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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Oct 23, 2018 11:12:35 GMT -4
Class wasn't going as great as Saionji would hope. Not only did he not understand anything whatsoever, he also had a lot of trouble focusing. The boy was never able to jot down information in his memory quickly. Especially information which he believed to be useless. It seemed that his classroom was full often however, and that the people in his class were all different and unique. It was a cool sight - seeing others who wanted to become heroes as well, all for their own reasons and with their own goals. Various people caught his attention, but most importantly, there was this one pinkette who stood out from the rest. Not in a weird way or anything of the sort, of course - she was, to put it bluntly, quite pretty. It was always better to rest your eyes on something nice rather than the blackboard - at least, that was the Nikinawa philosophy. He sent out quick glances there and there, but nothing too intrusive because, well, he didn't want to seem like a creep. Man, this was boring..
"It's time, Saionji," said the man who's figure was mostly unrecognizable. It's as if looking at white noise given human shape - who was it and why? "Face your fears, fool. When the time comes, I'll be waiting for you.." Another sentence from the unrecognizable voice, one that didn't match any face he could think of - and yet, it clearly knew him, and most importantly, they sounded threatening. "Who are you, god dammit?!" The fiery teen questioned, but there was no response. The figure turned on it's heel, and then walked away. The walls turned pink so suddenly after, and a giant bear made out of gummy dropped down onto the path, blocking the way. Gummy worms started crawling over the boy, and then..
Slap! A book was used to hit the back of the Nikinawa's head, stopping him short from dying in his dream to murderous gummy animals. He'll have to thank for getting saved later. The teach was mad it seemed - and the classroom was empty! Not only did he not wake up when the lecture ended, but no one woke him up?! How's that gonna look as a first day in school? With a drowsy look and feel, he got up slowly, getting his things into a small bag. It was then that his citrine eyes glanced over at the pink-haired girl's desk, noticing that she has left behind.. a camera. He didn't know her, but she was in his class, right? That was good enough for him to pick the thing up, and then take his sluggish leave in search of the owner. Once he left the classroom, he waited a bit to see if she'd come back - after all, cameras are expensive, so you wouldn't want to lose them!
"Man, this is going to be more of a pain in the ass than a good deed.." He tells to himself.
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WC 492
Emi Ryoko Tachibana
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414 Posts
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17 Years
Female
"Halo"
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Oct 24, 2018 10:22:47 GMT -4
Anime had made public school look cool, but Emi had quickly realised that she had been fooled. On paper, the idea of being able to experience life with a dozen or so like-minded students sounded like perfect. She could grow from them, learn about their lives and make so many more friends than homeschooling would allow. In practice, being in a classroom, meant having to fight for the teacher’s attention with every other member of the class. Sure, some were less keen to answer questions than others, but the ones that were took time away from her. The only time she could do without the spotlight on her was when she had to ask the teacher to clarify. Being taught one-on-one for most of her life meant most of her lessons were tailored to make understanding as easy as possible. Her confusion in the new class was less a matter of her intelligence, and more about her learning to adapt to new styles.
To that end, she’d taken what could be considered an excessive amount of notes in class. Anything to avoid having to make herself look stupid in front of her classmates again. Once class ended, she stowed the papers away inside her bag, put on it and her tripod bag, and hurried off to lunch. Unfortunately for her, she’d quickly learned that leaving campus to get wagyu beef across town was not an option, but the canteen had surprisingly decent food to keep her going until the final bell.
She’d just touched her hand against the door to the cafeteria when her heart skipped a beat. Her bag was a lot lighter than it should have been. She didn’t even have to check to know what was missing. Instead, her feet turned of their own accord and sent her running back towards the class. The worry was plastered on her face. Daddy could always buy her a new camera after he’d scolded her a little, but there were days’ worth of footage waiting to be imported on it! She skidded around the corner to her class’ hallway. Most of the students in the hall were meandering, but one ruffian had chosen to stay close to the door, holding a camera. Her camera. Anger took hold of her, and visibly so, but only for a second. Long enough for her to realise that if a boy meant to make off with her gear, he probably wouldn’t have been waiting in the first place she’d go looking for it. No, he was no thief, she concluded, and her expression melted into relief. “Hey! Topaz-eyes!” Her run slowed to a jog, then to a gentle stop a few feet from him.
“Thank God, I thought I’d lost everything…” Her breaths were slightly heavier than normal – no doubt, a result of running like her life depended on it. At least she still looked as fabulous as ever. He, on the other hand, looked like he’d had a rough time in combat training, but with his uniform lazily thrown on like that… He looked more like a delinquent than an unlucky student. Whatever. She’d have plenty of time to judge him for his looks later. Until then, she kept to showing a grateful grin to him. “Thanks for grabbing that for me. It’s really not like me to leave my equipment lying around, but I guess there’s a first time for everything, right?” An expectant paid of hands were held out, waiting for what was hers. “Wait… You look kind of familiar, actually. You’re not in one of my classes, are you?”
