2025-09-09: Like School
- Log: Like School
- Cast: Ayame Watanabe, Reiko Shimizu
- Where: Watanabe Residence, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: September 09, 2025
- IC Date: July 08, 2012
- Summary: Reiko comes for a visit! Ayame has a favor to ask--but gifts to give, too.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
It's a lovely Sunday afternoon in Aoba, and Ayame has arranged some time to meet her youngest sister! Ikkaku is out with the kids at the park, and Ayame herself is puttering around the kitchen. She has just withdrawn some cookies from the oven recently, and is brewing some tea, because it's about time for Reiko to show up.
The apartment remains a big apartment, on the third floor with a nice balcony outside. There is a garden there!
The blue couch, the end tables, the glass-topped coffee table... Nothing is different from how it usually is.
The door is not open, but the 'Watanabe' nameplate is always good for confirmation as to who's here. It's a little cloudy out in Aoba...
But that's not a problem. Ayame waits!
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Today, Reiko isn't running late. She is also off today -- and actually got the day off, so she has a green dress and a short blue jacket on. Her car pulls up into the driveway; the first clue that Reiko has arrived is the sound of her car arriving, and then the engine turning off. A moment later, there is a knock at the door.
Reiko adjusts her glasses just before it opens. "Onee-chan!" she says, happily. "Thanks for inviting me over. I didn't have any plans and--"
There is a pause. She sniffs once; twice.
Then, her green eyes start to widen with delight, and a little bit of the little girl, from when she lived under the same roof as Ayame, comes out. "Are those cookies...?"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame is dressed in a nice blue draping top and jeans. And when she comes to open the apartment's door--
"Reiko-chan," Ayame says warmly. "You're welcome. Everyone else is out of the house at the moment, so it's just us!"
Then she beams. "Your favorite," Ayame answers proudly, and steps back to let Reiko in. "I also made some tea. Come, have a seat, I'll bring both out."
She ushers Reiko to the couch and then disappears to the kitchen--but not for long.
A plate of COOKIES and a tray for tea come with her.
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Ikkaku-kun has the kids, then?" Reiko asks, with a smile -- and she moves inside. Her bag ends up deposited on a small table near the door inside, and she takes a seat of the couch. She sinks back into it and sighs.
She manages to keep herself from following after Ayame, hovering over the cookies. But when they come out, her eyes light up. "You shouldn't have!"
That sentiment doesn't stop her from taking a cookie.
"So Ikkaku-kun and you are recovering just fine, after that horrible thing at his school?" she asks. She frowns, as she considers it for a moment. "I--well... I'd been worried, but it sounds like nothing else happened..."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"That's right," Ayame confirms. "They're at the park. It's a good chance for them to spend time with him." And for her to spend time with Reiko!
Ayame smiles as Reiko's eyes light up. "But I did." That reaction makes the effort worth it; Ayame takes a seat nearby and pours the tea, before taking a cookie for herself. Cookies are not a solo activity.
"Yes," Ayame confirms. "...Yes, they did get back to regular business awfully quickly, didn't they?" That's a thing. "But we're both fine; he was back to work the next day, even." Not that that was necessarily ideal, but that's how it was. "I appreciate the concern. But... I think things are better, now."
A sigh, and Ayame puts her fingertips to her forehead. "Though... It came out, that I was worried he was seeing someone else..."
"It turns out she was just a nice co-worker who understood what it was like for her husband to be home late."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"That makes sense. That's important!" Reiko says, cheerfully. She always got along well with Ikkaku -- but someone who treats her sister well is going to be a winner in her book, and she loves her nieces and nephews besides.
She bites into her cookie then, and it's a second before she can really talk again. That second involves a good, long sip of tea after.
"They did," Reiko says. "I wish they'd take more time, after something like that." She shakes her head, and then she looks up. And then she blinks.
