2025-07-28: Fruit Tea
- Log: Fruit Tea
- Cast: Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase
- Where: Hirasaka Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: July 28, 2025
- IC Date: June 15, 2012
- Summary: The promised day arrives: a visit to a cafe near Smile Mall.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Fortunately for Hyousuke, the forecast had - quite unusually - been entirely accurate. Thick clouds, too white and fluffy to be carrying even a hint of rain, meandered through an otherwise-clear sky, dimming the sun just enough that standing by the school's gate in full uniform wasn't an especially onerous task. It didn't hurt that a light breeze drifted through the area, leaving the temperature as something that was overall quite pleasant. The perfect weather for a hike, or to get some training done, but neither of those were on the agenda. Instead, he was going for an outing with the first truly friendly face he'd come across at the school.
He swiped idly at his phone to check the time, then replaced it in his pocket and went back to tapping his foot idly against the floor. He wasn't sure when she'd be out, or which classroom she'd be exiting from, but - unless she left the school by vaulting over whatever barriers surrounded - he supposed she would have to pass by the gate at some point. All that was left was to wait for her to show up at the spot, and they could be on their way to somewhere a little more pleasant.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika usually leaves by the gate--but today she had plans! ...Outside the gate, so she's still going to be leaving by the gate. The weather is nice enough. And Ichika is in uniform, her usual midriff-baring long-skirted sukeban style. She steps out, her phone stowed away, and when she doess, she notices--
"Hyousuke-san," she greets. "You waited for me."
That's another data point. ...She's pretty sure he's oblivious but it's good to know.
"I'm not interrupting your training, am I? Got time for that cafe?"
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke leaned idly against a nearby wall as she spoke, his casual look a natural one - not some performance put on for his 'date.' His untucked shirt, unbuttoned near the top, and the somewhat-crumpled look of the rest of his uniform, certainly lent themselves to this image. Between that and the look on his face, it was patently clear that he is, in fact, oblivious. There was only one thought behind those eyes of his, and it was about tea. If one was generous, they could say that he was thinking about having tea with a friend, but the drink - and potentially the pastries that came with it - was the main focus.
"'Course I waited for you. This is where we're meeting." He replied, speaking matter-of-factly while prying himself off of the wall and waving his hand dismissively. "Anyway, it's fine. Muto-sensei let me have the day off since I worked out in the morning instead. He didn't sound happy about it, but I don't think I've ever seen him happy about anything." He paused for a moment, trying to remember if he'd even seen so much as the vague hint of a smile on that stern teacher's face, before going back to the topic at hand. "Anyway, let's go find that cafe. If it's any good, I want to take my time with it."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Luckily, Ichika isn't in the mood for a proper 'date' still after that talk with Akechi... so someone oblivious to go to a cafe with works just nicely.
Tea is good to think about.
"Cool," Ichika agrees, and then that's fine. Muto-sensei... Hmm. "I see. That's interesting, though--I didn't get to ask you much about that before."
"Sure, let's go. It's over this way."
She'll lead the way; it'll be some walk to the mall, but that's fine.
"So what kind of martial arts do you do?" she wonders. "I've got a little training, but it's not very formal. Self-defense classes, mostly."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke kept pace, his posture as relaxed as his gate. Shoulders loose, thumbs hooked into his pocket, and gaze wandering lazily over to anything that seemed interesting - whenever Ichika wasn't speaking, anyway - it looked as though there was little chance the thought of a 'date' date had even occurred to him, much less been an objective. The casual look lessened a little when she inquired about his training, though only because he actually had to focus on her for longer than a few seconds, rather than let his attention wander somewhere else.
"Muay Thai." He said, without about as much tact as a brick to the face. He blinked, waiting a moment for a reply, before realising that he probably needed to elaborate on such a blunt statement. "It's all about the, uh..." He looked away briefly, scrunching his brow in thought. If one listened closely, they might have heard the gears turning in his head, clanking and groaning as they tried to churn out a thought. "...The eight points of contact. I think that's what he called it. Why, you want to join? He's still got spots open, if you want to learn it."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
It's kind of curious, the way that sense of focus wavers; Ichika glances now and then to see what he's looking at, mostly to understand him a little better. That's part of the fun of going somewhere with someone, after all.
