2025-11-14: One Last Birthday - SEES Side

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(|============================= Okinawa Islands ==============================|)

-============================================== Other Japan/Okinawa Region ====-

Part of an archipelago that stretches from the southern tip of Japan to nearly  

Taiwan, the Okinawa Islands are home to a distinct culture of the Ryukyuan      

people who were forced to become a part of Japan four hundred years ago.        

Resentment for being viewed as expendable stretches back much further than the  

Second World War.                                                               

Those who respect the locals will find that Okinawa is the ideal for summer in  

Japan, with its proud shisaa serving as guardians on rooftops and gates to      

households alike. The local cuisine is distinct from mainland Japan; goya       

chanpuru is a popular stir-fried delight.                                       

People can travel between the Okinawa Islands through a vast network of ferries 

that carry people to and fro, and no two of them are alike. However, one should 

be careful not to go too far off the beaten path... or violate one of its       

clearly marked sacred sites.                                                    

Sometimes the ferries take an awfully long time coming back, and if some people 

disappear here? Well.                                                           

Accidents happen all the time on vacation.                                      

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Over the two days leading up to Saturday, August 11th, something terrible has happened.

Shinjiro Aragaki has been exposed... for having a birthday.

Who could have done such a thing? Who would reveal his deepest darkest secret?

(It was absolutely Ikutsuki, the power of sending a message.)

One thing came to another, and Shinjiro was somehow convinced to celebrate it with some of the members of SEES. Perhaps even you helped convince him!

But, of course, he had conditions. He may have made them expecting they wouldn't be met.

He was wrong.

This is why, in the lovely town of Yakushima, a small outdoor rental place has been reserved almost on the spot. It's a nice, cozy little place, often reserved for parties, overlooking nature. Able to see the forest, and perhaps a glimpse of the mountains on the other islands, it is reserved solely for SEES today.

Tables and chairs are arrayed, fans are on to help with the heat and humidity, and a grill has been set up, large enough to accommodate the hungry SEES members who decided to come. Only one person could be manning this grill.

Shinjiro is wearing a long-sleeved grey t-shirt, the kind he usually wears under his coat, alongside an unzipped white hoodie. He's got jeans on and a pair of worn boots. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you'd think he overdressed.

(he still kinda is, to be honest)

Having come a little late to his own celebration because he was bringing Supplies, Shinjiro is the one manning the grill, refusing to take a no for an answer or let anyone help.

He's got personally-prepared teriyaki meats and some vegetables cooking, and they smell pretty good. He's also set up a cheap rice cooker, because like hell he's not having white rice. It's his birthday!

But he's also been quiet. Contemplative, even, as he cooks. He hasn't addressed anyone yet, so perhaps someone will have to break that silence.

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

When Minako heard that Shinjiro has a birthday coming up, she didn't hesitate to attend. He is a friend -- isn't he? -- and a comrade in SEES. That counts for something. And, besides, birthdays are important.

She is wearing an orange tanktop and shorts -- it's hot enough that she isn't about to go without that sort of clothing. She looks around at the reserved place -- with the overlook of the nearby forest -- and then she turns her head towards Shinjiro.

She beams at him, her head tilted to the side.

"Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai!" she says. She pauses for a second, glancing at the rice cooker.

"Did... did you cook for your own birthday?"

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Reiya Aomori didn't convince Shinjiro Aragaki of anything this time. But he did know it was coming...

Which is why he came prepared.

Reiya is in a loose, short-sleeved button-down and shorts, wearing sandals. It is beachy. And he carries with him a rectangular box bigger than his hand, wrapped in sedate and austere maroon paper with a black ribbon.

It's a lovely setup. The grill, the forest nearby...

He picks up said box from where he'd set it on a table, and approaches Shinjiro.

He knows they haven't always gotten along, but...

"It would seem that he did," Reiya adds to Minako as he makes his way over. "That is good. A man should take charge of things important to him."

"...With that in mind--"

Shinjiro may see Reiya present the box in both hands. "Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai. I hope this item will be of use to you, and show that I look forward to working together."

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's showed up herself. Wearing a simple white sun dress in white and trimmed in spring green. She's brought a bag herself. Fully intending to try and steal the grill, only to discover that Shinjiro wouldn't give it up. She's not sulking, but it's clear she had been excited to have a chance to cook herself!

 Whether she can steal space or not, she does help set up some skewers, just to add variety. After putting a little box on a table where others might be set up as well.

 "Happy birthday-" she starts. Realizing she'd been off in her own thoughts for a moment. Turning her head to Minako, "I know right?" Definitely not sulking a bit. Even as she nods to Reiya, "Kinda agree with him. If that's what you want to do, roll with it!"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari's kicking herself for not asking for his birthday in advance. If she did, she'd have more time to buy him a gift! Fortunately, Yakushima isn't just the Kirijo Mansion and a secluded facility.

Eventually going into town, she finds something that's- "Perfect. I bet he'll love this, even if he maybe won't say that." She says with a grin, "It's funny that it's always the guys who say girls don't say it like it is... but then there's this guy."

Despite his best efforts, she did like Shinjiro for the most part, he was a good guy, he helped her out several times - and he's far kinder than he'd admit to.

-=-=-

And now, she's there. She's wearing a YEGO T-Shirt from some store collaboration with a pair of denim cut offs, and some nice tennis shoes.

"Happy Birthday." She adds in, cheerfully to Minako's break of the silence, "He really is..." She says with a sigh, "Come on, aren't we supposed to be treating you?"

Before she glances sidelong at Reiya's assessment, "Uh... I hope that means you're not taking a turn at dinner duty at the dorms in the name of 'manhood'?"

She raises a hand, in a dismissive gesture, "From what I've heard - pretty sure you'd burn the place down."

She's got a bag held behind her back, there wasn't any offers to wrap anything at the village store. Which, well, that's fine.

She doubts he's picky about that.

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh likes birthday parties! Especially other peoples.

