::Harajuku - Takenoko Street::

[Arena Emperor]

~::Harajuku::~
[Fashionable Takenoko Street]

One of the most famous fashion districts in the city of Tokyo, anything that is on the cutting edge of style can usually be found here before anywhere else. Trendsetters, stylists, and trend-followers alike all spend their time here in order to keep their pulse on what's in and out, but for those who are simply visiting, the shops always carry a variety of interesting and trendy things which make it a great place to find a gift for someone that you care about, or to walk together with them while they look for that new something that they can wear to for the second date...and bringing someone interested in such things here is an almost guaranteed way to earn one, too.

In addition to Takenoko Street's fashionable shops and stalls, however, there is a little-known shop tucked away in a back alley away from most eyes that is open only to a select few. This is an important location to at least one group of teenagers...but for anyone else who stumbles upon it, who knows what wonders they may find?

[Locations include: Fujino Arai's Triple Trouble, Takenoko Street Fashion District, (Chef Kaito) Kinokuni's Family Ristorante]

 

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

The day was changing to twilight and many of the shops in the famous Takenoko Street Fashion District were beginning to close their doors, but the streets were still full of people walking up and down the long stretch that many came from around the country to visit to keep up with all of the trends in fashion, cosplay, and design. People were chatting, laughing, walking together with friends, but amidst this crowd there was one man walking completely on his own, with long, soft-looking orange hair and pale skin, a white faux-fur scarf raised up on one side of his shoulders in a style not often seen in Japan. Even among the stylish, the man seemed to stand out just a little...beautiful as he was and unique as his clothing seemed to be...but he did not often stop to look at any of the shops even as the owners who were still out made appeals for his attention. He paused for a moment to check his phone and glanced down the fashion mecca towards what looked like a small turn off of the main drag, before continuing on, slowly veering towards that particular alley as he went.

A few whispers caught his ears as he passed, but he paid them little mind. Things about where he got his top, who did his hair, which shop had certain items...he could tell when they were talking about him, but that never really bothered him in particular. People had always talked. Whether it was about his divergence from his family's line of work or of his grades in class or the way that he looked, people were always talking. That didn't mean he had to listen. Though listening, when doing so for something you wished to learn, was as valuable as anything. So he said little, and listened carefully to the voices, until a mutter about some strange shop they swore they had seen in the alley told him that he was in the right place. This was his first time personally coming out here, but he had been told that it was quite the useful location for what they...he and the small team that had been put together by Mado that two months past...were now resolved to do. They hadn't had a job since then, but that didn't mean that they were idle, either. Eventually, he could feel it, they would be called upon again...Illa Phasmas, that was to say. And when it came, the Principal of Kosei High and adviser to this team of misfits looking to change the world, wanted to be ready.

"I believe it was down this alley..." he remembered the last time that he had been here vaguely, as he had found the shop almost by accident, nearly a year ago...long before its contents meant too much to him. By his best estimation, the place was just ahead, "Though I still wonder, with a shop that carries the sorts of things that she does...what is it doing in a place like this?"

 

[Rednal]

Fujino Arai, the Mysterious Shopkeeper

Harajuku was a shining, fashionable district of Tokyo - almost too much so, in fact, as if the glamour and glitter were nothing more than an attempt to hide the true feelings beneath them. But then, that could be said of much of Japan, where the shame of society prevented people from revealing their true desires in public. Nevertheless, it was quite true that on the back streets of the district, there was a shop down a few steps from street level. Large windows were set into the wall, but they were covered by thick curtains that didn't reveal the insides. Arguably the only thing to declare that it was a shop at all was the sign above the door, reading 'Triple Trouble'.

The inside of the shop was a completely different matter, of course. It was well-lit from above by modern LED bulbs, and racks were filled with fashionable clothes for ladies (and Fausts men of... certain tastes) in various sizes. Most trended towards being one-piece dresses, although some other styles could be found within the racks. More unusually, a large part of one side was filled with thick display counters featuring plenty of jewelry... but for those in the know, something rather more useful than gems was hidden beneath.

The store was basically empty except for the owner, of course, who could usually be found checking the racks or reading the latest magazines on the massive chair she had set up behind the counter. Indeed, unless people came in together, they almost never saw anybody else in the shop... yet somehow, she managed to stay in business. There were many questions about how the Triple Trouble actually functioned, but few of them were ever answered... and really, did they need to be? It was a helpful store, discreet in its transactions and willing to provide certain things that certain... people... might need. And for Kaede, well... the door was unlocked and the store was open.  

