2026-01-21: Under the Surface
- Log: Under the Surface
- Cast: Kazusa Motojima, Kasumi Yoshizawa
- Where: Shujin Academy Practice Building, Aoyama-Itchome Ward, Tokyo
- OOC Date: January 21, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, September 13, 2012 (After School)
- Summary: Kasumi, having suffered under Kazusa's critical eye for the entire school year so far, has some concerns about Kazusa's new attitude. She takes an opportunity to speak to Wakana about it privately, but will she push too far in trying to get information?
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
It's another day of rhythmic gymnastics pracitce for Shujin's team. For most of the first semester, this has meant a Kazusa who is demanding, harsh, and quick to criticize. Though to give her a very small (minimal) amount of credit, she has been incredibly hardworking herself. Just nott... patient.
But all of that changed last Monday when the semester started again. Kazusa has been... a lot nicer, on the whole. And at times even cheerful. She's done much more to be supportive, even of Kasumi.
It's just too bad that all of those encouraging smiles come from something that Kasumi's Awakened senses can tell is definitely not human.
... And also, to be honest, her encouragement is a bit shallow, too. It's endlessly cheerful but not containing much in the way of constructive criticism.
Practice has just finished, and Kazusa's finishing her cooldown stretches. "Good job, everyone!" she says brightly. She stands about 5'2", her long black hair is in a tight bun, and she has purple eyes.
Wakana, her best friend, is also doing stretches with her--she's the same height, with short brown hair in a bob. "You too, Kazu-chan."
"Thanks!" Kazusa smiles at Wakana, and then... she looks for Kasumi, heading right to her.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi is a little late on completing her cooldown stretches on her end. She's stayed in her bends than normal for her. And she's kept stealing glances at Kazusa all the while.
Just...something about the usually cranky Motojima has been so strange. It's difficult to put a proper finger on what exactly is wrong. Besides, you know. Motojima's new kindhearted, airheadedness? Kasumi hates to admit it, but she almost wishes they had the competent critic Motojima back.
It's these strange thoughts that have been distracting Kasumi all practice.
Kazusa finishes up practice and starts beelining for Kasumi. Dang it, don't get caught slacking! The redheaded gymnast shifts her stretch and flips her ponytail to her other shoulder. Then, as if she wasn't staring...
"H-hey, Motojima-senpai! Oosaka-senpai!" Kasumi greets cheerily as she rises from her stretch. "Great job, you two. We really got put through our paces today, yeah?" She says, putting out as much cheery energy as possible. "Are we glad to be back after the break?" She asks lightly, prodding for information as gently as possible.
Kasumi's own performance since the return has improved...marginally. She'
[OOC] Kasumi Yoshizawa says, "bluray "She's gaining her old confidence back, thanks to her own awakening. But there's still something substantial missing from it.""
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
These are strange days, when someone wants the old Kazusa back. Alas, if maybe there could have been a balance sooner... But for now, this is the version of Kazusa everyone is stuck with.
Don't worry--this Kazusa will be just as likely to smile and keep encouraging you if you're caught 'slacking'.
"Yoshizawa-san! Thank you! And you seemed to be really making progress today!" She's said that every day whether it was true or not. "And we sure did!"
"Yeah, but... we won't get anywhere without the hard work, right?" says Wakana cheerfully. She on the other hand, is usually more 'optimistic;' than 'vacuously cheerful.'
After the break... "Yeah, it's nice to get back into it. I tried to do my stretches and go do yoga to stay limber, but I missed the practices... and seeing everyone on the team." That would be yoga with the Phantom Thieves' own Ann... whom the old Kazusa somehow seemed to get along with,.
Something flickers across Wakana's face as the break is mentioned, but it passes quickly. She's thinkinga bout the incident at the con. But she's trying not to dwell on it. "How did you feel about practice today?" she asks instead.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
It's less even a balance and... This is like an alien just flat out replacing someone and everyone's fine about it because they're way nicer. Motojima-senpai was mean but that doesn't make this doppelgänger okay!
"Thank you, Motojima-senpai." She flashes a smile that's at maybe, 75% power. She nods in agreement with Wakana. "Right?~ We're putting our all into our work!" She does however, linger her gaze on Wakana a little more as Kazusa starts talking again, hoping to catch her attention.
There's not much to do though directly in front of Kazusa. "I feel the same way, Motojima-senpai. I do training camps, but...it's just different when you're out of school."
However...there's the flicker across Wakana's face. "I really think I'm starting to get there. Find my footing again." Kasumi says, as a way to soften Wakana up. She immediately pounces, before any more talk about training can be had. "Did both of you have a fun break? Did either of you do anything special?~"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Well, most people seem okay with it, at least. Like Wakana, for instance. )Her younger brother, on the other hand, and most PErsona users...)
Directly, no, but Wakana might have noticed that look--or maybe it's just because she's giving Kasumi her attention in the conversation.
"Training camps," says Kazusa, pondering that. "I should look into those!" But Kasumi is finding her footing. "That's great!"
