2025-12-27: Minako's Volleyball Mismatch
- Log: 2025-12-27 Minako's Volleyball Mismatch
- Cast: Minako Arisato, Ren Amamiya, Yukari Takeba, Shinjiro Aragaki
- Where: Tatsumi Port Island
- OOC Date: December 27, 2025
- IC Date: Saturday afternoon, September 01, 2012
- Summary: Ren, Yukari, and Shinjiro have come to the qualifying match of Minako's volleyball team--but they're having a real hard time against their opponents. There's some kind of friction going on between Minako and Rio Iwasaki, the team captain--but what exactly is going on? When the Gekkoukan team loses, Minako's friends go to comfort and encourage her, but there's no better answers afterwards as there were before.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Gekkoukan's volleyball team is participating in a big game, at the end of summer. It will qualify them for a regional tournament -- the best schools of the greater Tokyo area, and that a qualification for a national tournament. But, first, there is the qualifying match.
It is located in Tatsumi Port Island, at a large sports complex with a gymnasium that has seating. There is quite a crowd -- there is a turnout from the visiting team, all the way in Asakusa -- and there is a loud pop as Rio Iwasaki, the team's captain, leaps up and spikes the volleyball down.
It's caught by a girl on the Asakusa team, and sent flying over the net -- to cheers from the Asakusa section of the crowd. The Gekkoukan side, though, is quiet; a few seats have emptied over the course of the match, which is entering its final stretch.
The score says it all. Asakusa has 23 points; Gekkoukan has 11. The first team to score 25 -- and be two points higher than the other -- wins the match. It hasn't been a good match for the local team, and both the team's and audience's spirits are flagging.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
When Minako told Ren about this match, they said they'd be here--and they are indeed here. It's been a tough match to watch. The Gekkoukan team hasn't been completely fumbling the ball, but the Asakuma team has been clearly dominating them. When Ren went to watch Kasumi's gymnastics meet a few months back, she might not have placed first, but she at least ended up on the podium. It's pretty clear that this qualifying match is probably not going to end up with a qualification.
Still, they remain in their seat, watching intensely as Minako and her team hang in there. The captain, Iwasaki, is good, and so is Minako, but it feels like there's a lack of morale on the team in general besides that. It's not impossible that they could turn this around, and Ren doesn't intend on missing if that happens.
They're also quiet, but at least that's natural for them.
As an aside, they're dressed in their usual summer casual outfit--white unbuttoned shirt, black undershirt, jeans--and there is a shoulder bag lying on the seat next to them that was vacated some time ago. A cat is inside, and his head sticks outside as he watches as closely as Ren is.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
In her first year at Gekkoukan, Yukari Takeba was asked to join the Cheer Squad. She turned them down. Not because she didn't think cheerleading wasn't cool or anything! It is! It's just she was too embarrassed to think of herself doing it.
Today, she's kinda wishing she wasn't as well... they're really behind. It's been one tough match.
As Asakusa scores, Yukari waits for the cheering to die down as she then cups her hands and shouts: "Donmai!" (Don't worry!/Shake it off!) "Ose ose!" (Keep the pressure on!)
Before she then murmurs to herself, "I hope I'm doing that right..." She isn't really that into fast-paced sports, not like Junpei, though she is an athlete.... it's just Archery doesn't really get cheering like this.
Yukari for what it's worth is wearing her own summer casual. A pink halter top with skinny jeans. A white heart choker around her neck.
It's the fact that she's standing a few seconds longer than the rest which alerts her to where Ren Amamiya is, as she grabs her bag and moves closer. To sit behind him actually...
"... I hope they're able to rally and pull through this..." She asides, a little tense as she watches.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro Aragaki isn't big into sports, despite being pretty good at PE and overall pretty strong. He isn't big into Gekkoukan, either, despite his return to school. His first day back is in two days.
So why is he here, sitting in the Gekkoukan section of the stands in that red coat and beanie, watching the game with observant eyes?
Because one of his kouhais is playing, of course.
