1193/Sweet Beginnings

Sweet Beginnings
Date of Scene:	26 February 2024
Location:	Nounamu Sweets
Synopsis:	Nounamu Sweets is one of the few places in Tokyo that Sugata knows to check out - so of course he'll meet Chiyo there. A conversation over sweets leads to a casual sharing of identities.
Cast of Characters:	Sugata Shindo, Chiyo Sakai

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Sugata Shindo has posed:
There were many things in Tokyo that Sugata Shindo had never had the opportunity to engage with - from spectacular sights to culinary delights. He had lived the majority of his life to date believing he would never leave tiny Southern Cross Island.

It would be his home until the day he died, a prison where his friends were the guards and his fiance as much a consolation prize as a fellow prisoner, as a beloved friend.

And then there had been Takuto, and the Glittering Crux, and now, he was in Tokyo, where everything was new.

Well - almost, everything. A box of sweets had been an unexpected Valentine's Day gift, and they had come from this place - Nounamu Sweets.

How could Sugata resist venturing to one of the few places in Tokyo he had not only heard of, but tasted the products of?

So it is that a tall boy with blue hair, in casual clothes - a white colored shirt and blue vest, over blue slacks - comes enter Nounamu Sweets.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Behind the counter was an older man who looked as if he'd spent just as much time out in the sun as he had working. He has his own little section of the counter set up with various tools of his trade to form and mold the spectacular, beautiful traiditional wagashi that were sold here. He's currently at work making a tray of Wagashi in the shape of spring flowers with a dollop of pink and yellow, and green leaves, to make them seem all the more freshly in bloom for Spring. When Sugata enters his gaze lifts to regard the young man only breifly before turning his attention back to the task at hand with only a remark of, "Chiyo, customer."

Usually the purple haired girl was already out front and center. Right now she was behind the counter in the kitchen area sweeping up. At the call of her name the broom is laid down, and she flashes a quick grin, "One moment, let me wash my hands and I'll be right out to help you. Please take a look around. There's free tea over on the table to your left if you'd like," she offers as well while dipping her hands quickly under running water to lather up with soap and scrub well up to her forearms. Though she's quick about it she's thorough. Food service was no joke! Her hands are dried off with a clean towel as she approaches Sugata offering him a friendly smile.

"Welcome to Nounamu Sweets. I'm sorry for the wait. What can I help you with?"

Sugata Shindo has posed:
The shop is comfortable, neat and clean, with plenty of pieces on display, ready to be packaged away and sold. The pieces being actively made, molded and shaped, decorated colorfully with spring colors, are of interest, if only because Wako would surely like them.

"The wait was no trouble," he says with a polite smile. "I received a box of your sweets for Valentine's Day, and wanted to take a look at the shop myself. What pieces do you recommend?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai smiles a bit brighter as she hears that. "Ah! I hope you enjoyed it, then! Was there a particular flavor you liked out of it? We do have our seasonal flavors right now, with more coming in soon with Spring."

Rather than remain behind the counter she comes around so she can point out the items as she mentions them making it obvious *which* ones she's pointing to. Sometimes it was hard to tell on the other side of the counter after all.

"Chestnut prailine is a Winter one that was very popular so we've kept that for a bit longer but will be phasing it out. Purple sweet potato is nice as well. For spring we'll have sakura blossom coming in, but we also have our Girls Day sweets in now." A colorful pink, white and green diamond shaped mochi cake. "It's generally for younger girls," she admits, "But the flavors are popular. It's a sign of prosperity and health too." Also fertility but she is NOT mentioning that to someone that looks her age.

"Who did you get your candy from, if I can ask? I'm always a bit curious."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"I enjoyed the chestnut pralines that were in the box," Sugata confirms. "I prefer milder sweets, and richer flavors rather than pure sweetness."

It was a good contrast with his partners; they could have the excessively sweet, and he the milder. He nods thoughtfully at the flavor options, taking in the options.

Someone else might have considered a box of girl's day flavors for their fiance - the thought doesn't cross Sugata's mind. He hasn't been one for gifts, or the recognition of celebrations, since he was eight years old.