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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Oct 24, 2018 13:00:34 GMT -4
The camera was being inspected in the meantime. Not that he was looking at what was on it - just taking a glance on what it was in the first place. He mainly wondered why someone brought this into a school, and what were they recording? Maybe he was going to meet a Villain spy?! He didn't think of that before. With his gaze now focused and keen on looking for someone that's going to come back to the crime scene, he set sights on.. the pinkette from before. Oh right, this must have been hers - he's thought this before, right? She seemed angry for some reason, though-- maybe she really was a villain?! In this little instance of her running, various thoughts raced through the boy's head, untill the shining star of a girl stopped a few feet away from him.
"Huh?" That was his first reaction. His voice was loud, even if he didn't want it to be - he had little grace in how he spoke. His jacket was open, the top buttons of his shirt off, and the tie that everyone else wore was gone. He did look kind of threatening, even if not meant be. But man, she talked a lot - and he liked that, actually. Talkative people were good - as long as they weren't trying to be smart for whatever ungodly reason it might be. Nonetheless, back to Emi! The so-called topaz eyes took a risk by glancing at her from top to bottom, before returning to her face and listening to her finish speaking. Two soft hands were extended forth, as if waiting for something, and then it hit him - the camera. It's not that he was stupid, you know? He did wake up not long ago, after all.
Giving the equipment back to her, the boy finally parted his lips in response to what was asked prior, "Yeah, no prob'. I dozed off and when the teach' woke me up, it was layin' on your desk." The Nikinawa explains with a relaxed expression. A hand raises and then scratches behind his head as a yawn comes out with his mouth open, and another question raised with an answer expected in return. A nod was given to that - the boy laid his back onto the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. Other than loud, his voice had a specific accent behind it - one you could find if you wander deep enough in places like the Kabukicho, for example. And so, words roll off the tounge again, "Mm? Yea', I am. The name's Saionji Nikinawa, wassup?"
That got him thinking a little, though. One look at his feet and then back at the pink-haired girl, and a question soon follows. "Hey, what's tha' camera for, anyway?"
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461 WC
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414 Posts
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17 Years
Female
"Halo"
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Oct 25, 2018 10:18:27 GMT -4
‘No indoor voice’ was her first thought. She gave a surprised hard blink, but decided against commenting on it. What few friends she had knew that her volume tended to increase with her excitement, so she wasn’t in much of a position to criticise. His presentation was another matter, of course, but was she about to start scolding the boy that had saved her equipment? Not until he did something to deserve it.
Until then, he was the hero of the minute! She took no issue with the boy looking her up and down. She took pride in many things, but her appearance was on a pedestal above all but one of her treasures. Why would she stop anybody from admiring her hard work a little bit?
Her camera was back in her hands in short order, and quickly placed inside her schoolbag. “Oh? Sleeping in class? …Normally I’d judge, but I guess it worked out for me in the end!” He asked about her camera, prompting a glint in her eye. Her grin grew as she lent forward a little. “Work, of course! This little bad boy is my career! Well, it’s actually a bit of a beast compared to my other cameras, but that’s because it’s the best I have for filming!”
She caught herself short of going on a ramble, raising a pointed finger to her cheek. “Hm… I know! I can explain on the way to lunch! You did save my camera, after all, so the food can be on me!” Not that U.A’s food was especially superb or expensive, but it was the best she could offer on short notice. Regardless, she wasn’t leaving him much of an option, since she had already turned and started to walk back the way she came.
“I make vlogs, you see! Have done for a long time now. You should check them out sometime!” She had to assume that he was actually following, seeing as she had yet to turn around and check. “Got a decent following online and all. I used to just do stuff about me and my life. Adventures, video games, new clothes. People loved it! But… something changed, so I had to too. Now it’s more about my time at this school, and the people that make it what it is. Cool right? …Wait!” She turned on a dime, hoping to see the boy staring back at her. After a moment’s pause, she spoke: “Emi Ryoko Tachibana. You wanted to know my name, right?” It was all too easy to get distracted by one’s passion.
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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Oct 25, 2018 12:46:11 GMT -4
A pair of yellowish eyes watched a girl walk off as she ranted about her passion to seemingly no end. Lunch, huh? Saionji thought it wouldn't hurt. And besides, the girl was an odd one - she looked like a high school princess, and yet she made vlogs like a.. nerd. He listens to her intently of course, even though he's not following her at first, giving some thought before taking a decision for once - was he even hungry? And was hanging out with girls something he wanted to do in the first place? A shrug. Hard, harsh, loud steps are taken after the girl - not to ensure her that he was following, it was just that.. they were obnoxious - like his entire being. There were a lot of things he wanted to say to her, but he actually let her finish her rambling about her hobby and all that - it was only nice, if anything. Besides, he was sort of conflicted, too. She was pretty, she was a nerd, and to top it all off, she was a girl. A dangerous combination that he couldn't really decide whether he likes or not.
