1345/A Phantom Walks into a Candy Shop

A Phantom Walks into a Candy Shop
Date of Scene:	25 March 2024
Location:	Nounamu Sweets
Synopsis:	Chiyo's at work when an unfamiliar boy shows up. She's happy to help 'Philip Tom' select some candy not knowing he's really Phantom, bane of the Precures!
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Phantom

---

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The shop known as Nounamu Sweets was well lit and people came and went with the flow of pedestrian traffic that moves along the street. Several RHA students wander in, and out, along with adults popping in to grab a box or two of whatever caught their eye.

The sign out front informed of the seasonal Sakura and Strawberry treats in colorful chalk.

This is where Chiyo currently is crouching beside the sign with chalk smudges on her fingers as she finishes touching up a part of the sign where a young child had touched and smudged it. It was accidental and easily fixed.

As she finishes up her task a piece of chalk is dropped. It rolls away, and she reaches out with a little sigh trying to snag it before it got too far.

Phantom has posed:
'Get reacquainted with Tokyo, you will be here a while.'

Those were the instructions from Mirage to Phantom. After being out in the world, exploring, seeing the sights - capturing Pretty Cures - here he was, back in what he was told was the Hub for it all. Spying the shop with it's colorful sign, he makes his way over towards the shop and the girl tending to the artwork.

Currently, he is dressed down in what would only probably be called early 90s emo kid. A t-shirt from Nirvana, the classic yellow smiley with the X's for eyes, jeans with rips in the knees - a pair of canvas chucks. On his left wrist is a bracelet with a red gem, and a collar around his neck. But his hair is cut somewhat normally, at least?

As he reads the sign, he gives a soft 'Huh' of thought. "Is it time for the Sakura blossoms, isn't it?" he asks casually of the girl, a glance to the interior of the shop.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai snags the rolling chalk around the same time Phantom speaks up. Her gaze lifts from where she's crouched to flash a rather warm grin at him in response. "It is! They bloomed a bit early this year due to the warmer weather." It had snuck up on several people, but given they were always trying to keep things 'seasonal' in mind they'd been caught up on it.

Rising to her feet she clasps the colored chalk in one hand to tuck the bits back into their box. "Sorry about that," the purple haired girl offers. "A toddler touched the sign and smudged it so I was just fixing it. But yes! We have sakura mochi, hanami dango, and other treats in stock right now."

There's a little smudge of pink on her cheek from the chalk. Otherwise she's dressed in a simple white blouse, black pants, and an apron with the shop name embroidered on it. The apron also had 'candy sprinkles' decorating it to add a bit of playful color.

"Are there any candies you're looking for?" It's habit to ask that as she looks back to Phantom smiling once more.

Phantom has posed:
Noticing the rolling chalk, Phantom was just about to snag it up, bending down, when suddenly, so very close to Chiyo! Pulling back when he realizes she has it handled, it gives him a moment to observe the teenager. My, she is colorful! It takes Phantom a moment, but he gestures. "You ah, have a smudge." He reaches up, wiping at his cheek so he can try to indicate on her where it is.

Once that's done, he offers the slightest of smiles, apparently very reserved in his own behavior, especially in the face of such a cheerful attitude! "I just had a rather large lunch and was looking for a little something to snack on later." he offers for his reasoning. "I've been away and just returned to Tokyo, so wanted to get right back into the local cuisine."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai blinks at the mention of something on her cheek. A little flash of embarassment crosses her face as her hand lifts to swipe over her cheek. "Oh, thank you for letting me know. These are so dusty," she mumbles as the box of chalk is slipped into a pocket on her apron.

Her hands smooth over her apron swiping off any remaining chalk dust in the process. At least on the colorful apron it's hard to notice.

"Well you've come to the right place then." A sideways tip of her head comes to indicate he ought to follow into the shop. "If you just want something small we have lollipops, and konpeito. A nice sweet that won't fill you up much."

Phantom has posed:
"The konpeito sounds nice." Phantom comments. He seems to remember that... from somewhere. Or maybe the spiky candy will make him just feel better. As he heads into the shop to get a better look around, he considers Chiyo. "Business has been good, then?" he asks curiously. "Has the sakura candy been selling well?"