"Oh, onee-chan..." She trails off. "I'm sorry you thought that. I--I don't think Ikkaku-kun would ever, but--but I know, um. It's hard to not get worried, sometimes... did you two work it all out?"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Tea!! Cookies!! Ayame is pleased to see Reiko enjoying both. As well as agreeing that time with their father is important for her kids!
"Me, too," Ayame admits of taking more time. As for the rest, "Me, too," she says again. "But, it turns out he was working so much mostly to try to get a more stable position for us, so we can settle down, get a house..."
"But it was hard not to worry, yes. I think we have. He was also..." She considers how to say it. "Well, he was worried about me, for other reasons. And that made it harder. But he says he doesn't hold my doubts against me, and that he should've communicated more. ...And I think I should've brought up my feelings sooner."
"But that actually..."
"I'm hoping we can get some more 'alone time' together soon. I think that would help a lot. ...So would you be willing to watch the children sometime this week? Any day is fine. I'd be happy to host you, and we can go out." %
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"A house? That would be really nice!" Reiko says. "I hope he gets a better position or -- well, um, more money." She laughs a little sheepishly. She suspects that everyone wants more money. But, with their kids, it would be even more important.
She nods, then, at what Ayame says. It makes sense to her -- and it's a relief that Ikkaku doesn't hold it against her. "Well... you can work it all out, now, and that's what's important!" Reiko says, with a cheerful smile.
There is a beat, as she hears the question. She takes a bite of the cookie while she waits -- and her eyes widen a little. She swallows the cookie, quickly, and nods. "Sure," she says, "I'd love to! It would be like when I was in school A little."
She laughs, sheepishly. "I'm off on Thursday, so how about Wednesday night?"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"It's a little complicated," Ayame admits. "He likes working directly with the students, but the vice principal spot would be a lot more stability... and, yes, better pay. That would help too." A smile. "It would be nice. We could stay in Sumaru!"
"Yes," Ayame agrees. "...I'm so glad. I couldn't bear the thought that something like that would come between us, after all this time." ...Not to mention, of course, she'd be in a very rough position that way, financially and otherwise. But she doesn't mention that part; instead she smiles back.
"Oh, good!" Ayame brightens a little further. "...Ahahah, I guess it would be a little, wouldn't it?" Ayame picks up one of her cookies. "Wednesday night would be perfect," she says. "Let me know if you'll need anything around the apartment before then, and I'll be sure to get it. And we'll have our phones, so just call us at the hotel if you need anything, all right?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Ah, I see, though... he wouldn't work with the kids as much if he was vice principal," Reiko says, with a nod. It's a little like leaving the patrol beat to be a detective, she supposes. Except, of course, that she ended up halfway between both -- at least, until that paperwork goes through.
She smiles at Ayame, too, and nods her head quickly. "Me, too. It's hard to imagine something like that with you two... but I'm a little biased."
She shifts backward onto the couch, and picks up a third cookie -- officially more than she should do -- and then she tilts her head to the side. "I can do that. Maybe I can order pizza? If that's okay. And find a few movies, too."
She scratches her cheek. "And if you could leave some cookies, w-well..."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Right," Ayame says. "So there's ups and downs. On the other hand, he's very good at the administrative work too..."
But she smiles back. "I'm glad. I feel guilty for doubting, to be honest. ...I can only imagine it because I've been worried about it. He's never been like that. He's always been my hero." Ever since back then.
But, more cookies--Ayame surreptitiously slides the plate a little closer to Reiko, because she's a terrible influence that way.
"Pizza would be fine!" Ayame confirms. "And movies would be a good idea. I know they'll be happy to see you in any case. They love Aunt Reiko."
Ayame laughs cheerfully. "Yes," she says. "I can do that."
A pause. "...How is that young person you're helping, by the way? Tsubasa-kun?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"That makes it even tougher," Reiko says, with a shake of his head. "Well... I'm confident in Ikkaku-kun. He'll figure out a way to balance what he loves and what he wants for the family." Then, she nods her head, with a smile.