When Emi turns around, she does notice the taller boy staring straight down at her. Having caught up, it's almost as if he walked with her all the time. "Man, I ain't kno' 'bout all that. I'm not much of an, uhh.." How does one phrase this? "Vlog watcher." Seemed like the way to put it. "I find it kinda weird an' shit. Like, ya' watch someone's life, why don't ya' focus on ya' own? But I guess it must be fun to make them, yeah?" A question to stir the conversation further as the he started walking the hallways of the school with the girl at his side. Saionji's gaze flickered from place to place - he was clearly surprised by just how.. different it all is. After all, the boy's life mostly consisted of bullying people in school, picking fights in the slums, then picking fights in the daycare - sleep, repeat. This was a completely new experience. He was a blank card, and perhaps someone could finally pull the good out of him for once? It's not that he waited for that moment, he did prefer his angry, scary, grumpy self - but it was about time he showed some care for others.
"So, uh.." His optics return to look at the Tachibana. Man, he didn't really know what to say. Conversations that didn't end in throwing insults or threats within minutes really weren't his forte. "What are we gon' eat?"
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wc433
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414 Posts
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17 Years
Female
"Halo"
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Oct 25, 2018 13:49:19 GMT -4
“That’s not a problem. Lots of people aren’t!” She turned and continued on their journey. His words had done nothing to dampen her spirits; if anything, she sounded happy to explain the phenomenon to him. “But a lot of people are. Let me put it this way. Do you follow somebody you’ve never met online? On a social, I mean.” A rhetorical question, of course – she already knew that most young people did. “Maybe there’s a guy in another country that owns a lot of trainers that you like, and he’s always posting his new kicks. Or a really pretty girl, or somebody’s really cute hedgehog. Heck, maybe you like to go home and watch some reality TV. Try and explain that to somebody. ‘Yeah, I know we’ll never meet, but I’ve been following this guy for weeks because his shoes are so cool!’ You kinda get it, but not really, right?”
Again, she wasn’t waiting for an answer. There were two factors at play, causing her sudden lecture. She was very passionate about her work, and knew a lot about it. She also had nobody to share it with – there were few people in her life she could consider friends, and her parents were off being a business mogul and a trophy wife across the globe. If somebody was crazy enough to ask about her ‘career’, she was more than happy to share, but she hadn’t quite learned how to be concise about it yet.
“I’ll just go over the two big reasons. One – there’s something they have that you don’t. Those trainers are great, but they’re super expensive and you can’t afford them. Being pretty is hard work– trust me, I know all about that.” Even if he couldn’t see her face, her smug smirk was practically audible in her voice. “Maybe you don’t have the time or money to take care of a hedgehog, but that doesn’t make you want it any less, right? So you find somebody that has what you want, and you get it through them. You, er… what’s the word… ‘Live vicariously’ through them!”
“Some decent celebrities do it, like those girls with all the plastic surgery on their bodies. Big fancy house, always at fancy restaurants, on shopping sprees, lying on the beach in other countries… It’s a pipe dream for a lot of people, but maybe it’s not for me. So they can taste a little bit of what they’re missing out on. What they want. Because, let’s face it, nobody gets rich overnight, but while they’re trying to make it there, they can pretend.” Her words hung in the air for a moment, and her pace slowed. Just as suddenly as before, she whipped around, staring at what she hoped would be Saionji with a furrowed brow. “I’m not boring you, am I? There’s more to it than that, but I think I said a lot already. I can’t say much about the cafeteria food anyway. If it was up to me, we’d be driving across town for some wagyu, but I bet we could get some curry from the cafeteria.”
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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Oct 25, 2018 14:28:50 GMT -4
The poor boy was overwhelemed with information. Sure, he understood how social media and all that worked - he wasn't an active part of them, however - and to top it all off, he thought of them as pretty stupid. Still, he could understand how the girl basically lives and breathes the internet and all that comes with it - and thus, it was not his place to judge her for her preferences. Sure, they might've not been in the same boat, but Saionji was understanding enough to just shrug and let her speak. He didn't want to say something rude - he didn't deem her a nerd after all that. He listened- not very intently, sometimes losing himself in his thoughts. He still got everything she wanted to tell him, however.