"Yeah, I'm really glad to hear it," says Wakana in a more subdued tone. But when Kasumi asks about if they did anything on their break, she hesitates. The convention was suposed to be fun, but...
Kazusa, however, jumps in. "I got to share my favorite yoga spot with Takamaki-san! That was really fun!" she announces chipperly. Yes, that Takamaki-san.
Wakana shrugs a little. "Oh, you know... I got caught up on a manga series or two, hung out, that kind of thing..." There are rumors going around that something happened at the con. Wakana would rather avoid talking about that, especially in front of Kazusa.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi giggles lightly with a small nod. She bends forward, touching her toes. "Yeah. They're really helpful in making sure you stay on the ball. But it's good to get some solid rest between... You can't focus as hard if you burn out." Kasumi gets a 'that's great!' and there's not really much anything she can say, besides a nod.
Wakana's a bit hesitant and Kasumi wonders if her hunch is on the money at all.
'...Some things never change, at least.' Kasumi thinks to herself as Kazusa talks over Wakana. "That's great to hear, Motojima-senpai! Which is your favourite pose?" She says, kindly. Ann-senpai does yoga with Kazusa, huh? That's a strange pairing, from what she knows about both of them. The old Kazusa seems like the exact type to, if not create, share rumours about Ann-senpai.
A bit quieter, Kasumi makes sure to give Wakana equal attention. "Oh? What manga series have you been reading?" Asks the jock.
Wait, no! Wrong question! Kasumi finishes up her stretches finally and sits up properly. "Oosaka-senpai, would you like to help me with putting the mats away? I'm sure Motojima-senpai wants to check up on the other club members too." She says, as a subtle hint for Kazusa to take up and run away with.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"That's true... it's not good to work too hard, huh?" Yes, Kazusa, that's exactly what burnout means.
But asked about her favorite yoga pose, Kazusa has to think about it for a moment. "Well... the handstand pose is really good for balance--" She bends over and puts her palms on the ground, then kicks her legs up into the air. "And you can make it harder..." She bends her knees until they're curling down and touching getting close to touching her head. "... like this."
She stands back up again and cheerfully says, "But there's so many fun ones it's hard to choose!"
"Oh, well, it's this kind of weird series called Ghost Square, and..." starts Wakana. But Kasumi wants help.
Kazusa brightens up at Kasumi's suggestion. "Of course! That's a great idea, Yamagishi-san! Waka-chan, I'll see you after, okay?"
"Oh, sure," says Wakana, addressing both of them at once. As Kazusa all but skips away, Wakana looks to Kasumi. "So... you really feel like you're getting the hang of it again?" There's a more genuine interest there, at least, as she moves towards the closest mat.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"Mm." Kasumi nods with a supportive noise. "It's why we don't meet every ay for club too. It's important to keep burnout at bay."
Huh. Kasumi really thought Kazusa had something loaded up. 'Every' yoga pose seems surprisingly... childish? Though it makes sense for current Kazusa's whole deal, she guesses. Still, Kasumi claps supportive, like she would with a child. "Woah! That's really impressive, Motojima-senpai!" ...It's still so strange, to treat a senpai like a kid.
"Ya-yamagishi-san?" hits Kasumi like a truck, and Kazusa runs off. And... Waka-chan, huh? Now, her suspicion feels...a little bad. Like it's taking something away from Wakana. Regardless, she gives the brunette a smile. "Thank you, Oosaka-senpai. I really appreciate it!"
They get to grabbing the mats. "I really think so." Kasumi replies with a smile. "It's been a long road, but... It's nice to start to see the end of the tunnel." She really does like Wakana. She's sweet and supportive. Which, is going to make Kasumi's next line of questioning hurt a little bit.
"Oosaka-san..." Kasumi drops the 'senpai' for a moment. Hoping that it doesn't tick the kind girl off, as she tries to create a sense of rapport. Friendship. "Have you noticed anything strange about Motojima-senpai lately? I mean, since after the break, she's..." Don't say kinder. Don't say kinder. "She hasn't been as sharp in her critique recently." Good choice of words! "Do you know if anything's happened to her during the break?"
[OOC] Kazusa Motojima says, "Can I bluray Kasumi's last name in my pose?" [OOC] Kasumi Yoshizawa says, "Bluray Change "Yamagishi-san to Yoshizawa-san"" [OOC] Kazusa Motojima says, "bluray: Yamagishi-san -> Yoshizawa-san in my pose XD" [OOC] Kasumi Yoshizawa says, "bluray "Kazusa runs off, and Kasumi smiles gently. "She's still got plenty of energy huh, Oosaka-senpai?"" BBS: New BB message (4/40) posted to 'Scene Announcements' by Scene System: Sfumato BBS: New BB message (4/41) posted to 'Scene Announcements' by Scene System: Cangiante
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa picked one! She just happens to like a lot of them. ... Though yes, it's still a bit childish, isn't it? ButKazusa still gaives Kasumi a cheerful "Thank you!" before she hurries off.