Well, that's not the only reason. It's a new experience, something to mark off and add to the list of things he's done.
He's not far from Ren and Yukari, though he has no reason to acknowledge the former's existence, and the latter... well, he worries about her, which leads to giving her space in this moment as she approaches behind Ren. Instead, he's focused mainly on the game.
The fact that Gekkoukan is losing so badly hasn't missed him, and the lack of morale on their side is frustrating. It must be even more so frustrating for Minako...
"Come on..." he mutters to himself, audible in the stands. "Kick their asses."
He's not going to leave because they're losing, though. That'd be even worse for morale, to add to the bodies leaving the stands.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako hears that cheer -- and she glances into the audience. She can't make eye contact with Yukari, Ren, or Shinjiro at this distance. But she cracks a smile in their direction and nods.
"Arisato! Coming your way!" Rio Iwasaki calls out.
Minako nods and she rushes over. She dives to hit the ball -- and actually skids along the smooth, polished floor of the court, but hits the volleyball with a reverse hammer blow. That pops it up into the air, over the net.
But that proves detrimental. A member of the Asakusa team is right there; she rises up, and spikes it back over the net. It's away from Iwasaki, and that leaves one of the first year students watching it careen towards her. She tries to strike the ball back -- but it sails over her hand and hits the court with a bounce.
The score ticks: another point for Asakusa, bringing them to 24.
"No... you have to keep your eyes on the ball, Yomamura!" Iwasaki calls out.
"Hey, it's all right," Minako says, with a glance at the trembling first year. She frowns, as she looks ahead. "All right, everyone... defense!"
Asakusa serves the ball -- and up it goes again. This time, another Gekkoukan player catches it. The exchange begins once more between the two teams.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren doesn't look over at Yukari when she shouts her cheers to the losing Gekkoukan team. That happens when she picks up her bag and relocates over to behind them, then hopes for the home team to rally. Ren turns and looks up at her from behind their non-prescription lenses, eyes wide in recognition.
"Oh, Takeba-san," they say--and then their eyes flick past her to a hulking third-year in a red coat when he mutters. There's recognition in their dark eyes, but Ren doesn't say anything to Shinjiro, because the one who would recognize him isn't 'Ren Amamiya.' Instead, they focus back on Yukari. "Same here," they offer, and turn back to watch.
This is just in time for Minako to skid but hit the ball anyway. Ren starts to clap--but then an Asakusa volleyballer slams the ball right back towards a clearly inexperienced first year. They wince as it strikes the court, earning them another point. The match is decided at 25 points; Minako told them that.
It's still not impossible--but when Minako calls for defense, Ren thinks that's the wrong tactic. They keep that to themself, of course; they've never played volleyball. However, in their opinion as a leader in another physical field, playing defensively only means delaying the inevitable. They'd have to pour on the offense if they want a hope to win.
(Much like they and their friends did last night against Wild Hunt. (They paid for that, though. They're still sore from that fight, but they do a good job of not letting on.))
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Funny how things work out. She's just talking to Ren when she looks to the side, "Aragaki-san!?" She looks surprised, "I didn't know you were so interested in Volleyball..." She knows that - getting him on campus is, difficult to say the least. So... well, her mind is trying to make some connections here.
Before she then looks back forward at the game...
Yukari gets half-way up like she was going to cheer Minako's save, before- and there it twenty four. It's not impossible but, it's now as difficult as it possibly can be.
And as Minako calls for Defense...
"... Don't give up! Defense!" She's never played Volleyball herself, so she's not certain how sound the call is, but at the very least she can support Minako's effort to rally.
Her own opinion isn't so dim on the idea of Defense though, maybe because - she's as defense oriented a team member as it gets in SEES.
"... Wish this wasn't so lopsided. Can imagine how overwhelmed some of those first years are feeling..."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
As Yukari talks to Shinjiro, he finally does scoot over a bit after Minako's save isn't enough, but as he's moving, he does stop for a moment. "Don't give up!" he shouts at a good time for it, probably one of the tallest people in the stands.
