Disconnected [Saiko & Rowan]

A moments respite was all Saiko sought in this hectic storm of activities, conversing, and soon to be athletic testing. Since her father had shown up, it was nothing but question after question, a heavy weight on her shoulders as she couldn't find the proper way to explain to him that she wasn't spending as much time branching out and expanding her horizons as much as he both seemed to think and want. Saiko knew this would disappoint him, which is why she avoided the subject, but she equally knew that it was because he worried for his daughter.

It hadn't been the first time that Saiko had shut herself away from the world almost completely, so he took measures to try and avoid anything such as that to happen again. However, his upbeat, almost youthful exuberance to his actions made the lethargic and apathetic girl that was his daughter...so very tired.

"How in the world does mom ever keep up?" Saiko asked herself under her exhausted breath. Stand after stand, Saiko did mental gymnastics to attempt to both show and detail the clubs works without outright claiming to be a part of any given one. Thankfully, her father's over joyous pleasure in seeing all UA had to offer seemed to be enough of a substitute for his curiosity. However, Saiko wasn't sure how much further she could stretch this, nor was she clear if she even had the mental energy to bother. This day has been a work out for her mind, and physically wouldn't be much different within the coming hours.

Saiko let out an exasperated heavy sigh as she ferried to plates of food within her hands. She wasn't really sure what they were, and she really didn't care either. Saiko's knowledge of food and cooking was rather limited, but she sure enjoyed eating them. And no better time to eat the heavily sodium laced junk food than now, considering she would need all the sodium for her quirk once the festival truly kicked off.

It was around the same time that she was walking along, letting out her sigh and carrying her plates of food that Saiko realized something. That sigh wasn't just her own. The thought hit her suddenly as she turned her head every which way to notice the source of the sound. Though she couldn't say for sure, based on the expressions of the crowds and passerby's, there was only one that could possibly have matched that sound.

An exhausted looking Rowan, sitting some distance away from the crowds at an empty picnic bench and looking like she was catching her breath. Saiko didn't know her classmate especially well. In fact, she didn't know much of any of them. Relena was probably the closest person to someone she was familiar with (Only because of how many times they were pitted against each other) , but that didn't mean she wasn't at least aware enough to know that she had been in a match of 'quirkball' with her fellow 1-A student, and that they, of course, shared a homeroom.

Still, Saiko gave a puzzled expression as she pushed herself forward. Despite not largely connected with her classmate, she felt an almost...connection with her. At least at the given moment. While she didn't know what Rowan was going through during the festival, she seemed worn out. Something that Saiko was feeling at the given moment herself. This mutual state of tiredness brought Saiko to the bench before she began even thinking what she was doing.

Her eyes blinked in surprise with herself, now standing beside the bench and still looking towards Rowan. Had she really come all this way subconsciously? What would she even say? She didn't know anything about her besides her name and a vague understanding of her quirk. Without thinking further, Saiko swallowed and cleared her throat lightly against the cold air to calm herself.

"Looks like you have seen better days Rowan-san." She jested allowed, though in hindsight mind have been a bit rude depending on her mood. And not that Saiko had much room to talk. Rowan's state of appearance was Saiko's norm. "Um...mind if I sit here? I'm trying to get away from the crowds also."

Saiko opted not to mention it was her father specifically that she was attempting to catch a breather from, seeing as she didn't want to delve too deep into that subject. Saiko fidgeted in place slightly, taking notice of her...odd get up. Not as odd as her father's, though that wasn't difficult. It might just be an odd perception, and partly because Saiko saw the spark and fire within Rowan from the quirkball game, but Saiko hadn't imagined Rowan to be the cheerleader type.

...Or maybe it was just her imagining how cold it must be to be wearing that, even with the leather jacket and dark colored tights on. Saiko didn't do well in cold...and for obvious reasons.

Looking at the water bottle in her hand made Saiko recall that she still held onto her plates of food from one of the cooking club stalls. "You...wouldn't happen to want any, would you? Eating usually helps ease my mind...but I think it is because I need it to not collapse due to my quirk." She laughed nervously at the dark humor and lifted the plates closer to eye level of herself.