Once again, the golden-eyed girl suddenly jumped around, and the Nikinawa was surprised. He didn't jump, or anything, but a glance on his face could tell that he did not expect a sudden turn. Questions come now, and with a scratch of the back of his head, the delinquent responds, "Yea', I get all that," he starts, stopping to look at the girl, noticing only now that their eye colors weren't too far apart from one another, "But first of all, ya' really gotta stop turnin' 'round like that, yo'." Seems like it did scare him a little bit, after all. I mean.. who doesn't get afraid of jumpscares, right? Pun intended. "But yea', I get all that. I ain't really the one to follow people on the internet and all that, tho'. I'd rather live my own life than live the lives of others. But I know there's a bunch of sad nerds and shit that do like seeing people live happy. And.. other viewers, too. I guess it just ain't my cup of tea." So what even was his cup of tea? That's a question that he, himself, didn't know how to answer. Of course, if he was asked, surely he'd think of something, but right now, he didn't really know. Did beating people up for little reason count? Yeah, pretty sure it did.
"And nah, you ain't borin' me. I think it's pretty nice to actually hear about other people for once." Wow, did he really just say that? He sure as hell thought that. Yeah, that's what it was! That's why he didn't just straight up call her a nerd and laugh - he enjoyed the conversation - even if it was pretty one sided when it came to the one who was talking. How can that be? This is most definitely not like him - but, truth be told, he does enjoy this. There's a faint sign of embarassment on him as he looks away, shaking it off- literally. "And I'm down for whatever, as long as it ain't salad."
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wc470
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414 Posts
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17 Years
Female
"Halo"
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Oct 25, 2018 18:59:47 GMT -4
Even if she’d been able to look at his face, she probably wouldn’t have noticed that he wasn‘t giving her his full attention. He was still with her physically, and he could give a satisfying reply, and that was enough for her. “Eh? You want me to… be slower?” The smirk returned, but gentler than before. “Alright, I get you. You don’t want to be kept on your toes! I get it. It’s lunchtime, you’re sleepy. This is supposed to be a time to relax. Nooo worries.”
She turned back around, continuing on her way to the canteen. As expected, it didn’t take long for her speech to continue. “Anyway, you’ve got people living through the people you watch, but that’s not all of it for vlogs. Some people… just want friends. Yeah, some people are ‘sad nerds’ that don’t have any friends. Some are people that want to feel involved with somebody without having to go outside and spend energy talking. Some have plenty of friends, but don’t have enough. There’s all kinds of reasons for it, but in the end, it boils down to the same thing. Us humans are social creatures, and we’ll always want to feel like we’re part of at least one relationship.”
“So in comes the vlogger. They’re funny, or pretty, or inspirational or understanding, but above all, they’re talking to you! Yeah, you! And they’re happy to talk and tell you all about their life and go through the ups and downs of life with you. It’s like they’re having a conversation with you, every time, and so you start to feel a connection to them. You want to learn more about them, find out what happens next. Like a book you can’t put down, except it’s real, and new chapters are coming out every day and this book really, really acts like it appreciates you!”
Of course, she was dancing around how she’d come to know all this. There was no need for her to tell a stranger that she’d been one of those ‘sad nerds’ for a good few years. It was a state born of unfortunate circumstances. As most wealthy families did when they realised their heir was a ‘quirker’, she was hidden away from the public eye until she could prove - beyond a shadow of doubt – that she could pass off as normal. For a few years, that meant being left in a mansion with the occasional housemaid, homeschooler, nanny and a computer for company. Unsurprisingly, the latter could provide a lot more entertainment than a group of adults that were there for a paycheck, rather than a love for the child. Over time, it hadn’t been enough for Emi to simply be a part of the audience. Not when there was an opportunity to make her own audience.
“And for the vlogger? There’s fame. Everybody loves attention and all that. Fortune, too.” She opened the door to the cafeteria, holding it for her captive audience new friend to pass through. If he was silly enough to think that arriving would stop her, however…
“It can pay pretty well, you know. Not just the money you get off ads. Stuff like big companies sending you ‘samples’ of their products in exchange for you ‘featuring’ them in your work. But that’s native advertising and conspicuous consumption and anchorage and a bit too heavy for somebody I just met!” She stopped, but gave pause before she turned to watch the boy. Assuming he hadn’t fallen asleep on his feet by that point, she went on. “So! Maybe it’s ‘not your cup of tea’, but maybe you kind of get the appeal now! That’s not even going into how I’m going to change the future for us quirky kids with my stuff, but that’ll co- Oooo, it is curry day!”
Apparently, the only thing that could distract the girl from her passion was good food - or at least, the smell of it. The mix of fried chicken and curry wafted through the whole room. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t settle for ‘commoner food’, but she was essentially grounded until the school day had ended. Besides, if she had to be honest, curry was very hard to mess up. A deep breath in brought a blissful smile to her face. “Fried goodness. Go ahead, order. Oh! And talk about yourself too! All I know is your name, and that you like saving cameras!” And that he was unkempt, disobedient and loud, but she wasn’t going to mention that just yet.
