2025-12-20: A Cherished Day

From Velvet Room MUSH Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search 
<Pose Tracker> Naganaki Shrine has posed.

    Night has fallen in Iwatodai City, and so too on Naganaki Shrine--but it remains lit up with strings of red lantern draped along the shrine proper and down the stairs into booths set up on the streets. As far as these things go, the summer festival isn't too huge, but there's plenty here for students and grown-ups alike lamenting the coming end of this year's summer vacation.
    
    Indeed, despite the heat, it's crowded with people both in yukata and in regular clothes. Traditional music plays through the area, including a single taiko drum performance set off to the side from the booths lining the stone paths of the shrine. People have both festival masks and fans in hand--and for those who arrived without, there's a booth selling each.
    
    That's not all that's for sale. There's a truly stunning amount of food booths present: okonomiyaki, yakisoba, ikayaki, tako-less takoyaki (run by the Octopia lady!), chocolate bananas on a stick, cotton candy, wata-ame and other candy, and shaved ice, to name a few.
    
    Not to say that there's only food booths. There's also gaming booths! There's a few shooting games--pick up a rifle with a cork "bullet" and use it to knock over a prize in the back to win. Good luck actually winning, though; they may or may not be rigged. In another corner, there's a goldfish-scooping booth, where someone deft enough can scoop a goldfish into a paper scoop and win it... assuming the scoop doesn't break. There's even a booth set up with a version of whack-a-mole, but with hamsters, including prizes for hamsters. Whack-a-Ham! (Whose idea was this?? Oh well, at least there's someone in the crowd who'll like it.)
    
    At the end of it all, though... there's fireworks scheduled. After the fireworks show in Shibuya was canceled due to rain, it ought to be exciting to get to see them this time around, even if it's a whole city away. 

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    Tsubasa... definitely does not own a yukata. It's simply too nice a piece of clothing for someone like them. But when Ichika wanted to go to the festival, they couldn't just show up in their usual drip, like... she wanted to really go to the festival, y'know?

    So, like. You can rent these things. That's what Tsubasa did! ... well, it's a good thing Dr. Ichika's Dad was helping out. For one, they don't really know anything about picking out masc yukata, and for another, like...

    Y'know. Cash.

    And they're pretty stoic about it -- they're pretty stoic about most things -- but Ichika's father can probably tell they're excited, anyway. Why wouldn't they be? They get to take Ichika to a festival in a proper-ass yukata, man.

    The one they end up picking out -- with the advice of Dr. Ichika's Dad informing them that the colour signifiers for men's yukata are primarily greyscales and blues -- is a blue, hexagonal-detailed piece with grey patterns like clouds floating across it, tied back with a black obi sash.

    "C'mon, man," Tsubasa says, elbowing Ichika lightly to grab her attention as they jerk a thumb over to the masks. "Trust me, it'll be funny." Why would it be funny? No reason.

    Tsubasa's five-foot-five -- which, in their present outfit (with all the assistance of their binder underneath it), puts them way more on the short king side of things than being any kind of tall -- but that's more than tall enough to reach up and grab an oni mask from the wall of masks and hand it over to Ichika. "Yo," they grin, briefly, "check it out."

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Ichika wanted to go to the festival! Specifically, she wanted to go to the festival with someone--a particular someone. Her father was able to help with the arrangements, but she wasn't in on most of that; instead, she got ready with Ririka and a friend of Ririka's, Moriko. She was able to do makeup and hair for New Friend! That was earlier; since then, night ahs fallen and the festival is in swing...

Here and now, Ichika is in a lovely yukata in pale brown, decorated with beautiful patterns of hanashobu--Japanese iris, purple with a bit of yellow in the blossoms. These represent good news, a gentle heart, and elegance. She is a tall girl, too, at 5'7", and the traditionality of her garb is somewhat upset by her bleached-blonde hair, cut about the shoulders. It hangs loose today, and her expression is a quietly pleased one. Her usual dark makeup is replaced with something more subtle, and her obi is in a lighter purple.

"Hm?" Ichika wonders. "I'm hungry," she points out, because she has a second stomach for festival foods, you know. She can go back to her diet later... Well, maybe a little cheating, anyway.

She is taller than her date (date!) but does walk over--and then laughs. "Oh, wow," Ichika says. "That is funny. But hey, hold on..."

She reaches out and picks up a golden bird mask, and shows it off to Tsubasa.

"Let's switch!" 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako Arisato has come to the Naganaki Shrine. She has an orange kimono on, with a patterned green obi around her waist. She is here, and looking at the games curiously. But she also has that slightly nervous bounce to her step, as she stands near the stairs leading up to the shrine.

She is waiting for someone, and checking her phone.

She has been busy lately. The volleyball team is gearing up for a big tournament -- only a few days away -- and practices have been time consuming. This is the first real free time she has had (with much of it taken up by SEES).

And there's someone she is waiting for, with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari Takeba walks towards the shrine by herself today.
 
For some reason, she's feeling a little more nervous than usual, and it's not because she's in a Yukata... precisely.
 
"... Yukatan in a Yukata." She murmurs to herself, reflecting Junpei's earlier remark.
 
Doesn't take much for a Yukata to become Yukatan! Get it?
... If you had to ask, it wasn't a good joke to begin with.
 
She's in a pink and white checkered Yukata, with a yellow Obi tied at the back in a prominent bow. Stems of yellow and white five petaled anemone decorate it.
 
Her neck kind of feels naked, not sporting her usual choker.
 
As she spies Minako, she comes up alongside her. "Hey there Arisato-chan." She says cheerfully, as she side-eyes the phone, "Waiting for someone in particular?"
 
The small grin on her face says she thinks she knows who. "You look really good by the way- that Yukata is adorable!" As she lowers her voice, "They're gonna love it. I know I do."

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Ren also doesn't own a yukata--at least, not here in Tokyo. Renting one is pricy too. However, after they and Minako agreed to come here on a date, they couldn't just come here in their regular clothes either. They asked their friend Yusuke if they could borrow his... and, thankfully, he agreed.
    
    So today, they arrive in a men's kimono, a blue so dark it's nearly black, with alternating dashes of a lighter gray decorating the material. A pale yellow obi ties the ensemble together at the waist, and sandals tie at their feet. A black fan is tucked into their obi, also borrowed from Yusuke. They aren't wearing their glasses today, and it frames their face differently, but their black hair is as frizzy as usual--maybe moreso today with the humidity.
    
    Looking around at the top of the stairs, they almost refer to their stainless steel smartphone, but spot Minako in her orange yukata first. A warm smile splits their face. ...Even if Yukari has beaten them to her, it looks like. It's fine, they're cool.
    
    "Hey," they call, hurrying over to join her off to the side of the stairs. "She's right. It is cute on you," they add. They look at Yukari, then add, "Did you want to walk around the festival together?"
    
    It's weird to think that Yukari might be trying to chaperone them, but at least Akihiko isn't here too... ...So far as they've seen, anyway. As they walk around more, they'll be sure to see lots of people they know. 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh Katsuhiro has returned from the beach to enjoy the fireworks. Truly it is the best of times. Besides the humidity, which he's equipped a handheld electric fan to deal with. It's less festive, but more practical.

He is a little festive though. Casual clothing has been traded in for a pale yellow yukata accented modestly with swirly black clouds and a darker belt. Curly hair, after suffering under Okinawan frizz, has been left to hang a little long, straight, and simple.

He left message in the SEES group chat that he'd be around. As for what he's doing: trying to win a tiny hamster hat at the hamster whacking game. What use such an accessory might be is not immediately apparent.

But he's going to win it... 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

The summer festival at Naganaki Shrine is always an event to look forward to... even for Fuuka, who's the type of person who tends to stay in more often than not. There's just something about a festival, and it is nice to dress up every now and then. She has, of course, brought her yukata out for the occasion - blue, interspersed with wavy circles of lighter blue and featuring bright sunflowers throughout, tied with an orange obi.

Of course, there's one lingered question that everyone has to face when going to a festival.

...What to do first?

The answer Fuuka eventually arrives it is browsing the food stands - there's so much on offer here, the amount of choice is almost a little intimidating...

...It is still plenty hot today, though, so that shaved ice is starting to look a little appealing... 

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

The festival that had happened earlier that summer had been, in no uncertain terms, a wash. Having arrived late to it, Hyousuke had managed to explore it for all of a few minutes before a sudden downpour sent everyone running for cover, leaving him with nothing to show for the evening but a wallet left lighter by the train ticket he'd used to get there. So it was that, when the second festival was announced, he resolved to go there, and do whatever it took to enjoy himself. That, and he checked the forecast religiously during the week leading up to it.

With the money he'd managed to accrue through careful spending, smart saving, and rampaging through the Dark Hour and Mementos as many nights as his battered body could take it, he'd even been able to afford a fairly nice yukata. It wasn't a particularly stunning one, consisting of a striped pattern in charcoal and light grey, but it was his for the evening, and that was all that mattered to him. That, and the fact that it hid the litany of lingering injuries he'd sustained in the days since the Palace quite nicely.

So engrossed in making plans and executing them was he, that he realised that he'd forgotten to actually make them with someone. There were a few people he could have called, and he very much considered it, his finger hovering over the dial button for a good few moments. But then he came to the realisation that they had likely already made plans, and inserting himself into them so late in the game would be impolite at best. Still, he supposed it was no matter. He was perfectly capable of keeping himself entertained.

The fact that he'd already paid for the yukata certainly affected his decision too.

The food stalls called out to him. Their siren song and alluring scents had him in something of a trance, beckoning him towards them. But one thing managed to pull his attention away - a shooting gallery. Or, more accurately, an attraction rigged to drain the wallets of those unaware or uncaring of the fact that winning anything substantial would be a Herculean task at best. He saw one of the toys sitting idly on the shelf. He heard it in his mind, calling to him, begging for him to free it. He resolved to do so, and strode confidently up to the stall's owner, pressing the exact change required down between them.

"Alright..." Hyousuke murmured, toting the gun like he'd seen in that one American movie about the time-travelling killer android. "...Let's do this." 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    SLIGHTLY EARLIER---- There was a pleasant meeting between old friends, each of which who've haven't seen each other since high school.

    "Did you hear? Suzue-chan had to drop out of university. She and her BF are going to get married in March! Hopefully she won't be too big by that time..."
    "Yeah, but Etsuki-kun's got a good job, and his whole family is rich. If he can stay on his dad's good side..."
    "Sounds like a real headache. A kid, this early, huh..."

    The last to contribute is a distracted Umie Akabane, dressed in the black yukata, providing the background for the cheerful vertical, geometric yellow and orange flower pattern. Her hair is done up in a simple updo, her makeup simple. She's glad she had the pattern and everything picked out ahead of time; the rental place did the necessary prep work. No need to think, just exist.

    They were all looking forward to this, and that included Umie, before recent events.
        
    "Umie-chan, we were just talking the other day... what was up with that guy who proposed to you? Sure he jumped the gun, but you're 20 now, so... "
    "Don't start on that! It was creepy as hell."
    
    The two trail off, due to two reasons: the stony look on Umie's face.... and there being a Kurou here, behind Umie. Whether he showed up earlier and wasn't noticable, or only just now, he is here. Umie, nonethewiser, only looks over her shoulder when she sees her friends' eyes focus on something behind her. Umie peeks over her shoulder.

    "WH--" She waves at her two friends. "Can I bow out? This is... a nephew of... someone, from work. I just remembered, I was going to keep an eye on them."
    
    "Uh--"
    "I'm sure he'll be okay..."

    TOO LATE, UMIE IS WALKING AWAY... while waving behind her. "I'll catch up with you two later!!"

    If allowed, she'll steer Kurou away, looking behind her to ensure they're at a safe distance away.

    "...... If anyone asks, I'm your chaperone," Umie hisses to Kurou. 

<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.

      Rain had gone into Iwatodai to trawl the local secondhand store for potential store stock. The business of movie preservation was always the business of another man's treasure, but something about what should have been a routine search hit her wrong with her recent business woes.
 
           ~~Digging through the trash to make do...~~
 
      Suppress it.
 
      Of course, the summer festival was also a draw. She had been on duty with the fireworks festival in Shibuya, and it had been rained out anyway. She'd been under a lot of stress lately, why not take a single night to unwind? Ayame could keep the store under control and Natsumi could keep Ayame under control.
 
      Despite being very clearly an American, Rain HAD spent most of her life in Japan, and it would be quite odd to spend that much time in Japan and not have a yukata. However, you could take the girl out of the aloha but not the aloha out of the girl. Rain's yukata shares the same sense of aesthetic style as her usual dress, a Hawaiian-inspired pattern with cream-colored palm leaves on red, and her hair tied up, but still sporting its trademark green and purple dye job. At over six feet tall, she towers above the crowd, though she had gotten over that sense of awkwardness long ago.
 
      "Haah, it's been too long..." 

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

There do be a Kurou here.

Kurou, all too quietly here, trailing after Umie like some kind of lost dog or duckling, while nibbling his banana on a stick in pure and utter silence. It might be impressive if it wasn't disconcerting.

At least he's dressed for a festival, although maybe in a way that is not quite standard enough to actually, helpfully blend in. His yukata, though the obi is at his hips and the cut of the sleeves is square, is tailored a little too long, and is brightly colored, neon fireworks patterns against black, tied at the back in ribbon musubi style.

His hair is worn in a high ponytail tonight, and is not wearing geta. He is wearing his usual sneaker boots. These are the only shoes he owns.

"Nice to meet you," Kurou says in his monotone, but polite way, and lowers into a bow a little too politely deep. Then he regards Umie. "Thank you. Obasan sends her regards as well."

He's helping...!

Umie pushes him away while he resumes his festive nibbling. He holds a second, untouched, for Umie. "Understood. Would you like one? The stick will prevent you from getting chocolate on your hands and leaving any prints."

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
BEHOLD -- THE RETURN OF THE MANDAI!

Once upon a time, Hitomi was like 'man, there are no good festivals here,' which is probably because of several reasons.

One: Port Island is a little sleepier than Sumaru or Tokyo. Hitomi isn't sure why. She doesn't have a lot of experience with ideas like 'population density' and there are other factors at work.

Two: She has literally not been here for an entire year, and so she cruelly pre-judged the region just because they didn't have one she had the chance to go to during spring and early summer. Now, though, she has the chance to eat her words at a summer festival.

Hitomi is wearing a yukata. It is a little faded in that way that suggests it may be older than she is, but it's hardly in bad shape. The fabric print is purple with big, fluffy short-petalled flowers. She has an obi around her waist, worn slightly tighter, as well as a spaghetti-strapped bubblegum-pink plastic bag worn slung over a shoulder, along with hot-pink-strapped sandals she may have gotten from the Donki mart for a very good price.

Otherwise: She is as she always is, just with more leg. Also a gun.

Well, it's not really a gun. It's a cork gun. And she doesn't actually have it. Hitomi was lingering in the immediate area of one of the 'shooting galleries' while eating a takoyaki and watching other people try their luck. The takoyaki are swiftly disappearing, though.

Hitomi's smiling at nothing in particular, but the game is absorbing her enough that she didn't catch sight of her fellow students just yet. Still, she's pretty easy to spot.

When Hyousuke steps up to the firing line, Hitomi makes her move. ... by walking over and standing behind Hyousuke. ... just like normal standing-behind, though, as if she's going to wait her turn. This does mean that Hyousuke gets a quiet non-sequiter spoken to him from behind his right shoulder.

