2026-08-13: Christmas Eve's Future
- Log: 2026-08-13: Christmas Eve's Future
- Cast: Fuuka Yamagishi, Moriko Kumamoto, Akihiko Sanada, Hitomi Mandai
- Where: Iwatodai Dormatory
- OOC Date: August 13, 2026
- IC Date: December 24, 2012
- Summary: It's Christmas Eve! For several of the un-romantic inclined members of SEES, they meet up in the dorm hall and discuss the future, for the winter break and beyond.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
It's Christmas Eve. To some this is the most romantic time of year, with couples often making plans to get together around this time...
...Which is why Fuuka has elected to remain squarely at home. The last thing she wants is to get caught up in a tide of young couples. Besides, it's nice and warm back at the dorm and she's the kind of person who prefers to remain cozy. She's bundled up on the common room couch, now, with her laptop in front of her and the TV on to the news for some white noise, currently covering the holiday season.
...She intended to settle in with a hot beverage, too, but the hot chocolate did not go well. Less said about that, the better.
It's a relaxing atmosphere, at least, for anyone who has some time to kill.
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
Moriko has one love in her life and it's her bike. This probably will change in the near future, but she's also a bit aloof by the best accounts so it is probably unsurprising that she is also back at the dorms. Looking like she's near about to pass out, wearing an overly long t-shirt in dark green with a literal splash of color along the back. It might even look stylish, if you asked her. It's paired with, well a pair of shorts. It's also just an oil stain.
Tucked under her arm is her own laptop and a little tablet. Though when she spots Fuuka, she hesitates. That might be distracting. To Fuuka, and you know, her. Instead, Moriko shuffles over, plants her stuff down in a nearby chair and settles in. Then offers a wave, "Anything interesting?" Nodding to both the laptop, then the TV. Though the look on her face suggests little hope for the latter.
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
Akihiko returns to the dorms from a jog, alongside Koromaru. The two, appropriately, shake themselves off before entering the dorms proper. "Yo, Yamagishi-san, Kmamoto-san!" He raises his hand in greeting, as he removes his shoes and places them off to the side to dry. "We got all the way to the shrine, before the snow started to come down. Looks like it'll be a white Christmas." He jerks his head to the window, where the snow is twinkling.
Akihiko grabs a towel he had prepared earlier, and starts wiping down his hair. It's cut short, so it'll dry quickly. He starts walking over to the kitchen to prepare his own mug of tea. "Kumamoto-san, want some tea? Yamagishi-san, a refill?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka looks up, offering Moriko a polite nod of greeting when she spots her. When Moriko hesitates, though, Fuuka pauses - then looks over and offers her a smile when she sets down in a nearby chair.
As for anything interesting...
"Mm... Not really." Fuuka admits. "Some of the decorations have been nice, though."
At this, the door opens. Fuuka looks that way as Akihiko and Koromaru arrive.
"Welcome back Sanada-senpai, Koro-chan." Fuuka offers with a nod. "How was your run?"
They got all the way to the shrine before it started snowing...
"I see... Come in and warm up." She says - though the idea of a white Christmas gets a smile out of her. "That would be nice... I do like the snow."
...Seeing it more than being out in it, but still. She perks up a bit at the offer of tea.
"Oh, that would be great, thank you." She replies.
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
Moriko bobs her head, "Didn't want to bug ya, but-" She shrugs, "Wanted to say hi anyway." Which at least is her attempt to smooth over that brief awkwardness.
"They usually are. Saw pictures online from someone's childhood of uh-" she taps her fingers against the tablet, "The mad hatter stuff." She can't remember the name.
Moriko's hand goes up in greeting to Akihiko, "Isn't it a bit cold for that?" Though she glances down and mutters, "Maybe I need to get back in the habit. Not riding or walking everywhere is catching up." She even pokes her belly with the tablet pen. Then catches herself and promptly pretends she wasn't.
"The snow's going to be pretty at the shrine. Might wake up early to go see it." She adds in a tone genuinely maybe a little excited!
"What tea's on order?" She asks curiously, before adding, "Please? Thank you."
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
Koromaru hops over happily to the girls, putting his little paws over on the couch to say hello. He turns around a couple times, before hopping up to settle in next to Fuuka.
"It was well. Nothing like a chill wind to prompt a run." Akihiko says with a laugh. Thankfully, the dormitory is always warm during the winter months. "I like the snow too. It was gorgeous on the way back."
A trip to the shrine, huh? "Not a bad idea, Kumomoto-san. Maybe we could make a day of it in a couple days?" That'll be a fine idea!
Akihiko gets the kettle set up, and pokes his head out of the kitchen. "Well, you know the Kirijo Group, Kumamoto. We have a little bit of everything. I'm going to have some green tea myself." It's good for muscle recovery, after all!