Ren gets a nod as he approaches, though no words yet. He doesn't know how they know each other, after all.
"Takeba. I heard there was a game and thought, why the hell not. Gotta support Arisato too, you know?"
Yes, those are really the reasons he's here. Though Yukari also doesn't know about his decision...
"If they're feeling overwhelmed, we gotta keep the morale up. It's better to have faces in the stands than to see people ditching."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Ren isn't the only one with doubts about Minako's call to action. Iwasaki frowns, sharply, for a moment -- though she doesn't say anything while she is on the court.
Minako nods, then, at Yukari's call. She exhales, and then she rushes to catch a ball. She sends it up into the air and over the net. This time, when it's struck back, it comes for another first year. "Matsuda-chan, coming your way!"
"G-Got it!"
The girl leaps up, spiking the ball back. This one sails over one of the Asakusa students' heads. She lets out a cry, as the ball slams to the court, with a loud THUD before bouncing up. That makes Minako's eyes light up and she cheers, thrusting an arm into the air. The score for Gekkoukan ticks over to 12.
"Good job!" Minako calls to her kouhai.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
So Yukari knows Shinjiro too. Ren glances at her, then nods at Shinjiro with a neutral expression. It lightens with thoughtful wonder when he says he's here to support Minako--and when he tells Yukari that they've got to keep morale up for the overwhelmed ones.
"Agreed," they say. Which means they could stand to be louder... They leave that to Shinjiro and Yukari for now, and turn to watch the team.
The captain doesn't seem to agree with Minako's call for defense either judging by that look she gives her. Still, Minako communicates with her teammates, and the end result is another point for Gekkoukan.
Ren smiles broadly and claps as Minako cheers down on the court. Then they cup their hands over their mouth and call, "Keep it up, Gekkoukan! Fight on!"
Morgana doesn't join in on the cheer, but that's because he's in the presence of people he knows to be Persona Users now. He's cheering for you in his heart, though, Minako!!
Ren leans back, then glances at Yukari and Shinjiro. "Comeback time?" they suggest.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Oh hey- yeah. If you're here to support her, then happy to have you in the audience with us." She says with a small smile, deciding NOT to mention the fact that he rarely ever is on campus these days - but for this, he is!!!
As he says that they need to keep morale up all the more, due to that, she nods at Ren's agreement to Shinjiro's idea.
"... Yeah me too. I've seen that happen at my club's tournaments when we're having an off-day... it only really makes things so much worse."
And then - despite... whatever's going on between Rio and Minako, they manage to rally and- "Chansu!" She calls out - right before they score another point.
"We can still do this! Don't give up!" She calls out herself, on the tail end of Ren's cheer. As he settles back in...
She eyes Rio, then answers Ren- "Maybe. If they can keep up this momentum..."
Yet something about the vibe here worries her.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"Thanks," Shinjiro tells Yukari, before quietly focusing again.
There's definitely tension going on there... Rio Iwasaki's the captain, right? Is she mad about the defense call, or the sheer fact a call was made at all?
He cheers out as the goal hits anyways, but he's still got a thoughtful look on his face, as he turns to Ren as he says comeback time, and Yukari says if they can keep up the momentum.
"...depends on how coordinated they are. There's a fault line there and it's gonna make or break this game."
He's watching Rio, now, but also Minako. They're probably the lynchpins, but if they're not coordinated... it could get ugly.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Ren's cheer makes Minako look up at them -- and grin in their direction, before she claps her hands together. She glances sideways at Rio. The captain steps up towards the net, as the Asakusa team's captains teps forward too -- and serves the bal, spiking it up.
Rio smacks it back down with an open-handed smack. The ball flies back down at them -- and then gets hurled back towards the Gekkoukan team. Minako hears Yukari's cheer, as she leaps, hitting it with one hand -- and sends it just over the net.
One of the Asakusa students has to dive to send it flying back up. Iwasaki rushes, running to reach for it. Her hand rises up -- and the ball shoots over her outstretched hand. Minako's crimson eyes widen, as it hits the floor with thud.
