2025-11-11: A Long Way From Home
- Log: 2025-11-11 A Long Way From Home
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Hibari Aoki
- Where: Underground Mall, Shibuya, Tokyo
- OOC Date: November 11, 2025
- IC Date: August 09, 2012
- Summary: Ren and Hibari run into each other at the Underground Mall in Tokyo. While Ren is still uncomfortable around her at first, they make an effort to relax since she left Inaba before their arrest and expulsion from Yasogami High School. She shares that she's enrolled at Kasugayama and a hint of why, before the two start talking about the food they miss from their hometown and making a deal about cooking and finding new eateries.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
After finishing a morning shift at Rafflesia, Ren takes the time to do a bit of overdue shopping at the Underground Mall. A couple of weeks back, they'd been checking out Body Chop, but due to running into Yukari and Akihiko, hadn't actually been able to make the purchase they'd wanted. After that, things have been happening one after another... But today, they're making a point to fix that. They'll be meeting someone soon in Mementos, so it's the perfect time.
So today, they're back. Being a literal hole in the wall, the selection isn't that expansive, but what is here is pretty nice. On top of nail polish, there's also incense, perfume, lipstick... They pick up a tube of that, in an intensely red color. It's quite beautiful, actually. Would it be too much to pick this up too...?
They check the price sticker. It is a hot ¥6,000 for a single tube.
"Oof," Ren utters, paling, and carefully puts it back.
They'll have to stick with what they've got for now: a bottle of black nail polish and a bottle of nail polish remover. The two of these together is already expensive enough, and they have to be careful with their money right now. Maybe they shouldn't be making this purchase at all, but... they've been wanting to experiment more with make-up, and summer--when they aren't in school--is the best time to do it. If they stick with buying groceries at the supermarket in Yongen and cooking food at home, as they've started doing for the past few days after comparing the prices of groceries vs. getting meals from Triple Seven, they should be okay.
(Who'd think that having your guardian vanish on you with no indication of when he might return would make someone suddenly so fiscally responsible... Still, one needs a little something nice in one's life to make it worth living, and Ren's decided right now this will be it.)
As for the nail polish remover, Ann had already recommended that, but after having to remove the pink polish she'd painted their nails with without proper polish remover, they absolutely aren't going without this time. If they're getting the polish, they're getting remover to go with it.
After making their purchase, they walk out into the mall proper and look up and down the aisles. They aren't planning on buying anything else right now, but it might be nice to check out some clothes and jewelry while they're here... Just to look.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
The worst part of getting into makeup is, indeed, the price of some of the options.
Honestly, that's true of fashion in general, which is why Hibari spends so much time looking rather than buying; she has to keep an eye out for good deals and things within her budget rather than simply getting whatever she wants.
It's harder for her than some people, too, because she's heavyset. One of the stereotypes is that if someone has that much to eat to be heavy they must be rich, so clothes that fit her properly often cost more for that reason alone. And that's if she can find it at all. Fortunately, you can do a lot with online ordering these days, and sometimes Hibari does.
But there's no real replacement for looking around yourself, which is why she's investigating a wrap skirt. It's a little more than she wants to spend today on a single item, though - especially if she's going to be spending some time out of town, she needs to be responsible with her yen - so she sets it back, turning aside -
- is that...?
Hibari wasn't expecting to see Ren today, and if she had not met them not that long ago she might not have recognized them immediately; it's still somehow out of place to see them somewhere that isn't Inaba. But she knows they're around, she knows they must shop places like this, and given they're both looking at clothes, they're not even that far away. And so -
"Ren-san!" Not 'Ren-kun' like she used last time; for whatever reason she's stepped back a little bit, even though Hibari is the sort of person to be pretty chummy with people she likes. Hibari of course is as distinctive as ever; her hair is still the ombre into vivid red so she's easily identifiable (and hard to miss) even at a distance.
"Fancy seeing you here. Out to pick up something?" You never know what someone is looking for in a place like this. Could be anything!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The bitter irony is that if Ren were still living at home, they'd have plenty of money to buy clothes and make-up--but their parents, whose money they'd be using, would never approve of it or let them express themself freely... All things considered, Ren prefers being poor but free to do as they will. ...more or less.
