787/Girlfriends Again

Girlfriends Again
Date of Scene:	18 November 2023
Location:	Gullwing Coffee
Synopsis:	Sayaka and Hinoiri have another date. Sayaka asks to become actual girlfriends by the end of it.
Cast of Characters:	Sayaka Miki, Hinoiri Kirara

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Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka had texted Hinoiri to meet up at Gullwing Coffee. She hadn't asked her for a lift this time, and the reason is very simple: she has a pretty big box with her, and she wouldn't have been able to keep it a surprise otherwise. The paper it's wrapped in is all decorated with red and black flames on a lime green background.

She is already seated at a table when Hinoiri arrives, having yet to order anything, and the box is concealed below her feet, so that Hinoiri won't be able to see it coming in. At least that's the plan, it's pretty large.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was... a little late. She'd actually ran into some trouble at the parking lot. Some old lady who couldn't figure out that 'no, parking in the middle of the street isn't a good idea, even in a parking lot'. Especially when you block others in. It had been a whole thing, so she actually DIDN'T beat the suggested map time. Annoying. It made her a little miffed when she finally pulled up, sliding her helmet off and all but slamming the helmet case shut with the ferocity of a thousand suns.

She had a dark cloud over her when she walked into the shop, though she was trying to keep it in. Stupid people who couldn't understand DRIVING.

Of course, it took her a moment to find Sayaka, at which point she did smile. "Hey!" she called out, waving a hand towards her. She then walked over, giving her a kiss on the cheek before sliding into the seat across from her. "So, what's up?" She, fortunately, was agitated enough to have missed the box. SCORE!

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka is a bit worried when she sees Hinoiri walking in with an aura of negativity surrounding her, but her worries are somewhat placated by the smile she has when seeing her. The joy of that smile... She wouldn't miss it for anything in the world, she realises.

Sayaka beams a happy smile of her own to Hinoiri when her girlfriend gives her a kiss before sitting down. "I wanted to have a date, continue seeing each other, you know, that kind of thing", she replies almost defensively, extremely aware of the box at her feet.

The bluenette pushes the menu of the coffee towards her. She has already consulted it, so she knows what to order. "Besides, you are much happier now, so I must have done something right", she relaxedly comments. "What do you want to order? I think I will have some black sesame cookies and a mocha latte."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small smile. "Eh. It was just a pain getting up here today. Some jerks don't understand how to drive or how to not get in the middle of everyone's way," she said, A single finger moved out to grip the menu, sliding it towards herself.

She looked thoughtful for a moment before pointing at a strawberry drink. "I'm thinking that, looks nice and fruity. And, mmmmm... oh. Apple tart sounds good. I guess I'm in a fruity mood."

She then glanced out the window. "So, what made you decide to try this place? If it was summer I'd accuse you of hoping to see me in a bathing suit, but winter so I'm guessing your desires aren't quite so nefarious," she said in a teasing tone.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Hinoiri's playful accusation makes Sayaka blush up to her ears, her eyes as wide as saucers. "What are you saying, Hinoiri? Of course I wouldn't do something that demeaning", she replies. "I just like the aesthetic of the place, and the food is good.

"That sounds good", Sayaka jumps onto her chance to distract herself, the food Hinoiri has commented on. She calls up for the staff, and when someone arrives, she repeats both her preference and that of Hinoiri. "What do you think about how the place looks? I believe they did a pretty good job with it."

"Besides, places like this or Nounamo Sweets are better than greasy places like WcDonalds or Burger Prince, no?" she points out. "The food is both more delicious and healthier."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara snickered and shook her head. "Ahhhh, Sayaka-chan. You're just so gullible, you know that? It's cute. I know you'd never even dream of doing something that terrible. Well. Okay. Maybe you'd dream about it, but you'd never do it. And I could hardly blame you for having such fantasies. Why, if I was dating me, I certainly would," the tease was very evident in her tone.

However, the commentary on the place made her, for the most part, shrug. "Honestly? It's nice. I've never been to either of those places, though. I don't eat burgers and I think I saw the former with a big burger sign out front. Really... not the kind of thing I'd touch with a ten foot pole. Err, no offense. Just... not the kind of places I could compare it with." She paused. "Admittedly... a uhhhh... greasy anything sounds disgusting."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Oh, come on, Hinoiri", Sayaka exclaims. "There is no need to tease me, we can enjoy our date instead." She shakes her head. The insinuation just leaves Sayaka feel incredibly awkward, and the fact her behaviour is being called cute all the while she keeps going on with the teasing... Let's see how she likes her own medicine, Sayaka thinks.

