577/Dreamer on Campus

Dreamer on Campus
Date of Scene:	08 October 2023
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Emi is introduced to Sayaka Miki, and her companion... Kyubey. A great start to a first day.
Cast of Characters:	Emi Hoshino, Sayaka Miki

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Emi Hoshino has posed:
Today has been a day of threes for Emi Hoshino. A three hour ride from Kyoto to Tokyo, where she was met by a school official to bring her to the Academy. A three hour orientation with them to bring her up to speed and giving her a tour of the campus, and, worst of all, getting her appropriate sizes for her new uniform. She does not approve of the uniform. The orange. It hurts her so. That she does not have her own, as of yet, is probably one of the things that make her stand out. Her very clear goth aesthetic, stripey high socks, long skirt, chunky boots, black top and jacket make that much clear.

It is now three hours since that orientation concluded at nine, she is sitting on a bench in the courtyard, getting oriented in her own way. It's a Sunday, so it's not as if the Academy is *quite* as busy as it might otherwise be, but it's not like there's a shortage of activity either. She leans on one hand, a knee tucked up on the bench, looking lazily bereft of discipline and, worse still, proper posture. Beside her is a black backpack which is looking as if it has seen better days. Probably many of them. A pair of purple-pink cat ears are attached to its top.

A perfectly practiced disaffected sigh escapes her. She's been working on that one.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
The prospective Puella Magi is going back to her dorm room after another trip to the Mitakihara General Hospital, Kyubey resting onto her shoulder as the white cat tends to these days when the sigh from from Emi attracks her attention.

'What is she doing on school campus? Is she a transfer student?' Sayaka thinks, not remembering Emi's face from anywhere, and while it wasn't required on days without school attendance, the lack of an uniform certainly did not help.

"Hey you, is something wrong? Do you need help?", the bluenette speaks directly, looking at the goth girl's disheveled state. Does she not care for herself? That, and the sigh. People do not usually sigh like that if everything if fine.

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"...hi," is what Emi says as Sayaka just comes up to her. She's about to say something else but there's a cat on her shoulder.

A really, really weird looking cat. She raises her hands up to her face, slowly staring at her through her fingers for a moment before she lowers them back down, green and blue eyes flicking between cat and face for a moment. She doesn't know what to say to that, where to begin.

So instead, she says, "...hi," again, because clearly that's the most intelligent response she can give at the moment.

"I'm new."

See? Emi is very good at being sociable.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
Sayaka isn't quite sure what to make of this girl. She clearly isn't good with conversation, but most importantly, the weird reaction she had at seeing Sayaka... "Is something wrong with my face?" she asks bluntly.

"Hello, I am Miki Sayaka, grade 8", she decides to introduce herself for the time being, with a polite bow, before going back to standing straight, her left hand on her hip. "Do you need help getting around? Is that why you are sighing?"

Emi Hoshino has posed:
And, in turn, Emi is not quite sure what to make of what she's seeing, and the weird cat she's got on her shoulder.

"... I had a tour earlier, but I'm still a bit lost. This place is ... way bigger than I thought it was. I mean, I checked the internet. I knew it was big but ... *big*." Her eyes scan up past the cat that she's trying very hard not to look at right now, given Sayaka's reaction to her kind of half-stare at it. Something is just very off here and well outside her wheelhouse... a wheel house she barely knows to begin with.

"I'm just a bit tired is all," she adds, fingers wrapping around the strap of her backpack. "... oh, and Emi. My name is Emi." A slight inclination that'll pass for a bow from the seated position.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"Welcome to the school, Emi-san", Sayaka replies, still looking at her quizzically. Maybe she really is just tired, but even then the bluenette shouldn't be that unusual a sight. "This is my natural hair colour, Emi-san", she decides to correct her over the perceived slight, her tone just slightly annoyed.

"Anyway, I can give you a refresher of anything that may confuse you about the school", she adds, her irritation persisting despite the change of subject.

<<It's not that, Sayaka.>> Kyubey intervenes telepathically. <<She was confused about me>>, he explains before turning his beady red eyes to Emi. <<Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Emi Hoshino. I am Kyubey, and offer people with potential magic and a wish in exchange to take up the fight against the curses of this world.>> he addresses the goth girl, Sayaka's shocked <<She is aware of magic too!?>> being said in the background.

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"..."

His voice is echoing in her head. In her /head/. She does not like that. Not one bit. Emi's alarm is written all over her face as the cat actually talks. And talks *to* her.

She stands straight up, bag now held in front of her like a completely unnecessary shield as she laughs awkwardly.

"Hahaha, I'm sure I have no idea what any of that means!" That strained, all too fake nervous laughter, the kind where you juset got a whole bunch of information and have no idea what to do with any of it so you just kind of laugh awkwardly instead. That laugh.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
<<It doesn't mean anything in particular to you, Emi. Your potential is already taken up.>> Kyubey replies. <<I am here for Sayaka, who has to make her own decision instead.>>

<<Kyubey, that is not something you are supposed to say to every first person we meet.>> Sayaka 'shouts' at the white cat, before laughing nervously as she comes to talk with Emi again.. <<Yes, it's like Kyubey said, I am getting hang of this Puella Magi thing, and deciding if I want to take up the cause>>, she replies with Kyubey's telepathy.

<<So, you are a magical girl, Emi-san?>> Sayaka gazes at the girl hiding behind her bag. <<You don't have to talk about it if you don't want too.>>

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"... I am so not ready for this conversation."

The wheels are turning in Emi's head. You can see them just on the other side of those mis-matched eyes. Her hands go up to either side of her head and she places them oer her ears, bag slung over her shoulder now instead. Staring.

She knew there were others out there, of course. She could hardly be the only one but to meet them now, here? She opens her mouth to say something, but her eyes alight on the cat again. She stares at it.

"...hmmm," she manages to mumble.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"That's totally fine. We can go visit the club buildings, or the cafeteria, or the dorms", Sayaka suggests, an assured smile on her face, albeit puzzled by the other girl's reaction. Maybe isolating herself from the world is her way to destress? If so, she can help!

Rummaging through her bag, Sayaka takes out her music player chock full of classical music, offering it to Emi. "Here", she says out loud. "I find listening to music relaxing. You can try out my collection", the bluenette offers the music with a confident and warm smile.

Meanwhile, Kyubey isn't really one to give Emi the privacy she wants, so he speaks again, his tail waving behind him. <<What's with the stares, Emi?>>

Emi Hoshino has posed:
"It's like I've never seen a weird looking talking cat before," muses Emi, thoughtfully, in answer to Kyubey's ponderings.

The player is received and she blinks helplessly at Sayaka, though. "Oh, uh. Y eah. Cafeteria. That's a great idea. It's lunch time."

Food. Food will help. She will feel better if she has something to eat.

Well, probably not, but she'd at least like to think so.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
"That's good then", Sayaka confirms, letting Emi take the music player, and starting to lead the way towards the cafeteria. "The food there is actually good, so no problems on that front."

Kyubey gives sign he is about to insist, but Sayaka pats him and gives him a warning stare. Insistent prattling is totally not what Emi needs at the moment.