1302/Lucky Crown

Lucky Crown
Date of Scene:	18 March 2024
Location:	Hikawa Karate Dojo
Synopsis:	What started as Hime telling Iona about her latest problem with Ryoko takes an unexpected turn when it turns out the two of them would actually be interested in dating the other.
Cast of Characters:	Iona Hikawa, Hime Shirayuki

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Iona Hikawa has posed:
School is over for the day, and despite this being exam season, Iona is doing more than well on her studies, so this day instead of staying at the dorm to study, she has gone back to her grandpa's dojo to help him train the students.

She has already changed into the karate uniform, but today, there isn't any compelling need among her grandpa's students, so all she needs to do is walk around the dojo, and occasional lend aid to the students who need it.

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
Cure Princess, or Hime Shirayuki, has been having A Day. She doesn't have a lot of friends, and she ABSOLUTELY cannot go to Cho about this, so she has been searching for Iona. They're on good-terms now, afterall, and the girl is surprisingly sweet. Hime likes her. She's actually a bit embarassed by how much she likes her. But that's for her to unpack at a later date.

She checks around the school first and comes up empty, so decides to go and check the dojo. The girl left her dorm in a huff a few moments after Ryoko left with a smirk. The blue-haired girl is wearing a very cute sundress that matches her hair, and martching pumps, with a smattering of carefully chosen bracelets and a necklace. She is always on-point with her style and always knows what will look cute on her. The only problem is that it's obvious that, while she isn't currently, Home has been crying.

She spots Iona as the other girl patrols the grounds, and she raises a hand to wave to her. "Hikawa! I...do you have a minute?," she asks, her courage dimming a bit now that she actually has the girl in front of her. It isn't fear of a bully, anymore, though. Just nervousness about the whole situation. And other stuff.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
It's true, Iona and Hime's relationship has improved leaps and bounds ever since they met again during the battle against Scorn the Crow Witch. It took Cure Daybreak opening Iona's eyes, Cure Wukong's stabilising presence that gave Iona the push to get out of her shell, and lastly, Cure Princess' own push when she asked Iona to address her on familiar terms. She has definitely been Cured.

Which is why when Hime comes up to her in a hurry, Iona is quick to turn to the bluenette with a warm smile. Not that she hasn't perceived the other girl's anxiety, but she is putting up a warm welcome to make it clear that whatever has happened, she is here to help.

"Hime-chan!", she greets, walking outside the hall towards the door at the end of the corridor. "Yes, this is a good time. Please, tell me everything."

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
She falters when Iona calles her Hime. It's true that she was the one who started using familiar terms first, but for some reason her brain was nervous to do so all of a sudden. She stammers and then smiles. "R-right. Iona-chan!" She tucks a lock of blue behind her ear and takes a deep breath, moving closer. "Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?," she asks her. She smooths her dress down a bit and straightens her back, trying to appear more proper in the presence of the other girl. Something she doesn't bother with as much with the others.

"I had some things happen and I need someone to talk to about it," she admits.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona gives a glance to her grandpa when Hime asks to meet somewhere more private. The old man, sitting on the ground while still watching his students train, gives an assertive nod. It seems he too understands that this is not a lighthearted matter, and he is willing to let her niece go lend a listening ear and a helping hand to her friend.

"Yes, there is the garden outside", Iona replies. "Nobody is using it at the moment, so it will be just the two of us there." Encouraging Hime to follow her by giving out her hand for the bluenette to take, if that's done, Iona will start walking with her towards the spacious greenery right next to the building.

"It's safe to talk here, Hime-chan", Iona says, looking at the bluenette in the face, still with that relaxed, welcoming smile. "What has happened?"

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
She stares at the hand for a moment and then takes it, her cheeks turning beet red. She tries to act casual about it, though. "Garden sounds good. Mmhm. Lead the way, Iona-chan."

She walks with the girl, hand-in-hand. Her own hand is soft and small, showing a nice, easy life. The hand of a literal princess. Once in the garden she doesn't seem in a rush to let the hand go, though.