He's dressed in a loose cloth shirt, light jacket, shorts and sandals. Vacation apparel. And he didn't have much notice, but he carries with him a bag that's been stuffed with thin packing paper to give the illusion of festivity.

"You're working pretty hard on your birthday, Aragaki-senpai."

Rather than wait, Koh digs into his bag and presents his very useful gift: plastic wrapped blue mackerel. He must have bought it today.

"You can fry these guys."

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

BEHOLD - HITOMI.

Hitomi is wearing the same flopsome hat she's been rocking for a while, and despite plenty of fun in the sun, has clearly been wearing her sunscreen, because she is at most slightly less plae than she was before. With it is a red T-shirt declaring allegiance to a band that broke up three years ago along with some cargo shorts, which are mostly notable for having sunscreen sticking out of one leg pocket.

She also has a small box wrapped in local stationary paper in one hand.

"Yeah... haha, I guess he's dedicated... If you want us to take over, though, just say so," Hitomi speaks up, before lifting her voice: "Happy birthday Aragaki!!"

After this she cranes her head to ogle what's on the grill. The small object is proffered, though Hitomi isn't bringing it near to the grill for some reason (that's a great way to get ants). 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

A birthday! The last thing Fuuka had expected was that anyone's birthday would fall during their trip. It was a surprise - particularly, that it's Shinjiro's. She's not the type to pressure someone into things - but when he does agree to the party, she gladly elects to attend.

...Though... She does feel a little bad that he seems to be taking care of everything himself. She's asked to help, but...

...It's probably a good thing that he said no.

"Yes, happy birthday, Aragaki-san..." Fuuka agrees, as Minako wishes him a happy birthday.

She's in a light blue floral-pattern summer dress today. It is, of course, accented with frill.

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

Shinjiro's birthday. Somehow, the news got out. Was it Mitsuru? She's on a first-name basis with Akihiko; one way or the other, she'd know.

But Mitsuru respects Shinjiro's privacy too much except when it comes to his blatant truancy to just out him like that.

so obviously it was ikutsuki. i mean come on.

Either way, the Kirijo heiress is here today, because even if she's not giving up Shinjiro's secrets like 'what day did shinjiro officially become a surly little baby' she is going to celebrate them. Dressed in a pair of tan, high-waisted capris and a light purple, sleeveless button up shirt, Mitsuru's sole concession to acknowledging the heat exists is the way that long, royal red hair of hers has been done up in an elegant little bun.

Otherwise, she's still all perfect poise and and looking cool as ice. You see, as long as you keep unfaltering posture every day of your life, even subtropical humidity cannot affect you.

She's here as the others arrive, her arms folded under her chest as she watches Shinjiro work. Dark red eyes turn to regard the others, and a small, rare smile graces scarlet lips to greet them as they offer Shinjiro well wishes on this, the day of his birth.

"He would sooner throw the grill into the ocean than let anyone else touch it at this point, Mandai," is her lone aside to Hitomi, which surely must be a joke. Right?

.... R-right?

god her poker face is so hard to read--

"Regardless, at least let me help you with serving the food to the others," she asides to Shinjiro. "I suppose we'll need to assemble the proper utensils. Did you bring enough steak knives?"

...

how does

mitsuru think barbecue meals are meant to be eaten

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka wasn't about to let a fellow SEES member's birthday go uncelebrated, plus she still felt she owed Shinjiro for helping out with Eiji's palace. (Even if their first run at it had been a bust.)

She's arrived in a bright cami top, skirt, and sandals, because there's no reason to layer up in the heat. (Unless, apparently, you're Shinjiro?)

"You're... cooking for your own birthday?" she echos Minako's comment. "Don't you wanna take it easy...?"

Still... "Happy birthday, Aragaki-senpai. I've got a gift in mind for you, but..." She rubs the back of her neck a little. "... I'll have to give it to you once we're back in Iwatodai. Sorry!"

She wasn't prepared to bring a gift, unlike Reiya.

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume had no idea it was Shinjiro's birthday at all until someone (Ikutsuki) told her. She's bad at birthdays; prone to forgetting yearly dates like that anyway, and she didn't know Shinjiro's in the first place, which means she didn't even have the chance to forget it!

Unfortunately that means, like several other people, she was caught completely present-less. Which means she had a momentary panic because what do you get someone like Shinjiro? She spent some time in the same situation as a few of the others, though probably not the same shops. But, unlike most of them, she didn't manage to find anything she thought would work.

Suzume is back in shorts and a green-and-blue short-sleeved shirt. (It's too hot for anything else.) She's been dressing like that a lot when she's not actually preparing to swim, so it's not exactly a surprise, though the precise shirt is new.

"I dunno, he didn't throw me out of the kitchen that once," Suzume says, though she still seems a little doubtful about it. She didn't try to take over from him either. "But hey. Happy birthday. I don't... have a gift here," she has to admit, grudgingly. She has been defeated! "It'll have to wait for Iwatodai..."

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

As Minako approaches first, Shinjiro is finally broken out of his reverie. A nod to everyone as they wish him a happy birthday. "Thanks," he says coolly but not quite brusquely.

"It's the least I could do, right?" he adds about the cooking, before taking the gift from Reiya. "How did you prepare this in two days?" Yukari, Koh, and Hitomi have gifts too...

It might be clear he wasn't expecting anyone to learn about his birthday. Mitsuru would also know the added layer that he's never really made a big deal of it, though she certainly knew it. Indeed, there's definitely a pall over it for him this specific year.

But curiosity will get the better of him, and he acquiesces to the subtle pressure, *very* reluctantly.

"Kumamoto, watch the meat. Don't burn it," he says firmly, seeing her desire and being very serious about his cooking. He suspects she can grill. But can she grill as well as he can...?

(Sorry Fuuka, you need to level up your Proficiency to get permission to help Shinjiro's cooking.)

He'll then move over to one of the tables nearest the grill so that Moriko can remain engaged, and he'll set Reiya's box on the table.

As he opens it up, his eyes widen slowly, appraising whatever is inside. If anyone peeks to look...

