1008/After The Garden Party

After The Garden Party
Date of Scene:	15 January 2024
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Chiyo visits Mamoru and Kazuo to update them on the state of her grandfather.
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Mamoru Chiba, Kazuo Saitou

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Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Yesterday evening had been rather eventful for Nounamu Sweets. Today it was only open half a day for instance. Not because Ojiisan was still sick thankfully but because there had to be some repairs made to the building itself. This gave Chiyo a bit of free time to catch up with everyone after having run herself thin the past week or so.

With some snacks in hand (because of course), she's heading into the dorm looking only a bit bleary eyed from being tired. Tonight she would be able to sleep PROPERLY at least.

Just as she's about to take the turn that would lead to Mamoru's room she spots him at a different door. Pausing in surprise she blinks a time or two, flashes a smile, and greets, "Ah, hello Mamoru-kun."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Chiyo-san! We were just talking about you--!" Mamoru says cheerfully, one hand on the door and the other holding up his phone. "Kazuo, Sakai-san's here now too," he says as he steps in, effortlessly mixing up his formality levels into a ramen-shaped tangle. It's early yet.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Kazuo did not live in this room last term. The one who lived in this room last term fled the moment he could move in with someone else. Why? Because Kazuo's single is a single because the roof slants down across, and there is thus rather less space than usual that someone can stand up in.

So of course the ridiculously tall one gets it.

It looks pretty anonymous to date. There's a dormer window - of course there is - and he's tucked a smaller-than-usual desk under it. The desk's surface is empty. That probably makes sense, when it's liable to be part of an entrance route. The shelves hold textbooks, one anonymous cardboard box, and a single little framed colored-pencil cartoon. The bedding is bleached within an inch of its life. The only sign that the room's occupied by an actual human being is the kendo gear tucked into one precious stand-up-able corner.

"Good," is Kazuo's response, further stepping on the idea of predictable formality levels. "How are things, Sakai-san? Is the glass cleaned up?" That being the part she's less likely to volunteer in point three seconds flat.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai inclines her head in greeting to the pair as they were apparently indeed in the middle of conversation. She steps in closer getting a look at the actual dorm room that Kazuo was currently living in, which earns a slight raise of her eyebrows and a quick glance to Mamoru as if to ask 'is he okay?' Because this place did NOT look that comfy or lived in. At least not yet.

"Yes, it didn't take long to clean that up thankfully. We had some extra wood planks in the shed we used to cover the window for now until the replacement can be put in," she adds just in case that was the follow up question. "It *will* take a bit longer to fix the... 'Electrical issue' that caused the alarm to ... explode ..." A little bit of guilt there as she grins sheepishly. "But otherwise everything is okay."

A long pause follows, a deep breath taken, and she lets out in a relieved rush, "Ojiisan is okay. Thinks he just had a bad case of the flu."

With that said she lifts the little box she carries to offer, "I brought some snacks. We closed the store for a half day so repairs can be made, and these would have gone to waste if they sat much longer." Just in case they think she went out of her way on them or were concerned. There was a significant amount in the box. "I wanted to thank you for the help though. Usagi-chan and the others too of course." The Shed would likely have snacks supplied for awhile.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru doesn't seem at all concerned about the size and lived-in-ness of Kazuo's room; he gives Chiyo a quick reassuring smile, then nods! "I'm really glad he's okay! Did he get his latest batch of energy back? I mean... what was being drained and not sent along. If not, I mean, I know you have it handled, but I'm happy to share the load again."

He also looks delighted-- then concerned-- then delighted! Then concerned again! as he takes the proffered box and peeks inside it, listening to Chiyo. "I guess I'll share," he jokes, as if they were all for him in the first place. He immediately puts it down on Kazuo's desk and takes one out, then drops himself down to sit on the edge of Kazuo's bed, pulling the desk chair out for Chiyo with his long legs.

"Kazu-kun said that bolt of lightning hit there, I saw it from out here despite the barrier. Jupiter? I was coming over to get the whole story instead of just texting," he explains, then takes a bite of the wagashi he snaked from the box.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Jupiter," Kazuo confirms, folding himself down onto the bed beside Mamoru. Half the bed is also under the slant, so they're in somewhat cramped quarters there too, and his head nudges against the angle of the ceiling. "The problem was apparently some - unusual - flowers in the greenhouse. They didn't get through her disapproval."

A pause, and he says, "Thank you, Sakai-san. I'm glad he's feeling better. Are you feeling all right? Do the two of you need any extra hands to get things back on course?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai releases her hold on the box so Mamoru can pillage all he likes. That's precisely why she brought it here. She knew it would find a good use one way or another.

The pulled out desk chair is accepted as she sinks down into it resting her hands on her lap lightly. "Yes, Jupiter destroyed the flowers. Apparently they were from Sunbreaker's home and were leeching energy. I should have thought to connect his visits with the greenhouse with him getting sicker." Here she looks just a bit guilty. "It's so much a part of his regular routine though it didn't occur to me. I was trying to find something out of the ordinary."