"Second row," she says. "Go near the edges." 

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    For this occasion, Tamaki has donned her summer yukata with a navy-blue and white uroko pattern of alternating triangles, tied with a white obi. Festivalgoers today may recognize it as the same one she wore at the earlier summer fireworks festival that got rained on.

    As the next semester of her university classes loom ominously in the distance, growing and closer, Tamaki took this moment to reflect back on the last month or two. A pit formed in her stomach as she came to a grim realization:

    This was supposed to be a break.

    She may be here alone and quite a ways out from Sumaru, but she is absolutely determined to not let the harrowing events she had experienced this summer deprive her of these few precious moments of enjoyment. There were some bright spots, true, but she's treating this like one last pit-stop before the grind resumes in full swing.

    Her first stop is, of course, the food stands. This festival has food stands! No convenience store daifuku for her this time, she is elated as she confirms their presence. She wants to start things off right with something moderately filling, so she orders some of this ... intriguing tako-less takoyaki.

    Tamaki spots Fuuka in the vicinity and gives her a cheerful wave. "Oh! Hello again! It's been some time, hasn't it? Back when exams had just ended ... How has your summer been?" 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Moriko had approached Ririka for help getting dressed in yukata, and Ririka had invited her over to her house, so that they could get together with her sister, Ichika! Ririka might enjoy her punk outfits on stage, but she also likes dressing up in a nice yukata with make-up, whether or not that makes her look like a 'girl next door'.

It feels like Ririka was just here, a scant couple of days ago, helping defend Ken and Koromaru during the Dark Hour. But today, at least, the atmosphere is more festive. She's dressed in in a yukata that is a warm cream color,decorated with light blue morning glories. A dark blue obi is wrapped around her waist, and her long brown-black hair is carefully arranged in an elaborate bun, decorated with a single blue morning glory to match the yukata, and she's got light makeup on. She's about as tall as her sister (maybe a smidgen taller), though her build is more athletic.

And she's... doing her best to put up a cheerful expression for the festival. (Why is she always in a state of emotional turmoil when a festival is happening?)

"Hey, Ichika-nee, thanks for helping Kumamoto-chan on such short notice," she says as they arrive. She's too busy looking at everything going on in the festival (her fingers might be lightly tapping on her thigh in time with the taiko drum in the distance), and misses mask jokes.

She does look between Tsubsa and Ichika for a moment, grinning a little. "Iiiii think I'm gonna go see if any of my classmates are around, but... Have fun you two~" she says in that teasing, sibling way that implies nothing and everything all at once.

Clssmates like... Hitomi! "Oh-- Mandai-san!" she calls out, then winces, hoping she isn't interrupting the other girl's concentration. Oh, and there's Hyousuke, too.

Instead she goes over to the shooting gallery booth, waiting to get their attention until they're done playing. 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    Until a little earlier this year, Katsuya had realized that he hadn't actually attended a summer festival in a little while. This had led to one, realizing he didn't even own a yukata in his size anymore and two, learning that the only one in his size to purchase had...
    ...well it had been a sartorial choice, and not one that he would have made on his own. ...Even if the cat pattern had been kind of cute, it didn't suit him...

    It feels like the summer has gone by far too quickly. Fresh off a visit with his parents earlier in the day, Katsuya Suou is now appropriately attired (for his tastes that is) in a dark grey yukata with a black obi. A slightly darker grey and faintly wavelike pattern decorates the edges of the cloth but it's otherwise staid and appropriate for the sort of person he is and the image he wants to project. Hopefully, this festival will be less chaotic than the one that closed the park to the public in Rengedai. Well, he can only hope, what with everything that's going on.

    Summer is coming to an end for the younger people in the crowd here. He spots a few familiar faces here and there. For some of them, like his brother it will be an entrance into the second part of the school year of their final time in high school. Of course, that would be true, he reflects, if Tatsuya were actually going to school. He's told their parents not to worry, but...

    Even as an adult, without exams or courses to think about, the summertime is anything but relaxing or calm, isn't it, he stops to think. When was the last time he took a break...? ...Well, it isn't as if he can think about that now.

    Ah, there's Tamaki. It seems like they've always met in the middle of something chaotic, ever since their first meeting after the incident with the principal of Seven Sisters' murder.

    "Uchida-kun," he calls out, before walking on over to catch up to her. Finally, a chance to talk during a situation that isn't life or death, or adjacent to it. 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko was happy to have an excuse to wear her yukata out! And you know, dragging her brotehr Hideki out. He had met them there after hearing how much effort was going into getting ready for Moriko (And Ririka!). Greeting them with a cheerful wave.
 
 Moriko herself was more than happy to get help with her the yukata. She clearly wanted to have it done just right. Turquoise green, trimmed orange with a floral pattern, predominantly featuring peony in pale reds and white lotus flowers. She's used a darker orange obi to go with it. And for once, her hair's pulled back with a kanzashi featuring a small blown glass bead and ribbons. Carefully set and matching with the soft autumnal colors of her makeup.
 
 She's even opted for traditional geta and socks!
 
 She's being rather careful with everything. Careful not to ruin it, which is probably a change from her usual somewhat... errant standards.
 
 The other SEEs members are given an excited wave when she spots them! She doesn't dress up that often so she might be excited to show off. Offering a quick little bob of a bow, "Thanks for the help!" to Ichika, "The mask is cute." Pausing long enough to pick up a fox mask herself. Holding it up to her face Because of course she would. Turning it this way and that, "What'cha think Kawase-chan?" her accent slipping out a bit. Then she hesitates, putting it back gently with, "If it's here when I get back." and hurries off. Clearly intending to at least say hi to the others!
 
 Even though she slows down, head turning towards some of teh food stalls.
 
 Then the game stalls.
 
 She glances around quickly, left then right. Taking a spot next to Hyousuke at the shooting gallery. Her eyes locked on a different prize! At least she didn't plow into him.
 
 Why had she split from the group? Oh well. She got distracted.
 
 She picks up the popgun like her father had once done years ago. And like her grandfather does to this day (She thinks he still goes even if he's not taking her and her brother.)
 
 Hideki, her younger brother wearing a grey yukata with a couple of light stripes himself has chosen to stay with Ichika. Watching Moriko wander off as she's wont to do. He's on the taller side of things already and at least he left the baseball cap behind. Fiddling with masks himself, clearly the quiet sort. He holds up a hannya mask and after some hesitation, asks the two (Three?) near Ichika, "Too much?" 

<Pose Tracker> Naganaki Shrine has posed.

    The masks that Tsubasa and Ichika pick out (for themselves? for each other?) are extremely affordable--only 500 yen per mask.
    
    Whack! Whack! Whack! ...Whack!! Koh is a little too slow on the Whack-a-Ham to win that tiny hamster hat. But he does win a consolation prize: a packet of tissues! ...What? It's great nesting material!
    
    Of course, he could always try again...
    
    The person running the shaved ice stand notes Fuuka's look of longing and waves her over. "Come on by, come on by! We've got lots of flavors!" she enthuses. "Strawberry, melon, lemon, cherry, watermelon, grapefruit, orange, and more, for just 300 yen! For 400, you get to have a mix--pick any two flavors you like!"
    
    Hyousuke puts down his money on the shooting gallery. The booth-runner smiles and gestures for him to take up the cork rifle. "Just knock it over and it's yours!" they declare, gesturing at the prizes in the back. "But be warned: some of them are awful heavy. You'll need luck and skill to win!" He looks over at Hitomi, hovering nearby with her own cork gun--and her supply of Takoyaki. "Maybe you can show this young lady how it's done?"
    
    You've got to shoot sometime, Hitomi! You already paid for the cork!! ...What's that? You'd rather backseat drive? The booth-runner just shrugs and leaves her to it. Ririka will have plenty of space to watch Hyousuke's sharpshooting skills too--and Moriko's, as she picks up her own gun. "Just a hundred yen per shot. What a bargain, eh?" the booth owner says to her cheerfully.
    
    What exactly is in that tako-less takoyaki, on that note? That's a good question! "It's delicious," the Octopia lady reassures Tamaki as she hands over her order. "It'll make you smile so wide your cheeks'll fall off!" (...That's probably just a turn of phrase. Right? Right, Elizabeth??) She spots Katsuya coming up to greet Tamaki and adds, "Sharing an order with your man, eh? Or will you need plate number two?" Wwwwwwink! 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako looks at Yukari as she approaches -- and there's a smile and a look. She knows that Yukari knows perfectly well who she is waiting for. "I sure am," she says. She laughs, then, and looks down at her kimono.

"Thanks," she says, her voice a little quiet. "I hope so. It took a bit to find this -- and get this thing on." She looks up at Yukari, then, and she smiles.

"Yours looks great, too," she says. "You always look great in pink... but that one's just perfect."

And then a voice -- and she turns, blinking as she spots Ren. Her cheeks flush at the compliment -- and she looks over their dark blue yukata, too, and she breaks out into a smile. "Ren!" she says, hurrying over on sadnled feet. "You look good, too. I--"

She looks back at Yukari, then smiles. If she wants to, she is more than welcome. Besides, there are SEES folks here, too. Minako should introduce Ren, when she comes across them.

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    "Sick yukata, girls," is what Tsubasa said to Ririka and Moriko, when they came in. "Have fun, yeah?"

    And then -- masks! "Hahaha... man, that's great," Tsubasa grins, when they put the bird mask on. But Ichika has an idea, and one trading of masks later --

    "Oh man," Tsubasa exclaims, seeing the bird mask on Ichika's face. "That's brilliant." Which, like: for them, they're being positively exuberant. They seat the oni mask on their own face, horns giving them a good few extra inches; they have to take an extra minute or two to seat it over their blond wig (it's the one Ichika got for them!), but it's worth it, because they can turn to Ichika and ask: "How I look?"

    Thanks to a couple of missions into Mementos -- they might have even gone on a money trip with Hyousuke at some point, because between both of them they've got the one brain cell -- they even have the cash to be able to pay for those masks so Ichika doesn't have to think about it.

    "You look great," they affirm, again, smiling to their very fierce bird girlfriend. (That's like, the two best things they can think of come together. This is amazing.) "But I hear you, I hear you," they assure her, quite occupied just with gazing at her for the moment. "Food, right? C'mon, let's go grab some boats."

    But the takoyaki stand -- ISN'T SERVING TAKOYAKI....!!

    What it's serving, instead, are some helpful adults. "Yo, Uchida-san," Tsubasa lifts a hand in a wave. "An'... Sergeant Suou?" They look baffled, for a moment. "Almost... ain't recognised ya out ya suit." At least he still has those very recognisable sunglasses.

    But it's not just adults by the not-takoyaki, and Tsubasa looks a little embarrassed, turning to Fuuka. "Uh, hey... uh, sorry if I scared ya yesterday," they offer, rubbing at their neck. WHAT DID YOU DO, TSUBASA -- never mind, they're gesturing to Ichika. "This's my girl, Ichika Kawase... Ichika, this is Fuuka Yamagishi-san, we met at that con yesterday."

    And then they hold up a finger, to say: "One sec."

    And then, "no, dude, it's cool, so long's it's good --"

    And then: "Nailed it," Tsubasa announces, as they step back into the circle with a not-takoyaki boat to help sate Ichika's eternal hunger.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"I know right? It's always such a hassle. Seeing you in yours though... makes me think I should have spent a little more time shopping for one." She says cheerfully, before Minako indeed says, "Oh- well-!" She tucks a bit of hair over an ear, "Well if you really think so..." She says, sounding flattered.
 
But then Ren approaches... and Yukari smiles at the pair. It's maybe - a little strained around the edges, but only a little.
 
His offer though? She catches Minako's smile - and it's welcoming and all.

"Well we coulllddd." Yukari drawls, like she's considering it, at least. "Iii don't really want to get in your way though. You're in a date at a festival right?" She lowers her voice as if offering an aside, "The last thing you need is someone breathing down your neck."
 
Of course if Minako insists she'll come along, but she also doesn't want to be a third wheel keeping them from having fun themselves. At the same time- she'll definitely be looking out for her...
 
... Gah! Why can't there just be easy answers to this?

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Hyousuke nodded firmly at the booth owner, not speaking, but showing acknowledgement. He had to focus and get in the zone, lest his prey escape. Then, Hyousuke almost refused to follow Hitomi's advice on the first shot. Hyousuke almost managed to avoid following his own advice and instincts on the first shot as well. What Hyousuke did manage was almost firing off the first round when he heard someone speaking to him, before even managing to get into position at the booth. Such a reaction was perhaps a little much, but he had been focussing hard enough that the world around him had turned into blurred smears of colour and muted sounds that barely registered. To have someone speak so closely - and to him directly - in such a state was enough to make him fire off the first of his limited rounds in a moment of shock.

He blinked, settling himself in the moment it took him to straighten back into his position. Once he didn't look like someone had just set off a firework directly next to him, Hyousuke cast his gaze back to see who'd spoken to him (and failing to notice Moriko in the process).
"That where the prize you're aiming for is?" He asked, a brow cocked as he took on an inquisitive tone. It was a friendly one, meant more to start a conversation than press for information, but he didn't stick around to see Hitomi's reaction. Instead, he flashed a brief smile and a nod at Ririka. "Oh, Kawase-san! I'll be done in a bit - just gotta..."

Hyousuke settled. He tapped his finger against the trigger. He noted the person to his right. He did not recognise Moriko, but he recognised that they were aiming at the same range as him, and he could not allow them to take his prize. That studded toy, in all its rotund and mass-produced glory, was to be his, and he could not accept any other reality. Slowly, he squeezed the trigger. Slowly, he exhaled. Quickly, the cork burst forth from the barrel. It surged forwards, careening through the air... and impacted unceremoniously against the edge of a stuffed fox.

Hyousuke glanced sheepishly at the booth owner. He had not shown how it was done. What he had shown was the marksmanship skills of someone to whom 'precision' was about as foreign a concept as society was to an cockroach. "You guys got any tips?" He asked, turning his eyes back towards Hitomi and Ririka. "I'm only good at the goldfish thing..." 

<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.

      Ah, shaved ice! Classic! Rain heads on over to the shaved ice stand after hearing the spiel with a soft hum, standing next to Fuuka with a smile.
 
      "Ah, <hello, hello~!> I'll take a lemon, please!"
 
      She then leans over to Fuuka and speaks softly enough that the stand attendant would be less likely to hear.
 
      "Just a tip, the mix is a scam. All the syrups taste the same, the only difference is the color."
 
      She stands back up and smiles to the attendant whether she was overheard or not. "<Thank you~>" 

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

"Anytime," Ichika answers Ririka. She barely looks like a delinquent today! "I like that kind of thing. Kumamoto-san, if you want to do more with that check out that last feature in 'Coolest!' I mentioned."

She smiles at Ririka. "Tha~nks~!" she singsongs and returns her attention to her partner for the moment after a wave to Ririka and Moriko (and Moriko's little brother.)

"Heheh. Horns," she says. "You look great!" she adds after her little joke. "Very cool."

Ichika doesn't have to think about it, which is pretty nice actually. And Tsubasa affirms it for her, too. "Ah, thanks... I kinda went double effort on the makeup and hair today, you know?"

Boats! Ichika's thinking yakisoba... but shortly--healthy adults!

But she loves the not-takoyaki, so that option works great. And she smiles at, "Oh, cool, Suou-san, Uchida-san. "And...?" Fuuka! "Yamagishi-san. Cool. Nice to meet you."

