View source for 609/Naru's best date ever

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2023/10/18
|Location=Somewhere in Tokyo
|Synopsis=Naru's first date with Hinoiri... it... nobody dies.
|Cast of Characters=131,59
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara was ready. She'd watched some 'how to date' guides, what romance was, the expectations... then rolled her eyes and decided all of that was stupid and she wasn't going to follow that methodology. Instead, she was lightly knocking on the door, rolling up... in a... suit? Ish. Except instead of a normal suit jacket, instead she had on one of her leather jackets. Full on studs. And she had... a small bag in her hand, arms crossed, leaning against the wall besides the door, one foot against it. Cool. Suave. Debonair. Also, maybe a little gassy. Just a bit...<br><br>Okay, so she was a little nervous. That pre-test jitters, as it was. She'd never 'dated' before. What if she fucked it all up? What if she was a failure? what if she was useless? What if she couldn't do this? GAH!<br><br>... She was a lil nervous.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru has been watching the quintessential 'miracle romance' play out with her bestie and her boyfriend.. Darien is setting expectations high!<br><br>Save that Naru is not taking that bait, he.. they.. are a special case rather than the norm.<br><br>Naru clearly made some effort in choosing an outfit. A short swirly black skirt, a pretty green blouse that she liberated from Usagi's closet and a cute little jacket to put over it against the chill of autumn.<br><br>Naru opens the door and smiles at Hinoiri totally doing the cool kid lean outside. "Hi. Did you want a coffee or something before we go?" She offers easily enough.<br><br>If Naru is nervous, she gives no sign of it, but that's about normal for Naru levels of chill.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara shook her head. "No, not particularly." She'd had a cup before coming to get her. "Besides, I figure it'd be a bad idea to drink too much before we actually get to the place with food. Here," she said, holding the bag out in a... totally casual and not at all nervous way.<br><br>"So, the stuff I saw said I was supposed to get you chocolate and flowers. That seemed stupid, I don't even know what kind of chocolate you like or flowers. So I got you this instead." ...<br><br>A gift card for the coffee place they met at... which did, at least, have chocolate drinks... and a pressed flower bookmark. "Same general thing, just better."<br><br>"... So, uhhhh, you like okonomiyaki? It seemed like.... a suitable first meal for us. You know, if you like that kind of thing. If you prefer something else, we can do that. I asked you out and all so I think I'm supposed to be like... extra pushovery or something?" She gave a shrug.<br><br>"I thought about chocolate covered coffee beans, but I wasn't sure how good those are here or if they'd have the right chocolate, or if you'd even like them. Figured this was better."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru giggles softly as she reaches for the bag. "Did you look up what to expect from a date?" There's no note of teasing at all in her tone, she sounds delighted. "That's a really good idea actually."<br><br>Peeking inside, Naru awwws softly. "Thank you. Its perfect." And truly, coffee shop gift cards are absolutely win for Naru. "This is totally better. Good choice."<br><br>Naru ooohs softly. "Okonomikyaki sounds delicious." She tucks the gift bag into her room and grabs her own bag before stepping out into the hallway with Hinoiri. "I think it's less about being a pushover and more about making the experience about being good for the person you want to impress, or make happy. That's usually the point of dating, as best as I can tell. You enjoy making the other person happy."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "Exactly. I mean, if you're going to do something, might as well study and make sure you don't screw it all up," she said with a shrug. "You're worth at least doing some research for."<br><br>... Maybe not... quite as polite as she could have said. She did smirk when her gift was praised, flipping her hair back a bit. "Of course, as if I could do anything less." Than perfect, of course.<br><br>"Really? Huh. But I'm always impressive. Making you happy, though, that makes sense. I'd hardly want you to be miserable on the most important date of your life," Hinoiri said. Then gave a playful wink.... Was... was she actually joking? Or just pretending it was a playful joke? The world may never know... Naru probably knew, though.<br><br>Pretending. Pretending it was a joke.<br><br>"So, umm. My bike's outside. I usually have it at the parking place down the street, but I drove it up here so you didn't have to walk as far." Pause. "You ever ridden on a motorcycle before?" she asked, starting to walk down the hall.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I don't think either of us are likely to completely screw it all up. Not if we're pretty open about talking things through." Naru comments as she grins right back to the wink.<br><br>Pretending. But Naru will pretend along for the moment at least.<br><br>"That was thoughtful, thank you." Naru shakes her head at the question. "I've never been on a motorcycle before, no." She follows along, heading down the hall and towards the exit of the dorms. "What prompted you to get a motorcycle when you got to Tokyo?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod. "Yeah, I figure it's kind of like... a collaborative experiment, as it were. Like. You're pretty cool. I'm amazing. If there's one person I can trust to actually work on this stuff with, heh. How you been doing lately, anyway? Oh. Wait, if we're a thing am I supposed to call you something other than Naru-chan? Cause I'll be honest, never been good at the 'cutesy nickname' thing."<br><br>The question, however, made her pause. She considered it for a while before... finally shrugging. "Not sure. It just kind of... resonated with me when I first saw it. Then I tried it and well... fell in love. It feels... nice. And it's small, so you can fit into tight spots, get around traffic. It's kind of like running but like... faster. When you're really going it's like you're a part of the bike, just... slightly different. You know? I like it."<br><br>Hinoiri gave a shrug. "So, uhhhh... any wild changes you've made in your life since moving here?