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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Oct 29, 2018 15:45:44 GMT -4
Saionji continued to listen, showing no signs of boredom and the like. It might not have been his cup of tea, as said before - vlogging, but it was nice to listen to someone be.. passionate about things. What was his own passion, he wondered? What did he really enjoy to do other than beating people up or running around the city with wild climbs and tricks? The second one is a pretty solid one, he believed. Still, there was more to adress than just questions about himself. The delinquent's lips part, and he speaks with his loud and harsh tone - even if it wasn't meant to sound that way,
"Yea', I think I get what ya' mean." He nods his head in agreement as they enter the cafeteria, and with said entrance comes the smell of something that the Nikinawa believed to be excellent based on smell alone - after all, while Emi ate the highest of luxurious foods, he was barely scraping bottom a daycare - and if he ate at the city, it was mostly street food, if not only! "Still not somethin' I would be up fo', ya' know. Like.. I don't think I could even talk to a camera, and I most definitely wouldn't be the one watchin' people vlog." That's his point of view. Watching someone's live while yours was miserable enough wasn't something he really enjoyed the idea of. But now, there were better things to come. Not only was he ready to talk about himself, or so he thought, but he was also going to get free food! Now, this is just dreamy. Turns out doing nice things pays off.
After walking up closer towards the cafeteria with the girl at his side, he doesn't choose for hours or anything of the sort - he doesn't hesitate to ask for one of his favorites. "Yo', lemme get beef curry, eh, chef?!" He didn't really know if the person was a chef. But it felt kinda cool to say that. A glance is set at the pink-haired woman, and he doesn't ask, but aims to check what she was going to order for herself. Once that is all set and done, a look around the canteen, and lips part, "Where d'ya wanna sit, hm?" A quick question, and when the destination is set, that's when words roll off the tounge to speak again. "Well, I don't particularly like saving cameras.. I think that was my first good deed in a while, to be honest." He notices, "But uh.. I like parkour. I also like sports, I guess. But.. To be honest.." A while in thought, "I don't think I have anything that I could talk 'bout as long as you did, tho'. You must really like what you're doin', and I think that's pretty.. cool, I guess." A compliment? This conversation was pretty different than the Nikinawa's usual ones. But then, with the boy's way of acting, it's no surprise - nice conversations tend to be pretty rare.
"Well, I could talk 'bout beatin' people up or running, I guess.. but it's not impressive enough to share. So your goal in this school is to show it's life and how it works on video, huh?"
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WC537
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414 Posts
0 EP
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17 Years
Female
"Halo"
Student-Rank Quirk:
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Nov 1, 2018 13:12:03 GMT -4
"Yea', I think I get what ya' mean." Some people might have taken such a half-hearted response to mean they were boring their listener, especially with that abrasive tone. Those same people wold also have the social understandings that Emi was lacking. To know when to stop talking, she would have had experience with talking to people, and she… Well, suffice to say, she had a lot to learn. Furrowed eyebrows were the only indication that she second-guessed his words, but what came next erased her doubts. He still wasn’t sold. “If you can talk to a person, you can talk to a camera,” she said, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “People get all flustered because they think everything on camera was one-and-done. They forget that people will spend hours, days, weeks, working on two minute videos, and they panic.” She shrugged. “It’s never too late to learn. Can’t do much about you not liking vlogs, though. That’s your preference and all.” At the very least, she knew better than to shove her interests down his throat…. any more.
They joined the line, but Emi didn’t even bother to look at the menu. “Hey! Give me some chicken katsu curry! Double-deep fried.” She announced her order with a grin, completely oblivious to the server’s disapproving stare. In her eyes, it was the face of a minimum wage worker, as opposed to that of a woman offended by a student’s demands. Before she had a chance to voice her concerns, Emi slapped a thousand-yen note on the counter – the only cash she had on her, since most civilized places took card. Then she was off to collect her dish (either forgetting or not caring about her change), walking past the boy to a table in the middle. She walked with confidence, as if it were her regular spot, but- “I don’t have a place! Should I? I’m not really a ‘cafeteria’ kind of girl, but it’s not like I have a choice.” And so she placed herself and her food at a an empty table, beckoning for the boy to join her.
“That’s what being a hero is all about, right? Doing good deeds and helping people, even if you don’t have to. I’d say you’re doing a pretty good job of that, and not just because you saved me a load of trouble.” She broke apart a pair of chopsticks and rubbed them together, making no attempt to hide what might be considered a rude gesture. “Parkour sounds… really fun, actually. I really wanted to get into it when I was younger. Wasn’t allowed. My parents didn’t want me outside, getting myself in trouble.” Which would have been fine, if their definition of trouble hadn’t been ‘existing, and potentially revealing her quirk’. “Thanks, though! I figure you have to be passionate to do something for so long and all. Otherwise it’s just a job, and it’s not like I need the money."
