2693/It's Finals Week

It's Finals Week
Date of Scene:	15 July 2025
Location:	Cafeteria Plaza
Synopsis:	Many people coming in and out! There's moping over finals and then a verbal fight between Koji and Takuto and then Ami catching Roman not doing homework.
Cast of Characters:	Takuto Tsunashi, Chiyo Sakai, Ikiko Hisakata, Roman Talleday, Kazuo Saitou, Sugata Shindo, Koji Silvia, Wako Agemaki, Ami Mizuno

---

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
It is definitely finals week, and the dolorous and somber aura surrounding at least half the school population is matched only by the anxiety of those with hope but no certainty. At least the heat has broken, so it's not nearly as much of a slog through a hell swamp to get from dorms to cafeteria to classes.

It is still raining, and it is still like 27C/81F out.

Takuto Tsunashi, spiky-haired high school senior who's all red and angles and long thin lines, is moping over a bowl of udon and some crab rangoons and chocolate milk, because that's the kind of meal you can get in a cafeteria like this one. "I'm not failing everything, I don't think I'm even failing one thing! It's fine to have average grades! I don't even have anyone riding me to get good grades. But just being here with everyone who tries so hard makes me feel like I should try harder too..." he's complaining woefully to Chiyo.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai was seated next to Takuto while he was bemoaning the current grades issue. While he was angles, she was curls and dango, plum and pink. A difference for sure from her friend and teammate. On her own tray was an arrangement of different foods. Salad, some fruit, and rice with a bit of curry. It was just too hot for udon right now personally.

"You *do* like having challenges, Takuto, and there's not been many lately. Plus it's the last year ..." Was it? Somehow the thought of that causes Chiyo to pause with a little scrunch of eyebrows drawn together.

"You could always pick a couple of subjects and try to get second place in them?" An odd offer, to come in second, but she explains it as soon as she lifts her iced tea for a sip. "I mean, Mizuno-san is always first."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko just got her own food (mostly chilled foods, but yes curry) and looks around for a place to sit -- or more accurately, some friends to sit with, if there's space available. And hey, there's Chiyo! Sure, she's a couple grades older than Ikiko, but a friend is still a friend, right

"Hi, Chiyo-chan!" the younger girl says with a smile as she walks over. "Is it okay if I join you and your friend?"

Roman Talleday has posed:
A bowl of seasoned rice, some dumplings, curry, and a small pile of bread rolls and butter squares was what Roman had come away with as he slunk through the plaza. He was moving a little discreetly, scanning the area before he moved, and generally ducking his head when he darted from point a to b. It was a very evasive set of movements, as if he were trying not to be seen by somebody in particular.

Very suddenly, he'd divert to sit in the nearest free space, ducking low and sitting his bag up on the table beside him like a shield-- a Sailor V action figure having been made into an accessory now dangling off the side. It just so happened to be at that table, bustling in next to Ikiko.

"Alright, Chiyo-seeds?" He greeted, glancing at the others, "Let me sit here for a bit, yeah?"

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Some things take priority even over food. Well, sometimes anyway. As Ikiko approaches the table, Kazuo veers off from heading to pick up a tray, taking a casual stroll in her wake. Unlike Roman, he's not trying in the slightest to avoid being spotted.

"Good," he says as he approaches. "Now that you two have her penned in..." He regards Chiyo with mock menace, then glances sidewise at Takuto.

(There is, it should be noted, zero attempt to actually trap Chiyo at the table. Kazuo has more sense than to antagonize she who dispenses both sweets and hammerblows.)

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Kazuo is joking about trapping Chiyo. Sugata, coming up behind him with a lunch of chilled soba and pickled vegetables, has his eyes locked on her with an expression of - well it's definitely not menace, but there's a look in his eyes that promises he will have fun, but that he's not sure about her.

"Chiyo-san," he says as he sits, "It's good to catch up with you. You'll join us for club this afternoon, of course."

Everyone else is given a polite and cursory nod, as Sugata sits directly across from Takuto.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
The fire-engine-red-haired boy, somehow managing to give 'my shirt is red' even though it is objectively orange, gestures widely at the table and smiles at the younger girl, and it's a big toothy cheerful smile despite his doleful prospects a second ago. "Please, sit! I--"

Then Roman appears, and also knows Chiyo, and Takuto looks completely amused. He finishes, moving over, "I'm Tsunashi Takuto, grade 12. I think we may have met once or twice in passing, actually, you look familiar."

Then he looks to Chiyo and says, "Well, you have to worry about her grades maybe, but I'm not in her grade--"

Then Kazuo's coming over and Takuto smirks. "Oh good. You take her left, I've got her right, and-- oh, you two know each other?" He looks from Kazuo to Ikiko with interest--

--but then Sugata arrives and sits across from him and Takuto

blushes.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai smiles warmly when Ikiko approaches. She was younger, yes, but she was a friendly girl and it was hard to forget the animal caretaker of Radiant Heart Academy. "Ikiko-chan! Of course you can~" She agrees easily without hesitation.

Then the pin drops.

Once upon a time, this would have been a dream come true, being surrounded by cute, handsome, boys. Now it was 'surrounded' though as she finds her expression reacting in various ways.

To the surprise appearance of Roman she opens her mouth to respond. All that comes out is-- "Chiyo-seeds? What?"

And then Kazuo talks of pinning her in, and then... then Sugata from behind. A little shiver runs up her spine as if she'd just been caught being naughty. All she can do is jut her lower lip out in a mock pout as she sighs. "It was *one* class I missed. I'll be there," she agrees with a begrudging poke to her salad.

"Hello Kazuo-san," she adds with a nod toward the taller pale haired boy. "This is Roman," she introduces with a gesture toward the Brit. "We met a bit ago."

Koji Silvia has posed:
In his classic 'here-but-not-herehere' mode, Koji almost stumbles into the Cafeteria, but that's just to hide him spinning around a student leaving and keeping walking on a single line between tiles. He's balancing a relatively-new looking schoolbook sized tablet on one hand, and a drink in the other.