She really doesn't seem that much like a delinquent at all at the moment, but for a little roughness to her speech and the fact that she's with Tsubasa.

"Pretty yukata," she telsl Fuuka. She probably towers over her a bit. But then, "Eh? ...You haven't been holding out on me, right?" she asks Katsuya as the shopkeep calls him Tamaki's man. "I don't wanna assume like last time..."

"How're you two going, anyway? We're enjoying uhhh, this normal festival, and stuff." 

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Yukari does look good in pink. So too does Minako... but orange accented in green is also a fun and complimentary alternate color. Ren's more interested in how Minako looks, anyway.
    
    That doesn't mean that they don't catch the strain, however slight, at the corners of Yukari's lips. They pause to see it. They thought the two of them were cool after the talk they had in Shibuya, but...
    
    ...well, whatever her concern, she seems to be trying to hold it in check. Ren nods to her in gratitude. They know she's just concerned for her friend. "I won't push you into it then, Takeba-san. It was nice seeing you again."
    
    They look down at Minako. "What do you wanna do first?" They crook a smile. "If you've been hoping for a pet, I could catch you a goldfish."
    
    Goldfish-scooping is quite difficult, so this is a considerable brag--if they can pull it off. 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    'Thank you. Obasan sends her regards as well.'
    
    Oh, huh. It's really that easy. (Nevermind Kurou may be being truthful here, but Umie doubts that this is the case.)

    One of Umie's friends giggles and coos as Kurou bows deeply, while the other gives Umie a skeptical look.

    But it is too late! Umie is walking away with Kurou.

    "Oh. Ah, thank you." Umie takes the offered stick. "Well, then."

    She thinks, warm brown eyes scanning the crowds. "So many familiar faces..." Nibbling on the chocolate covered banana, Umie's eyelids lower. "Mm."

    Her eyes scan towards the polite Kurou. "Hm."

    What sort of experiences has Kurou even had, as a Ryouhara? He can't be that old, maybe... 16ish?

    As an idea sprouts in Umie's brain, a small smile blooms like a sinister but well-meaning morning glory, equally as curved. "How about I play your chaperone for real, Ryouhara-kun? You choose where to go, and I shall escort you there. Someone as serious as you surely hasn't been to this many festivals, right?"

     And then, on a more subdued note, she murmurs, ".... also, I need to pay you back for the banana, so... let me cover some things, will you?"

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"Is this...a subway station?" Koh asks as he accepts his pack of tissues ungraciously. "I could have just walked around Shibuya." With a sigh the boy reaches to fish out yet another handful of jingly coins to engage in another furious bout of squeaky hammer flailing

But he thinks better of it. Not because he doesn't want the little hat (he does), but because he spies familiar faces in the occasional gaps through the crowd.

And the first culprit he catches in the crowd is: Fuuka Yamagishi, at the stalls, with the shaved ice.

"They totally don't taste the same." He refutes Rain's claim, revealing his proximity. "Yo, Fuuka-san. You look nice." The boy chimes as he joins the line. "Lemon's the best. It tastes like yellow." 

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
Hitomi turns her head to look at Ririka. There's something weird about her facial expression before she seems to straighten up a bit and say, "Oh, Kawase, what's up?" ("Good mask pick," Hitomi tells Moriko. "I wish I could make those things work...")

She rests a hand on her hip and says to Hyousuke, "Oh -- I was kind of in the zone --" Her eyes turn over the stall attendant, in case she has herself been Noticed as a Game Observer.

She does tell the tall young man, "Sorry if I threw you off. Which one were you going for? I picked those since - mm - well -" Hitomi turns her head a bit, pursing her lips, before saying in a somewhat quieter tone that is NOT aiming at the booth guy, "I saw a rigged stall like this a while ago and the layout was similar. But, I think that's not what we have here."

"If you did do something like that, you'd be inviting a curse, right? The gods aren't gonna like it if you don't play fair..."

Hitomi then adds, "You've really done that? With the goldfish I mean? I have tried like, fifty times, in my life, 100% fail rate." She doesn't seem greatly disappointed. After this she looks back to Ririka, and Moriko too. "What about you guys? Are you feeling the fish?"

Then the attendant briefly reminds Hitomi she put her money down for a cork. "Hold on," she says, picking up the cork gun and hefting it in a parody of gun-aiming stance. "I just want to see if I guessed right." After this Hitomi tilts her head a little and watches down the 'barrel sights' of the pop gun, which aren't there but are at least a direction you can use to orient yourself. She does, indeed, aim for the second row near the edges. (These seem to be plushie maneki-nekos with extra-big eyes. Maybe she wants one for her room...) 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Fuuka considers the shaved ice stand, and the woman at the counter waves her over with an enthusiastic pitch, regaling her with the flavors on offer. It's a good assortment of flavors... And, ultimately, it proves too tempting for her to resist.

She considers her options... but as she does, another woman approaches the stand and whispers some advice. It's a scam...? Really?

"Um... Thank you." She replies back quietly, before turning back to the attendant and handing over 300 yen. "Could I get strawberry, please?"

It's as she's waiting for this, though, that she heard someone calling out to her. She turns, and there's Tamaki! Fuuka remembers her, someone who had been working with Reiya - they had met at this very shrine, in fact.

"Oh, Uchida-san... It's good to see you again." Fuuka replies. "Yes... They all went well, thankfully. My summer has been... busy, but on the whole, I'd say I've enjoyed it."

There was a lot happening over the summer... but she can't say she regrets any of it. There was a lot of hardship, but a lot of important memories, as well.

"How was yours?" Fuuka asks - and watches as a well put together man approaches, calling out to Tamaki. A friend...? "Oh, hello, sir..."

She receives a name for him shortly after, as Tsubasa and Ichika arrive, the former calling him 'Sergeant Suou'.

Tsubasa apologizes to her, though, and Fuuka shakes her head.

"No, it's alright... I was more frightened by that man..." She assures. "Um... Thank you - for saying something... It felt like I couldn't do anything."

She looks toward Ichika, then. Ichika Kawase... She recognizes her. Even though it wasn't her fault, she feels a bit embarrassed at knowing her face already.

Ichika does, in fact, tower over her, though - Fuuka is rather short. It's a little intimidating, but the compliment does a lot to smooth things over. She offers her a small smile.

"Thank you. I like yours as well, Kawase-san. It's nice to meet you." Fuuka offers. "You're... Ririka's sister, right? I'm a friend of hers."

Speaking of friends - Koh! Koh approaches, at this time, and Fuuka offers him a smile.

"Thank you, Koh-san. That's a nice yukata." She offers. 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

"Thanks, Seki-san!" Ririka had said to Tsubasa, at the compliment.

"No worries, Suzuki-san," Ririka responds to Hyousuke. "Take your time!" But she sees Moriko step up, and gives her a cheer. "Goo, Kumamoto-chan!"

And then she offers a smile to Hitomi. "And good luck to you, when you find that prize you want..." She's assyming that's the reason she hasn't fired yet. But she sees that look, and frowns a little, lowering her voice. "Hey... you okay?"

"We could try the fish, sure," she says to Hitomi. "But since we're here..." Ririka steps up and puts some money down, and picks up a rifle.

She's aiming for anything that looks like a cute animal plushie. 

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

It really is that easy!

So is making sure Kurou's led away and following properly. As Umie mentions familiar faces, his own gaze scans over the crowd before circling back around to meet again with Umie's. He's dressed like a visitor, but beyond 'bought food', there seems to be no further pull or distraction for the festivities itself. Even the food may be a function of attempting to blend in.

Whether or not that's going well is up for debate. The cut of Kurou's yukata might be just a little too big and not tied entirely properly. It threatens to fall from his shoulder, but that's nothing a subtle roll of it now and again cannot fix.

But then Umie smiles.

"A facade is best maintained by living it," Kurou offers in agreement. The only sign of his budding concern is that his nibbling has taken a markedly slower pace. His eyes blink at her once. Twice. He looks over the festival and back at her again, then points at himself with his free hand.

It's not clear if he's asking if he really ought to choose, or if he's really that serious.

"... But you bought me an umbrella," he adds with another blink.

A few moments of silence pass as he simply stares at Umie blankly before finally turning to look back over the festival. He glances to Umie just once more, then points toward the goldfish. "Then... the fish."

<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.

Speaking of anyone breathing down his neck. It's only moments after Ren Amamiya enters with Minako Arisato that a certain figure on the edges of the festival lowers his phone.

Song Definitely Not Playing in Akechi's Head (Shut Up) - Every Breath You Take - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

He takes a couple of steps in that direction, a man on a mission, before all of a sudden!

"It really is him!"

Record Scratch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy_Aje0hnac

Cue Akechi being swarmed by fangirls in Yukatas, as he raises his hand, awkwardly chuckles and says, "It seems I've been found out. I thought I'd take some time today to enjoy the local festiva-" Suddenly his arms are claimed on both sides, as he's yanked, being dragged bodily away with a unison of invitations that all amount to:

"Enjoy it with us!"

Plan insert himself into Ren Amamiya's dating life may have a few snags this time.

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    'It's delicious,' sure, "But is it at least protein-based?" Tamaki inquires of the stand owner. "I'm often on my feet all day, so I could use the energy, you see ..."

    To Fuuka's question about how her own summer went, she hesitates, instead choosing to contemplate the takoyaki ball she holds before her own face. " -- It was fine. I wish it was at least a few days longer, though. University classes pick up again, and that's already difficult to balance with a job."

    Tamaki hears her name being called, and upon turning around to see who it is, she breaks out in a wide grin and waves. "Oh! Suou-san! It's good to see you!"

    And goodness, they're all appearing out of the woodwork, aren't they? "Seki-kun! And ... Kawase-san, was it? Cute masks!"

    Tamaki quietly assesses the pair while she chews on a takoyaki ball. Tsubasa gets a few extra moments of sympathetic scrutiny as she remembers that Phoenix may have potentially betrayed them and joined up with the Phantom Thieves. As she studies Ichika, however, she smiles at Tsubasa again. "We can talk later, go and have a good time, alright?"

    Maybe her greeting to Katsuya was a bit too enthusiastic, since the takoyaki stand owner seems to have gotten the wrong idea. Katsuya, Tsubasa, and Ichika may see the brief moment that an annoyed glare crosses Tamaki's face before it vanishes again as she maintains her composure. She turns to the stand owner with the brightest, sunniest smile that she can manage and replies, "Ahahaha! If I do get a second helping, rest assured, both of them are for me." Every bite means that she'll be one step closer to figuring out what the secret is to this dish ..!

    Tamaki punctuates this reassurance of hers by vigorously biting down on another takoyaki ball. She finishes her bite, then jabs her takoyaki-less toothpick in the direction of Katsuya's chest. "No work talk today, got it?" Her demeanor softens, and she adds, "I didn't take you for the festival-going type, so what brings you here?" 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

"I'll have to- find it." Moriko admits, "Is it still in stores?" Suggesting she probably keeps tabs on other magazines! "Thank you though!" She offers a polite, but quick bow on her way past. "I'll come and bug ya for more help later." Which is a step up from 'Couldn't be arsed' by a considerable margin for her!
 
 "Feeling the fish?" Moriko asks, a bit oblivious as she focuses on aiming for the fox. Which the guy she just joined is aiming for as well! That doll's hers and he can't have it. She takes aim. Taking all of her skill with tools and.. hits wide. Putting a shot into what Hyousuke had been aiming for. This was after placing the coins down on the counter of course! "Yeah, bargain." She agrees while doing so.
 
 "I thought so too!" She agrees, briefly distracted by Hitomi. "Why don't they work? Bet you'd look cute with like-" She glances over. Leaning back as she fiddles with the cork. Another coin slid over. "Uh.." She trails off. "Lemme get the prize then I'll pick one out with ya." She's been doing work herself! Both with shadows and with vehicles on the side.
 
 She's not sure which might be worse some days.
 
 Ririka's encouragement does help! And she aims and fires a second time! She's still wide. Even going as far as to mutter, "The sights are off or something." Because it's clearly not her fault! (It is.) "Which one are you after Ririka?"
 
 Hideki turns, still holding the Hannya mask up to his face. It's not too hard to see the family resemblence to Moriko when the mask is removed. He's smiling, but he has that gangster look to him just like she does. He seems unsure what to say though, at least at first. When she introduces herself as a friend of Ririka's he does chime in, "Do you know my sister too?" No he doesn't name names.
 
 He might be as oblivious as his sister. He does throw a thumbs up to Tsubasa though, "If you pull it off I can pull it off I think." Sounding more confident.
 
 Moriko after sliding a third coin forward while muttering asks Ririka, "Which one are you after?" She might compete with Hyousuke, but she doesn't want to step on a friend's toes! Of which, to Hyousuke, "Hey hey, hands off." Her tone suggesting laughter though! Competition is competition. She can have fun with it. "Point and shoot. I think we have to accomodate for the sights though." She points to her own, when Hyousuke asks for tips. She's being sincere! And a bit oblivious herself.

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

"That guy, over there." Hyousuke said, deciding that responding to Hitomi's question about his target was far more important than addressing her apology. He hoped the fact that he was content to talk with her was enough to show that he didn't much mind, and was just happy to have some company. However, the conversation did not engage him quite enough to get him to shift his focus away from the rows of plushes arranged before him, nor to specify exactly which one he had his eyes on. His gesturing in a vaguely central direction could just as easily have meant the fox as it could the Jack Frost nearby.

He shifted a little, angling himself to face his intended target - even if what it was remained unclear - and took Ririka up on her offer. He settled his breathing. He narrowed his eyes. He found his centre, and allowed the gun to become a part of him. It was an extension of his being, and he would wield it as such. With renewed focus, he fired off another shot. There was only a split second between the cork leaving the barrel and it reaching its target, but that heartbeat was enough for Hyousuke to offer a prayer to any spirits listening in.

The prayer proved futile. The cork hammered against the fox once more, this time even closer to its centre. It even wobbled a little, threatening to tip over. "Are you kidding? Again?" He'd checked the forecast. The wind was supposed to be gentle, if that - nothing that could alter the trajectory of his fire so drastically. "Yeah, this is way harder than the fish thing." He said to Hitomi, deciding to reply once his focus was on the gathered group instead of the grinning demon plush sitting idly on its shelf.

"You just gotta swoosh it. People keep trying to swish, and that just makes them all flop around." Hyousuke gesticulated wildly, as if it would clear up what he was saying instead of making it even more confusing. "I'll show you later, if *someone* stops aiming for my prize." He cast a look of mock anger at Moriko, even pouting a little as he did so. It was by no means serious, but there was no doubting that he'd started to get competitive. He took position once more, and readied the third shot. 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Who is familiar here?

    There's Fuuka, the powerful navigator whose disappearance had jumpstarted things for Umie.
    ....And Ririka, another very capable navigator, who likewise awakened not too long after Fuuka.
    As well as Yukari, a member of SEES, who Umie had unfortunately filled with forbidden knowledge of mere existence of the NWO,
    because she was with Katsuya, who is finally not in cop-mode, for once.
    And Rain, who was with her and Tamaki at that wonderful bar back in Tokyo.
    There's also the endlessly enthusiastic Minako! And Ren, right next to her. Dating? Well, it's not like two people being together is *dating*.
    .....
    Then.... Ichika and Tsubasa. Umie's expression dips. Hopefully, they'll never have to know what happened, fully, with Eiji. Umie's lips purse slightly, her left hand, partially cloaked by the wrist sleeve, directing a strand of hand behind one ear.