As they admire a few outfits in the clothing store near Body Chop, someone calls their name. They turn to look, and see Hibari approaching. Likewise, if they hadn't met her recently, they might not have recognized her at first with that dyed hair--but they have, and so she's actually very recognizable as a result. They tense up, but manage to keep that off their face this time. She moved away from Inaba a couple years ago, and it was clear when they met at Leblanc that she doesn't know what's going on with them now. Besides, they always got on okay before. It's not her fault. They offer her a slight smile--and while they do notice the 'Ren-san' vs. 'Ren-kun,' they don't remark on it. Better not to make things awkward.
"Yeah, just a couple small things for a friend," they reply. The last part is a lie, but it's a lie in service of not having to explain why they, seemingly a boy, are buying cosmetics. They hold up the Body Chop bag--a small one, barely bigger than their palm--and add, "I already picked it up, actually. Now I'm just looking around." They lower their hand. "What about you?"
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Back in Inaba, Hibari would never have dared to dye her hair, for some of the same reasons as Ren... there is no way her mother would have approved, and she would never have heard the end of it... if she wasn't forced to re-dye it into a 'normal' colour immediately. It's a wonder that her father has, actually, given she's still living with him.
While it's clear that Hibari didn't know what was going on last time, that's actually less true this time - though Hibari has always been pretty good at keeping a secret, and it doesn't show on her face. Only the 'Ren-san' is different; she still has a smile for them.
"Mmm," Hibari says, apparently taking the explanation at face value. Why wouldn't she? "A girlfriend, or someone else? They must trust you if you're picking... though if you just got a list, it's a little different." Even so, Hibari can't imagine getting someone else to shop for makeup for her. Clothes she orders, sometimes. Makeup she never does.
As for her? "Oh, I was just browsing," she admits, with a smile. "I was meeting someone here; that's come and gone, but I thought that since I was here anyway I thought I'd look around. It's a surprisingly complete mall for being in the tunnels... and packed! I've been here before but I always find a shop I've never really looked at, every time."
"So I should ask you if there's any hidden gems I ought to look at," Hibari adds, with another smile. "I know a lot about Sumaru, but when we get out to Tokyo, I generally have to ask. I don't know nearly as many people or places here. So I may as well ask someone I know!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Right, right. It's been a couple years, but the more they interact with Hibari, the more they remember, ah, right, she's a friendly person, easy to get along with because she's happy to do the talking. Case in point: she actually asks follow-up questions. Their pulse speeds up a bit, but once again, they manage to keep it off their face.
"Oh, it's just nail polish. All I needed to grab was a color and some remover. Nothing fancy," they reply, which is the truth. They do a good job of making it sound natural and not awkward, in their own opinion. They nod at her response. "Summer's the time for that. It's pretty convenient here, too. They've got a lot of stores." They might not be very big, but it's good for getting something as long as what you're looking for isn't too eclectic.
It is packed, though. Ren glances around, then steps off to the side, closer to the walls, before turning back to her. "There's a grocery store here that sells some excellent uji matcha cakes. Another friend of mine loves them." She likes food, so that should be a good tidbit... What else did she like? They cast their thoughts back, then continue, "Then there's a music store next door to that, and they've usually got some good stuff."
They do pause, though, because there is an elephant in the room that needs addressing. Hibari isn't acting out of the normal, but if she's changed the way she addresses them... "Uh, by the way..." Ren rubs the back of their neck, self-conscious. "Sorry about acting weird the other day at Leblanc, Hibari-san." They used 'Hibari-senpai' before, but that was a kneejerk reaction; with the two of them at different schools now, it feels a little weird. "It was nothing against you. I've just... got some stuff going on."
They pause, then add, "I like your hair color, by the way. Very bold. When did you start dying?" They hadn't really stopped to think about it last time, but it does seem unusual for her from what they remember of her in Inaba. Maybe city living has been good to her, too.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Hibari has always been chatty. And curious. And gossipy - but when people talk to her about sensitive things, she's also good at keeping her mouth shut afterwards. She just... likes to talk, and to find out about people.