But he answers, and--it means very little to her. She waits. And then he continues. "Oh," she says. She doesn't hear the gears, but she can kind of see them working on his eyes.
"Eight points of contact, huh? ...Maybe. I'll think about it. What kind of things do you use it for?"
A pause. "...If I learned something, I'd want it to be something that could work against someone stronger than me."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke wondered how best to explain it, causing the gears to turn again, shutting his lips tight while he wracked his brains for a somewhat coherent string of words. Perhaps, he thought, he could answer both of her questions at once - both the contact, and if it'd beat someone stronger.
"It's about using different parts of your body to fight. Hands, feet, shin, and elbows. Eight points." His speech was a little strained. Not greatly so, but enough to tip off anyone observant enough that putting thoughts into words was perhaps not his forte.
"As for how you'd do against someone stronger, it depends. If they're not that much stronger, you'd probably get them. If someone can't throw a punch or take one, they're gonna go down right quick. But if they're way too strong, or they've got numbers, it's not gonna work." A hint of bitterness crept into his tone at that last part, and his gaze hardened, but it was only for some fraction of a second. "Couldn't hurt to learn the basics though. Besides, if you train hard enough, you get stronger too. So maybe it's what you're looking for?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika is willing to wait. She definitely notices the delay, though.
"...Hm. So it's the kind of thing that works even if you're stuck without anything to hand..."
"I see." She notices the bitterness, the hardened gaze. "Might have numbers, might not. ...Physically stronger than me for sure, though... Well."
She pauses. "It's not for gang stuff, if that makes a difference."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
He'd not even stopped to consider it might be for gang stuff, and the revelation that it might have been was not received warmly. With a surprised blink and a pause, yes, but definitely not with open arms. Hyousuke wondered if she was telling the truth or not, and briefly considered trying to change the subject, then remembered who was teaching it. He also remembered just where it was being taught. It was hardly as if Muto-sensei's lessons were a secret, so his thoughts instead shifted to him wondering why he would have even bothered being secretive.
"So if it's not for gang stuff," he replied, curiosity piqued by her clarification once the suspicion had cleared, "What's it actually for?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika is an honest person; she didn't have to bring it up, and Hyousuke might not have thought about it, it looks like. But still, it was important to her to mention it wasn't. Muto-sensei, a humorless man who trains hard, and...
"Mm, that's..." She didn't have to bring it up, but now that she has--
"...There's this guy," Ichika answers, looking down. "He hurt me pretty badly. I want to make sure if he tries it again, it doesn't happen like that this time."
"I can take most guys--like you said, if they aren't prepared to take a punch, they back down pretty quick. But..."
"Not this one."
"So I'm on the lookout for ways to defend myself."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The information given was a little vaguer than he would have liked, but it was useful.
"How much stronger was he?" A blunt question that should have been rephrased, given the context, but asked earnestly enough. "If he's big or strong enough, technique's not gonna let you beat him. But it could make you more trouble to fight than you're worth." A sentiment left over from his days of petty crime, and picking out easy marks. "...Sucks ass that you gotta be on alert like that. Do you at least know who did it?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika has grown accustomed to bluntness, going to Kasugayama. Hyousuke at least seems to be asking seriously. "...He's a little taller than me. Broader." That makes him very tall, given just how high Ichika stands. "He's not like, a professional fighter or something. But I'd settle for 'more trouble than it's worth', yeah."
She nods. "It sucks," she agrees. "I know who he is. I don't see him that often. And it probably won't come up again. ...But if it does, I'd rather be ready. That's why martial arts and stuff interest me." A pause. "Well, not just that. My brother was into kendo. So it's also just interesting. But..."
