Description: As most know, those whom are introduced to Sada Asai usually end up getting snubbed/insulted in one way or another; is the intent here for Yurika to show off, make things difficult for Kentou, or make things difficult for Sada? Two of the three answers are correct.
As usual, things are... Actually pretty normal about the Seijyun premisis. Being as it's quite chilly out, there aren't as many outdoor activities going on as there usually is, and the number of issues of the school has steadily been dropping, much to the relief of a certain Yurika Kirishima.
However at this point in time, the musician has noticed she's been falling behind a bit in keeping her fellow council members busy.. Perhaps she should rectify that, and while she'd already taken care of Aislinn and Ninon, it'd perhaps be best to come up with something for Sada as well. Apparently it's not something of the utmost importance, seeing as within the teachers lounge, the door is left wide open as well as one of the windows; rather unusual considering the chilly weather and the light snow falling.
Yurika herself sits at one of the desks closest to said window, dressed in her usual lightblue school attire with a kettle of tea on the desk along with a small cake and, most importantly, a lot of paperwork. The time is well past three pm, so she's expected Sada shortly.
Sada had the glee club to manage, such as it is. Why does it have such a name, anyway? It's a mystery, although perhaps it's proper for people who don't sing either folk songs or choral music. It may well vanish and dissolve when the day comes for its leaders to graduate, of course... but such was the fate of the Gundam Wing fanclub, to say nothing of the 'SOS Dan' Hibiki fan club. But we don't speak of such things, not now.
But here she is. After knocking twice on the doorway to announce her presence, Sada, new straight hairstyle and all, steps within, toting along that instrument case at her side. "Yurika!" she says, before dipping down into a neat curtsey. "Please forgive me for being late. The sidewalks were slippery."
She steps closer, then, nearer to the tea and cake.
Rustle. Rustle.
From beyond the curiously open window the sounds of neatly trimmed hedges shifting in the beautiful landscaping faintly be heard. It may well be the wind picking up in the wintry weather, though no extra breeze stirs the stacks of paperwork upon the school president's desk. The true source of this vegitative disturbance?
Sloooowly chocolate-colored eyes peek over the surface of the flatly-trimmed brush, along with a distinctive cow-lick of dark hair bobbling with the motion. To and fro, those glimmering, attentive eyes shift. Exercising both prudence and utmost caution as the silent insurgent minimizes all awareness of his trespass.
%For several important reasons, chiefly of which that this particular invader would get expunged quickly after discovery of him being.. well.. he. A situation frowned upon at an all girl's school. The second is.... ah. Well. The poor boy has found himself something of a very minor celebrity with certain circles of the school. A notion that he finds awfully embarrassing to say the least and hardly optimal.
While, this stealthy youth would normally try to steer clear of such a place, there are several reasons why he finds it worth the risk. While his Master indeed does go to this school, the boy sees her plenty of times in other venues. His good friend Yurika-sempai, however, can only be found here. Naturally, hanging out with her from time to time is worth a little subterfuge.
Its good training! He reasons.
For the moment, however, the boy is content to remain in his hiding spot very near the window. Taking a moment to listen in veeery carefully to the lounge within in a bid to identify its occupants.
Ooop! The sound of a new voice piping up jolts the youth's shoulders. Nuts.. she isn't alone!
Better wait a bit in hiding..
Yurika can safely say there's never been a complaint about the glee club. She honestly hadn't been keeping too high tabs on such a place, while the musician isn't exactly the most -fond- of Sada, she's proven herself to be rather trustworthy and capable on many occassions. Hopefully capable of keeping a low enough profile not to be a budget issue.
Once Sada arrives with a very recognizable knock, Yurika raises her head, then stands to return the curtsey with her usual little smile. "Good day to you, Sada.. I'm glad you could make it, I hadn't heard much of you since the tournament. Did you have a pleasent time in Kyoto?" She asks once she's seated again. Upon closer inspection, it's not your typical sweet cake, it's a rather large coffee cake with yummy looking crumbs atop. Maybe one day Yurika will invent tea cake. She gestures to the chair opposite of the desk.
As Yurika leans back a little into her seat, her dark eyes shift gradually to her side. She apparently had been -expecting- Kentou, that or she has a weird thing for staying cold. Cold as her cruel and bitter heart. "I am expecting company shortly, by the way. It's trouble to get through the halls, so I left the window open." the musician notes, her expression suddenly becoming increasingly more pleased, with a slight red tinge in her cheeks.