Which is possibly not a plus here! It generally works out pretty well for her, though.
But it does mean that Ren is definitely fielding some extra questions from her. She accepts the explanation without thinking twice, though, nodding along - though she does note that they didn't actually say who it was for, or reply to her asking about a girlfriend. She drops it for now, but she will almost certainly remember there was no *denial* later, even if it also didn't get an agreement.
Hibari matches Ren's step over to the side to get out of the way; she's always been pretty careful about not being in the way. She brightens at the music store: "I'll definitely have to check it out before I go home, then," she agrees. "Thanks! I heard that Paulownia also has a good music store... I'll be heading up there sometime next week, I think, I've got some friends up there for the summer. Well, you know Ichika-chan, obviously!"
When did she start dyeing? "Oh, a few months ago!" Hibari frowns, as if trying to count months... "Yes, February," she decides. "I've been trying to find a good one. But I thought it was time for a change... Thank you!" She smiles brightly at the compliment.
There really is an elephant in the room, though...
...and it's not being addressed as Hibari-san, which is fine by her. They don't go to school together anymore, after all, so it does feel a little odd. Perhaps that's why she switched to '-san', too; they hadn't even spoken in a couple years until that day at Leblanc, so they certainly aren't close these days.
"Mmm," she says, thoughtfully. "I actually should be honest with you; I asked around a little bit. I hear a lot of things - well, you're not from Sumaru, but we love our gossip out there." Rumourmongers... "Though I don't hear much about Shujin in particular unless I ask... I kind of ignore it otherwise." She has her own reasons for avoiding Shujin.
"I didn't mention how I knew Ichika-chan, did I? We go to school together." At Kasugayama, though she doesn't quite come out and say it.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
While Ren is fairly sure that Hibari is fine and wouldn't get weird about it or spread it around... well, while they were more talkative when they were a young kid, over time, they've become a more private person, generally keeping their personal information to themself. They do have a girlfriend, but the polish isn't for her... and it doesn't feel right for her to learn they have a girlfriend at all before their friends do.
Whom they have yet to tell that they're dating. They're not keeping it a secret, exactly, just... the time never seems to be right to bring it up.
"It does," Ren confirms of Paulownia Mall's music scene. "I checked it out recently, and the selection's real good. It's called... Kenneth Arnold. Definitely check it out." They smile slightly and nod--they do indeed know Ichika. They're not close, but they consider her a good person. Even when she came to Shujin Academy with Tsubasa to check out the infamous delinquent, she was... respectful about it. They like that about her.
February... That feels so long ago now, Ren realizes when Hibari specifies the month. They barely remember it. So much was going on at the time... "You're welcome," they reply, pushing that out of mind for now. "It's nice to get a good change in every so often."
She admits, though, that she asked around about them. Their eyelids droop. Right... A gossip-loving girl who lives in Sumaru would only gather even more gossip. They don't know why she'd otherwise ignore Shujin--maybe it's just because it's a school from another city, maybe it's something else--but they bow their head for a moment. "..."
But then she mentions she attends the same school as Ichika. That pulls their attention, and their eyes, back up. They don't know a lot about Sumaru, but they at least know that former all-boys' school's reputation. "I see," they say. "Then you attend Kasugayama?"
She isn't coming out and saying the dirty details, so... while they'll name the school itself, they'll let her set the pace and decide if she's leaving it at that or not.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Some people are open and some people aren't. Hibari is generally pretty good at talking to people whether they are or aren't; she's good at putting hints together, but though she is curious (or nosy, depending on who you ask) she generally has a pretty good instinct for when not to pry.
So she doesn't! About girlfriends, anyway.
"It feels like February was a long time ago," Hibari accidentally agrees, with a slight sigh. "Sometimes it feels like this last year has been, like... three years." There's been a lot for her too; not the same things as Ren, though.
Or not entirely...
