1492/Music Wars: Ready To

Music Wars: Ready To
Date of Scene:	05 May 2024
Location:	Penguin Park - Penguin Playground
Synopsis:	In which Bass-chan decides to liven up Wako's Golden Week gig, to the benefit of pretty much everybody.
Cast of Characters:	Wako Agemaki, Kyouko Sakura, Sugata Shindo, Taro Yamada, Mizudori Teion, Takuto Tsunashi

---

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Golden Week! A whole string of holidays one after the other, a rare chance for time off school or work to kick back and do whatever. Saturday, Greenery Day, is being observed with a small festival in Penguin Park. There are booths set up, concessions and souvenirs and festival games; lights have been strung, and in the playground area there's a stage set up for live music.

It's not a particularly big or fancy stage - it's a small festival, and really the music is more a background for the other attractions than it is a proper concert. Nevertheless, folding chairs have been set up nearby for people to sit and listen while they eat their candy apples or grilled corn, or just get off their feet for a moment.

For Wako, the lights strung over the stage shine as bright as any theater lights. In a pale pink dress with skirt and sleeves embroidered to mimic sakura petals, she sings into the microphone, clear voice carrying sweetly through the sound system that's been set up.

    "Solemnly proclaim your dreams with a loud voice
    Let's someday find a light unlike anyone else's
    Tell me without hesitation
    How do you imagine the future you've always pictured for yourself?

    "No matter how beautiful or painful the song
    Stop and listen
    Even if I have confidence in something
    I want to see it with my own eyes, feel and decide for myself
    I want to wake up and go toward the voice
    I'm worried about being a guide myself, so I'll record the route
    Let's keep reaching for the future we've longed for so strongly!"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
Food. Music. Okay the people are not a feature. But Food. Music.

Kyouko has found herself off to the side of things, not sitting in the folding chairs, but on grass further away from people. She's got herself a candy apple to nom into and she's stretched out.. almost realxed?

Clearly Kyouko doesn't know the meaning of the word, must be a clone or a pod person or something.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Golden Week, their first ever away from Southern Cross Island. The fact that Wako is performing is a guarantee of Sugata's presence, and not only to fulfill his responsibilities as supportive boyfriend - there's the simple fact that someone has to make sure that the performance is filmed for ViewTube, and he doesn't trust the festival to have anyone assigned to such a thing.

Not that Sugata himself is doing it either - no, with advanced warning of the event and the fact that it isn't cloistered onto a school campus, comes the freedom to hire a professional. There's a videographer recording Wako's singing, as Sugata sits in the front row, dressed down in his usual casual clothes. He's got a large candy apple with him, a snack for Wako, and every so often he waves a little flag printed with a picture of Wako's face.

Taro Yamada has posed:
So. Selling supplies to any mahou foolish enough to hop into a doom portal did not end up being very successful, but siccing a few mahou on that horrible redhead that beat up his boss and selling to the people he turned away from the portal as part of the Don't Give Obsidian Terrible PR turned out to work decent.

So. He is being a Normal Teenager, as he has been instructed to by boss Fuyuko, and attending a festival. HE's got a cob of grilled corn he's tearing into as he wanders the festival, peering at stands and wandering over to the folding chairs to enjoy the show.

AS he looks up at the singer, his first thought is to wonder - how did they get the effect of sakura petals for those sleeves? And- the lyrics weren't too bad compared to the new weird stuff they put on the radio these days.

Mizudori Teion has posed:
    Mizudori doesn't particularly care about Golden Week. She hardly ever goes to school, so the time off doesn't really matter to her, and she's usually too busy working on her music or shows or advertising her music or causing chaos to concern herself overmuch with things like festivals and all the potential fun therein. However, this particular one happened to be on the route she was taking through the streets between home and whatever project she was working on at the time, so it seemed like a fine idea to detour and wander through, grabbing some snacks along the way.

    This casual, aimless detour ends rather abruptly, however, when she nears the playground area and hears the live music. At first, she hardly pays any mind, but then as she finds herself humming along unconsciously (hitting all the notes pitch-perfect, as is her wont) she realizes slowly that the singer is quite talented. Perhaps out of a sense of professional curiosity, Mizudori makes her way closer to the stage.

