2025-10-19: Fishing for Rumors
- Log: Fishing for Rumors
- Cast: Kazusa Motojima, Katsuko Yoshinaga
- Where: Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome, Tokyo
- OOC Date: October 19, 2025
- IC Date: Saturday, July 28, 2012 (After School)
- Summary: Katsuko is out to get some information, and tries to ply Kazusa for it. The attempt doesn't go as planned, though.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Finally exams were over. Kazusa wouldn't ever admit it out loud but she felt a huge weight off of her shoulders for the moment. Though now there was only the dread of waiting for the results, waiting to see what her father would think of her efforts.
There's nothing more she'd like to do than to get out of here, but... she can't leave just yet. But she won't wait out her time in the classrooms, either. No, today she is outside in the front of the school, still inside the gate and the grounds, but off to the side, out of the flow of traffic. She's found a shady spot to wait, and she's pulled out her phone--a smartphone, naturally--and is idly scrolling through it.
She has long straight black hair and purple eyes, and she wears her uniform shirt untucked. She's flaunting the dress code a little with pink nail polish and matching hot pink socks, but... well, she's rich. Rules are for other people to follow, right?
Either way, it's a rare moment to get to her while she's alone, not that anybody would dare approach her under most circumstances. (If you have to ask if it's okay if you approach her, it definitely isn't okay.)
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko was the very picture of grace, even as she strode from the day's last exam. Sharp, deliberate footfalls at a rhythmic pace took her from the classroom to the entrance, with barely a wasted movement present. Even her hair, shoulder-length and raven black, barely seemed to shift unless it was bid to, leaving no more than a strand or two out of place. All of which were pressed unceremoniously down before they could prove to be a nuisance. It seemed that whoever she had arranged to wait for was not as punctual as her, however, if the slightly-furrowed brow she displayed when looking at a recent text was any indication.
Something - or, rather, someone - did manage to lift her mood when she saw them. her expression hardly changed, and her posture was as stiff as a statue's all throughout, but it softened just enough that anyone looking closely might have noticed.
"Motojima-san, I presume?" Katsuko said. her voice was cold and flat - polite, but devoid of any real feeling. A greeting that two corporate types with no illusion of friendliness might have given to each other. "I've been hoping to make your acquaintance." The words didn't sit right on her tongue, being a little more verbose and formal than she'd have liked, but she judged it better than being too informal.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa can exude grace when she wants to--she's on the Rhythmic Gymnastics team, after all, she has grace in spades. When she chooses to use it, at least. Right now she is very gracefully... leaning against a wall. And her expression is one of bored disinterest as she flicks through her phone. She doesn't have to put on an act for anyone at the moment--possibly save that of 'do not disturb the Demon Queen.'
Her eyes flick upwards from the screen as Katsuko approaches, and the expression subtly shifts into one of cold analysis as she looks over who's approaching her. Not a second year or first year--a third year, and as she thinks on it, the name comes to her, there was another subtle shift to recognition.
She stood up, her posture changing from one of apathy to confidence as she stood up straighter, phone slipped back in her pocket. She puts on a small smile, and puts warmth into her voice, but it is entirely performative, polite warmth. "Yoshinaga-senpai," she says smoothly. "To what do I owe this honor?"
She'll be polite, at least for now. Katsuko is an upperclassan of hers, after all, and comes from a similar world as hers.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko looked to Kazusa, and for a moment, time began to slow. Her eyes shifted only subtly so as not to arouse suspicion, but those slight shifts in her perspective let her drink in a plethora of information. Dress sense, posture, her form of address and how it aligned with whatever expression was worn - anything that could prove useful in getting what she wanted. Throughout it all, any shifts in Katsuko's mannerisms were subtle at best, and outright imperceptible at worst. It was like talking to a statue, with a voice as cold as stone to match.