As Akihiko gets the orders, he pours the water to steep the tea. He comes back out to watch the news a little bit. "Oh, right. How did you both do on your exams?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"You wouldn't be bugging me." Fuuka assures with a shake of her head, offering Moriko a smile. She appreciates the greeting, really. She listens with interest as Moriko comments on decorations. "Oh, that sounds fun..."
Koromaru comes over to say hello, and Fuuka offers him a smile and a scratch behind the ears as he settles in next to her.
She looks back toward Akihiko as Moriko points out that it's cold. It sounds like that was perfect for him...
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, at least." She comments. "Yes, I imagine it was. There's just something about falling snow..."
Moriko mentions the snow at the shrine in the morning and Fuuka thinks about that. That probably would be nice... She considers that for a moment.
"Let me know if you'd like someone to go with you." She offers.
As for tea... Akihiko mentions green tea.
"I'm fine with the green tea, too." She comments, then considers his question. Exams... She regularly does well, but that doesn't make exam week any less nervewracking.
"I did pretty well, thankfully... it was a relief." Fuuka replies. "How about you, Sanada-senpai?"
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
Moriko glances to Koromaru and offers a hand out for at least some pats, though he's wandered over towards Fuuka which gets her to settle back in. She likes floof though.
"It can be, yeah. Just, you know. Sometimes dangerous." She wobbles her hand, "Probably some health benefits if you listen to the right guru on the right late night TV show right?" Said with a smile. Even if it's her smile.
"Sure, before the break? Going to head back home probably with my brother. Was going to offer everyone else a chance out, but I uh. Got distracted." She at least looks sheepish. Mostly.
"Is it?" She calls back, "Green's nice. Please." As for the exam question, "I uh. Passed?" She did well enough. Even if she had been distracted through too many of them.
A nod goes to Fuuka too, "Ah. Just a habit." She raises a hand in apology, "Habit."
"I like the quiet, especially with the right kinda lighting out over the water or the gardens you know?" Replying to Fuuka's snowfall.
"Let's make a day of it?" She suggests, agreeing with Akihiko, "I'll do some lunch for us to bring along and we can enjoy the sights or something?"
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
The cold isn't that bad, that's for sure. "Ha!" Aki laughs with Moriko's joke. "I don't doubt it. I'll have to be careful to not get sick, but running does a fine job at warming you up."
"With your brother?" Akihiko asks, gently prompting Moriko to share some more. "Where are you from, Kumamoto?" The break, though... Aki has to think about what he'll be doing for it. "I'll probably stick with SEES. Someone has to hold down the fort. My adoptive family will understand." He'll see them again after school ends. He'll need the peace and quiet to study more for college.
"Lunch would be great. Honestly, it might be nice especially if others have plans for the break. A shrine visit might be a good idea for team building." Akihiko agrees. "...Are you good at cooking, Kumamoto?"
Akihiko leaves for a moment, and returns with a platter of green tea for the impromptu group, fit with some cream and sugar fixings. He takes his with just a bit of cream. "I did fine too." Akihiko says to Fuuka as well, on his exams. He's being modest, he was in the top 10 once more. But bragging's a bad look. "I'm more nervous for college. I'm still not sure what I want to study, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Dangerous... Fuuka supposes it would be. It's good to be careful.
She listens as Moriko says she's going to head back home.
"Oh, enjoy your trip!" Fuuka offers. It's nice when people get along with their family... even if she doesn't. Akihiko says he'll stick with SEES, and that doesn't surprise Fuuka. He seems the type. "I have some plans already... but for the most part, I'll be staying here, too."
Her house isn't far from the dorm... but she'd still prefer staying here.
Moriko says she passed in regards to grades, and Fuuka offers her a sympathetic smile.
"That's good, at least." Fuuka offers. Moriko likes the quiet, with the right kind of lightning... Fuuka takes a moment to picture that in her head.
"Yes... That's really nice." Fuuka agrees with a nod. The idea of making a day of a shrine visit catches her attention, and she looks between the two of them. "That's a good idea."
Akihiko says he did fine on the exams, and Fuuka nods.
"I'm glad to hear that, Sanada-senpai." She replies. She isn't too surprised - but it's still good to know. Nervous for college, though... Fuuka 'hm's thoughtfully.
"I see... Yes, that would make it difficult. It's hard to make plans when you haven't decided what you want..." She still has a year to decide, herself - it's going to take some courage to work up to that. ...Though in her case, the problem is less deciding what she wants to study, it's choosing what she wants to study. "Do you know what you want to do in the future, yet?"