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

It took him a few extra minutes to navigate the back streets of Harajuku, but soon enough the hustle and bustle of Takenoko Street's night life began to fade into the background and a sign overlooking a shop with dark curtains and wide windows came into view. Once you had laid eyes upon the Triple Trouble, it was almost impossible to forget the unique design. It almost screamed that there was something deeper going on behind those curtains than what you saw on the surface, in the mind of the perceptive principal, if you didn't suspect something more interesting than clothes was going on within then you weren't really paying attention at all. But he had a feeling that anybody seeking to know the secrets of Fujino Arai's shop would quickly find their investigations befuddled, their expectations betrayed in the most mundane ways, and their hopes dashed upon the rocks of a sea of bitter salt. Mysterious women like that didn't just hand out their secrets like candy, after all, and it felt like the sort of shop that you only even really discovered if you were the type on the 'other' side of the curtain already. For his own part, he could attest to the matter personally...having come to Takenoko Street for years and yet only finding his way into the doors of the tucked-away shop after his first meeting with the team that would become Illa Phasmas. And he was far too skeptical a mind to write something like that off to mere fate.

Those weren't the sorts of things that Kaede spent a lot of time dwelling upon, though. He made his way to the unlocked door and slipped inside with his usual grace, eyes scanning through racks and clothes to find the curious woman in charge as he stepped up to the counter feeling oddly comfortable in spite of the peculiarity of the shop. These sorts of out-of-the-way places that few people knew about had a certain...appeal that sat well with the former researcher. As a man who lived his life in a measure of hiding, the freedom that isolation provided was something that he couldn't help but appreciate. He wondered, idly, if it was a reason such as that which brought her out here into the backstreets as well?

"Arai-san?" his gentle voice called out for the owner, his simple, cursory scan of the shop not revealing her location immediately. Maybe she was simply kneeling or fetching something from the back, but the young man was here for a purpose, which meant that waiting for her to turn up was a touch less convenient than he was currently willing to bargain for. "It's Kaede Kuzuyama. Are you in?"

It was fairly obvious that the shop was open, but the polite thing to do was greet the woman...and the decent thing to do was ask, to be safe. One never knew if she was about to close up shop, or worse, since he didn't see her, that something untoward was happening just under the nose of the Harajuku Police. Regardless, he awaited her response by the desk with a reasonable level of patience.

 

[Rednal]

Fujino Arai, the Mysterious Shopkeeper

"Coming~" the musical voice that rang out from the back of the shop - and who knew what sorts of things were kept back there? - responded, and a few moments later, the Triple Trouble's owner emerged from the curtain leading to the back. She was dressed in her favorite clothes, a dark-red and white dress with a faint rose motif, but it wasn't uncommon for her to be seen in something else from her stock.

"So, what brings you in today? Have you finally decided to put your good looks to use and try something on, or are you looking for something a bit more... special?" she inquired with a smile. It was hard to tell if she was joking about the clothes, but... honestly, she probably wasn't. She had a pair of dressing rooms and a few large mirrors set up for a reason, and if her normal behavior was anything to go by, any beautiful or at least decently androgynous person could probably expect at least a small effort on her part to get them dressed up,

Still, there were basically two reasons people came into her shop. Some came for the clothes, and the rest were a little more interested in her supply of ammunition and weaponry that had to be breaking more laws than any respectable member of society wanted to think about. (Admittedly, only certain kinds of people could use her stock to its full potential, but still.)  

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

There was no impatience or visible shift in the demeanor of the principal when the shop owner's voice pierced the curtain, and when she followed soon after there was a polite acknowledgement with a nod that he offered to the woman, her quirks something that might have had a small effect on him the first time he was in, but then, alone. Her cheery smile was pleasant enough that he had no complaints about having to come back here again, and her style was something that he admired, even if it wasn't fit to his own tastes. And though he supposed he could have been offended by the idea that just because he looked the way that he did, he would want to try on some of her large array of women's clothing...but he wasn't. Those were things that he got asked probably a bit more than the average person, and he was mostly immune to any negative connotations and feelings that might have come about as a result. Instead, he watched her as she approached and questioned him with an unreadable, polite expression. Though if she watched his eyes closely she would have answered her own question; not once since he entered did they linger on the clothing for more than a split second at a time. Instead, they were searching for her, and then after, the curtain and the main desk where she likely kept the bulk of her 'secret' stock. Those, of course, were the reason that he had come here. Though perhaps the company could become a bit of a draw over time, as well.