There is a reason why he's asking. Mirage or Scorn might want some candy, he really should bring them back some. Deep blue eyes taking in the various treats and offerings. "Your family has been doing this for a while? More than one generation?" He seems to be able to tell.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Yes, and yes," Chiyo responds as she walks past the counter that displayed the flower shaped daifuku that was so skillfully made. Past the colorfo hanami dango on skewers, the pink sakura mochi wrapped in a leaf, past the fruit enrobed in glistening sugar, and to the end of the counter where there was a little stand ontop of the glass case that held the 'dry sweets' that didn't need to be refrigerated.

It displays several hard candies from what appears to be shimmering crystals, regular circle and heart shaped lollipops, and of course the little bags of traditional colorful konpeito. A bag is picked up as she turns to offer it out toward Phantom.

"My Ojiisan runs the shop now but it's been in our family for three generations. I'll probably take it over after him," she explains even though it seems there's a missing generation in there that *could* take it over. She was still a teen after all and no where near being an adult preparing to take over a business. Yet.

"Ojiisan makes the traditional candies. I help," she adds, "And we have a part-timer that's learning under him too. I try to bring in some more modern sweets as well though. It's always fun trying a new recipe out to see if people like it.

Phantom has posed:
Accepting the bag, Phatom studies it curiously, opening it and popping a piece into his mouth. He takes a moment to savor it, before he gives a nod of his head in approval. "I'll take this." he offers as he reaches for his wallet. But while he is doing that, he listens to Chiyo's story.

"Is it something that you enjoy then?" he asks of her curiously. "Making candy, that is? You do not feel like you are forced to do so? That you are able to still make your own decisions?" he gives a gentle 'huh' under his breath as he looks at all the flavorful and colorful candies.

"It would be interesting to learn how to make candies." he finally decides, considering the teen girl as he realizes after a moment... that's a lot of Euros in his wallet. Pulling those out to set aside, he roots around. He know there was a few yen in there. Apparently he'd forgotten to convert all of his cash over.

"One moment." he asks with a hint of apology, as he continues to push stuff around in his wallet, looking for that elusive yen note.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"I'm not forced to do anything. If I decided one day I don't want to, Ojiisan would still support me." As Chiyo explains she glances over to a man behind the counter currently working diligently on molding warm mochi around filling. His old and weathered hands are dusted with rice flour, stained with food coloring, and he uses both fingers and wooden tools to form into delicate flower petals. Or the impression of them.

Quietly Chiyo speaks so that her voice doesn't carry too much. It doesn't need to with how close she stands to Phantom.

"He loves what he does and that love has been shared with me. Getting to see the smiles that come to people who try our sweets is well worth it. It may be a small thing, but I think that anything that can help brighten someone's day is worth it. No matter how small."

Glancing back to Phantom she watches as he roots through the Euros noting the difference in currency easily. Her hand reaches out to gently touch to his wrist stilling his search.

"You said you were new to being back in Tokyo. Consider it a welcome back gift. Just come back and try us another time as well once you get settled in."

Phantom has posed:
The touch to his wrist is unexpected. It gives him pause, and Phantom finds himself looking down at the hand. It's a well-hewned thing, she's apparently practiced her art a lot. Bit it's more the words, even as Chiyo draws his attention from her to her grandfather, his eyes watching him work. Again, something about it all seems to be familiar. A smile from the past. Something that feels - just out of reach.

Then she talks of love, and how it is shared with her, and her wanting to share that, and something in him wants to... and then, he recoils. His hand is pulled back. "No, I insist." he offers suddenly. Finding the Yen note, he sets it on the counter. "Here we are."

His eyes return to Chiyo for a moment, and the confusion of conflicting thoughts is noticable, for just a moment in those steely blue eyes before he shakes his head. "There is somewhere I need to be." And taking the bag, he turns to head out.

Only to pause at the doorway, his hand reaching down, crossing over to rub at the spot she touched. "Thank you." he offers cryptically, and then heads out, without even the benefit of a name exchange.

Hopefully the candy's good enough to bring him back - or a cat will show up with said bag later, and a warning for the girl.