"I think this is...okonomiyaki if I recall them mentioning and this is...steamed buns? I dunno. I just got whatever looked good. You are free to have some, since I probably got too much."

"I know the feelings. Some days just decided to unload the full clip into you. Though I am sure my tolerance for exerting myself to that point is far less than you." Saiko again joked in her usual, slightly dull tone as she heeded her invitation and took a seat on the bench near her classmate, turning to face her properly. Saiko couldn't help but feel sorry for Rowan, if nothing more than because she was intruding in her peace and quiet. It was too little to late to decide against continuing onward though, as she didn't want to just up and leave.

Saiko couldn't help but notice the distant look in Rowan's eyes, though she chalked it up to her simply trying to recuperate from a taxing day and worries for the sports festival in general. It was understandable, and Rowan recovered fast enough to respond to her mention of food. Saiko set the plates in between the two of them carefully.

Her question got a raised brow out of Saiko as she had to do a double take of the food again before responding with a shake of her head lightly. "Oh, uh...about that. I suppose it was meant for someone else, but I'm sure he can manage. As it is...he's been going repeatedly to try one of everything they have been serving..." She took one of the utensils given for the plate of food for herself, not looking up as she fiddled with it in her hands. With a dry chuckle, she continued.

"My quirk ends up requiring me to eat more typically, and I burn through the foods more quickly. The quirk sodium based, so the more I eat the more slick it is. Figured it would prove useful in the competition later."

She gestured lazily with a free hand in the air and a faint smile. "It's no bother if you have some though. I can always get more later before the event. I've been keeping myself mostly in check for the event. So yeah, sure, have as much as you want. Sounds like you could use it more than more than me anyways."

Since Rowan seemed more interested in the okonomiyaki at the given moment, Saiko instead took the time to poke at the dumpling looking substance. Once it was properly situated within her utensils hold, she popped it into her mouth and took her time in trying to figure out what it was exactly. "Yeah, those are meat buns of some kind." She said with a covered mouth and careful pacing as she finished the food she chewed and swallowed. "Not sure what type of meat though. Hard for me to tell."

As Saiko passed off the general comments about the food, she gave her companion a slightly worried look. This might not be the best idea, but...

"I might be out of place for me to say of all people, but don't you think you are taking to much upon yourself before the competitions? I can understand wanting to help and all, but you haven't even found the time to eat, and that seems rather risky with the different competitions coming up."

Saiko took another one of the meat buns of questionable substance and quickly disposed of that one as if hadn't been on the plate to begin with. Once the food had been fully ingested, she spoke once again

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't speak out like that. I don't know your position in the matter, and I'm not in any clubs myself, so I wouldn't fully know what kind of work they put you through on a day like this. I guess it's just that I wouldn't want to see a classmate drop out in the sporting event because of trying to push themselves to the limit prior to them even starting."

Saiko looked up from the food towards Rowan with a slightly puzzled look at everything she just said. "You know, if any of that made any sense. I hope I wasn't just rambling. It isn't often I talk to others, especially so casually. Usually it's just about class matters and training routines. Planning and whatnot."

Saiko was partly relieved when Rowan had decided to take up her offer on the food, since her classmate looked on the verge of collapsing if she wasn't careful. The raised question from Rowan got a simple answer out of Saiko with a slight shrug of her shoulders, taking a small bit of the okonomiyaki for herself. "Obstacle. Figured my quirk lends to mobility over combat, so that narrowed it down to that or rescue. With that, it mostly came down to how much I would be willing to coordinate with others, and well..."

Saiko gave a smirk as she gestured with a hand partly in the air in the circular motion. "I think you can figure out why I went with obstacle from there." She said plainly. It was difficult enough banding together the various classes of misfits in simple training. Saiko hadn't even begun to want to imagine how volatile some of the various students would get when reputations and titles are on the line.

