Match of the Millennium

Description: Hideo Shimazu attempts to have a quiet cup of coffee. Then a certain Chairperson walked in, with an offer. An offer he would think twice before he’d refuse.

[HIDEO]
The hustle and bustle of Southtown was visible from the windows of a relatively small coffee shop. Within it's sleek modern interior, and unassuming and unattractive looking man sat and drank his coffee.

Hideo Shimazu was a teacher at Justice High, enjoying a semblance of quiet from the burdens of teaching. He was attempting to ignore all the plight his students provide him. While he assumed a teaching position would have been suitable to distance himself from his old dojo, he did not account for the stress of the job. To fend it off, he enjoyed a nice fresh cup of coffee from the commercial grade Hit-Sip.

[IINCYO]
The bell over the coffee shop door jingles softly as a reasonably distinctive teenage girl arrives. Despite the fact that it's not even remotely cold, she wears a jacket draped over her shoulders. She approaches the counter and orders a cup of coffee of her own, before unexpectedly (to Hideo, at least) approaching the teacher's table with her cup in hand and an appraising look in her eyes.

"'Machine Professor' Shimazu, am I correct? I had a hunch you might be somewhere like this. Would you mind if I joined you briefly? I have a question -- it won't take long."

[HIDEO]
Turning his head to the jingle, Hideo saw the girl enter. He turned back to his Hona Kona. Then he turned back up when she spoke to him. He responded his own tired voice.

"Of course you can "Chairperson", just so long as it isn't about some friend's grades."

[IINCYO]
Iincyo chuckles brightly. "Of course not. Students must take responsibility for their own grades, after all. I would never." She pulls out a chair across from Hideo and sits down, taking a sip of her own cup o' joe before folding her hands on the table in front of her and leaning in, slightly conspiratorially.

"Have you seen the announcement about the King of Fighters tournament this year? It seems like it's almost upon us." The Chairperson takes another sip of her coffee. "Heaven knows there's a lot of buzz about it at Taiyo."

[HIDEO]
Hideo looks Iincyo in the eye, as his gaze turns up from his own drink. Maintaining his somewhat formal tone.

"Yes I have heard, and these tournaments always create buzz. But why do you mention it?"

[IINCYO]
"Well," and she pauses. "Frankly, the prizes this year are overwhelmingly good. Even winning something as cosmetic as the trophy could help raise the profile of any Southtown school that happened to hold it. So I had been contemplating forming a team, to tell the truth, but I've been having trouble finding members. Most of my peers are too occupied with their work or extracurricular activities to make time for a fighting tournament, and my dojo's sensei is..." Iincyo hesitates, taking a drink from her coffee again as she looks for the right words. "... mostly absent these days. Last I heard, he was taking a marketing seminar to raise the profile of Saikyo-ryu karate."

She maintains eye contact with Hideo. "I'd like to ask you to form a team with me for the King of Fighters tournament. It seems like it would be a good experience for broadening one's horizons. And, as mentioned, there are prizes."

Who doesn't love Olive Garden gift cards??

[HIDEO]
Drinking down his coffee, Hideo ponders. He wanted to leave his dojo behind, and entering such a large tournament would not assist in that. At the same time, it could bring him the admiration he lacked so dearly, from a nurse for example. He figured Iincyo would likely keep looking for another fighter if he refused. He swirled the thin remains of the drink, with the grounds cycling.

He finished his drink and answered, his glasses glimmering in the shimmering lights. "If you will be doing so anyways, I would be honored to assist you in your goal, as it seems you came here to ask me."

[IINCYO]
The Chairperson grins. "Exactly as perceptive as I would imagine from a teacher of your stature. Yes, I did come here seeking you out specifically. I've heard rumors of your fighting skill, though it seems like you only fight for a good cause. And, like me, you value honor, and take pride in your school. It seems like this will be a very fruitful partnership indeed."

She finishes her drink, then sets it down, briefly making a 'blech' face as she accidentally gets some of the grounds in her mouth. "There is the matter of the entry paperwork, but I think I can handle it. You've no doubt got essays to grade; I won't put any more busywork on your plate."

[HIDEO]
Hideo places his cup to the side and stands up. "I thank you for that. Now I must leave, shall we shake on it before we part ways Chairperson." Hideo offered his hand to Iincyo, his face stern.

[IINCYO]
Iincyo accepts the offer and shakes Hideo's hand. "I'll be in touch."

Log created on 15:48:20 07/31/2017 by Hideo, and last modified on 17:24:34 07/31/2017.