Her sticks got to work, mixing steaming rice and curry together. “I think there’s a lot of potential here. Because… let’s be honest, us quirk guys get a bad rap. Heck, even I got shit when people found out about mine. Used to have a big fanbase, and most of them jumped ship overnight. That’s how I ended up here,” she said – conveniently missing out the part where she joined a hero school to be a hero. She wasn’t even sure that she had enrolled for something so altruistic.
“It’s nothing new. Not just the quirk hate, but discrimination in general. The majority loves having a minority to bully and feel better than, and us ‘quirkers’ won’t be the first or the last group to be judged for being different. Trick is, we’ve got those other groups to learn from.” She stopped short of picking up a piece of her chicken cutlet, looking Saionji in the eyes.
He’d gotten her started again.
“History lesson! USA, 20th Century. Black people were getting a lot of flack for being black – how dare they? So, this lady, Rosa Parks. She makes a stand. Or… sits. On a bus, in a spot where black people weren’t allowed to sit. She refused to move when told to by the obviously-superior white people. Got herself thrown in jail for it. That should’ve been the end of it, but somehow, people heard about her defiance. It got people for and against black people all riled up. Before you knew it, there was a civil rights movement, and it was suddenly a lot less legal to hate black people.”
She paused her extremely abridged retelling to plop a clump of rice and sauce in her mouth. A gentle “Mmmm” hummed through her lips before she continued. “Sounds pretty normal, right? Except that story’s missing Claudette Colvin. Miss Parks wasn’t the first person to deny a white person ‘their seat’ on the bus – Claudette did it nine months before. But the people pushing the civil rights movement didn’t think she was the right ‘face’ for them. At the end of the day, the big difference between the two was who had the camera and the press giving them attention.”
“You see what I’m saying? There’s a whole lot of things we can do to try and stop the hate, but it doesn’t mean anything if nobody sees it. Luckily, we’ve got that power. Everybody does, with a phone in their hands. And I’ve got it more than most, with a decent following, a good camera and even better know-how. But I don’t have anybody volunteering to get themselves arrested.” It was hard to tell whether or not she was joking. “So I’ll have to be a little more… peaceful. So I’m going with awareness, for now. Show people the fun parts of hero life, and student life. And hero… student life. Show people that we’re pretty harmless, pretty cool, maybe a little quirky, but most of all… pretty normal. In our own special way. But it’s not something I can do alone.”
For a moment, it looked as if she was (finally) finished, and picked up a strip of fried chicken. Saionji hadn’t been given mercy yet, though. “But enough about that! Seriously, I think everybody’s got stories to tell. That’s the only way my vlog’s going to work, after all. They just might not be willing to share, but we can work around that! I’ll start you off. What’re you doing here, at a hero school? It’s the first of its kind and experimental, so what made you think this was a good idea? Why a hero class, and not support studies? Why do you like beating people up? What’s your favourite sport, and why? Could you play it with just your head if you tried?” The questions were fast and furious, but at least she seemed engaged. As much as she loved talking about herself, she seemed almost as keen to get some information out of him.
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33 Posts
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Post by Saionji Nikinawa on Nov 2, 2018 15:13:19 GMT -4
.. Wow. The girl sure as hell talked a lot, and yet, for some reason - it was pretty interesting to listen to her. The fact she was so passionate about showing people the good in those who have Quirks, her desire to become an icon - her goals were something.. pretty noble. The conversation surely was one sided, at least for now, but Saionji didn't need to be the one talking. For the first time in what seemed to be forever, the fiery boy was actually interested in what the other one was talking about. Sure, it still wasn't, and it won't be his cup of tea-- making videos for people to watch, that is, but allowing others to speak about their passion was pretty inspiring in some way or form. Still, it's something you'll never hear from the delinquent - his thoughts, god bless, are only for himself. "I mean, maybe. But I ain't wanna show my face to like.. tha' world. I'm pretty scary-lookin' anyway, so people will be afraid." He nods, as if to confirm his scariness. Did he really look scary? Angry, hard to approach, rebellious, even- but there wasn't much about him that was frightening. At least not on first sight! When he hears her order, he can't help but to snicker a little. It was really.. quite specific, especially in a cafeteria. Still, Yuuei was a prestigious school, so the food should be pretty decent even for Emi, right? His eyes widen as she slaps a ten thousand yen note and walks away with no need for change, though. Convienently, Saionji is there to pick it up and yet, even if it's money he'd