"I remember," she says about him being her hero.
Then, there is a smile -- and she nods her head eagerly. Reiko loves children; she especially loves her nieces and nephews. "I'm excited for it! And I love them, too. I'll find some great movies."
She grins and takes another cookie -- and then she looks up. Her eyes blink.
"They're doing okay," Reiko says. "They've... gotten into some trouble. I'm worried about them. But... they're a good kid, and they need someone who sticks by them."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Yes. I'm sure he will. And I'll help, of course."
Reiko remembers--of course she does. Ayame seems... happier, than she has been in a while. There's a few things on her mind, but she's generally in a better place. ...Though there are dangers that she can't share with Reiko, at the moment...
She is still smiling regardless. "I know you do. It makes me really happy that you're in their lives. ...Not that our parents have always made that easy," she sighs.
But Tsubasa! "Mm, I see... I'm a bit worried, too. I've had a chance to meet them a couple of times now." She grimaces. "They saw me with Mother."
"...But I agree. I'm glad that you're sticking with them."
Warning 'my-desc' for Ayame Watanabe(#524PenA):
player is missing description
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Mm-hm!" Reiko agrees, with a cheerful nod. Her sister does seem happier -- and less tired, less weighed upon. That is a breath of fresh air.
She keeps smiling, though it fades for a second, at the mention of their parents. "I know," she says. "And... I'm sorry about that. I wish I didn't have to put you in an awkward position. I know..."
She trails off. She hesitates for a moment, and then she frowns. She can only guess what their mother said. She feels her insides turn to ice as she imagines it. Her eyes close, for a second. "...I'm sorry," she repeats. "I hope--I hope it wasn't too awkward."
She opens her eyes to look at Ayame, then she nods. "I'll stick by them. It's... well, I care a little more than they'd say a parole officer should. Though maybe that's part of the--ah, you know."
Reiko sighs.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"It's fine," Ayame says. "Or... Well, it's not fine," she clarifies, "But it's also not your fault. So don't worry, all right?" After all, their parents have chosen to try to come back into Ayame's life now. It's... difficult. "Thank you. No, it was... Well. She took issue with the fact that I was allowing someone 'like Tsubasa-kun' to speak with my children. Bad influences, she said."
To care... Ayame smiles. "It's good to care. I know that it's expected to have a certain distance, but... They're still so young. They need someone in their corner."
"...But what is it? Part of the problem, you think?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"I... yeah. I understand," Reiko says, her voice still a little quiet. "I'll try to not worry. It's just a little hard, with them." Especially when Reiko often needs their financial support; she can only just afford her apartment in Yongen-Jaya, and their parents have a way of helping Reiko out when she needs financial support.
She shifts a little bit, and then she smiles. She takes a bite of her cookie, then she nods. "Mm. Yeah," she says. "They do. Their parents... well, I could say something, but I don't want to be rude."
Then, she looks up at Ayame. She hesitates for a second, before she nods. "Yeah. Sorry, I don't mean to speak ill of police work. Just, sometimes, I don't... know if we're doing as much good as we could, or if it's... quite what I thought it would be, or..."
She sighs. "Sorry. It's been a lot, lately. I've had some long days with the Kaneshiro incident."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame wishes she could step in for them instead--but three children and a wife is already a lot on Ikkaku's salary. And their parents do have money. "I understand," Ayame asys. "But I've never blamed you. Not once."
She smiles back, and bites her own cookie. Their parents... "Mm," Ayame says. "Yes, I understand I think."
"...Ah." Police work. "I imagine you have. A man like that changing overnight, confessing his crimes... I suspect there's a lot that's had to be done because of it. It's caused trouble for a lot of people, even if you'd think it would be the good kind of trouble, getting a man like that off the streets."
"...Well, I support you," Ayame says. "Whatever you do, just remember that I'm in your corner. All right?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"I know you haven't, onee-chan. Just... sometimes, I'm good at blaming myself when others won't," Reiko says, with a smile and a sigh. "I know, though."