"It's Gushiken-san. My roommate." Hime has complained about her before. She sighs and uses her free hand to wipe at an eye, red-rimmed from crying. "I did something dumb that I shouldn't have and I'm paying for it, I guess." She turns to glance about the garden. "...It's really pretty here."

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona is pleased that did in fact take her hand, even if she is attributing the blush to the simple suddenness of her proposal. Because, she is clearly going to talk about something stressful for her, so it's important for her to be as at ease as possible. Which is also why she isn't showing any sign of retracting her hand once they have reached the garden. It's actually better that's a sign of comfort for Hime.

Iona's smile does slip for a second when she hears it's about Hime's roommate. She remembers wanting to have a talk about it ever since Hime first mentioned it to her, and perhaps too much time has passed. "Is this something you are actually responsible for, or something your roommate is blaming you for? Whatever has happened, I want you to know that I am with you to get out of this."

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
She fidgets at the question and takes a deep breath. "Okay, okay. So...Gushiken-san is really, really cold and distant. And, I know...when I was first figuring people out, or trying to, I came off like that sometimes, too. So, I figured...mabye she's just shy? When I was kinda forced out of my comfort zone without a choice it helped me with people and stuff." She's far from great with people, but the girl HAS improved. "So, I decided to secretly sign her up for the Prom Planning Committee."

She squeezes her eyes shut and then peeks at Iona with one eye through her bangs. "It was dumb, and I know that now. My fairy suggested it and..." She shrugs her slender shoulders and sighs. "But that's just the beginning of all the stuff that happened."

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Ribbon put her up to this? As well-meaning as they are, fairies do tend to be a bit overenthusiastic, even if Ribbon seemed to be the responsible type. To invert a saying, even a good clock malfunctions twice a day. She knows that herself.

Still, this isn't good, since now Gushiken-san has a reason to be annoyed at Hime. But a talk with the student council should help on that front, and Cho-san should be easily reachable. But talking first with Hime's roommate is imperative, since continuing to do things on her behalf isn't going to help any.

"You meant well, but you are right that this isn't a good situation for Gushiken-san either. I don't want you to torment yourself over it, though. If you weren't under pressure due to her behaviour in the first place, this wouldn't have happened." But Hime said there is more, so she should listen to the rest before undertaking a course of action.

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
She nods slowly. "I told her I'd go tell the truth and get her out of it but she said no. She was really mad, but really adamant about it. She yelled at me a bunch. Had me...she was leaning over me and I was crying and it was...dumb." She looks away, ashamed.

"But...but then...well. Prom's coming up, right? I've been thinking about this friend of mine a lot. A lot. They're strong and...and kind. Surprisingly kind. And dedicated and so, so beautiful. Or...or handsome," she adds hastily, as if trying to conceal any identifying marks of who she's talking about, but badly. "I was trying to build up the nerve to ask them to prom. But, then I got this letter. It's back at my dorm right now. It was from Cho-san. She was saying she really liked me and wanted me to go to Prom with her and be her Princess. She's really nice and helped me train and stood up for me and...I don't want to be rude and say no. But, more importantly, I've never been asked out before. The letter means...it means a lot to me just for that."

She still isn't looking at Iona, but is clinging to her hand with her own. "My roommate saw the letter and mocked me. Told me she would write a fake refusal. And then she said I had until Prom to find HER a date for it, or she'd make me go with her. I don't WANT to go with her..." The Princess is fighting back tears again.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Had there not been that blush from earlier, Iona wouldn't have thought twice about that list of traits, but that blush did in fact happen, and so Iona's mind naturally gravitates in that direction. The suspiciously specific denial of Hime adding a "handsome" in a late attempt to try and obfuscate her crush's identity really only help make it more obvious. She has of course heard some men being referred to as beautiful, especially certain models, but Hime's addition has made it clear she does not mean it like that.

And... she is not bad-looking, honestly, so Hime could conceivably refer to her like that. They are friends. And she is strong and dedicated. She has been dedicating herself to acing Karate and school ever since she was 6 years old, so it would be the irritating and fake kind of modesty if she denied she was like that. The only potentially odd trait is kindness. Is her recent 180° enough to redeem herself to Hime?