She looks at Ren for a long moment, almost thoughtful, and then she nods. "That's right," she agrees. "I go to Kasugayama this year. Last year I didn't." Obviously, since last year Kasugayama wasn't taking in girls, but she means it for other reasons than that, and she expects Ren to figure it out. They're clever.
"So this is where I say that I asked one of my contacts about Shujin, and SHE gave me the name of - well, it doesn't matter. It's about five steps, but I did ask about Shujin rumours; whether you pay attention to Sumaru rumourmongers or not, well. That's what I do," Hibari says, with a slightly apologetic look.
"So I know." That Ren's a delinquent, not... everything about them, obviously. She also spotted their reaction to her words; when they ducked their head, slightly avoided her gaze for a moment until she said something to attract their attention before.
She glances left, then right, as if to see who's watching. But she continues, "You're not the ONLY delinquent in this conversation. Though, really, I wouldn't have guessed what the rumours say about you!" Is it true? is practically a question Ren can SEE her wanting to ask, but she doesn't, at least not quite as rudely directly as that.
A moment, then: "Not that I'd want to ruin your shopping day any more than I already have, or I'd ask if you want to stop for a coffee or something - but you can make better, I've had yours."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It's a little funny that Hibari unknowingly echoes Ren's thoughts about the year so far. They look at her and wonder; but there's a lot of reasons why someone might feel like the year so far is especially packed. If she's attending a school for delinquents now... And maybe there's an innocent reason for that, but given the fact that she's bringing it up in the context of learning about their rap sheet, it feels like she's trying to communicate that it's okay, she's in the same boat.
...Which is mind-boggling to consider, given that Hibari never seemed like she'd commit a crime, but neither did they. In that case... Concern shades their expression. Was she also framed...? "Is it... okay if I ask what happened?"
Hm. A name of someone in Shujin that she's leaving out. It feels like there's a couple people who've brought that up to Ren. Who exactly is monitoring him there...?
...No, she's probably right that it doesn't matter. Lots of people are monitoring Ren. Whoever it is, they're just a face in the crowd at this point.
"Mmm," they murmur, unenthusiastic, when she confirms she knows--and when she confirms that she's in the same position. They can tell she's burning to ask if the rumors are true, which doesn't make them feel great, but it honestly could be a lot worse.
They do smile when she compliments their coffee, at least. "Thanks."
They pause for a moment, smile fading as they search her face. This is a question part of them really doesn't want to ask, but the rest of them has to: "...Do you believe those rumors?"
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
It's very true that Hibari does not really seem the sort to have done something - oh, maybe some mischief, or getting into something she shouldn't, but nothing that would get her sent to a notorious school for delinquents.
And yet...
She really is curious as to what Ren will say in response to 'are they true'? They never quite come out and say anything one way or the other, but even that non-reaction is a bit of a reaction in and of itself, as is the follow-up question she's asked. It's not like they're denying it.
"I imagine some of the rumours are true and some of them aren't," Hibari says, when she's asked directly. "There's always some exaggeration. Nothing's always *entirely* true... but I doubt they're entirely false, either."
"I know you stood up to a teacher," Hibari says, "and I can believe that, especially given what happened after shows what kind of a person *he* was. I know people say you've got a criminal record. Do I think you go around punching people for fun? I doubt it!" Wait, IS that a rumour? She wasn't kidding about everything getting exaggerated in the rumourmonger game of cross-city telephone...
"As for me," and Hibari pauses a moment. "It would be rude of me to say 'no, you can't ask', when I'm asking myself! There's a rumour in Kasugayama - which I can't stop, I tried, and you understand that I'm sure - that I have a criminal record. It's true enough, but it's not..." She hesitates. "It's not quite what people think. But is it ever?" The police always just seem to make these things worse...
And then she switches the topic, somewhat of a non-sequitor: "Do you know a Kenzo Aoki? He's at Shujin this year - we're not related," she adds, hastily. There is a Kenzo Aoki in third year who arrived after moving to Tokyo before the school year started, though Ren probably has had no particular reason to cross his path. "I know this is kind of out of the blue, but... I'd recommend you stay away from him."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Hibari says that she thinks some are true and some aren't. Ren takes that to mean she finds the rumors believable, at the least. Their slouch deepens. But then she goes on about what she does and doesn't believe, and that... makes it a little better. Honestly, 'punching people for fun' is one of the tamer rumors about them...
