2026-05-11: Booking it to the Bookstore
- Log: Booking it to the Bookstore
- Cast: Kazusa Motojima, Aoi Igarashi
- Where: Lotus Plaza
- OOC Date: May 11, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, November 07, 2012
- Summary: Two girls show up at a bookstore each looking for something in particular, and have a fleeting connection.
(|=============================== Lotus Plaza ================================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Rengedai Ward ====-
This shopping mall offers an unparalleled view of the river that flows around
Rengedai. It boasts somewhat fewer stores than comparable malls and shopping
centers around Sumaru City, but it's only a few blocks away from Seven Sisters
High School, so it's a favored hangout for teenagers all the same. Its stores
include Time Castle, a strange antique store run by the Count, and, for those
with the eyes to see its door, the Velvet Room.
To eat, there's Gatten Sushi, a sushi restaurant run by the Mishina family; with
stone flooring for most of the store, raised bamboo flooring for tables, bar
seating for those who want to watch the sushi chef and restaurant owner Kankichi
work his magic, and a massive aquarium, the atmosphere is welcoming and
encourages one to fill up. It's a favorite of Sumaru rumormonger Kenta "Toro"
Yokouchi, a successful salesman (and Persona user).
For the weary, there's Kaori, a perfume store owned by the eponymous Miss Kaori;
its naturalistic wooden flooring, potted plants, and ivy lattice that arches
over the glass doors inspire a relaxing atmosphere. The fragrances for sale
there only underscore this--the scents are *so* relaxing that they can literally
heal customers, body and soul.
And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #6 runs this one; the
classic version of the store's theme plays here. "The eternal ally of those who
fight: our city's friendly drug store! o/`"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa doesn't often need to travel to Sumaru. Most of the things she needs she can get in Tokyo. A lt of what she might want is available in Akihabara, even--een if she tries to pretend that isn't the case.
And then there's sometimes things that are more specialized, and that she doesn't dare have delivered to her home where her parents can see it.
And that's why she's in sumaru today, to pick up a special order. She's walking with a purpose through the mall, with long, straight black hair, furrowed purple eyes, a cropped leather jacket, pink blouse with shades hanging from it, skinny black jeans, and ankle boots.
She doesn't look in a very good mood, but then... she rarely ever does.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi has her own issues getting out and about and doing things. However, she does get soem carte blanche to go for books from time to time as long as she's caught up with her work at school and clubs and home and siblings and...
That doesn't change that she looks genuinely excited as she makes her way into the shop. Standing at the entrance for a moment, probably a bit intimidated by the sheer number of people here. Earlier than she'd prefer nominally, but you do what you hve to do if you want to read, right?
She shifts from foot to foot, then hurries into the shop, sucking it up with this many people around. Probably not entirely paying attention as her eyes are somewhat hidden behind both her bangs and glasses.
"Excuse me" is a frequent, quiet murmur from her as she tries to pick through
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Hesitating is for people who don't have things to do. Kazusa definitely has things to do. And unfortunately she comes right up behind Aoi as Aoi is hesitating at the door.
Kazusa is trying to be a nicer, kinder person. Operative word trying. She might still have a lot ground to cover in that department.
"Ugh. Are you going in already or what?" comes a sharp voice from behind the girl. "You're holding up the entrance, you know."
And even when Aoi goes in the shop, there's not enough room to maneuver around her, so Kazusa is just stuck waiting for Aoi to make her way through. "Come on, come on," she mutters to herself.
She's got to take the train back to Tokyo, drop this off at her studio, and then get home before her father can get suspicious about where she's at.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi whinces when she's snapped at from behind. She'd already been about to go inside, but she all, but scurries out of the way now. "Sorry." she offers, complete with a quick bow before trying to get away from the girl. Though with the place packed, it's a bit hard to get out of the way. And she's just repeatedly saying "Sorry." trying to avoid making a scene. And making one. It's easier with one person. It's easier in a weird creepy place where she can run. This isnt' either.
"I wasn't trying to." She replies quickly, still. Then turns away from Kazusa, cheeks red. She's at least trying to hold it together.
"Just wasn't s-sure if I had time." She finally gets out. Clearly having not intended to be a problem.
"Sorry."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Well whether you were intending to or not, that's what you were doing," retorts Kazusa with a frustrated roll of her eyes. Aoi further clarifies by saying she wasn't sure if she had the time. "Well you won't if you keep dawdling at the door, so." Kazusa starts to walk in, to brush past the girl...
... and then she glances sideways, sees those red cheeks, and pauses.
She'd seen that kind of look on Hazuki's face before, hadn't she? Wasn't she just... doing what she always did?
Why was she letting herself geta way with this just because she was in a city she didn't go to school at, talking to someone she didn't know.
Dammit. Kazusa pressed her palm to her forehead, taking a deep, slow, tense breath.
