441/The Mortars Are Your Character Witnesses

The Mortars Are Your Character Witnesses
Date of Scene:	17 September 2023
Location:	Juuban Ward
Synopsis:	Kazuo stops by Nounami Sweets. Chiyo provides tour! Since her hands aren't letting her work. For. No reason. Really.
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Kazuo Saitou

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Chiyo Sakai has posed:
While not a corner shop, there was one that stuck out between the press of more modern buildings as an old shop that had long ago earned it's place there. There's no real sign out front other than a flag declaring 'Sweets' that had grown a little ragged over the years but was mended and clearly well cared for. It was down by the entrance itself that there was a chalkboard leaning against the wall declaring in cheerful font 'Nounamu Sweets'. A few faux decorative daifuku and other treats decorated the frame of the chalkboard which declared a ten percent discount for all RHA students. Given the students were nearby this was a very exciting lure to many who wanted to try the shop out.

The outside facing counter has gift boxes wrapped neatly and ready for a quick purchase for those looking to be on their way. Further in the glass front cases showcased the current treats on sale. Anything from the more traditional flower-shaped daifuku, to dango, and fruit encased in perfect glass-like sugar. There were newer items for the season as well: Sweet potato cookies, roast chestnut daifuku mochi, and a current treat with a sign saying 'NEW! Tell us what you think!' in front of a tray of neatly prepared chestnut creme brulee.

There's a total of three cafe style tables inside for those that want to eat here as well as a little free 'tea service' table set to one side for free drinks to go with the purchase as many shops had. It's a very large decanter with green tea steaming hot within.

Behind the counter is an older man currently working at some of the more detailed aspects of the treats here as he forms mochi into delicate shapes using only his hands and small well worn wooden tools. Each creates a petal or a leaf before the mochi completely cools. It's the perfect place to watch him work while one of the two shop assistants can help otherwise.

At least that's how it usually works. Chiyo was banned from behind the counter right now until her hands healed up properly, so she had taken to sitting at one of the cafe tables with a textbook in front of her to catch up on some studies.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
The chalkboard attracted, not for the discount, but for the name that Kazuo was given over the summer break. He didn't make much of a sound slipping inside, and working with a non-Chiyo assistant to assemble a couple of gift boxes was quiet as well. So it's not unthinkable that Chiyo might not have noticed him as other than a person moving politely in her peripheral vision till he comes around and places a hand on the back of the chair opposite her. "Is this seat taken?" he asks, tone light and joking. "If it belongs to the textbook, I apologize for interrupting."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Usually she was good at noticing people coming and going because it was her job to do so. Right now she was trying to the exact opposite of not noticing after her grandfather had chewed her out for stressing herself again. When Kazuo reaches for the chair greeting her she jerks her gaze up looking more than a little surprised.

As soon as she recognizes him she breaks into a smile. "Oh! Kazuo-senpai! You stopped by, thank you!" Her hand lifts to gesture at the chair in invitation. The flash of bandages around her hand and fingers is impossible to hide though she had clearly been trying to under the sleeves of the cardigan sweather she currently wore over the rest of her clothes. "I could use a break honestly. Please join me."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Thank you." And Kazuo sets down his bag of very ornate sugar and folds himself down into the seat, shifting at a little of an angle so the awkward length of his long bones doesn't push his chair back into anyone's way. "Sorry if I'm getting in the way of actual study - you can tell me and I'll just be quiet and watch your grandfather work. I didn't want to take up a separate table if I didn't have to, though. How are you doing?" Cheerful question! Casual question! ... except that gray eyes are steady, not on her face, but on her hand and fingers.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai gives a quick shake of her head which almost seems to set the bun of purple hair atop her head loose. Even her hairstyle had fallen into a bit of a mess lately due to lack of dexterity. Crossing her hands over each other she lets the book slightly fall shut so that it would sort of hide her hands. Sort of. No one like dlooking at an injury where you could buy food. "No, I'm already a few chapters ahead at this point. Ojiisan banned me from the kitchen for now," she explains with a small grimace she tries to hide with a good natured smile. "I got hurt a few days ago. It's better for everyone if I'm not trying to work right now," she explains very, very vaguely.

Turning the question back on him she asks, "What about you? How are you doing? I haven't really seen you since the barbecue."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
The only visible difference in Kazuo since the barbecue is that he seems to have gone and gotten his ears pierced, and the dangling crystal on one side is a touch flashier than the rest of his clothes. The urge to ask more is also almost visible - but he errs on the side of politeness for the moment, and gives an amiable little tilt of his head instead. "Glad to be done with the summer job. Trying to keep out of trouble. Did some keeping Shields and Tsukino from getting too wobbly while Osaka was out of classes, but that's settled now, she's doing better. Thought I'd stop by and pick them up something to celebrate."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai gives a soft 'oh' of apparent understanding when he mentions the help he had to give for Darien and Usagi. All she can really do to that is nod slightly as she'd not really been able to help out much herself... At least not as much as she may have wanted. Still, she knew how too many cooks in a kitchen could become very troublesome. "I'm sure they'll like that. I'm glad Osaka-san is back too. She has a great many friends that missed her."