Finding himself two tables to the left of the group, in a spot that's shaded by some outdoor greenery, he sits back and puts his drink down as he flips pages in furious study.

Occasionally, if someone is looking in his direction, his off-hand is making swipe-motions and actually writing words here and there as he's digging into whatever topic he's about to face of with with his usual overanalytical and clinical gusto.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"If you're looking for a sheepdog, you have the wrong middle-schooler," Ikiko replies to Kazuo with an attempted deadpan expression (which is utterly ruined by the playful smirk at the corners of her mouth).

Takuto's introduction gets a brief wide-eyed stare, complete with raised eyebrows; now she has a mundane face to go with the name he had used in that meeting a year and a half ago. "Ikiko Hisakata, first-year middle-schooler," she introduces herself. "Nice to meet you (again), Tsunashi-kun!"

    (and yes, that 'again' was said in a bit of a whisper.)

Roman Talleday has posed:
"Like them little things what grow grass out their heads." Roman explains, without really explaining anything. As Chiyo introduces him, he turns his head to look at the others gathering to sit, as Chiyo introduces him.

A singular dangling earring, a small enamel teacup on a saucer, sways for a moment as he nods. "Yeah, Rome'll do. Voznesensky-Talleday Roman is a bit much. Just say Talleday if you have to. Grade ten."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Know each other? Him and Ikiko? "Only in passing," says Kazuo, and bows a little toward Ikiko neatly. "Saitou Kazuo," he says, leaving off his year entirely under the 'it's complicated' theory. He's also not actually sitting down, which makes some sense as he hasn't acquired a tray; he stays a little back from the table so as not quite to tower. It lets him glance sidelong at Koji before returning his attention to Roman. "Pleased to meet you both."

He grins easily across at Chiyo, lifting his hands. "I won't be taking vengeance for it. I promise." He's not saying a word about Sugata.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"One too many," Sugata says to Chiyo simply, and with business done, looks at Takuto and offers a smile that's closer to a smirk at the blush. "Surely you're not stressing about finals?"

With his boyfriend teased, his attention again drifts to the others at the table, and as Rome introduces himself, he nods. "Shindo Sugata, grade 12, head of Kendo Club. If you've any interest in the art, you should stop by our club meeting today. Kazuo-san, Takuto-kun, Chiyo-san, and I are all members."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"You as well, Hisakata-san," Takuto says to Ikiko after Kazuo explains it's only in passing; his smile's a little less sure of itself since the blue-haired boy sat across from him. "Though you'll have to tell me later what again you're talking about," he adds with a little laugh, and then Koji sits down and starts to study two tables over. Takuto watches him for a moment before turning back to Sugata and sighing. "I'm not worried! I'm just average and when everyone's being so competitive it's a little depressing, that's all."

Then he looks to Koji again, and then to Roman. "Nice to meet you, Talleday-san," he says, and then laughs at himself for the way he pronounces it. "Romu-san."

Finally, he gestures at the table with its empty seats. "Saitou-kun, sit down with us?" he asks nicely, and then he turns to Koji and raises his voice to be heard clearly two tables away, "Hey Silvia-kun, are you actually studying in a loud pace because it helps you concentrate, or because you're hoping someone will interrupt you so you don't have to blame yourself for not burning yourself out studying?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai wags a finger toward Sugata as she remarks, "It was a family thing!" as to why she had missed class. A bit of her does look embarassed none the less, while another part was well aware he was probably just trying to tease her. Although. She also knew she would be *sore* today from club practice if he had any say in it (he did.)

Forcing herself to relax some she asks, with a glance cast around, "How is everyone doing--?" The last part gets drowned out by Takuto's call out to Koji which draws her attention over toward him, too.

"Koji-kun! Get over here and be social!" Apparently Takuto was a bad influence.

Roman Talleday has posed:
"Kendo club... Is that like samurai stuff, yeah?" Roman's brows rise and the blond picks up one of his many bread rolls, tearing a small hole in it. "Closest I've come to that is swinging a wooden bat at my problems, but. It's no cricket, but I've been about with the Baseball club, a bit. They seem keen, but I could have a look..."

He does sound a a little interested though, even as he takes a square of butter from the wrapped to pock it into his bread. He's distracted with that for a moment. "My ex had a sword once what his dad bought in an auction, this storage unit full of antique stuff. We tossed around with it for a bit, until he put it through his own foot, like."

Roman dipped his bread into his curry, only now glancing up towards Koji.

Koji Silvia has posed:
When Takuto speaks over... well... everything, to address him directly, he doesn't react in shock. He just taps a bookmark option on the tablet, and then folds it in half to 'close it'. His glasses gleam just a little as he turns his head towards the table-group, and says, "I never burn out from studying. I know how to get my breaks in, sleep properly, stay hydrated, and distracted when I am coming up on my mind hitting that edge. Studying is as much an art as swordsmanship."

And as if to just twist the knife a little, he takes out a pen and gives it a *click-click*.

Putting it back away, he exhales as Chiyo speaks up, and picks up his tablet, pocketing it and coming over to the group, "Hi Chiyo. Been a whlie. Ojii-san doing okay?"

Looking around, he meets eyes and nods, up until Kazuo, who gets a glance-past into a flick-eyed look-away, "Iaido is closer to what a lot of people think of the samurai arts. It's more about the initial draw-movement, Kendo is about formalized sword combat, mostly single katana."

But he still hasn't sat. Probably waiting his turn...

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Extra-curricular meeting, a year and a half ago," Ikiko cryptically replies to Takuto, with an indicative nod to Chiyo. The Plaza isn't the best place to be clear about these kinds of things, especially around people she doesn't know if they're in the know -- y'know?

She waves to Koji as he approaches, then turns her attention back to Sugata. "I thank you for the offer, although Animal Care Club generally keeps me busy during club activity time." How much of the being busy isn't spent on campus, isn't mentioned... nor is the technical unofficialness of said off-campus parts. But it is animal care, and she is part of that club, so... close enough, right?