    Only upon getting rather close does the black-and-green-clad girl recognize the figure performing upon the stage. Her LED-green eyes narrow. Hey! That's the girl who was all standoffish to her because of that whole brilliant mall advertising idea she had, and also said she was only going to Mizudori's show at the Squid under duress. That's very annoying.

    Looking around the crowd, she notes how into it most of the people seem. They're genuinely enjoying the show. And this really begins to grate on her.

    It's not that she doesn't believe people should enjoy music other than her own. It's more that this blonde-haired girl up there had poo-pooed Mizudori's genius and then got up on stage and sung her own music and people were liking it. It's almost as if the universe is agreeing that Wako is right, and this is the sort of music that people enjoy more.

    Mizudori grits her teeth a little. It's not anger, precisely. It's more annoyed jealousy. She doesn't play events like this because they're all corporate sell-out bullshit. But she also doesn't get crowds like this despite being way more talented (in her own mind) than Wako. It's not fair.

    So, she decides, her project can wait. This concert clearly needs a special guest performer to show these people what real music is like.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
The song comes to a close, and Wako takes a little bow, faintly flushed and smiling radiantly with the delight of performing. She can't look at Sugata for very long, because every time she sees that ridiculous flag she wants to break up laughing, but she tosses him a quick little wink before she speaks into the mic.

"How's everyone's Golden Week going?" she asks, almost conversationally, eyes skimming over the faces of those who've gathered to listen. "I hope you're enjoying the festival! There's still a lot more to come after this, so thank you all for stopping to listen."

The hand that isn't holding the microphone lifts in a little wave, before Wako settles back a half-step, waiting a breath for the intro for her next song to begin.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
There's applause and even Kyouko isnt' so uncouth as not to applaud. Wako is /good/. She's quite pleasently surprised and there's a little nod and a smile. Wait.. a smile?

Kyouko hasn't seemed to realize that she might be smiling in public as she crunches on more candy apple, her attention tracking Mizudori as she spots the other girl.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Sugata is naturally among those applauding the end of Wako's song, giving the flag an especially jaunty wave when he notes that she isn't quite looking at him. Not that he wants to break her performer's calm on stage, but it would be pretty funny...

Yes, he has ordered a dozen more of these flags, and yes he does fully intend to ensure Wako's roommates and friends receive them.

Taro Yamada has posed:
Taro claps a few times, the corn cob wedged in his mouth to keep his hands free. An earnest try should be rewarded! And when she asks if everyone is having a good time, he shifts the cob to one hand and shouts, "it's better now!"

Cheap festival food and free music... Who wouldn't want to spend Saturday like that?

Mizudori Teion has posed:
    Suddenly, the lights dim as Wako's next song is set to being. Wait a minute... the lights dim? We're outside. The sun was already setting, but it must have suddenly nosedived behind the horizon. Before anyone can look up and wonder if there's some kind of solar eclipse going on, attention is drawn to the stage by a spray of neon green light, fanning out in a series of laser-like projections that seem way too sophisticated for the pleasant but very basic setup that had been constructed in the playground area.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," a voice rings out, clearly not Wako's- deeper while still female, with a very definite edge of snark. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you... something better!"

    Lights flash along the edge of the stage, all green and white, highlighting a new figure standing just to the side of Wako's mic. It appears to be a girl dressed all in black, though her limbs and features are outlined in neon green tracery that pulses and flashes. This isn't full Chaos Gremlin Bass-chan with the jack-o-lantern face, as her features are visible, backlit by pulsing green.

    Suddenly, and without apparent consent from Wako, music starts blasting from the speakers. But not the music Wako was expecting, or music that sounds anything like the sort of song that Wako had been singing before. Much more upbeat, faster, with heavier electronics.

"Hey, are you ready to go?
Cause, you know the way to go
I believe in my own way
so let's go, the brand new world!"

    It's the new figure who is singing, her voice pitch-perfect and clear despite the fact that she doesn't seem to be holding a microphone, and she seems to be singing at Wako, as if this is some sort of a challenge. The green lights pulse to the beat of the music and the worlds, as if responding to the notes and tones of her voice, creating a surreal strobing ripple effect over the audience.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
If there were any doubt about whether or not this was a planned part of the event - the clear flat-footed shock in Wako's posture as those green-and-white lights illuminate the stage tells the story well enough. She's half-turned towards Bass-chan, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and indignation.