They breathe a soundless sigh as they look back up. They don't really want to talk about it, but... ultimately, they'd rather she hear it straight from their mouth rather than having to puzzle through the many rumors people make up about them. "It's true I've got a criminal record now, but that's about it. I've been trying to keep my head down." They shrug. "Not that it's really helped. People think what they want." As always.
But... so she has a criminal record too. Ren frowns a little again in concern, especially when she says it's not what people think. "...Same here." They rub the back of their neck as they glance away. "Funny how we both ended up like that."
Kenzo Aoki? Ren looks back at her, and their blank look makes it clear they don't know the name. They shake their head to confirm it, though. "I don't have to stay away from people. People stay away from me," they reply. It might sound like a brag, but it is a mere statement of fact. "I'll remember that if I ever run into him, though." Especially since they have third-year friends who might need the warning. They pause. "Does he have something to do with your record?"
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Hibari discarded some of the more extreme rumours out of hand, because she *knows* Ren - maybe they were never best friends but they are not entirely a stranger to her. She can't imagine they changed that much, especially given how they have acted in her presence - they weren't even particularly standoffish when she and Ichika showed up when the place was closed!
There's a lot about Ren that Hibari doesn't know these days, though... and doesn't even know she doesn't know.
"People always think what they want," Hibari says, rolling her eyes as she leans absently against the wall they'd ended up at after sidestepping out of traffic's way. "That's going to be true wherever you go."
Funny how they both ended up like that... "If we keep it up they'll think everyone from Inaba is a secret mastermind," Hibari says, with a smile that shows she's trying to make light of a serious situation. "I've tried to keep my head down too, but there's only so much you can do when anyone who sees you in uniform already has their mind made up..."
But Ren says that people stay away from him. That's a little sad, Hibari thinks. She has the opposite effect these days, as people come to her. She's the hot source for gossip, and news, and even advice; a lot of students trust her more than a counselor, even if Marlowe-san is supposed to be reasonable for an adult. That she's associated with a gang is less of a problem than you'd think, given she's scrupulous about not sharing sensitive information and never gets involved in the fighting.
"...He does," Hibari agrees. "Maybe I'll give you the whole story another time, when we're not standing around in a mall." Translation: she doesn't want people to hear, even if nobody seems to be paying THAT much attention to a pair of teenagers on summer break. "But he lies, and he'll throw you under the bus if he thinks it'll get him ahead. So someone like you..."
Someone like Ren, who already has a shadow hanging over them, and is vulnerable, shouldn't get involved with him.
"But! That's for another time. Maybe this is my way of making sure you'll talk to me again," she says, with another smile that suggests it's at least half a joke. She's very good at presenting herself as sunny and cheerful... "Instead of trying to hide. I saw you tense up when you saw me."
And while she doesn't doubt that Ren could have changed - that they *could* be the inveterate criminal they're painted as - and they're more old acquaintances than friends these days, she is pretty sure they don't have anything against her, Hibari, specifically.
Though if they did she'd already be in trouble, wouldn't she? Hmm. Maybe she should have thought about that first.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"...Yeah." Ren turns and leans on the wall with her, staring out at the other shoppers passing back and forth without paying either of them any attention. Hibari jokes about it, but they can't bring themself to smile, even to make her feel better.
"That sucks," they manage, at least, of Hibari getting judged by her uniform. They mean it, too. At least Ren can avoid getting judged by random strangers on the street who only know the uniform and not the person wearing it. Hibari's shackled down by her school's reputation... She's automatically judged as soon as people look at her. ...No wonder she dyed her hair. If she's going to be judged anyway, why not? They look back at her, concern in the corners of their eyes, and add, "Must be lonely. I'm glad you've got friends, at least."