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I totally like the idea of a collaborative experiement." Naru agrees as they step outside into the fresh air. "And I'm also not one for cutesy nicknames, at least not giving them generall. Usagi's much better at it than I am, but I've never really had the knack, nor the desire." She quirks her head as well. "Also, I think calling us a thing before we've successfully completed a first date seems premature, doens't it? We might come to the end of our experiment and decide we'd rather stay friends."<br><br>Naru smiles as she watches Hinoiri describe her experience with her motorcycle and nods. "It sounds amazing, I have to admit.. I'm rather looking forward to giving it a try with you. It looks a little scary, but more awesome than scary."<br><br>Naru laughs softly. "Since coming to Radiant heart? A few, yeah. Probably not the sort of conversation we're looking to have if we want to keep this light, though. I've lived in Tokyo all of my life, though, so I didn't have THAT level of change. I know you struggled to settle into Japan.. do you like it any better these days?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a small shrug. "Eh. We're a thing at least for tonight. I'm sure by the end of the date you'll either see me for what I am or you'll find out you're straight. Either way," she said with a shrug. "Or, wait, is this another date thing? Is there like... a tier system? Ugh..." This was why she hated the idea of relationships... or friendships.<br><br>"Well... I think it's pretty awesome. One of the few things I really like here," she said before motioning to her bike which was parked out front. She walked to it and pulled out her key, popping open the helmet locker and then holding it out to her. "Safety first," she said before climbing on. "Hold onto me tight, make sure to rest your feet on the stirrups. You don't wanna touch the ground when I'm going."<br><br>As for the question, well... she actually considered it for a while. Did... she like it here more than she had? "Definitely. A lot better than when I first arrived."<br><br>But... she sounded a little unsure. She... was growing accustomed to it. But she missed home. But she also... was finding things here she liked. Or people. It felt nice to have people... who... she could talk with. Double Trouble was actually an oddly pleasant roommate. Usagi was great, she praised her a lot. Two people had saved her... once as Sunbreaker, once as Hinoiri...<br><br>But liking this place at all felt like a betrayal to her home. To her mentor. To... herself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"If there's a ranking system, I don't know what it might be." Naru replies as she takes the helmet. Safety first! Ironic perhaps, between this exact pair, but right here and right now, there's safety. "I mean.. if nothing else, I'm excited to spend time getting to know you better as a friend."<br><br>"I'm glad you're settling in a bit more." Naru lets Hinoiri get on the bike first, before she hops on after her. "I can imagine that it's hard to miss home so very very much at the same time as not entirely hating Tokyo." She settles the helmet on her head. "You always speak so fondly of your home, I can only imagine how much you still miss it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a shrug. "Yeah. Being friends is neat and all. But I imagine the free meal is pretty great too," she said in a somewhat playful tone. She then started off, driving down the road and oh dear heavens, Naru got to experience the thrill (emphasis on thrill) of Hinoiri's driving.<br><br>"... I'll thrive where ever I go. I don't need home. I don't need any of them," she said over the hum of the engine. Yet, she was going a little faster when she said it. "I'm fine here. I don't even miss it that much." That. That was... kind of true. She didn't really miss her home.<br><br>She missed Sora...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru had started out with her hands just loosely at Hinoiri's waist, her feet tucked up as she had been directed.<br><br>And then Hinoiri actually started driving. And yep, that's plenty of thrill! Perhaps a little bit of panic to go along with it. Naru finds that she's wrapped her arms around the other girl to hold her tightly as not to fall off. And not to utterly freak out on the way.<br><br>There's a few moments before it doesn't feel like Naru is clinging to Hinoiri like a barnicle, but just holding on without panic.<br><br>"Of course you'll thrive no matter where you are!" Naru's voice is loud in Hinoiri's ear, as close as they are and against the wind. "That's not a question. You can miss home and your mentor and still thive here. It's not an either or, you aren't a light switch, you can do both."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara chuckled, though it was a little hard to breathe, knowing she was having that big of an effect was nice. She smirked, driving between a few vehicles as he went... 'Safety first' her ass. About the only law she seemed to actually follow was 'red means stop' and 'green means go'.<br><br>She didn't slow for yellow.<br><br>"Exactly! I came from nothing to be the greatest, it doesn't matter where I go! I will ALWAYS find my way to the top! No matter how much someone wants to hold me back!" she yelled back.<br><br>"So, how about you? Do you miss anything from where you were before? Granted, I guess it's still the same place for you. But you live at the school now, right? That's got to be new!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>This might be how Naru dies. Not filled to the brim with dark energy. Not by saying something stupid to a Dark General. Nope, it'll be Hinoiri's driving.<br><br>Naru has to think about that a moment or three. "No.. I dont think I do. Perhaps a little of the lack of stress. I'm busier than I was before, but for all of the stress and busy.. this is so much better." Her voice is raised only against the wind, not the optimal situation for thoughtful conversations, but they manage. "It's the same, but not exactly. There's enough differences to make it feel completely new."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara suddenly skidded to a stops, sideways style, sliding into a parking spot outside the okonomiyaki restaurant. "And done," Hinoiri said with a smirk before glancing back at her. "Heh. The map app said twenty five minutes. I got us here in like, eighteen." YES BY GOING AGAINST SO MANY RULES!