"I'll stick with independent effort, thank you very much." Saiko joked aloud as she looked out towards the passing event goers idly. She continued listening to Rowan, only barely catching the odd tells from Rowan occasionally. It was all very small, basic things, but the toying with the chopsticks and blushing caught Saiko by surprise. Had she gotten her nervous? It would be impressive by many degrees if that was the case, but Saiko was sure there was more to the story that wasn't being told, so she decided it wasn't worth dwelling over. Besides, she might have been imagining it all anyways.

Rowan mentioning that she was in the cheerleaders was...well, easy enough to figure out. Being a part of the cooking club in addition though surprised her and cause her to look back towards Rowan whom tried to brush off her problems by saying she had forgotten. She didn't do it in an especially truthful manner, which bad Saiko narrow her eyes ever slightly. She relaxed again when Rowan claimed to be aware of her overexertion and she would reserve herself at least a bit more till the competition started.

"That's good." The two simple words etched out of Saiko as she nodded a tiny amount. She had no real reason to be distrusting of Rowan, and even if she was...it was no business of hers. If Rowan wanted to burn through all of her days worth of energy prior to the event, there was nothing stopping her. Most certainly not Saiko. However, if she made a difference, and Rowan was thankful no matter the amount, Saiko would accept and be happy.

However, that brief moment of respite came crashing down like an anchor when Rowan tilted her head and grinned, asking a rather simple...and hazardous question to Saiko. Instinctively, the aquatic haired girl's eyes widened as she looked directly at Rowan like a deer in the headlights. When did she-? Had she said something in her ramblings that she didn't mean to? She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out at first, and when she finally did get her voice, it was a shaken mess.

"I-It isn't that I don't talk to anyone, and it isn't out of fear either-" Saiko choked out, but stopped herself and closed her eyes. Taking a breath to calm herself, she started over, but her eyes were more listless once they were opened, her voice more dry and dull.

"I guess I should start over. The part of Osaka I grew up in was...not hospitable towards quirks, and I was harassed constantly by the locals. It...kind of shut me down to the point where I didn't want to even go outside." Saiko said sullenly as she explained herself, twirling the chopsticks gently between her fingertips.

"I managed to make two friends at some point, and despite us all having quirks, we helped keep ourselves uplifted enough to find a path forward. We saw what was going on around us and wanted to become like the various heroes the city was building. We wanted to help end the division between quirks and those without."

Saiko stopped spinning the chopsticks altogether as she looked down as she tried to gain the words she needed. "She...she didn't make it. My friend tried to stop a petty robbery." She finally muttered and shook her head weakly. "I lost contact with my other friend over time. I think we couldn't properly talk again after that day, since we would always begin remembering what happened."

After taking a moment, Saiko looked back up and made an small gesture with her palms opened outward. "As you can see, this is why I don't usually talk to others. I have trouble talking and more so forgetting the past, and even though I don't think anyone here at UA would treat me the same way...it is a hard shell to crack."

Saiko gave a shrug with half effort, barely mustering the energy. "Sorry to bother you with all the details. It probably would have just been easier to say that I suppose...it is out of fear, in more ways than one. "

It was an aspect of herself that she hated, but one that she saw no out of. It was a part of Saiko now, and one that she would have to live with. There were efforts she could make to lessen the burden on herself...but that could only do so much.

Saiko's chest loosened and didn't feel as constricted when Rowan had said what she had. The words were familiar and rung close to home. In fact, her father used very similar words all the time when he was trying to uplift her. It was an odd feeling to hear the words from somebody else's mouth, but a calming one none the less. It was nice to hear that Rowan understood how she felt, though it wasn't entirely Saiko's idea to come to UA. That was largely her father's pushing and guidance that landed her here, though Saiko wouldn't deny that it probably was for the best that she was here.

At the very least, she was with those that had quirks also, and that sense of connection might be healthy for Saiko. She stayed quiet, unsure of what to say after her heartfelt story to Rowan, though that was soon to change. When Rowan spoke out regarding the attitude towards those with dispositions against quirks, Saiko was unclear of where Rowan was going. That was until Semper Fi was brought up, and the realization hit Saiko hard.

