Scene #2544: Catching a Case of Wagashi

Owner	Pose
Nephrite	Returning to the past has been jarring, to say the least. Masato had stepped back, rather immediately, into the problems that existed for him prior to his sojourn with the others through time. All of it had gained a new perspective, a new rearranging of priorities, these aspects of the more ordinary side of his life that was waiting upon his return. His head still felt fogged with all business of Nephrite, however. It was strange to him how separate they could feel, on certain days, and how they were utterly the same on others. It all felt so unsatisfying, between the matter of Usagi and Chibiusa, and the effect all of this rightfully had on Mamoru. And the house at Setagaya was still being sold-- his childhood home was still being sold, along with memories he was running out of time to recover. He hadn't even been able to concentrate on his tennis, properly. He'd left early, still in his whites and racket in its cover, gym bag at his side. He almost didn't notice himself walking past Nounamu Sweets, where through the glass, he caught glimpse of a familiar face. Chiyo, helping the old man behind the counter with something.
Chiyo Sakai	most students were either out at clubs or with friends on a day like this. Not in a shop working as it appeared that Chiyo clearly was. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore an apron speckled with colorful candy dots over a simple white button up shirt with the sleeves cuffed and rolled up so as to keep them out of any dirt. Black slacks, and some comfortable shoes complete her rather simple work outfit. Ojiisan wore similar, however he did NOT deign to wear the candy-decorated apron. He was from an older time, and prefered his dark blue apron that was probably almost as old as Chiyo was (though taken great care of.) A bandana is worn tied back over his head like many shopkeepers were fond of doing. It looked as if he were scowling in displeasure over something, but he just slaps his hands down against an object behind the counter while Chiyo leans forward to withdraw the rack from the counter itself. Breaking it down to clean, apparently, since half the case was emptied out already. Turning to place the rack down with the others leaning it against the side of the wall allows her to catch sight of the hard-to-miss Masato walking ouside. A hand is quickly freed to lift and wave at him with a grin of greeting.
Nephrite	Chiyo's working? Ah-- Masato remembers, now, that she told him her grandfather owned a sweets shop in Pikarigoaka. This must be the one. He is still on his journey to developing a taste for sweets, having been largely denied them. Desserts and sweet things were still very new to him, in some ways, baring the most traditional kinds for special occasions. Still, it is a welcome distraction and a friendly face, and he finds himself diverting inside. The scents all mix together in his nose like a huff of powdered sugar as he lifts his chin to her. "Princess Mochi," he greets.
Chiyo Sakai	The shop itself was an older storefront that had been updated a bit for more modern conveniences. There were a few cafe tables inside for those that may like to sit and eat their treats, as well as a table against the wall with self-service tea decanters and cups. Green tea was free as it was most places, both hot and iced. A newer cooler next to it held bottled drinks for sale for those that may want soda, or tea, or just a drink to-go. Past that were the glass fronted cases that displayed the sweets themselves. It started out with the traditional Wagashi in floral shape. Some now in animal shapes as well. All were made from mochi and seasonal ingredients such as fresh fruit, whipped cream, sweet bean paste, nuts. Then there was candied fruit itself. Ontop of the cases were hard candies like konpeitto with all it's colorful options, lollipops, and even the 'Silver Crystal' lollipops that had become such a buzz a year or more prior. The scent of the shop was indeed sweet but in a fruity, floral way and not an overpowering one. The floral was likely due to the fresh flower decorations that each of the cafe tables held. Chiyo dusts her hands off on her apron again when Masato steps inside only to pause with a laugh at the greeting. "Masato-san, welcome! You look like you just came from club practice. Would you like something to drink?" Speaking of drinks... She glances over toward the old man to explain breifly, "This is my friend, Masato-san, he's the one that sent me the tea." Up until now Ojiisan was just regarding Masato as anyone would while he had otherwise turned his attention to molding some of the confections together with wooden tools and his hands. A skill he could do without looking at this point in his life. Hearing about the tea though, he narrows his eyes giving Masato a thorough up-and-down glare. "Hmph."
Nephrite	"I did... I left a little earlier, today, but I have a junior tidy up the equipment for me." Sapphire eyes tak a turn about the shop, before landing upon Chiyo again. "I would love a drink." The change in the elderly man's demeanor did not phase him, and perhaps in a small counter, Masato offered the man a charming smile and bowed his head politely. "You have a beautiful store, Ojiisan." Would it come across as smug to an older man? Perhaps. But Masato wasn't wholly insincere.
Chiyo Sakai	Ojiisan says nothing in response to Masato's greeting. He merely reaches out with hand toward a lump of mochi in a bowl to tear a peice off. It's slapped between his hands, one fist punching into the other to create a divot in it, before it's thrown down on the cutting board roughly. All while not looking away from the tall, dark haired young man who had sent his grand-daughter an excessively large gift. "Mm." Comes in response. No words, just a grunt, and he finally looks back to his work station. The radio next to him is currently giving the prospective outlook for an upcoming baseball game so he turns the volume up more. "Ojiisan says welcome," Chiyo supplies looking a bit sheepish at her grandfather's antics today. Some days he was better than others, after all. "If you'd like any snacks as well feel free to choose some from the case. Well, the working ones anyway," she adds with a glance to the partially dismantled one with a sigh. "We need to clear out some so that we can get this unit repaired to begin with. Right, Ojiisan?" Ojiisan just waves a hand in the air in a 'yeah yeah' gesture before remarking, "Usual discount. No more." This causes Chiyo to look relieved, and her smile returns once more. Quietly aside to Masato she remarks, "He's warming up to you." With that she hurries to the table with the drink decanters. "Would you like hot or cold tea? It's a citron green tea so it's fruity. You liked citrus if I remember? Feel free to take a seat too. I could use a break myself," she admits as she's already starting to pour out some drinks.