want to keep, he puts it on the table next to the girl's tray. "Ya' forgot ya' change." He tells her, scratching the side of his head. That's the second time he's saved her belongings now - even if this time, she didn't really want the change. Taking a seat in front of the woman with his casual, beef curry, his chopsticks are broken in half and then, when the other spoke, he steadily-- or as steady as he could, ate. "Ya' weren't allowed outside? Tha's a weird thing for parents to do, no?" He questions - indeed finding the fact pretty weird. "I mean, ya quirk ain't make ya' change into anythin' weird, does it?" To confirm, he looks at her side by peeking as far as he could, then at the other. Nope. She was perfectly fine. "We get a bad rep, yea', I agree. I've had to beat fuckers up for gangin' up on me constantly." He tells the other, shrugging. Saionji's citrine gaze locked with hers for a moment, and he realized that she was getting worked up again - which the Nikinawa oddly wasn't tired of. Instead of a sigh symbolizing boredom, he just mixes his rice with curry, listening to her history lesson somewhat eagerly. It was something he didn't really know, and so, it was interesting to find out about. "Huh, ya' could be pretty inspirin' to others if ya' continue with talks like that. I mean, ya' got me listenin' and all, while the teach' today got me asleep in the first five minutes. That requires some sorta talent, for sure." A pretty genuine compliment, and quite a good one, too - especially coming from Saionji. "I see what you're sayin', yup. While vloggin' and all that still ain't for me, at least I understand it now, y'know? Not like I'm going to be an avid fan or anythin' of the sort, heh." A tease - the boy's lips curl into a smirk. When questions about him are asked, he's not entirely sure where to start. It seems as if it was his turn to talk a lot now - and he couldn't be happier to talk. After all, the fiery delinquent loved talking, whether it was rambling about nonsense, or deep, smart conversations - not that he had many of those in his enviroment, though. "What got me here, huh?" Well, that wasn't one story he could easily share, but given he's heard so much from the girl, the Nikinawa decides to open up - after all, she did the same for him. It was a fair trade, right? "Well.. I'm doin' it to protect those I care about. Y'see, becomin' a hero was kinda my dad's dream. Let's just say.." A short pause. He doesn't seem to be bothered at all by his words, learning to live with his burden - he was just looking for a way to put it simply. "He ain't here anymore, ya' feel? He's dead now, so I wanna continue livin' his dream. I'll become the best not just fo' myself, but for him, too." Saionji rubs at the back of his head. Having spoken about his past, even if just a tiny bit, was not only embarassing but.. relieving. There was nobody else he could share his goal with. Nobody else to voice his opinions to. Emi was the first person in many years that, despite all their differences, listened! This softened his heart a little. "As for support studies.. well, I like blowin' and fuckin' shit up. I'm not much of a support, especially not with my quirk, y'know?" Almost as if he was being interviewed, Saionji continues to speak. Lips part, words roll of the tounge, and his harsh, loud voice, perhaps it even softens a little, too. Not by much, though. "I've always been beatin' people up." While it's true, it's still not the full story he's giving - questions like these would award Emi with more information had they known each other a bit more. "Ever since I was little, when someone was givin' me the shit, I beat their face in. I use to protect others from bullyin' by beatin' the bullies up. In school, I was kinda, uh.. the bully of the bullies, y'know? But in the end, people were more scared of me than ready ta' thank me. But I didn't care much, shit. As long as they fine, I ain't need no thanks." That was true, at least. "And.. I mean, to me, that shit is pretty fun. I guess I'm not really much of a hero after all if I like beatin' people up, eh?" He jokes. "And finally, as for sport.. I dunno. I'd say either martial arts or runnin'. In one, ya' beat others up, and in the second, ya' can let go and go as fast as you can.. that's fun as fuck to me, too." Man, that was unexpected. There was a lot he said to a person he just met, a lot of personal stuff, too, even if it was just a tiny bit of his hardship filled past- and still, it felt nice. A really weird feeling, one that he hasn't felt in a long time.
"What's your story, tho'? Why do ya' wanna become a hero, other than, y'know, videotape it?" The boy questions now, genuinely interested in what the other has to say.__ WC 1173
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414 Posts
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17 Years
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Post by Emi Ryoko Tachibana on Nov 5, 2018 18:26:54 GMT -4
He dropped an assortment of coins next to her tray, stopping her short of taking her first bite. “Eh? Where’d you-“ A look of realisation washed over her face. “Oh… It’s okay! Thank you, but I meant to leave it there. I don’t like carrying cash around. It makes my purse too big!” A cluelessly cheery grin emerged as brought the chicken to her mouth.