Lifting a hand she lightly touches the lobe of her own ear remarking, "I like your earring. Is it from Osaka-san's family shop? I keep meaning to stop by and browse some day, but I always feel a bit guilty going into such a fancy place." Well. Compared to HERE it was fancy, or so she believed.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Why should you feel guilty?" Kazuo asks. "It's just a place. You may or may not wind up buying anything - I know I'd have trouble coming up with the money - but looking isn't against the law." He pauses, then settles into another, slightly rueful grin. "Which means, no, it's not from her shop. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure where it's from. Thanks, though."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai bites on her lower lip a moment considering the question. That was a very good question that she can only end up shaking her head to. "I don't know. It's just silly, I guess. Have you ever walked into a shop and decided not to buy anything, then felt bad about it when you were leaving? I think that's kind of how I'd feel," comes her vague explanation. Again her hand lifts, this time to brush off the topic with a little wave of her bandaged hand before she recalls it. It's quickly brought back to the tabletop again. "It's just silly, I know." Smiling at the thanks she nods. "You're welcome." Glancing back toward where her grandfather is making the sweets her grin deepens a bit. "Would you like to see the back of the shop where we make the mochi? It's done the traditional way. Though," she adds with a chuckle, "I'm afraid I won't be able to demonstrate that at the moment."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
The glance might yield the tiniest bit of relief. "I'd like that," Kazuo says. "Here, let me -" He delves into a pocket, then comes out with a plain white band to tie his hair back with. Not as good as a net, but at least a gesture to start with. "Is it both your hands, or just the one? That has to be driving you up the wall. Always does me, anyway. You don't realize how much you use them till you can't for a while. My mother just ran into that. She's back to work now, but half the reason I took a summer job was just to keep her from sending both of us stark raving mad."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai rises from her seat only to pause when Kazuo fishes out a hair tie. There's a little look of relief from her as well--She was not looking forward to having to ask him to ewar a hat or bandana or hairnet. "That will make it easier, thank you."

"Ojiisan, I'm going to show my friend the back," she calls out causing the old man behind the counter to pause and fix Kazuo with a stern look. He nods however, and just utters, "No showing off," before jerking his head backward indicating they were free to go there.

The path is led behind the counter while she glances back down to her hands. "Both. It's *very* annoying. I tried to work regardless for a few days. Not the best idea." The last is muttered more to herself than him. Obviously a bad idea. "Oh I'm glad to hear your mother is doing better. How did she get hurt?"

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
The stern look is met with a polite bow. A very polite bow. A 'yes sir, I am in kendo club' precision bow; it could be more precise but that would require student council, or possibly drama club. Unfamiliar boy promises to behave, news at eleven.

Kazuo follows, keeping deftly out of the way - people are working, and this is people's food, one does not take risks with these things. "That sounds like a good way to discover whole new worlds of trouble," he says, almost as low as her mutter. "I hope they're healing all right. - My mother? She was at that mall that had the trouble. Off on the edge of it, fortunately, but there were still a couple of broken bones, so she was hobbling at best and not able to get her work done. I did a lot of babysitting her to keep her from making things worse."

He does not ask who is babysitting Chiyo to keep her from making things worse. Her grandfather has already volunteered that information.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The older man watches Kazuo throughout the bow only to give another silent nod. Apparently of approval. He'd put his hair up, he was polite. It was better than half of the young men his age. Even so it's clear that the old man worries because he watches until they're out of sight in the back.

It's a small shop but one that produces a large amount. The back of the store is mostly stainless steel prep tables, an old wood and coal burning oven on the side wall where even now some sweet potatoes were roasting, and about three industrial size rice cookers. You need a lot of rice to make mochi. There's refrigerators, and a freezer. It's all well kept though the equipment looks a mix of older and 'had to be replaced' with only a few years worth of age on it.

It's here where the shop opens up to a small outside area behind the shop. It's just as clean here and there are several large wooden mortars and numerous wooden kine, the mochi hammers used for making it, leaning up against a rack as if they were swords. The overhang keeps rain and other debris off, though there's also cleaning impliments nearby.

"Ah, I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I remember there was something going on with the mall a bit ago. Glad to hear she's better."