A whistle blows, loudly.
The digital scoreboard flips to a 25.
The Gekkoukan crowd falls silent.
The Asakusa crowd breaks into cheers.
Minako's hands fall to her side and she sighs, before patting a first year -- on the verge of tears -- on the shoulder. What she says can't be heard, over the shouting. Iwasaki is stalking off the court, with a distant and cold look in her eyes.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren spots Minako looking up towards them and grinning, and they can't help but smile back. Talk of comebacks is hope springing eternal--because Ren's noticed those bad vibes too. Still, they want to be a supportive boyfriend (enbyfriend?) to Minako, and with the appearance of her friends, that means being more vocal.
Yukari relates how an off-day can mess up her own club's tournaments. "Mm," Ren murmurs in acknowledgement.
...well, somewhat more vocal.
Shinjiro remarks on the fault line. Ren frowns but nods at that too. So it seems like all of them have noticed. They turn to watch the next serve--there is an intense back-and-forth--until ultimately, the captain fails to defend, and the ball strikes the court, signaling Asakusa's final point to the shrill blow of a whistle.
Ren breathes a sigh among the stony silence of the Gekkoukan crowd. The captain seems like she's taking it poorly, but Minako's focusing more on supporting her teammates. That's very much like her. Then they stand up, pick up their bag--and look back at Yukari and Shinjiro.
"I'm gonna go congratulate Minako on a hard-fought game," they say. "You two wanna come with?"
However the two of them respond, they're going to make their way out of the bleachers and down to the side of the court, where they'll wait for Minako to have time to pay attention to something other than her team. Once they catch her eye, they'll flip a hand up in greeting and give her a lopsided smile.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Fault line. She nods at Shinjiro, expression somewhat worried as she watches.
And then... "Naisu!" She calls out at Minako hitting it over the net but...
... the final point is soon in coming, and the pall is palpable over Gekkoukan's audience.
"Yeah. Definitely."
She may put on a smile for her teammates... but she has the feeling that Minako's probably taking this one really hard.
When Ren waves, Yukari's waiting just behind her, with a smile on her face that doesn't exactly look the happiest.
But it is there, in support.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Minako gets another good hit in, with a cheer from Shinjiro as it happens, but it's Rio who fails to make the shot, sealing the fate of the team. He frowns silently as that happens, watching Rio stalk off.
When Ren asks if he and Yukari want to come down to see Minako, he puts his hands in his jacket. "Sure."
The yobisute doesn't go unnoticed, but it's none of his business.
As they make their way down there, he gives her a steady nod when she inevitably looks their way. He stays in the back, so that he's not crowding over either of them with his height.
Though part of him wonders if he really should be down here, when Yukari knows her better, he can't let his kouhai and leader carry this loss alone, either.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
It takes a little while before Minako makes her way to them. There are a few more kouhais to give a shoulder pat to, some Asakusa players to shake their hands, and a couple of words with the coach. And while she keeps a smile on her face, Minako has to do this because Iwasaki -- the team captain -- took off without a word, looking upset. As she starts off the court, she glances in the direction she went.
But she thinks better of following, considering the black mood she was in. She looks ahead -- and she spots Ren. She beams at them and hurries over, before she realizes two others are there.
Yukari. And Shinjiro.
Her eyes widen -- and her smile brightens, but she looks surprised. "H-Hey, everyone! I didn't know all of you came," she says. Then, she laughs. It's a little forced. "I wish I'd put on a better show for you... but I'm glad you came."
And stayed, she thinks, with a look at the emptying out stands.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren does wait to see if either Yukari or Shinjiro remark on their first-name-yobisute with Minako. Neither of them do. That's a relief. So is the fact that both of them are interested in supporting her. It has to be really tough for Minako right now with so many of the people in the stands choosing to leave instead.
Sure enough, when Minako eventually finishes up what she needs to do for her teammates and hurries over to Ren, they note that she looks at their companions like she didn't expect to see them. Sure enough, she says she didn't know all of them came.