<br><br>She took her helmet off and started locking them up. "Your last school wasn't stressful? What's so stressful about this place? Well. Except for all the weird stuff you gotta pretend to not notice because you can't really... you know. Do much with it. But that's like... just a side thing. The tests here aren't so hard once you get used to the way things are supposed to work. Some of the faculty are a bit... annoying, but... you get used to them, too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Wow." Naru probably had some other words that went through her head, but that's the one that emerges out into public. "I.. don't think the maps app is a race. Exactly." She is, however, grinning. No matter the threat of death (or perhaps because of it), clearly she didn't hate the ride.<br><br>Might be the adrenaline talking though.<br><br>Naru hands her helmet over to include it in the locking up box. "The Weird is stressful. I am bad at pretending not to notice." She admits as she slides herself off the bike and straightens her skirt. "The classes themselves are pretty straightforward, generally. I have to admit that. I don't think there's any teachers that I really dislike, they are all at least fine."<br><br>Naru quirks her head to Hinoiri. "How much different are the expectations from what you had at your last school?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a shrug. "Well, probably not. But it's still nice to win. I kind of understand why some people enjoy those races so much when I'm on the bike. Maybe I should see about entering a dirt bike relay or something," she said with a shrug and started walking towards the restaurant.<br><br>She nodded along with Naru's words, even if she didn't fully agree with them. She was, generally, okay at pretending not to notice. But some people made it... hard. The question, though. That... that made her stop.<br><br>"... Easier. RHA is easier. A lot... easier. Back home, the only thing that mattered was perfection. No. Not perfection. Beyond perfection. It wasn't enough to be perfect. I had to achieve... beyond what anyone else did. Sometimes beyond what they thought possible..."<br><br>"Compared to that, RHA is a cakewalk. It's almost hard NOT to succeed in everything in comparison," she said with a light chuckle, before holding open the door for her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"You would probably really enjoy racing motorbikes." Naru agrees as she moves towards the restaurant, stepping into the doorway as Hinoiri holds that door for her. "I can see that being right up your ally."<br><br>"I'm grateful not to have perfection expected of me at all times." Naru decides after a moment. "That would be evne more stressful than the weird, I think." She considers and then nods a little. "That sort of pressure had to have been just crazy intense."<br><br>Naru looks sidelong to Hinoiri as she asks, "Do you miss that pressure? Or are you still holding yourself to that standard?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara shrugged. Yeah. Racing was fun. Lots of fun. "It was stressful. Very stressful. But... at the time I thought it was worth it. You know, some things... some things require sacrifice. Willing to sacrifice. If you have nothing left to lose then you can only gain, right? Sometimes... sometimes you're only worth what you're willing to give up, or something. That's what it means, I guess. The burden of the..." She trailed off and shook her head.<br><br>"... But that was then. This is now. Why would I miss it? Much... funner to just slack off, right? To just... be good. Acceptable, really. Not like I could meet those standards here, anyway. And... probably. You go your whole life living one way, it's not like you can just... stop. Even if you wanted to. I mean, I'm sure there's things you've been doing for years you can't turn off even if you had to." She moved to one of the booths, sliding in with a sigh. "Right. I'm pretty sure things like... that aren't first date material. Hold on, I have flashcards in here somewhere..." she grumbled, before pulling them out, flipping through them. "No... no... no... oh. How about... local... sports team, they could go all the way this year. Okay, yeah, trashing that one," she mumbled, flipping it to the back of the pile.<br><br>"You like jazz?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru slides into the booth across from Hinoiri, to make conversation easier. "Do you still think it was worth it?" Naru asks quietly, her smile gentle.<br><br>"I dunno.. I don't love slacking off." Naru admits with a little shrug. "I mean.. I don't aspire to be the best of the best, but the best I can be at least." Naru is thoughtful at the question about things that are so engrained and then laughs softly. "I dunno.. isn't the point to get to know each other better? And we're hardly starting from absolutely nothing."<br><br>She leans over a little, to peek at the flash cards. "I don't think either of us watch organized sports.. do you? I don't." Naru considers. "Do you have a favourite sport though? We can run with that question instead."<br><br>Naru giggles anew at the question about jazz. "Not so much. I don't mind classical. I prefer metal."<br><br>Because metal music is exactly what one would expect when looking at Naru.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a shrug. "I don't know. Maybe? I don't... know the first thing about where else I'd go otherwise," she said. "What I'd be if I hadn't been. I... guess sometimes I wish things had been different. Just for a bit. Maybe," Hinoiri mumbled. "I... kind of miss it, I guess. I knew who I was, then. Where I belonged. Now... it feels more unsure." She drew a finger along the table, as if she was etching out a message of somekind.<br><br>"Being the best you can be should be enough. Why be second best at something when you can be the best? It's what matters..." she grumbled.<br><br>The flash cards displayed... that Hinoiri's handwriting was still the worst thing EVER. How did she write like that? Feel remorse for those who had to grade her reports...<br><br>"I don't really like watching sports. Playing can be nice." So long as she won. "I like dirt bikes. Used to do a bit of archery, but wasn't really what I was into. There were some... others... but they don't really matter now."<br><br>The comment on metal, at least, made her smirk. "Ohhhh. THAT makes too much sense. Come on, give me some musical suggestions, now I'm intrigued to hear what the mysterious Naru-chan listens to when nobody is around."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I mean.. who you are and where you belong and how it all fits together.. that's like a super epic moving target." Naru comments as she settles back in the booth, considering it. "Especially as teens and even more especially with all of the weird. We're all figuring out how to fit into the world, and friends and dating.." She gestures between the pair of them. "And so little of it makes sense on any given day. I'm pretty sure that's normal for everyone."