Reaching down she touches just the edge of one of the wooden mortars with a fond smile. "This is usually where I help out. It's a bit of a workout, but making the mochi itself is always an experience." It's only then that she finally addresses her hands with a dry chuckle. "Yes, they're healing. Just take my advice and never try to catch something on fire."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Sweet potatoes for cookies, like the ones Kazuo picked up for Naru. And for any number of other things. The oven gets a fascinated glance, but he doesn't ask about it; he follows instead, out to the mortars and the shelter. Out to her fond smile. This is her place, isn't it. And she underlines that a moment later. And then diverts, and Kazuo gives a quick, surprised laugh. "Please tell me that whatever was on fire was a thing on fire, and not ... I don't know, burning sugar or something. You don't look like you got hit by splashes, and you certainly don't move like it, but if there are more bandages better hidden, I'm surprised your grandfather didn't kick me out on the spot when you talked about so much as getting out of your chair."

Nope, he doesn't ask what was on fire. Not directly, anyhow.

He eases up a moment later, glancing down to the mortar she'd touched. "Which is your usual part of making it? Or do you switch around?" Because if her usual part is swinging the hammer, he needs to upgrade his opinion of what she'd do in emergencies. By a lot.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai lets her touch linger a moment longer absently. It was something she wasn't even really paying much attention to. This was where she came to think, to work, to just be. Sometimes that was better tha anything. Looking up again she lets out a little laugh along with a shake of her head.

"No, not sugar, thank goodness. It was--" Her voice falters just a little. Maybe with embarassment, maybe with something else. The last time she lied she was caught in it. This was different though. "Kind of stupid," she says with a sigh. "After cleaning the kine," she lifts her chin toward the row of wooden mallets. "To dry by the stove inside. One was too close and caught on fire when some coals popped. It was my fault. I grabbed it without thinking to throw it at the sink. Anyway, it was stupid," she adds again with a laugh.

Her expression softens at the question. "Don't laugh," she mumbles, "I use the kine to pound the mochi. Ojiisan used to but he says he's not as fast anymore so I took over."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Whether or not Kazuo believes what Chiyo says, he accepts it, and gives a little wince of sympathy. "At least it sounds like it was probably about as clean as a burn can get," he says ruefully. "I'm sorry. I'm glad you kept the fire from spreading, though."

... and then she says 'don't laugh,' and he doesn't, but it doesn't seem to be just because he told her not to. "That's amazing," he says instead. "You have to be so careful to keep the rhythm, and it takes so much stamina. That's really hard work. He must trust you a lot - and be right to."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
There was always something about being a girl that was strong that was looked down on by others her age. Usually other girls, or at least the really 'girly' ones. Though it was lessening as she got older it's clear she rarely spoke of this anymore for that reason: Hiding what she could do so as to avoid being teased.

Which is why there's just a hint of tension in her on the topic. It quickly fades when Kazuo doesn't laugh. Instead her smile broadens and her eyes light up at his apparent understanding of the task.

"Yes, exactly! It helps if you sing along with it. There's certain songs that help with the timing if you're still learning," she gushes out in explanation. "It's really just muscle memory after awhile though. He adds the water, I pound, and it's just so easy to lose yourself in the motions."

"I could teach you if you'd like--" she begins only to glance past his shoulder at the kitchens. No one was there. It was just a blurted remark that made her remember she's *not* supposed to be showing off. "Ah, another time perhaps."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"I'd like that," Kazuo says. "Sometime when you're better, and when it's a slow season." ... now he grins again. Now, when it's safe, when they're easing away from the sensitive part. "If you even have slow seasons. I'm not sure you do; the place is pretty amazing. Trade you for showing you how we deal with the dough?" For the baklava she was interested in, presumably. "Fair warning, we use a machine, it helps keep a few shreds of sanity. Besides, we can't fit a table the right size into the apartment."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"I'd like that," Chiyo agrees as well at the offer of the exchange. "We're usually slow around Valentine's Day honestly. It's a bit off, but everyone wants chocolates then. Not so much traditional sweets like we have here. We do make some chocolate of course, but that only takes up part of the kitchen. If you don't mind waiting that long."

"We should probably get back up front before Ojiisan starts wondering if I'm behaving or not. I'm going to hold you to that, though. I want to learn how to manage philo dough." She starts to pass by as she says this and absently reaches out to touch his elbow with bandaged fingertips. Not in a flirtatious way, just a friendly 'let's go' way.

At least that's how it would be if not for the little sizzle of dark energy from her touch. Like a small static discharge from coming too close, only decidedly not electric.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"That'd give your hands a good solid amount of time to recover - though I hope they don't need nearly that much." Kazuo flashes a smile her way, and turns as she does. "And don't worry. The mortars are your character witness-"

He doesn't need to finish the plural, right? There's a startled blink and a mild flinch, at the contact. Then a shake of his head and a lesser laugh. "Sorry. I think my muscles are still twitchy over remembering dealing with all the layers."

Maybe he has credit for not asking how she burned both hands with the stove-lit kine. Maybe not.