"We came separately. The three of us just happened to meet up in the stands," Ren replies, taking a step closer to her to brush fingertips on her arm in a gesture of intended comfort and support. A small gesture--nothing overblown. They can hear how she's forcing herself to be cheerful for them. She shouldn't have to do that at a time when any of them would expect her to be upset, but they don't want to force anything on her, either.
"I'm glad I came too. Any time around you is worth it," they reassure her. "Speaking of which, are you going to head off with your teammates after this? Or... maybe check in on your captain?" Their smile fades. "She's really upset. If you need any emotional back-up on that..." They look at Yukari and Shinjiro, though truthfully they're not sure to what extent Shinjiro is actually good for it. (Shinjiro has solid emotional intelligence, but Ren doesn't know that.) "...we're here for you." Their expression lightens. "Whether you're staying or leaving."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Of course I came. It was the big game, right?" Yukari says with a smile, that doesn't seem too forced, before she makes a shrug at Ren's comment. "Yeah, what he said."
Though when Minako wishes she'd put on a better show- "Don't worry about that, alright? We were here to show you our support, not be some kind of fair weather fans."
At least by 'we' she assumes the other two were.
She notices the gesture from Ren touching her arm, and tries not to look away, even though she feels a little embarrassed.
"Yeah. I sure don't mind tagging along if it'd help to have some friendly faces in the room."
Otherwise, she lets the others do the talking... considering how it might go with Rio. The tension was pretty thick...
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
As Minako comes over, Shinjiro watches as she was expecting Ren, who makes physical contact and says any time around her is worth it. He can make some inferences, but chooses not to think much about it. It probably won't be a problem, and definitely not his - this guy seems nice.
"Sorry I didn't let you know ahead of time," Shinjiro says, before nodding to Yukari about fair-weather fans. "But I'm glad to be here, yeah." It means something when it's the guy who never goes to anything school-related, too.
He does nod as Ren asks the question about what next. When emotional backup is mentioned...
"Same deal. Whatever you want to do, you don't gotta do it alone."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Thanks, Takeba-chan," Minako says to her. She smiles -- and then she shakes her head. "I know. We still gave it a good shot, just... we aren't quite on that level yet."
She looks at Ren, then she laughs softly. "That just means I'm popular," she says after Ren says that the three of them came separately. She grins for a moment -- it's a joke and an effort to cut the tension, even if the tension is worse. She smiles at them, though, and when their fingers rest on her forearm she sighs -- then takes their hand and squeezes it once.
Then, she looks at Shinjiro. She smiles at him. "I'm glad you came, Aragaki-san. And... you know, it's okay, you don't gotta forewarn me." She winks at him. "I appreciate it."
Then, she glances at where Rio left.
"I'm going to in a bit," she says. "Iwasaki... uh. When she's like that, it's best to give her a little bit to calm down. The coach is going to talk to her -- and the manager, Nishiwaki, she's gonna be there too."
She looks between them -- then she sighs. "...honestly, I could use a bit," she admits, and her voice is a little awkward. "I--um. We worked hard, and... this is it for going forward, this year. And Iwasaki is gonna be... that's gonna be a lot. She'll take it harder than I did."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Maybe a little overblown after all? But Ren is looking at Minako, not Yukari or Shinjiro, so when she takes their hand, they clutch it back with gentle warmth. Ugh, h*nd-h*lding, what's this world coming to with all these disgusting PDAs?
Joking aside, Ren does silently appreciate that Yukari and Shinjiro are unquestioningly supportive. Yukari might still be on guard against them to at least some extent, and Ren may have some key philosophical differences with Shinjiro, but in this they're all united. Minako really does have some great friends.
So when she jokes about being popular, they chuckle. "You really are." They look up towards where Rio had gone, following Minako's gaze. "Makes sense." They look back at her. "How about we get something from a vending machine and get some fresh air? Unless you'd rather just sit and rest for a bit."
