53/Office Hours 7 -- Wako

Office Hours 7 -- Wako
Date of Scene:	09 July 2023
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	Kyouka runs into Wako Agemaki on the way out of the grounds after school.
Cast of Characters:	Kyouka Inai, Wako Agemaki

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Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Afternoon at Radiant Heart Academy will see many students fleeing the buildings, either to escape the campus entirely or to head back to the dorms, or perhaps to club rooms or other social gatherings. It's also when Kyouka is, generally speaking, relieved of her official duties. At least the ones related to the mundane operation of the school, slight as they are. That's why she's making her way down the brick-paved path from the administration building where her office is towards the front gate, her leather biker jacket slung over her shoulder and held by one hand, a pair of sunglasses already perched on her nose. She's not allowed to smoke on campus so she's chewing bubblegum instead, occasionally blowing a bubble which she pops before nomming back into nonexistence.

    Students swirl and eddy around her, most in more of a hurry than she is. She isn't particularly tall, so many of them (especially high schoolers) are roughly the same height she is or even taller, but there seems to be some instinct that makes them go around her instead of vice-versa, and her progress is accompanied by a ripple through the crowds, at least until she gets to the more open central plaza where there's more empty space and thus less need for navigating a crowd.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako is still finding her way into her new routine as a student of RHA. Not so long ago, this time of day would have seen her and Sugata heading to Drama Club - but Radiant Heart Academy's Drama Club doesn't meet today, and Sugata is still back home on the island, and Wako has found herself uncharacteristically at loose ends.

So she's making her meandering way along the brick path with no real destination in mind, trying to decide what to do with herself, when Kyouka's appearance catches her attention. Few students and even fewer faculty are likely to be spotted on campus looking like they're on their way to be part of a high speed motorcycle chase; Wako pauses in her meandering to take in the sight with a certain curiosity.

Also there's a fox. Vice President has so far had the good sense to stay out of sight while Wako's in class, but now he's scampering around close behind her feet, trying not to get stepped on by students who are in a bigger hurry than she is.

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    To be fair to Kyouka, she's still wearing her button-down white dress shirt and black slacks, so maybe the jacket is just for fashion (it isn't, her bike is parked on the street outside the gates) but it could be! That aside, one might think it would be somewhat difficult for her to notice one student amongst the crowds of them milling about post-classes, but for one thing. Wako is magic! Or has magic. Sometimes that distinction isn't terribly meaningful. Anyway, sensing magic (or sniffing it out, as the power manifests for her), is one of Kyouka's Verified Abilities(tm). And although sometimes it may not seem like it, only a tiny handful of the several-thousand students attending RHA actually have magic of any sort. That means, in a crowd like this, Wako stands out to Kyouka, if not visually by the aura of magic around her.

    Being able to tell this girl has some kind of magic is a far cry, however, from knowing what kind or what her name is because, unlike some other cases, Kyouka doesn't have a case file in her hands. But that doesn't mean she isn't interested. Seeing Wako has noted her, Kyouka alters her trajectory, drawing close enough to call a greeting. "Hey there, you with the fox." She offers a crooked grin, radiating 'onee-chan' energy more than that of a teacher, whether that's on purpose or just the way she is. "You got a sec?"

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Vice President - called out by proxy - promptly freezes with his tail fluffed straight up into the air, looking kind of like he's trying (not very successfully) to hide behind Wako's ankles.

As for Wako, a series of reactions flicker across her face in quick succession. Surprise, faint dismay, and finally a certain rueful resignation as she looks down and behind herself and sees VP doing his best hide-and-seek. "I figured there must be some kind of rule about pets on campus," she says, bending to scoop the little fox up in her arms. "How much trouble am I in?"

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka halts in front of Wako, looking momentarily confused at the response- she had really just been using the presence of the fox as an identifier, not singling him out as some kind of violation. It doesn't take long for her to figure out what Wako thinks is going on, and she lets out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Oh no.. well, I mean probably there is a rule like that, but I don't think mascots count." She eyes the fox. "And if he's not a mascot, just lie and say he is. Can you throw your voice?"

    She smiles that lopsided smile again before hastening to add, "Kidding. I'm kidding. No, this ain't about the fox. Well, not in particular. I just noticed you over here, being all magic and stuff, and realized I didn't know you. And knowing the magic folk around here is kinda part of my job. Especially the students. So I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Inai-sensei, the guidance counselor."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
It's not like there's a dramatic change to Wako's expression, really. She doesn't frown, or look openly suspicious, or anything as rude as all that. Still, Kyouka's experienced eye might well observe something in the girl's demeanor turning politely, cautiously opaque around the time she first says the word 'magic.'

VP, losing patience with being held, wriggles out of Wako's arms and hops back down to the ground to come investigate Kyouka's shoes.

"I see... well, that's good to know. It's nice to meet you, Inai-sensei." After a very brief pause, she tips her head to one side, and with the hesitant upward inflection of someone testing a theory she adds: "...kiraboshi?"

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka can't blame Wako for putting up her guard at the frank talk of magic, especially with kids still all around, although it's not like anyone is stopping to eavesdrop on them in particular. As VP comes over to sniff her shoes, Kyouka bends down and gives the fox a scritch behind his ears with the hand that isn't occupied holding her jacket slung over her shoulder. "Thanks, I do my best." She replies in response to 'kiraboshi', perhaps interpreting it as some kind of compliment.