Nephrite	"Hot is fine," he says, though he's perusing the broken display and discounted sweets for a moment, just from where he is. Almost casually, he rolls a shoulder, turning towards the seat offered. "If the display is in need of repair... I'll take them all, I suppose." He thinks very little of it, it makes sense in his mind. More money towards the repair, no spoiled sweets-- and, various people he knows to share them amongst. Mamoru and the Shitennou will make short work of them, whether Masato touches any of it or not. It's an efficient solution. Already, her grandfather reminds him somewhat of his own father. Old fashioned. He shakes his head to her, noting more quietly as he sets his bag down, "I see he's the hard working type."
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai startles a bit at the request for all of them. She looks over her shoulder at him with wide pink eyes as her mouth hangs lightly agape. "ALL of it? I mean it is discounted but..." She looks toward the case, opens her mouth again to protest once more, but instead sighs quietly. If he was anything like Mamoru, or some of that lot, he was likely fairly stubborn. "I guess you do have a lot of people you can share with," she reasons so that she at least doesn't feel too bad about him taking it all. Plus he sent her a pallette of tea. CLEARLY he had more money than sense, and she was used to large orders from Mamoru already. With the cup of tea in hand, and one for herself in the other, she brings the drinks back to the table to set one out for him. "Thank you. Ojiisan's just been in a mood since he lost his apprentice." Her smile falters breifly at the thought. Ojiisan looks over and finally speaks, stating firmly, "He was no good for you any way. What boyfriend just leaves the country without saying goodbye? Hmph!" Annoyed he may be, but he does mutter about finding boxes for the order before disapearing into the back.
Nephrite	Masato seems to be at least a little aware of her reaction, enough to arch a brow. Was it so unusual? Maybe it was too forward to say so casually. Like her, he knew Mamoru made large orders-- The rest though, comes as an interesting detail. The apprentice, the sheepishness, the look that her Grandfather gave him. And then it all gains painful clarity, as her situation becomes embarrassingly clear. Masato now understands, perfectly. It must be mortifying for Chiyo to have it stated so brazenly. "Do you want me to pretend I did not hear that, or would you like to talk about it?"
Chiyo Sakai	"Not too unusual," Chiyo begins to assure Masato with a hint of amusement tinging her response. It really wasn't with as many rich friends as she'd had lately. If it wasn't Mamoru buying large amounts of sweets, it was Sugata, or Setsuna. "I just don't want you to feel pressured to do that--" Then the reest comes out. Ojiisan was usually quiet, but he had been incensed over this. It was the best explanation she could give him without explaining what really happened but he was not above dragging Philip's name through the mud now. Chiyo turns a particular shade of red that was impossible to hide without completely burying her face in her hands. She TRIES though as both do rise to just cover her face with a small groan. Already she's trying to think of how to explain this when Masato gives her both options. Her hands lower to peek at him from between her fingers. "I... I'm not sure, honestly. It's just..." Words. Words weren't helping her here as she sighs. "It's way more complicated than what he knows." A pause. Then she explains in the quickest, easiest way she can. "Obsidian."
Nephrite	With a short nod, and Masato glances past her the way the old man disappeared out back. He leans a little closer, with his elbow resting on the table. Sapphire eyes regard her with something very forgiving, or perhaps simply understanding. "My father thinks I became a delinquent and ran off to join a crime family, which I had to let him believe, before crawling back. He thinks I'm an embarrassment and a burden. I can't exactly argue with him." He says this without weight, simply the fact of the matter. "It's hard when you can't just tell them the truth. Especially with things that are still... sensitive."
Chiyo Sakai	Chiyo Sakai lowers her hands completely when he leans in to admit such details of his life to her. Quietly she listens taking it all in with a small nod. The urge to point out that 'joining a crime family' wasn't too off the mark is resisted. That would just be rude. Instead she smiles sadly. "It can be, yes. I'm sorry you're going through a hard time with your father. I don't know what I'd do if Ojiisan thought that about me." Her head dips down breifly glancing at her own tea which she wraps her hands around instead. "There's nothing I can do about it now. I tried." "... How are you doing though? All of you? I know you just went through a lot, but I haven't had the chance to touch base yet. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Nephrite	"I don't know. It wasn't the result people hoped for... but I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you, Chiyo-san," Masato's voice is considerate enough, and he glances at her hands around the tea, "It's not easy to have your heart broken. But I know a lot about tragedies of love, so if you do want to talk about it, I'll listen." He takes a sip of his own drink, and lets it warm him. The look he gives her is a little grave. It's really the best way to sum things up, he thinks. "It was very hard. Seeing all of that, going through it... I don't think words politely exist for how bad it was." A sigh, then. "Usagi-san and the Princess were taken. Changed... New Moon and Wicked Lady."
Chiyo Sakai	Broken hearts. Somehow, oddly, that earns a faintly bemused smile from the plum haired girl seated across from him. "You've no idea how much experience I have with it myself. You know, my first crush was Kazuo-san? I confessed ... I in front of Mamoru." The smile deepens a bit as that was ages ago and she could now find the humor in it. "I found out Usagi-chan was my cousin after that, so I think I dodged some very awkward moments there." BOY DID SHE. "Thank you, though. Seriously. I think I just need to focus on other matters for awhile." Much like the infamous Chinese curse of 'living in interesting times' she apparently jinxed herself there given the news of her cousin and Chibiusa. Her expression darkens deeply. "That's not good. I can't purify anymore either, it's not part of my new powers." Which meant she'd be of little help in saving them in that way. "... Please, keep me updated on that. I'll help any way I can of course. How is Mamoru doing?"