"That's the real reason."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke nodded slightly and silently, acknowledging whatever she said without comment. It was only when he was certain that she'd finished that he deigned to speak, but even then, there was a brief pause where he tried to arrange the words correctly in his head. Whether it was because he wanted to be sure he said the right thing, or simply wasn't sure what to say in the first place, was unclear.
"I'm serious about Muto-sensei's classes." He began. He certainly sounded serious about the proposal, if nothing else. "He's kinda strict, but if you take them seriously, you won't regret it. You might even be able to beat that guy. Kick his knees out, or go higher."
Given her position in the school, he assumed she knew just where he meant when it came to crippling opponents. Ones with the right equipment, specifically. Worried that his notions of fighting dirty might clue her in about some less savoury aspects of his past, however, he shifted the subject to the next available thing he could think of.
"So why not kendo? I thought we had a club for that." He didn't sound sure of it. Given the state of the school, and how recent an arrival he was, that much could be excused.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Yeah..." Ichika nods, thoughtfully. "I'll think about it. It might be cool. ...I don't mind strict, if I'm learning something."
She definitely gets it--and she can already fight dirty, and does. But this seems to be a little more difficult still. She doesn't pry into why he knows--mostly because... well, it's Kasugayama. That's normal.
"It was his thing, not mine," Ichika explains. "I used to do tennis, instead. ...Not that we have much of that here."
"I think we might have one. But it's one of the few that keeps up."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
She used to do tennis. That was good - she at least had some experience with athleticism. He nodded again, slowly digesting the information to try and form a response worth mentioning, when it suddenly hit him that - as she seemed to have indicated, by his reckoning - the school didn't have a tennis club. Granted, he could have just forgotten that the club existed, or hadn't seen it in his brief time there, but the question left his lips before he had a chance to think about it.
"Used to?" His head cocked to the side a little, again evoking the image of a dog puzzled by something. "I didn't know we had tennis here."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"We don't," Ichika answers. "It was at my last school. I used to go to Sevens," she explains. Seven Sisters High--the 'rival' of Kasugayama, even if it's a little one-sided. Or a lot one-sided.
"I quit last year, and then after a while, I ended up here." She's leaving out a lot of details, obviously. "Now I don't see much point trying to revive the club for something I wasn't that good at anyway."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
So, he wasn't the only one with skeletons in his closet, or another school in his history. Dense as he was, even Hyousuke could tell that there were a lot of parts skipped in her explanation. The thought of asking more questions flashed through his mind, and his lips made to part, until he remembered how he might have felt were their places swapped. Even if she hadn't said it, Ichika - to his mind - had made it abundantly clear that such a line of questioning was not to be pursued. Instead, he opted for something a little more innocuous.
"Might be worth a shot if you enjoyed it." Hyousuke mentioned offhandedly. "If the dance lesson was anything to go by, it's not like anyone else is gonna use whatever gear we've got stored." He briefly pondered asking how far the cafe was from where they were, but sports - or, at least, the vague field of athleticism - was one of the few things he could talk about at length. He decided that he'd rather keep the conversation going than ask a more polite 'are we there yet.'
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika isn't pressing Hyousuke for too much background; she appreciates that he doesn't push her too far, either. SShe's already shared more than she usually would... but then, she's primed for that. After the other day...
"Hmmm," she says. "I guess it might be. I haven't bothered because..." She gestures. "Well, our school isn't big on activities. We'd have to find a teacher who cared enough to sponsor it."
"But you're right about that." They're not too far from the cafe, probably--the conversation's taken up a lot of time that otherwise could've been a fairly boring walk.
"But maybe I should think more about how it ought to be than how it is. This position's gotta be good for more than just being left alone."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
How things out to be, rather than how they were. It was a notion that Hyousuke, in the silent few moments between where her lines ended and his began, turned over in his head.