She does wince a bit at Roman's tale about the sword mishap. "I think he got the point that actual blades aren't for playing with," she notes blithely, then ducks her head sheepishly as she realizes just how she had just phrased that.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Mostly wooden replacements for single katana. Harder to put it through one's own foot that way, but still possible." On the other hand, closer to swinging a bat at your problems? Maybe? Kazuo snickers at Ikiko's summary, then adds, "Usually we try to be a little more directed. There's no Human Care Club, after all."

Kazuo considers the number of chairs available, then promptly and casually thieves an unoccupied one from another table, reversing it so he can cross arms on the back and lean. There. Koji's excuse, now missing.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"I have to say, I've never put a sword through my foot," Takuto says, blowing on his udon. "And yeah sure, single katana."

He looks at Kazuo, Sugata, and Chiyo as he says 'single katana', and then he drinks the broth from his udon and starts picking noodles out to eat one by one. Two of his four rangoons have vanished. When Koji clicks his pen, Takuto looks blankly at him. "Okay, but you came to a social situation and chose to be antisocial. I mean I guess that's an art too."

He grins at Ikiko. "I gotcha. I mean that's generally not a problem I have, but I gotcha."

It really isn't. He will just apprivoise in front of anybody.

Roman Talleday has posed:
He snickered at Ikiko, too. "Bit rough, like."

It occurs to Roman, loosely-- as he's taking in what Koji and Kazuo have said-- that there are probably quite a number of upsides to joining Kendo club, especially when he stops to actually think on it.

All of his physical training previously had been geared into precision, strength, stamina, and technique. A childhood of rigour, of poise and deliberate movement, might just lend him well to something like Kendo. Which might also lead to him looking very cool, and that was a bonus.

But if it was also something he could focus himself in... something a little meditative and patient, where he had to think before acting, that might've been to his benefit. Oolong would certainly think so. Roman had been lacking something to balance him out like that, recently.

"Maybe I will come t'the meeting, just to have a look in."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Ojiisan is doing fine, thank you, Koji-kun. If you ever feel like stopping by to lend a hand around the shop I'm sure he'd appreciate it. Since we're down a... person." One they weren't expecting to have in the first place admittedly.

For a moment her gaze dips down to stare at her salad as she nudges a cherry tomato around with her fork. Forks were for salads after all. Chopsticks were for everything else.

The breif moment of thought is broken to look up again watching with growing amusement as Roman starts to talk himself into it. "Weren't you the one who asked if 'that's the one where they beat you with sticks'?"

Koji Silvia has posed:
Kazuo pulling a combo chain 'Chair from another table into a chair spin and ending with a backward sit' makes Koji's glasses do that thing where the reflection dances around the edge of the rims for a moment, and he less than elegantly brings a chair over to sit close by Ikiko if he can. As he looks at the raging force that is Takuto, he points at Chiyo, "She invited me over. I don't just put myself where I might not be wanted."

Exhaling a bit, he does eventually look over at Roman, and there's a faint bow of the head, "Apologies... I'm Kojiro Silvia, Grade 10. I'm in the Gymnastics Club as an assistant coach for the middle school team, and I'm in the Computer club."

Going back to Chiyo, he smiles a bit, "I can drop one of my other part-times and loan myself to the shop for a few hours on the weekend if he needs. Not a problem. Always happy to help."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"...so," Takuto says hesitantly to Koji, "let me make sure I've got that right. You literally did come sit close by and just hope someone would call you over?"

He's interested, he's leaning in a little, he's frowning. "You should just come sit. Do you think you're so objectionable? I know you don't like me, but you're friends with Chiyo-chan and Saitou-kun, at the very least. Playing weird games with social politics when no one else is... that truly is putting a sword through your own foot."

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"Unfortunate, about your ex. Live steel shouldn't be toyed with, as he learned. Still, we'll be glad to have you," Sugata says, smiling at Roman at the notion that he'll return. "Though, we're not as strict on the single katana concept. There's another kendo club on campus that focuses strictly on the art as would be expected in tournaments - the kendo club we participate in focusing more on the aspect of formalized sword combat. We cross-train with other weaponry and combat focused clubs as well."

It's useful, after all. Chiyo receives a curt nod at the explanation that she'd missed a meeting due to a family need.

Koji... is being stared at, given that he's made something of a puzzle. Sugata contemplates the matter that Takuto's raising. "Perhaps there's an element of masochism involved that isn't suited for the lunch table, Takuto."

Roman Talleday has posed:
Roman, having taken half a curry-dipped dinner roll in one bite to chew, offers Chiyo a blank look. "I don't mind bashin' on with other kids with sticks, all serious, like. Me and the lads did that through primary for fun."

He sends Koji a look over, and whent he boy smiles at Chiyo with such an offer, he wonders if the guy is keen on her or not.

And then Takuto says that, and bread roll is dipped in curry again to be disappeared into his face. That Takuto bloke blushes at Sugata, who seems a bit serious, but Koji doesn't like Takuto (or Takuto doesn't seem to think so), but maybe Koji likes Chiyo, and that big guy Kazuo still got him a chair out to come sit (and sat backwards in his own) so Koji culd sit near Ikiko...

Roman's mind idly tumbles the rocks of the social dynamics. Or other possible dynamics, apparently. He chews.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko giggles and nods in agreement with Kazuo, then unsuccessfully tried to smother a laugh at Chiyo's question to Roman.

And then there's Takuto's observation, followed by Sugata's commentary on the observation, and that gets her to rest her chin on her hand with this bemused expression of 'hi, I am right here, and that is both too much and not enough information for a middle-schooler!'

    (She's definitely enjoying the banter, though)

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Kazuo is not helping with the dynamics. Mostly because he's just sitting there listening at the moment, letting the conversation roll past him. He does not try to intervene in Ikiko's defense. One, she can take care of herself. Two, it's Sugata. The best way to get the topic dropped is, as far as Kazuo can tell, to pretend that never happened. (What else would he do? Threaten to tell Wako? How exactly would that help?)