Sada, fortunately, is not aware of the presence of a hated XY-chromosome human in the area. Hiss! How dare he come near campus! Or so she'd say if she knew. (Kurow is different.)
"I did," she says, stepping closer to sit across from Yurika, her eyes going down to the cake. "Oh, this looks so nice! It looks American? I guess they can do sweets well, hm?" Then she notices the cold - the cold and the open window. Her eyes seem to get a bit more distant, a touch blanker, and she says, "Oh... of course."
She settles back, trying not to think of the obvious questions to bug Yurika with... so she says, instead, "Did you get the pictures of the rabbit?"
Hrm. 'Sada'. The boy's eyes slowly roll upwards in contemplation at that name.
Hm! Nope. Doesn't ring a bell.
As the boy continues to listen in, he begins to realize what he's doing could be considered ... well. Snooping. Which is far from his intent! Spying on girls in a girl's school isn't something this boy is about! Thats the kind of reprehensible behavior he, himself, would try to put a stop to if he saw some other guy doing it. As such, the youth decides he better sneak off for now. He'll try back in perhaps an hour? Yeah.. An hour should be juuust about-
-And then Yurika's voice picks up and her words gets him to halt before he budges from his low crouch. Wide eyes blinking with this new information as his gaze slowly slides back to the window.
Wait, wait. Waiting? ...Did she mean.. Him? He can't recall if he told Yurika-sempai if he was coming or not.. Its been a little while since they've spoke last. There's been an awful lot going on these days with his training reaching a new level, Hotaru and Jiro, Frei's brother, Mizuki's rival, Kadish and his faux girlfriend. On and on. However, clearly she's expecting someone.
And someone who comes through the window. Which, as he further considers it, who the heck else enters rooms through windows in this school?
The boy puzzles over this conundrum for a moment. Weighing the options of showing himself here to a stranger. More than anything, he doesn't want to get Yurika-sempai in trouble. If she gets caught smuggling him onto campus there could be consequences.. especially for someone in a position of authority like her!
But then, she seems to be able to get her immediate friends to stay quiet on the subject. Like the Witch Sisters, Ninon and Mignon. Maybe this 'Sada' is in on it too?
Does he want to risk that?
%Errmmmmmmm.
The boy slowly shifts once more. Daring to slowly rise up high enough to dare to peek a single eye juuuust around the edge of the window. Attempting to glimpse within.. And hopefully not when Sada is looking..
Yurika reaches for the kettle, and takes once of the ceramic, light green glasses to pour the tea in. There's nothing fancy about it, it's a very simple blend of green tea. In fact, it was the most simple kind of tea she could possibly find that she'd be able to tolerate. CVS store brand is good enough for Sada, you see.
She pours another for herself, and offers it to her fellow council member, "Yes I did, it was gorgeous," Yurika replies plesently. "Though you were much more on target with the second image, I hadn't realized until then that there are so few gothic lolita within southtown it's.. A bit distressing. So it was a very refreshing vision. Perhaps I should visit Kyoto sometime. Actually, I'm not certain if it is specifically an american sweet, but it certainly tastes interesting. Please help yourself to some if you'd like. There were a couple of minor things I wanted to speak with you about, particularly an incident I was involed in a few weeks ago."
Yurika tends to be a girl who works under subtlety but.. Sometimes she's a bit too subtle. The musician pauses a moment, then just so happens to turn the moment Kentou raises his head higher. That had to have been a coincidence! .. Right? But her smile brightens, motioning him over with an upside-down gesture. "Oh! There he is~."
Sada figured Yurika is just being frugal. She takes the glass and dips her head, lifting it to her lips to take a sip. "They're really common in Tokyo, but we have a lot up in Kyoto, too," she says in response. "I don't have the right body type for it," read: actual muscles "but I knew someone in middle school who did it all the time. A lot of them do it with kimono instead of just the babydoll dresses, too." She reaches over to cut a piece of the cake...
And then looks up towards the window to see the young man peeking inwards. The reflex rises, but she bites her lip, /hard/, to keep herself from screaming. She has to hold it for a second, leaning back and reaching for a napkin to stanch the little bit of blood, afterwards. She gives Yurika a mildly incredulous look afterwards!
Wuh oh. Kentou's in it now.