She heard him out as she dug in, making it unclear if her smile was from his words or from fried goodness. First and foremost, she raised a finger across the table and to his lips. Him, claiming to be scary? “You’re not half bad. On the eyes, I mean,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Besides, you and me, we got off easy. Even if we looked ugly – and I don’t, obviously, we can pass off as normal. Quirkless. Here, there seems to be two kinds of students. The oddly attractive student body, and the mutation guys. And Kirk. Maybe it’s something about the genes that cause quirks that make us more visually pleasing, but I’m getting off track. My point is, one of our teachers is literally a giant bee. If she can go outside without suffering death by tomatoes, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
One question led to the next, and the answers were a little more related than the boy probably imagined. “Yeah, they didn’t.” Her smile weakened a little, as if remembering bittersweet memories. “My parents, they, er… Let’s just say they’re in big business. Image is huge when you’re rich and-or powerful. You want people to think well of you so that they want to work with you, or fear you so they think they don’t have a choice. My parents aren’t yakuza thugs or anything, so they went with the first one. My quirk is pretty harmless, but that’s not the problem for them. It was that I had a quirk, period. May as well have been born with Down’s.” A hollow chuckle left her. “Same result either way. ‘Can’t have that kid running around where she might reveal her terrible secret.’ It’s not terrible. I make salt. Only way a four-year-old is hurting anybody with salt is if she slaps it in your eyes, but… yeah. So I was kept hidden away. Not locked inside forever, but out of the public eye, away from the classy parties and all, until they felt I had it under control. Which took a while, considering that I had no training, no teacher, and was also very upset about the whole house arrest thing.”
She paused with widened eyes. She didn’t get many opportunities to tell her story – it was a bit too private to tell to the internet. Maybe Saionji might have caught it earlier, but it took her too long to notice that she sounded a little bitter about the whole thing. She forced a smile on and silenced herself with a mouthful of rice, giving herself a few moments to catch herself.
“…But that’s me. Feels weird, actually telling somebody all that, but I don’t feel ashamed or anything. It’s not my fault I was born that way, right? Not any of our faults. And that got me thinking. Things were a little crappy for me and I look fine. You say you look scary, and maybe my parents weren’t cool with the whole quirk thing, but at least we can go out and blend in.” She looked around the cafeteria. Sure enough, her eyes found a mutant soon enough – a girl with deep red skin and an extra paid of arms. “The ones that drew the short straw, they have to deal with shit from almost everybody, just for existing. And… that’s not cool. Obviously. So maybe we can do something about it.”
It sounded altruistic, and genuine, because it was. Sort of. Emi found it in her heart to care, but only after she had committed to the idea. She wasn’t sure whether or not to feel shame for it, but her first goal had been (and still was) to propel herself to new levels of fame. Finding the adoration she’d always desired through carefully weaved stories – it just so happened that her life led her to find an untapped niche. “But I figure it I’ll never convince anybody if I can’t even sound passionate about it, so that’s what I’m doing! So I’m glad I’ve swayed you a little. It just shows that this just might work out after all.” Her smug smile returned, somehow remaining through several bites of curry rice.
Until he brought up his dead dad. That was always a good way to kill the mood. Her face fell, even if he didn’t look bothered by it. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. There she was, blathering on about being kept inside a mansion, while both her parents were still alive and cared for her. She could have voiced that much, but only got as far as opening her mouth before she stopped herself. Whatever he had to say, it was close to his heart, and it would be wrong of her to interrupt that. At least, that made sense in her head – talking to people again instead of just a computer screen was taking a bit of adjusting.
They had some common ground, she noticed. They both had a passion in their hearts, even if it was for different things. Neither of them thought they were meant for the support class, though in her case it was purely a matter of pride. They had a lot to say, even if it took a bit of coaxing to get him going. And, perhaps, the reason why they were so quick to share was because they had a shared loneliness. She would never admit it, of course. Not to somebody she’d just met, and perhaps not ever, but she knew that he wouldn’t either. That would be weak, and neither of them would ever allow themselves to be seen as weak. So they had reached a silent understanding – to listen and be listened to, as few people would for them.
It wasn’t what Emi had expected from lunch in the cafeteria, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.
“Hm… I’ll be honest, that’s some vigilante logic right there. ‘Bully the bullies to save the bullied’. But I guess almost all of the pro heroes in Japan were vigilantes once. So it’s not too bad! …Besides liking beating people up. That part’s new to me… But at least you’re doing it for all the right reasons now! …Right?” She paused and shook her head. “Actually, don’t answer that.”
And then he flipped the tables on her. For a question she should have seen coming from a mile away, she looked like she was caught off guard. The smile vanished, her hands froze, and her eyes widened just a tad. He’d silenced her, but it wouldn’t last. A girl that wasn’t talking wasn’t Emi. Her gaze danced around and away from him, settling on the space between their trays. “Can I… be honest?” Her voice was quieter. Meeker. She wasn’t the type to give off a soft, gentle tone, and yet there it was. “I don’t know. I don’t even think I do, really. But I’m here now, and… I was kinda hoping the rest wold just fall into place soon.” She brought her free hand to her lips, quickly clearing her throat. Her voice quickly returned to near-normalcy, a little quieter than usual. “It’s not like I can’t do it. I can. I just haven’t got the ‘why’ figured out yet. So… Next question.”
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Post by Esperia on Dec 17, 2018 8:36:14 GMT -4
Saionji 32
Emi 42
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