There is a fine steel chef's knife, not too large, with a black handle and a steady, sharp edge. It is neither monogrammed nor excessively branded, a simple tool that is expensive for its workmanship, not its flash.

"...thank you," Shinjiro says, expression even, eyes a little narrow, breath hitched very slightly after a long pause. Whatever emotion he's feeling, he's trying to restrain it.

He's never had a gift like this before. But he's also never had a birthday party, a real one, since he was a small child.

It's very much appreciated. But it also feels wasted on someone like him.

Then, he turns to Koh's mackerel gift. He keeps his expression still restrained. "This looks good. But it gets fishy if it's not done fresh and I don't have a frier here, so I'll just prepare it and toss it on the grill in a few minutes."

As Mitsuru offers to help him serve, he tilts his head. "Are you sure?"

Yes, he was going to do that too.

"It's just forks and regular knives. We've got chopsticks too." In case anyone has a preference.

Ririka and Suzume apologize that they didn't get gifts in time. He waves them off.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"He should, huh...?" Minako says, with a glance sideways at Reiya. She cracks a smile at him, then, and tilts her head. "Is that what you do, Aomori-san?"

She looks at Moriko and cracks a smile, before she nods. Then, she looks sideways at Yukari -- and she shakes her head. "I dunno, I think cooking is pretty much perfect regardless of guy or girl." She says this, but she isn't very good at it. Then, she steps aside for Koh to give his gift.

But her eyes widen a fraction. He got Shinjiro fish!

Then she looks sideways at Mitsuru. One eyebrow quirks. "Uh, Kirijo-senpai..." But Shinjiro has it covered.

Speaking of gifts, much like Yukari, Minako has a hand behind her back. The edge of a paper shopping bag can be seen though, bouncing against her leg. "I'll help clean up," she volunteers. "And thanks for cooking, senpai. If it makes you happy... well, that's what counts!"

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

"I have neither senpai's aptitude nor interest in the culinary arts," Reiya says to Yukari. "...Though I'm reasonably sure I wouldn't set the dorm ablaze. In any case I will stick to my own skills." A look to Minako, as she inquires, and he straightens a bit, more pleased at this line of inquiry than Yukari's heckling. "Yes," he says. "I make a point of getting involved in things that interest me."

Shinjiro has a quesstion. Reiya says, "I made a concerted effort." It's that simple for him; it was important, so he did it! ...it also doesn't reveal very much...

His eyes widen, and Reiya nods. "You are welcome," Reiya says. "I hope that it adequately expresses my feelings."

he considers the others. Hmmm. Other gifts, and some without...

He smiles, though, to see Moriko given a chance to help. it's nice! "Yes," hea grees with her agreeing with him.

But Mitsuru ofers to help..

"May I also assist?" Reiya volunteers, perhaps unsurprisingly. He adds, "I only had resources to acquire the one knife..."

"...The fish looks good, too..."

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

"Hey," Suzume greets several of the others as they arrive. She's got friends here - Minako, Ririka, Fuuka, Hitomi, Koh, Reiya... okay it's mostly her friends, which is kind of novel but in a good way.

Suzume knows what she wanted to buy - a knife sharpening tool, a stone or something - but she doesn't know hardly anything about sharpening good knives (so wasn't even sure what she wanted to buy), couldn't look it up, and didn't want to get the wrong one. If they even had it here. And then she second-guessed herself and assumed Shinjiro already had one, anyway, because -

Well, why wouldn't he? If he's into cooking.

She still feels like she should have tried harder, even though she hadn't had much warning or anything. Suzume shoves her hands in her pockets.

And then she just *looks* at Mitsuru. She can't imagine her serving, either! Everything is backwards and wrong and she doesn't know what to make of it! And on top of that, with the knives...

Oh. She's a rich person, Suzume thinks. She doesn't know how to actually do things. Except run school. And run SEES. And boss people around -

Which almost gets her to NOT say the next thing, but she likes Shinjiro. "I'll get it," Suzume volunteers, un-pocketing her hands as she heads to pick up some of the plates and sort the right utensils along with them. "Wasn't that the rule? You don't do this kind of work when you're cooking?"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Hitomi offers that they could take over, and she pipes in, "Yeah I don't mind trying my own hand at it... How hard could it be?"

Yukari can cook, just - she's never done any outdoor grilling. But Mitsuru reveals how far he'd go, enough that Yukari physically recoils, "Whoa! He's really that intense about it?"

Turns out he lets Moriko try it, which is kind of a relief because Yukari thinks his standards might be way too high for her skills.

Before Mitsuru asks about the Steak Knife, situation... "Uhhhhh..." Fortunately, Shinjiro steps in, and the moment passes without cracking the image of Mitsuru Kirijo's perfection in her head.

"That's what they all say." Yukari seems to groan in reply of Reiya thinking he wouldn't set the dorm ablaze, "But I'll believe it when you survive your first encounter with a grease fire."

After several gifts are given, and she sees the bag bouncing against Minako's leg, she looks back up towards Shinjiro.

"Well... since everyone is jumping to the gift giving right now? Happy Birthday Senpai."

The bag is produced, and inside is an Okinawan Cookbook, including many staples of local fare. Chanpuru, Suba, and more!

(There's at least twenty ways to cook goat inside. She checked. She's never had goat. She figures he might like that.)

"Might even be something you want to try out while we're still local."

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"Whoa," Koh says of various SEES members' promises of future gifts for Shinjiro. He lowers his voice conspiratorially and asks: "Fukuhara-san and Kawase-san? Aragaki-senpai is getting private gifts from both of you?"

"You guys are closer than I thought..." The corners of his lips look like they're trying to escape his face with how hard he's failing to suppress his smile.

He nods at Shinjiro's assessment, like he knows what the older boy is talking about. "Thanks. Happy birthday!"

Koh flops bonelessly into a seat to enjoy the smell of the grill.

"All that matters is the food is made with love." He weighs in helpfully.