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"That'd be great, Koji-kun. Ojiisan has Taro-kun to help him out of course but I know he'd like to see you again, too," Chiyo responds as the talk of why or why Koji hadn't come over is brought up. She does have to nod with a quick addition of, "Takuto's right. You can just come over and say hi you know. It's not like you need to be shy after everything we've been through." Gasp. Scandal?

It's Roman's response which catches her off guard as she turns her attention back toward him staring openly a moment. "O-oh right, I... I must have been thinking of some other... blonde British boy." How awkward! A bit of lettuce is stabbed onto her fork as she blurts, "So how are you doing, Kazuo-san?" And quickly takes a bite of her salad trying not to look embarassed again.

Koji Silvia has posed:
    "I don't hate you, Takuto. I think you're a idiot, you're too free about certain things, and your most redeeming quality is right..."

And he points with both pointer fingers at Sugata,

    "There."

He hmphs and sits back, frowning a bit and looking slightly away, actively trying to hide the faint blush, but for Chiyo to make it worse, followed by Ikiko with the 'munching popcorn' face, and then even the silence stoic 'nothing is bothering me' of Kazuo, and he gets up to mutter something about forgetting his drink.

Which he left... two tables over... but then sweeps right past to get something from the drinks machine here...

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Wrong direction," Kazuo comments in Koji's wake. "But perhaps he hasn't met Agemaki-san." Technically Wako is younger than he is. In practice she gets the honorific from him anyway. He flashes a quick grin at Takuto - it's only a little needling, from him, and the friendly kind. Then he lifts a hand to Chiyo. "Busy. I'm on garden volunteer duty. By which I mean I'm hauling truly amazing quantities of dirt in my spare time."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"Don't kill him, Sugata," says Takuto deceptively mildly, color high in his face, hands still.

Koji has gotten up.

Takuto's voice raises to be *audible*, ringingly, and yet-- remains calm and reasonable.

"An idiot wouldn't be able to peg exactly what your social malfunctions are, so you're lashing out in the hopes of shaming me into shutting up. Are you trying to make yourself unwelcome at a table now? Because you were getting into a sort of rickety boat situation there, and the table living down to your expectations of not welcoming you will help you get out of it, because you'll be able to say that it was me. That it was my fault."

He reaches for his chocolate milk, brings it over, and starts sipping it. "The funny thing is, I liked you fine even though I know you don't like me. But now you're desperately trying to stab me with a pool noodle and I think it's sad."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai glances quickly with growing alarm between her two friends as the tension that was there boils from 'poking at each other' to outright insults. She had been distracted enough she didn't really see where this was going until it happened.

"Ah, pardon me," she murmers to those at the table as she scoots her chair back to retreat. Perhaps to go make a call to Wako to warn that the boys might need to be calmed down (or at least Takuto).

Roman Talleday has posed:
The startings of a fight bloom, and imediately, Roman feels much more at home. He grins, eased by it in fact. It's not often here he's seen things pop off between people, like at his old school, especially across a lunch table.

No, this feels much more normal. Dare he hope for a brawl? A tray across somebody's face? Food thrown? No, that's probably too much to expect, here. Japan, big fancy Academy, posh-like. But god, the itch is there beneath his skin.

"There goes the runner for help, like," he notes of Chiyo's leaving, clearly amused, "Steady on, lads, you're scaring the birds away."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko leans back slightly, sizing up the tension. An outright fight wouldn't be a good idea, but something should probably be done...

Then Takuto gives her an idea. >:3

"Maybe we should have them duke it out with pool noodles at dawn?" she stagewhispers to Kazou, glancing at Koji and Takuto out of the corner of her eye so she can watch their reaction without outright staring.

Koji Silvia has posed:
Koji did not stop when he was called out, or even dissected, keeping his expression that blank that people who've been in that position often learn to get. The social armored shutters. Nothing in and nothing out.

He just does what anyone in his position would do. He straightens his back and returns to his walk to the drinks dispenser, and picks up a cup before taking his time decided on what to have. Zero reaction or response to the words, or even the little jab made by Ikiko.

Sugata Shindo has posed:
Don't kill him is good advice, from Takuto to Sugata, less because of the likelihood that Sugata would genuinely draw blood - he'd given his knife to Wako, after all. It had been gift and promise both. But there is every chance that he would have aimed to cut deeper than Takuto had, and now, he draws a steadying breath. Takuto speaks in his own defense. Koji walks away. Chiyo flees. Rome speaks with amusement, on the matter, given the tension, and Sugata -

Stands in turn, leaning against the table, eyes hard.

"The only idiot is the boy who would dare think I am anything like the redeeming factor in Takuto Tsunashi."

The fact that Koji hasn't returned? It's plenty satisfying for him. He glances at Ikiko and Kazuo, but their stage whispers don't carry the cut of true distaste. Not like Koji's had, and he looks to Rome with a shake of the head.

"The only one who might need help is him, but the help he needs is nothing any of us can provide. If she's getting Wako, she'll be in for a surprise."

He reaches out, under the table, his foot pressing against Takuto's. He's not the sort to offer hugs or obvious comfort, but he's here, and he can only hope his words can convey the depth of his feeling.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Somehow I think this is, one way or the other, beyond the ability of foam to solve," Kazuo says to Ikiko, slightly rueful in the way of one blindsided by unexpected escalations. Apparently there were sore points. Several. Many. Maybe the school nurse carries psychic antibiotics and can pass them out to anyone developing an infection? No, that would make things too easy.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Who will be?" Wako asks, coming up from behind Sugata in time to catch her own name.

It's only sort of a coincidence. She'd been coming to meet her fellow Star Drivers anyway; Chiyo's text had just prompted her to stop dithering over the cafeteria's lunch selection. Now she sets down a tray loaded with chilled udon, dumplings, and a whole rainbow of small dishes of different vegetables and fruits, and pauses to offload a small yellow fox onto Takuto's shoulder (and swipe one of his rangoons, like she doesn't have enough food already) before settling into a seat.