<br><br>Naru shrugs a little as she notes. "The best I can be might not be the best at the school, or the best in the world.. it's still the best /I/ can be. Which .. is enough. Sometimes hard to remember that it's enough, but it's enough."<br><br>Naru wrinkles her nose in agreement as the topic shifts to something lighter. "Watching sports is boring, I'd rather do." She hunhs. "I've never tried archery. Do the others not matter because they were specific to where you lived before?"<br><br>Naru laughs as Hinoiri jumps upon the topic of music. "Okay.. I don't listen to /only/ metal, I listen to other stuff too." She reaches for a napkin to fiddle with it a little. "I mean.. I listen to mostly symphonic metal.. I guess Nightwish is the one you might have heard of before.. and Babymetal." She tucks in the last, as if expecting to be teased about kawaii metal.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara couldn't help but shrug. "Yeah. I uhhh.. I used to know. I guess that's the problem. I used to have it all figured out. I knew where I belonged. And all I had to do was get there. Now..." Her arms wrapped around herself. "It's all... a lot less clear. Somedays I wonder if... it was really all just a waste. If I..." And then she stopped. She closed her eyes and took a few slow, gentle breathes. "No. Not talking about this anymore. Maybe if we get to a third date." Maybe.<br><br>"Eh, somewhat. More because I just wasn't into them and my mentor wasn't into them really either. She was very big into me doing team things, though she never did them herself." Proooooobably because... you know... magic. Being the strongest had some weaknesses.<br><br>"I... have literally not heard of any of those. Nightwish sounds... edgy. Babymetal sounds... honestly, not sure. Kind of edgy. Is it like... high pitched babies to rock music, or something else?" She then blinked. "Wait, are those bands or genres?" Oh she so didn't know human music.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru reaches over to touch Hinoiri's arm as the other girl curls up and they hit a nerve of conversation. Comfort, if Hinoiri is willing to accept it.<br><br>"My preferred spot isn't a team sport, its fairly dull to watch other people run." Naru considers a moment. "Even at the Olympics, they only show the start and the end of the longer races because it's boring."<br><br>Naru ahhs softly and then draws her hand back to go digging into her bag for her phone. She deftly pulls up her playlist and picks a couple songs to play for Hinoiri. Volume low, she's not trying to blast out the other patrons here, but examples. "Both of those are bands, although Babymetal is iconic enough to almost stand in for a genre at this point." No judgement in not knowing them is present in Naru's tone, she just explains. "Kawaii metal is the genre.. Nightwish is more symphonic metal.. I dont like the ones where they just scream and growl, I prefer where there's actual music there too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara pulled her arm back, instinctively. She didn't even notice she did it. She just... did it. "Nobody cares if you're not the first," Hinoiri said. "Not worth watching if you don't put on a good enough show. If you're part of a team, you won't even get credit for the work you do..." Likely wasn't hard to see why dark energy had clung so tightly to her heart, why it had to be purified like it had been.<br><br>She glanced over to the phone and leaned forward a bit, nodding along with the music and... "Huh. Not bad. Kind of cute, but goes pretty hard. You know, when I first got here i thought all the music was going to suck, but there's actually some pretty good beats now and then. I'll check them out."<br><br>Annnnnd time for order their food! For herself... it was simple. A vegetarian okonomiyaki. Probably the same for Naru, but welllll... she was going to let her order her own. And after...<br><br>"What was your old school like? What would you say is your favorite part about coming here?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"But people who love me /do/ care if I come home and say I broke a personal best at a race, even if I didn't bring home a metal." Naru comments quietly. "They are proud of a grade that isn't perfect. That's what friends that love you /do/."<br><br>And with that little seed probably falling on dark energy contaminated thoughts, Naru turns back to music. "I mean.. I've never not lived here, so I think the music's pretty good. What music do you like?" Naru asks. "Here or where you were before?"<br><br>Naru already has her order chosen and she provides it to the server. Unsprisingly, the two vegetarians have gone for exactly the same thing. It's almost like they have similar tastes in food, or something.<br><br>"My old school was super quiet, and kinda boring." Naru gives a shrug. "Typical day school, which I suppose doesn't help you at all. Basically like Radiant Heart, except that after clubs, we all went home rather than to the dorms. And there was no weird at all." She pauses a moment. "Okay, I didn't notice any weird, which is totally not the same thing. We had like maybe one exchange student in the entire school and they weren't in our grade."<br><br>Naru considers a moment. "I like living in the dorms. I like the community of students at Radiant Heart.. and the diversity of them." She pauses and then she starts to giggle. "Oh my goodness, I sound like a marketing pamphlet."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara actually cringed when Naru said that. She didn't comment on it, didn't reply. But... she bit back saying 'It must be nice having people who love you'. But, well, that was part of the danger of being so wrapped up in herself. She couldn't see those who had.<br><br>"Well... I liked a lot of things, music wise. I know it's odd, but I've actually been listening to this duo called PostCrush. And yeah, I know pop music tends to get a bad rap, but I like them. But usually I just kind of just lay there and listen to the radio, let it wash over me. I'm not always entirely sure what I listen to these days. Sometimes I just... listen, I guess. Let it drown out the world."