They nod when she confirms that Kenzo Aoki is a snake, even if she doesn't go into the full story here and now. (They get it. It is a hell of a place to get into dirty details like that.) "I'll watch out for him," they say when she trails off, and make a mental note to warn Makoto and Haru about him.
That's before Hibari half-jokes about getting them to talk to her. They stare for a second--and for all that she's acting sunny about it, her noting she saw them tense up before only makes them tense up again.
There's several seconds where they want to say something defensive. They bite it back and remain silent instead. After a moment, the tension seeps out of their shoulders, and they shrug again. "...Like I said. It was nothing to do with you."
She's right that they don't have anything against her, after all. It's more like... guilt by association, if anything.
"So how's your dad doing these days?" they ask, partly out of genuine curiosity, partly to change the subject. "It was a dark day when he had to close down the restaurant and move out of town with you... I miss his cooking." Leblanc's curry is fantastic, but food-wise, that's all it's got. Katsuo Shokudo had a much broader menu--great for when they dropped in after ice skating practice over in Okina City for dinner every so often as a treat to themself, or when they and their parents came in once a month or so for a meal.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Kenzo Aoki might not be as bad - or distorted - as some of the people Ren has to deal with on a regular basis, but he's still worth avoiding... and Hibari doesn't know what all Ren is up to. By the standards of normal students, she considers Kenzo pretty bad.
Honestly, the reason Hibari dyed her hair was for herself; to make a clean break with letting herself get pushed around quite so much. But that's another thing she's not willing to confide. She doesn't have that kind of a connection with Ren. She never even made it explicit with Ichika or Tsubasa - she started before she came to Kasugayama, after all. So as far as anyone else knows, it's just because she likes it.
(It does look striking on her, at least.)
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have teased," Hibari admits. But she's perfectly willing to change the subject, even if the truth isn't quite what she'd like to admit. "He's the night manager at an izakaya now," she says. "He knew someone who wanted an experienced manager; it's why we moved to Sumaru instead of somewhere else. But he doesn't get to cook as much as he'd like, nowhere near what he used to. It's the kind of place that gets a lot of office workers on their way home. More drinks than Katsuo Shokudo, and less food."
"But it's one of the places that stays open real late, and then he handles closing. So it means he works nights, so I hardly see him half the time. And when I do see him, he's usually tired." And they don't always agree, these days - much less than they used to. "I stay out of his way."
She's already been a disappointment to him once, after all...
"I don't really miss Inaba," Hibari admits. "I mean, I miss it some, but I like Sumaru. I suppose I'm better at the big city than I'd thought I would be!" Though she has kept her country accent, at least partially out of stubbornness - it's where she came from and she won't be ashamed of being rural. "But I do miss the old restaurant, too. I handle a lot of the cooking at home these days." She doesn't mind cooking - but she does mind that her father doesn't have the energy for it.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren can certainly relate with keeping personal matters personal.
"You're fine," they reassure her. "We've all got our ways of coping." A shrug. "As for me, it's in the past and I can't do anything about it, so I'd rather not think about it more than I have to." ...so joking about it definitely isn't going to land with them. They don't hold it against her that she did, though. They just... can't find it funny.
The news that Mr. Aoki's working at an izakaya gets a thoughtful hum. "That's a shame..." Both that he doesn't cook as much anymore, and that Hibari doesn't get to see him as much. The way she phrases it, though--'I stay out of his way'--ticks the thought that maybe Hibari's dad didn't believe in her and/or have her back, either. The problem isn't whether you're innocent or guilty, it's that you got in a position where you could /look/ guilty... Some kind of bullshit like that.
Ren gives her a long look, concern once again reflected in their dark eyes. However, they know if it were them, they wouldn't really want to talk about it. Granted, that's them and not Hibari, but she already said she doesn't want to get into the details in this place. Maybe another time they can ask; for now, Ren leaves it alone.
At least they smile when she says she likes Sumaru and doesn't miss Inaba much. "Same here, for Tokyo. I like the big city feel," they reply. Nobody's looking over their shoulder, judging them on if they fit into a rigid mold of expected behavior. So many people are free to express themselves with bright and outrageous fashion. They might be a prisoner of fate, but seeing that sort of them gives them hope that maybe they've got some kind of future somewhere.
