1451/The Long Wait

The Long Wait
Date of Scene:	25 April 2024
Location:	Midori-Ya Cafe
Synopsis:	With the disappearance of so many through the portal Beryl made, Chiyo tries to smooth things over with the teachers by claiming many were struck down with the flu. After school she sits vigil in Midori-ya Cafe to watch over the area. Philip Toms is a bit suspicious (worried?) about her actions and follows her to chat.
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Phantom

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Chiyo Sakai has posed:
It had been a long day for Chiyo, and was about to be longer yet. There'd been numerous excuses she'd made throughout the day, not just for Usagi but for her roommate, Naru. Those she could claim excuses for at least stating that they'd come down with a serious case of the flu that was going around... And surely the missing OTHER students helped that a bit. Even the nurse was out!

She'd not been her usual cheerful self though overall, and had simply gathered up homework and other items promising to drop it off for them, and apologizing to teachers for the inconvenience. The bag she carried was filled to the brim with extra items today. Some of which was homework, some of which were 'emergency supplies' she'd made earlier in the day. The heavy bag is hefted easily over her shoulder as she finally heads out at the end of school with a clear destination in mind.

Without stopping or dawdling she makes her way to Juuban ward where there was some obvious signs of construction and road closures. Midori-ya cafe was relatively nearby. It's this building she ducks into heading for the counter.

"Coffee please, cream and sugar. And..." Her eyes wander over the case of pastries clearly considering it with a tired expression. "A cinnamon bun, please." She could eat that slowly by unraveling it bit by bit.

It's all taken to a seat by the windows where she sinks down into it and just... Takes a deep, weary breath.

Phantom has posed:
There were others that had made note of the abscences - including those that know why because they had observed - without actually getting involved themselves. While Sunbreaker was a fool that jumped in, Phantom had stayed out of Beryl's business. Maybe she'll get stuck in her own portal forever and then Queen Mirage can take over.

But, for now, he had noticed Chiyo and her concern. And while he noted that friends of the missing had been concerned - Chiyo was doing more. That raised his concern level just a little. After all, if she rescues her friends, she may also rescue Beryl and just... ugh.

So, he'd been keeping tabs on her - and as they enter into Juuban, he finally made his move, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he jogs into the cafe, panting for breath as he notices Chiyo. "Sakai-san!" he calls out to her. "Hi... I saw you when I was on my way to the store and you looked like you needed help." But she doesn't even look winded, he realizes and huffs a laugh. "I guess you have it handled though."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai really wasn't winded but she was also a lot stronger than she let on. Even before she'd become a magical girl, she was strong. The coffee sits on the table in front of her, and the cinnamon bun on a little plate while her bag is on one of the empty chairs rather than the floor. Easier to keep an eye on, plus it had less chance to get dirty that way.

A little bit of surprise flits over her expression when Philip rushes in calling out to her. Though she'd looked less than happy she does find a smile to greet him with. "Philip-san! Ah... Thank you but I'm okay," she assures with a grin of amusement. "I'm in pretty good shape." He however looked like he was about to keel over.

"Do you need some water? You must have ran a lot!"

Phantom has posed:
"Water would be great." Philip offers with a huff. "I saw you when you left the school and was worried something was wrong with all you were carrying and thought you might need help. Guess not." That might be the most he's said to Chiyo since they met. He straightens back up to place an order for the ice water.

Wait, did he just show concern? A shake of his head as he shakes it off. "Everything alright, though?" he finally decides to ask.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai nods with approval when he orders a water. At least he could have a moment to recover that way. Without a word she lifts a hand to indicate the seat opposite her in invitation. "You're welcome to share some of my cinnamon roll with me, if you'd like. It's really bigger than I expected. Plus I'm not that hungry," she has to admit with a little glance down to the actuall delicious looking pastry.

It's his question that causes her expression to turn a bit more worried. The lower edge of her lip is bitten, a gesture that seems she's done many times today since there's a little swollen spot where she'd been worrying at it.

"No, no things aren't all right. There's just nothing I can do about it." Her gaze sweeps out the window to stare down the road a bit while one hand rises up to catch at one of her curls only to twist it around her finger repeatedly.

Phantom has posed:
Once he has the water, Philip moves to take the seat that was offered to him. "Oh, thank you." he manages at the offer of sharing her cinnamon bun. Taking the seat and settling in at the table, he watches at Chiyo's smile fade and becomes one of worry.

"So." he ventures. "...noone knows what that mystery illness is, huh?" comes the question. "Sorry, noticed some students not in class today and I didn't know if it was like... maybe they had a bad meal or something?" he asks.

"Regardless... I think they'll be alright though?" He has noticed the nervous element of her playing with her curls. "Or if something else you want to talk about?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The tug to her hair pauses, tense and tight and ... she relaxes after a moment to let the hair spring from her grasp only to start the twirling process anew. Gentler this time. Purposefully so.

