751/The Rose and the Star

The Rose and the Star
Date of Scene:	12 November 2023
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Two new RHA students enter RHA at the same time and are left to their own devices when it comes to orientating themselves on the school premises.
Cast of Characters:	Iona Hikawa, Rubi Hanabusa

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Iona Hikawa has posed:
A purple-haired girl is crossing the roads of Tokyo, carrying two suitcases with her and a bag pending from her right shoulder. A peculiar plushie with a backpack and sunglasses is popping out of said bag, and if any people were around, they would swear the plushie is talking. A good thing there aren't any for now, especially not those that would remember.

"Radiant Heart Academy then", Iona mutters as she walks through the gate. "We will see how It goes."

"You shouldn't care, Iona. The Phantom Empire has been pushed back again and again here. People here put in the work, yes!" Glasan says confidently, striking a proud pose.

"That's not the matter, Glasan, but keep silent for know, we don't know who is who and don't get us discovered on the first day, alright?" Iona intimates calmly, crossing the gate.

"For now, let's go to the dorms, I can deal with the rest in a second." The fairy obeys, going back to staying still like a plushie.

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
Iona is not the only new kid to the school, it seems.

Rubi stands in the entry quad just beyond the front gate, chewing her lip as she glances about and takes in the buildings. The girl is only 5'2", but she has the athletic build of a kid who spends a lot of time doing ungraceful labor or outdoor play, and loves it. She isn't in her uniform yet. A pair of boots go with slightly baggy jeans and a white t-shirt. Over the shirt is tossed a shoirt-sleeved red and black hoody. A black baseball cap is pulled down on her forehead, and her brown hair is pulled back in a simply, messy ponytail. Instead of several pieces of luggage, the girl has a sports duffel bag strapped across her shoulders, likely holding all her stuff.

She glances over as Iona comes into view through the gate, and she offers a warm, lopsided grin. "Hey! I mean, hi! You have any idea where the dorms are? Caaaaause I have no idea," she admits with a chuckle. "A teacher wandered by and told me, but my brain kinda wandered, I guess."

She offers a bow and continues that friendly smile.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona hadn't paid much of a mind to the other girl, being far enough that what her and Glasan were saying wasn't audible. A large gate, of course.

So when she asks Iona for direction, the new student considers the question and makes her way over to Rubi, giving a polite bow of her own before addressing the short-haired brunette with a neutral tone.

"Yes, I looked it up, it's supposed to be in that direction", Iona says, temporarily letting go of one of the two luggages to point the way. Though, if she lost her way once... "You can follow, I am headed there myself", she offers a kind smile to Rubi.

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"Oh, awesome! That'd be great! I get lost super easy. Usually my sister helps me find where I'm going but...she got delayed. She'll be here in like...a week or two, I think? Ugh."

She adjusts her ballcap and moves to follow the other girl. "I'm Rubi, by the way. Rubi Hanabusa! Grade 8. My last school was tiny, so...this is all pretty crazy. Also, I've never lived away from home before," she explains in a gush of information.

Ah, an extrovert.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
"Iona Hikawa, a Grade 8 at this school", the purple-haired girl formally introduces herself to Rubi. "So you have a sister too", she says, continuing to show her the way towards the dorm. "Until she comes, you should start using your phone's Doodle Maps more, or the pictures uploaded. Might save you some hassles, and help you avoid waiting for the teachers."

Iona nods patiently at the explanation. "I didn't want to stay at home, so I decided it was better to take a place at the dorm, despite my home being close by", she offers as an explanation.

Meanwhile Glasan is keeping up the disguise well with her immobility. At least the fairy has had no reason to move so far.

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
The brunette beams at Iona as she follows along. "Mmmmhm. Yeah. She's a couple years older then me. She's so cool and tough and funny..." Rubi trails off and then glances over at the other girl. "Oh, I should, yeah. I tried using it a bit before, but back home we didn't really need it to get around town, you know?"

"Oh, you're a local? That's so cool! I'm from Obanazawa, in Yamagata. It's like...I dunno...450 kilometers north?" She shrugs an athletic shoulder. "So I couldn't really stay at home!"

She does peek at the 'stuffed animal', and she steps in closer to admire. "Oh, your stuffy is adorable!"

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona sighs a bit when Rubi describes her older sister, pangs of envy making themselves known in her chest. She sounds like the two of them have a special bond too. 'Your sister sounds amazing", she says quietly.

"Yes, I have been living with my grandpa over in Pigarikaoka Ward, where he runs a Karate Dojo. However, I feel actually being at the school it's better for my duties." She nods with a bit of a surprise when Rubi mentions the distance. "That's pretty far, Hanabusa-san. No wonder you struggle in orientating yourself."