She nods her head. There is a flicker of worry again across her face -- that worry about Tsubasa, and the desire to check on them. But, she puts that down for now, even if she gets an idea. She sits on it for a second, though.
She looks up, instead, and nods. "Yeah. It's good he's off the streets," she says. "I... have some doubts about these 'Phantom Thieves.' If they're even really doing what people say they are. But... it's a lot of work, too."
She smiles, a little thinly, then. "Thanks, onee-chan. I know you are. I'll be fine, I promise. Maybe I should take a vacation day or two, once things have calmed down."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"That's true," Ayame says, but she has a worried sort of expression when she says it. "As long as you know."
But, Tsubasa... there's little else Ayame can say for the moment. Instead they discuss Kaneshiro and, "These Phantom Thieves," Ayame agrees, "Seem to be doing a good thing. ...But that's a frightening power to put into the hands of just anyone, isn't it? They've only targeted criminals and abusers so far, but..."
"Well, I suppose time will tell. I'm sure they give you a lot of work in any case."
She smiles back. "You should!" Ayame agrees, though she has a sudden doubt that Reiko... will. "Maybe sooner than that, even."
She picks up her tea, and takes a sip. "Breaks are important!"
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"Yeah," Reiko says. "If it's real. I can't explain Kaneshiro's confession some other way. But such a thing being possible... it's hard to imagine, and I'm left wondering. Could it be blackmail or something?"
She, clearly, doesn't know the truth.
Reiko smiles -- and she grins sheepishly at the reminder that breaks are important. "I know. Maybe... well, maybe I'll try to take a trip somewhere, or something. It might be nice to go visit Inaba again, or..."
She scratches her cheek. "...well, I'm not sure I'll have that much time. Maybe something that's easier to do as a daytrip."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"If it's real," Ayame remembers isn't a sure thing. She has long tended to believe in strange things, though. "I don't know," she says truthfully. "But I know I'm glad he's in jail."
Still--breaks! "Hmm. Maybe not that long a break," she admits. "But it would be nice to see you take some time off, too. Especially since you're giving Ikkaku and me time!"
With the kids!
Ayame smiles. "...Are you still hungry?" she wonders. "I could make you something..."
Ayame is going to fuss over her sister. That's just going to happen.
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
Reiko nods her head. "I am, too. The things he did... I'm glad we could arrest him, however it happened," she says. She considers the things Myunghon said -- it was somewhat mysterious, as if they were involved. They must have investigated him on their own.
"That's a break, too, though! Watching them is fun," Reiko says. Even if, perhaps, that isn't really a break -- though it is fun for her.
"I take your meaning, though," Reiko says. Then, she blinks. Would she have dessert before dinner? Yes.
"W-Well, sure," she says. "If you're okay with that!"
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"I don't even like to think about the sorts of things he was doing," Ayame admits. Taking advantage of vulnerable people like that...
Well. Mysteries aside. "THat is not a break," Ayame says with a little laugh. "But I'm glad it feels like one." She knows better than anyone how much work it is looking after them--but at the same time, it's something she's happy to do. And it seems, so is Reiko now and then!
Still...
"Good!" Ayame answers. "I happen to have a few things I could whip together for dinner..."
Ayame stands up, and starts towards the kitchen. "I'll make extra, so you can take some home with you."
<Pose Tracker> Reiko Shimizu has posed.
"I don't either," Reiko says -- and omits that she knows. She was in the room with him during the confession, and she went with the group that made the arrests based on his confession. She saw some one of the dens; that's not something she is likely to forget.
But, she doesn't need to burden her sister with that.
She laughs at the mention of it not being a break. "I know, I know..." Then, she hops up to her feet -- and she nods. There are a few cookies. They're not forgotten, they're just for dessert later. After dinner.
"You could?" Reiko asks. "You're the best, onee-chan! That would be a big help!"