1131/A Burning First Day

A Burning First Day
Date of Scene:	18 February 2024
Location:	Classroom
Synopsis:	Hitomi gets introduced to Class 9-D, Ren and Katsumi and finds out that Kobo /really/ likes the way she smells.
Cast of Characters:	Katsumi Cora, Ren Morimoto, Hitomi Kobe

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Katsumi Cora has posed:
Class 9-D. As the class starts to arrive, Katsumi was early. In this, he was being considerate, as he didn't want him using his cane to be a disruption. He was also the student that got sat next to the window. The sun was warm on his skin and he was the least likely to be distracted by looking outside at the activities there.

First bell has just sounded, telling everyone to make their way to their seats and the few people that Katsumi was talking to break away from him, heading to their own seats as he reaches down, feeling around in his book bag for the book he needs for first period.

Resting at his feet is a Shiba Inu in a 'Service Dog' vest. As Katsumi roots for his book, the dog glances up and pushes the bag a little to make it easier for the young man to grab it. "Thank you, Kobo." he offers warmly, withdrawing the book to set it on his desk and opening it up.

Ren Morimoto has posed:
    Standing still at a hallway T-junction, Ren consults the jotted down note written on the inside of his wrist. Classroom 9-D. 08:30 am. Hitomi Kobe.

    That last one he's got on lock down, given that the student in question is right next to him. Still working on the other two, though. He nods at Hitomi and flashes a quick smile.

    "This way!" he says, and then they're off again, towards the correct classroom this time. They arrive a few moments after the bell has signaled for students to take their seat, so not quite fashionably late yet. He hovers in the doorway for a second or two, trying to remember the teacher's name (why didn't he write it down?) before he steps inside, looking back to make sure Hitomi follows. "Ah, Ohno-sensei!" he calls out, almost certain that's correct. "I've brought your mid-term transfer." And then he shuffles to the side to reveal Hitomi's figure behind him, a tilt of his head indicating for her to step forward.

Hitomi Kobe has posed:
    The girl behind Ren is short, with short brown hair that looks a little windblown that she's pulling into a low ponytail before she steps forward, and gives a bow to the teacher, ad then a bow to the students.

    "Good morning, I am sorry for the interruption. My name is Hitomi Kobe. Please excuse my lateness." she states in a muted fashion, eyes remaining downcast and her shoulders rising.

    There's a couple of tittering whispers from the rest of the class, some comentary that she doesn't LOOK like she's from Osaka, a couple comments about her out-of-fashion backpack.

    "Thank you for showing me to my classroom Morimoto-senpai." she states very formally, appearing quite nervous. Katsumi may be able to hear the squeak of a shoe as she shifts her weight nervously.

    "Thank you, Morimoto-san --" Onno states placidly. "Why don't you take a seat?"

    That is not clear whether they mean Hitomi, Ren, or both. How awkward is everyone today?

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"There is a seat next to Cora-san that is available. Cora, if you will raise your hand?" Ohno asks, catching the young student's attention as he glances up from his book. And it may make Hitomi wonder if she's in the right grade. He's small for his age, blonde hair, pale, almost empty looking blue eyes.

"Hai!" he calls out, raising his hand so that Hitomi can see where he is. And he'll keep it up until he hears the squeak of the chair announcing her seat.

He can hear the whispers around him, the rumor mill slowly rumbling to life as they talk about the new girl.

Kobo, on the other hand? As soon as the Shiba glances up, he's to his feet and almost dashes to where the pair of students are. Katsumi feels the tightening of the lead and before he can grab it, he's lost it. "Kobo!" he calls out in scared confusion as the dog trots right over to Hitomi and Ren. He lifts off the back of his legs, up on Ren's shoulders, sniffing at him, before he turns his attention to Hitomi. More sniffing, and then suddenly he's rubbing all around him, tail going a mile a second.

"Cora-san! Get Kobo under control!"

"Sorry!" Katsumi yelps, "Kobo! Come!" Though the spirit animal is totally ignoring Katsumi to pay attention to Hitomi.

Ren Morimoto has posed:
    The formal greeting from the teacher makes the corners of Ren's mouth turn upwards impishly, at the same time his shoulders shrug upwards. He doesn't offer a correction though, not for Hitomi or for Ohno-sensei. For now, he just leaves it.