Is SHE all right? She actually pauses considering this before reaching up to brush some of her bangs out of her face. It was a bit past time for a haircut. "Sayaka-chan and her sister offered to help as well, on the cafe side of things. It's going to take awhile to get our production back up to where it was. We're really short on gift boxes right now since everyone was buying them for the holidays."

Her head shakes a bit, and she flashes a grin at Mamoru. "Yes, he seems to have gotten it back, I think. He's much more energetic and the color has returned to him. He was looking so pale. I just need a vacation myself now," she adds with a little chuckle. As if that would happen.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Well, we can't make the candy like you and your grandpa do," Mamoru says, leaning against Kazuo-- he should be sitting on the shorter side of the ceiling, he's not quite as tall as Kazuo!-- and pausing in his nibbling, "but I can for sure fold gift boxes! And I'm a quick study if you need someone on the register, or help cleaning up at night, or anything else. If there's enough we can help with so that you and your grandpa can things back up to your status quo, then maybe you can take a vacation! You should be able to while school's still on break."

Apparently he feels strongly about vacations. Who knows why. He gestures with the half-eaten candy. "You also need to not beat yourself up about not figuring it out sooner. Where the energy draining was coming from, I mean. How would you know?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai purses her lips together tightly as she looks down to her hands on her lap just staring at them a moment lost in thought at Mamoru's assurance that she shouldn't beat herself up. How can she not though? "...I know I shouldn't, but... I live with him, and I'm supposed to take care of this kind of thing, too. It seems like a failure somehow. I couldn't even protect my family. And if something happens to him..." She trails off looking even more concerned.

"I don't know what would happen to the shop." There was more to it than that. She didn't know what would happen to HERSELF either, but that didn't really need to be shared.

Her gaze raises again toward the pair, drawing a deep breath to try and force such thoughts aside for now. "That would help a lot, honestly. If you two could I'd appreciate it."

If they both could. If... they... Her gaze sloooowly drifts from Mamoru to Kazuo, and then back to Mamoru as she starts to become aware of the position they were in at the moment. Slowly. Methodically. She watches them as if a realization is starting to formulate.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Just say when!" Mamoru says firmly after finishing the piece of candy, clearly volunteering both their time -- after all, Kazuo offered first. "And-- listen," he says, quickly licking his fingers to get the sticky off, "I know it's hard to stop blaming yourself for things that aren't your fault but feel like your responsibility. Do you know I still have trouble avoiding blaming myself for getting the other guys into Obsidian?"

He takes a breath and considers the box of candy again for a moment, then decides not to be a glutton and looks back to Chiyo. "You don't know the flowers like he does, and you had no reason to check the greenhouse anyway. Just keep repeating it until it starts to get through. You have enough eating at you as it is."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Stop blaming yourself for that," Kazuo says to Mamoru, elbowing him lightly. "The other guys getting in trouble is my fault. Obviously."

He turns a rueful little smile on Chiyo. "It seems like a failure. But. You noticed the problem. You got him help. You dealt with the source of the problem. You didn't fly out of control - you came close, but you didn't. So you didn't actually fail at any point. You did literally everything you could, and you did it right. What you're upset about is not doing it faster, and that's like making the sweets - of course you're slow at first, you don't have any experience. You get faster with time, when you've learned what to look for."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai leans her head forward a gain to rub at her eyes with thumb and forefinger. Just a moment. Just a hint of how tired she was, even if she was in far better spirits today. "You're right." When Kazuo joins in she glances up again considering his words seriously though. Slowly her smile returns with a firm nod of agreement. "Yeah. It turned out okay. I can't keep thinking of the 'what ifs.'"

"I'll take that to heart. Thank you, both of you." Pushing her hands against her knees she stands, the only one that doesn't find it hard to stand in the slanted ceiling room. "I have some other things I should tend to for now. There's a lot to catch up on. Thankfully," she adds with a chuckle, "School is still out so that's one less worry for the moment."

She starts to turn toward the door only to pause, hovering there a moment indecisively. A glance is cast back over her shoulder looking just a bit red faced. "Ah...so.... Would I be right in assuming that asking you to dinner would be a waste of time, Kazuo?" It's said in a cheery manner, much as she can, while trying VERY HARD not to be more embarassed about it. Her prior assumptions had been OH SO WRONG when it came to Usagi two timing Mamoru with Hematite, but the body language here was... Well.

With a quick awkward laugh she shakes her head turning to step out the door. "Nevermind. I think I know the answer. Take care, you two."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"That is not a short-answer question," Kazuo says, ruefully amused. But leans his head toward Mamoru's a little more. Which is probably a 'yes.'

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Oh uhhhh," Mamoru says, poleaxed for a second, and then Kazuo's answering thank goodness, and then it's an answer that doesn't preclude Chiyo's involvement but there's also body language? And he's stuck looking like a deer in headlights as she turns and goes out the door anyway.

He drops his hands to his lap, then asks Kazuo a little ruefully, "Am I that bad?" after Chiyo's left. "I mean-- if you wanted... but most people don't want to time-share."

Mamoru glances at the box of candy again and just cringes a little in second-hand embarrassment. "Oh, Chiyo..."