Vice President immediately leans his furry face in against Takuto's cheek while Wako looks around the table. "Hi," she offers to Kazuo and the unfamiliar faces, before glancing back to her boys. "Sorry I was late."

Roman Talleday has posed:
The dynamics are getting clearer by the moment, and Roman takes note. His gaze passes between Takuto and Sugata, and flicks towards Koji again, and he nods in a considerate way. Right, so that bloke's stepped in it, and it's not the first time, and probably a good job that Koji's not in Kendo Club to get beat with sticks about it.

"Fair enough." He sniffed, looking to Takuto. "So he's a bit of a berk with you especially, then?" Roman didn't seem to care too much about not prying. He stabbed a single chopstick into a dumpling and ate it that way.

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
"No," Takuto says to Ikiko and Kazuo firmly as Chiyo excuses herself. "I don't want to fight him." He glances to Roman and the corner of his mouth twitches up slightly, then shakes his head. "She's probably getting our girlfriend, yeah, not anybody to back either side up..."

His gaze settles briefly on Koji's back, and then all his attention's taken by Sugata. And here you go, Roman, more dynamics: Takuto's eyes get stars in them, they shine, he'd already had the horrible thrill of being shamed run through from his face to his fingertips but now he's blushing again, like when Sugata sat across from him. And then he's blushing fiercely at the foot-hug, and he hides his face, grinning. "Sugata-kun," he half-protests, sunk down in his chair, the smile in his voice too. "You're being cute, what do I do--OH!"

There is a sudden fox on him, and he laughs, and gets squeaked on, and gradually stops blushing. "It's okay, Wako-chan."

Takuto lets out a little sigh of suddenly-released tension, and he lets one hand drop while the other scritches and pets Vice President. "I'm a loud person, and I can be obnoxious, and I'm not subtle at all, and I'm usually happy. He doesn't like at least three of those things. He doesn't like that I henshin in public or talk about it at lunch. But I like him, I wish he'd loosen up a little-- but he thinks I'm an idiot, so whatever."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko does a palm-forward nodding shrug to Takuto: I defer to you; no harm intended. The edge of the tension was gone, and that is the important part -- the fact that it was tempered by levelheadedness instead of derailed by absurdity doesn't particularly matter to her.

She nods a hello to Wako, and beams a smile to Vice President. "Hi~," the younger girl says softly to the fox, patiently giving space to him as he snuggles his people.

Koji Silvia has posed:
If he was within hearing range, Koji might have asked what a 'berk' is, but after spending too long tying to pick a drink, he just puts the cup back and goes to the vending machines for two cans of oolong tea. Those go right into his pocket and then a quick turn to depart on a route around and away from the group. Armor still up, face still blank.

Not even giving himself a chance to salve any of it with a hello to Wako either...

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Kazuo rises as Wako approaches, and turns his chair to offer it to her. Vice President gets an amused nod all of his own. "I should have known you'd bring the panacea," he says to Wako. "Forgive my poor timing - I'll clean up Silvia's tray." And thus release his abandoned table back into public usage.

Roman Talleday has posed:
Takuto's self description makes Roman take stock of himself, and immediately, he thinks this Koji bloke is going to dislike him too, if it's really like that. Sugata seems like a stiff sort too, but clearly Sugata and Takuto are wrapped up in each other, so that bodes well for tolerance.

He nods at Wako, now. "Alright?" It's a casual greeting, his attention drifting to the fox. "Is that yours? Look at him, domestic! That's even better than a squirrel, that, he's got a lovely coat though, don't he? What's his name? Can I pet him? Is he magic?"

Sugata Shindo has posed:
"I'm never cute, you're imagining it," Sugata says blandly, though he's clearly more at ease and relaxed when Takuto is smiling and bright. It probably is for the best that Koji isn't in the Kendo Club, though there's enough professionalism in Sugata that he wouldn't take this out on him on the field.

In henshin though, definitely.

Wako arrives, and Sugata sits up a little more, smiling slightly more openly. "Chiyo will be, if she sent you to resolve the fighting. It doesn't matter - it doesn't look like Silva-san is coming back."

He slides his tray over to make more room, and nods as Kazuo slips off.

"Oh, are you magical as well?" This is directed towards Roman. "Ginga Kingu, in that case, and these two are Ginga Bishounen and Ginga Otome. There are a number of people here who prefer to keep that sort of thing quiet, but given how many of us there are, I don't see the point."

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Ikiko is cute, film at eleven. Takuto gives her a wry look. Then, he is looking at Roman when Koji leaves, then at Sugata when Kazuo gets up, but he corrects that one swiftly enough. "Thank you, Saitou-senpai," he says piously as he leans against Wako. "See you at club later."

Then Roman's asking about Vice President, and Takuto removes his hands from the little fox to let him run up on top of his head. "Well, we're his humans, yeah, and yeah, he's magic. Doesn't talk though. I'm sure he talks in somebody's head, like Tauburn who was suspiciously quiet for all that--"

He doesn't have any objection to Sugata outing him -- he doesn't notice it except as an introduction. "You don't have to give us your ID, though."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Aaah, too bad - later, Saitou-kun!" Wako gives the departing Kazuo a wave as she claims the vacated seat and leans back against Takuto's leaning. Vice President, affection dispensed and scritches obtained, regards Ikiko and Roman both with bright-eyed, ear-pricked interest from his vantage on Takuto's shoulder. The little fox's head tips one way and then the other, the puff of his tail waving behind him.