"You have a wide variety of options here; it's very impressive." After a moment of consideration, he says, "Takuto Tsunashi. I doubt you could forget him."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"We do try to allow the flavor of the ingredients to shine through," Chiyo agrees with a solemn nod. Really what was the point if you couldn't tell what you were eating in the first place? Though they did have their share of 'regular' sweets as well such as chocolates, custards, and the like.

Taking his thoughts into account she regards the case with a hand raising to tap a single finger to her lips in a thoughtful gesture. "Mm. Do you like tea? We have some sweets specifically for eating with tea. They're dry," she explains gesturing to what appear to be flower shaped cookies. "So you dip them into the tea you're drinking. It soaks up the flavor of the tea and then the filling helps to add a unique experience. We currently have some that are a 'burnt sugar' filling which is similar to the top of a creme brulee."

It's all explained before he says the name of Takuto, and then she looks at him with a grin. "Oh! You must be Sugata-san! He really wanted to pick out something you'd like. Wako too," she adds with a laugh. "I'm Chiyo Sakai. It's nice to finally meet you. We go to the same school," she explains only to nod over toward the old man behind the counter. "This is my Ojiisan's shop so I help out here a lot."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"Exactly. There's a time and place for explosive, exciting flavors, but simplicity has it's own value." Simple flavors, allowed to shine without competition, coloring the palate...

"I do enjoy tea. A selection of these would be quite nice, actually, along with the chestnut praline and purple sweet potato."

The burnt sugar filled cookies would likely be a favorite for Wako and Takuto...

"Oh, you know them?" His smile is warmer now - not simply polite, but shaded with genuine affection. "That's correct, Chiyo-san. I'm Sugata Shindo, recently arrived from Southern Cross Island."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai slips behind the counter to begin putting the selected wagashi in a box using tongs, and gloves, to help keep them pristine the entire time. "How many of each would you like?" A reasonable question really though she guesses 'at least three' given their... grouping. Takuto and Wako didn't really hide their relationship status.

"Yes, I know them both. Welcome to Tokyo!" she agrees with a nod, and a quick sideways glance toward her grandfather. Thankfully he seemed to not be paying attention. "I've ah, seen them fight before," she explains with a bit of a smile.

"And helped a bit, when I can, but..." Her head tilts toward her grandfather as her voice had grown hushed, hopefully getting the point across of 'he doesn't know.'

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"A dozen... no, two dozen of the cookies," Sugata says after a moment of consideration, "And seven each of the wagashi."

Wako will have three of each wagashi, Takuto will have two, and Sugata will be lucky to have one. It's a good thing his sweet tooth isn't very strong. Actually, given that thought -

"And spring ones." Jaguar and Tiger deserved something nice, given that he's ditched them twice for combat, and it's sure to keep happening.

When Chiyo adds that she's seen them fight, a sparkle enters his eyes. "They're good at what they do, aren't they?"

He's not going to admit to a stranger that the two of them had been lying to him about the dangers they faced.

"I understand," a pause. "Well, not like that. The three of us have never particularly had to hide that."

Everyone knew what it meant to be a Maiden, to be a Shindo. And Takuto had never hid being the Ginga Bishounen.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai looks a bit startled at the amount he was requesting, but... She wasn't going to say no either. Instead she calmly puts down what she had already picked out to pick up a larger box that would fit it all. "Ojiisan," she calls over, "We're going to need more of the dozens boxes." The request is met with another curt mumble from the man who pauses what he was doing to disapear into the back room.

That at least made it a little easier to talk as she gathers the items up. "It's a little different here, unfortunately, for a good many of us. We have to hide our identities because the magic we use makes people forget us any way. The only ones that really remember are our allies, and our enemies."

Another grin comes though. "They are really good at what they do. I can purify some like Wako can, but it's through my cooking. You can't really force an enemy to eat--but it helps my allies out," she explains with a grin. Wako though? She'd seen her do some massive purification before.

"I know they're both really happy you're here now. They talk about you a lot."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
At Chiyo's startled look, Sugata only offers a Mona Lisa-esque smile. Sure, he could say that Wako will likely devour the majority of these sweets the second he turns his back -

Himr he could leave her wondering.

