2026-05-04: Favours for the Future
- Log: 2026-05-04: Favours for the Future
- Cast: Kasumi Yoshizawa, Katsuko Yoshinaga
- Where: Shujin Academy, Library
- OOC Date: May 04, 2026
- IC Date: November 04, 2012
- Summary: Kasumi is struggling with her school work. Katsuko offers a helping hand, in return for future favours.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi can be found in Shujin's school library today. She's been struggling to find time enough to finish her homework. The solutions to some of these problems have just been illuding her... So, she's arrived to school to get some extra studying done.
She takes a seat in an open cubicle and starts working through the questions. It's not a smooth time, if her occasional groans indicate anything.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko knew she was playing a risky game. Attempting to ply her craft with one member of the gymnastics team had turned out less than favourably. Attempting to do so with another ran a not-insignificant chance of word getting out, and everything coming tumbling down around her. But, she reasoned, she could play it slow with Kasumi. She could play it friendly. She could have patience, and wait until the girl was ensnared in her trap before prying for information. Then maybe - just maybe - she could have some connections that would prove useful in the future. If not for her plans, then for her career.
Katsuko appeared as she always did - an unassailable ice queen. Every step she took was measured and precise, her gait a steady rhythm. Her eyes were forward, her arms still, her entire body moving as though she was an automaton with such actions programmed into her. It was only when she spotted Kasumi that this stopped, and she instead focussed her gaze upon her target. Katsuko took a moment, reminding herself to be patient this time, and strode sharply towards Kasumi.
"Yoshizawa-san, was it?" She said, her voice flat and inexpressive. That much, as anyone that knew her might say, was normal. "You seem troubled. Do you need help?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi looks up as someone calls her name. Her gaze meets Katsuko, and slowly the face clicks into place. "Oh! Yoshinaga-senpai...?" She asks, brightly. Maybe, she's seen the third year, hanging out Motojima-senpai...? It's a little unclear.
A third year, approaching the first out of nowhere... It's a little strange. Still, maybe the sharp looking girl is trying to be friendly? "Oh, this work is just throwing me a fair bit, Senpai... Sorry, am I being loud?" The redhead gives a sheepish look. "I'll try to be a little quieter..."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko shook her head lightly. Only a few times, and an even amount to each side - almos tliek the gesture had been calculated in her head before she'd made it, rather than an instinctive reaction to indicate a sentiment.
"No, it's fine. Just try not to be louder than this." It was difficult to tell if it was an attempt to reassure Kasumi, or an attempt at humour that was supposed to reassure her. With the air - hopefully - cleared, Katsuko turned her eyes to the work Kasumi seemed to be struggling with.
"I can assist, if you like." Katsuko said, her voice continuing to maintain a calm and even tone. "I'm finished with my work for the day. It would be no trouble."
She neglected to mention how it was more an attempt to get into Kasumi's good graces than anything else.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
Kasumi blinks a little, surprised to hear this. She stares, as if gauging Katsuko's honesty. She decides that it's satisfactory. "Thank you, Senpai! I appreciate it." She shifts and offers an open space for Katsuko to fill next to her. "So, you see, Senpai..." She points out some math problems that she was struggling with.
They can work on it for a bit, and thankfully Kasumi is fairly sharp. She's able to catch on relatively quickly, and an active part of the learning. Though, something is still bothering her... Katsuko could easily spot Kasumi chewing her cheeks frequently. As they progress, the possible reason finally pops up. "Ahem... Not to sound ungrateful Senpai, but... Can I ask why you want to help me...?"
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
Katsuko was like a glacier given human form. Cold and impassive, her expression almost never changed, and those few times where it did were slight and gradual at best. Yet, for the sake of appearances, she feigned honesty and generosity - though whether the slight twitch of her lips or shift of her brow could be detected at all, much less interpreted as something positive, was another matter entirely. However, it seemed like Kasumi was satisfied with what she saw, and so Katsuko took the opened space and offered her guidance.
It became clear how she'd earnt that spot in the top ten. Though her social skills lacked a little, she proved to be sharp as a tack at every turn, able to recognise the issues Kasumi faced without much issue. What she did have some issue with was explaining herself once Kasumi asked for her motives. Katsuko blinked a little, feigning surprise and confusion at the question, acting as though the answer was obvious (though, again, her expression barely changed in spite of her efforts). She hoped that would buy her a moment or two while she concocted an answer, but rushed regardless.
"You seemed troubled, and I had time to spare. It felt wrong to stand idle under those circumstances." The words indicating that she would be be in any way charitable without the expectation of a favour in return felt like acid on Katsuko's tongue, but she spoke them anyway. As long as it got Kasumi on side, she would endure.
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"You're sounding like one of my Senpai's." Kasumi blurts out with a giggle, thinking of Amamiya-senpai. Though, something still feels a little wrong. It's difficult to say... "Sorry, Senpai." She chuckles a little awkwardly. "I guess I was judging a book by it's cover." Sure, that might be it-
"Well, I definitely owe you one.~" She says, unknowingly promising something she maybe shouldn't have. "And- sorry for taking up so much of your time... My gymnastics struggling has been so demanding lately. I fear my school work has been falling behind..." Her performances continue to be struggling. The least she can do should be keeping up on her work. It just doesn't work like that though...
Kasumi should be stronger than this. She's taking it harshly.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
"There's no need to apologise." Katsuko said plainly. Again, her tone betrayed little, and the look she gave might as well have been carved into stone for all the emotions it betrayed. "I chose to be here. It is my pleasure." Firm, unwavering, reassurance. Surely such a thing would help get her into Kasumi's good graces, if nothing else. If it wasn't enough then there was the rest of the conversation to follow up on too. "We all require assistance at some point or another. You shouldn't be afraid to ask if you need it. I only regret that I cannot help with your gymnastics, but I wish you luck with them."
An invitation - in a roundabout way - to talk to Katsuko more. To form a bond, and lower her defences. Things seemed to be going well, but Katsuko was still human, and still susceptible to trappings such as curiosity. So it was that, when she uttered a question, it was against her better judgement.
"What did you mean by judging a book by its cover, though?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasumi Yoshizawa has posed.
"I'll try not to burden you, Senpai. Please take care of me." Kasumi says with a smile, on the offer of support. She offers a little bow. Though, in secret, she really, really doesn't want to need any more help... Amamiya-senpai is one thing, but bothering a third year so much...
"Oh? Well..." Kasumi can't meet Katsuko's gaze there. How does she even describe it? "I don't mean to be rude Senpai, but, well..." A beat. "You do seem a little unapproachable?" She says, cringing as the words leave her mouth. That's so rude of her...
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
A silence hung in the air between them, and a moment stretched forever as Katsuko began to digest Kasumi's response. She did not seem to react, but her expression alone was a poor indicator of mood, given her track record. Her eyes remained fixed on her kouhai, her lips remained tight and neutral, her body remained as still as an idle machine's... It was like speaking to a robot, and waiting for it to calculate an answer. Fortunately for Kasumi, that answer was far from a hostile one.
"So I've heard. I hope my work here has served to disprove such notions, even a little." They'd make the rest of her 'work' a lot more difficult, after all. "On the topic of work, there is still time before I have to head home. If there's anything else you need from me before I leave, I may be able to help."