They pause, then add quietly, "I'm not on any sports teams, but... I get how frustrating it is to lose like this. You worked hard, but you still got steamrolled... and now you won't even get another chance. That has to be the worst."
If they had to lose a billiards game to Akechi and never get to play him again... that would be unbelievably galling. And that's for a game Ren only started playing this year! If it were ice skating... ... ... ...no, better not to think about that. This is about Minako.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Minako indicates they're not quite there yet.
"Well you've only been with the team a few months. Give it another semester of working together - I bet we'll watch you all breeze through to the tournament your senior year!"
PDAs definitely always make Yukari a little uncomfortable! But she's not going to say anything about a little scandalous HAND HOLDING!
When it comes to letting Rio calm down... "Gotcha. Yeah. I know what that's like. Some girls in my club always take it really hard after a big loss."
But it's also obvious Minako is too, and she says as much - while Ren validates the frustration, Yukari follows up by saying.
"It's okay if you let the rest of the team handle it today, you know." Yukari eventually offers.
"You're dealing with your own disappointment right now. Maybe give her some space for a few days then- I bet you'll both be in a better place."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro nods to Minako as she winks, laughing lightly but genuinely. "Gotcha. I'll keep that in mind, miss popular."
The handholding barely gets a glance from Shinjiro, though internally there's a pang at both that sign of affection between two people and Yukari's words about 'senior year'. Just more reminders of what he's lost, but he pushes it off. This is about Minako's pain, not his.
Ren validates the frustration, Yukari says it's okay to wait...
"I understand what it's like to feel like your time was for nothing. ...though I don't think it was, at least." After all, she still learned the skill, made the bonds, played the game, right? That's gotta count for something, though he doesn't vocalize that part. Might feel too hollow.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"One of my many strengths~" Minako says about being popular. She flicks some of her red hair back, a little dramatically... except, she's pretty sweaty, some that just flicks droplets of sweat onto the court. She makes a face. "That was so much cooler n my head."
Then she looks at Ren, as they explain how it must be frustrating. There is a moment of hesitation -- and a blink -- but then she nods. "...yeah," she says. "That's just it. We worked hard, and... now it's over. It's anticlimactic, and it's a bit sad too."
She looks at Yukari -- and then she smiles. "Yeah, you're right. I guess it's just... y'know. That feeling like I have to fix it," she admits. "But you're right. And so are you."
She looks at Shinjiro, and then she nods. "I did learn to play -- and we can build on it, for next year. And we're still gonna practice."
She glances at Ren, then, again. "Let's get that drink, if everyone's down."
Akihiko Sanada has arrived from Port Island Station - Back Alleys.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Yukari makes a good point; Minako is new to the team relative to some of the others. Once she's had more time to establish a rapport with her teammates, it might be much easier. Minako's play was fine most of the time. But... if that Iwasaki is a third year...
Ren glances at Shinjiro when he says he 'understands what it's like to feel like your time was for nothing.' They don't know if that's got anything to do with his anti-change of heart stance, but... it feels like something worth remembering.
But then Minako flicks her head and ends up flicking her sweat with it. Ren chuckles as she makes a face. "The infernally wide gap between imagination and reality," they intone, before giving her a wink back. "Let's get you a towel, too."
Their gaze softens as Minako acknowledges each of them in turn. It is anticlimactic; it is pressuring; but she can take this experience and grow stronger for it. Maybe a different strategy would've worked better this game and maybe it wouldn't have, but it feels like she's going to be okay.
"Sounds good," they say when she agrees to getting drinks. "After you, then." They'll let her hand go now so she has a chance to get a towel and dry off before they head out. They look over at Shinjiro then and, as the four of them head to wherever the closest vending machine is, say, "I'm Ren Amamiya, by the way. Nice meeting you." They pause as they look to Yukari next, then wonder, "So how do you all know each other?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Anticlimactic... sad. Well. It's not wrong. "Sure. But... not everything in life works out how you want it to. It's all about learning how to take the bad with the good."
And sometimes learning how to live when it's more bad than good - in her case.