And then the music starts.

It's not one of the songs she rehearsed for this, not one she even knows. Not her style of music at all, really. But in this instant, as the beat kicks up and Mizudori's voice rings through the sound system, Wako has two choices in front of her. She can crumple, cede the stage and let this happen--

--or she can rise to the challenge.

Her foot's already tapping, almost unconsciously - that beat is catchy as hell. As the music thrums along in the wake of Bass-chan's singing, the tapping turns into a heel-toe, dance footwork bouncing her back and forth. And when the opening comes, before Mizudori can jump in with the first verse, Wako lets the microphone cord slide through her hand to swing it once before she lifts it and starts singing, right on tempo.

    "In the dark, you follow the horizon
    As you become just another shadow in the night--"

Her free hand sweeps out toward Bass-chan, almost dismissive, as she turns to sing to the audience once more.

    "Just beyond that howling in the distance
    You'll set your sights on the one that you've been trying to find!"

Her face turns toward Bass-chan, singing at her now, chin lifted in defiance.

    I won't stop for one moment more
    Sprinting through this world that's spinning on!"

She sweeps out her hand again, this time gesturing toward the seats and everyone listening, and the strobing of the green lights gradually gives way to a steadier golden glow rising from the stage lights like a sunrise.

    "Just be true to the color that is hidden in you
    You can change it to how you like it how you want it!
    Jump right over the shadows that are nearing closer
    Go your own way don't hesitate just go ahead!"

Then she's looking to Bass-chan again, back to tapping her foot. Expectant. Well?

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
As another musician steps up, Kyouko sits up, crunching through the rest of her apple (core yes.. stick no). She tucks her legs under her criss-cross applesauce, her smile turning into a smirk as it seems to be setting up for a battle.

This is MUCH more interesting. And the flickers of magic that ripple through are just keeping things /interesting/.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
There's another voice, unfamiliar to many in the crowd but not Sugata, who starts in surprise for an entirely different reason, brows furrowing. He looks around surreptitiously, but there's no sign that this was a plan on the festival's part, and he knows it wasn't Wako's idea; there was nothing faked about her distaste for Bass-chan and her attention-seeking, and the look on her face, the slack surprise in her body language -

At the same time though, the challenge is... musical in nature, and he's confident that Wako can rise to the occasion - and equally sure that if he steps in where she doesn't want him to, he'll have Wako and Takuto mocking him for it.

Ganbatte, Wako-chan!

He waves the flag higher, deciding to watch -

And he's glad for it, when she steps up to the challenge, first with a dancing beat, and then singing, never mind that it's certainly not her genre...

Maybe she did arrange this? He can't imagine Wako preparing to sing this song...

Snapping his fingers, he gets the videographer to lean in, "Make sure you're capturing both of them, but center Wako-chan. A competition like this is sure to help her channel grow."

Taro Yamada has posed:
Taro leans forward in excitement as another girl takes the stage, giving the first girl a musical challenge. The lights change color and angle as the two of htem begin singing to each other.

"Give each other a good fight! Go, go, go!!"

Mizudori Teion has posed:
    Bass-chan had her mouth open, all ready to transition right into the first verse when Wako... steals it from her. Is this even possible? This is supposed to be Bass-chan stealing Wako's show! But Mizudori knows better than anyone- the spirit of music might be hers to command, but it dwells in everyone, and it loves nothing so much as the will to perform. Not only is Wako showing plenty of that, she's actually turning the song into a rebuke of Bass-chan herself, which is just really not fair considering it's not even her song!

    She doesn't interrupt the verse, though. That's not how this works, and at the end of the day, Mizudori is a musician first, a petty vengeful chaos gremlin second. The spirit of music is hers to command, but just as much, she belongs to it and is bound by its rules. Performance trumps all.

    Which doesn't mean she, either, is about to step aside and let Wako take her stage back. When the cue comes, she jumps on it with a vengeance. The lights flare back to green as she sings, her voice powerful and resonant, despite no microphone in evidence.