No one has ever seen Koh eat anything that isn't fast food at the dorm.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

Mitsuru's comment gets a 'hmfph!' from Hitomi, whose eyes track to her for a moment, without words. After this she looks back towards Suzume. "Maybe he wanted to teach you his ancient arts? It does smell good... I mean, it's hard for things to smell BAD on the grill."

Since the dawn of time, Man has sought to Grill.

When she's asked how she had the opportunity to put it together, Hitomi smiles at Shinjiro, a little wanly. "Well, it was a surprise... so I had to put it together from what I had on hand. I hope you enjoy it when you open it." Her arms fold in front of her, and she seems... satisfied somehow.

She does turn her head to look towards the proffering of -- "Oh!! Badass," Hitomi says with a clasping of her hands in approval. "Are grease fires, even that common if you're not frying, though?"

Hitomi looks towards Suzume, and potentially arbitrarily, FUUKA as well in case they have experience. 

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

A chef's knife.

For a moment, Mitsuru regards the gift Reiya's offered Shinjiro. She looks sidelong to the former, before her gaze drifts back to the latter. Her expression is soft. Understated.

... thank you.

"..."

Just like the pensive line that creases her brow, or the subtle thinning of her lips.

"... It's a very thoughtful gift, Aomori," she offers in the aftermath of Shinjiro's gratitude, a smile on her lips. "I'm certain we'll all benefit from it."

Still -- she's made her offer, and as Shinjiro questions it, Mitsuru is swift to raise a brow in response.

"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," she asserts firmly. "You're already doing quite enough on your own. You'll let us handle the rest, as a birthday gift."

It sounds like it could be a suggestion.

But it's really more like an absolute command.

Just as absolute as the minute nose-wrinkle of Mitsuru's confusion as he follows up with his explanation.

"'Regular' knives? ... are these forks also 'regular'?" She's trying to picture it in her head, having the sudden realization that her life experience with utensils might be vastly different from everyone else's and not wanting to make things even -more- awkward for herself or others.

... is it more like an oyster fork, or...?

Regardless, she's soon enough moving as Suzume does, gathering the necessary plates for everyone -- and nodding for Reiya to join them. As she does, she asides to Yukari:

"You haven't seen the lengths Aragaki is willing to go to ensure his kitchen remains his domain." It's -- really difficult to tell-- "I recall him once threatening Akihiko with a... spork?"

that can't possibly be true can it

Whereupon, Mitsuru plucks up one of the forks, and inspects it. "Ah, like a table fork," she says under her breath, heaving an exhale of relief for having a point of reference. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Cooking...

"I think it's an important skill..." Fuuka agrees. It's one she's kind of envious of, in fact, because her own skills there are... lacking. To think, there are still heights of Proficiency she has yet to reach...

"Wow..." Fuuka remarks, impressed, at the very professional-looking knife Shinjiro receives as a gift. It's perfect for him.

"Yes, thank you." Fuuka agrees, as Minako thanks Shinjiro for cooking.

There are already a lot of volunteers to help serve - at this point, she'd probably just be getting in the way if she tried to help with that.

"If anyone has any drink requests, I can go fetch them." She offers. She's looking at Shinjiro when she says this. If she asked just him directly he might just say not to bother, but if she asks everyone...

She thinks this will work, because this would work on her, too.

And then, suddenly, Hitomi looks at her.

Fuuka goes blank for a moment.

"Um... They're still dangerous, so it's good to be careful..." She advises.

She's waffling because she has no earthly idea if that's the case or not. She doesn't even know what causes a grease fire in the first place. Just hot grease??

Fuuka listens to Mitsuru's story, then looks toward Shinjiro.

"A spork...? That's a lot of dedication." She comments. She doesn't know if that's terrifying and/or impressive, but it's at the very least memorable.

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

With the grill opened up, Moriko offers a thumbs up and says, "I promise to take it easy on the spice." Suggesting she's big on heat. The spicy kind. till, she does actually seem to care about the art. Probably a side effect of her work back home and camping trips.

 Her own gift hadn't been anything too big. She honestly had no idea what to get the guy.

 She smiles back to Minako, "Cooking's always a good skill, but I had some experience back home cooking for a big group so I thought I would help!" She hefts the bag for emphasis.

 Her gift was a container of shichimi. She knew he liked cooking, but didn't know what he had and it was kind of last minute.

 She'd also argue she had intended the dinner to be part of it, but hey. She's at least helping!

 Glancing to Mitsuru at the offer to help. "Could just make it a whole group effort thing." Holding up the long chopsticks she'd been using to move things around. Clicking them together for emphasis even!

 Reiya gets a teasing, "You'd better!"

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka looks on as the knife comes out. "Whoa... thaaaat's a really nice knife." A beat. She looks to Suzume and asks quietly, "... right?" It looks nice, but knives aren't her forte.

But fresh fish. "I bet that'll taste really good..."

Her plan had been to get Shinjiro some cool music CDs, but she hadn't been able to source what she'd been thinking of locally. She can get it pretty easily back home, at least. But delivery wasn't exactly feasible either.

But Koh asks about ~private gifts~, and Ririka shakes her head furiously. "H-hey, don't say it like that! I'd give it to him right now if I had it ready. I just... didn't have enough notice."

She already got ready for a whole-ass surprise vacation, she came here for less stress, not more!

Still, everyone's pitching in, and there's a lot of them. "Do you want a hand with drinks, Yamagishi-san?"

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Shinjiro nods to Minako as she mentions she'll help clean up. "Sure. I was going to handle that too, but..." Isn't his rule that if you eat the food, you have to help clean? What's different about it *on his birthday*?

"It's appreciated," he finishes, eying her gift against her leg.

Reiya asks to assist too. Shinjiro's still thinking about the gift when he answers. "Anyone who wants to assist can help, I guess," he sighs, rubbing the back of his head.

Mitsuru does, in fact, *order* him to let them help him. "Tch," he says, looking away over to where Moriko is watching the grill. "Fine."

Suzume actually mentions the rule, and he has a... strange expression at that. That is indeed the rule, and he holds to it steadfast most days. "Yeah," he admits.