Minako's answer on feeling like she has to fix it... well she gets that. She's caught as much from Minako many times. "Leave fixing things to other people every once in a while, alright? They can sub in..."
Shinjiro though adds that he knows what it's like to feel like that time was for nothing. "Like yeah - he's right. It feels like that in the moment but- later on? Things change."
As for a drink, "Sure, I'm down." And as they walk along, Ren asks, a potentially awkward question, "Well... Arisato-chan's in my class. So's her brother... but we're also all in a club together. It's kind of a school task force for the Student Council President."
There simple, here's hoping Minako's boyfriend doesn't ask any follow up questions!
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro nods to Minako, as she says that. "Good. You don't have to be in a rush... but I still get the disappointment." He smiles lightly at that, proving he's capable of it.
Ren introduces himself as they move forward towards the vending machines. "Shinjiro Aragaki. Likewise."
Yukari answers the question about why they know each other, and he nods, seeing that Yukari doesn't mention the dorms, likely on purpose. "Yeah. Important stuff. Looking forward to next semester."
Despite two of them knowing he doesn't go to school, he's actually... not lying, or showing *any signs of it*. Because it's true! Minako at least knew he was considering coming back, though.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"A towel sounds like a great ideal," Minako says with a sigh. Then, she looks between Ren and Shinjiro. "Oh, sorry! I should have introduced you two."
Then, she smiles at Yukari. "Yeah... I know. At least, up here." She taps her temple. "But sometimes... well, I'll do my best."
She smiles at all of them -- and she grabs a towel from a nearby rack, throwing it over her shoulders.
When Ren asks that question, Minako hesitates for just a second. A brief pause; one that they might still catch. They aren't someone who knows about what happens in the day's twenty-fifth hour; she doesn't need to burden them with Personas, with Shadows, with Mementos and Tartarus and Palaces. She has to hope Yukari and Shinjiro feel similarly.
And then Yukari comes to the rescue. She smiles again. "Yeah," she says. "That club I told you about -- we do academics stuff with the student council president, but... it gets pretty general purpose. That dorm in Iwatodai. Takeba-chan lives on my floor, even!"
She does start leading the way to the door -- wanting some fresh air and a vending machine.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'Leaving fixing things to other people every once in a while, alright?'
Ren gets what Yukari's saying here. They find that they relate more to Minako's feelings in the matter. You just... want the people around you to be happy. You want to help them be happy and find and reach happiness, and if it means you're the one who has to take action, that's just how it is, right?
...Maybe they're overthinking it. Yukari and Shinjiro might be Persona Users, but that doesn't mean Minako is. Setting aside that there are Persona Users who don't give off Resonance--Ren themself included--surely they would've noticed by now if Minako was.
And indeed, when Yukari says they're all in a club together--a 'school task force for the Student Council President'--Ren starts to put the pieces together. "A... 'task force'?" they echo, a touch of alarm burning at the edges of their voice. Important stuff, Shinjiro says. Ren hasn't met this President, but from what they've heard, they suspect she's a PErsona User too. Then is Minako actually--?
Then Minako reminds them that this is that social study club with the dorm in Iwatodai, and Ren breaks into a quiet, relieved laugh. "Oh, oh," they reply, "I remember you mentioning this now. For a second, it sounded really dramatic there."
...Maybe it's a mixed activities sort of thing. Normal people mixed in to give a cover to the supernatural stuff. Ren's not sure how much they want to stick their nose in--but at the same time, they're not sure how much they can afford to ignore it, either. The Phantoms already had it made clear to them that there's so much about the supernatural they don't know anything about...
That's something to worry about for later, though. Minako doesn't need to get caught in the middle of this, especially not after a terrible disappointment. One towel-off and one walk later, and they'll soon arrive at the coveted vending machine.
When they make it there, Ren holds up a hand to Minako. "Let me," they say, and step up to put in some coins. A clunk-clunk later, and they hold out to her-- "Earl Green," they say, crooking a smile.
They remember her order!
...and if it turns out she's not in the mood for that right now, they can just have it for themself. Hopefully it won't pan out like that, though.