"Life is just like a roulette of regret
Realizing there are things we can't protect
Every time, you fail and cry, again, you try."

    She's facing Wako, challenging her right back, the lighting along her body and the stage pulsing in synchronicity.

'Cause you're growing stronger through the tear
Everyone thinks differently what they believe
Their sense of justice clouding up the endless sky
Though I'm trying desperately, I still can't reach
That bright light that is shining down on me."

    She turns towards the audience, sweeping an arm out in a gesture that causes a matching flurry of lights cascading as if she were pushing them with the motion of her hand.

"I'll be proud of the future and I'll scream it loud
The sunlight's shining on me and you to see this through
I will believe in that light and I will let it guide me
Show me the way, tomorrow is a mystery!"

    Turning back to face Wako, she strikes a pose, chin up, brow arched, hand on one hip, as if to say, "how about that, then?"

Wako Agemaki has posed:
As Mizudori sings, Wako won't stand idle - she picks up the beat again, never mind that she's rehearsed no choreography for this at all, she knows enough to improvise. Not needing to focus on singing for a verse means she can put her energy into her footwork, and that's what she does.

She may be irked as hell at Bass-chan for this stunt, but that doesn't mean she can't have fun with it. The petal-like skirt and sleeves of her dress flutter in the green and white lights as she dances along with the fast-paced music.

And when Bass-chan tosses the cue back to her, she catches it without missing a beat.

    "The truth's almost blinding
    The light mesmerizing
    So over the lies I'll leap
    No, I won't let it bind me
    But this path you've chosen
    Spurs the world in motion
    Though you don't know where it leads
    Surely you'll find a spark of hope!"

As before, the lights change in time with her voice, from pulsing green to that slowly-gathering golden glow. Sparks of pink glitter among the stage lights, those laser beams fanning out again, and when the music shifts to the bridge, she faces the audience and brings her hands together, clapping in time to the music in a way that invites them to join her.

    "Hey! Are you! ready to go!
    'Cause! you know! the way to go!
    What you do is up to you!
    Make the future one you love!"

Mizudori Teion has posed:
    Despite the fact that she set out to show Wako up and that is decidedly not what is happening here, Bass-chan finds that this performance is turning out... not too bad. I mean, let's face it, the other girl can sing, and she can dance as well, it turns out. It's kind of annoying how her performing spirit keeps changing the lights and stuff, but as stated before- Mizudori enacts the rules, but she doesn't make the rules. You can't put a game on the table and then be mad when someone else is good at it. I mean, you can, but it doesn't change the facts of the situation.

    As Wako sings that last verse, Bass-chan looks out over the audience, and when Wako prompts them, many of them start clapping or chanting the words on cue. And despite herself, she feels the warm glow of performing that she loves so much- the thrill of putting it out there for an audience and finding they approve, that they are into it.

    She finds herself smiling despite the situation, and when the beat hits again she breaks back into song- this time alongside Wako.

    Both girls know how to sing, and although as stated none of this has been rehearsed even a little, the words meld together in a proficient harmony with Wako above and Mizudori below.

"Just be true to the color that is hidden in you
You can change it to how you like it, how you want it
Jump right over the shadows that are nearing closer
Go your own way, don't hesitate, just go ahead
I'll be proud of the future and I'll scream it loud
The sunlight's shining on me and you to see this through
I will believe in that light and I will let it guide me
Show me the way, tomorrow is a mystery!"

    The verse is sung with some harmony, some trading back and forth, but it flows easily and well, with the lights alternately pulsating green, gold, white, or a combination of all three colors in ways that seem to supernaturally mimic the flow of the music. Bass-chan circles the stage with Wako as they sing, and her performance is enthusiastic and bright, the green lights glowing brighter and lighter in hue.

    The song winds down with a repeat of the very beginning: "Hey, are you ready to go?"

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"Oh that'f who'f--" Who's what? "--alfo finging!" It's called 'harmony' Takuto.