    A facade is best maintained by living it.

    Umie glances back to Kurou. "... Your yukata's slipping," she discreetly says, as if providing commentary on Kurou's statement. She can't exactly adjust it in public, but it makes her wonder if he had to dress himself.

    This must be what life is like, for a Kurou...

        _AND THERE'S AKECHI_.

    Umie's cheeks puff out as she tries to hold in laughter. Instead, she wiggles her fingers at him as he is dragged away to his fate, while Kurou blinks at her over the subject of umbrellas and debt.

    "Fish?" She looks up slightly, tearing her attention away from the spectacle. "Goldfish. Aha." She finishes her treat; there was no nibbling for her, tonight. "Let's try it out, then, Ryouhara-kun." 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    "Oh, hello," he says to Fuuka, who is someone that Tamaki seems to know, but whom he doesn't think he's seen before. He looks her way as if to silently ask after an introduction.

    It's then that he notices the stall's signage, just in time for the Octopia lady to notice him. He has enough time to look over at her and then, she says a particular series of words to Tamaki.

    [EMPATHY] - Easy: Success: That was not in any way a normal wink. And what does she mean by... that? Does she think we're-- dating?!
    [VOLITION]: It's fine. She's made a mistake. All we have to do is take a deep breath and keep it together.
    [AUTHORITY] - Medium: Failure: No, this could be bad. What you need to be absolutely clear that you are not 'an item' before the rumors start to spread.

    "You-- er," Katsuya starts, becoming ever so slightly unraveled, "We are not... we are simply acquaintances! There is nothing... like 'that' going on!"

    ...Nailed it.

    Is it some small relief that Tamaki laughs it off? Well, no: he turns his head slightly and realizes that he's had an audience. "Er-- Seki-san, Kawase-san. Hello," he starts, doing his level best to attempt some sort of adult-like authority (how good is it? that's up to the audience to determine) as Tsubasa and Ichika greet them both. "Well, I... did want to dress appropriately," he continues, still extremely off-kilter and struggling to reach something approaching shore. He has the distinct feeling this may not be all that easy to accomplish.

    This is not even beginning to approach the 'do not touch' topic of what he now unfortunately knows about Ichika and her ex-fiance. But he can't say a thing about that, can he?

    (...His panic a moment ago might have answered Ichika's question for her!)

    "I am," he starts, stopping to fidget just a moment with the very sunglasses Tsubasa mentioned (does he wear those everywhere?), "doing alright. It is surprising to think that summer is already nearing its end." He seems taken aback for just a moment by Tamaki as she jabs that toothpick in the direction of his chest. "I-- yes, I see," he says, apparently taking her far too seriously. "...No, actually, you are right. I haven't been to a late-summer festival like this in a few years." Sometimes, work does that to a person. "I suppose, with everything else going on, I thought... it might not be a bad idea to unwind," he concludes.

    ...Is this really him 'unwound' though. 

<Pose Tracker> Naganaki Shrine has posed.

    "Not bad, young man! You hit something, right? Keep trying!" the booth owner encourages Hyousuke. "Yeah, swoosh it, swoosh it!" He looks over at Hitomi as she sights on her guess and fires--the plushie maneki-neko wobbles, articulated raised paw waving--and the motion of that waving paw topples it over after the shot already put it off-balance.
    
    "Woah! Nice shooting, young lady! Guess you showed me!" the booth owner says, impressed despite himself. He reaches over and hands the plush to her. "Here you go!"
    
    Ririka and Moriko will have a harder time of it, but as long as they're willing to put down the money to take more shots, they'll eventually succeed--especially if they aim for the lighter prizes. Is the fox toy one of the lighter ones? Hmm... Shoot and see!
    
    Are Octopia's takoyaki protein-based? "That's a trade secret!" the Octopia lady says. "Eat it for yourself and find out!" At least she laughs along with Tamaki at the mistake, taking it in stride. "Oh? I love a lady with a healthy appetite! Go ahead and order as much as you like, then!" She'll be happy to fry up more balls for Tsubasa and anyone else who puts in an order, too.
    
    ...Katsuya's extremely emphatic insistence that No They're Totally Not An Item How Could You Even Suggest That gets him a pair of raised eyebrows, though. They aren't Authoritative Eyebrows, at least. They might be withering all the same. "Sure, sure. You gonna order some takoyaki, mister? Best in town!" she says either way.
    
    "Right away!" the shaved ice lady says to Rain. Thankfully, the noise of the shaved ice maker drowns out her whispered warning to Fuuka. An exchange of money later, and she holds out Rain's order with a bright smile. "Here you go!" And again to Fuuka a moment later with an order of strawberry: "Thanks for your business~!"
    
    ...It turns out it actually does taste like lemon and strawberry respectively, though. Artificial, but still! Koh is proven correct on both counts. Speaking of Koh...
    
    "Hey, hamsters love tissues. They make great nesting material," the Whack-A-Ham person argues, possibly erroneously. He's sweating a bit at the call-out, though. "If you don't like 'em, you don't have to take 'em!" (He definitely got them from a subway station and didn't want them himself.)
    
    The goldfish scooping tank is womanned by a bored teenager who nonetheless can muster enough enthusiasm for Umie and Kurou as they approach--as well as anyone else who comes by. "Hi! Scoop up a goldfish with one of these--" she holds out a very thin paper goldfish scoop, "--and you get to keep it! Two hundred yen per try!"
    
    The tank gleams beautifully, and there's goldfish of all different patterns of orange, gold, black and white swimming in tranquility... 

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    "Heh," Tsubasa flashes a grin, to Ichika's joke. They look pretty pleased to hear her telling them they look great, too. "Yeah, ya dad helped me get ready an' shit... it was cool, man. Told me 'bout all kinds a shit I wouldna figured." There are secrets to men's yukata just as surely as women's!

    "I can totally tell," they add, regarding her hair and her makeup. "Ya got ya ends done at a proper joint, didn't ya?" A hairdressing joint, they mean. "An' th' softer makeup's real cute... real fancy, too."

    Tsubasa... still definitely comes off as a delinquent, thanks to that dark tan and the gravelly-rough quality of their speech, but hey, they're at least trying to be more refined. They've even got more earthy tones on their makeup instead of the usual loud as hell cyan and blue!

    ... their blond wig is still, like, bleach-blond, but it's the closest thing to normal they've got.

    "Yeah, man," they add, stealing one of Ichika's takoyaki like the thief they are. (It's fine, it's a sharing boat.) "Normal festival junk." They flash a thumbs up to Tamaki, though, when she assures them they can talk later. "Sure. Jus' remember to relax, alright?" Clearly Tsubasa's remembered that classes are looming over her head.

    Their lips kind of scrunch up as they try DESPERATELY not to crack up at Katsuya's failed-empathy attempt to preserve his and Tamaki's honour, though. "You -- you look great, man," Tsubasa assures him, and at least manage to be halfway serious about it after the hitch in their speech.

    "Sounds like ya both got sh--uhhhhstuff goin' on," they add, looking from Katsuya to Tamaki as they hear how he's trying to unwind. "Go shoot some corks or scoop some fish, man, c'mon. No one's gon' dock ya serious adult points, it's a festival."

    Their expression turns sympathetic, though, as Fuuka thanks them. "Hey, man, don't worry 'bout it... guys like that are total freaks, yeah? Appreciate you backin' me up... shows some real brass," here they glance to the adults who are definitely close enough to hear them swear their ass off, "uh, fortitude. 'Specially if you were scared." Tsubasa was scared of the Motojima patriarch too, of course, but c'mon, they're not gonna admit that in front of everyone.

    "Hey, you Kawase-san's friend? Small world, huh," they add, and they definitely say that in time for Koh to hear, at least.

    Then they say: "Huh," again, because they just saw Rain, behind Fuuka. They just kind of look up, and up, and up, and lean over to Ichika and whisper: "Holy shit she's huge." Tsubasa's only ever met a couple of women who top six feet or higher, and one of them was, like, MAYBE an assassin?!

    Tsubasa throws a thumbs-up to Hideki in turn. "Lookin' good, man," they respond to his wishes to pull it off, just like they are. "You, uh... Kumamoto-san's brother?" They probably got a brief introduction when they met Ichika out here. "Ain't familiar, meself... sorry, man, I ain't from 'round here. Say, why don't ya try th' Whack-a-Ham? Bet you'd grab her a cool prize." They're not really great with kids -- it's especially kind of awkward to figure out how to deal with them when they get into middle school and are in that weird transitionary stage -- but man, they're not gonna crush this shonen's dreams or nothin'.

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"Yours is great," Minako promises -- and then she winks at her.

She smiles brighter when Yukari says they could walk -- or maybe not. She doesn't want to get in the way. She hesitates for a second. Is it neglecting Ren to not bring her along? Is it rude to Yukari?

Sometimes, life is confusing.

"Thanks, Takeba-chan," she says, after Ren speaks up. "Let's meet up a little later in the festival, okay?" That might be the best compromise. Besides, she hasn't had time with just Ren in awhile -- beyond text, at least. She looks at them, and then she cracks a smile.

"Hey," she says, "If you're up to the goldfish catching challenge... well, I always liked to be impressed~"

She, mercifully, misses Akechi's presence and his fate.

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

Kurou's gaze follows Umie's scan, noting where it lingers just a little to try and identify or remember the relevant faces. His own survey stumbles over Katsuya Suou... the one who was following Yoko Hirano. Is he there, following another young woman...? (No, Kurou, you were following Yoko and he was looking out for her -- !!) Perhaps Katsuya will feel the weight of those gold eyes upon him.

Jiiiiiiiiiii.

But there's also Seki-senpai and the Thorn Boss of Kasugayama, who Kurou was supposed to look into on behalf of...

Of...

... Kurou's gaze suddenly drops. He drops his unfinished banana into the nearest bin as they pass it as his appetite abandons him.

He gives a little tug on his yukata with Umie's warning, trying to keep it situated. "... Yes," he affirms. "My apologies." He falls silent, and maintains that silence as they approach the fish tank.

Kurou looks over each aspect with studious intensity. The attention levels of the teenage girl manning the booth. The thin material of the scoop. The trajectory of the goldfish as they swim in their tank. Kurou begins to nod with slow understanding.

"A fishing implement that would disintegrate in seconds... Fish that would flee on instinct, knowing no difference from a patron seeking companionship or a heron seeking prey..." Kurou accepts one of the papery scoops, and Umie will have to beat him to paying for it, if she wants to.

But Kurou watches. And Kurou waits. He is observing the fish. He is also observing for anyone else who might make the effort first.

It is best to learn from others' mistakes, where possible.

(He's taking this much too seriously.)

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
"Oh, I'm fine," Hitomi tells Ririka. "Don't worry about it." She smiles at Ririka, a little meekly, before going back to her shot.

            PWOP!
            ...
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMNRPmX5Eng

With a smile, Hitomi collects the wages of carnal skill and acumen: a plush lucky cat!! "Oh thank you~ Haha~ It was so fun!" She turns to show the cat-plushie off to everyone she was loitering with, including Hyousuke, who may have an intangible sense that he has been brought within a secret circle for a moment.

Then Hitomi unzips her purse (which mostly has some money - in a little elastic mesh pocket - and like, her transit pass, and some D6s for some reason) to park the cat so it's peeking out. As she does this, Hitomi considers Moriko's question with pursed lips before saying, "So... the problem's mostly..."

Hitomi takes off her glasses for a moment and holds her hand up in front of her face, stretched out. Her facial structure and hand size make it so that she can *just barely* touch either 'side' of her cheekbones with the middle finger and thumb. Her hand comes up afterwards, and with a slight grimace, she says, "Let me see one for a moment and you'll see what I mean." (She also puts her glasses back on.)

Her head turns for a few moments after that as she hears distant screaming. From this angle she has no idea who it was, but she does observe - "That's an interesting person, if they're getting those kinds of screams." To Ririka, she asks, "You're from around here, right? Other than /present company/ of course, like, are there like... pop stars or something that live in Tatsumi?"


After this, her attention turns back to Hyousuke. "Ah, so it's like that... I understand perfectly now..." Hitomi smiles then, a deliberately poised 'uh huh i see what you did there.' "What's the difference? I guess I'll have to watch the master at work." 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"Ah, you recognized me in disguise," Koh offers to Fuuka with a grin. The hair is different, but also it's pretty hard not to tell who it is when one is staring him in the face. "Thanks. Have you seen anyone?"

He probably means SEES, given there's lots of other anyones nearby. In fact, she mentions one...

"Kawase-san's sister?" He asks, head tilting at Ichika. "Oh, nice to meet you. I'm one of her classmates, Koh Katsuhiro." Polite nods are made to Ichika and her date.

He also acquires a cup of bright yellow shaved ice layered over a scoop of ice cream. It's very decadent.

"Do any of you need tissues? Hamsters love them." He parrots the sage advice he was given earlier. He does have some other important tips to impart when Tsubasa makes their suggestion: "Whack-a-Ham is rigged. ...Unless you want a tiny hat, Fuuka-san."

Why would anyone want that...? 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

It's more that she feels real awkward after what happened, and what she pulled and - AKIHIKO proving he's not exactly a reliable senpai in anything social. But it's also like she said. She's going to stay skeptical- for Minako's sake.
 
Not because she doesn't believe him, but because she needs to look out for her. Minako is more fragile than she thinks she is.
 
"Sure! I'd love to." She says to her offer, then they part ways with a- "See you later!"
 
Once up the stairs... she eyes the pair at the goldfish challenge, and takes a moment to check herself with a little mirror from the purse in her hands discreetly, before her eyes dart around.
 
Like she's looking for someone in particular.
 
"Hmmm. Gotta be somewhere around here, right?"
 
Eventually her decision is just to walk around. So with one last glance at a fish tank, seeing Umie and Kurou.
 
'... Fish that would flee on instinct, knowing no difference from a patron seeking companionship or a heron seeking prey...'
 
"Not sure if her boyfriend is really pretentious or a real weirdo." She murmurs, before walking onward. A glance, another glance...
 
... pause.
 
"Hey Katsuhiro-san, Fuuka-chan..."
 
Are they on a date? There's no way right? Fuuka wouldn't- well actually she's way bolder than Yukari first assumed on many things that aren't dating, so why not dating.
 
"Uhhh- sure is an interesting group you have here." She tries to smile, "I guess it figures you'd be in the area, with your sister living here, Kawase-san." She says to her, and Tsubasa.
 
Double take-
 
"... Why would she want that?" She asides to Koh, vocalizing the question likely on everyone's mind. 

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Ichika's smile widens when Tsubasa notices her hair. "Yeah!" she says. "You like it?" Her dad definitely knows many Secrets, but it's too public for her to refer to him. For now.

For Fuuka... Luckily, 'embarraased because you saw her secrets in a supernatural space' and 'embarrassed because you're short' look a lot alike from Ichika's vantage point, so she doesn't guess at the truth of Fuuka's gaze. Ichika smiles back. Then, she pops one of the 'takoyaki' in her mouth. "Mmm," she decides, chewing before she says, "Those are really good."

Then she looks back to Tamaki, "Ahhh, got it." Definitely not a romantic thing, from how Katsuya insists so hard too. One day she'll find a ship for him...

She ads to Katsuya, "Definitely appropriate. Nice to see you, too." She's... not going to linger on hanging out with the Officer, even if she does think he's one of the good ones. She has Tsubasa to look at!