"I'd like a look at the special menu, if you don't mind," the ex-researcher answered as if he had done it a hundred times before, comfortable with both the shady nature of the request and the easiness of the conversation to a level that might make a woman raise an eyebrow at him if they weren't involved in the 'world beneath the surface', so to speak, as well, "A man once told me that he who uses the spoils and knowledge of the last battle to prepare for the next prepares for victory. ...I can't speak to how much my students might have learned, exactly...but I've collected enough of the spoils to upgrade their arsenal for the next battle, just in case."

 

[Rednal]

Fujino Arai, the Mysterious Shopkeeper

With an amused look on her face, Fujino tapped a quick code into a set of buttons beneath the counter - and one of the areas holding jewelry abruptly flipped around, hiding the accessories and revealing enough small arms and ammunition to support a variety of... activities. It wasn't the full stock, of course. She had to trust people before she'd show them all of her wares, and while Kaede was getting there - she'd never have shown anything otherwise - he wasn't quite in deep enough to see everything her store had to offer.

"In that case..." she said, her tone a bit more businesslike as she leaned over the counter and rested her head on her hands. "I suppose a few things might be able to find their way into your pockets. What kind of tools are you looking for? I recommend these, myself." she held up a bullet with a vivid red tip. "From the day Prometheus gave the fire of the gods to man, we've used it to power our civilizations... really, it wouldn't be wrong to say that everything man has accomplished is thanks to our mastery of flame. It has use besides just shooting things, too. Ignite the way behind you to block pursuers, bust through hedges... the shock bullets are amusing as tasers, but I've always thought it's best to have as many options as possible."  

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

There was something to be said about enjoying your work, and it was plain from the look on the woman's face and the way that she lovingly soliloquized about the bullets she had in stock that she was enjoying her work at the Triple Trouble. He appreciated somebody who was passionate and knowledgeable about what they did in life, and when that passed on knowledge and understanding to their customers so that they could make informed choices about the products they bought, that was a serious plus in the column of the shopkeeper. That said, it wasn't ammo for himself that the support adviser for the new Phantom Thieves had necessarily come for today. Last time their basic ranged had been fairly generic, and while he didn't know what the others might have discovered during their forays into the Palace, he wanted to make sure that they were a little better equipped this time. Looking over the guns, he tried to remember the styles that the other members of Illa Phasmas had chosen as their own, and began to examine what was out on display. And of course, there was his 'last resort' store of items yet to gather once again. He hadn't expected to use that flashbang so soon before, but being prepared, it had provided the students a window to escape the Mansion just in time for Mado's gun to tear their pursuers to shreds. It paid to be prepared for anything, after all.

"I'll let the others choose the ammunition themselves; I've already recommended your shop to them. It wouldn't be too much of an issue if I left your their names so that you recognize them for the 'special menu' when they come in on their own?" he asked casually, still pouring with mild interest over the weaponry before settling on a weapon that seemed to make more sense to him than others. Settling a finger on the shelf just before it, then nodding towards the array of stun grenades that he had chosen from last time, he made his selections quick and clear. "I would like five of those, and this piece, here. I don't imagine you carry a wide variety of melee options either, do you?"

It was a conversation that would have left a casual observer aghast, particularly with the level of comfort and ease with which they went about it. But both knew that whatever he was doing, these were items that were required, and if he had ill intent in obtaining them, then she likely would have never let him in the door to begin with. At least, he hoped that their understanding reflected as such...and he had the confidence to act with that belief in mind. Despite all that had happened, 'Zen' retained much of what had once made him such a prized prospect at the conclusion of his college days. If he couldn't do at least this much for those kids, he could hardly say that he was carrying his own weight, could he?

 

[Rednal]

Fujino Arai, the Mysterious Shopkeeper

"Wide might be a bit generous... a lady shouldn't have to get close to someone to defend herself. I do have a collection of basic tools for self-defense, though." Fujino said, tapping in another code. Another part of the display cases flipped, showing an assortment of knives, brass knuckles, and other small bits of gear. Noticeably absent were larger, more powerful weapons. Of course, the true strength of a weapon was determined by its user, and in the right hands, these items would be more than sufficient.

...Possibly not as useful as the stun grenades, though. Anything that left enemies badly open to followups tended to be useful, and she carefully packed the items in question into an innocuous shopping bag. She took no particular responsibility for what happened when people left her shop, but she did make sure the things they bought wouldn't stick out in a way that would draw attention. Given the district they were in, a simple shopping bag was all that was really needed - most people never looked twice at them, and she did have cases that ensured they wouldn't move around or go off by accident.  