The red-haired boy drops himself into the chair next to Sugata with three big fried dough confections, one in his mouth and two in a bag over his elbow as he claps along with the rest of the crowd. He bumps Sugata's side and gives him a bright look, so bright, and then he turns that look on Wako and Bass-chan, clapping and chewing. Even the people he walked in front of to get there aren't too mad, and he did go around the other side of the videographer, so that's okay--

He has to stop clapping along in a hurry because the pastry almost falls out of his mouth due to chewing, but he definitely keeps tapping a foot along until the very end of the wind-down, and then he yells along with the crowd's applause, then stuffs the pastry back in his mouth and applauds for all he's worth!

"I thought Wako didn't like her! Are they friends now!" he yells the question aside to Sugata amid all the clapping.

Taro Yamada has posed:
"Hey, are you ready to go!!" Taro cheers. He's on his feet clapping - he's far enough in the back that he's not blocking anyone's view, and he's been altering the tempo every time the song changes singers.

What a concert! They just let anyone see these? He's got to crash some more of these! Modern technology was amazing.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
    "Hey, are you ready to go?
    'Cause you know the way to go!
    I believe in my own way!
    So, let's go, the brand new world!"

The music ends with a last flourish of supernatural stage lights that are going to have the festival organizers scratching their heads for days. Wako's giving Mizudori hella side-eye, but she gestures to the other girl with an expansive sweep of her arm, as though introducing her to the crowd. "Bass-chan, everybody~"

Friends now? Oh, no. She's smiling, all girl-next-door sweetness and good sportsmanship for the moment, but no.

Even if that was way more fun than Wako would've expected if anyone had suggested it to her beforehand. "Thank you, everyone! You've been so great. We're gonna have a short break, but Kessuko Band from Shuka High School will be playing next, so stick around!" She'll return the microphone to its stand and take her bow - flashing Taro a bright smile when his cheering catching her notice - before she turns toward Mizudori.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
"Daaamn." Kyouko applauds as the show winds up. That was not what she signed up for, but she is HERE for it. She glances over to other audience members, spotting Takuto's fried dough and well.. she might recognize him from Fight Club, but she's clearly much more interested in where he got the dough from. Because fried dough is always a feature.

Mizudori Teion has posed:
    Mizudori herself is breathing just a little hard, but in that good way which signifies a pleasant workout rather than anything negative. She's still smiling too, because despite all the (many) bad things one might say about her, she lives for the art, for the performance. And even if she came up here to ruin Wako's day (or perhaps just improve her own by stealing a little of that spotlight) she ended up putting on a good show that the audience clearly appreciates and that is more important to her after the fact.

    She blows a cheeky kiss to the audience, and then de-henshins right in front of god and everybody, the shadow-and-light draining away from her as the odd lightning and dimness that arrived with her simply dissipates like smoke on the wind, leaving the simply stage and festival sting-lights that had been here before she arrived.

    And then Wako is turning to her, and it's obvious the girl isn't pleased despite the fact that they just rocked the place, and Mizudori looks at her, smiles brightly, and says, "You're welcome!" before turning and.. literally running away. Like not even magic. She just fucking books it off the stage and into the crowd like she's fleeing the scene of a crime.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
The performance is dazzling - it really is the best way to put it. Sugata enjoys it immensely, this collaboration between his two favorite artists and considers that he'll have to see if Wako and Bass-chan would want to record this performance more formally than what the videographer can manage. Probably not, but, there was always the chance -

"Absolutely not," he calls back to Takuto, "I told you about what happened at the zoo. But if she's going to interrupt Wako's performance, Wako will just have to rise to the occasion and prove she made a mistake in doing it."

He's not personally upset, because again, he's getting to enjoy a performance with his two favorite performers. This is a good result, as far as he's concerned, but how does Wako feel?

But before long, the performance is over, and Bass-chan is literally sprinting away. Probably because she wasn't actually an approved performer, but the audience, clapping along and enjoying the energy of the performance, doesn't seem to have minded. He glances at Wako when the show is over, and instead of waving the flag, waves the candy apple.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"Well, yeah, but..." Takuto starts, then trails off.

Because no, as nice as Wako is, Bass-chan is just as much a jerk. "I got you both fried dough, the vendor opened up like ten minutes ago, and then there were too many people crushed around this stage for me to get back before it started cooling off. It's still warm though!"

He waves his own fried dough at Wako next to Sugata waving the candy apple, then stuffs it in his mouth again to keep himself from saying anything stupid like 'you two sounded so great together'. Even if they did.