Then she waves at Tamaki and Katsuya, and focuses elsewhere. "Oh, you know Ririka-chan?" she says to Fuuka. "That's good. She's been making a lot of new friends this year. I'm happy about that."

She is trying to be a good Big Sister after all. Then she looks between Tsubasa and Fuuka. "Sounds like I missed a story... glad it's over, I guess."

To Moriko's brother, "You totally can," pull it off. And Tsubasa is being so good with him! Ichika gives Tsubasa a fond look. "Tsubasa..."

But Koh! "Ichika Kawase," she introduces herself back. "Nice to meet you, too." Pause. "I... don't need tissues."

"...Tiny hat'd be cool though," she admits, and leans on Tsubasa. That's when she notices Yukari! She blinks to look at her, hesitates--but Yukari tries to smile, so Ichika will one-up that try and smile back warmly.

"Hey, Takeba-san," she says. "I've been here for the summer," she explains. "Since our parents live here, and I'm in the dorms at Kasu High."

She is still leaning on Tsubasa for a moment before she rights herself. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

"I'm good at recognizing people." Fuuka offers politely, as Koh points out that she recognized him. She nods back, then. "Mm-hm. There are a few others here, too."

Fuuka's shaved ice is made!

"Thank you." Fuuka offers politely, accepting it. She goes for a taste - and it is indeed as strawberry-flavored as claimed... Maybe she should've gone for the mix anyway if the flavors are actually different after all.

Oh well. Those kind of regrets are an important part of summer, too...

University and a job, especially with what she's picked up about it... Fuuka offers Tamaki a sympathetic look.

"I can understand that. School will be starting back up for us soon, as well..." She replies sympathetically. "Let's both do our best, alright?"

Katsuya greets her. He looks Tamaki's way, but Fuuka can pick up on the quiet request.

"I'm Fuuka Yamagishi. I met Uchida-san here the other day. You're... Suou-san? It's nice to meet you." Fuuka offers.

Tsubasa assures her not to worry about it and Fuuka nods.

"I didn't do much... but, you're welcome. I just... felt awful for her." She replies. She does smile, though, when they comment on her being Kawase-san's friend. "It is, isn't it?"

She nods to confirm, then, as Ichika asks if she knows Ririka.

"Yes. I went to her concert the other day, actually... She's very talented, isn't she?" Fuuka agrees... and then nods. A story... That's a good way to put it. "Yes. It was... harrowing."

A child approaches them! Fuuka looks his way. She thinks she recognizes him... but it's Tsubasa who puts a name to face.

"I think so..." She confirms - and then looks up, toward Yukari. Fuuka offers her a smile.

"Oh, hello, Yukari-chan." She greets. "Yes, it seems like everyone knows each other here..."

Small world, indeed. She isn't used to having this many people around her... After yesterday, she's just glad that everyone's on good terms. Anything's easier to deal with after that.

Koh, then, offers Tsubasa some sage advice.

"A tiny hat...?" Fuuka repeats.

...She kind of does want that... 

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    It can be confusing, figuring out your duty to your datemate vs. your friends. Fortunately, Ren would rather be with just Minako anyway--the two of them haven't had a lot of time together since her Yakushima trip--so they're just fine with Yukari offering graciously to bow out.
    
    As Minako's bidding her farewell, though, Ren pauses at call of a random girl gushing at the presence of a Him. They turn and look to see...
    
    ...
    
    ...their eyes narrow. Maybe even meet Akechi's before he's dragged off to his fate by his fangirls.
    
    Serves you right, that merciless look might seem to say.
    
    Then they look back at Minako with a smile. "Then prepare to be impressed," they say, winking.
    
    A moment later, the two of them are waiting behind Umie and Kurou, who is watching. Waiting. For his time. Waiting. ...Waiting.
    
    "On second thought, you want to come back later and check out the taiko drummer for now, Minako?"
    
    Whatever Umie has going on with this kid, Ren knows there's something about it that probably shouldn't have 'Ren' get involved... Music is more Minako's jam anyway, and it's fun to watch how passionately the drummer swings those sticks.
    
    "And if you want anything to eat, let me know. My treat," Ren adds. They've got the money; they've been doing a lot of part-timing, and they got to borrow this yukata for free. 

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka is about to take her first shot, but a sudden commotion catches her attention, and she turns her head to see...

Akechi getting dragged off by a bunch of fangirls.

... Ririka sighs and mutters "Lucky" under her breath as she resumes taking her shot.

To Moriko she says, "Oh, anything cute that I think I can knock over. Liiiiike... That." She points her gun at a Shiba Inu doll. For some reason, she's got Shiba Inu on the brain. And she's willing to put down for a few rounds at it.

Hitomi says she's fine, though, and Ririka nods. "... well, okay. Lemme know if you wanna talk later, okay?" But then-- victory! "Wow! Nice shot! Way to go, Mandai-san!"

And now the cat is poking out of the purse. "Awww, that's cute!" But at the question, Ririka laughs a little, "W-wellll, I wouldn't consider myself a pop star..." she tries to say, modestly. "There might be some, but... I didn't get a good look at who that was." 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Kurou is looking down.

    "... Hey." Umie has stopped there a few steps in front of Kurou, brown eyes pinned back on him, sagging yukata and all.

    It's hard to understand much of how a Kurou is and exists, but that look is one Umie thinks she can guess the meaning behind, as it's plagued her the last couple of days.

    "... We'll make a trip over there later, I promise." 'There' being the ruins of wherever that rubble Kurou once held is from. "Until then, experience what you have in the moment."

    Like this: the goldfish booth.

    Umie takes out a small coinpurse, smugly plucking out some coins with the speed of a sniper.

    "For me and my, uh, cousin."

    _She heard you over there, Yukari_.

    .....
    ...... Seconds pass.

    Umie's eyebrow twitches; she can *feel* the line behind her, as well as the eyes. She manages to catch Ren's own, and gives him a small wiggle of her fingers.

    It could mean 'hi' or 'this may take a second'; Umie's expression does not spare any context on which.

    She better take control of the situation.

    "Ryouhara-kun, sometimes..." Umie begins, trying to encourage Kurou with a small smirk, "... you have to just dive in. Like... so!"

    She thrusts her paper net into the water after a particularly brilliantly colored orange-red goldfish. 

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"So Kawase-san must be around too. I'll have to say hi to her." Koh takes a mental note before a new face appears.

"Yo, Takeba-san. Nice to see you." Koh is happy to discover another SEES member in the vicinity. Even though he's been a little awkward around her since Yakushima. But not today!

He makes a sort of tilt of his head in Ichika's direction. "See?" He asks, as if this answers all hat related questions.

"You more of a goldfish person, Takeba-san? Or...guns?" He says the last one like he's realized this must be the answer.

"Did you all find the good spot for the fireworks yet?" Shaved ice is munched between conversation. 

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

As Umie moves in front of him, Kurou comes to a gentle halt. He looks up at her, his face betraying little of what his posture already had. Slowly, he nods. A promise. That feels... solid and weighty in his heart. Something it can grip onto and clutch so that it's easier to focus on the rest of the day.

"... In the moment," he repeats, and he takes a slow and deep breath. Experiencing the moment. That's right. It's a skill he's still working on -- a skill, like any other, that is worthy of perfection.

And in the moment, Umie is quicker with her coin. Kurou regards her in impressed silence.

Yukari might enjoy (or not) considering that it's possible to be a pretentious weirdo. What Kurou isn't is Umie's consort. Kurou pauses, considering. A nephew of a friend. Or a cousin. Lies any closer than that might be more difficult to maintain, even if calling her 'oneesan' would be a more obvious indication against misconception Umie might find the most distasteful.

He will have to review this with her in detail later, when he is not hunting for goldfish. Shadows pass behind him, but Ren and Minako slip free of Kurou's attention radar.

While Kurou waits with his infinite patience, Umie decides to have a lesson on action. Kurou actually flinches, his plan of getting the goldfish used to his shadow before striking now evaporated. "Akabane-san --" Never before has flat affect sounded so startled.

But all there is to do... is act! Kurou reacts swiftly, trying to take the moment to catch a fish on its escape path with the second and a half he has before that paper scoop melts in the water.

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's little brother admittedly is as bad as Moriko herself in a lot of aspects. Nodding at the statement from Tsubasa that he's related to the other Osakan. He doesn't head towards whack a ham, but instead getting distracted by a baseball themed matsuri coat.
 
 He's going to figure out where to buy one and then annoy Moriko long enough to get it.
 
 You can achieve similar results with bike parts with the older of the two.
 
 Moriko though is using a traditional little bag for her own money tonight. "The cat's cute." She notes, "Lemme borrow yours instead." She's clearly still blaming the pop gun. Her money bag gets tucked back away in her obi. Which.. she's got a mostly just money in this one. And her ID, but hey. Hitomi's demonstration is met with a slight smile, "So wear it up and to the side." Starting to reach out to tap the spot she'd been thinking, then stops short. Force of habit? "It's not quite the same, but it would probably be cute right?"
 
 The mention of screams gets her attention. She'd been zoned in. "Maybe?" She doesn't know. Not her usual crowd. "Maybe a cute cosplayer?" Probably not. She shrugs.
 
 "That one's also cute." she admits to Ririka. Taking aim at that one next. Maybe she can try to help or something.
 
 The shot still goes wide regardless. She's not using the sights, she's just kind of eyeballing it. Much like Hyousuke. She may have ended up hitting the demon plush he had been after. "How?" she mutters, shaking the little pop gun back and forth while muttering to herself. "They make it look so easy!"
 
 "Swoosh it?" She seems utterly confused at the idea. "Do you mean like trying to chop at it?" She holds the gun out like she's trying to cowboy it! It's empty. The coins are collected, but the pop's not there for obvious reasons. "Oh."
 
 She caught the sigh, but not the muttering! "You okay Kawase?" Half-distracted as she tries to figure out why she's aiming at near 80 degree angles. 

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    "I love it," Tsubasa smiles, to Ichika, complimenting her hair.

    "Sergeant Suou's cool," Tsubasa adds, to Fuuka, when she makes it clear she doesn't know him. "He's, like, actually a good cop." Tsubasa doesn't know that Fuuka has had much better experiences with police officers than they have! ... even if they've probably been moved on from loitering by Officer Kurosawa a few times by now, so they at least know Iwatodai police aren't as prone to go for the throat as most Sumaru cops can be.

    "It's cool," they assure Ichika, in turn, when she notes that she's missed a story. "I'll tell ya later." To Fuuka, though, they rub the back of their neck, and add: "Hey, y'know... I reckon she'll remember ya spoke up, once she gets through it. ... counts for somethin'."

    They nod, when Fuuka comments on Ririka's talent. "Yeah, she's real into it. It's cool, man. Reckon she can get on th' radio if she keeps it up." That's a big milestone for musos!!

    They nod firmly to Hideki, as Moriko's little brother wanders away to find his own destiny... and then smile to Ichika, hearing their name spoken so fondly.

    "Tsubasa Seki," Tsubasa introduces themself to Koh, in turn, with a firm nod. But... tissues? "... man, you got way ripped off. Don't worry 'bout it, man, that's how this crap goes." They're still not sure if the cop is out of earshot, so they're still trying not to swear, just on the off chance that swearing during a festival is a crime or some shit. Is that a crime? It feels like it might be a crime.

    "Yo --" Tsubasa starts, to Yukari, at which point they steal the braincell from Hyousuke (it bounced all the way to the other side of the festival!) and realise: Yukari doesn't know who they are for shit.

    Yukari knows Phoenix.

    Uhhhh -- "You, uh, another friend a Kawase-san?" Tsubasa asks, as if it were all one sentence, and as if they didn't have that brief look of alarm crossing over their face before it went back into stoic neutral. "Cool. Name's Seki -- Tsubasa."

    (We note, for the crowd, that Tsubasa's stoic expression is different to Minato's: Minato has a very mild lack-of-expression by default, while Tsubasa wears a constant light scowl. They're both reserved, but one's way gruffer than the other. ... where's Minato, by the way? Why, he's Whacking Hams, obviously, which is where he'll be for quite a while.)

    They pat a hand over Ichika's, smiling up to her -- it's fine for their girlfriend to be taller than them and if anyone says otherwise they'll kick their ass -- as she leans on them. It's definitely the warmest smile they've flashed in mixed company. "Yeah, I been here on vacation. Cool joint."

    Between Tsubasa and Ichika, their not-takoyaki boat has been devoured, and so Tsubasa turns to her. "Still hungry?" And they sound a little amused, because, like, they know she is. "C'mon, your turn, what'm I gettin'?" 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari turns slightly and spies Tamaki in this group too, "Oh heyyyy Uchida-san! Didn't know you were still in the area!" She greets her.
 
Perhaps assuming she comes up here mostly for her job.
 
Fuuka's remark gets an easy response from her. "It really kind of does huh? Though I guess it makes sense in a way..." Since the group is mostly Persona Users by volume, if you don't count Ichika and Tsubasa.

"Ohhhh - yeah that makes sense." She says to Ichika considering all the events as of late. And while she doesn't talk about them directly, "Giving any thought about, transferring back here?"
 
It makes sense why someone would ask, right? If her name is cleared and her reputation is improving, then why wouldn't someone come back here? Her parents live here. She doesn't need to go to a delinquent school.
 
'Yo --'
 
Look at Yukari right now Tsubasa, if this were an anime she'd have ??? ??? ??? all over her head.
 
"Uh! I mean, she's an acquaintance more than that. I know her sister, we stay in the same dorm. Uhm, I'm Yukari Takeba, a Second Year at Gekkoukan High. You must be Kawase-san's friend?"
 
Yukari is at least trying her best not to stare at their face, but just to engage with them normally.
 
Koh's awkwardness - well, she gets it. She doesn't really blame anyone for being awkward around her after finding out her Dad created the Dark Hour.
 
But it's not that way today!
 
"Good to see you though uh- kinda neither? If I had to pick though... probably goldfish?"
 
Guns will just never be her thing, even as a ranged combatant.
 
Fuuka though repeats the 'A tiny hat...?' and Yukari misunderstands Fuuka's reaction to say to Katsuhira, "Honestly... just give it to Amada-kun I guess? He has a hamster." How tiny does she think it is!? "Though maybe don't tell him you had to whack some to get it..."

Does she think they're hamster sized because it came from that game?
 
"Oh! uh- Not yet, exactly. I was thinking of figuring that out later once we all grouped up."
 
Or when she finds a certain someone...

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    "Yes," he professes to Ichika, while also looking profoundly uncomfortable about the whole thing. Keep trying, Ichika!

    He looks great, Tsubasa professes, in a way that doesn't at all make Katsuya feel acutely self-conscious in a way he really hasn't since he graduated high school. What is it about teenagers and their ability to throw him right back into a time he's left behind him! "Thank you," he says nonetheless, trying to affect the appearance of being above and beyond such concerns as this.

    This is not the sort of 'first impression' he'd like to have made, he thinks, looking at Fuuka. "It is good to meet you, Yamagishi-san. I am Sergeant Suou of the Aoba Police Department." She might have gotten the gist of that, there, but he might as well tell her the rest.

    There is no missing what that woman is putting down. No. Not even for him. He's definitely put his foot in his own mouth. But she doesn't linger on it and instead launches right into the sales pitch. They're the best in town, professes the lady behind the counter, and Katsuya's gaze turns to linger for a moment on the part of the sign that says they are octopus-less. There is something he could say here.