<br><br>She chuckled at the order, before nodding to the 'normal school', then snorting. "I know, right? I mean, my old school had people coming from all over too, but I swear every week here we get some new exchange student who just popped up or something. And yeah, the clubs are... kind of new to me, honestly. I mean, I usually stayed after, but most the others went home... dorms are pretty much the same to me, though. Always lived in one. But these ones are a lot more... loud. If I can be honest. Had my own room back home, having a roommate takes getting used to. I imagine you must have quite a few stories considering your roomie. I mean, no offense, but Usagi-chan doesn't inspire thoughts of being the cleanest girl around."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Some of the danger of being so entwined with the dark energy and wrapped up in one's self.. not just failing to see those who loved her in the past, but who love her in the present, too.<br><br>"I mean.. I prefer metal. I will listen to anything." Naru agrees. "I tend not to turn on the radio, it's so full of ads, but a pretty random playlist and just let it /be/ the soundtrack of life for a little while. Especially if you can't get your brain to shut up." She mmms softly. "If I'm feeling chill, then I can sit and listen to silence.. at the park, or the beach or in the dorms or whatever. I mean..its never really silent, but just to the ambient sounds, but when I'm not? Then music for sure."<br><br>There's times when Naru isn't chill?<br><br>"I mean.. I practically lived at Usagi's house growing up, but not literally." Naru nods. "I really like the loud of the dorms, but I'm used to living in an apartment over a store, so the sounds of people being around, or not that far away, seem really normal to me." There's a little laugh. "She's alright at clean.. but tidy is not her strong suit. We do better than I think either of our families expected, for how different we are on that front."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara couldn't help but snicker. "Wait. So you mean to tell me there are times when you aren't chill? My goodness. I don't think I've ever seen that. Now I'm kind of curious what not-chill Naru-chan is like. Do you yell? Scream? Throw water balloons? You totally strike me as a water balloon thrower," she said, obviously just playing with the most absurd idea.<br><br>"The... ads are an issue, admittedly. They are realllllly excessive. And sometimes I swear they're just... weird. Like... who needs foot lotion at midnight? But I find it's really helpful at night. When the thoughts won't shut up, to just have something to focus on other than... well. Things in your head."<br><br>She at least seemed a little more relaxed, though. "Really? So you two were always friends, huh? Hmmmm. Did your parents set you up or... no. Did Usagi-chan kidnap you? 'You're my friend now! Come play dollies!' or something like that?" she asked with a light chuckle, a hand covering her mouth. Ironically, it hadn't even dawned on her that, wait. She kidnapped Naru too. Crud. "So, I'm guessing you tidy up around the dorm a lot more than she does? Does she do anything to make up for it?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru can't help but giggle alonside. "I promise there are times when I am not chill" She shakes her head. "I've never been much of a yeller." She isn't commenting on the water balloons, though. Suspect! <br><br>"Foot cream is one thing, but a dancing cell phone? Soemtimes the ads are just so silly and over the top." Japanese ads are legendary for being absolutely absurd. "Yeah, brains are sometimes really dumb."<br><br>"Yeah, we've been friends forever." Naru smiles fondly, it's clear that there's plenty of love there. "Since we were four." Which when one is fourteen, is basically forever. Naru giggles softly. "I mean.. Usagi does that /now/, although without the dollies. Did you see her at the pyjama party? She just walks up to people and basically is like 'hi, you're my friend now'."<br><br>Naru shakes her head. "Not really.. I mostly just tidy up my own stuff, and let her stuff be a mess if she wants it to be. I would /die/ trying to work at her desk, but I don't have to."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a light chuckle. "Yeah. I'm definitely a yeller. My tantrums used to be legendary." She paused. "I probably shouldn't brag about that, huh?"<br><br>However, Hinoiri did look confused. She opened her mouth, then paused. Then opened again and... paused. Finally, she tried one more time. "is... is there a radio commercial with a dancing... cell phone? How... how would that work? You couldn't even see it. That... that's not... what?" and now she was broken a little bit. "Oh. OH! You mean the TV ones. Yeah. Those are... weird."<br><br>Hinoiri did, however, shake her head. "I uhhhh, wasn't able to go to the pajama party. I wasn't feeling well, you know? And wasn't in the right... state... to be around a big crowd. But yeah, I could never stand a messy desk either. My mentor used to tease me and say she could always tell if I was around or not, all she had to do was open one book and I'd come over to set it right."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Usagi can also get a pretty good tantrum going." Naru admits with a little flash of a smile. "I dunno.. it's just part of who you both are. Tantrums over nothing.. that's not worth bragging about."<br><br>"The jingles are the same, so when I hear it on the radio, all my mind can see is the stupid dancing cell phones." Naru explains how her brain provides the pictures, even when listening to the radio. "And worse.. it's a REALLY catchy jingle. So you end up humming it later, and then whammo.. mental picture of dancing cell phones."<br><br>"There was a lot of people." Naru confirms with a nod. "If you weren't feeling it, then it's totally legit to just not go. I couldn't stay super long, myself."<br><br>Naru grins. "I'm alright with a book being open, but bigger books stacked on top of smaller books?" Naru gives a theatrical shudder. "And loose papers just shoved in at random? Gah."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "I guess that's fair. Heh. Maybe that's why I like the both of you so much. She's got a great personality and you obviously know how to handle people like us," she said in a playful tone. Seemed she had a high opinion of Usagi as well. Not many she did.<br><br>She did, however, cringe at the jingles. "Oh. Oh yes. I get that one especially. We didn't really have much television back home, but some of the jingles you'd hear, ugh. And the catchy ones were the WORST. You end up hearing the wrong song and bam, you're stuck humming about Professor Fureimusuka's dry scales for a week." She stuck her tongue out in an 'ick' gesture.<br><br>"I can usually handle crowds pretty well. Not the other day, though. Just... didn't have it in me, really."