Yukari's cookbook is received, and he looks over the back. "Thanks, Takeba. I might need to, or at least grab any special ingredients while we're here."

Speaking of which, he turns to Moriko. "Put spice on the meat and I'll-"

Saved by the Koh, who causes Shinjiro's head to swivel. "Don't be a creep," he tells Koh, before turning over to Hitomi, taking her gift. He'll move to partially open it, since he's opened the others, removing a letter which he reads through quickly and privately. He folds it back up and puts it back with the present once he's done, to look over later.

Perhaps for the first moment since they arrived, he smiles lightly. It's a nice smile. "Thanks, Mandai."

Mitsuru mentions the spork incident, which must certainly be a joke, right?

"I wasn't going to point a *knife* at him, Kirijo." Oh, no, it's true. Maybe.

Fuuka is appraised as she offers to get drink requests. "You all don't need... okay, sure. Go ahead," he decides, remembering that Fuuka wants to be helpful.

He'll certainly like music CDs, though he currently doesn't know about them. Shinjiro eyes Ririka as she moves to offer to help Fuuka.

Aigis has arrived from The Rooster Inn.

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako's head tilts as Reiya says that, one eyebrow quirking up. He is still so straightforward, she thinks. "What kinds of things interest you, Aomori-san?"

She perks up at Yukari's gift, looking down at the cookbook. "Nice, Okinawan cuisine," she says. "I've never had that!"

Then, she looks sideways at Koh. She raises an eyebrow -- then she cracks a smile. "Like Wild Duck, right?" Which, to be fair, is Minako's favorite burger -- but mostly because she hasn't had a burger from somewhere that isn't fast food.

She looks at Mitsuru, and she fights a smile. Is she--no, she doesn't seem to know quite what these things are. Then, she looks at Fuuka, and she nods at her. "No kidding," she says. "You'd really have to work at it, to get someone with a spork."

Has... has Minako thought about this?

She looks back at Shinjiro, then, and she nods. Then, she produces the shopping bag -- red paper, and inside of it is...

...a plushie of a Shisa, an Okinawan lion of legend. It also looks like a dog, though, sort of. It is red, white, and gold; it has a big grin. "To remember the time you spent at Yakushima!" Minako declares. "And to ward off evil spirits. If you know what I mean."

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

"Don't re-spice his food until he asks, he's better at it than you," Suzume says to Moriko. Is it true? Well, she's eaten things Shinjiro has cooked, and she's never eaten anything Moriko has cooked, so while she doesn't know if it's true or not she does know that Shinjiro knows what he's doing. "And apparently he'll stab you with a spork if you do it wrong. ...but if you make it spicy I'll take some of that."

She grins at Hitomi. "Ancient arts, huh? I don't know about that. But you never know." She glances over toward Yukari's cookbook - does that count as new ancient arts? Looks like some people got luckier (or better prepared) than she did. And the shisa makes her grin wider, though she tries to hide it from Shinjiro. "What's different about it?" she asks Minako, because she too has never had it.

That's a really nice knife.

"...probably?" Suzume doesn't know a whole lot about knives, as already mentioned, so when Ririka asks her she has to *assume* it's true. It looks nice to her. She stays out of the conversation of grease fires because *she* thought it was just frying, too. Maybe other meats can do it? Meats have grease, right? Unless they're lean meat.

Suzume has remembered the Rule, and she's going to obey this particular Rule. Even if it also means she's sorting out plates and things. Which isn't too bad, even with other people getting in her way (as she sees it).

So she bustles around for a bit, until -

Koh.

"What's *that* supposed to mean?" Suzume's voice raises slightly. "I just don't have it with me because I didn't know it *was* his birthday until today! I don't have a bottomless suitcase or anything to pull that kind of stuff out of!"

Bottomless suitcases are more Mitsuru's deal.

"You know what I mean, anyway!" Suzume realizes she is holding a fork a little tightly and sets it down gently on the plate. "Don't put it like that with either Kawase or me."

<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.

Reiya nods to Minako. "My primary interest in extracurricular activities is the Drama Club," Reiya says, which might explain a few things, especially when he says, "I enjoy building sets and doing technical work especially..." He has others, but he knows not to share them all at once!

Then he looks to MItsuru, who calls it thoughtful. He nods back, quietly pleased. "I hope so."

Grill... It smells good, anyway.

"I do not think grease fires are terribly common," Reiya says, "But it is important to remember with a grease fire not to put it out with water."

He knows that much!

A plushie!! that's... so cute.

Reiya looks at Minako for a moment and tilts his head. He doesn't stare--well, not more than a second, before he looks to Suzume, who looks angry. "Food made with love," he agrees with Koh. "...It is a nice thought."

"Your 'taking it easy' is still significant," Reiya points out to Moriko, though.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

"A spark?" says Hitomi, who has had the blessed opportunity to eat food mostly off of quasi-traditional Japanese plateware - and Japanese homestyle dining does not have that particular innovation of the beautiful, preservative-rich realms of American cuisine.

She doesn't even know what she's missing... perhaps one Christmas, she'll have the chance.

Her attention rests now on the unambiguous chef's knife; she lacks, perhaps, the depth of appreciation, but it's definitely a thoughtful gift. Koh speaks up and spoils it a little, and Hitomi looks towards him with a bit of a smirk, as well as looking back towards Suzume with an air of vicarious, but mild, revenge.

After that - she looks towards Shinjiro, and her face does color slightly. She reaches up to tug down the brim of the hat, veiling her eyes even as she says, "I hope you enjoy it," to him, turning away afterwards to go over towards Minako, a step or two.

"Yeah," Hitomi echoes Reiya towards Moriko. "I'm amazed you won that much slack from Aragaki, if he's letting you handle that grill before everything." NOW to the area of Minako, whom she asks, in all gravity: "Have you had the mystery burger at Wild Duck, ever?" 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh raises a hand in both defense and apology at the collective scolding. "Okay, okay, sorry. Don't stab me, Fukura-san." He still sounds just a little bit amused.