"So what's next after this?" they ask Minako. "I know you won't get to do any big competitions until next year, but... d'you have a rival or anything like that to keep you motivated?"
AS: Ren Amamiya has readied for combat as Ame-no-Uzume! He is now fully healed!
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"I know it's not really so simple. But - that's why I say it anyway." She tells Minako because well - she knows what it's like to get stuck in your own head on how you feel - over what you know to be true.
"Right. That kind of stuff." She echoes after Minako - suddenly glad Ren Amamiya has never met Junpei Iori.
That claim would be highly dubious if he had.
"But yeah - they both transferred in at the start of the year and - well, most members of our club stay there."
Note to self: Tell Minako that maybe don't have Ren over for a few more months until Aigis gets acclimated.
"Well it's nothing dramatic I'd say..." She says, trying to quickly downplay it. "... just a lot of work really." She looks to Shinjiro from the side as if to worry that Ren might think it's something weird or illegal.
He is fairly sharp at least! For a normal guy!
Though then again he was also arrested so it's not like he'd turn them in... right?
When they go to the vending machine, Yukari gives Ren an incredulous look, "A... rival? I mean..." She then gives Minako a questioning look, "... Do you? We would have heard about it by now if you had someone like that..."
Right Ren? Definitely all your friends would know if you had a rival.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
"What they said," Shinjiro responds about the dorm and the 'academic club'. Though, as Yukari looks to him, he nods. "Time-consuming, but it helps the school." More half-truths.
As they move to get drinks, he'll get a canned coffee himself when it's time.
"A rival sounds like fun. Can imagine it being both annoying and also like, enriching?"
He does not look to Ren at that, because he does not know your pain. Sorry. Though he does notice Ren seems pretty observant... and also completely mundane, so he at least agrees they shouldn't let slip on the Truth.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Yeah, I know," Minako answers Yukari.
She glances between all of them at the talk of SEES. "Sorry," Minako says, with a crooked smile at Ren. "Sometimes we get a little carried away." They did look a little worried for a moment -- but she isn't sure what to think of that. They couldn't know about what SEES really does. But did they seem suspicious?"
Then, though, there is a walk. And there is a drink. Minako beams when the Earl Green is offered. She takes it and cracks it open, having a long drink.
"Next...?" she repeats. "Well... I think it's back to the weekly practice. And seeing where we can improve. I've never--y'know, I don't quite have a rival..."
She hesitates. Shinjiro and Yukari seem to like the idea. "...but, me and Iwasaki practice a lot, and try to help each other get better so maybe that kind of counts?"
She sighs. "I dunno, though. That feels anticlimactic..."%
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Meeting Junpei Iori and learning he's in this club would definitely make that concept highly suspect, yes. As it is, Minako isn't exactly Ms. Grades either, but she does put her all into things, so it makes sense that she might have been accepted for her potential (the infinite potential of 0) rather than her current practical results.
Ren's much the same, really.
"Right," they say to Yukari, of both the work and all the students who've transferred into Iwatodai Dorm. "I've got a few friends at Gekkoukan, and one of them said your Student Council President's a..." Ren pauses to consider their choice in words. "...an unstoppable force," they conclude, as opposed to an immovable object. "I take it that applies to bettering the school too."
Does Minako have a rival? Ren hasn't really heard about it either, but they know it can be complicated. They chuckle, in fact, at Shinjiro's comment on it. "Exactly," they say, wryly but with a hint of affection. They show that same affection as Minako does indeed accept the Earl Grey; they'll purchase a grape Manta for themself. When Minako describes her relationship with Iwasaki... They look up and off into the distance.
"Nah. I think it counts." They crook a smile at Minako. "Sometimes a rivalry is just weird like that. Even if you're on the same team, you can still try to outdo each other."
They raise their can. "...But for now, let's let you relax."
Ren understands well having a tempestuous relationship with someone who might just be a rival, and they recognize that Minako needs some time. For now, they can all have a drink and a breather.