"Like I can keep you two from doing anything," Wako tells Sugata fondly. Then she's turning her attention to Ikiko and Roman, a friendly smile on her face. "Wako Agemaki," she introduces herself. A quick sidelong glance to Sugata has her adding, "Ginga Otome. That's Vice President." She points her stolen rangoon at the fox. "He sort of invited himself along with us to Tokyo when we came here, so we're responsible for him, I guess? But if he's magic, he hasn't told us. He likes being pet, usually, if you don't come on too strong."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko's mouth quirks up into a smile at the third of Roman's question, followed by a double raised-eyebrow at Sugata's intro. "And I'm Cute Wolf Tsukiko," she adds with a faint shrug. The other students in the Plaza are scattered far enough away that she's not worried about being overheard at close conversational tones. "I tend to be quiet about it when I don't know if others are in the know, but I'm not a stickler about it, and I know them."

That last is said with a nod of the head to the Star Drivers. How well she knows them, she doesn't clarify, but at least she knows both their names of all three of them, and has met each of them while mutually in henshin -- good enough for her!

Roman Talleday has posed:
They have really cool names, and for a small moment, Roman is envious of that fact. Not that he thinks any part of his own henshin is particularly uncool, but it does perhaps sound a little less impressive than Ginga Kingu.

"<Well jel>, man." Roman grants Sugata, though the english words may not parse. He nods to Takuto as well. "I'm not any kinda precious about it, with others what are on the in... but I'll cop a bollocking for it later either way."

He reaches out to try for Vice President, offering hand to smell before attempting to rub the fox's head. He seems very charmed by the creature. "Handsome thing, you," he grins, "Well, I'll throw my hat in then. I'm Cure Chai."

To this, a pitched squeak left his earring, and it swayed noticibly on its own. "Roman!"

Takuto Tsunashi has posed:
Counterleaned! Takuto turns his face and kisses Wako's head absolutely unashamedly, then smiles crookedly at Roman. "Pleased to meet you and your fairy, Cure Chai. I'm needing a walk before we have to go to class," he says simply, then carefully unleans and makes sure it's mutual. He eats his last crab rangoon and squeezes Sugata's foot with his feet, then gets up and picks up his tray. He heads cheerfully enough off to take it where it goes.

While he goes, Sugata watches his back for a moment, frowning, then looks at Wako. Whatever he sees, he nods, then gets up with his tray to leave with Takuto.

Without actually saying anything. That's up to Wako. Wako is left holding the bag.

Actually the bags. Neither of them is likely to come back to the table. She should leave their stuff there.

She doesn't, though, but she looks mad about it for a half second, holds up a finger as she starts eating everything on her tray--

--eats everything on her tray O.O--

--smiles earnestly at Roman and Ikiko and says "Sorry, sorry, you know, eheh--

--and then wrangles one tray and three school bags away from the table, scowling. "I'm NOT your PACK mule!!" she calls ahead as she disappears around that corner too.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
It began with tufts of dark blue emerging from the top of Roman's bag. This, of course, evolved into eyes and, ultimately, the entirety of Ami became more than a little bit obvious. Inexplicably, she was there and that implied a degree of stealth few would have expected from her.

Ikiko may have noticed her, on the other hand. Appearing distant at first to spy the boy's bag and, more importantly, the Sailor V figuring that identified it. Then, with its owner distracted, the senshi had scampered--yes, scampered--across the plaza with enough care to keep from Roman's specific view.

"Rome-kun." Neither was she one for saccharine sweetness at times--her voice came as an exasperated sigh, the edges of which hinted something stern.

No, not stern. It was worse than that. His tutor sounded disappointed.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko had definitely seen Ami approach -- she recalled how Roman had basically skulked in like he was hiding from someone, and the bluenette's search was very much that of a hunter -- but between the hubbub of magical introductions, the indignant earring/fairy, and the departure of the Ginga Squad, it had been quite easy to keep from overly focusing on Ami's approach.

Until she made herself known.

"Hi, Ami-chan!" the younger girl beamed at the tutor once Roman heard himself addressed. "I see you're having a good hunt today!"

Roman Talleday has posed:
Roman very nearly jolted out of his chair, sideways for a moment across the next one, just about. He swore loudly in English and nearly threw a breadroll.

"Don't-- How'd you-- Where'd you even get here, from? You don't teleport like that long haired brother of yours, do you?" He gathered himself up as best he could, running a hand through his hair to ruffle. He sent Ikiko a helpless look. "No warnin', like? Rough..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I could teleport you right to the moon if you'd like." Ami stated very matter-of-fact. "I think you'll find it a lot harder to hide from me there. But, no."

There was a short pause while the corner of her mouth twitched with amusement. "I just thought sneaking up on you would be funny."

At the very least, it made up for the time she'd spent searching through the school for him. Ami wasn't above a little pettiness here and there, after all.

"Hello Ikiko-chan." Ami was friendly smiles in that direction. "How have you been?"

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Didn't want to interrupt the conversations-in-progress," Ikiko shrugs with a grin. "Besides, I've known her longer, and if she's looking for something -- or someone -- with purpose, I'm not going to spoil her effort."

And besides: as Ami had put it, it was funny.

She gives a rueful smile to Ami. "Been keeping up with my studying and my clubwork," the younger girl remarks. "I'm feeling reasonably confident for my first finals of middle school, although I probably won't be the most competitive with my grades."

Roman Talleday has posed:
"It's not funny, sayin' my name all hard-like," Roman sulked mildly, righting himself and furrowing his brows, "Don't you go strandin' me on the moon with a bunch of books and a practice test, but. I'll call JAXA."

His earring jingled again, "That's what you get for sneaking around and avoiding your studies, Stir-stir!" The sweet voice chimed in. "You can't just spend all your spare time fighting! Finals are important, too!"

Roman grumbled, and dipped his bread into curry again. "At least I got an invitation to two clubs..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"You'll pass though?" The senshi asked. "I know it can get a bit hard sometimes, with all of the--uh--extracurriculars."

She, of course, meant youma. And Dark Generals. And whatever other craziness came their way.

Ami made her way slowly around Roman, brows arched rather high until she could relieve herself of her own backpack and settle down beside him. She didn't say anything for a moment, but she did have a sandwich. Where did she get it from? Who knew. What was on it? Ham, tomato, lettuce, and cheese.