And with everyone pitching in, Koh finds that there's nobody to benefit. So he does so, heroically.

"Could I get some juice?"

But then he does get up to help set things where he can. "Good thinking, Takeba-san. Now Aragaki-senpai can cook for us more with his new knife."

"Exactly," Koh says to Minako with a grin in return after. "If someone didn't love me, why would it taste so good?" Pause. "Oh! Shiisa. Cute..."

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Koh implies that Suzume and Ririka must be close and Yukari blinks, before looking up... then at Shinjiro as he admonishes him for being a creep.

She doesn't think anything is going on, but asking to give a gift in private...

Both of them deny it, but hmmm... she wouldn't actually be surprised. He is quite the catch if you like a 'bad boy with a heart of gold.'

Lacing her hands back behind her back, she smiles, pleased that he seems to like her gift, "You're welcome. I figured there's a lot of things here that'd be interesting for you to try out." Before she grins at Minako, "I had a little as a kid. There was this Okinawan food stand I tried out not far from where I lived in Okina City. I never tried making any though."

'Good thinking, Takeba-san. Now Aragaki-senpai can cook for us more with his new knife.'

"Hey it's not like I'm trying to take advantage of him or anything. I can cook my own meals. I just thought he'd find it fun." She explains to Koh, though it doesn't put her in a bad mood.

Fuuka offers some drink orders, and Yukari considers it, she doesn't like taking advantage of Fuuka, but indeed, Fuuka wants to be helpful. She learned that first hand.

"A melon soda if there is any."

But Mitsuru, with the story of the Spork. "Really? A spork?" Yukari sounds skeptical at first, but then she rethinks it, sideeyeing Fuuka at her remark, "Well I guess if anyone could make it work, it's Aragaki-senpai..."

Only for Shinjiro to confirm it did happen, "Uhhh honestly now that I think about it a spork in your hands feels more threatening, because it's so dull..."

Only because he's so strong does she think that. Shinjiro's not the kind of guy who'd just stab someone with a knife, right?

The Shisaa plushie Minako presents though, "Aw, that's adorable. Where'd you find such a cute gift, Arisato-chan?" She's not sure she'd trust it to ward off evil spirits given what they face, but she'd definitely add it to her plushie collection...

... that nobody knows about, because she keeps it hidden. Very very hidden.

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

        Gathering her share of the plates and utensils, Mitsuru goes about setting them down next to people's places at the tables.

She's... pretty fastidious about it. The knife and fork frame the plates perfectly, both on their appropriate side, even though she might well be the only one who knows fine dining etiquette or just the only one who thinks it applies here.

She does frown a little as she does so. It just doesn't feel right without the full assortment of utensils...

"Hm," is all she says on the matter, before pivoting to what matters:

"Applied with proper force at the appropriate angle, a spork should be enough to puncture a vital area. Of course, that depends on the assailant's knowledge of anatomy and where the body is most vulnerable."

...

W-well.

As they say.

Knowledge is power! (???)

Mitsuru seems to think nothing off this off-handed note on the killing power of sporks, instead pivoting towards things more wholesome: "Okinawan food makes more use of kelp and seaweed, I believe. Their cuisine makes especially heavy use of turmeric. The kaisou salad is quite good."

As she works, though, she listens to the conversations - the banter - with a quietly content little expression decorating those fair features. This is... nice, isn't it? Celebrating like this.

It's something she'd like to keep doing, to make a tradition of. Even if...

Her thoughts drift as she keeps an eye on Shinjiro from her peripherals, watching as he receives his gifts. As he smiles, a pleased little smile all Mitsuru's own drifts across her lips, before she brings the last of her plates and utensils over to--

"Mandai, Arisato -- here you are," she says, extending arms delicately balancing both plates out to either of them. She'd set them down but, well -- Hitomi doesn't have a place at a table yet, as far as she knows, and Mitsuru is painfully exacting about these things. "Please, enjoy the food. And... thank you, for the gifts."

Should she really be thanking all of them, when it's Shinjiro's gifts? Maybe not.

But she seems sincerely grateful, all the same. 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

It's not like Suzume said she wanted to give it to Shinjiro in private; she just has to wait until they get back to Iwatodai. And indeed it would probably be in the dorms.

...But she does have *some* kind of thing with Shinjiro, if people pay attention and think back. The two of them have vanished onto the roof together before! And that was before the planters got set up up there, so it wasn't an impromptu gardening session. She's done it with Reiya too, come to think of it... and she came back sweaty and immediately vanished into a shower!

(It was workout sessions in both cases. Suzume has been trying to master her tonfa and improve her strength and stamina; both of them know things that could help her, and she made agreements with them to do just that. But it's not like she tells anybody that kind of thing.)

Currently, though, Suzume is very seriously considering throwing a spoon at Koh. He is safe because she doesn't have a spoon to throw and she's not going to start tossing knives, she's not *that* kind of person.

She blusters a little bit, puffing as her face reddens, especially when Hitomi gives her that Look. She eventually lets it out in an awkward sigh. "Whatever," she grumps, though Koh is still in moderate danger.

"...kelp and seaweed, huh." Doesn't sound too bad to her. But she changes the topic entirely: "Yamagishi-san, if there's any Moonkist, could you fish it out for me?" She offered, after all.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Shinjiro confirms that the incident did, in fact, happen. Because he wasn't going to point a knife at him. She meets Minako's look - but she's surprised when she responds that you'd have to look at it, in a way that suggests that she's thought about it. And Mitsuru clarifies on how a spork could be used for violence! Fuuka laughs nervously -

- though it's forgotten a moment later when Minako produces a plushie of a Shiisa.

"Oh, that's adorable..." Fuuka praises alongside Yukari. She doesn't know whether or not that's something Shinjiro would like... but who wouldn't be happy to receive a gift like that?

Shinjiro does agree, though, to let her handle drink requests - and Ririka offers to help her, too.