She had no illusion that there was any real warmth or desire for friendship between them. If the rumours were true in even the loosest sense of the term, then it was likely that they both knew how the game was played, and the best she could hope for was a cordial relationship. Not that she minded. Rumours weren't needed to know that Katsuko hardly had any friends worth mentioning, if any at all
"Simple conversation, that's all." Katsuko replied bluntly. It was a blatant like that she didn't even attempt to hide, bar whatever tone of voice was needed to not attract the attention of those passing by. "I'd heard your father's company did well last quarter, and wanted to congratulate you both."
She stood, still and silent as she awaited a reply, her arms hanging by her side. Even in that state, they appeared rigid, as if she had to force herself to appear even remotely casual and at ease.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
To Katsuko's observations, Kazusa's posture--at least, now that she wss dealing with someone--was tightly controlled. Not in the same way that Katsuko's was, not statue-rigid and unmoving, but in the way of a gymnast who knows how to coordinate every motion, who knows how to perform. And even the way her uniform shirt is untucked is a subtle statement, that she dares to break molds and trends while others follow them.
It's no secret that Kazusa has a clique of followers, though none of them are here at the moment.
Simple conversation. "Is that all?" She sees through the lie, but doesnt call Katsuko out on it yet. But her family's company, last quarter... Kazusa casually brings up a hand to inspect the nails. "Well, I can hardly take any credit for the company's success, as I'm sure you understand." She let her hand drop and looked up to Katsuko again. "But I'll pass along your regards. And I hear your father's company is also doing well. I'jm sure your father's hard work contributed to their success."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko turned the words over in her mind, analysing them as best she could in that split second between their parts of the conversation. She had no doubt that Kazusa was sharp enough to see through whatever pleasantries she offered - Kazusa dismissing them so quickly didn't bother Katsuko in the slightest. It was the comments about her own father's company that left Katsuko trying to figure out an appropriate response. How much information did she want to reveal? How much should she reveal? How much did Kazusa herself know, in order to make such an assertion so confidently? There were more factors at play than could be accounted for in such a short amount of time, so she spoke carefully, with a calm and even tone that betrayed little of her mind.
"I've no doubt everyone there had a part to play in recent successes." Katsuko responded. A vague and noncommital answer, given as much to stall for time to think of a real response as it was to try and appear at least a little humble. "Government contracts are always good to have, if you don't mind all the paperwork." Though it was not news that would have been broadcast from every available outlet, it was hardly a secret either. It was public knowledge that the talks were happening - a sign that a deal had all but been reached. "What of your father's business? I've heard some rumblings as of late. Good ones, mind you."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa was mostly offering a reciprocal, but empty platitude back for the compliment of her own father's work. She isn't doing as much in-deepth analysis as she waits for Katsuko to reply, which isn't to say she isn't making any. But her calculus is, in 0part, measuring if sh can get something from this conversation. But the much larger part is that she has to keep up appearances. More than with her interactions with other students, this was the type of thing that could get back to her father.
But if the focus is going to be on her father... well, she'll reserve judgement a little while longer.
"Of course," she says, of everyone pitching in. "I have no doubt of that. And I assume it is the same for the Motojima Corporation." But government contracts... "So I hear," she says, almost dismissively. "Though of course, I wouldn't be privy to the details such things." She shrugs, casually. "As for Motojima Corporation... this year we've been releasing new OLED TV models that are selling very well... though of course, you could find that out from the trades."
Implicit in that that last comment is a subtle challenge. 'What are you here for that you can't get elsewhere?'
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
The challenge did not go unnoticed. The issue stemmed from how to respond to it. There were any number of ways that she could, be they blunt or be they subtle, but each carried with them their own unique risk. Not to mention all the moving parts, as well as the unpredictability of the human psyche. It was a perilous path to tread, but one she needed to tread if she were to extract the information that she needed.
"So I've seen. " She said, attempting to buy more time. It would only be a few seconds at most, but those few seconds could prove vital.
She considered the person she spoke to. She considered the position she was in, and how little information she could afford to give away to someone like that. But then she reminded herself that she wasn't dealing with a simpleton that could be manipulated with some kind words and a polite smile. By all appearances, Kazusa knew what kind of game was being played, and some risk just had to be taken.