"You know I'm not silly enough to leave you there with anything you could actually communicate with." She almost warned him with a little grin. "But, you're fine. I wouldn't leave you up there with study materials on your own."

No. She couldn't trust him to not play with the gravity.

"Have you asked Mina-chan out yet?" Ami took a bite of her sandwich.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Definitely passing by a comfortable margin, even though they're mostly not the best grades," Ikiko reassures Ami, then takes a few more bites of her own food. (Sure, it had gotten closer to room temperature, but that's the hazard of watching what's going on instead of focusing on eating.)

    The younger girl's eyebrows do raise a bit at Ami asking Roman about his dating. While Ikiko isn't one to seek out gossip (except maybe among strays), she's definitely not above enjoying it when it surfaces... so she splits her attention between the food and the conversation.

Roman Talleday has posed:
Having already half stuffed another dinner roll in his face, the blond boy has his mouth full when the question comes. "Arrmmm..." He squints a bit, looking slightly bashful and evasive. "Mmwew... y'shee... 'bou dat..."

He chews a little faster and swallows painfully, taking a moment to wince and smack at his chest, clearing his throat. His gaze flicks between Ami and Ikiko.

"I got a little distracted fightin' with... Tuxedo Kamen... instead..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami nodded slowly and set her sandwich aside primly. Then she leaned over to fetch her phone from her backpack, flicked something out quickly and then set that face down on the table before recovering her sandwich.

"I see. Well, be sure to ask her soon." It took her a little while to get to that. "If only we could blame combative diversions for your struggles in English class, but I'm really not sure what to make of that at all."

After all, Ami had some very specific concerns where Minako's love life lay and the directions it might spiral if given a little too much breathing room. Sapphire gaze drifted to Ikiko again.

"That's good to hear." She smiled. "If you need help with anything, I'd be more than happy to. A few extra points can go a long way."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko nods to Ami and glances at the phone curiously, but doesn't comment -- best not to interfere with a friend's scheme without invitation, after all.

Instead, the corners of her mouth quirk upward at the bluenette's comment about Roman's English grades. "I've heard that English is basically several languages in a trenchcoat," Ikiko remarks. "And given the trouble that raccoons in a trenchcoat can cause--"

    --especially when empowerd by Dark Energy and hungry for donuts--

"--I can see English being rather combative."

A sip of chocolate milk. "Probably not literally combative, though," she adds after a moment's thought.

Roman Talleday has posed:
"Just 'cause I can speak it, don't mean I can spell it, but." Roman defended himself to them a little lamely, jutting his chin to Ikiko.

"Plus, half speakin' Russian at home, but the King's around Chelmo, and at school and that. But then when you write everythin' down, you can't write like you speak, or people is like 'Oh, Rome, this is rememdial'."

He snorted, and glanced back to Ami, as if he were being hard done by.

"Ain't remedial when I'm sayin' it, but? I'm proper charmin'. I'm cute, too, I should be able to get away with diverse spellin' if I tell them it's regional dialect, like. I think that's worth extra credit for expert level English, me. Remedial. That's a laugh."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Well, the British Empire did control a substantial amount of the world for quite a number of years and they didn't manage that by asking nicely." Ami offfered to Ikiko.

It wasn't a point she wanted to belabour too hard. She'd already come to learn that Roman had--as she liked to call it--selective intelligence. He was displaying some of it right now, wiggling his way around the fact that he needed some form of hard work to succeed with clever language and boyish charm. In this specific case, however, Ami suspected that he'd be more than happy to bring Japanese shortcomings in the international geopolitics of the twentieth century into the discussion.

At the very least, that'd make her a little red.

She sighed at Roman and shook her head lightly.

"I don't make the curriculum, Rome-kun. I'm just here to do my best in making sure you pass it." Ami's smile was a little bit tight. "You wouldn't want that to reflect poorly on me, would you?"

She also wasn't above weaponising guilt just a little bit.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Formal is rarely fun, but it is what tends to be graded," agrees Ikiko. She's referring to Japanese, but the sentiment is honestly multilingual.

Well, mostly multilingual. So far she hasn't encountered any dogs that insist on Formal Canine, but given the life of a magical girl? She wouldn't be surprised if she ever encounters one.

She nods in agreement with Ami about the British Empire, then stifles a grin at the weaponized guilt. It's no puppy-dog eyes, but Ikiko definitely respects this use of emotional persuasion as one practitioner to another.

Roman Talleday has posed:
"Now, see, that's threatenin', like. If I make you look bad, I can't trust that you won't leave me on the moon." Roman sighs a little, "You're a dangerous woman. Never know what to expect with you. You might drench all my sneakers so my feet are always damp. You might put me into orbit until Sailor V comes t'rescue me. Maybe you'll eat all my lunch when I'm not lookin'. I live in terror."

He said all this with a dry, deadpan sort of moping, and shook his head. He appeals to Ikiko with an open hand. "Learnin' should be fun-- I learned Japanese with a packet of magic lollies. That was great. Do you think they can tell if you use magic for cheatin'? I could get my fairy to whisper me answers, like."

"Roman, that's dishonest! That's not the behaviour of a Legendary Hero, Stir-stir!"

"Well, neither is flunkin' out an' lookin' like a berk, Darjeela," Roman argued with his earring as it swung, "Oolong'd gut me like a fish, too. Nevermind what Red'd say."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"You mock me at your own peril, Rome-kun." Ami said ominously and then she took a bite of sandwich.

She chewed slowly, drawing the moment out nice and long with the kind of refusal to look at Roman that really looked to sell the unnamed threat. Fortunately for him, it was Ami. Eventually she swalloed the bite down.

"And of course they have things in place to detect magical dishonesty." The senshi sighed finally. "But, you've studied plenty. I'm sure you'll do fine."

She shook her head again.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Learning can be fun, when it's a topic you enjoy," Ikiko points out to Roman. "You just have to get through your educational veggies before you can focus on intellectual desserts."