"Maybe. Usagi-chan does like to eat a lot," she has to admit with a fond smile as she speaks of her. "She's my cousin. We only realized a couple of months ago when Ojiisan met with her mother. Second cousin technically, our grandmothers were sisters. It's just... She's kind of the only family I have that is around besides Ojiisan, so I worry about her when she's--" Not around. "Sick."

"It's just a matter of waiting, I guess."

Phantom has posed:
As he listens to Chiyo explain the familia tie to her cousin, Philip nods. "I do not not have much of a family myself, so I cannot grasp that, but I understand the concern and I will hope that she has a speedy recovery." he offers with a small, if sincere, smile.

His eyes go to the bag. "Is that what that's for?" he asks. "You going to visit Usagi, and bringing her some medicine and stuff?" comes the curious question as he sips from hs water. But he's not going after the cinnamon roll yet - she hasn't taken the first bite.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Thank you." A soft smile is offered in turn and her attention finally shifts to the pastry. Reaching out she uses a fork to cut through a bit before sliding the plate toward him so he can do the same. She could use her fingers, but that would be a little messy.

"Yeah. She's not really great at keeping her grades up, so at least this way she can't claim she never got the homework. I can't really go visit right now though. If I got sick too, then Ojiisan may as well, and then there's no one to run the shop." The part timer helped but he couldn't handle the WHOLE thing himself.

"So I'm just holding onto it for now until I see her again."

Phantom has posed:
Once the bun is pushed in his direction, Philip cuts off a piece and digs in - by now Chiyo's probably caught on that he has a little bit of a sweet tooth. Though he clearly burns a lot of calories in the process. "Ah. Well, when you see her, I hope she is doing well." he offers politley as he takes another bite.

"Oh. I wouldn't want you to get ill, Chiyo. Maybe you should wait a little while? Make sure it's not something that's contagious?" He actually sounds concerned when he brings that up.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai draws in a deep breath partially out of frustration for not being able to tell the truth. Having someone to unload her concerns on really would be beneficial. Later she'll have to visit Mamoru to make sure *he* was all right as well. So many had gone missing...

"Yeah, I'll be careful," she assures with a smile. "I'll just see if there's any update tomorrow. Until then," she tilts her head toward the bag. "I'll just hang onto this."

Changing the topic a bit she asks, "So how are you doing? Joined any clubs?" The bite of roll is taken with a little soft 'mm' of enjoyment. It really was tasty.

Phantom has posed:
"Alright. I know you don't know me well. But if you need to talk?" Philip shrugs. "I at least listen well?" A small smile offered at that as he cuts off another piece, before reminding himself it's Chiyo's bun.

"No. No clubs. I guess right now, it's just going to class. And then back home. Haven't really tried hard to find something that appeals, so that's on me." He finishes off his current piece of pastry and chases it with water.

"I had thought you would be so busy with helping your Ojisan and with the shop that you wouldn't have time for clubs?" he asks her as he folds his hands in front of him.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai smiles sheepishly when he asks about being too busy for clubs. "I am for the most part. I'm only in manga club and flower arrangement club... Which isn't very popular, admittedly. They don't meet too often. Manga club you can kind of come and go as long as you make the once a month meetings to vote on which series to add to the collection."

The fact that she's admitting to liking manga was something she wouldn't have originally done a long time ago. It was such a simple thing now.

"Thanks, Philip-san. I just..." Another glance out the window toward the construction comes. She knew something was there, clearly, but there's no move to try and investigate it. "I know she tends to jump head first into things without thinking about it sometimes. I guess I just worry about her too much because of that habit of hers. Even if," she adds looking back with a flash of a grin, "It means she might push herself too much instead of just getting better."

Phantom has posed:
"Two laid-back clubs. Good, you don't need to stretch yourself thin." Philip offers as he notices where she's looking off to and turns his head. He can see the portal - plain as day. "What do you see?" he asks her. No offer if she likes construction or the like, he'll let her figure out her own way to explain it to him.

Though at the mention of the leaping headlong into things, he turns to face her with those blue eyes and he smiles at her. "It sounds a bit like a family trait." he offers, with just a hint of a tease. "Anyway. Seems like you didn't need help. I should... let you get back to going to visit Usagi-san. I hope she feels better soon. And that you don't catch her illness."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Hm?" What does she see? She saw the portal. There was no hiding that, but it wasn't something she could say. So while gazing out the window she responds as any 'normal' person might: "Oh, just it looks like the construction may take awhile to finish. There's a big hole..." In the air or in the street? Hard to tell what she means at least. Her head shakes as she looks back with a smile. "If people have to detour this could make business better for Nounamu though. I'll have to warn Ojiisan about it."

"Thanks for stopping to check on me, Philip-san. I'm probably just going to relax awhile and do my own homework here for a bit, though." Her expression does soften to a genuine smile. "Take care of yourself, too."

Phantom has posed:
"There is a big hole." Philip says as he pauses at the door, turning to look back at the girl. "If you decide to get a closer look... do be careful not to fall in." he offers to Chiyo. A concerned flicker in his eyes, before he nods and heads off.