It is with a slight blush of her own that she replies back to Hime. "It's totally out of line for her to ask that of you. She is only blaming her own insuccess on you, Hime-chan. I have some ideas for how to solve the issue regarding the committee, while for this one, I will go try to talk with her myself. I have been intending to talk with her about how she has been bullying you anyway. This only makes it more urgent."

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
The girl considers that quietly for a moment, and the tears end up not falling. She leads the way over to a bench in the garden, and she sits. She tries to guide the taller girl down to sit beside her. Unless Iona pulls away she doesn't let go of her hand, even while sitting. "That's really nice...nice of you, Iona-chan. Part of me thinks you doing that will...will only make her meaner to me, though." She sighs softly and considers, turning to glance around the garden again. "Are you thinking about going to the Prom? Did somebody ask you?," she ends up venturing. A clever and subtle ruse to find out if she hasn't been asked yet! Wait, not so subtle. She outright asked.

"Do you think Cho-chan will hate me if I tell her no? I don't want to hurt her. She's a really good friend and she's been so helpful. She helped me stand-up for myself and believed in me when things were...bad, you know? But..." Her bright eyes flick towards the girl beside her and her cheeks redden again before she glances away again.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
"I don't think she will with me to take care of it." If she has to make Ryoko hate herself more than Hime to achieve it, so be it. It's about time that she picked on someone that can answer back without having to henshin. And she certainly has both the means and the desire to protect Hime on that front.

She does follow Hime on the bench when the other girl pulls her along, sitting down just as the bluenette does. She has never tried to leave the soft, Princess touch of her hand all this time. "No, nobody has asked me out yet." And she could sort of guess as to why. Many times she has overheard the compliments whispered behind her back, and while they were indeed compliments, they were also making her seem a distance figure.

Add to it that her own behaviour is if forthcoming and always available, also awkward at times, and it's no surprise people have troubles approaching her. "The Prom will end up being nice even if I don't find anyone to go with. Furthermore, I don't think I will find someone between now and then." She isn't sure enough yet to act on the signals Hime is sending her, even if she would like to. Especially with...

The fact the bluenette has also started thinking about the invitation Cho sent her. And she could see why Hime would consider going with her. She is an amazing girl, and one that has been kind to Hime ever since the start. "Cho-san is an amazing option and you can totally go with her if you want. I will be very happy for you." About as subtle as a brick there, which Iona realises as her blush deepens. "And she is a good friend, so I am sure she wouldn't hate you."

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
"You're right. She wouldn't hate me." That seems to set the girl's mind at ease, and she looks down at the hand she's holding. She swallows. She wants to cry out of nervousness, but she's been trying really hard not to tear up at the drop of a hat. She especially wants to look strong in front of the purple-haired girl. Hime takes a deep breath.

"So, in that case, and it's cool if you don't want to or whatever, but...I was thinking..." There is practically steam coming out of the girl's ears, she's blushing so red.

"Do you want to go get dinner sometime? Like, some sushi or something? Or...or mabye a walk in...in the park? Or we could go to the mall? Or...or...lots of different things. Just the two of us. Often." Her free hand is gripping the armrest of the bench like she's worried she's going to fly off into the sky if she lets go. "...And then...and then after a...a bunch of those we can...we can go to the Prom t-together. We'd...we'd have some dates under our belt by then. So..so it wouldn't be awkward."

Yes, Hime is asking Iona out, and not just to Prom.

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona stares at Hime like a deer caught in headlights at first when she hears the stammering proposal of her friend. She saw the direction this was taking, but she wouldn't have expected it to actually happen so soon, just as when they were discussing how to deal with Ryoko.

It doesn't take long at all for her mental processes to unfreeze. It is barely noticeable it, which certainly comes in handy in case Hime would have interpreted the refusal as a no. "I think that would be very nice", Iona says, her blush becoming a bit less marked as she regains her composure.

Who is she trying to fool? No, that isn't due to Iona getting back her cool. This is Iona replacing part of the awkwardness with happiness.

"I would love all of that. Often", Iona adds, making sure to include that little significant word at the end too. There is certainly a reason Hime has used it, and Iona is not disagreeing. "So, after all of that, we can certainly go together at the Prom, I think both of your ideas are great", Iona says, a timid squeeze of Hime's hand.