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

One could probably think about the many mysteries of a place like this one for hours if you really tried, but doing so wouldn't get you any closer to the truth behind the matter, let alone the truth behind the hospitable smile of the shopkeeper herself. Something about her was perceptive and distant, and it wasn't lost upon Kaede that she seemed to be as much playing with him when he bantered with her over her materials as she was making a deal. Though he was hardly phased and danced the fine line easily enough, it only made him a little more curious as to what the true nature of this place might have actually been. What kind of woman was in possession of a shop that sold weapons, ammunition, guns, and used a strange fashion shop as the front? It was easy enough to say that it was simply some kind of a mafia thing, but the truth, no doubt, was likely a lot more complicated. It was safer not to ask those sorts of questions, of course, and there was a reason why he never bothered to ask. Still, the fact that she accepted the idea of he and his team as easily as she had was something not to be forgotten in their future interactions. To learn the truth of that might well be to learn the truth behind that mischievous smile as well.

That, however, would have to wait. He would have plenty of time to be curious when their work was over.

"I'll pass that along as well, then," the principal added after a cursory scan of the options, "I would choose for them, but my team are a...colorful bunch. One cannot underestimate the importance of aesthetics, don't you think?" He decided to leave the explanation at that, having already afforded to her as much information as the moderate trust between them allowed. The money for what he had chosen already was out between his fingers in a flash, on the counter smoothly...the expression on his face a small, unreadable smile as they made the exchange.

 

[Rednal]

Fujino Arai, the Mysterious Shopkeeper

"Aesthetics are always important." Fujino answered, gesturing to the rest of her store. "They say humanity first began to wear clothes when we became aware of the nature of good and evil - that is, truly became able to make choices for ourselves. Whatever we wear, whatever we do, aesthetics are created. Our identities are in the minds of others, and it never hurts to give the impression we want to give." With a smile, she took the money and slid it into the register without bothering to count it, then slid over Kaede's purchases after tying the top of the straps together with a simple ribbon.

"Although I must say, I'm rather looking forward to meeting your... friends. Do encourage them to stop by soon, yes? There's no sense in waiting until after you need a tool to get it."  

[Arena Emperor]

Kaede Kuzuyama, aka "Zen"
"...Only when you've lost everything are you free to do anything..."

There it was again...that detached, all-knowing air that Fujino Arai tended to speak with whens he began to ruminate on the subject of something a little more strange than mundane; Kaede had only been to this shop a couple times and already he had picked up that habit of hers. It was as if she knew so many things about the world, found interest in so many subjects relating to the supernatural, that someone who hadn't lived their lives in the know about such things could never possibly understand. It reminded him how new he was to the world of the supernatural, even if you predated his involvement before his first trip into the Metaverse with the team back to the beginning of his work on the Cognitive Research Project. How much of the world was hidden from the eyes of the average person, he had to wonder? Was Fujino quite as in-the-know as she seemed to be just from talking with and observing her here in her shop? And if so, did that have something to do with the supplier and the variety of unusual ammunition that she had access to? His mind was a whir, almost at all times, with thoughts and questions and observations about the very fabric of the city and the people and the world around him, he was a scientist regardless of his current position, and even he felt completely out of his depth when he set foot inside of the Metaverse. If he asked her about it...would this shopkeeper know something that he didn't?

...No, no of course she wouldn't. What would a woman in a place like this have to gain from knowing about the Metaverse, anyway? And who would tell her? He stored the thought away in the back of his mind at that and glanced at her clothes, his own shoulder where the white faux-fur rested stylishly, and he couldn't help but curl his lips faintly in response to her observation about aesthetics.

"Yes, I suppose you are right," he nodded easily, "I don't imagine anybody ever has to tell you about the importance of aesthetics and identity, after all." Judging by the clothes in her store, what she wore, she was well aware of how she presented herself to the people around her. All of this might not have been an act, but it was still a useful tool for shaping the way that people perceived you. It wasn't all that different from manipulating a person's cognition regarding you...show them a you, an idea of you, that you want them to believe...and unless their own mind already has a fairly distorted vision of you, it will likely be the core of how they see you from then on. "Oh, I've already told them about the shop," he added, scooping up the box for the larger firearm and the smaller one with the flashbangs in the other, grateful that the larger one had holds to make the heavy load a little easier to manage, "They may not look like it, but they're a surprisingly capable bunch. When you see them come in, I hope you will take good care of them."