They do miss the stars, though.
"Whenever Leblanc opens back up, maybe you can stop by and teach me some of your recipes," they offer. "Actually, maybe you can do that now, if you've got time and that's okay...? I've gotta fend for myself right now, and I'm not that good at cooking anything that can't be heated up in a microwave." Man cannot survive on coffee alone, and Sojiro hasn't started teaching them how to make curry yet. "Even a texting link to some basic recipes would help a lot," they add as an out, figuring Hibari probably does not want to come over to their place to teach them basic survival skills. With recipes, they can figure it out. Eventually.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
Well, now Hibari knows Ren won't smile for it. That's fine. Everybody handles things differently. She's always handled things by being cheerful and friendly and upbeat; when she was sad, she didn't let it show. And soft; willing to let herself get pushed around. That's different these days, at least.
Perhaps surprisingly, Hibari is the one that doesn't meet Ren's gaze when they look over, concerned. Hibari's current relationship with her father is... confused. And confusing. Even she's not entirely sure where she stands with him. Some days it's almost like it always was, and others...
At least he was happy with her grades. SOME things end up going right.
"It's totally different than Inaba," Hibari agrees. "I mean, there are some things I miss, of course. I think that's true of everywhere. But overall? Sumaru's been better... and I always enjoy my trips into Tokyo too." Like today!
But then Ren makes an offer.
Hibari smiles. It doesn't sound like they know how to cook much of anything, which means... "I could," she agrees. "And everyone should know how to cook! At least a little," she adds, because she knows that not everyone has the time, attention, or interest in being a really good cook. "Just to feed yourself, at least."
She considers for a moment, then: "If you give me your number, I can text you some basics. Some things anyone can do if they only have directions - there's more than you'd think, as long as you've got a good knife." And a few other tools, but if Leblanc has curry, they certainly have access to pots and pans and other kitchen miscellany - but some cooks don't like other people using their knives. "You're not one of the people who's afraid of using one, are you? I know some people really don't like having anything sharp near their fingers."
"And then soon, I *can* come by and give you some tutoring, if you want. Cooking tutoring," she clarifies. "I'm not real good at teaching anything else. Maybe math." She's a little thoughtful about that one. "But it's break, so I've certainly got time!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Yeah. That's the look of someone who's got a sore spot about their dad. Ren can relate to that too. Not asking for details was the right call. Maybe some other time, if they get more comfortable with each other.
"Glad you've got that going for you," Ren says, of her overall experience with Sumaru. "Sumaru seems like an interesting city... I've been by a couple times, but only in Hirasaka for this amazing book store. The rest of the city, I haven't really checked out." Maybe they should change that while they have the time this summer... "Any place over there you recommend?"
They nod in regard to cooking. They don't want to be a master chef or anything, but they're realizing more and more that not having a basic grasp of cooking is really limiting in terms of one's independence. Maybe they could just look up online tutorials or buy a cookbook or something, but Hibari seems to want to re-establish a relationship, and they know cooking is important to her--and they like her and her dad's cooking, too. It genuinely would be nice to learn from her, or at least get pointed in a direction she thinks is good.
They nod and pull out their smartphone to exchange phone numbers. The corner of their mouth quirks upward at her question. "Nah, I'm fine with knives. Thank you." They pause. "I'd feel bad if I made you do that for me with nothing in return. Is there anything I can do for you? We'll make it a deal--keep it fair."
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
For someone who used to be so close with her parents, especially her father, it is a big change. But everything changes, doesn't it?
"The Cardboard Dragon?" Hibari guesses, because let's be honest - there are not a lot of book stores you'd describe as 'amazing' in Hirasaka. "I go there fairly regularly. I wouldn't be much of a rumourmonger if I didn't keep up with Yeo-san," she says, with a slight grin, "but I like the books too. Even if I can't read some of them."
