2835/Not Tournament Kendo

Not Tournament Kendo
Date of Scene:	13 November 2025
Location:	Cafeteria Plaza
Synopsis:	Takuto and Koji clear the air, and Koji's going to come to kendo practice. Heh heh heh.
Cast of Characters:	Takuto Tsunashi, Koji Silvia

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Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
It's a cold day, and the cafeteria's warm and smells good, and Tsunashi Takuto is a man on a mission. There is also a sidequest to get chocolate milk, but it's brief, and Takuto goes back to his mission energized and fortified: finding Koji.

He does a circuit of the inside perimeter of the plaza, his puffy STAR*DRIVER jacket with its glittery logo the loudest thing about him at the moment. Aside from his hair, which just. Is that way. But the circuit: he looks for people sitting alone in the kind of place that commands an excellent view of the surrounding area.

The Venn diagram of where Takuto's looking versus where Koji would sit is not a circle, but the overlap is large. He comes up where Koji can see and locks on to the younger boy, and waves as he approaches.

"Hey. Can I sit with you?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
School in Japan often means that you're doing three things at once most days, and in the case of one Koji Silvia, it means he's eating lunch by way of the day's ramen bowl day, he's going over some paperwork for the Gymnastics Club, and he's also listening to a book on his phone-slash-Device.

Shin Hanzo, being more attentive to such things than his Master at times, the Device mutes and repeats what was said in the tone and voice it was said into the young man's ears.

Looking up, Koji, tilts his head as he can see who's here, and then looks past as if expecting three or four other people to be there. His eyes pan left and right, then back, downwards, and up again... and then he takes out his earbuds and puts them away in a pocket before he motions to the other side of the booth that he's in. The paperwork is shuffled together as he wipes some condiment and soup from his cheek with the back of his hand as he adds, "Sure."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
The corner of Takuto's mouth quirks up instantly when he sees Koji looking past him. No, his smile softens the look, and he does one-handed jazz hands. "Just me, I'm afraid. Thanks."

He spins a chair around and straddles it, putting his choco milk on the table and crossing his arms over the back of the chair. "I'd like for us to be okay. But I don't know if I can if you truly think of me like that. But you also-- have never liked me, except when I'm in henshin, so maybe I should just respect that."

He spreads his fingers and lifts his hands, but leaves his arms where they are. "I'm being serious. I've been picking it apart, and I started it by calling out to bother you, when I should just have left you alone."

Koji Silvia has posed:
Koji shuffles papers some more and then puts them into a folder as he listens without looking up, and as the second part is said, he's looking into his mostly eaten ramen bowl, and ends up setting the cooling broth to one side. This leaves both hands on the top of the table as he takes a deep breath, and one of his fingers tap-drums on the tabletop in a sort of nervous habit. Eventually though, he exhales and sits back to meet Takuto's eyes.

    "But you weren't wrong."

    "I was... a jerk. My reasons for it are... complicated. Part of it is we're the opposite of people. You stand out, you are loud, you make friends... and you make things look so... easy." There's a momentary pause as he closes his eyes, "But... you weren't wrong. You don't come to a social space unless you want to be social. And I could have handled it better. Instead I insulted you and your friend. I still owe Shindo-sama an apology."

After that, there's another pause, and almost to the point of being uncomfortable, but before Takuto can speak, "I also... I try to make my school life as normal as possible. Because of what happens to people like us after we get to a certain age. I try to keep all of my... other life... away from here. If I can."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto doesn't look fussed at the wait, he just picks up his chocolate milk and sips, and before he can speak, Koji is already speaking. He raises his eyebrows. "Then maybe I should let you avoid me. I'm not different in or out of henshin. I won't take it personally if you keep away in school but can be friends in henshin. If I start aging I'll worry. My horrible narcissistic sociopath of a dad can still pass for a high school third year."

The way he says it is so frank, so matter of fact. His expression's not-- bleak, but it's a distant relative, for just a moment. "Or instead of worrying, I'll go back to the island," he says as he looks away out the window, himself.

"What on earth do you have to apologize to Sugata-kun for? And-- really-- why do you call him Shindo-sama?"

At this last, he just looks completely perplexed.

Koji Silvia has posed:
The whole concept that Takuto's own father looks the same age as the boys at the table is a bit of a shock to Koji, and it plays through his eyes, before his face sets in a bit of a line. The look is pensive... lost in thought almost. He taps the table a couple more times, and then he shakes his head and takes a deep breath, "Because Shindo-sama is obviously a well-to-do person, and to be respected. he was kind to me, offered to even treat me to a meal as a thanks, and I hurt him by how I acted towards you."

But then he lets his hands slip under the table, "No... I..."

    "I'm going to tell you something that no one else at this school really knows. Just the staff, and a few others who have an idea of it. Because I think you might understand. My... talent... is inherited. From my mother."

His hands go into his pocket and he puts his blue-gemmed smartphone on the tabletop, and he goes on, "My mother has problems remembering. She has to force herself to focus, and she is a person of great focus and determination. But it is like... I can see when the memory goes away in her eyes, I can see when she goes from remembering something so important to it just being... nothingness. And I can see how it hurts and confuses her, frustrates her. It took her months to teach me the basics... and now she can't remember she taught me. She remembers the other things she taught me but not that. She knows I do something here, but she doesn't know what. She doesn't like that I'm at this school, and she doesn't know WHY."

There's pain in his tone as he looks away.