 

[Hibarii chan]

Fujie Ikebana, 'Flower Girl'

"Well, Nishino kun...that would be payback for catching me off guard back then with the flower." Fujie answered, scratching her cheek sheepishly, chuckling. She was glad they had been able to chat like this, and now that they were ready to go, the girl could only arch her eyebrows in slight questioning. His gaze was stern...but at the same time, it wasn't. It was more amused than anything, even if the air or seriousness was still there.

"Ah? A helmet?" Fujie smirked, sticking out her tongue and pumping her fist in victory at his question. "Good thing I always keep this one, in case of an emergency. It is always best to be prepared, don't you think Nishino kun?" the Flower girl answered as she produced a flowery helmet from the bag she kept on the back. "The Flowerhelm (TM)! Taa-daah!" She handed it to him with a big smile, before nodding towards the back of her Flowerbike (TM). "Alright! Hop on, Nishino kun! We will be there in no time."

...

And sure enough, they arrived at the cozy ristorante in no time, the girl pulling her googles off, her eyes wide at the sight in front of her. "Wow! I had heard about this place, but I can't say I have ever been here. Are the crepes as good as they say?" She parked and jumped down from her bike, putting away the helmets, beaming at his companion. Fujie brushed away a stray lock of pink hair that had slipped from her twin braids, patting her wild hair down after the windy ride. "Alright let's go inside!"

She had been able to get seats on a booth, and the girl was excited for being in a place like this, and with Nishino kun, no less! It almost felt like a... ahaha wait, Jie! Don't get ahead of yourself!

"Do you recommend anything, Nishino kun? Do you visit here often? What do you usually have?" Her gaze shifted to the menu as she asked these questions though, scanning the variety of things they had. Wow! This place had almost everything! Something grabbed her attention just then...the colorful and bold letters making it impossible to miss. "Woah! A challenge! Alright! I think I can take it on! I will have a 'Crater-in-your-Stomach Meteor-Crepe!' It almost sounds scary."

 

[Arena Emperor]

Lavi Nishino, Kosei's Student Vice-Prez
"...Don't judge me for who I am not...judge me for the person that I am..."

There was nothing about riding on the back of the girl's bike, despite the flowers or the connotations that some people might read into it, that really gave the Freshman any pause. He wasn't afraid of riding on a motorbike, and he wasn't concerned with the looks people might give him at that. He wasn't going to ride without a helmet, either, but that was as much about the law as it was any real concern that she would wreck and endanger his safety (and to be fair, statistically if you had a serious wreck on a motorcycle you weren't going to live whether you had a helmet or not). The Flowerhelm (TM), however, was the first thing that actually managed to make him pause. It was only for a moment, and only a half-visible, brief pause and flicker of his eyes as he took in the flowery protection...but it was there. Actually wearing it on his head, all those colors clashing with his fairly standard black and white Kosei Uniform, would make him look just a touch ridiculous...but then, he would look like a hoodlum if he went riding around on a bike without a helmet. This was the safe, and practical option. He nodded and donned the "famed" helm with a grateful nod and mounted the bike behind her, appreciative for the ride to Harajuku since it was a bit of a hike on foot and it was already getting dark out. This was convenient, and the company was pleasant.

"I'm glad that you came along when you did, Ikebana-chan. It might have been late night before I made it home if you hadn't," Lavi thanked her as they dismounted the bike at their destination, the hum of the engine and the whooshing of the wind too loud to really talk much on the way, "Oh yes, Chef Kaito's crepes are no joke. Sometimes I think his verbose motto of 'If you find a better crepe in Japan, I'll burn my shop to the ground.' is more than just a boastful slogan. At least, he does give off the air that if you didn't enjoy them he might actually consider doing just that." His expression was thoughtful but his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement that let her know that he didn't really expect the chef to off his shop if she wasn't blown away by them. It was true that the man put off an overly-serious aura about his food, sure, but this shop was his life as much as anything shy of his family. The day it went under or closed down, Lavi reckoned, was one he did not want to see that man upon.