"Takuto and Wako have told me a bit about that," he nods, in response to her explanation about identities. She's not offered hers, and he's not offering his - though, he's sure it's for different reasons.

"If you need help, you can seek out the <Galactic King>," he says the name in English. "To match the <Galactic Prettyboy> and the <Galactic Maiden>."

Of course, Takuto and Wako didn't make anyone speak English for their henshin names...

"Healing through cooking?" He glances around the shop. "You're well-suited to your power."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai risks one last glance over her shoulder. The sound of shuffling further in clues her in to where her grandfather is, still out of hearing rante as he gets the extra boxes down. She was a bit too short to get them easily.

"I'm Culinary Guardian Daifuku... Or just Guardian Daifuku since it's a mouthful. I can fight, too, but my skills do carry over in that regard," she admits with a grin. Usually she wouldn't outright tell her identity to someone but... Somehow, being part of that trio, she felt it might be better to get it out in the open early on. "Sweets are my main speciality though."

The box of requested treats is finally finished. Rather than being a huge oblong box, this is a double-decker box so that one tray can be lifted out to reveal the other. It made for easier carrying this way. The other items also requested get smaller boxes which are lain ontop of it, and then tied together with a ribbon.

"I can usually be found here, though I'll be moving to the dorms at school to help out more next semester. Oh, and Radiant Heart Students get a discount here," she adds helpfully which might make his large purchase a little easier to swallow as she goes back and forth between 'shop talk' and business.

"You may also want to look into Kyouka-sensei's 'self defense classes'. Everyone is free to attend the first, but the one after that is for those of us with more ability so we can practice together."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Culinary Guardian Daifuku.

Sugata will remember that. He's heard of Chiyo Sakai - and he's heard of Guardian Daifuku as well, from the same two people. "I'll be at Radiant Heart too. Not in the dorms, though."

Absolutely not.

At the offer of a discount, he quirks a brow, and shakes his head. "I appreciate the offer, but it isn't necessary. Your sweets were quite good - they're worth the full price."

And he's rich. Incredibly, ridiculously rich. There's no need for him to count coins for sweets.

"A self-defense course, hm? I've heard the kendo club has at least one skilled member - and practicing with others would be a good idea. Understanding your allies is key to victory, as much as defeating your enemies."

Though, unbeknownst to these two, they have very different ideas of what defeat means.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai opens her mouth to protest the payment, but... Then again she was helping run a business. Turning away a boon was folly. "Thank you, we do take pride in our work here," she admits with a fond grin as she carries the items to the register.

"Mm, very true. I was supposed to have others on my 'team' as it were but I was alone for months. They only just showed up this last month. Fortunately I've gotten pretty skilled at helping others out in situations."

The talk of the dorms earns a chuckle. "I don't blame you there. I do enjoy living here with Ojiisan of course. It's just he was put in harms way recently. It's safer if I leave for awhile." The large boxes are easily placed on the counter though when he goes to pick them up he might find them a bit on the heavier side. It was a lot of treats with most made of dense mochi.

"I can't speak to kendo or swords in general. I fight with a hammer." One gets the impression she doesn't mean a small one. "... And sometimes fire. Depends on the situation."

The footsteps start to approach warning her this conversation will have to be cut short. Apologetically smiling at Sugata she offers, "We should talk more sometime, when we both have free time. Thank you for stopping by! It was very nice to meet you."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
It's a good thing Chiyo doesn't protest, because Sugata pays the full price of the order without blinking, with the cash he has in his wallet.

Well, he is a mahou. He's probably not worried about being mugged.

"That must have been difficult for you - but it's to your credit that you've carried on regardless. You can be a proper senpai to your tardy teammates."

There's a genuine look of sympathy in his eyes; Takuto had been forced to fight mostly on his own. Until Samekh was defeated - there hadn't been anything he or Wako could properly do.

"I can understand that; it's good of you to be willing to leave home." It is indeed. He can understand why Takuto and Wako like Chiyo so much.

"A hammer... very useful. It would be interesting, to cross my Star Sword with your hammer sometime." An offer of sparring! Worth checking out!

"Of course. Thank you for your excellent service and conversation, Sakai-san. I look forward to seeing you on campus."