"I was just curious about your thoughts on recent events. This quarter is shaping up to be even more profitable than the last, after all."
It wasn't entirely a lie, of course. But it concealed why she even wanted such information, and made it implicit that she didn't trust Kazusa enough to know the whole truth - or was simply duplicitous enough that she didn't want to reveal it for other reasons entirely. Either way, it wasn't just a simple exchanging of pleasantries, nor Katsuko trying to establish ties with someone else's business.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa watched Katsuko carefully as she waited for the response to that subtle challenge. She was still smiling pleasantly, but the smile had started to take on a little bit of an edge. A small, polite nod as Katsuko said she saw. A non-reaction, but a recognition.
But she was still waiting for something she could action. And she would wait herself, no sense giving something away like that.
And then, the question. With a slow, deliberate gesture of her hand, she pushed a long lock of hair back behind her shoulder. "Mm. Well, I'm afraid I don't have much of an opinion on business matters." A flick of her wrist popped the rest of the lock behind her shoulder. "I'm rather busy with the Rhythmic Gymnastics team, you see. I leave most of the business matters to my father."
She paused a moment and then smiled. "But if there was something specific you were interested in, I might have an opinion on that." Her smile widens just a little. 'Get to the point', she seems to be saying. 'Don't fish.'
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
"Nothing in particular." Katsuko said offhandedly, as though the matter was of no great import. It was, of course - she wouldn't have been there otherwise. But she had to play it cool, and play it casual. If she appeared desperate, rather than simply curious, there was no telling just what Kazusa would do to try and take advantage of the situation. Not that Katsuko would have blamed her for it - she'd have done much the same thing. "I just wanted to confirm if some of the rumours were true. There's been talk of government contracts on your side as well."
She was utterly inscrutable, and gave no clues as to whether she was telling the truth or not. Her glare was ice, while her expression was akin to a glacier - cold and unyielding, barely shifting at all against all thrown at it.
"I don't care for hearsay, so I'd like to get to the truth of the matter. It's no matter if you aren't privy to that kind of information." She'd find out herself if she had to. If there was any information available on the man she was hunting, Katsuko would find it, no matter what.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Katsuko claims to just want to confirm the rumors of government contracts. Which marks the second time those have come up, by Kazusa's count. Which is certainly a little telling... though still a very vague line of inquiry to try and make any deductions from.
She gave an easy roll of her shoulders. "That could be the case," she admitted. "Our company is constantly making inquiries and doing due dilligence on prospective deals.... as I'm sure any company is."
And whatever she was about to say next is interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hey, onee-san!" The voice comes from a first-year student who is approaching. He's of average height, with short brown hair that perpeptually looks a little messy. And, he's also on the basketball team.
It's not too hard to place him as Kazuhiro Motojima, younger brother to Kazusa. He gives a casual wave of his hand as he approaches. "Sorry I kept you waiting. Just making some last minute plans with the guys, you know?"
Kazusa gives a dismissive flick of her hair behind her shoulder, her diplomatic mood instantly seeming to sour. "You still kept me waiting. Now come on, the driver is here."
She looks to Katsuko, offering that polite smile again. "I must be going now. It was... interesting, talking to you."
And just like that she walks off for the front gate, with Kazuhiro hastening after her.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
A disappointingly evasive answer. Katsuko knew she should have expected such a thing, but even so, it was hardly encouraging to hear such a thing. Not only did it mean she'd wasted her time, but it meant she'd showed more of her hand than she was entirely comfortable with - especially when she didn't even get anything from doing so. Whatever miniscule hope she'd had by that point vanished the second that Kazusa's younger brother made his appearance, and in seconds, her chances of finessing any useful information were dashed into pieces.
Katsuko bit back her bitterness and thinly-veiled snark, deciding instead to simply cut her losses and respond with a curt "Likewise." She doubted this would be the last time that her and Kazusa crossed paths, but she resolved to avoid it if she could help it - she had no love for Kazusa, and very much doubted Kazusa had any for her.
Without so much as a second look, Katsuko took up a more comfortable spot by the gates, and waited.