As Yurika happens to glance in his direction, the boy freezes like an aforementioned rabbit caught in headlights. The glimmer in his eye is wordlessly questioning, prepared to quickly duck out of view in an instant should Yurika issue some form of silent communique that it is not all clear to enter. Limbs tense, ready to bolt at a moment's notice..
...And then his friend openly invites him in. Exhaling slowly the boy's head slowly lifts fully into view of the window. A hesitating smile creeps at the edges of his lips as his head inclines in a fraction of a bow, "..H..Hi, Yurika-sempai..." His voice trailing as his attention moves to this new acquaintance. Mousy eyes blinking once as he tilts his head forth curiously, just now beginning to notice the true intent of her expression.
Wait, did he just scare her?
"Ah.. Um.. I'm sorry.. ah.. I.. I can come back a little later? Uh.." The boy wonder speaks in hushed whispers. Not expecting such a severe reaction as he quickly looks over his shoulder, just to make sure there's no other students passing by further beyond the lounge.
Well, this is certainly awkward! Yurika's other friends ultimately didn't seem to care about his presence one way or the other, having no issue with such a secret. Or, at least in Ninon's case, found it morbidly entertaining. Finding a girl that takes umbrage at his presence, however, gives Kentou pause.
"Oh is that so?" Yurika murmurs as she turns back to Sada, at least genuinely interested. What she has to do, however, is hide the look of both suprise and utter delight to Sada's reaction. Despite Sada doing her best to keep from freaking out, it doesn't escape Yurika's eye that there's a problem. And suddenly Yurika is even more calm and relaxed.. Maybe even relieved! It had taken some time but now she's finally captured a true weakness to use.
This was going to be a very.. Very pleasent afternoon.
It was also interesting, in the sense, that Kentou would have yet another new experience. He's probably learned already that Yurika has some unusual friends, and hardly any of them are alike. Seijyun is clearly quite the colorful school. Her eyes remain on Sada a moment, and then she slowly shakes her head, "No.. No, Kentou, it's quite all right.. It shouldn't be a problem, should it Sada?" She asks, in such a way that it almost seems like it's some sort of test. Before there's a response she gestures to a rather plain folding chair to her side, leaning up against the wall where the window is.
"Your timing is excellent, actually, I was hoping there'd be a chance to introduce you to one of my.. Closer friends. Miss Sada is quite a talented martial artist and one of the members of my council. Sada, I'd like you to meet Kentou, he's training to become my personal ser-... S- surrogate bodyguard."
The weakness of 'ew boys'? Except, of course, for KUROW. Perhaps she's on to something there.
Sada coughs, once, and takes another sip of the tea. "Oh, not at all," she says, "especially since it means, I think, that we can close the window?" She smiles, without a lot of mirth, and takes her piece of cake as she settles back in the chair.
She takes a bite out of said taken piece of cake, to avoid having to talk. It tastes like sugary blood - perhaps even... melty blood. After swallowing, she says, "I'm glad to see you take your job so seriously, Kentou." She looks to Yurika again, after this, musing inwardly on what this new arrival may mean. Is this a test of some kind? Is he one of the council's agents? "What is it that you'd wanted to speak with me about?"
As the School President begins to assuage his anxiety, the boy's expression once again softens. Being a problem is most certainly not his goal. As.. problematic as his presence tends to be here! His hand carefully grips the window's lower pane, poking his head in through the window just enough to look before leaping. It wouldn't do to crash on top of a small desk or anything expensive, after all.
The boy's gaze looks up again, catching Sada's acquiescence to Kentou's presence, and smiles much more brightly now. The subtle interplay between the two is utterly lost on the much innocent and somewhat naive youth. When people say 'friend', Kentou does not question. Sincerity is his world view.
This is not to say that the idea someone would say something just to hide being uncomfortable is a foreign concept.
But then, He can't blame the girl for getting a little spooked to see someones mugshot in a window out of nowhere!
"Hup!" In a single smooth motion, the boy vaults through the open window. Whirling in a dive, then smoothly landing in a crouch on the floor with hardly disturbing a single page upon the president's desk. Rising then to his full height, which is clearly shorter than either of the Seijyun ladies here, he reaches behind himself to close the window abruptly.
It is a little chilly out there.... brrrr.