He spots Kyouko's hair that matches his hair and waves to her, too! Hair pals.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
For the second time, Wako is left flat-footed, nearly dumbfounded as she watches Mizudori just... run the hell away.

Foiled in her effort to confront the other singer, there's not much she can do except huff out a breath and, a bit less hurriedly than Bass-chan did, hop down off the stage. She beelines immediately to where Takuto and Sugata are, snagging the candy apple from Sugata's hand as soon as it's in reach and nomfing a great big bite out of it before she's so much as said a word. OM NOM NOM.

"What was that?" she says, once her mouth is mostly not too full any more, which takes a minute because candy apple.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
Someone has noticed her! And she's /smiling/. Kyouko has forgotten that she's suppsed to be eternally cranky and she waves back to Takuto. Hair pal!

Kyouko gestures to his fried dough, and tries to mime asking where he got it. This.. does not actually go well, but hopefully he has some sort of psychic powers of dough.

It's far too easy to just walk over and /ask/.

Taro Yamada has posed:
...did that other singer just transform? Was she just a mahou the whole time? Do they just...do that now? Using your power for singing and messing with other singers instead of fighting stuff?

Taro's not sure if he's impressed, annoyed or amused. Maybe all of them at once. That's a face to look out for in the future if he gets particularly hungry...

Anyway. Since everyone seems to be congregating around the first singer, he's gonna let himself be pulled by the crowd into orbit, see what's going on.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"You clearly didn't plan that," Sugata tells Wako as she takes the candy apple and chomps it."But good job on the recovery. The videographer captured the whole thing; congratulations on your first collaboration, Wako-chan."

His voice is dry, but there is a faint smile on his face.

This is notably not an answer to her question.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto understands the universal language of 'where food???' very well: he learned it from Wako, after all. He sticks his dough in his mouth and then mimes walking with his fingers, holds up four fingers, and points in a direction. Four minutes walk? Four booths away? Who knows!

"That wasn't a youma, at least!" he says to Wako after he finishes chewing his mouthful. "You kicked her ass!" A beat. "In collaborating."

Aww there's a fan come up to say hi; Takuto magnanimously makes room for Taro. They can all kick his ass if he gets creepy or weird on Wako.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako's immediate answer to Sugata is to stick her tongue out at him. "Ha ha." She's smiling, though, in spite of herself. "At least it wasn't a youma," she agrees with a nod to Takuto. "It was actually pretty fun, just... geez!"

She's sinking her teeth into the candy apple when Takuto moves aside to make room for Taro, which means Taro gets a rather comical and very undignified look when she notices him. And a wave of greeting, since her mouth is full. Hi!

Taro Yamada has posed:
Taro waves back awkwardly. Oh. He didn't expect them to just. Let him in. Wako may be looking goofy as heck like a roast pig with a mouth apple, but she's not some guy who looks like he got stretched like a taffy to tower over people.

Right. Ahem. "Good work defeating the interloper! She turned tail and ran at your superior music skills."

Thumbs up!! That was very good!

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
Walking. Check. Four. Check. Four what? Excellent question.

Kyouko gets up to her feet, and brushes herself off before leaving the little knot of fans and the light to chatter. She has fried dough to find. Be it four booths or four minutes, she will find it. She has a direction to head at least!

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"Defeated the interloper," Sugata echoes, casting a glance at this new fan approvingly. "That could be a good title for the video, if you want to add fuel to the fire of this competition."

Because clearly it's a competition, and equally clearly, she should want to add fire too it. But maybe Wako shouldn't take advice from Mr. Has Been Planning His Takeover of the Kendo Club For Weeks.

"Either way, it's over now, and you're the one with the video. And you were great, too."

Right, he should probably compliment Wako too.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"I super didn't," Wako protests as soon as she can talk again, voice a little sticky with caramel. "But it's fine. We put on a pretty good show, at least." With the immediate WTF past, Wako's willing to ride the performance high and be magnanimous about the whole thing, and she offers Taro a mile.

Before long, though, she's pulling on Takuto's arm (and getting a hand into his bag to swipe some of that fried dough). "Come on, we should get out of the way... and I need something to drink!"