"Yes, it is true that those articles are...disheartening, to say the least. Even though I wasn't a part of it, nor did I see much of what happened, the stories were pretty harrowing." Saiko said in a hushed tone, but suddenly surged with revitalized energy as she looked towards Rowan with conviction.

"However, violence begets violence, and fear spreads like a plague." She said, sitting up straight with a hardened gaze. "What you say is true. There were those that sought to paint us as the villains and monsters. There was an equal amount of those that fought defended our rights. Many of those people were non-quirkers themselves. They risked their own images and selves by aiding in the cause, and for that, we must not be stirred by such negative beliefs."

Saiko leaned forward with leveled vision. The smell slightly charred wood filled her scent, and she knew the reason why. It wasn't the first time she saw Rowan use her quirk, but she didn't see a use in bringing it up. Saiko had a hunch as to why her quirk triggered, and that was all she really needed to know.

"The chaos that Semper Fi instilled transcends quirks against those without. There are those without quirks that fight against us just like those that fight with us. It is no different than those with quirks that use their powers to terrorize against all. We all heard about the high jacking of the station, and that wasn't even the worst that they have done."

Saiko lowered her voice once more, sounding as serious as ever. "The public has every right to fear us. But it is in every choice and decision we make that will decide if we are to be trusted or dreaded. Let those that want to do nothing but poke the hornets nest and get attention do what they do, nothing will change them. All I seek is to change the perception of those that are unsure of our motives."

She sat back up again, her shift in demeanor was jarring and her serious tone was almost out of character for Saiko. "I will never become someone like Nick Cross or Thunder. If I do, then those articles will no longer be fear mongering. They will be fact." Saiko folded her hands together in front of her, looking carefully at Rowan.

"I trust that you feel the same, right, Rowan-san? Or do you have differing opinions towards those articles? I hope not, but I wouldn't mind hearing your take. If not, we can move on."

Saiko didn't budge as she gave a slight, stiff smile. "It isn't like I have to know, after all."

Saiko had been watching Rowan carefully the entire time during her response to Rowan's question, trying to pin point the exact reaction Rowan might have been looking for out of Saiko. While a great deal of the student's reactions could be out of anger, they could equally be out of a similar reaction to Saiko when she had spilled out information regarding her past. Out of sadness or regret? Had Rowan taken part of Semper Fi and kept quiet on it? Saiko racked her brain for possible memories of such, or things her class might have said, but all that came to mind was that their homeroom teacher had been a casualty of the ordeal. 

Between the singed wood and averting of eyes, the covering of her mouth with her hand, Saiko was almost worried that she might have pushed back too hard. However, with such a subject matter, it was a difficult opinion to voice, and if Rowan couldn't handle it, she shouldn't have brought it up to Saiko, considering she was one that rarely withheld her words. If it was something she felt, Saiko would say it. The words were out now though, so there wasn't really any turning back.

The one thing above all else that caught Saiko's inquisitive gaze was when she had mentioned the two criminals. In particular, Nick Cross. From what she understood, he had been a former UA student himself, but due to radical beliefs and general opinions that didn't sync with the school, he was, more or less, forced to leave. It was difficult to know the full story without asking someone out right, but from Saiko's point of view, the minute he decided to go into a crime syndicate to prove any point he might have had was lost to the ether.

The real question in all of this though was...did Rowan know him personally? Were they friends before it all happened, or had they had a run in after? Based on the look she gave and the restrained words, it was hard to gauge either way, and even more so what Rowan thought of the criminal. It wasn't any of her business though. Not at the moment at the very least. Maybe some day down the road, and hopefully nothing bad. 

Saiko eased up as Rowan spoke again, leaning back slightly against the seat. "I couldn't imagine either..." She said quietly, taking in a breath as she looked out towards the distance. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for those that not only were a part in having to survive against what happened at Semper Fi, but also able to speak up about what happened even through all the terrible memories."