    Straightening back up after the scritchings are applied, she tilts her head as she regards Wako. "You see, while I /am/ a guidance counselor here, officially, the Headmistress has given me a second job which I am actually much more suited to- that being identifying and assisting those being invited here who have magic, such as I'm able. I have quite a bit of experience in the field, y'see. And so when I spot someone I don't know yet, I think it's only fitting that I introduce myself."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
The fox sits up to be scritched, swishing his white-tipped tail back and forth. Vice President's easy acceptance of the guidance counselor, or else her response to the not-quite-a-question, or her straightforward explanation of her purpose - or some combination of all three - seems to go a ways to assuaging some of Wako's caution, enough that she nods slowly. "That explains the invitation we got to transfer here," she muses aloud. "When I think about it, it *did* seem awfully convenient."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    "Well, don't ask me about how all of that works. Or even why." Kyouka says with an easy shrug. "All I know is that I'm paid to help people like you," A finger pointed Wako's direction. "Not get eaten by a monster in Tokyo. So hey, this isn't a formal session or anything but," She reaches a hand into her pocket, digging around until she finds a business card, which is then presented to Wako. It has the RHA logo embossed on the front, along with Kyouka's full name, position, and office phone number. "If you find yourself in need of any advice, or y'know, just wanna stop by and chat, don't hesitate. Just because it's literally my job doesn't mean I'm not serious. It's kind of a tough deal, all these mahou shenanigans. Sometimes it pays to have somebody to talk to."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako's eyebrows lift in surprise, but she moves almost reflexively to accept the business card Kyouka holds out. Vice President clambers deftly up from the ground to perch on her shoulder while she's examining it, peering curiously down like for all the world he's reading the card himself. Or maybe he's just wondering if it's something to eat.

If so, he doesn't get the chance to try it before Wako tucks it carefully away and looks up again. "That'll be a change," she comments ruefully. "Are there a lot of monsters in Tokyo? I mean... I expected to be keeping an eye out for trouble when I came here, but... it's starting to seem like there's a lot more going on than I realized there was going to be. Especially if the school guidance counselor is supposed to be watching out for it, too."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka smiles as the card is accepted.. then huffs out a bit of a sighed breath at the questions that follow. "Hoo boy. Well, I'll tell ya something Miss.. ah, I'm sorry. I never asked your name." Waiting for it to be supplied, Kyouka continues, "I'll tell ya something, I'm not sure anybody really knows. Or maybe they do, but they ain't telling. And I'm not high enough on the food chain to get told the Big Secrets."

    She glances around, more for effect than because she cares about being overheard, before leaning in slightly to say in a quieter tone, "There's always been monsters in Tokyo. This many people in one spot? Youma like rats. But it's been worse lately. Quite a bit worse. On top of that, there's a lot more of you," A vague gesture, meant to encompass Wako's generation as a whole, "Than there were in my day. A lot more. That's good, right? More monsters, more mahous, it equals out. And that's true but. I can't help but figure there's gotta be some reason to the sudden increase. I don't know what that reason is, but..." A quirk of brows. "Never hurts to be prepared for anything, now does it?"

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Ah, I'm sorry, Inai-sensei." Wako flashes a quick, apologetic smile at the reminder that she has yet to properly introduce herself. "I didn't mean to be rude - my name's Wako Agemaki. I just transferred from Southern Cross Island."

There may or may not be an interesting note or two about that in Wako's student records. Who knows?

"Youma..." She repeats the word thoughtfully, a faint furrow of contemplation forming between her eyebrows. "Lots more than just Cybodies, then." She lets out a quiet breath, before her expression smooths back out into a smile. "Sounds like it's going to be another busy school year."

With the fox settling over her shoulders like a tiny fur stole, Wako fishes Kyouka's card back out and makes a demonstrative little gesture with it. "In that case, sensei - if I happen to know someone else who's in the same kind of situation as me, would it be all right for me to give them your information, too?"

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka hasn't actually looked at Wako's records, but you can be sure that she will do so after this conversation. Whether or not she attched any significance to Southern Cross Island is a different matter.

    "Youma come in all shapes and sizes," Kyouka agrees, with a smile which conveys that to her this is just a fact of life and not something which is particularly worrying. "They're all pretty bad though, at least when it come to humans."

    At the question about passing on her info, Kyouka nods her head. "Yes, please do. In fact- may I?" She holds out her hand, taking the card back from Wako assuming the girl allows it. Producing a pen, she scribbles on the back, then hands it back to the girl. "I teach a class on Wednesday's at 3:30. It's called 'Practical Martial Arts for Self-Defense.' On the school schedule and everything. Basically a 'how to defend yourself' basic stuff that everybody should know. When that's over though, I do the magical version. You know, for the magical people." She quirks a brow. "You should consider stopping by. To either or both. It never hurts to be prepared." She repeats her earlier mantra.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako hums, a drawn-out, melodic sound of interest as she receives the card a second time from Kyouka and looks at what's been added to it. "Self-defense sounds like a good idea," she agrees. "Just like you said, it'd be best to be prepared for anything."

After she has tucked the card securely away for the second time, the girl bows politely to Kyouka (requiring Vice President, who wasn't expecting this, to scramble from her shoulders onto her back and then leap to the ground as she straightens up again). "Thank you very much, Inai-sensei. I'll definitely come by when I have time."

Kyouka Inai has posed:
    Kyouka nods her head, and throws a playful salute with two fingers in response to the polite bow. "It was nice to meat you, Agemaki-san. Hope to see you there. And feel free to pass that invite along to any of your friends who might be interested as well. It makes me look better when I get more attendees." She winks, then reaches down to scritch VP again briefly before straightening. "Have a good afternoon. I got some taiyaki calling my name."

    And with that, she proceeds to continue on the path she had been set upon before this brief distraction. A path which will take her to the gate, the taiyaki stand, her bike, and eventually her apartment, where she is definitely /not/ going to sit all by herself and glumly wish she had any friends left. Definitely not. That's what TV is for.