"Hey." She's sort of looking in Aoi's direction but isn't looking quite at her. "Since we both don't have a lot of spare time, you need help getting something?"
IT's not quite an apologyu, is it? But she's at least trying to do something productive.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi clenches her fingers against her skirt for a moment, then shakes her head, "A few moments to make sure I don't get in too much trouble getting home is better than gambling wrong." She insists. She's in it now though, so she's trying to not just give up.
Aoi herself may not see the look on Kazusa's face. She's too busy staring down at the ground. Shuffling along and doing her best to get out of the way. Why is it so much harder with so many people around? She'd kinda sorta not really stood up to the big bancho guy.
He hadn't snapped at her. He just looked like one.
Was he?
She shakes her head, clearing her thoughts briefly. Lifting her head at the callout, she doesn't quite look to Kazusa's face, "I was just here for a new book that just came out. They've been re-translating some books I liked so I was kinda trying to chase them down." She points, "This one is about a haunted mansion so- I was kinda really excited."
Then she holds her hand up to her mouth, "Oh! You're probably here for something more important."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Yeah, well. You're not the only one trying to get home on time," sayus Kazusa with a soft huff, though her hone is at least a little bit less sharp.She's still plenty prickly, though.
Kazusa doesn't associate with bancho types. ... even if there is a bona fide delinquent at her school.
A delinquent that seems to be friends with some surprising people, though. Kazusa still isn't sure how that happened.
Not that she's interseted in finding out, or anything.
Kazusa crosses her arms. "A haunted mansion?" Internally she's wincing at herself. That came out harsher than she meant. She looks at her nails. "Did you reserve a copy or are you just hoping to pick it up off the shelf?"
She gives a small shrug at the statement. "I ordered a book I'm here to pick up." Is it more important? Well, Kazusa values her time... She drops her hand to scae the store again. "If you're coming in, then fine, otherwise I have a train to catch."
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi flinches and looks away towards the front of the line. Even if it's less sharp Aoi's trying to avoid being a problem there. "Just was worried is all." She admits.
They might know the same bancho!
"Uh huh. Well, maybe haunted? The book's got kind of a darker mood to it as a whole you know?" She holds her hands up, seeming briefly more confident, "Creepy house, guy hired to sort out strange murders. It's a fun mix of ideas." She looks over, "I was going to pick it up. They said it was in stock and it's not the most popular series so.."
"I'm already in?" She seems confused. Gesturing to Kazusa. "If you want to help, could see if they have others, but I don't think.." She frowns, "I don't think they do? It's slow to translate."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
They probably don't.
Kazusa is actually looking at Aoi as she describes the book. "Hmm. I see." She's inwardly interested, she just can't bring herself to express it outwardly. Especially not in a crowded palce like this, and with someone she doesn't really know.
"Well if it's not that popular then they'll probably still ahve it in stock." Still, popular enough to get published--with a second translation, no less. She won't say anything, but she is sneaking a look at the title, filing that away to look into later.
"I'll ask. I need to go pick up my order anyway. What's the series called?" Well that's even easier. Now she has a pretext for asking. She heads to the counter.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi raises a hand up and says, "It's uh- that's fine?" She seems confused that the grumpy girl is suddenly running forward through the crowd. She tries to keep up. Feeling some level of oblgiation to do so at this point as she skims the bookshelves looking for it.
"They should. I think it changed owners recently so they were getting them out." She also probably won't admit she had been trying to read it in English in the first place. A lot of jokes went over her head.
"What book were you uh, were you after?" She asks, sounding genuinely curious. In a quieter way. She does provide the name. Old Sorrows was the book title at least. Given with a quick, "It's the fourth book in the series, not the third." She pauses, "Did I say third earlier?"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa isn't running. She's just walking forward with a purpose. She's got places to be, after all. (She is grumpy though.)
"I see." Kazusa does have a decent grasp of English. Partly because she comes from a family with a CFO father, and partly because there's a decent amount of technical documentation in English online that she references.
"I ordered a reference book," Kazusa says. "So it won't be on the shelf. They delivered it to the wrong place, though, so I had to come here to get it," she grouses. "Absolutely incompetent." She looks to Aoi. "You didn't say. But fourth book, got it."
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi might be only a little exaggerating. Kazusa is moving quite a bit faster than she was though!
Aoi looks over the girl's shoulder at the counter, "What kind of reference book? People or?" She seems kind of curious what miss grumpy might be up to. She can't help it, that attitude has something behind it. Notably that she clearly tried to lighten up a little bit. Aoi's trying. It just might not be obvious! "It's not an occult book right?" There's a brief grimace, "Been hearing some weird rumors online."
Still, the idea that it was shipped to the wrong place is met with a wry look. "Yeah that's... that sucks." She admits somewhat bluntly. "At least they have it here right? If it ever happens again you can let someone know and maybe I can help out." She meant someone here. Not herself. That offer's out though.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
The difference between them is Kazusa isn't afraid of the crowds. And she's got a train back to Tkoyo to catch.