The boy bows formally then to Yurika first, clapping his fist to his palm, Sword-In-Sheath. Then to Sada, as he is introduced, "Pleased to meet you, Sada-san." Trying to be as friendly as possible and present his best foot forward. Startling the poor girl once was bad enough, he doesn't want to embarrass Yurika-sempai any further if he can help it. The youth nods again with a widening smile as she proclaims his future occupation of bodyguard. ^.^
Huh, she always seems to stammer on that word. Awww.. She must feel kinda ashamed to have such a small kid as a future bodyguard. He'll.. he'll grow into it! Really!
To Sada he replies, "Hai! Very much so.. Training is everything to me right now, actually!" The temptation to blurt out his apprenticeship to Hotaru-Sensei is there on the tip of his tongue.. But bragging about such a thing would seem a bit egotistical in his view.
However, as Sada turns her attention back to the previous topic at hand, the boy politely settles himself in a position a little out of the way so the two can continue their conversation without him impeding. Crouching low while settled on his fine Chinese slippers, settling his bare arms across his folded legs. Bright eyes attentive and curious..
Yurika is still observing, however. She definatly needs to watch closely to make sure she isn't jumping to conclusions... After all yes, Sada -is- dating Kurow, which puts a slight hole in her theory. But even then, the unusual behaviour just can't be ignored. She chuckles lightly, as if there's nothing wrong and gives a nod of her head, "But of course. His current teacher is one of our students, actually. It's a matter I'm quite interested in seeing the outcome of so it'd be.. Well, it'd be helpful if this were not to leave the room, Sada. But I assure you that nothing disgraceful is going on."
She cuts a slice of the coffee cake, setting it on the matching green plate and offers it as well as a fork to Kentou. As usual, she seems to be much higher spirited when adressing him directly! "Here would you like a slice of cake? I didn't make it, but it's rather delicious." She inwardly squee's as well. He's wearing the slippers she bought!
Accepted or declined, Yurika then looks more seriously to Sada. "I'll get straight to the point, I am having a problem with a.. Well, I think she's a schoolgirl. The only information I've gathered about her is that her name is 'Ayame', she's almost a regular on Saturday Night Fight. This may be a slightly difficult task, but I need you to try to locate her school, and if you can, give her an 'invitation'.." There's a slight pause. "Her declining is not an option. I have a feeling that she may end up becoming an enemy of ours, so even if it does come to having to fight to get her attention, it'd be a good opportunity to have battle experience beforehand."
"... I know I'm asking a lot of you but.. I was hoping I could at least make it 'fun' somehow." Yurika says this as she opens one of the drawers, and slides a manilla folder to her fellow Seijyun student.
Sada looks at Kensou like he's some sort of animal that just hopped in through the window and is wiggling around happily. Perhaps that is exactly how she thinks of him. She doesn't speak up on the matter, though! No need to antagonize others for no reason, especially right in front of their... friends? Owners?
"I see," Sada says, finally, taking another sip of her tea while Yurika feeds her pet. Then the serious matters arise, and Sada's brow furrows slightly. She's heard the name but she can't recall offhand if she's ever met the woman on the field of battle. When the folder is slid towards her, she takes it, opening up and reading what's within.
She says, while doing so, "What are we inviting her to? Or is it really... more of a challenge?"
The boy nods emphatically at Yurika's explanation of his Master. Grinning ear to ear with his eyes reflecting the emotion. ^.^ The boy is, indeed, wholly innocuous. While against the letter of school policy to be here, spiritually speaking he means no harm nor intends to take advantage of the ladies in their habitation. A peeping tom, he is most assuredly not.
At the offer of cake, the boy's eyes widen to saucer-like proportions, "Oooo! Hai, hai!" Rising up just enough to accept the plate and fork with a quick bow of gratitude, "Thank you, Yurika-sempai!"
Immediately squatting back down again, balancing the plate on his knees and immediately sampling the cake quickly. The utensil lingering in his pressed lips as he virtually purrs. Kentou doesn't eat many sweets, you see. His life is quite Spartan. Ramen breakfast, ramen lunch and fish for dinner. The very image of a martial ascetic diet. Having a chance to sample the finer things is a very rare opportunity indeed.
He still has dreams about that plate of cookies Hotaru-Sensei baked for him a few days ago. Drooooooooool..
Of course, in the reverie of eating his cake, some of the conversation passes his notice. Although, the general tone of the words slowly begin to catch on in his thoughts. 'Ayame'? hrmm. Nope. The name doesn't ring a bell. She sounds like a trouble-maker though. But.. Huh.
