and draws her shoulders in as she inhales and then exhales with a sigh.

Then she smiles at Ami. "But today I'm here for some me-time. Show me this game," she says and gestures toward the cabinet, waiting to follow Ami's lead.

"It sounds rather silly to think there's some girl going around fighting crime all over the city," she says. Because obviously girls go around fighting witches, right? But also that's what she's supposed to say. Haha. Magical girls? Don't be silly.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Indeed, magical girls. Ami doesn't really remark on it other than to laugh a little bit. "Right? Who has time with that when there's so much to learn at school?" Of course the top grader in the class would think so, clearly. Especially if anyone knew her reputation as being the studious sort. It wasn't just luck but hard work and constant work at that.

"It is a fun game though, and while it starts out easy there's a decent learning curve to keep it interesting the further into the story you get."

"If you play storymode at least," she reasons as they approach the game. There was someone there at it currently but they were clearly out of coins. And health. With a groan and hung head the fellow stomps away to meet up with some friends leaving the machine free and clear for the girls. Ami gestures to the controls. "If you'd like we can work through the tutorial first so you learn the controls?"

Mami Tomoe has posed:
"Yeah, haha, school," Mami says, nodding her agreement, as if that's definitely what she also does with her time. If she did devote herself to her studies, Ami would have a real competitor. Fortunately for Mizuno-san, Mami was a workaholic instead. Hunting witches was why she was alive, so she was rather dedicated to the task. "Though, since school's been out, I've been spending a lot of time at work."

She looks at the game cabinet as the dejected gamer stomps off and then slides into one of the seats. It's multiplayer! "Are you sure? You wanted to reclaim your high score. I'd be happy to just watch you play. See how it's done."

She glances away, and then back to Ami, with eyes that are just a teensy bit bigger. "But if you want me to team up with you, then I guess I should learn how to play."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno sweeps her hand back behind her to brush over the seat with fingertips before sinking down into it herself. It was out of habit as she typically wore skirts. Jeans was a sometimes thing, like now, but it never hurt just to make certain there was nothing on the seat either. Once comfortable her hands rest familiarily on the controls and she flashes a smile over to Mami.

"I do, but I've never had the chance to play this in multiplayer, either. It would be nice to get to experience that side of the game." With that assurance given she reaches into her purse to pull out some tokens that she then pops into the machine for the both of them.

"So let's see how this goes. It should be fun playing with a team. I've heard it's an entirely different game experience this way." With a grin she watches the apparent excitement in Mami's gaze. "So let's team up!"

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami Tomoe claps. She's so excited. It's a video game but this girl wants to team up with her. Nobody ever wanted to team up with her until Takashi. Not really. And now everybody did. Her life was so much better now.

Then she looks at how Ami's holding the controls and turns toward hers, putting her hands on them the same way. "Alright, sensei, teach me the ways of this game," she says, sounding rather dramatic. Then she giggles.

The game comes on, and since they put it into multiplayer mode, it's a tutorial for them both. Mami is not particularly adept at video games, though, it would seem. She's never really played them much. But she's having fun anyway.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno was... rather excited as well. While she had friends since coming to this school it was still a new experience for her as well. Making a random friend without one of them around to drag her into it first? This was also very new! Today was a good day already.

As the game starts, even though it does run through the tutorial, Ami explains with the studious calmness that she explains most subjects. "The left hand controller is your directional controller. Down is crouch, left and right is back and forth, and up is up. If you push up, let it fall back into your hand, then push up again you can do a high jump directly up. If you follow it with left or right it'll angle your jump." The tutorial was saying similar things, but without words so much as just showing arrows on the screen. "It's best to keep your hand loose for the quick directional changes."

"The buttons on the right are your attack and defense buttons. The lower ones are kicks, higher are punches." The tutorial is easy for her. She's a real pro but she is also taking care to keep an eye on Mami's character.

"You're getting it!" She encourages. "The double-tap jump and the button combos are the most difficult, really."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami Tomoe has excellent hand-eye coordination. It's just that video game controls don't work like real things. It's not like rifles or ribbons. She can't feel what she's doing. But she also is not a slouch in the learning department, when she puts her mind to it, and she wants to team up with Ami, so she's got to learn to be perfect. It's the only way.

It's just that double-tap jump is really hard. Especially trying to aim it where she wants to go. It's the timing she struggles with really. But, eventually she gets it, eight times out of ten. When the tutorial completes she claps her hands again. "Oh that was so much fun!"

She turns to the bluenette, "Ami-san, thank you so much for taking the time for me today." Then she looks back at the screen and says. "Now, let's fight some crime."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno claps her hands together when the tutorial comes to an end. "Excellent! You're a very quick learner." She could always appreciate a student who was dilligent in learning even if it was just a game. If only she could get some certain individuals to pay as much attention during their study sessions. Alas.

The thanks from Mami earns a rather soft smile in turn. "You're quite welcome! Thank you for joining me in this. I've been wanting to try multiplayer teamup for awhile."

Looking back she nods quickly, eyes focusing on the screen with a look of focused excitement. She was getting serious here now! "Right! Let's do this! Bad guys, beware!" It's all said with a sudden firmness as if she was perhaps used to saying such things--Or had secretly wanted to in the past.

The game cues up, and both of their characters start down the road with oncoming gang members headed for them. Leaps, jumps, and attacks begin.

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Fortunately, what Mami lacks in video game skills, she more than makes up for in combat skills, especially tactics and strategy. It doesn't take her very long at all to figure out how to best play in a supporting role so that Ami can take the lead on all of the fighting since she has experience. Mami's usually the veteran in this formation when fighting witches with the girls, so she knows just how best to support Ami.

"Take that!" She calls out as she punches a goon in the face. "And that! And that!" She keeps mashing buttons. "Maybe we can get the multiplayer high score."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I'm ready to work for that goal," Ami agrees readily. They were doing good in the game. Even if it was a different layout than the levels she usually went through it was easier to do with someone there to help with the extra work load. They were making decent progress, all in all.

The game continues on for quite a bit, at least until Ami's coins run out. There's no high score, but they certainly make it in the top three! "Room for improvement. I'll accept that for now though," Ami reasons as she smiles to her (hopefully) new friend. "I'm afraid I should go now, but I'd love to speak with you again sometime. Maybe we can play this again. Or other games." Looking down quickly she fishes a small flip notepad from her bag to jot her number down on it. "Here's my number if you want to make plans later."