    "I... see," he says, choosing the better part of valor in this regard. "Thank you, but I must decline," he says, trying to get himself out of this interaction and, hopefully, away from the takoyaki booth before anything else can go over poorly.

    Speaking of feeling like he's back in high school again and not a homicide detective navigating his early career, Tsubasa advises that he and Tamaki should go over and shoot some corks or scoop some fish. He glances over at the fish booth. ...That's Umie over there, isn't it? And--
    Maybe he's being too suspicious right now, but he felt like that boy there was watching him. Come to think of it, hasn't he seen him before? That was the boy who--

    "Actually," he says, as much as some part of him flinches from being a little too seen by Tsubasa's comment about 'serious adult points', "that might not be a bad idea."

    This is true, and yet, it's also a lie.

    "Please, take care," he says to Ichika and Tsubasa both (how good that the both of them are doing well, after all that's happened) before he glances at Tamaki. "Do you have any preferences? I was thinking it might not be bad to try to catch a goldfish." The 'try' part of this is important: he's never once succeeded at this as a child. It's easy to break a net. But of course, he has his own reasons to head over in that direction anyway. 

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Tamaki beams at Fuuka. "Yes, let's! There's nothing better that we can do than that, huh?" She glances up at Katsuya, wondering how he's going to manage the simple act of introducing himself after his earlier display, but she at least does clarify, "We're work acquaintances of a sort, at least in the areas where our jobs overlap. He and I have been working on the same cases recently, albeit in parallel, not quite together."

    Yukari approaches shortly after, and Tamaki gives her a brief wave. "Hello again, Takeba-san! I'm not often in the area, but I did come back to investigate a case a couple of days ago. Ah -- " Something faintly jogs her memory, but now is hardly the time for it. Concern shows on her face, all the same. " -- I'll ... leave you to it, but I would like to speak about something else with you sometime later, if that's okay?"

    "I certainly will!" she says as she flashes a grin at the takoyaki stand owner. Just the right amount of levity and laughter, but not at anyone's expense -- that's how she does it, whether it's with people or Demons.

    Tamaki's grin turns more sly as she turns toward Katsuya. "Some advice, Suou-san: people are going to think the opposite if you insist that strongly." As he declines the faux-takoyaki, she shrugs. "I'll vouch for her; I think they're good, at least."

    She bites into another takoyaki ball as she ponders something. Chomp, chew chew chew ... If he's that hopeless at keeping his composure, maybe he can lean into it and we pass our contrasting personalities off as an impromptu manzai routine, she thinks.

    She smiles in Ichika's direction and gives her a hapless shrug. "He's not holding out on you. If I do start dating someone again, I think you'd hear word of it from Seki-kun first, hahaha!"

    Speaking of, she turns to Tsubasa and returns the same thumbs-up to them. "Don't have to tell me twice. I'd remind you to do the same, but it looks like you're already well underway with that."

    The events of the Palace are part of the reason why Tamaki so strongly insists on 'no work talk.' Especially in front of Tsubasa and Ichika. Most of her motivation is just to be able to unwind from events in general, true, and that may be what the people listening to her may conclude ... but her quick change of topics does have that secondary benefit to deflect conversation far, far away from that subject. Unlike herself and Katsuya, these two delinquents actually do seem to be on a date; best not to bring down the vibe.

    Katsuya's response shocks Tamaki to the point that her next takoyaki ball slides off of her toothpick back onto the paper boat it came in as she stands there mouth agape. "Years? Years? Suou-san ..."

    Now she sees where his younger brother gets it. (Though perhaps she was a bit too forceful with Tatsuya in their last meeting ...)

    She gestures to the way towards the other stands. "C'mon, then, we're going to make up for lost time. Goldfish scooping sounds like a fine idea." 

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Ichika won't give up, Katsuya!!Ichika beams at Tsubasa. "I'm happy, then." That they love it. Tsubasa will tell her later; that's fine. It seems stressful for Fuuka, whatever it was. But isntead, "Oh, yeah, she's real talented," Ichika agrees about Ririka with a smile. "And doesn't ever let herself do less than the best. I'd appreciate it if you kept an eye on her." She smiles, though; it's clearly not a bad relationship. And indeed, many people do know each other here... But Ichika's not a Persona-user, right? But the hat?

"Hat," Ichika agrees with Koh and Fuuka both. "Yeah," she says then to Koh, "We came together."

But Yukari has a question, and it surprises Ichika because it seems to be in good faith. "Oh, uh..." She opens her mouth and closes it. "Actually I, uh... I never went to Gekkoukan," she explains. "Or here in general. My brother and sister both did--do, but..."

"I went to Seven Sisters," she explains. "I kinda... Well, you know how talented Ririka-chan is. I wanted to try somewhere I could stand out more. And then, well... Stuff happened, and..."

It's the least certain Ichika's acted since Yukari's met her, probably. But the result is that the answer is clear: she thought about it, but proabbly isn't going to.

She rallies about Tsubasa. "They're my guy," Ichika says, reaching to take Tsubasa's arm. 'They' and 'guy', yes.

"Thanks," she says to Katsuya as he goes. "We will." And she grins at Tamaki. "Cool," she says. "I like knowing that stuff about people. Later!"

But, still hungry...? "Yeah," Ichika admits. "Maybe... some yakisoba?" she asks. "I've been really craving it today." 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako waves goodbye at Yukari, before she walks along -- and ends up with Ren, behind Kurou and Umie. And... waiting.

...and waiting.

She glances sideways at Ren and flashes them a smile. "Sure," she says. "Let's not rush them. Or... uh... bother them, Akabane-san is in a rush--" And besides, she knows what Minako can do.

And she doesn't want Ren caught up in that.

So she nods. "Taiko drums sound great!" she says. "And... maybe some yakitori?"

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Ren gives Umie a nod when she wiggles her fingers at them--whether in greeting or a 'just a minute!,' it's unclear. That's okay, though. She's having a good time with her... cousin... (Ren does not buy that for a moment, but also is not going to call her out on it) and her cousin seems to be enjoying himself too.
    
    "Yakitori it is, then," they say, and head off with Minako towards the various food booths. There are lots of delicious-looking offerings, and Ren's head turns at the sight of shaved ice--but they stick to their guns and walk with their girlfriend to the yakitori booth. Before long, both of them have a stick of deliciously grilled chicken.
    
    From there, they just need to slip away past the rows of booths to where the taiko drummer is banging away. It's only a little elevated, and there's only one drummer, so it doesn't stand out compared to a lot of the other things going on, but it's still an exciting performance. The deep bum-bum-ba-bum really resonates inside their body.
    
    ...It almost lets them forget about how Akechi tried to muscle in on their date. Again.
    
    For now, though, they smile over at Minako as they eat. Their free hand quests for hers, fingertips brushing her palm. 

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Hyousuke heard screaming, off in the distance, and glanced briefly in the direction it came from. While it did not sound like fearful screaming, he nevertheless found it a little unsettling. Not unsettling enough to distract him from flashing a grin and pumping his fist at Hitomi's victory, however.
"Hell yeah!" He said, grinning wide. There was the warmth that he'd reserved for later - unabashed happiness that things were going well for once. "You mind giving some of that luck to me? Thinking I could use it. I'm pointing, and I'm shooting, but I'm still not getting it." He hoped that his membership - brief though it was likely to be - in this secret society was enough to partake of its patron's blessings. Surely, he would need them. He faced a stalwart foe, whose defences seemed impregnable.

Despite asking for assistance, Hyousuke certainly didn't seem too broken up about not getting the prize he wanted. Rather, the pressure to get the toy with one of his last few shots only seemed to steel his resolve. "But only enough luck for this. I don't need it for the fish. There's a *ton* of difference between swooshing and swishing, and knowing that's all you need to get one of those little guys. Don't even *think* about trying to fwoosh though, that stuff's for the pros." Hyousuke spoke of the pros with awe - genuine, respectful, reverent, awe. Yet, he spoke no more of them, instead settling his eyes on the prize.

Briefly, he was distracted by a sudden whisper on the wind. He paused, trying to discern what it had said - and who precisely had said it - before putting the thought from his mind. It was a large festival with a lot of people, and everyone was having other conversations around him. It wasn't worth worrying about, especially when the Jack Frost was on the line. HIS Jack Frost, he hastened to remind himself, especially when Moriko's shot bounced off of the plush he had been (unsuccessfully) aiming for the whole time.

Strangely enough, a sudden and inexplicable loss of focus plagued him during the entire train of thought. It was as though a part of him had gone missing, carried on the breeze to the other end of the festival.

With the not-at-all-significant murmur from nobody in particular successfully forgotten, Hyousuke realigned himself, and readied another round.
"Nah, it's not about chopping or hacking or stuff like that. It's about the *feeling* you get when you use the net." He gesticulated again, clearing exactly nothing up. "It's like... When you're swinging one thing, it feels like a swish. But you gotta make it swoosh. You'll figure it out if you see it. Now, this... You're saying I just gotta point and shoot?" He sounded as though he was asking Moriko for clarification, but really just trying to remind himself of what he was supposed to be doing. He shrugged a little, and with all the speed of practised gunslinger (whose hands were greased, bound, and missing several fingers) he drew on his target. The cork spun towards the shelves, seemingly empowered by his prayers, streaking towards the other end of the booth like comet

...Only to hit a certain fox in a certain spot. It teetered. It tottered. It threatened to go still. Then his prayers were answered again, and a freak gust of wind tipped the odds in his favour. Slowly, it fell to the ground, landing with a quiet thud that - in Hyousuke's mind - resounded like a lead weight dropping from the sky. But it was not joy that filled his expression, nor was it relief. It was frustration. Slight, but nevertheless recognisable.
"Are you serious?!" He said, pulling a face before replacing the gun. "I wanted the Jack Frost..." 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    "You can't change what's in the past," says the false oracle, her face turned to Kurou. "In this moment is your means to control the future."

    Alas, Umie didn't think to go with the definite 'little brother' excuse; that, too, is in the past now.

    Minutes later, and Umie is exerting her control over the goldfish booth, as Kurou watches in awed silence.

    A Chariot drives Death, forcing two Fools to seek fortune elsewhere.
    Or something like that. Justice and Balance come in, something something
    
    This is how one operates, spreading chaos around like a floating water heater. Obliviously.

    WIth little success.

    The net dissolves before it reaches the brilliant goldfish, which swims away. Kurou may have better luck with his, perhaps taking advantage of Umie's failed attempt.

    "Aw well," Umie sighs, "I doubt I'd be good at keeping a goldfish." At least the line will move again; Umie shares a glance and a polite nod towards Tamaki and Katsuya if and when they come up. 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako spots the way Ren turns their head, eyeing the shaved ice. She cracks a smile and looks up at him. "Maybe we get some of that after the fireworks?" she suggests.

She follows along, though -- and she's, in short order, taking chunks of the grilled chicken off. It's not terribly lady like, but such is festival food life.

She stops next to them -- and then she takes Ren's hand, her fingers sliding through his. She looks sideways at them, then she looks ahead. She sighs, fondly, as the drumbeats echo through her. "My dad took me to one of these," she says. "My first one, when I was little. He liked music, and--well, he wanted me to see stuff like this. I always like seeing them."

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

"It does..." Fuuka confirms with a nod back toward Yukari.

Tamaki agrees with her, meanwhile, about doing their best. There's nothing better they can do than that...

"Yes, that's true..." Fuuka agrees with a nod, her expression turning determined for a moment. She definitely has to do her best now...

Tamaki explains that she and Katsuya are work acquaintances and Fuuka nods thoughtfully. Tsubasa, too, vouches for Katsuya, saying that he's cool and actually a good cop. It's true - Fuuka has definitely had better experiences with police officers, and Officer Kurosawa's support is a big part of that.

Katsuya introduces himself very formally - and thankfully, she's the understanding sort, so she's more than willing to let the awkward situation slide.

"Thank you. I hope you enjoy the festival as well, Suou-san." Fuuka replies, as he returns her greeting.

Tsubasa assures her that Kazusa will remember, once she gets through it. Fuuka thinks back - and she thinks back, too, to the first time she met.

"Do you think so...? I hope she'll be alright." Fuuka considers.

Fortunately, Ririka's musical talents prove a brighter topic, and Ichika chimes in on this, too.

"I think so, too." Fuuka agrees. Ririka never does less than her best... Fuuka nods. "You're right... It's very impressive. And... don't worry. We both look out for each other."

Fuuka lets herself take some time to work on her shaved ice as Yukari engages Ichika. It sounds like school is a complicated subject for her. Yukari does raise another important question, though.

Just how tiny is the tiny hat...? She considers this idly, though her main focus is on the others talking around her. 

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
"Kawase-san," Hitomi says in a theatrically sweet tone, eyes half-widening as she continues with an ironic zest to the yamato-nadeshiko-y tone: "You're just early in your stellar lifecycle. Right now you're still blasting the cosmic dust into planets around you! Soon you're going to flare bright in the heavens, like a supernova."

After this she answers Moriko. "Mmm... I've seen people do that with the mask... I don't dislike it, but I worry people would thnk I was two-faced." She seems to smirk a little as she says it, but only a litle bit, and then she turns towards Hyousuke.

Hitomi says, "Share my luck, huh...?"

She seems to consider Hyousuke for a full second before reaching into her bag again and bringing out two of those Inexplicably Toted Around dice here. One might suspect this of being Hitomi's DICE BAG, and to be honest, that's not that inaccurate, though she has something much more functional, tactically appropriate, and - this is important - *NOT BUBBLEGUM PINK* when she's carrying them on a certain hour of the day.

She holds up two dice held between her index, middle, and ring fingers, then cups her hand around to hold them in the hollow of her palm. She then leans down to breathe on them. After that, another little twirl of the hand -- and she's holding them up for Hyousuke to take.

"So now you have to show me how to scoop a goldfish. Unless you don't want the luck." 

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    It isn't, but it is Minako, and when Ren spots her doing it, they give her a fond smile.
    
    "That sounds great," they say of the shaved ice, eyes crinkling. "Something cold would really hit the spot."
    
    Their hands clasp, fingers intertwining. Ren meets her eyes, then watches the performance with her. It must take a lot of practice to build up the endurance to do this for so long...
    
    Minako speaks up about her dad. Ren glances at her again. "So he shared his love of music with you, huh," they remark quietly. "It is really cool. There's just something about taiko drummers at a festival." They look forward again. "...What other kind of music did your dad take you to experience?" 

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

Is this wisdom part of why Shiryuu held Umie as so important? To want her fit for battle as well as poetry... because the world would not be kind to someone who extends kindness so frequently, or because there was strength in it to test his own steel? Maybe both.

"... You're right," Kurou says, voice soft. It's all lessons he should know, but yet he needs to reminders, and clings onto them like he were once again a child learning them for the first time.

Just as he is as a child, experiencing his first time at such a festival. At least, so far as he can remember.

Umie's scoop melts. Kurou fractions of seconds are counting down. A fish darts toward him, finding paper instead of water... a thin membrane that promises a new prison. It lifts, water into air... before a simple, effortless tip, as if the wrist were too weak to hold even such a tiny weight were the final failed hurdle.

"Mm. The electricity in my apartment fluctuates too much to guarantee water temperature."

Or was it something quite deliberate?

Yet he turns to look directly at Umie, even with that stony face of his. "... Thank you. That was fun, Akabane-san." He sees Umie's not, and fluidly shifts out of the way so that others can have a chance... but his eyes bore once again into poor Katsuya.