Thankfully, cake does a wonderful job of hiding his pensive expression at the subject at hand. The youth has no baring on the decisions being made here. Although.. 'Enemy' 'Battle Experienced'? Sounds a bit militant for a high school council, don't it?
Kentou's eyes drift back towards Sada as the envelope is passed. Cheeks shifting about as processes the moist confection as thoughtfully as his musings over what that folder could contain. The fact that the new acquaintance is uneasy with his presence is understood readily enough. He takes no insult, it IS a little bendy with the rules after all. If she is on the school council she probably is just a stickler for regulations most times. ^.^ He has no grudge.
Yurika is having a ball, truely. She never really paid close attention to Sada's reactions to Momo, but she recalls them being.. Somewhat similar. As for herself, she's taking a moment to observe Kentous delight now- He probably doesn't get sweets very often, though when she thinks about it, there really isn't a lot she knows about the boys personal life. She'll have to delve a little deeper on that sometime.
Her dark eyes glance back to Sada, her expression almost saying something like 'Isn't he -adorable-?'. The answer better be yes. But then she continues, despite the unusuality of the subject for a council- But there's a method to her madness. "To say it's a 'challenge' would be more accurate. As we already know, Seijyun has a bit of an ugly stereotype, especially when it comes to fighting prowress.. Normally I would let this be.. But this particular case I cannot let slide. However I warn you that Ayame is an extremely skilled fighter with various weaponry. But since you also have experience with weapons I'd think you'd be a glove-fit for the task. In the envelope is as much information I could gather from her televised fights, I hope it will be helpful in some way. And you won't be alone if there's unforseen difficulties.." That means she'll do her best to be about. That little bit of info has to be skirted around in Kentous presence. ".. Ah. Other than that, I think that should be all, unless you have any other questions."
Sada seems to be trying to tune out Kensou. This may be personal offense or it may be something else entirely; whatever it is, she isn't spraying Kentou down with it! Maybe out of deference to Yurika.
Sada flips through the folder, looking for something useful - but nothing's really speaking to her, not immediately. She'll make a closer study of it, later. She closes it, and slips it back into its envelope, looking back up. "Mm. I can't think of any right now... Yurika." She raises her tea to her lips and takes another sip. "How dangerous of a challenge do you think it ought to be?"
The youthful fly-on-the-wall is content to simply eat delicious cake as the two continue to converse. A bit more light is shed on the purpose of this 'challenge', however, as the elder Kirishima brings up the topic of school reputation. Softly nodding as the tines of his fork tap the plate's porcelain surface at the revelation.
It is true, Kentou admits he severely underestimated Seijyun's martial ranking originally. Upon a time he dismissed the entire premisis of being.. Er.. Well girly. That is, it certainly IS girly. But he has since learned in no uncertain terms that 'girly' does not equate 'weak'. His Master is enrolled here. Yurika proved her own skill to Kentou without reservation. However, while he knows better, Southtown at large likely does not.
Especially compared with the thuggish bruisers at Gedo or those crazy foreigners at Pacific. To say nothing about Taiyo being the alma mater of the legendary Sakura.. Well, Seijyun is sorta dragging along in reputation.
While Sada is doing her best to ignore Kentou's very existence, the boy carefully regards her however. Curious a bit about her own skill that Yurika would entrust her with such a mission. Of course.. The mention of 'weapons' makes him frown a little.
Saaaa.. Weapons! What happened to the good old nobility of using one's fists without such things? Why do all these fighters have knives and swords and things these days? ..Hmph. Ahwell.. Just the sign of the times, he guesses.
It's a fair question.. As much as Yurika would enjoy putting Sada into a suicide mission, that wouldn't be of any help to herself at all. :(
"I.. Honestly can't classify her. Many fighters tone down their abilities in televised fights, and some are just so mismatched that it can't be gauged. If I were to personally grade her, I'd say a C physically, and a B mentally. If you could provide a more accurate gauge, that'd be fantastic. There's no particular rush, but results by the end of the week would be helpful. You can always keep in touch with me, of course.." The final sentance is actually very slightly forced. "That will be all then, have a good day Sada. And as for you.."
Yurika turns her head again to Kentou, and leans in slightly to try and rest a hand atop his head. "Once you finish up the cake, I'll get into why I was expecting you." A.K.A. she's ready to cash in her favor. But that is for another time, mwa ha ha ha.
Log created on 21:47:01 02/01/2008 by Yurika, and last modified on 03:34:39 02/11/2009.