"Oh, thank you, her name is Glasan", she pats the fairy, who has been smirking a bit proudly at the compliment. "She is a constant companion of mine wherever I go." A pause where only the noise of the wheels on floor can be heard follows. "A memento of my older sister", she whispers, so silently people might even struggle hearing it.

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"Oh, Karate Dojo! Cool! My dad tauight my sister and I had to fight growing up. Not, like...karate, though. Yang was always better at that then me, but...I'm better then you'd think!" She grins impishly at that and adjusts her hat.

Rubi nods at the mention of orientating herself. "Right? Tokyo is like a whole different world, for sure."

"Glasan! Cute name." She turns her attention back to taking in passing students. "Aw, man. Uniforms, of course..."

Iona Hikawa has posed:
"Hikawa Karate Dojo accepts practitioners from everywhere and with any experience", Iona says formally, as if reciting from a pamphlet. "If you ever want to train yourself again, I can show you where it is. There are a lot of students at any time of the day, so you will never lack a training partner."

"Not if you have lived in it for a long while. You will get used to it, believe me", she replies with a shrug.

"What's wrong with uniforms?" Iona asks puzzled. "It's natural you would find uniforms at a school, especially one as big as this. Order and discipline, the foundation of any learning."

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"I might!," she replies to the offer with that friendly smile of hers. She chuckles at the idea of getting used to Tokyo. "Yeeeeah, we'll see about that."

The girl tucks a lock of escaped hair behind her ear, before stepping away from examining Glasan to fall into stride beside the other girl again. "Oh, I know. I mean, about the uniforms. Just sucked to be reminded. Not looking forward to it." She sticks out a tongue at the mention of order being the foundation of learning.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona is slightly peeved by the tongue being stuck out at the notion of wearing a uniform. "It's something you should learn to deal with, Hanabusa-san. They aren't going to change the rules for you. That goes for school as well as karate."

She turns her head towards Rubi, a completely serious expression on her face. This is very important. "If you show up at our dojo, we have a rigorous training system in place, and my grandfather expects everyone to follow it. That goes for uniform too. It is nothing like being homeschooled, but we are fair: as long as you try you will succeed." For the last sentence an encouraging smile has shown up on her face.

Glasan meanwhile has kept watching the conversation, and has been making small (supposedly) imperceptible nods.

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"Oh, I don't expect them to change the rules for me. Doesn't mean I need to -love- those rules, though, right? I'm gonna wear the uniform. I had to wear one at school back home, too. Didn't like it then, either." She shrugs a bit. She doesn't seem super put-offr or angry about the uniforms. Just something she is ever so mildly annoyed by, is all.

Her expression sobers a hint when Iona turns on the grave expression, though. "I wouldn't insult the Dojo or anything, don't worry."

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona mellows out when Rubi mentions she is going to follow the rules anyway. She doesn't have to like them true, and she is willing to put in the effort anyway. Better than certain people who disregard them completely. "Wearing uniform only applies during school hours. You don't have to wear them during the afternoon, even if you are still on campus."

"What else do you plan on doing on your afternoon, Hanabusa-san?", Iona asks, continuing her role as impromptu tour guide with what she saw on the site. "There is also a club building, and a sports pavilion at the school."

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"Oh! Good! Great." That uniform fact seems to cheer her up, and she's back to beaming at the other girl. She adds a bit of a skip into her step, too! She seems to have a lot of energy.

"I heard about clubs and sports! I really like baseball. I might see if there's a team or something I can get on. Also, I'm really curious if the Auto Club will let me get my grubby little paws on any cars." She grins impishly at that. "I love working on cars. Nowhere near old enough to DRIVE one yet, but I can build one up from scrap with my eyes closed. Dad is a mechanic," she adds.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
She can't quite share the joy Rubi has, but Iona smiles kindly to her. Well, as kindly as can be given she doesn't understand the imposition.

Then clubs. "That's impressive", she comments. Wouldn't have expected to meet someone so dedicated to cars that building one from zero would be among their skills. Clearly she has invested as much time in it as Iona has invested into Karate. "I don't see much application for it as part of school activities, but you are probably going to be sought after a lot by students."

"This is the dorm building, and I doubt we are going to be on the same floor, so I will go my way now", she bows slightly to Rubi, before leaving the other girl to her own machinations. "It has been nice to meet you, Hanabusa. Have a nice afternoon."

Rubi Hanabusa has posed:
"Well, life isn't all about school," Rubi replies. "And clubs are about things we enjoy, right? It's not always about grades and stuff. School won't last forever, and then we'll be out there in that big, scary world."

She adjusts her cap and pauses to glance about. "Oh, cool!" She fishes out her paper that has her dorm assignment. "Hm. Says I have...three other girls in my dorm? Well, I guess I should go stake my claim before that gets crazy, huh?" She grins and bows. "It was really nice to meet you. Take care!"