<br><br>She snorted at the books, though, a grin forming on her lips. "Oof. What kind of monster stacks the big books on the little ones? My gosh. Or worse. The ones who intentionally bend the pages to mark it. That's what a bookmark is for, seriously. But, I'll admit... when I was working my desk was known to get a tiiiiiiny bit messy. I uhhhh... really liked to just... get in it. you know. FEEL the project, you know?"<br><br>And, as if on cue, the okonomiyaki arrived! FOOD!<br><br>"... So, how'm I doing?" Yes, she wanted a grade. Well, maybe not THAT much...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I've had some practice." Naru comments dryly. A lifetime, or so it feels, of handling Usagi provides some skills.<br><br>"Some days just aren't extrovert days." Naru agrees with a nod. "Some days are blanket fort days. Ideally with a good book and some cookies and a good cup of coffee. Or two." Because even Naru sometimes has blanket fort days.<br><br>"Bent pages are awful. I mean.. I'm not always the best about finding proper bookmarks, but who can't find /anything/ flat to tuck in as a bookmark!" Naru tasks softly, shaking her head. Book abuse! "When you're right in the middle of things, that's not the same as messy, that's in progress. It's the leaving it like that when you're done."<br><br>Naru pulls her hands back as food arrives, and she quietly thanks the server with a nod of her head and soft words. Politeness she's generally pretty good at.<br><br>"I'm enjoying our conversation.. are you?" Naru asks with a grin. "What grade would you give us? This is kinda a group project, you know."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara chuckled and gave a nod. "I imagine so. Eleven years, that's quite a bit of time to know somebody. I don't think I can remember anyone I've known that long. I can't even remember the last time I had a blanket fort of any kind. Maybe that's what I should start doing." Then blink. "Huh. I wonder if that's why I like dirt biking. Feels like outracing the world..." Well... that'd be EXTREME!bookforting, then.<br><br>She nodded rapidly. "Exactly! Like, sure, if it's your book that's fine. But I have no mercy for those who do it to library books. Oh, or ancient texts of lost knowledge. There's a special place in tartarus for people like that." Literally. Third floor.<br><br>"... Honestly? More than I thought I would. It's relaxing, I guess. You're kind of soothing, like I was told a pet would be. As lab partners go, I've certainly had worse. Can't really think of any better." Except when she had none... wait, no, that wasn't a good thing to say. So at least she didn't.<br><br>"... Admittedly not sure what really separates this from just normal hanging out, though."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Blanket forts are awesome." Naru confirms and then ooohs softly. "I can totally see how dirt biking might qualify, although dont let your mind wander too much, cause I can imagine that crashing would suck a whole lot." She considers. "Going out on a motorcycle ride without racing might also qualify. You get to feel like you're flying, kinda."<br><br>Naru giggles softly. "What's tartarus?" She asks, even as she nods. "Your own books are bad enough, but it's mean to do it to anyone else's."<br><br>Naru smiles gently. "I'm glad you find it relaxing, and I'll take soothing." She mmms softly as she considers. "So generally.. at least in most romantic settings.. this.." She gestures between them. "Is friendship. Which is awesome and good and all. Romance, however.. has a spark of attraction. Where the other person makes your heart skip a beat.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara couldn't help but chuckle then. "Yeah. I uhhhh... gotta agree. Crashing sucks. I've done that a lot. Why I didn't learn on the motorcycle. Practiced a lot in a much safer place, on a moped," she said with a chuckle. "Then moved up from there. But... yeah. Feels like you're just... blowing through the world. Sometimes I like to just go out on the freeway and cruise. It's wild... exciting."<br><br>Hinoiri gave a light shrug. "Oh, just the name of a special prison back home for the most dangerous criminals. Also, what we called detention. Also, what... huh. We called a lot of places tartarus back home, now that I think about it," she mumbled, looking thoughtful for a moment.<br><br>She began to, very gently, mince up her okonomiyaki. Mmmmmm... "So... unless my heart skips a beat, we're not meant to be? Sounds like a recipe for disaster if you have heart problems. I'm guessing I haven't really inspired many of those kinds of thoughts in you, huh? Not that I blame you. You're... fun. Kind of cute. But... I don't know. I keep getting the feeling that there's something... more you're hoping for." She took a bite from her okonomiyaki. Then blinked and looked down at it. "Holy buck this is amazing..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I get tossed around enough without /trying/ to do it on a motorcycle.. but it /is/ tempting." Naru chuckles softly. "Although I admire your ability to drive a motorcycle when we are both too young to have a drivers license."<br><br>Naru ahhhhs and nods. "It's a good word.. and a good concept. Tartarus. Somewhere you firmly don't want to be."<br><br>Naru also starts to cut up her food, although she eternally nibbles more than eats. She's mostly an air plant, truthfully. Or perhaps a coffee fueled entity. "Not only is not every person attracted to someone else just rather on demand.. just because they think it would be convenient. Some people aren't attracted to anyone in a romantic way and that's perfectly normal." Naru considers. "But I think I'm still straight, and I don't think you're any more attracted to me than I am to you.. but I /am/ happy to spend more time as friends."<br><br>At the exclamation about the food, Naru actually gets around to trying hers. "Oh wow.. that /is/ good."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a light snort. "Who's tossing you around? Are you secretly a member of the wrestling club and I never knew? No. Wait. Sumo wrestling, that's the thing here, right? Or... something?" she asked with a light chuckle, shaking her head. "Though I think you'd be way too light for that."<br><br>However, the smile wavered when Naru mentioned being attracted. "I... guess. I never... really thought about it. To be honest, I never thought something like that would be... my destiny," she mumbled, lightly nudging her food around on her plate. "Then suddenly it's possibly an option I should consider and I'm not sure where I stand. Like... now that I kind of know? It seems more... relevant? I guess? Or..." And now her cheeks were going redder.