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
Oh. Oh, she said yes. A large part of Hime expected to be turned down, but she wouldn't forgive herself if she didn't at least ASK.

She looks back to the taller girl, her eyes wide in surprise. "Wha...?" Her mind needs a moment to play catch-up, and the timid squeeze of her hand is what helps her fully reboot.

The shock is replaced with joy, and the princess is absolutely beaming now. She's really, really cute when she smiles like that. "REALLY?" She claps her hand over her mouth. "...Sorry," she whispers. "I mean...really? You mean it?" She swallows and glances down at the held hand. "Okay. I mean...okay! Wow. So...so we're going to go out."

She takes a deep breath and looks back up into Iona's eyes. "Tonight?" She catches herself. "Is that too soon? I'm sorry. I...I get excited over things and then just..." Another deep breath, her blush fading as her trepidation is replaced. "Anytime you want. I get an allowance from Blue. I want to spend some of it on you. Dinner and walking around the m-mall?"

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona has to agree on the cuteness of Hime's smile. 100. And to think there was a time when she was very much responsible for that face to only frown and be sad. She is glad those days are over, and she can now help protect it instead.

"Yes, I really mean it", Iona smiles back, much more assured now that the initial hurdle has been broken past. "I am actually free after the dojo has closed, so yes, tonight would be perfect", Iona confirms, her face bright with happiness.

"I understand you being excited, I actually am too", Iona reassures the smaller girl that she is very much not alone in this. "And I am very happy you want to treat me. Will you allow me to treat you too, Hime-chan?" Iona proposes the terms of their dates. She wants to do things for Hime too.

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
She smiles and nods. "Sure. We can take turns. Or if it's something pricey, we can split it. That sounds fair and stuff. I mean, I've dated anyone before, but...but I think that sounds right."

She uses her free hand to smooth her long, long blue hair down a bit. She is in no rush to take her other hand from Iona's grip. "Okay. I'll come by after the dojo closes and we can go together. Unless you want time to change or do anything else first. If that's the case we can just meet there?" She squirms a bit, an absolute bundle of energy now, as if everything with Ryoko is simply -forgotten-. There's no sign of the girl who was on the verge of tears earlier.

"Four Clover Mall?," she asks. "Or Okujoo Ramen? How about the mall for...for the first date? Plenty of room to walk and talk, and lots of options for dinner."

Iona Hikawa has posed:
Iona is no fashion expert like Hime, but she still would like to pretty herself up for the date, so she can at least look good for it. And besides, she wouldn't really be presentable after hours of karate if she just went straight to the date. Even if the exerting is mostly done by the students she is supervising.

"The prospect of a walk through the mall sounds very nice", Iona agrees with Hime. There will certainly be lots of things there to share with each other, and besides her stack of coupons was getting a little bit too full. Between that and the money she has been getting from the dojo, she is certainly in a good situation to splurge on her dates.

"Thank you very much for inviting me, Hime-chan", Iona exclaims, her violet eyes clearly showing Hime the joy she feels at the prospect.

Hime Shirayuki has posed:
The girl's heart is overflowing as she sees how excited Iona also is for the date. It's more then she could have hoped for. She gives the girl's hand a more confident squeeze and then rises to her feet. She holds it a moment longer before gently letting it go. "Yay! I'm going to head back to my dorm, then. I'll meet you at the west entrance at six?"

Her little heart is absolutely racing, and she's worried if she sticks around too long she will absolutely embarass herself. Plus, she needs Ribbon to help her pick out an outfit!

Iona Hikawa has posed:
"Six sounds good, see you there, Hime-chan", Iona says, letting go of the hug and taking note of the entrance Hime has marked. Her mind is abuzz with all the possibilities, even as she is going to have to focus on the dojo.

Hime is certainly fun to be with, so at the very minimum it will be a fun outing, but now she has an important question to ask herself: will love between her and Hime actually blossom? That is something Iona is looking forward to find out, as her overjoyed heart fills her head with the romantic possibilities of the relationship they are about to build.