    Instead he turns on his heel to go, to return to his own classroom, except then the teacher is telling him to take a seat? No, no, that must have been for Hitomi, of course. Ren wasn't looking, is all, so he couldn't say for sure who Ohno-sensei was looking at when he said that. Either way, it's time for him to go.

    Only to be stopped by the approach of the dog, who boldly stands up on his hind legs right in front of him. The impact of paws on his shoulders is not a light one, but Ren stands steady, his muscles tensed. "Uh, hi there," he says, submitting to the sniffing, before he looks over at Hitomi with the obvious questions playing across his face.

Hitomi Kobe has posed:
    Hitomi seems to liven up a little it -- she had taken a couple of steps forward when Kobo made his approach. She gives a soft 'oh!' sound as the shib rears up to Ren, and then begins to get excited to be around her?

    This can't be right!

    Nevermind the wiggle in her blazer pocket.

    "Hello, Kobo-san." she states very softly, and leans down to pat him on the head, and she gives a confused expression to Ren before she hurries to take a seat.

    "Hello Cora-san." she greets the handler, hoping the dog follows her back. She's already causing trouble -- and it's not even good trouble!

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"I'm so sorry." While Hitomi is the one feeling guilty, Katsumi is soaking it up like a sponge. "He never acts like this." Said quietly and worriedly, Hitomi can see his hand feeling around for Kobo's lead - finally grasping the vest firmly to pull the guide dog back to him.

He's being disruptive. The quiet kid in class is being utterly disruptive and his pale cheeks are beet red. "I apologize again, Kobe-san, Morimoto-sensei. I don't know what caused that."

Ohno glances over at him and there's a frown that the boy can't see, but can probably feel. "Maybe you should take Kobo out for a walk?" comes the suggestion. Of course. It has to be a bathroom break, right?

Katsumi latches onto that. "Oh. Okay!" he offers quickly, tapping his desk and grabbing his cane, extending it out to get to his feet. "Kobo, come on..." he starts to say. And again, another pull at Katsumi towards Hitomi. There's a pause, "You don't happen to have a meat stick on you? It's really similar to his favorite treat. Maybe that's what's causing this?" He looks straight ahead, unsure of where Hitomi is to focus on her. Or Ren.

Ren Morimoto has posed:
    Still standing awkwardly at the front of the class, Ren glances towards Ohno-sensei before his gaze abruptly darts away, because Katsumi mentioned a meat stick.

    And, guiltily, Ren thinks of the snacks he has tucked away in his various pockets. Certainly some of them are meat stick-adjacent, at the very least. "Ah. That might be my fault, sorry. Have to keep my protein game up!" He flashes an apologetic smile and pointedly does not look at the teacher as he gives a thumbs up in Hitomi's direction, silently wishing her good luck in her future class endeavors. And then he's making for the door, excusing himself with a quick bow so that he can head out to his own class. He's going to be mega late!

Hitomi Kobe has posed:
    And Ren's out with a silent 'ganbatte Hitomi-chan!'

    And Hitomi looks awkwardly between the teacher, Ren (leaving) and Katsumi (ALSO leaving?!) and she takes a deep breath "Well with the meat-stick making an exit, maybe he'll calm down." she states, and then hurries over to her seat to cause as little further issues as possible.

    HEr front pocket wiggles a little.

    Don't attract attention, keep your head down, be good.

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"Oh." Ren actually does have Kobo's favorite treat. Katsumi freezes in place. But then he hears Ren scrambling off. And Hitomi has fled to her seat.

And Katsumi? He's left holding the bag. Literally.

"With me, Kobo..." he says to the dog, tugging him outside for a walk. At least until they can get far away from the other - which is obvious when Kobo speaks up. "I felt the fire from them, Cora-san!" he comments, tugging Katsumi along to be out of the pitch. To everyone else, he's taking his dog to potty.

"I smelled meat!" he declares happily.

"Morimoto-san said he had a meat stick." Katsumi points out.

"I missed grilled steak." Kobo mopes.

"I'll order you one tonight." Katsumi sighs. "Way to make a first impression." comes his glum little remark.