<br><br>"I've never really had anyone make my heart... skip a beat, I guess. But I've had people who made my... stomach get kind of warm and... I don't know. I thought, maybe, I guess, doing... like... nuzzling them or something wouldn't be so bad. But then even that idea fades and I don't know. It'd probably be a lot easier if I was actually h--" Then blinked, stopping herself for a moment. "If I was... from... here, I guess. Maybe. I don't know."<br><br>"... There are times I think that about you, even, for what it's worth. But I didn't even hang out with people back home. I'm not even sure where lab partners, friends and romance begins and ends..." she muttered.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru winks. "Littlest sumo wrestler.. ever!" She can't help herself, she breaks into giggles.<br><br>"I mean.. I'm not sure anyone /really knows/." Naru points out. "That's why people get together, and date and hang out and see if they get that warm fuzzy feeling, or their heart skips a beat and if they work well with the other person. I mean.. we're in high school. Most of us are not picking life partners here, we're figuring out who we have crushes on, and how that fits into the bigger picture of life."<br><br>Ahh, the realities of being fourteen.<br><br>"I.. er.. know you're /really/ not from around here, and it's okay." Naru comments quietly. "I don't know where, but I don't think 'earth' has a lot to do with it. That probably isnt' helping anything in figuring things out."<br><br>"I mean.. nuzzling sounds good with some people.. and the lines get really blurry, especially when friends are comfortable with being physically close. And sometimes friends become something more romantic.. and that.. that I have /no/ idea how you know when it's not just more friendship." Naru admits.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara nodded, lowering her gaze. "I... guess. I'm not really looking for a life partner, anyway. I just want to see what the point is. Why it matters. Others seem to have it figured out, I should at least be able to do that, right?" she asked before taking another small bite. "Mmmm hm. Yet people treat it like it's more."<br><br>Hinoiri blinked and then... blanched... a little. "W-wait, what? I, errr... what do you mean by ummm, that? Where, errr, e-exactly... do you think I'm from? Eh... heh heh?" she asked, squirming a little. Yeah. She mentioned earth and wellllll... now she way, maybe, just a little squirmy about getting outed. And sinking a little lower in her seat. Squirming, idly playing with her fork now. Oh dear.<br><br>Annnnd her cheeks getting a little redder by the second.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Those others that seem to have it figured out?" Naru asks as she glances over to Hinoiri and punctuates her sentance with a bit of food on her fork. "Are probably only mostly faking it that they have it all figured out. I certainly don't have it figured out, I'm running on instinct and movies at this point."<br><br>The story of life that few admit to. It's all about faking it and pretending you know what's going on.<br><br>Naru looks across the table and she just arches a brow. "I have no idea where you're from, but I figure it's about half the exchange students who are probably not from Earth." She at least keeps her voice quiet, pitched for just the pair of them. She's wholly unconcerned with that reality, it just is a thing that is. "It's not a big deal.. okay.. it super is to you, and it's really kinda cool. I'm hardly about to tell the world."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times and then... sighed. "Yeah, okay. Probably. A lot of the exchange students are pretty weird," she muttered, running her fingers along the table and looking... kind of defeated. "And let me tell you, I may not be able to use magic here, but a lot of them? They have no subtlety. That Adora girl? None. Not even a little. I'm trying to cover up the fact I know she's magic and she's going off like she lives in some kind of magic war camp," Hinoiri said, rolling her eyes. "But... no. I'm not."<br><br>She nudged her food around some more. "I'm... not from here. Lots of other people seem to have been drawn here. Though I wonder if I'm the only one who ended up here who lost access to all of her magic," she grumbled, her voice filled with annoyance before sticking in another piece of okonomiyaki. Chewing for a few moments before... "So... you're not like... going to think it's weird? I mean, me trying to like... consider dating someone from here when I'm not? Or... tell anyone that I'm a... well... I guess alien?" she asked.<br><br>"... For what it's worth, my home did have romance. And friendship. Just... not for me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I had to teach one exchange student how to eat pudding with with a spoon." Naru notes calmly. "We have some quirky folks at school for sure." She smiles. "I like Adora, but she's very.. straightforward."<br><br>"I'm sorry you lost access to your magic." Naru sounds sincere on that point. "That has to be seriously frustrating." She shakes her head a little. "I don't think it's weird at all. You're not from here, but that's fine. You live here now, so why would that make you someone I wouldn't want to spend time with? I mean.. it might be awkward if you said you were moving back next week with no way to contact you, but you haven't said anything about that, so I suspect that's not a thing." Naru is as pragmatic as ever on that point.<br><br>"I didn't figure that you came from a place that didn't have friendship, or romance.. I figured you were either too busy, or not intersted or something else that kept you from it." Naru flickers a smile. "I mean.. I am from Tokyo, and I haven't sorted out the romance thing, so I don't think that's unique to exchange students."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara just stared at Naru at that point. Opening her mouth. Closing it. Opening it again. Closing it. Opening... stopping. Shrugging. Just... puts some more okonomiyaki into her mouth.<br><br>Finally...<br><br>"How in the world can you struggle to eat pudding with a SPOON? It's a SPOON! And a colloid! It's fairly straight forward," she muttered, looking annoyed at this.