An introspective pause. "I wonder what a savory topic of learning would be..." she muses silently for a moment.

She shakes her head to refocus on the topic. "Think of it this way: if you get a good score, that gives you an excuse to celebrate!" the younger girl suggests with a bright smile.

Roman Talleday has posed:
Roman sunk in his chair, deflating like the subject of a Salvidore Dali painting with a groan of protest, but they were right. Of course there would be measures against magical cheating. And there wasn't really any way around it.

With a grimace he conceded, letting his head rock to and fro. "Well, there is that... an 'I-survived-finals' celebration. That's not a half-bad idea." His brows rose as he started to consider that, rubbing at his cheek. "Yeah... a party, even."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"That's a very good idea, Ikiko-chan." Ami agreed like the calculated menace she was, and stored the idea of reward-based reinforcements for Roman away in her head for later.

"Where would you have your party?" Sapphires turned to Roman again. "I suppose that would depend on the type of party, but we could probably organise hiring out somewhere nice for an afternoon."

There were subtle times when Ami's mother's success and wealth actually bled in to things.

"Oh, you could probably do something with the arcade? There's games there, which most people seem to enjoy, and the cafe on the second floor for food."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko takes a drink of chocolate milk with a beaming smile, happy that her suggestion seemed to be an effective one. "Planning this will probably make for a comfortable mental relaxation break between study session," she notes with mostly innocent sweetness.

    (after all, in order to take that well-advised break between study sessions, one must have the study sessions to take a break from.)

"Figuring out who to invite should probably be the first step before finalizing a location," she adds, just to make sure that part of the logistics is properly considered before reserving a room.

Roman Talleday has posed:
"Curry," Roman said suddenly, looking down at his bowl with an epiphany, "I want proper curry. Not Japanese curry, like... I want a vindaloo what's a few scovilles out from puttin' me in the dirt, like. I want a rogan josh what's gonna hit me like a backhand from the devil."

He lifted blue eyes to Ami with some determination in them, "I wanna be pourin' lassi down my face as fast as I can, beggin' for mercy, regrettin' every tradin' route for spices the English ever sailed. I wanna see the face of god in a good phall."

He nodded, squinting. "Yeah. That's th'sorta party I want. a night out in a good Curry House."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"That's probably a good idea. Make sure we can find somewhere to accomodate--" Ami had been nodding along quite agreeably with Ikiko for a moment before Roman set off on his little sermon.

She paused and watched him as he passionately argued the case for excessively spicy curries.

"You make that sound like violence, Rome-kun." Ami squinted at him. "Are you sure this is a celebration that you're planning and not a punishment?"

There were worse places to spend an evening that Korma Chameleon, though. The blue haired senshi wasn't one to turn down good, fresh sandesh, either.

"Well, I suppose that would work, too." Ami smiled pleasantly. "Would you be sending out invitations or waivers?"

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko blinks a bit at the almost poetic description of excess culinary heat. "Do you want 'as hot as possible without sacrificing flavor', or do you truly desire 'heat for the sole purpose of heat'?" she inquires, recalling some comments Rashmi had made in the past regarding the latter. "Because I'm pretty sure the cooks enjoy making flavorful food."

Ami's question about the nature of the paperwork being sent out draws a giggle. "I can just picture it: 'wanna come to a post-finals party? Sinus hazards included!'," the younger girl laughs.

Roman Talleday has posed:
"I agree with Ami-chan," Darjeela's sweet little voice drifted from the tiny teacup earring again, "You make food sound so scary, sometimes, Stir-stir."

"It's gotta be a bit of both, yeah? Not playin' around, but not holdin' back on bein' delicious-- that's the whole point of curry, isn't it?" Roman agreed, nodding at Ikiko as he waved a dinner roll at her, "I gotta taste it in my nose, all th'way down the block. If it was just about takin' the heat, I'd go pepper-spray myself or somethin'. I'm not a bear."

He shook his head, and jut a thumb at his chest. "I'm cultured. If I was a bear, I'd be in a circus or somethin', on a little trike."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I do wonder sometimes. Eat enough food as spicy as you're suggesting and I'm sure it'll sterilise all of your cultures." Ami wrinkled her nose. "The heat isn't really the part I look forward to when I'm--well, ever, really."

If she was being entirely honest with herself, Ami didn't have an exceptionally adventurous palate at the best of times. Let alone when the food fought back. It's why she tended toward tikka masala or butter chicken, nice mild dishes that were full of flavour without the blowtorch.

"But, it's not such a bad idea at all. It's good to support your friends and their families."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"...y'know, now I'm hungry for some yogurt," Ikiko muses in response to Ami's pun. The comment about disliking heat draws a small nod; while Ikiko does enjoy a bit of heat, scorching one's sinuses is even less fun when they're stronger senses than the average person.

The sudden mental image of Cure Chai wearing a circus-bear kigu and riding a ridiculously undersized tricycle causes the younger girl to break out in a fit of giggles. Fortunately for Roman's dignity, she refrains from actually mentioning it.

Roman Talleday has posed:
Ikiko might have noticed that Roman wasn't a boy to take himself too seriously, at least. Her laughter is met with a slightly cheeky smirk from him, and it seems that her amusement is welcome.

Ami is right, after all. 'Selective intelligence' is perhaps apt.

"Alright there, Giggles, don't hurt yourself." Her laughter adds a hint of his own to his voice, though. He looks to Ami with a more serious tilt of his head. "D'you mind lookin' over an assignment I gotta turn into Social Studies, while you're here, but?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Oh, yogurt does sound like it'd be nice and refreshing." Ami agreed, it had been quite a warm few days and nice, cold dairy products were always welcome.

Especially now that her sandwich had inexplicably disappeared. But, her attention shifted back to Roman and for the first time she smiled with an honest cheerfulness that should have had no place in the promise of assignments to come.

"I thought you'd never ask." Ami grinned.