"Yes, that would be a big help, Kawase-san." Fuuka says with a grateful nod. Koh wants juice, Yukari wants a melon soda, Suzume wants Moonkist... Fuuka nods. She'll take another round of drink requests then, with a nod toward Ririka duck away to retrieve them...

...and return, a moment later.

For anyone who didn't know what they wanted or doesn't request anything specific, Fuuka - gives her best guess! Fortunately, her reading is generally fairly accurate.

For herself, she has acquired a fruit tea.

"Thank you, Kirijo-senpai." Fuuka offers, as she helps with distribution - and then starts passing out her share of the drinks she retrieved.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

"Why would anybody use a spork like that...?" Ririka asks out loud. And then Mitsuru just... explains the how and Ririka pales just a little bit. "Eh heh. Krijo-senpai...? Why do you..."

She pauses as she reflects, and then decides maybe she doesn't want to know. "O-on second thought, never mind."

She's a little concerned by that. But that gift. "Awww, that's really cute!" Lion plushie!

She nods to Suzume. Well, it seems like a nice knife, and it was a gift, so it's probably safe to assume. But Suzume gets upset with Koh's phrasing, and Ririka nods firmly. "Yeah, what she said!"

Koh does offer an apology, and Ririka just rolls her eyes a little.

Yukari, it's not like that...! Though Ririka will, sadly, never admit to why it's not like that.

Ririka smiles to Fuuka as she accepts the help, though. "You're welcome, Yamagishi-san." Drink orders are taken, and Ririka will duck away with Fuuka...

For herself she's got a fresh fruit juice. She sets the various drinks down with the people that requested them that Fuuka didn't end up carrying, and then takes a seat herself.

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Minako presents her gift, and Shinjiro looks over it. There are a lot of options for how Shinjiro could react to a stuffed animal, based off what one thinks about him.

His reaction might be surprising, then, as while he restrains his smile to a mild one, his eyes definitely light up. Privately, this is probably the gift that he likes the most.

Though, it dulls as soon as she says to ward off evil spirits. His smile fades to neutral after a long moment, though he doesn't seem upset, more... contemplative, processing it.

If only it was that easy.

"Thank you, Arisato," he tells her gratefully.

About grease fires, he nods to Reiya on that, shifting suddenly. "Snuff it out with a metal lid or cookie sheet or something. *Never* use water, that's just suicide."

But people are commenting on the knife, so he adds, "It's very high-end. Thanks again, Aomori."

Suzume gets a sigh. "I've never *stabbed* anyone with a spork."

Hitomi comments on Moriko and the grill. Did he embarrass her with the letter? "She seemed interested. I'll step in if it goes bad."

Koh talks about Shinjiro cooking for them. "Don't push your luck," he says brusquely.

Yukari gets another rub of the back of his head, as she mentions sporks being dangerous in his hands. "First rule of a fight, don't escalate to weapons. Though, if I needed one, I prefer bigger weapons anyways." He does use axes and hammers...

Mitsuru explaining spork murder is glossed over. It is not the *most* surprising thing out of her mouth today. (That was the offer of assisting with serving! Not because he thinks it's beneath her, but because it just didn't cross his mind.)

His eyes cross over to her as she thanks the others for his gifts. His expression is nearly unreadable, neither a tch nor a smile, but it seems... melancholy.

He'll take a seat as Fuuka and Ririka escape with drinks, before nodding to both of them as they return. "Thank you," he says. His usual drink is canned coffee, but it's a question whether or not that's what they grabbed him...

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"I dunno!" Minako answers Suzume. "But, it'd be fun to find out, right?"

She glances at Yukari -- and a smile breaks across her face all over. "That sounds tasty," she says. "I never really had any--well, not any that's super authentic. Some stuff here and there when I lived in Osaka, but it was chain places."

Then, she looks at Hitomi -- and she considers her question with gravity for a moment. Then, she nods. "I have," she says. She leans in close -- and gets a smile on her face, before she says conspiratorially: "It isn't for the faint of heart."

There's a look at Koh -- but no, he apologizes, and she lets out a sigh of relief. And then, she looks at Mitsuru.

She blinks -- then she hurriedly takes the plate. "Of course, Kirijo-senpai," she says. "Birthdays are important, you know?"

She takes a seat, then, and starts to dig in. She takes a drink Fuuka offered -- a soft drink -- and cracks it open. "Thanks, Yamagishi!"

She brightens up at the reception of the Shiisa. Even Koh seems impressed!

"There's a little store in town," Minako says to Yukari and Fuuka. "They had a lot of this sort of stuff. I hopped by earlier today, and saw it and thought it was good." She beams at Yukari. "Even if I wasn't quite sure about a plushie for Aragaki, I admit..."

And she is waiting to see what he thinks of it -- and the smile, then the more thoughtful thanks... she thinks he liked it. That makes Minako smile, too, and she rocks back in her chair. "I'm glad you like it, Aragaki-senpai. It is pretty cute, I think. The expression, too~"

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh is tempted to ask Yukari about her cooking when she explains the purpose of her gift. But he merely nods in understanding at her explanation, having already taken his big swings.

"Thanks for grilling for us, senpai." He replies to Shinjiro, dipping his head with unfeigned sincerity. "You too, Kumamoto-san." She helped, after all.

He does offer Suzume a kind-of apologetic smile. But that'll teach her to say his desire for a personal maid dumb.

His eyes slant over toward Mitsuru when she expounds on the killing power of the spork."Ah." Does she think a lot about this?

"Thanks, Yamagishi-san." Orange juice acquired, he settles again. "You'll have to give me directions, Aristao-san." Does he want a plushie too? "Food smells great!" Soon it will be eaten.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

"Oho... that's good to know," Hitomi answers regarding the grease fires, still half-hiding her eyes with her hat brim. "I guess the water doesn't actually put it out, like a chemical fire or something?" A supposition, but perhaps she's been paying attention in science class.

Minako confides something in her. Hitomi raises a hand up, a finger on her upper lip. She smiles at her. It's cryptic. Perhaps she knows of what Minako speaks...