She shook her head in disappointment at the thought, a slight sigh escaping her lips. "War shouldn't be experienced by anyone, let alone students being both dragged into the fray. Because at this point, that is what is happening with those that have quirks verses those without. It is war, and UA has to be the enforcement for both that tries to level the field."

Otherwise, we will continue seeing more and more students go down the path of criminal affairs to try and display their beliefs. With a shrug of her shoulders, she looked back at Rowan, mellow in tone and eyes tired, as they normally appeared on most occasions.

"That is my thoughts at least. You are right though, and to an extent I can see where those that retaliate against the prejudice are coming from also. It is foul what people can say and do, especially with that which they have no understanding over. It happens time and time again through history, and it almost always ends with one side suffering major loss."

She folded her arms together in deep thought, the winter air passing through in its slowly flowing breeze. "I might have been there with them, lashing out at the hate and prejudice if I hadn't had those to guide me. Caring parents, friends that wanted to see the best out of me, classmates and a school which pushes us to strive for better. It turned has turned that hate into something that is my morals and self keep in check."

Saiko tapped her foot against the ground idly as she spoke, looking towards the floor as she spoke. "Everyone has their demons, but it is our choice to keep them locked away. Otherwise, others get hurt. That goes for all sides of the argument. Unfortunately, something that many people seem to not realize."

A heavy sigh, Saiko weakly smiled and looked over at Rowan once more. "It was an interesting topic. One that I haven't really spoken to anyone about, so thank you for listening. How about we change the subject though? No sense in burdening ourselves with all those negative memories right a major competition. Save that for another time, right?" Saiko hummed as she finished. It probably would be the best for the topic to drop, at least for now. Stop while things were ahead and nobody was hurt. 

Saiko was glad Rowan seemed to take up on the offer of the subject changing. While the weight of the topic on her mind was heavy, it was something that Saiko didn't have a whole lot of connection with, so it was easier to voice her opinions and thoughts. However, based on Rowan's mannerisms and tone, it was fairly obvious to Saiko that there was more to the story. Something that she wouldn't be able to pin point, but in particular, it almost seemed like she was...fighting her own thoughts with the few times she spoke.

Regardless though, the topic was done and it was clear that lingering on Semper Fi and its implications served little purpose now.

"Carefree sounds good to me." Saiko said simply, unsure at this point what 'carefree' meant to the same girl that decided to bring up Semper Fi as a good launching point for a introduction, but considering the tone set, it couldn't really be much more dreary of a topic. Right?

Plucking the dumpling up to try one, Rowan went ahead and moved the discussion to something that seemed far more topical, considering both what started this whole meeting and the sports event going on. The question regarding clubs was a bit difficult for Saiko to properly answer, since she herself didn't entirely have a reason or excuse.

"Well, I mean-" Saiko ruffled her hair that flowed from underneath her beanie that she wore in an attempt to keep her warmth up (It didn't help...), one of her eyes squinted slightly in thought. "It isn't so much the chitchat part. It isn't that I don't want to talk to people in general. I'm sitting here talking with you after all, and all out of my own volition. It's more like-"

Saiko paused again as she took a moment to collect her mind as she tilted her eyes towards the sky. Eventually, she came up with a response which seemed satisfactory enough, though in the end she wasn't entirely convinced or sure if it was the correct response.

Leaning in slightly, her voice was only slightly above a whisper, but had to be strained ever slightly to be above the various crowds of people that mingled and passed by. "If I am completely honest, I think most people find my demeanor off putting. It hasn't been the first time people have accused me of giving them the cold shoulder, but...I dunno. It is what it is. I rarely have ever intentionally shoved others away, and there is usually good reason if I do."

She frowned slightly and gave another weak shrug. "I'm not really sure if people don't get along with me, but I know plenty that avoid me. I suppose I could do better in opening up, but...easier said then done when you have kept to yourself most of your life avoiding involvement with others."