"I could get behind that." He said plainly, seeing no reason - or way - to dress it up as something more profound. "I bet Muto-sensei could too. He's always going on about finding ways to improve yourself. It's like listening to a monk sometimes..." He smiled and chuckled a little at his joke, though some small part of him hoped it wouldn't get back to his teacher. He wasn't certain he would survive whatever happened after. "...Just don't expect him to sponsor it. I think he's busy with his own work. If you want to try and make things better around here though, let me know if there's anything I can do. If I'm gonna be here the rest of the year, I might as well try and make the most of it."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Cool." It's not something that needs dressing up, really--it just... is. "Hmm. He sounds like a good guy. A monk isn't a bad way to be." She wouldn't want to be a nun herself, but she appreciates... that kind of goodness.
She doesn't get the joke. But that's fine. "...Heh. Yeah, I bet he is. But I think I might." She considers. "...I appreciate that."
"I figure... i'm not going to try to change how things are overall. There's no point in that. But maybe I can use my influence to make a few things better, for more than just my crew. That'd be... nice."
"It's a good attitude. Make the most of it. ...Not that I know what I'm doing later..."
"Oh, the cafe's almost up on this side," she says. "It's definitely good."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
The comparisons between Hyousuke and dogs - particularly dumber ones with golden fur - never seemed to end. The very instant she mentioned a cafe, he perked up, his posture straightening and eyes darting around like a pet that had heard it was being taken for a walk. With an uncanny amount of swiftness and precision for someone that was just looking for a way to spend the afternoon and grab a drink, he scanned the area, looking for anything that resembled the business that she had mentioned. His gaze latched quickly onto something that looked vaguely like it might fit what he was seeking, and without turning to Ichika, he spoke.
Hyousuke Suzuki says, "Is that it? Is that where we're going? I hope their pastries are good. I could use some decent sweets right now...""
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
The mall comes into view--though the cafe isn't in the mall, just near and at it. It's a nice enough looking place, a green building with some asymmetry to the sign: Little Croissant.
"That's it," Ichika confirms. "C'mon, let's go. I did say I'd cover it--that's still true."
She leads the way inside, and once inside it's a lovely, cozy sort of place, with tables and chairs and a counter and a menu. The pastries in their case look fresh; the whole place smells of tea. Despite the name, the pastries aren't small.
"...Here we are."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
As soon as the smell of tea hit Hyousuke's senses, his demeanour shifted entirely. Where there was once someone that seemed to struggle with even a mundane thought, there was man that looked remarkably... thoughtful. His eyes drifted closed for a few moments as he inhaled slowly, letting the scent work through him, until it finally settled deeper into him. He took another breath through his mouth, as if to try and taste what he smelled - as if its essence could be carried through the air, and allow him to take stock of the place's wares while barely having set foot inside of it.
"...Interesting." He remarked. It was unclear whether he was addressing Ichika or thinking aloud, but the remark continued regardless. "I smell fruit tea, but I don't think I know that blend. There's... strawberries, I think. But what's it paired with? Mango? No, it's not sweet enough for that. Lemon? It's not strong enough, but perhaps if it was mixed with..." Suddenly, he snapped back to attention, and turned to Ichika with an unusually focussed look in his eyes. "I'm getting a fruit tea. I have to try this."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
No, he's not oblivious exactly. He's focused on exactly what he wants to focus on. So Ichika thinks as she looks at the change to this young man before her, as he analyzes a scent. "Hm..."
It's not clear, but she kind of just--watches him go, for the moment. "I like strawberries," she reflects. "Sure. Go for it." A fruit tea...
"I will, too. You sold me on it."
She steps up to the counter, "Oh, and that chocolate pastry... Should work OK with the strawberry."
This is more fun than she expected.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"Is it dark chocolate?" He muttered, though in contrast to last time, he made a conscious effort to be loud enough for Ichika to hear. "If the tea's as sweet as I think it is, the bitterness'll go well with it. It's a... what do you call it... a contrast." The concept of pairing just the right dessert to the right drink was not lost on him. Judging by how intensely he scanned over the pastries on offer, he seemed to be quite passionate about the subject too. Had he words and the temperament for it, he might have been the mirror image of some young gourmand or other. "I'll pay for it if you don't like dark. But you have to try at least a little bit with your tea."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"These are," the woman at the counter points out, and Ichika nods. "Cool. Yes, I get you--contrast is important."