"An occult book? No. And you shouldn't believe rumors you read online." Someone might want to tell her about the rumor culture in sumaru at some point. Oh well. "It's just a reference book on fashion, that's all."
"They'd better have it," says Kazusa hotly. "If I have to make another trip... and no way am I trusting them to ship it to a closer location after they messed up once." At leat she's not directing her ire directly at Aoi anymore. Aoi offers, and Kazusa just has a "We'll see."
She makes her way to the counter, where she's greeted by a male attendant. "Good evening, miss, how can I help you?"
"Kazusa Motojima. I ordered a copy of Fashion Almanac and it got delivered here by mistake? I'm ere to pick it up." She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a piece of paper--just a printed copy of her receipt.
"Oh, yes, the special order. Let me bring that up right away, Miss."
Kazusa folds her arms as she watches the attendant vanish into the back. "... when he gets back out I'll ask about your books," she says, not looking at Aoi.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi isn't afraid of crowds! That's probably an understatement. Especially when it's not something seh can absolutely be sure of herself in. Which is less of an area than she'd want to admit to.
"Most of them are fake, but you won't find that out without investigating." She points. There's something else she can be a bit confident in and the tone in her voice is almost there.
"It's why you make them do it if they mess up twice." She insists. "It's not really fair otherwise." She crosses her arms and nods, still not quite looking her way.
Aoi stands off to the side behind her. Weight on one foot, reading books nearby instead of you know, paying attention.
She does tense up, then tilt her head towards Kazusa at the name drop. She hadn't even thought to ask. And she does know that name. There is a slow half shuffle step away. Maybe she's stepped in it. "Fashion.." She admits, "Is not my strong point." Which, is honest at least. "I just do whatever." There's a lack of confidence there too. Oh well
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa checks her nails while she's waiting for the attendant to come back. Aoi says you have to investigate rumors. "Do what you want. It's your time. Iv'e got other things to worry about."
"Normally I would," agrees Kazusa. "But this is..." Well, it's sensitive for her, since she doesn't want her father to find out about it. "... time-sensitive," she settles on. "By the time they got it reshipped and then I was free to pick it up..." She shakes her head.
"... Almanac, yes," she finishes. "Like I said, it's a reference." She glances over to Aoi, her eyes traveling up and down to scrutinize her effort in more depth. She clearly wants to say something, from the look on her face, but she looks back down at her nails instead. "... You can always change that if you want to."
Well, it's not the most negative thing she's ever said, at least.
The attendant comes back and offers the thick, heavy reference book with a deep bow. "Our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience, Miss. I've applied a discount to your account to make up for the trouble. Thank you for shopping with us."
"Thank you," said Kazusa as she took the large book, carefully working it into her backpack. "By the way. Do you have any other books in the Old Miseries series?" She inclined her head towards Aoi. "They're for her."
"Ahh, let me look that up right away."
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi glances up and away, "I have other things too, but it's interesting lookking into these stories." Not that she has that much to really go on beyond those mysteries and browsing the internet.
There is a quizzical look sent Kazusa's way at the falter and hesitation. She doesn't know the story, but wouldn't press on it anyway. "That sucks." She repeats instead.
The mousey one does get a stuck in the headlights look with the obvious scrutiny. She looks defeated even before Kazusa even says anything. Shoulders slumped. "ALmanac?" She squeaks out after, her mind catching up enough to at least poke at that weird an answer.
She does offer a brief, shy wave to the clerk. "I heard they were in." She adds. Having sounded much more confident on the phone at least.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"I'm sure you do." Kazusa winces internally again. Why did everything she say turn out sounding so negative. How should she course correct? She could... ask, about those other things.
But she was eyeing a clock. She couldn't really afford to get caught up in a continued conversation.
"Yeah."
Kazusa sighs a little despite herself. "The name of the book I picked up? The Fashion Almanac?" She said it to the cahsier just a moment ago!
"Ah, yes, miss, you're in luck," says the attendant to Aoi.
And now that the attendant is talking to Aoi, Kazusa takes a step away from the register. "Enjoy your book," she says to Aoi, before turning to leave the store.
<Pose Tracker> Aoi Igarashi has posed.
Aoi holds her hands up and says, "Sorry." Sounding like she was sure she was catching it for being in the way in the first place.
"I promise to get out of the way next time." She sounds about the same as she has throughout the rest. She's probably used to it.
"Oh." She rubs the back of her head, "I don't usually think of a fashion book as being an almanac, that makes sense though." She looks to the cashier, then back again. "Well I hope you enjoy it." Offering a polite little wave. Trying to hurry and get out of the way.
"Thanks." She replies to the clerk, working on getting her little purse out of her bag. Moving to pay with cash and a handful of coins like she was scrounging up for it.
"Thank you." She does manage to croak out to Kazusa as she leaves though.