Full of energy! "Eh heh... seems like it..." Kasumi thanks her, and Wakana smiles at her. "You're welcome!" She grats a mat when Kasumi does, and helps fold and carry it.
A long road. "That's good to hear! I don't want to pry, but... it really seemed like there was something troubling you." Vague, but only because she doesn't know the fully full story. "But if you're seeing the end of the tunnel, I'm glad to hear that. Let me know if you need any help, okay?"
Kazusa pauses, noticing that change of honorific. She doesn't jump to offense, but it does get her attention. But did anything happen to her during the break? Wakana looks pained for a moment, glancing off to the side.
So that's a 'yes'.
"... look, I know Kazusa-chan has..." Even now she can't stop herself from glancing to the side a bit, in direction Kazusa ran off to. And she still lowers her voice. "... had really high standards for everyone."
That is, generously, massively massaging the situation, and even with Kazusa like this... she still ends up trying to cover for her, doesn't she? Why can't she stop herself from doing that?
"... look, I know it might be hard to believe, but... she wasn't always like that, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Especially when Kazusa 'showed Ann-senpai her favourite pose'. It's a little silly to then not remember which one is your favourite.
Kasumi smiles with Wakana, but doesn't really get too much deeper in the conversation. "Thank you. I really appreciate it." She says, honestly. Still, she holds back. It's less of a 'not willing to' and 'can't' in this situation.
Kasumi's first thought at Wakana's pained look off to the side is... 'Nooo! I've been had!' But it quickly becomes clear that Wakana has been feeling the disturbance just as much as...anyone else, probably. It must be nice, to have your easy-going friend from childhood back. And Wakana must feel just as guilt-ridden about it.
"Trust me. I totally get it, Oosaka-san." Kasumi says, earnestly. "I never really hated her." Dreaded her, maybe. But hate isn't really in Kasumi's nature. "It's just...a bit uncanny, isn't it? I want to help Motojima-senpai."
Kasumi thinks about pressing for more, but choses not to. If Wakana wants to answer, it's up to her now. All she can do is make herself a friendly, good natured person to confide in.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
It's a very nice yoga studio--Kazusa didn't forget that, at least. (Granted, it happened before her current personality shift did.)
It's fair if Kasumi doesn't want to share, and Wakana isn't going to press her for more details, just offer the help.
Wakana is feeling a mess of complicated things, really. In some ways, things are better, but in other, more subtle ways... they aren't.
Never really hated her. "Oh, well... I'm glad to hear that, Yoshizawa-san." But at uncanny... Wakana looks down for a moment. Quietly, she says, "... I don't know. She seems happier, right? Isn't that a good thing?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
...Maybe Kasumi is a little stupid and misunderstood. Oh well!
It's the more subtle ways that Kasumi might want to hammer in, to secure Wakana's support. But...it should be, right? It should be better that Kazusa is happy?
Kasumi thinks really hard on what she's about to say, before saying it. She has to be careful, or she might set Wakana off. Or worse, blow her cover. "What if she isn't really happy?" Kasumi asks hesitantly. "Maybe she's struggling with something underneath? I know...one of my friends, is like that. Where she stuffs it deep down and puts on a smile." Whew! That was close, she almost started talking about herself.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Wakana hesitates when Kasumi brings up that possibility. That under the surface, she might be suffering. "I don't know..." she says hesitantly. "I've asked, but... she says this is what she wants. I... I'm just trying to support her like she wants. What's what friends do, right...?"
She's concerned, but how far is she willing to push it to try and find something that might not even be there?
What if accepting this is being a good friend?
Wakana takes a deep breath and tries to put a smile on her face. "She's being supportive of everyone in the club, now, so... we should all give her our support too, right?"
Oh no, she's doing that thing Kasumi just asked about.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Support Kazusa the way she wants, huh? That's how friends are supposed to do? Is that really a fact?
"I...don't think it's a good thing to support your friend blindly." Kasumi says, gently. "If they're being...self-destructive. Or suffering. Or...acting wildly out of character."
Kasumi...might really have to push. Even if she can't solve this right away. She meets Wakana's gaze as they grab a mat. "Oosaka-san... Did anything happen during the break? Something that...may have hurt Motojima-senpai deeply?"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Wakana is silent for a bit as Kasumi offers her insights, concentrating on her mats. Softly, she says, "... she won't change her mind. She... she says this is what she really wants."
And that averted gaze as Kasumi presses for what happened over the break. Whatever it is, she simply doesn't want to say. She's spent too long keeping Kazusa's confidence to give it up now.
But it's clear something did happen, and that she knows what.
How can she be hurt, when she's like this? Wakana doesn't really know how to handle this situation any other way than how she is currently. "Let's... finish putting all these mats away."
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi pressed too hard, she thinks. She gently pets a hand on Wakana's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Oosaka-san. You're doing good." She mutters.
"Yeah. Let's get these mats away." She hesitates for another moment. She wants to offer her ear, but... "I really hope Motojima-senpai is happy too." She decides on. "I want her to be happy, and true to herself."