Seriously, who's going to be able to read 1900s Russian or French literature? Not her! It had better have a translation.
But at the question, she's thoughtful. "If you like beaches, or want to go - by yourself or with some friends - Ebisu Beach is pretty nice. That's in Konan Ward," she adds, so that Ren can actually find it. "I live in Konan Ward, so I see it all the time - when it's summer it gets a lot of visitors, but there's actually more when it's *pretty* hot as opposed to *really* hot. If you're into it - and I don't know if you are! - there's the Aerospace Museum too."
"Other places... there's Mt. Iwato in Rengedai, and if you want to go shopping, Aoba Ward's the place. I suppose you're not as interested in a spa," she says, thoughtfully, "but maybe you know someone who is." She can't see Ren in a spa.
(She may be suffering from a lack of imagination on the topic.)
And as for cooking, Hibari does like it. Oh, she likes eating, too - she likes trying new things especially - but cooking is a big relief valve for her stress. She does it to let her hands work while she thinks, or calms herself down. It's just something she can lose herself in. Plus, it leaves her with something nice to hand out at the end of it; she likes sharing what she makes as much as she likes making it.
So Ren's overture is very positively received. She pulls out her own phone to pass over numbers - "A deal, huh?" she says, thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought about it. I'm sure there'll be *something*, sooner or later, but you know, nothing is immediately coming to mind. Unless you've got an offer?" She smiles. "We can put a pin in that for now if you'd rather..."
Maybe she likes having a favour on tap. ...Or maybe she's just being generous.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yeah, that's the one," Ren replies, giving Hibari her first full smile. "Yeo-san's pretty cool, huh? The selection they've got there is incredible." But... huh. So Hibari's not just a gossip-lover but a full-on rumormonger too, huh... That's a perfect role for her. "They were going to have some books sent to me, but maybe I can go there to hang out more instead, just to have an excuse to come by Sumaru more. At least until school's back in session."
Ebisu Beach and the Aerospace Museum in Konan Ward, Mt. Iwato in Rengedai, Aoba Ward for shopping... Ren takes notes on their phone. They've been to Aoba Ward at least for that art show, but they didn't exactly stick around afterwards, much less check out the shopping options. "A spa?" they wonder, glancing up. "I have a lot of girl friends... that is, friends who are girls," they add, because they heard how it sounded as soon as they said it, "so I might check it out, see if it's someplace they'd like."
However, they offer Hibari a deal in exchange for her helping them learn how to cook, and she suggests they make an offer. They think about it for a moment. If she doesn't know that many places in Tokyo... They think back to a recent conversation they had with Katsuko and suggest, "How about I look into good restaurants around Tokyo and recommend them to you once I can vet them? I've got one place I can recommend to you off the top of my head in exchange for whatever you're about to send me--a ramen place in Ogikubo. I can text you a pinned location for it."
That might be intriguing to Hibari, since Ogikubo is famous for being perhaps Tokyo's most important ramen neighborhood. If she agrees, they'll send her that text once they get hers.
<Pose Tracker> Hibari Aoki has posed.
"It's worth the trip," Hibari agrees, though Ren knows that - they've been already! "And I do like Yeo-san, yeah... they're just down a couple blocks from Kasugayama so I used to walk by after class." She doesn't right now because, well.
No class.
Hibari caught that correction. She can't help but grin at it, but: "Yes, a spa. Down Aoba Way. I get its name wrong half the time... - ah, Esaria? Etheria?" She got it right that time. "It's very... colourful. I mean, it's actually mostly white, but they use stained-glass windows, so it ends up with an interesting set of colours." She's only been once or twice herself.
But Ren makes an offer...
Hibari thinks about it for a moment. "Cooking for cooking, in a way," she says, thoughtfully. "There's a certain fairness to that. It works for me." She pushes off the wall so she can offer a hand for Ren, because it only seems right to go with it. "You'll have to wait until I get home," she adds, "I don't have them on my phone." She doesn't really need basic tutorials anymore, after all! "But I don't have time to go to Ogikubo today either, so no loss."
"But, deal, then." She offers her hand.