Taking a small amount of the okonomiyaki, she chewed and finished mindfully as she thought of what to say next. "I guess my quirk and personality can lend to not working well with others too, but I guess that is a matter of opinion." With a lazily twisted wrist of her hair in the air, Saiko didn't particularly care either way what most people thought about her. Sometimes they would get to her, but her somber attitude usually covered it well or outright ignored it.

"My parents have pushed me in the past to consider something like a club, and I checked around. Nothing jumped out immediately though. A lot of what is available doesn't really match what I do to pass time. Streaming and playing video games is about it for hobbies, and the tech club is about the closest thing to that, but eh. Fixing stuff isn't really my forte-"

Saiko held a palm out to the side of the bench and waited for a drip of her mutation based oil to slid off her finger tip. "If you catch my drift. I'll admit I haven't really shopped around recently though. Guess I have not entirely had a reason to, nor an impulse to be in one."

Another shrug left her after her answer. A fairly straight forward response, but it got the job done she supposed.

She pondered the thought slightly, chopsticks pressed against her lips as she pressed her mind. "Strange? Eh, I dunno. There is no denying people are quick to judge and assume. Nobody is immune to that really. It is just in people to do so. It is all a matter of controlling it though and not letting it go to far." As it was, the two students themselves weren't immune to doing so either.

Saiko had assumed several things about Rowan prior to actually talking with her, such as not picturing her as being a cheerleader type of person. However...here she was, proving her wrong. Saiko was sure there was plenty Rowan assumed of whom she was speaking to also. Again, it was all about control. Pushing past that just means you are projecting what you want others to be, and not even bothering to try and learn about others.

"I get what you mean though. Being at this school has helped ease a lot of the pressure of being judged. Sure, there are moments, but nothing like it used to be before coming here. Then again, I would hope so, otherwise I would think those students have some insecurity issues if they have to put down other students with quirks when they themselves have quirks." 

The thought amused her in an almost somber tone of joke, but to an extent it was a funny thought. A student would have to be either extremely bold or foolish to target others at a place like this, surrounded by people with similar goals and beliefs. Thankfully, any happenings at the school that were even remotely close to those were usually either quelled quickly or simple teenage drama. Nothing specifically quirk related.

"It is difficult to change peoples minds, though I suppose being in a more accepting environment can indeed change a lot of that." There was no telling what most thought of Saiko at the school, since she always kept to herself. Likely what most thought of her, and that distant personality was hard to get past, which left an endless cycle of Saiko not taking the steps in reaching out to the other students, while the others thinking she wanted to be left alone completely.

It was somewhat difficult to talk about for Saiko, and something she struggled with from her past. Despite what others saw of her, she would always expect the worse, and belittled herself regularly. Her quirk was largely to blame for that, and it would take everything UA had to throw at her to adjust this.

What Rowan had mentioned about trying something different was exactly how her parents would put it. Meeting new people and finding something that you never knew would make an impact in your life. Making that jump was something that Saiko couldn't quite do unless spurred. She had enjoyed playing sports as a form of quirk training with her two childhood friends and father, but that was only because of them pushing her heavily and giving not letting her give up. If she doesn't have that drive or push to do so, it was rare to see her make the choice on her own.

It was around that same train of thought that Rowan enlightened Saiko on the fact that she was club captain, and not simply a member. The thought didn't strike Saiko as entirely surprising, considering Rowan seemed to have the drive to be a leader...though that might just be the assuming they were talking about not to long ago.

Rowan continued on by saying that cheerleading seemed to fit herself more than sports themselves, which Saiko wasn't sure she would say the same. Everything Rowan had said made sense though, and experiencing new things was a lifeblood for many people. It was just...

"I get that. Having something new to look forward to as you get the feeling of improving along the way. I just...I dunno…" Saiko admitted dully in a unsure tone. What was it that made her life so difficult to move forward? Was it the aspect of being around others? Was it the commitment or the required effort one had to put in? There was many possibilities, and Saiko wasn't sure which one it was, which bothered her more than anything else.

"I really can't explain it. Old habits die hard, I suppose."