    "I want to remember what happens here. I want to be around people and know their faces once the time comes... remember names, remember the things we DID. And there's going to be things I will lose... and that frightens me. And I think that's why I was mad at you. You're... you... and I'm utterly jealous."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"I think he would probably find you apologizing to me to be a better idea," Takuto says, sitting up a little and letting his arms slide off the back of the chair, leaving his hands hanging on. His voice is gentle, his face sort of absently amused, affectionate. He shakes his head. "He loves me very much, and he holds grudges. If you approach him about this he probably won't be pleasant," he says apologetically, "and I really-- it's a little bit much, don't you think? Sama to another student."

One on one he's calm, he's quiet, he is easier on the senses. Takuto's still pretty, but...

A tiny chuff of a laugh, and Takuto's face is complicated for a moment at Koji's story. He grimaces-- and he nods. "My grandfather safeguarded our family Mark, our Tau, from my father, and he's the one who gave it to me. He's the one who trained me to defend the powerless, from since the time my mother abandoned me with him. When I came back from saving the world, he didn't remember what I was saving the world from."

He spreads his hands, then drops them. "But-- my best friend in middle school, he's the one I inherited this personality from. Living like he did is the best way to honor his memory. I used to be really sullen and withdrawn, worrying all the time... what-ifs, you know? But my friend was the one who taught me that now is all you've got, so you might as well sing out your youth."

Koji Silvia has posed:
He doesn't do what he's done in the past. He's not flippant or dismissive, he's not gently deflecting what was said or turning it back on the one who said it. Koji sits there and takes in those words, and seems a little less of the stoic that he often makes himself out to be, the thoughtful planner always in the background. It's like learning that the cat that has learned to hiss only did so because everyone who tries to pet it goes away.

Sniffing once, he looks at Shin Hanzo, and then back before finally saying something, "You sound like you have hard a much harder life than I have, which makes my words even more hurtful. Your friend was right, and I do apologize to you, Takuto."

The -san is very quiet, and it leaves the room just as it comes in.

But once more he goes on, "I think my bigger crime is I did not give you a chance. I judged you on a bad first impression, one based in assumptions. If I had taken any time to actually know you... I would not have ever said what I did."

But the elephant in the room is the thing about Sugata, and to that he just picks up a mostly-forgotten juice box on the table and takes a sip from the straw, "Maybe it is, but everyone seems to hold him in high regard, and I would rather not make him feel... slightly by my presence. But if he holds a grudge about what I said and did... I should still make it up to him, as respectfully as I can."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Poor Koji. Takuto once again doesn't correct him when he says 'your friend'-- but this time it's because he wants the whole elephant exposed. "You know he's my boyfriend, right? Is that also part of the jealousy?" he asks, and he doesn't stop there, he says, "I absolutely accept your apology, and I'll Sugata-kun so. It's just-- to understand his point of view, you have to remember he thinks I am the best boy ever. If you approach it like that he might bite less."

Then he slouches onto the back of the chair again, this time putting his chin on his forearms, and his red eyes are bright. "We're not in a hard life competition. Also, I'm sorry I dissected you with at least some accuracy in public. I was really angry and felt-- shamed, I guess, so I bit hard. But--"

He tilts his head to the side, watching Koji. "I'm really glad about that. About that you figured out you didn't give me a chance. I just can't promise not to shine bright, Koji-san. And it's all I have in common with many of our friends. The magic, I mean. If I didn't talk about that with them, we wouldn't have anything but surface level conversations."

Koji Silvia has posed:
To that, Koji nods once, and then adds softly, "Oh."

    ...and immediately shifts the conversation...

Gulping once, some redness in his ears and faint in his cheeks now, he clears his throat, "I... don't suppose to try and bridge the gap... you could show me some sword techniques? I know a bit more about practical fighting than a lot of people who... do what we do..."

Still dancing around saying it, like it's important for the conversation...

He adjusts his glasses a moment, "Anyways... I need to understand the basics of using a short blade. And since I've seen some of your skill, I thought maybe... if I learned some of that, I could teach you or help you with something in return. Maybe."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
WELL maybe it's part of the jealousy now! 'Yeegh' is the sound of the wince-face Takuto makes at the 'oh'. Sorry, sorry, aheh, is his body language, hands up. "Ah--" he says, then shuts his mouth and nods, dropping his hands. "Vigilante LARP?" he tries, then claps his hands over his mouth, eyes dancing.

He shakes his head and takes his hands away from his face, but he's smiling for real. "I dual wield twin blades, I'm not sure how short they are for what you're thinking? Do you want to just come to our kendo practice tomorrow?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Koji considers for a moment, 'When you say kendo, are you talking about the kendo club? If that's the case, I would rather not... not because I don't think I wouldn't be welcome, but because it would be rude. The managers might think I'm there scouting. I manage and coach some of the younger students."

He pats the folder of papers, "That's what I was doing... going over their current skill levels to see who needs what, and to see who is best for representing the school at competitions. It's boring work, but it will look good on my transcripts when I graduate and see what schools will accept me."

There's a slightly apologetic look for a ramble, and he goes on, "But, if this is something informal, I wouldn't mind. If anyone else that's going to be there is alright with me coming."

There seems to be a bit of a weight on the word else, for some reason...

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Takuto absolutely beams at Koji as he finishes his chocolate milk. "It's not the open club, no. The only people who would be there are Sugata and me and maybe Kazuo-san. He's the only one who can keep up with us. Sometimes Chiyo-san will practice with us, and she fights with a warhammer. It's not tournament kendo, for sure, but our fighting nearly all has its basis there."

He picks himself up out of his chair and turns it back around, picking up his empty glass from the table, and he smiles. "We'll do it at school tomorrow so you can join us without undue psychological pressure-- we usually practice at his house in town. After school in the west corner of the main gym, though, okay?"

If Koji has no questions, he'll bow and take his leave.