"Would that mean you have those fantasies about me?" she says. If anything could describe what goes in in her mind after she says that, it would be both a screeching and the sound of a mirror breaking as she regrets saying those words out loud.

Sayaka nods along Hinoiri's discourse over food. "Yes, I prefer going with the healthiest thing they have if I am ever invited to one. Luckily there are some rare choices in that regard." Just then staff comes in, giving Sayaka her biscuits and mocha latte, while the strawberry drink and apple tart to Hinoiri.

"Anyway, there would actually be another reason I called you here today, Hinoiri", Sayaka announces, reaching under the table for her box. With the food on the table, she can no longer place it there, so she walks straight to Hinoiri's seat before walking next to her and giving it for her to hold. When she does so, she sneaks a kiss on the cheek in, before turning right back to her seat and explaining: "Just a gift for you, I hope you like it."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
"I don't see why I can't tease you AND enjoy our date. It seems like the two would go hand in hand," Hinoiri said without missing a beat.

Of course, then Sayaka turned it around on her and asked if she had those fantasies about her. She gave a shrug. "Eh, not really. Though, that's probably more a 'me' thing. Bathing suits and stuff like that were really not as big a deal back home. I never was much of a swimmer, though. And there weren't any local beaches, so... you know. I guess it might have been as much a 'local' thing as anything," she said with a shrug.

The food arriving made her grin, only to pause when suddenly... Sayaka got up? "Hm?" she asked.

A gift? She took it and stared. "What's... this?" she asked. Very, very slowly she began to open it. "You... didn't need to do this. What's the occasion?"

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"You are quite special, Hinoiri", Sayaka comments with a nervous grin on her face at those two things going hand in hand according to Hinoiri. The poker face with which she said it too! Does she know no bounds?

And that poker face extends to her tentative of a counter-teasing. Really, how can she show no reaction over such a subject!? Though admittedly Sayaka is glad about that. The faster it gets buried the better.

"So, huh, your home is landlocked, is it? That would mean any driving force to entice tourism would be cultural. That doesn't surprise me given the music sheets you brought back the other time. What is it called?"

"It's not really any occasion", she says, nibbling on one of her cookies while she awaits for Hinoiri to finish open it. "I just wanted to give my girlfriend a show of how much I appreciate her", she replies in a deadpan tone. Though the internal turmoil would have had other things to say about it.

Was it the right call? What if she doesn't need it? She did mention how she and technology are really used to each other. Maybe she should have gone for something simpler? Worst case scenario, it's a spare helmet, so maybe she will still appreciate it. Maybe.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small shrug. "Special? Well, I am one of a kind. Not sure what you mean, though. I'm mostly just having fun. I think you might just be too tense sometimes, Sayaka-chan. You know half of the whole point of us going out was for you to use this as a chance to lighten up a bit. Enjoy yourself. You always seem so tense."

She cringed when her home's name was questioned. "I.... need t obe honest about that. I... really try to keep the exact location on the... I don't like sharing that. There's some... issues with it. People who.... can cause issues. But yeah, the general area is landlocked. Not the country, though."

She opened the case and... "Huh? I have a helmet already," she said with a light chuckle, pulling it out. "You didn't need to. I know you think I'm amazing." Then she just stopped and stared. "Wait, it has a... speaker system?" she asked. "Bluetoo... oh. OH! It's like... ohhhhhhh. That's pretty cool!" Though there was a... confused look on her face. She was staring at it for a few minutes, seeming to be thinking of something.

Truth was, her first impression was that it was a bit dangerous. She needed to focus on the road while driving. Not to mention the fact she already had helmets...

But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it really was a sweet gift. It wasn't like she had to use it all the time while driving, in fact she likely would. But in the situations she DID use it, it would make it a lot easier. not to mention if she pulled over and had to make a call, it would mean she wouldn't need to disable her device or anything.

But, most importantly, it was a clear sign that Sayaka... cared about her. Actually took the time to come up with a proper gift that would make her happy, and...

Hinoiri felt a little bit of niggling on her soul then. She.... was using Sayaka. There were so many lies she'd made, so many things she was hiding from her. She glanced up at her. Then, finally asked...

"Sayaka-chan, are you happy?"

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"That's all right, if you want to keep it for yourself, it's good as it is", Sayaka gives Hinoiri a smile. She doesn't have to be pressed on this, everything is alright. There is no danger here. Nothing to keep watch over.