He seems pretty intense about it indeed.
"In fact, that's exactly what we recommend!" A smile.
Ichika shakes her head. "Nah, I like dark OK. A lot of people our age still have kids' palates, but I try to branch out more."
She will pay, and soon, they will have... snacks.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
Hyousuke was more than willing to pay. His eagerness to try the pastry paired with a brew he had not yet had the pleasure of drinking was palpable to anyone with at least one functioning ear. However, he had no intention of standing there arguing about it when there was a snack to be had, and a drink to be drank. He simply nodded in response, and made his order, stating whatever name The Little Croissant had given to their strawberry-based beverage. Though he tried to retain at least a little of his composure, there was no hiding the tapping of his fingers, or his fidgeting as he waited.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Plain eagerness. Ichika tilts her head watching him fidget. It won't be too long, but while impatience isn't exactly rare.. This seems a little different.
It's definitely a cute name. Don't worry about it.
"So where'd you get your love of food?" she wonders. "I mean, liking tea and pastries is normal and all, but you're... really passionate about it."
She picks up her tea when it's handed to her, and a little bag for the pastry, grabs some napkins, and goes for a table.
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"I grew up with it." He said, while taking his tea in hand. Another blunt answer, but rather than it simply being born of his nature, that one was more a result of eagerness for his tea. He wanted to taste it, and satisfy his curiosity. It took every ounce of his willpower simply to answer her questions, let alone do so in any lengthy manner. "Mostly green tea, but we liked to mix it up sometimes. Earl Grey, chamomile, English breakfast, herbal..." He might have listed off every tea his family had in the pantry, were it not for his need to take a sip.
He fell silent as the flavours rushed over his tongue, and once more, his eyes closed so that he could focus on his other senses. He let the steam waft a sweet scent into his nose while his tongue, still steeped in the flavour of the last sip, took another so that he could be certain of what he thought. A pregnant pause filled the air, before finally, he set the mug down.
"...I was right. It's not just strawberries in here. There's... raspberries. It's subtle, but it pairs with the strawberry instead of overpowering it. They got the balance just right."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika won't delay him too long. But if he grew up with it, then that suggessts things about his family. But he mentions the various kinds of tea...
But soon, there is the fruit tea. Ichika waits, not actually sipping her own immediately in preference to watching Hyousuke and his fascinating approach to it.
"Raspberries too, huh?" she asks, and sets out the pastries that go with it.
Then, she takes a sip, too. "Mmm..."
"Yes, I taste it."
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
He took a small bite of the pastry too - one with a healthy amount of chocolate to it. He chewed, letting the taste spread through his mouth and blend with the strawberry. At first, it left him quiet. Contemplative, almost. Then, there was a widening of his eyes, and brightness to them - like a bulb had gone off behind them.
"I was right. They were right. It's a perfect match. The pastry's delicate and sweet, but only a little - it's like the raspberry. The chocolate contrasts with the sweetness of the rest of the flavours, so each flavour makes the other taste better...!" He looked up at Ichika, and nodded firmly. "This was a good choice. We're coming back here."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika takes a bite too, just as Hyousuke does, and, because that's what they're doing, makes sure to focus on the tastes of both that and the fruit tea. She doesn't press him for more words immediately; she just also appreciates the combination.
When she's done chewing, she ssmiles. "Nice," she says. "...It's fun to see something that really gets you going."
A nod. "I'm for that. ...Guess we might as well make sure to take our time while we're here though, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
"Mmm."
It was short, low, grunt that escaped him as he took another sip of his tea, but it spoke volumes to those willing to listen. it was a soft noise, made in agreement, and accompanied by a gentle nod. He didn't fix his gaze on her for long, but those scant few seconds were enough to show that he fully agreed with the proposal. It was only when he finished his mouthful that he offered a more substantial reply. "Sure, it's nice here. I wouldn't mind staying a while longer."
Though he didn't say it, it wasn't just the tea that made the place. The company of someone that appreciated the tea as he did made things all the more enjoyable.