What strategy will the Persona cop use to catch a fish, and what shall it reveal of his character?

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    "She'll, uh..." Tsubasa can't really say Kazusa will be all right, but they don't want to freak Fuuka out, either. "She'll get through it," they settle on.

    "Oh, uh -- thas' who I meant," Tsubasa clarifies, to Yukari, a touch awkwardly. "Like, you know Ririka Kawase? Ichika here's my girl," they add, and yes they have to keep pointing that out, it's very important information! "I'd be in trouble if I were regardin' her that proper... heh." See, they're at least trying to work past the awkwardness of Not Enough Honourific Nuance To Clarify Which Kawase with a joke.

    Tsubasa... probably didn't mean to crit Katsuya with their snark. Teenagers are just monsters, man, even when they're not trying to be. "Catch ya later," they nod, to him -- and even smile to Tamaki, briefly, at her own exit. (They're going to sprain their face, at this rate.) "No worries, Uchida-san, I'm all over it." Well, technically, they're all over Ichika, but --

    Okay c'mon that's later, probably. Mostly. Mostly that's later. Tsubasa sure ain't complaining about Ichika using them as a leaning post right now, though.

    ... they do hear her being so uncertain about Gekkoukan, though, and give her hand another little squeeze. They do not jump in to answer for her, though... but they do give her their arm, when she reaches for it.

    "Sweet," Tsubasa nods. "Yakisoba it is." They'll give Ichika the option of coming along with them or disentangling from her to go over to the yakisoba stand and grab a nice big boat of noodles --

    -- and, like, at some point while grabbing that food they may indeed meet Ren's gaze as they're grabbing food and give them a Firm Nod of Recognising They Are Both Here With Someone but Also It's Good To See Them --

    -- but either way, they get back with the noodles pretty quick. "You get yakisoba at festivals a lot?" They ask, as they hand the delicious noodles over.

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

"Goldfish, huh." Koh considers Yukari's answer deeply. "Cool."

"Your sister is really good." He pauses to agree with Ichika. "You do look kinda similar. Like, tall."

The last scoop of his shaved ice disappears. And a second later he winces and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Aaaa, hold on... ... ....-I'm okay. That was a normal one." He must have eaten too fast.

Then the boy grins between the two nearby SEES members. "You've got to find a good spot," He explains warmly, "I'll find you all when I figure it out." And after a polite few farewells to less familiar people he vanishes. Surely he'll reappear to join friends once the fireworks start. Maybe with that little hat. 

<Pose Tracker> Naganaki Shrine has posed.

    The next time Koh tries the Whack-A-Ham... he does, indeed, win that little hat. Ham-hat. 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    Is there anything more terrifying than a matchmaker...?

    What's with that look, he thinks to himself, noting that Tamaki seems to be a little concerned about him. He's fine. He's doing fine. This is a normal introduction.
    ...It is a little sparse, though. Fortunately, Tamaki fills in, even in a manner that may be convincing (no, he's not aware that Fuuka has a Persona). "That is correct," he adds. "Of late, I suppose the things we have been working on together have been difficult." See? He can lie convincingly. Sort of. Tsubasa voices that he's a good cop though, and at that, Katsuya shakes his head. "I am only doing what is expected of a civil servant," he demures, as if it weren't something he needed to be praised about at all. Inside, though? Oh yes, he is actually pleased about this, especially from someone like Tsubasa. Perhaps his influence is helping them reform.

    (Teenagers are monsters. But so are adults.)

    Yukari then makes her approach. "I see you are acquaintances as well?" he asks of both Yukari and Tamaki; judging by their apparent familiarity with one another, he can surmise that Fuuka and Yukari may be schoolmates.

    (Lest anyone think too highly of Katsuya's ace detective skills, though, he has not clocked that Ichika and Tsubasa are on a date. No, not at all: 'how nice, they're both out together and having a nice time' is more along the line of thinking here...)

    Tamaki has a little word of advice for him, though:

    "Is that... so," he remarks, with the distant, dismayed affect of someone who has realized just how badly the've put their foot in it. His shoulders, slightly, sag. He'll just have to hope for the best here, won't he. "I will... remember that."

    Of course, then he does go on to remark that it's been years since he's been at a summer festival, and Tamaki is just appalled. "Is it that unusual? I was preoccupied with school, and then with my career," he begins to explain and oh, boy, it really has been years, hasn't it. It must run in the family.

    But there's no time like the present, and scooping fish (or attempting to) might just be the ticket. Also, there's one person he knows there, and another he had encountered under suspicious circumstances fairly recently.

    "Thank you, you as well, Yamagishi-san." He glances at Yukari. "Please take care, Takeba-kun." After all, doesn't he technically know her 'well enough' at this point?

    With that, he departs for the goldfish booth, where Umie and the golden-eyed young man await. "Akabane-kun, hello. I had not expected to see you here," he says, which is not a lie.

    After some pleasantries to obtain a net, then Katsuya is faced with the basic conundrum of catching a goldfish.

    "I never had much success with this as a child," he tells Tamaki, shaking his head. "The net will dissolve if it's in the water too long, or if it's been wet too long. So, really, there is only one chance. If you move too quickly, though, it's possible to tear it. It should be a matter of the right speed and the right angle, in practice, but..."

    So saying, he makes his 'attack'. Is he right? Is that all there is, or is there a secret third thing involved with this? 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"We're on, then!" Minako says to him -- shaved ice, after the fireworks.

"Mm-hm," she murmurs quietly, a little while later. "It's really amazing. The precision -- and how fast they go." She is quiet for a moment more, considering the question.

"A lot of rock," she says. "He loved Queen. He went to one of their Tokyo shows when he was younger, and he got Freddie Mercury's signature."

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Moriko agrees about cute Shiba Inu plush. "Isn't it? If we can get it... I dunno. I was thinking Koro-chan might like it? Maybe it'll keep him company when school starts again and we're not all at the dorm..."

Moriko fires, and Ririka fires along with her. Now that she's had the thought, this is her plan.

Another shot--ping! The shiba Inu totters but doesn't move. "So close..."

"I though swooshing is for the fish, Kumamoto-chan."

She shakes her head as Moriko asks if anything's wrong. She's definitely not blushing a little. "N-nothing, just... missed that shot." She puts down money for another one. Maybe she's getting close...

Hyousuke espouses his game theory about catching goldfish, and Ririka listens, not sure exactly what the difference between all motions are, but... it sounds like he knows what he's talking about. "Fwoosh...? You must be really good at catching goldfish, Suzuki-san."

Hitomi talks about stellar lifecycles and supernovae. Ririka blinks a little but then smiles, "That's very kind of you to say, Mandai-san. I'll... keep working hard at it!"

She does, indeed, never let herself do less than her best, as others near the snack booths have stated. Ririka sneezes a little. "... must've got a cold gust of wind."

But Hitomi lends her luck. "Wow, that's really kind of you, Mandai-san."

But for her own luck... she takes a couple more shots. Teeter... totter... annnnnd.... tip over. "Yes!" 

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Ren did catch Tsubasa's gaze while they were out getting food, and gave both them and Ichika a nod and smile of greeting. Ichika might even realize that this is the Minako they told her about--but they'll have to say 'hi' another time. Both of them are on dates. It's still good to see their friends.
    
    They grin at Minako at the promise of shaved ice--and, later, listens to her talk. They nod in agreement about the drummers, and wait for her to share whatever she wants of her father.
    
    They aren't going to do the same. They have nothing worth sharing, and they don't want to bring down the mood.
    
    "Really? That's very cool," they murmur back, genuinely impressed. "I Want To Break Free is one of my favorite songs." They grin again, a touch mischievous. "Another one is Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy." They squeeze her hand. "What about you?" 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako can talk about the good memories. The car crash -- no, that's too painful to bring up. It would just bring down the mood. Her expression is a little thoughtful, as she watches the drummer play. She glances back at Ren, though.

She grins at them. "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy, huh?" she asks. She squeezes their hand. "I think it's a tie. Teo Torriatte -- that was Dad's favorite -- and Under Pressure. Which, sure, not a deep cut but... it's a classic for a reason."

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

The ritual left Hyousuke rapt. It seemed such a simple thing at first glance, but so desperate was he to get his hands on the rotund creature mocking him from across the booth, that the very suggestion that his luck could be increased by invoking the proper rites had him focussed like a pet observing its owner reaching for the tin opener. There was also the element of showmanship to it. The motion of the hands, the bestowing of breath, and the entrusting of those sacred implements to one such as him... He said nothing, but the firm and solemn nod he gave Hitomi said more than his limited vocabulary ever could. He would take her blessing, and would give unto her his teachings. The pact was formed. The bond was made. An exchange was imminent.

All that only made it sting more when he failed to get the prize he wanted, and with notable dismay in his eyes - and in the clown-like frown he wore - Hyousuke handed the dice back. Blonde locks flopping a little as he inclined his head down, he somewhat resembled a retriever knowing it had done something wrong, and sought either pity or forgiveness.
"I think I must've gotten the gods angry or something," he said, canting his head towards the fox plush he'd won. "I get a prize, but it's not the one I was looking for." His glum demeanour persisted for all of a moment, replaced instead by steely-eyed determination, and a glance at the little fellow on the shelf. "I'll get you next time..."

Ririka's remark distracted him from the fox he'd picked up and placed to one side, and he could only respond with a nonchalant shrug.
"It's actually pretty simple once you get the technique right. Helps if you can think like a goldfish too." Hyousuke remained blissfully unaware of the implications of such a comparison. "Why don't you come along with us? I'll show you how to do it. You and- Uh... I don't think I got your name." 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko's pop gun gets reloaded and she is still trying to shoot it one handed at this point. Using her whole arm to aim while Hyousuke tries to explain something to her. It seems to go in one ear and out the other as she finally settles on the simple reaction, "Are you a fisher?" He keeps talking about a net and swooshing. That doesn't make any sense either and her face scrunches up, "No." She taps her foot, the wooden sandal clacking lightly and she accidentally shoots her own shot.
 
 It's on target! For the wrong one. "Dammit." She states, stamping her foot as the Jack Frost doll falls over. Then she catches herself and adds, "No one heard that."
 
 "At least it's still cute." the biker states, starting to reach for another coin when the fox she'd been after falls over. Giving Hyousuke the evil eye.
 
 "Two faced? Nah." She tilts her head. Looking to Ririka with an eyebrow raised. She doesn't know Hitomi as well! "I think it'd be cute." As for the fish? "You do it at an angle and don't jerk it." That's what she'd always heard, when she hears Hitomi's insistence on teaching fish things. Though there are more pressing questions that escape after. Now that she's at least holding a prize. Even if it's not THE prize. "Do you do tabletop games? We get them at some of the tables for the conventions and-" she trails off. "Wrong crowd." She guesses. Maybe. "Uh."
 
 Ririka's reaction further confuses Moriko and she opens her mouth to double check, then decides she can ask later. Instead she holds the Jack Frost doll up. "Well. We can try again? Or find another game?" Even if her eyes are on the little fox instead.
 
 It takes a depressingly long time to realize the obvious answer. And she uses the back of her hand to nudge Hyousuke, "Trade?" While wobbling the stuffed Jack Frost.
 
 "And names. Should probably do names if we're trading. Seems wrong not to."
 
 "Woo!" She adds, seeing Ririka's prize fall from the corner of her eye.
 
 There is a brief moment of confusion though. Again. "Wait what?" Looking to Hitomi when talking about supernovas. 

<Pose Tracker> Naganaki Shrine has posed.

    The taiko drummer hits one last powerful series of beats--wham wham WHAM!!--and then sets down their sticks. They share nods with some of the festival runners nearby, then accept a water bottle. The ambient music of the festival is dying down in general, settling to let in the ambient sounds of the night.
    
    That's the first warning of the cap for the night. The next is the whistle of a firework shooting up into the sky, then exploding in a burst of white. A moment later, another one rises and explodes in red... Then another in green that sends down flickering sizzles that pop in the thick night air, and another in blue that sears off white at the edges... Then a triple pop of orange lights that illuminate the streets below...
    
    It's a beautiful show. A perfect way to cap off the evening for those who wish it before grabbing one last snack or playing one last game, then heading home... or simply watching the fireworks dazzle until the very end.
    
    There are some wonderful secret spots to watch them from, even. But that's another story... 

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Katsuya asks Tamaki if it's that unusual to become so preoccupied with school and work. She curls a finger under her chin and she gives him a sympathetic glance. "I suppose it isn't. If anything, it's a common enough sentiment for Demons based off of stories and Rumors centered around overwork to have cropped up in Sumaru."

    As Katsuya and herself arrive at the goldfish booth, she gives Umie a smile. "It's good to see you, Akebane-san." She gives Kurou a nod. "Might I ask who you're here with?"

    Especially after what happened at the takoyaki stand, she's going to refrain from jumping to any premature conclusions.

    Tamaki steeples her fingertips together and offers Katsuya a pleased smile as he explains his history with the game. "A-ha, so you are at least somewhat familiar with it."

    Both speed and angle are important, but is there a secret third thing? Tamaki watches some of his attempts, and ... he's close, but she figures some guidance could nudge him towards successfully scooping one up, so she offers third, fourth, and fifth bits of advice. "Those are both a part of the overall skillset required, it's true, but ... mmm." She rests the side of her face on a hand as she recalls her knowledge from her past experience.

    "Keep the pressure you apply light enough, as well. In fencing, they say to hold your grip like you're holding a small sparrow: firm enough to keep it from flying away, but not so hard as to crush it. Be gentle."

    "You'll notice that you have all the time in the world; the game's only over if your scoop becomes completely unusable. There's no need to rush. -- within reason, if a line's forming."

    "Fish have their patterns of movement, and watching them long enough will let you predict the moment they'll move in a direction. Observe their path carefully, and determine both the proper time and location to strike."

    Soon enough, the fireworks start, causing Tamaki to crane her head to the sky and quietly smile as she observes the show. It thankfully isn't raining this time, and she can watch this until the end -- though she'll make a few attempts at the goldfish booth, herself. 

<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.

    Ren winks back. "Come on and get it~," they lilt in English. The joking fades for her answer. Teo Torriatte is a famous song in Japan, of course, and Under Pressure is another famous collab. "Gotta respect the classics," they agree, nodding once. They're about to launch into a conversation about that very topic when the drummer wraps up.
    
    They pause to look over at them... and then up, as fireworks whistle and explode overhead.
    
    "Look," they whisper to Minako, and gently pull her closer to do precisely that.
    
    They'll finish off their yakitori and eventually share a shaved ice with Minako--but that'll be later. Right now... they can share in this moment, together. 

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    It's hard to say why people like others, especially when one is a Shiryuu Ryouhara, and another is an Umie Akabane.

    Umie's eyes glint sharply at Kurou's catch. "<Good!> Now-" Ah.

    The fish escapes, or, perhaps, it allowed to, with a dip of Kurou's wrist. Surprise floats across Umie's face, and she laughs. "The pursuit is half the fun, eh....?" Another one of those impish sharp grins. "But seriously, that's a good point. A goldfish needs a proper tank, and filtration..."

    The electricity in Kurou's apartment fluctuates.

    Ah. How could someone be in a condition like that, unless they lived someplace that didn't have proper modern amenities? Perhaps an umbrella is the least of Kurou's problems.