Am I too tense? Is that really an issue? Should she really have taken it more lightly? But didn't she say herself that it was wrong? That can't be right, it just can't be. Why does she have such a divide in the first place? It matters not if that were a repressed desire or a desire lived with disregard of the consequences, it still wouldn't be right to her either way.

She doesn't get it. She just doesn't get it. Is Hinoiri actually pushing her towards demeaning her? What sense does it make? Why would she want to be treated like that even just in Sayaka's mind? And yet, Hinoiri doesn't feel any impulse like that. Her regretted question made sure of it. So her girlfriend isn't actually like that.

But then how should she enjoy herself? Isn't she already enjoying herself? The two of them are spending time together, doing activities they both enjoy, only the two of them, noone else... She even had Ula stay at the dorm because she was actually finding enjoyable when she and Hinoiri spent time together.

So, what is it she is missing? Does she desire her that way? Is that what Hinoiri is suggesting, that she should... No. It would not be right, and it wouldn't make sense either. She wants the Hinoiri she has gotten to know. Nothing and nobody else.

"I am not sure I get what you are trying to say. I am enjoying myself. I really am happy in fact. Despite only having done this as little as we did, I want to use lots of my time towards spending it with you. I am managing myself really well, and I think there are no issues in doing it."

She extends her arm to hold Hinoiri's hand in her own. "I know you started this all as just an experiment, and I guess I will have to deal with it eventually, but in case anything changed, let me be the one to propose this time. I would like you to be my girlfriend, Hinoiri." Sayaka stares at her, her mood the plates of a scale held up high by someone blindfolded.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times, not really sure herself. She wasn't... entirely sure. She'd intended for all of this to be a test, an experiment. To learn more about Sayaka and herself, in some ways. And, in a surprising twist, she had. It just wasn't exactly what she expected.

Then... Sayaka asked to be her girlfriend. Again. And ohhhhh, there was a ripple through Hinoiri at that. Her eyes went wide and she, barely, managed to not turn pale. Instead staring at her, mouth falling open. "What?" Oh, blindfolded was right. Sayaka... really was missing so much. And Hinoiri felt another little twist of the knife. She wasn't.... a monster. And even if she wanted to think she was hardening herself, just toying with the girl, well...

"... So, here's the thing," Hinoiri said. "Last time we were out, with... when that guy showed up? It, admittedly, kind of freaked me out. The way you started demanding I tell you everything. The fact is... there's going to be things about me I'm just not going to share. Sometimes because they're personal. Sometimes because I just don't want you to know. And, in the interest of being entirely honest with you..." She picked up the helmet and looked at it, primarily so she didn't have to look at her.

"Some of those things you probably wouldn't like. I'm not always the nicest person, I can lose my temper. Heck, I don't even know how long I'll be here, I might be called back home someday." A part of her wanted to be...

"That was part of why I wanted this to be an experiment. I want to do something nice for you since, you know. You saved my flank. But I also don't want you getting all heart broken if it turns out we're not really... a good idea in the long term. You're a pretty special girl, Sayaka-chan. And I don't want you ending up getting into something that ends up turning you into a sobbing, broken mess."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Oh, of course, that would be her first thought. Worry or not, she had tried to force herself into something private. It shouldn't have been a surprise if Hinoiri held her reservations about that.

Then there is that warning. She isn't always so nice, and she can lose her temper... That pulls her back for a second, a recent memory pushing forward. Did she actually bully Norie? Her? Is she nice, or not nice? Even now she sounds apologetic about it.

But how could she bully La Crima then? Does she actually have magic? Is this one of her lies? Something tied to her country? A type of magic so special that would drag her in danger? Did Kyubey actually try to steal her secrets?

Is this Hinoiri's way to tell her she shouldn't be given a chance? The secret isn't really bothering her all that much, but a part of Sayaka agrees: if she actually did bully Norie and used magic for it, then it would be disgusting, but by now the rest of her is clamoring to give Hinoiri the benefit of the doubt. Which part is actually thinking well about it? Is any of her reflecting on it?

Is she ready to take the blow if they turn out not to be compatible? Would her heart break over it? Most likely. Even now she doesn't want to acknowledge the possibility of Hinoiri going away. But the joy she is feeling now, is it any less important?