The two of them entered the shop still conversing a little, comfortably, and the massive menu that hung over the front of the shop had more types of food than a normal person could likely imagine. The two of them found a booth quickly, settling into opposite sides easily enough and before they knew it, a man in his late 30s with a little scruff on his chin and jaw and short, cropped black hair and a chef's jacket made his way over to them with a pad and paper in-hand, looking down at the two of them fairly expectantly. Though his expression wasn't unfriendly at all, either. He looked at the Vice-President of Kosei's Student Council with a familiar look in his eye and an admittedly low amount of patience, likely ground down by a long day of serving customers...a testament to how popular the shop was becoming in this part of the city.

"You here on a date, Nishino? Didn't peg you for the type," the man spoke in a somewhat gravelly voice, but the familiarity was enough to ease any discomfort it might awaken. Glancing at the pink-haired girl, he picked up his pen and prepared to write. "Thinking about tackling the Challenge, huh? That crepe is my Mona Lisa, you know. It's a dessert so decadent and so filling you'll wanna melt into your bed for days. Think you can handle it?" He almost seemed amused by the prospect, but he certainly wasn't planning to dissuade her. It was fun watching people try the challenge, and any time somebody actually finished it (which was rare) there was a veeery small ceremony that Lavi had seen only once before. For his part, Lavi didn't even look at the menu, already knowing what he wanted before he came in. Instead, he leveled a somewhat impassive look at the chef-waiter and shook his head.

"I refuse to acknowledge your question," he answered simply, betraying not a hint of discomfort or embarrassment at the man's attempt to tease him before offering a little smile at his companion, "Ikebana-chan, this is Chef Kaito, owner of this restaurant..."

"It's Ristorante, ya cheeky brat," he bit quickly in retort, though the familiarity between them stole away the potential sting of it, "And Ikebana-chan, huh? Seen you around the neighborhood on that bike before, Flower Girl. Welcome."

"Ikebana-chan attends Kosei with me, and she was kind enough to offer me a ride home on her Flowerbike" Lavi continued, unperturbed by the interruption. Before he could get too deep into introductions, though, they were already beginning to order. Listening to his companion consider the majestic crepe challenge had made his eyebrow raise slightly, not in disgust or anything, but mostly in a concerned curiosity. "Can you...eat that much, Ikebana-chan?" he asked after a beat, and she could likely tell just in the way he asked that he was merely concerned for her, "I'm hardly one to judge. I just don't want you to be sick afterward." Still, it was a damn tempting crepe and he would not hold it against her even a little if she gave it a shot! For his own part, he waited for the chef to stop writing down her possible order before turning to him and starting to write before he even spoke.

"I'll have a por-"

"Pork cutlet, I know. You've tried almost everything in here and that's the only thing you've ever ordered twice," the chef rolled his eyes in exaggerated annoyance, and Lavi merely leaned back and smiled in satisfaction, "I could be offended by that...but you pay for my food and you don't complain too much, so I guess you're still welcome here for now. ...Anything to drink? ...For the lady, I mean. You get water, brat."

Lavi nodded with a small smile. That's what he was planning to order, anyway.

 

[Hibarii chan]

Fujie Ikebana, 'Flower Girl'

Fujie rubbed the back of her neck bashfully, waving her hands in front of her. "It is only fair I get to help a little, Nishino-kun. It makes me happy I was able to help you." And really, she was. Helping Nishino-kun and getting to know him...spending time with him, that was enough for her.

The pinkette smiled brightly at that thought, content with herself, before looking up, noticing the figure that had approached them, and was now waiting for their order. Woah! This guy looked scary! Was this the famous Chef Kaito? Would he really burn the whole place down? There were really good crepes in Harajuku, but...if this place was still up, that meant that the ones here were...really the best! Yeah!

The girl smiled at him and waved lightly, before letting out a sheepish laugh, waving a hand to dismiss his comment. A date?!?! She wished. "Oh! No, no! This is not a date! -unless you want it to be! ahaha just kidding!- I just came across Nishino kun on my way home and--Yeah! What he said. We just...I just wanted to try your super special awesome crepe challenge! I can handle it! I will win, you just see!" She laughed sheepishly, but kept her ground. She really wanted to try that crepe! It looked so good!

"Thanks for having me, Chef!" she bowed in greeting. Then, she turned to her companion and grinned. "O-oh! Crackers! I am supposed to pretend I am a small eater, don't I?" Did she say that outloud? Fudge brownies. "I-I mean! I haven't eaten today, and I just...I am competitive! And when I see such a delicious challenge...I must attack it! Ahaha...r-right? I promise I don't eat this much all the time, Nishino-kun. So I should be fine! I am stronk!"

"A-and! I'll get water as well, please and thank you, chef."