Oh yeah, drinks. "If you're getting some, can you get an oolong tea?" Hitomi tells Fuuka, reaching up to adjust her hat again. Maybe it doesn't quite fit, maybe there's a breeze she's detecting. Maybe it's just something to do with her hands to displace tension.

Her eyes turn towards Mitsuru as she speaks more about the terror of the spork. Her lips purse for a moment. "Ahh... oh! Thank you," Hitomi says, as she's abruptly handled a plate from the self same sempai she had been looking at. She leans forwards a little and smiles wordlessly to Mitsuru.

"It's no trouble at all," she says, almost confidentally, before turning away to walk towards the seating. She takes one without particular care, settling down to pick up one of the neatly arranged forks and slide it into a sliver of meat, along with some vegetable.

Raising it up, she casually pops it in her mouth -- pausing just beforehand to say, "Thanks for the meal~!" -- and from the little 'mmmhn' of appreciation that comes afterwards, it *has* hit her approval. Moriko's skewers may be slightly behind, but it's a summer barbecue: seconds are completely legitimate. 

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Alas, Suzume has not actually learned a damn thing and will continue to put her foot in her mouth at the most inconvenient times for herself.

"I think the grease floats," Suzume says. "Like oil on water. So it doesn't actually put it out and then you have a floating fire that keeps drifting around."

A beat.

"Which would be pretty cool if it didn't happen in the kitchen by mistake," Suzume has to admit. "Like, you could do some special effects with that..."

Having sorted plates and such, Suzume comes around herself to pick up Actual Meat. She's one of those teenagers that is always hungry. Blame all the exercise she gets running around and swimming and whatever else she's been doing on the island (lots). She will definitely appreciate this.

"Thanks for the meal," she echoes Hitomi. "And the drink! Thanks, Yamagishi-san." Aw yeah. This is turning (back) into at least an okay day. Even if she did embarrass herself a little - but, well. That's positively normal around here.

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

Eh heh. Kirijo-senpai...? Why do you...

Mitsuru seems not to notice the distraught response to her little bit of spork-based trivia.

Does Mitsuru think a lot about the killing power of the spork?

Is that a terrifying thought? Or is the true terrifying thought that the answer came to her so naturally and off-handedly it's almost like she just instantly clocked its fatal potential on reflex?

...

maybe it's best not to think about it too much.

As it is, Mitsuru is now a disarmingly gracious server as she hands out the last of her remaining plates to Minako and Hitomi. As they, and Fuuka, offer their gratitude, Mitsuru just dips her head and says, "Please, think nothing of it," with a genuine modesty and more than a little proper decorum. Hitomi offers a smile; Mitsuru's own lingers a little longer than she notices before she checks herself and withdraws.

"Yes, well. I'm just pleased you all convinced Aragaki to actually celebrate his birthday."

Her arms fold over her chest. And she eyes surreptitiously right about--

"Even if he's spent most of it treating us all."

here.

Don't think she's going to abide this much longer, Shinjiro...!

Which might be precisely why, at some point, she ends up beside him, arms still folded over her chest, brow arched.

"Things seem to be going rather well," she notes idly. "But they'd go even better if you joined in and enjoyed your own hard work, I think."

Does she note the fact that she's been so busy trying to help make the others feel comfortable that she didn't actually get a plate for herself? Of course not. This, however, is not a matter of being right.

It, like the little slip of paper she discreetly hands Shinjiro, containing a hand-written and painstakingly detailed list of the various fauna and flora of Yakushima and the best places and times and methods to spot them in their element for anyone who might, say, be interested in some tranquil alone time on the island, is because of one thing and one thing only:

"Happy birthday, Aragaki."

It's not her day, it's his. And she wants him to remember that. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Fuuka is surprised to see that Shinjiro - actually seems to really like Minako's gift! It's nice to know he has that side to him, too.

...And she will, quietly, note his advice on how to deal with grease figres. Metal lid or cookie sheet. Never use water. The way he says it, water probably just makes it worse... What kind of reaction causes that? Now she's curious. She'll have to look it up later...

"You're welcome." Fuuka replies, as thanks is offered. She did, in fact, remember a canned coffee for Shinjiro - and Hitomi's oolong tea, as well.

Minako explains where she got the plushie for Shinjiro. A store in town...

"I'll have to take a look myself... I wonder if they have any sika." Fuuka considers thoughtfully. She's still thinking about the deer they saw... Maybe she should think about a souvenir for Ken, too, while she's at it.

She settles in with her own food, offering a nod.

"Yes, thank you, Kumamoto-san and Aragaki-senpai..." She offers gratefully. "...And, happy birthday, once more."

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

"Welcome!" Ririka says to Shinjiro. Ririka can snag any drink orders Fuuka didn't pick up, so Hitomi will get her tea, too.

As she sits down, she looks to Minato. "Can you tell me where that store is later, Arisato-san? I'd like to take a look."

Ririka will... try very hard not to think about Mitsuru's spork prowess.

But she sits down with her own food and drink eventually. "Thank you Arigaki-senpai and Kumamoto-san for the food, and thank you Kirijo-senpai for setting out the plates!"

<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.

Minako mentions the expression on the Shisa, and Shinjiro's smile returns a bit. "Yeah, I see it. It's nice."

Koh thanks Shinjiro sincerely. "You're welcome," he says, another rub on the back of his head, clearly a nervous tic.

Hitomi, Ririka and Suzume thank for the meal. It SHOULD be delicious, because Shinjiro can cook. "I'm glad you like it, he says simply."

Mitsuru helps out well, and Shinjiro appreciates it. But as she cruelly tries to get him to enjoy his own handiwork, discreetly handing him something, he's smiling once more as he skims the note she slips him, before repocketing it.

Fuuka wishes him happy birthday again, thanking him. "Of course... thank you."

But he'll stop, turning to Mitsuru as he finally moves to eat.

"I'd like you to enjoy it, too, Kirijo." His look is firm, if positive.

It might be his day, but if he has to share it with *anyone*, he's glad it's them.

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