<br><br>"It is incredibly frustrating. You have no idea. Back home I was powerful. Here... I just..." She moved a napkin around, more fiddling. "Here I'm... stuck just watching. I see people doing the magic stuff. I've always been one of the best at that... but now? I'm stuck being a sideliner. Helpless. I have to pretend I don't notice because, well. Otherwise more things like... shooty out of my soul or whatever you called it. It's such.... ugh. But no, I won't go back home next week. I don't even know if I ever can..." she mumbled softly.<br><br>"... It feels weird, though. I guess. Trying to do it. Now? The romance stuff? I always feel like the person on the outside who's... not... any good at this stuff. I've always been one of the best. But now I feel like I'm trying to cram for a major exam and I've only ever had the kindergarten classes..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"After that.. there is no question about life on Earth or in Tokyo that I won't make the attempt to answer seriously. Cause.. damn." Naru just shakes her head a little. When the bar starts at 'using spoons', there truly is no question too basic.<br><br>"I got shot too." Naru adds almost absently. "Not entirely helpless, but I do get where you're coming from. It's not at all the same as it was before."<br><br>Naru laughs softly. "Mostly all of us have little idea on what we're doing, so we're all screwing up together. I'm not sure there /is/ a best at relationships. There's just making you and your partner.. or partners.. happy."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>"Maybe they were just stupid. That doesn't sound like an alien question. That sounds like a clueless and dense in the worst way question," Hinoiri said, entirely without mercy.<br><br>"Yeah... I guess that's... wait, you did? Huh. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how many people were being shot. Just... you know. It sucks being the 'rescued'. I don't... I really don't like it. That feeling of helplessness... Twice... now... its happened. I've been helpless to do anything and other people came to rescue me..." she lifted up a hand to rub her geode, but... it wasn't on, now. She'd left it at home. She wasn't wearing it anymore.<br><br>"... I miss having magic. I don't know. Maybe this was a bad idea. I don't... like... feeling helpless. I don't like feeling like there's things I don't get. And I absolutely detest feeling both. But maybe that's just it. Maybe it's what this world is supposed to be for me. Helpless and confused," she muttered. She didn't sound... sad, or upset. She sounded angry. As if it was a fat that she wanted to burn out of this world, rather than a struggle she was learning to endure.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"It's possible." Naru allows as a potential for just being stupid. It's always possible.<br><br>"I'm sorry." Naru does sound sympathetic. "No one really /likes/ feeling helpless. And I didn't mean to make you feel helpless and confused and grumpy about it." She considers it. "Although I might argue that confused is generally only a temporary thing as and while you figure things out. That's pretty normal."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara chuckles softly, wrapping her arms around herself. She gave the smallest smile. "It's fine. IT's... not your fault. Unless I find out you're like, some grand arbiter of magic. In which case, I'm going to get my magic back one day just so I can beat you with it," she said with a small chuckle, before pushing her plate away. "I think I'm done. Sorry I didn't really... make your stomach skip a beat. Your heart. Your heart skip a beat. Ugh. I think I've been nothing but complaining this whole time, though."<br><br>"... I guess we should just stick to being friends, huh? It was worth a try, though. Just... to understand. Maybe..." she mumbled, flagging down the waitress for to go containers if she was good too. And to pay the bill.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru offers her hand across the table, to be taken if Hinoiri is willing to have some touch. "If I'm some grand arbiter of magic, then you totally get to give me hell someday."<br><br>So much that Naru does not know about Hinoiri. Still, Naru is unlikely to be some grand arbitrator of magic at least.<br><br>"I'm glad that we spent time and chatted and got to know each other better, no matter that there's no spark of attraction, I think we're better friends. Or I hope so at least." Naru smiles easily. "And I got to see your eyes light up when you talk about music, and motorcycles, which is pretty awesome. And really good food."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod. "Oh, don't you worry. I'll totally dethrone you and take your spot in that case."<br><br>Playful banter, of course. "And really? My eyes light up that much? Ugh. I'm gonna be pissed if that's all my magic can do now. I used to be able to teleport, you know. And lift things with magic. Don't even get me started on all the things I could do with plants. But nope. Now I got... fingers," she mumbled, wiggling them like they were special. "... But yeah, motorcycles are pretty rad. Didn't have those back home. Or... baby metal. That's pretty neat as well."<br><br>She smiled over at her. "So, anything else we should do after this, or wanna just go for a drive around town before I take you home? I guess it's fairly safe to say there won't be a date 2, huh?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru laughs as they get things settled into to go boxes, and paid up and the conversation takes them out to where the bike is waiting for them. "I'd love to go for a drive around town, to be honest. I feel like defying death a little bit more with you driving." Her tone is teasing.<br><br>"Hey, friends can go out and do things too, you know." Naru points out. "But I don't think we're going to be the next miracle romance of the school."<br><br>There's a grin and then Naru adds. "Hopefully friends still get to go on rides around town on the motorcycle though."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara gave a light snort. "Hey, it may feel like defying death but I'd NEVER let a passenger get hurt. Ever. And I've yet to have an accident with anyone else on the bike. I wouldn't let you be the first." She took out the helmets and then put the food in them. Ohhh, advantage to bulky helmet bag. Space for other things when helmets weren't there!<br><br>She slid into the seat and smirked back at her. "Yeah, I think friends getting rides can be a thing. Just don't expect it too much or you'll need to pay for gas. I'm not a charity, you know," she said in a teasing tone...<br><br>Before they were off, driving into the distance!<br> <br>
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