"It's alright, Hinoiri." Sayaka finally starts converting her thoughts into an audible format. "I haven't been fair to you either over the Hematite thing, so I have my own issues too, and I don't mind yours. I want to know any part of you you are willing to reveal, and the rest is your secret to keep. And even if you end up going away or breaking up with me, I will find comfort in the time we did spend together. So, please, don't worry about those things."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara relaxed a little bit and gave a soft sigh. Slowly a small smile formed on her lips and she placed the helmet down on the table. "Well, in that case it makes it a lot easier, you know?" she said with a light laugh. "Actually, yeah. That's good. In the end? I don't mind if you have your secrets, I have mine. So long as we're not doing something dumb like... nearly getting ourselves killed, I don't see any reason we need to share every little detail like that."

Knowing the other girl wouldn't pry into her life so much was certainly a relief. She actually felt a burden come off her and reached out, tugging at her tart. She popped a bit of it into her mouth and gave a shrug. Once she chewed and swallowed, she spoke up again. "Besides, even if we break up it doesn't mean we can't still be friends and stuff."

She then blinked and glanced down at the helmet. How... much had something like that cost? "Wait... Sayaka-chan... you get an allowance from your parents, right?"

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Well, I don't actually have anything important to hide from you now, my only worry was that if I told you about the person I used my wish on, you would have thought that I was in love with that guy", Sayaka confides.

"Yes, we could be friends in the future", she says. But she doesn't want to think about that now.

She starts going through the rest of her order now that the important talk is behind them. Well, except the question Hinoiri brought up apparently. "Yes, they do, but it's nowhere near enough to afford that. I took a job for it. Madoka, Amy and Norie were there too."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times. "Wait, are you? I mean... honestly, I thought you were just being a good friend with... her... wait. Is... it a guy?" she asked, cocking an eye. "... I mean... like. So. I know some people here have this weird thing about guys and girls being friends, but I'm friends with Adrien. I'm not going to get upset about you having friends who are male. But... if you do have a crush on the guy, I would like to know that. Especially if that's why you made the wish."

Friends in the future, huh. She left out the... unlikeliness of that happening. And then blinked. "Are... Amy and Norie friends of yours?" she asked. "Cause I know Madoka, but the other two I... don't remember. Amy sounds a... little... familiar?"

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"No, I don't have a crush on Kyousuke", Sayaka answers, and she is not lying. She has always believed that (even when it wouldn't have been true), but by now Kyousuke has been upstaged. "He is just a friend whose musical talent I admire. What I asked was for the injury that prevented him from playing to be healed", she continues.

"Amy is a new friend. She schoolmate and we get along on things. Norie is just someone I meet seldomly." And someone who shot me and almost stole my soul, she stops herself from adding.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "Ohhhhh. Cool, is he a professional? Maybe we could go see him sometime then."

Well, she seemed to at least accept that they were just friends. She gave a light smirk and reached out, booping her on the nose. "Boop. You know, I still think it was a weird wish to make. But... if your friends mean that much to you, I can hardly be surprised you're willing to do something like this for them. Heh."

She nodded along to it. Well, there were like... a dozen Amys. She didn't remember any Nories, though. "Was it like a temp job? Or more permanent? Cause I'm going to be honest. If you're working at WcDonalds to buy me a helmet... please, take it back. It is so not worth it."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Oh, yes, Kyousuke is great. If you were ecstatic over my piano, prepare to lose your mind over his violin. He is just that skilled."

"Hehe", she grins slightly as Hinoiri boops her nose. "Well, there wasn't really something I could have wanted, I pretty much am a happy idiot in that sense, so I gave that happiness to somebody that needed it. And I know his mood has done a complete a 180°, he is no longer anxious each passing day."

Sayaka shakes her head. "It was just some guy wanting his house cleaned, but I disagree on the mattet of its worth."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a light snicker. "I doubt it. I mean... the thing that made your piano playing so special was the fact you were playing it for me. It's, well. Like they say. Sometimes, it's the thought that counts."

Yeah, Sayaka wasn't the best. But it had been *for her*. And to Hinoiri, that was what mattered.

"Yeah... I imagine pursuing what he feels is his destiny again must feel pretty awesome and have helped his heart soar," she said with a light chuckle before taking the last bite of her apple tart. In the end, though, her question about the money was settled. She glanced down at the helmet before smirking. "Well... wanna go for a ride, then? Give this helmet a test run?"

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Hehehe, thanks, Hinoiri", Sayaka reacts. She really doesn't believe her on that, but She isn't going to contradict her. "That sounds good", she adds. She probably would prefer being away rather than close over Hinoiri's driving style, but that's just not what is going to happen, she knows that.