    "Katsuya-san, Ichida-san." Umie's keen-eyed expression melts into something more pleasant, despite the conditions they had last met in (or because of them). "Yeah, I... am watching my... cousin, here."

    Her eyes try to convey 'I'll explain later', but she's not the only one communicating with her eyes.
    
    Watching Kurou bore his blunt stare into Katsuya, it hits Umie like a shock of cold water on a relaxed goldfish: Katsuya is, in fact, the very person that laid Umie in the crosshairs of Shiryuu in the first place. Just because Shiryuu is, at best, missing, does not mean his initial mission is over.

    But the crack of fireworks and drums draw Umie's attention next, as she crooks her chin towards the display. ".... I don't know. I think it needs more lightning," she says with a wry grin, at Tamaki. 

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Your girl?" Yukari sounds like she doesn't quite get that. "Oh you mean like- alright."
 
Did she figure it out? Not quite, she thinks Tsubasa is just in a gang with her.
 
Speaking of people popping up everywhere...! "Officer Suou!?" Blink, "Ooohhhhh I guess you would be in the area right now..." After all, he's been in the news. She's not bringing that up.
 
She then looks to Tamaki because 'Ohhhhhhh' it's like she's putting two and two together, "I get it." At least she thinks she gets it! "Sure. Let's meet up later? Still got some Break left for setting up plans."
 
In fact, is that why he's so close to Ichika? Makes sense. He's that kind of guy...

"... I guess?" Is Yukari's response to Koh, "All the games here are kinda rigged anyway."
 
They're not really, she's just a consummate cynic.

"Ohhhh... that makes sense. I just thought I never ran into you or something..." She says awkwardly to Ichika. "I get it, I guess? Makes sense you'd want to find your own feet."
 
Is it weird that she's so jealous of Ichika for having a family home to go back to? If it were her, she'd definitely move home...
 
... well, assuming it wasn't just her Mom there.
 
Katsuya though departs, "Ah- take care Officer! Enjoy the festival..." She looks his way, watching as she wonders, "I wonder if he came with Amano-san..."
 
After all, he was willing to be her part time photographer, despite you know, being a cop...
 
-=-=-
 
She considers approaching Minako and Ren during the fireworks show, but - when she sees Ren pull her close.
 
She smiles and looks up, "Better to let her have this." She decides.

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.

Jack Frost is Ichika Kawase's enemy. It brings her no joy that this is true, but it is. Perhaps one day their feud will end... perhaps not in bloodshed, even.

But for now, Ichika talks with Fuuka! Fuuka also thinks she's talented. And the matter of looking out, "Cool," Ichika says. "That's important. Friends should always have each other's backs."

Katsuya has been in the news, hasn't he? Hmmm.

But Yukari... "Nah," Ichika says. "My brother went there, and my sister goes there, but... I only went for middle school." Which was a long time ago. "And I looked pretty different back then."

But finding her own feet. "Yeah," she says. "And now, well... I mean, how would you like to go back and have everybody know all about you? They'd probably just pity me. Forget that."

A pause. "Anyway, I don't want to leave Tsubasa," she says, who she is... very close to. Clearly.

But with the others going...

"Oh, they're not together," Ichika supplies kf Suou and Amano for Yukari. "I thought so, too. But he said no."

The fireworks, though...

"Oh!" she says, and leans on Tsubasa again. "Look..." 

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Seeing Moriko claim the Jack Frost as her own filled Hyousuke with a great sense of envy. He tried not to let it show - to do so, especially around polite company, was simply not what one did. The fact that they were at a festival only reinforced the idea, and so he did his best to maintain a pleasant look upon his features. Despite his best efforts, however, there was no keeping it from seeping out of his eyes, staining the very look he gave Moriko. Until she proposed something that he was shocked (and a little ashamed) he'd not thought of himself.

"Hell yeah!" He cried out, thrusting the fox forward with both hands, waiting for her to hand over the prize he *actually* wanted. Ririka's success did not escape his notice, however, and he flashed her a grin. "Looks like we're all getting something good tonight!" Were his hands not already full with one plush toy or another, he might have pumped his fist in some celebration of victory. Instead, everyone had to settle for him beaming at them all with a smile that was as warm and as bright as the sun. "We- Oh, right, names. Im-"

Fireworks.

Before Hyousuke had a chance to answer Moriko, his head snapped around to see the colours streaking into and across the sky, their glow burning bright amidst the wisps of smoke that hung in the air long after they faded. He was quiet again, but it was no silence born of intense focus. It was awe, plain and simple. For one shining moment, he had no thoughts of fighting or criminals or conspiracies. There were no anxieties about the future, no unpleasant reminders of the past. It was just him, new friends, and an evening to spend with them. 

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

'She'll get through it'... Fuuka can tell there's some uncertainty there, but that they're trying not to concern her. She appreciates the effort, at least. Fuuka nods.

"Yes, I agree." Fuuka agrees, as Ichika says that friends should have each other's backs. It's something of a new experience for her... but it's one she finds she likes.

Katsuya thanks her - and Fuuka notes that he knows Yukari, too - and she offers him a nod.

With everyone starting to filter back out to see the rest of what the festival has in store, Fuuka leaves as well, to try and find a nice, quiet spot to watch the fireworks from(as difficult as that may be, considering the crowd). And as the bright lights erupt in the sky above, she finds herself very glad she went out today. 

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"Mm-hm!" Minako agrees about the classics.

She looks up, too, at the whistle of fireworks. She blinks -- then gasps, staring up into the sky and the sparkling streamers of the fireworks shot up into the air. But when Ren pulls her closer, a smile blooms on her face.

She rests her head on their shoulder, with a happy sigh.

"Wow," she says, softly.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Hyousuke's secret to success is... to think like a goldfish.

"Eh he..." Ririka's smile is a little strained but she's too polite to say anything. "W-well... I guess knowing how the goldfish would help..." She's inclined to be charitable.

She pauses, as Kyousuke is lacking names. "Oh! Mandai-san, Kumamoto-chan, this is Hyousuke Suzuki. He's an acquaintance of mine from Sumaru. Suzuki-san, this is Hitomi Maindai-san and Moriko Kumamoto-chan, they're classmates of mine at Gekko." Okay she might've picked up some of Kasu's slang having made trips up there all semester.

"The Jack Frost is totally cute, Kumamoto-chan!" enthuses Ririka. "And these things are a little tricky... I think we're heading to the goldfish next," she notes to Moriko.

She accepts her Shiba Inu plush with a smile, and then pauses, head bobbing along as the taiko drummer finishes with a powerful series of beats. "The drumming's stopped," she notes, curiously. "Do you think--"

Fireworks start! "Oh hey, do you guys wanna go find a spot to watch the fireworks?" She might still be wistful about not having a date for ~fireworks~, but watching with friends is still nice. 

<Pose Tracker> Kurou Ryouhara has posed.

When Umie says it's good, there's a brighter flicker in Kurou's eyes. But all the same, the fish escapes. Or is set free.

"... It is most of the fun," Kurou supplies as he looks back to watch the fish swimming about in the water. "I hope... they find good homes."

But now they are being questioned. Kurou at least maintains enough sense of presence not to look at Umie and wait for which of the excuses she is going to use. Cousins it is. Kurou bows with the introduction, and just like with Umie's friends, it's a little too deep for the informality of the meeting. "It is nice to meet you both."

So he says, but he lifts up to focus his attention on Katsuya. Death temporarily becomes Judgment. Katsuya Suou is also aware of the pitfalls of this game, but comes at it with the advantage of experience. (No, not really, Kurou.) The woman with him says he has all the time in the world.

Kurou turns abruptly to bluntly set his stare upon Umie.

...This must simply be the nature of an unfair world, where cops get Persona and time to hunt goldfish...

The constant rhythm that's been in the background of the festival tapers into silence, and Kurou's entire body goes still for a moment before he realizes he is in neither a time nor a place where a sudden change in to the tempo around him is cause for hypervigilance. This is a festival... a thing to experience 'in the now'.

It's that first whistle of pyrotechnics that has Kurou remembering to look skyward. "Oh," he says.

Somehow, even with a yukata splattered in such bright colors, he disappears in a fit of soundlessness.

Clambering up the sacred tree or shrine itself would be sacrilege. Yet the jungle gym was made for climbing, and Kurou vaults up the bars to perch atop it. He sits, balanced on a bar with his feet leaning into another across from him. It isn't the highest vantage point, but for now, it will be enough to watch the show. Colors explode into the air, reflected off of his eyes as he refuses to peel them from the spectacle.

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    As Yukari remarks, Katsuya has been in the news lately. Considering the scope of the crime being apprehended, perhaps he's even more on edge than usual.

    He takes a moment to think about what Tamaki has said about demons and rumors circulating around overwork. "I seem to recall stories to that effect. So there are demons, too," he murmurs, thoughtful. "...And rumors." Perhaps he's a little troubled, too. After all, sometimes, he's still at work quite a while after everyone else has gone home...

    In this, Katsuya is in agreement of a sort. He'd like to avoid any further outbursts, himself. Kurou is her-- cousin? Come to think of it, he doesn't think he's met Umie's family at all. Wait.
    It takes him a moment, but he does manage to pick up what Umie is setting down. So it's not actually that, but also (probably) not...

    "Of course, I did use to play some games at festivals when I was a child," he says, as if again this should be something left in his past. "That being said, this isn't a game that is quite so easy for a child," he remarks. Now it's time to see if age and expertise have changed the playing field any.

    ...No, that's still a miss. Baking a cake or shooting a gun are completely different skillsets from this. Still, though he does shake his head, Katsuya doesn't seem too put off by it. "Well, it seems it isn't so easy to catch a fish," he tells Tamaki with, yes, a slight self-effacing smile. "Yet, I'm not certain I'm ready to give up." She has a few tips for him on that account.

    "A... lighter pressure? I see, so rather like..." A light touch is best when assembling some pastries: too much, too firmly, and the structure can collapse. "Yes, I see." He doesn't need to rush. And he should watch, and wait.

    "If I watch their movements..." Then it should be that he can let them do half the job for him, he concludes, watching and waiting carefully.

    If there's one thing Katsuya is good at, it's determination. Even if he has to try ten, twenty, a hundred times, he's going to make sure it's done.
    If there's two things Katsuya is good at, it's determination and watchful waiting.

    When the right moment comes along--

    If there are three things, then it's also hand-eye coordination.

    "Hah! There!" It's a fish!

    He's accomplished something he never could as a child, which now begs the question: "...What do I do with it?" he asks Tamaki, unaware in the moment of the future attention drilling into him.

    It's then that he realizes that the taiko drumming has already stopped, and casting his gaze towards the sky, he's able to also watch as the first firework of many bursts like a flower against the sky. 

<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.

Moriko wobbles the doll as she doesn't quite get Hyousuke's name, but she's not going to be that picky and snags the fox plushy for herself. And for a moment she holds it under the legs and rocks it back and forth making happy little noises before it gets tucked under her arm for safe keeping.
 
 "Im huh." That's going to stick. Maybe.
 
 "Would it?" She gets sidetracked briefly by Ririka's suggestion that thinking like the goldfish is the way of the goldfish. "Are you taking philosophy on the side?" She'd clearly missed that Hyousuke suggested it.
 
 "It is cute! The gun was shooting crooked though and-" she pulls the fox back up and presents it to Ririka, "I wanted this one."
 
 The fireworks going off are met with a pause in her thoughts and a pleased smile. She's holding the plushie up to see too. Mostly in a distracted manner. 

<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.

    "They're like, models, man," Tsubasa says to Koh, framing the Kawase's height as positive in the same breath. "It's totally sick." That's good, in context.

    "That's totally an honourable defeat, man," they add, to Koh, as he is afflicted by a shaved ice headache. And when he disappears to find a good spot, they lift a hand in salute. "Catch ya."

    (He's a cool dude, they think.)

    Tsubasa does give Yukari a long look when she's so confused over Ichika being their girl... but she at least seems to get it.

    They don't remember what Jack Frost did, but certainly there is still a part of them with a healthy aversion to him. Possibly just because Ichika doesn't like him; they're very ride-or-die like that.

    "Yeah," Tsubasa does speak up, finally, on the matter of Ichika's schooling when she brings them up. "Ichika's writin' her own story... an' she's doin' real good in Hirasaka." They put an arm around her, too, which is probably a normal thing for people in a gang to do.

    (They do wonder if they ought to talk to Fuuka about what happened, but... man, this is totally not the venue for that. Anyway, seems like her dorm's real close, so she'll prolly be fine, yeah?)

    When the fireworks burst out, Tsubasa's got their arm around Ichika again. "Hey, up there," they point out one particular shower, as the taiko drum beats. "Man, wouldja look at that..."

    ... though, if they sneak a kiss in while everyone's attention is up there, well, no one's going to be looking close enough to tell, right?

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Yukari does, in fact, Get It. Tamaki gives her a nod. "Just give me a call to let me know when works for you." Then, she and Katsuya leave for the goldish booth ...

    -=-=-

    Tamaki's initial expression at greeting Umie is much the same Umie had given her, and for similar reasons. "It's good to see you again." She's tempted to ask her if she's seen Tatsuya since then, but refrains for several reasons, one of them being his brother standing right there.

    She half-closes her eyes in Umie's direction as if to communicate that she understands, she caught that hesitation before 'cousin', she knows how it goes and trusts her to fill her in later. Lot of that going around tonight.

    Tamaki gives Kurou a polite bow in return. "Tamaki Uchida. It is a pleasure to meet you, as well, cousin of Akabane-san." She rises to return her attention to watching Katsuya's goldfish-catching attempts, though she keeps Kurou in her peripheral vision. He's obvious in how he stares -- she intends to observe him more surreptitiously.

    Katsuya manages to finally catch a goldfish! She's ecstatic for a few brief moments --

    Then he asks what he does with it after he's caught it. That way he's looking up at her ... oh, no, she can't handle it.

    Tamaki can feel mirth start to bubble up from her stomach and threaten to make its way to her mouth, but she motions at the stand owner, who then provides a water-filled plastic bag. "Put it in there, quick! And now you're the owner of that goldfish." Having provided her explanation, she turns around to finally bust a gut.

    -=-=-

    Tamaki smirks back at Umie and retorts, "Don't you dare joke." She says this, but her own tone is light and jovial. "Lightning, but no rain? Afraid of getting drenched again? At least we did manage to eventually break our streak where my arrival heralds some unfortunate incident with frost or water befalling you."

    She gestures out to a more empty area. "Should we avoid tempting fate and move to watch the rest of the show from a better vantage point?" 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    He looks a little bit at a loss. What does one do with a fish once they've caught it? Let it go again? When he was a child, a winner would take the goldfish home to...

    Tamaki has an immediate solution to the problem: put it in a bag. Simple! Done.

    And now he's the owner of that goldfish. He stares at the bag and at the fish within it. "..."

    So this is now his responsibility, too. "I see," he says, far too seriously for such a small thing, "I will need to take good care of it."

    ...can anyone blame Tamaki for laughing?

    And so as fireworks light up the sky, Katsuya has one thing on his mind, and it isn't worries about work or his brother, or anything of that sort. Instead...
    ...he wonders if a fish can pick up on the vibrations of the fireworks, and if it might scare them the way it might a cat or dog. ...Do fish get scared?

    is this what 'unwinding' is supposed to mean

Retrieved from "https://www.velvetroom.wiki/index.php?title=2025-12-20:_A_Cherished_Day&oldid=3991"