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
Moriko holds her hands up, "If you guys want, I was trying to get some interest in heading out to Osaka over the break. We have the space." She laughs, "And it helps home out a bit." Which, at least she's honest about it. "I had intended to put a notice out even." She again, manages to look sheepish. "Oops." Too late probably, nothing to be said for it though. "Anyway, yeah, heading back home."
With the question from Akihiko she asks playfully, playing up her drawl, "Haven't heard the accent?" She can joke about it. She just gets touchy when others do!
"I had to be. We run an inn." She gestures vaguely in what she hopes is the right direction, "I had to help mom out. It's uh, simpler food though?" That is, 'rustic'.
"I've got ideas on what I want to do, but I don't know how viable they're going to be." She holds her hands up, "Starving mangaka is a bad way to go." Said with a hint of humor.
She nods, "I like it. Let's get a headcount? Or is it just the three of us? Either way I can probably do.. a few things." She settles in, lost in thought briefly. "Onigiri are the gimmes aren't they." She makes a hm sound, then adds, "Maybe some jelly donuts."
There's a vague smile from the fox faced student, "I was thinking art, but if I can't, I do have some skill with mechanical things." Holding her hands up, working her fingers for emphasis, "Maybe something there to be more responsible. You know?"
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
"Oh? A trip to Osaka?" Now, that's an interesting thought. Osaka's pretty interesting, it's a historic city with a rich culture, but mainly Akihiko's interested in the new venue for boxing matches. "That'd be a fun trip!"
Akihiko lets out a laugh as Moriko jokes with him. "My mistake!" He tries to think whether he's noticed it before. Honestly, with his relationship with women... "Osaka, though! Gorgeous place, I'd love to see it in person."
"An, inn, huh?" Akihiko nods. "That's not bad at all. I'm a little useless when it comes to cooking." He chuckles. "Shinji's the experienced one of the two of us. Is the inn not that busy during the winter?" Though, he assumes the Kirijo group could pay for it at worst.
Akihiko, similarly nods with Fuuka. "Yeah, I'll probably go back home for a day trip. They live in Tatsumi too." It'll be nice for a quiet holidays.
"Mangaka? Well, art school might not be a bad way to get practice in..." He hums a bit on that. "Yamagishi-san, what was that art thing you were telling me about...?" He says, trying to set the girls up, so to speak...
Akihiko thinks to wrap himself up in a blanket as he talks. "A headcount would be good. Maybe we could set up a poll." The more, the merrier and all that.
On the topic of his desires... Akihiko hums. "I'm not sure. There's not one thing I particularly excel at. And I'm not so sure being a professional athlete..." He crosses his arms with a harrumph. "I'd be perfectly happy doing what SEES is doing forever, but we're looking to end the Dark Hour... I'd take a gap year, but I don't think Mitsuru would have it." He says, like she's his mother or something.
"Hey, mechanics would be a good fall back, Kumamoto. There's always a need for the trades." Akihiko says with a light smile., before turning to Fuuka. "What about you, Yamagishi-san? Any ideas yet?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Moriko wants to go to Osaka as a group. Fuuka considers that thoughtfully.
"I'll let you know!" She says. She wants to make sure it wouldn't interfere with her other plans, but it does sound fun.
She listens thoughtfully to Moriko and Akihiko's back and forth, and when Moriko mentions what it is she wants to do... Fuuka thinks about it.
That's the difficulty, isn't it? What you want to do may not be the most viable path... The thought resonates with her, too. If it were easy, she wouldn't feel so at odds with herself all the time...
"Oh, you mean the convention?" Fuuka asks, looking toward Akihiko. "Yes... Kumamoto-san was the one who invited me before, actually. She's really talented."
A headcount...
"That'd be a good idea. Just so we know who to expect..." She looks down toward Koromaru. "...And of course we have to account for Koro-chan, too."
Moriko was thinking art, but has skill with mechanical things, too...
Fuuka is a little jealous of her ability to say it without hesitation.
"That could be a good idea." Fuuka considers, and nods her agreement with Akihiko. "It's an important field."
She looks toward Akihiko, then. He isn't sure about being a professional athlete...
"I see... So you do it for yourself, then?" She asks, curious. She nods, though. They are looking to end the Dark Hour. What they have... it's temporary - and it's better to think about it that way. She laughs, though, when he mentions Mitsuru. "No, I don't think she would..."
The question is turned around on her. What does she plan to do?
"...My parents want me to be a doctor, but..." Fuuka starts. "I don't know yet."
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
"Yeah, we're not too far from the gardens, some nice kinda traditional-y stuff." She raises one hand up as she says it, "Thought it might be nice. And-" she admits somewhat jokingly, "Maybe pitch it as a group building exercise." She laughs, "Not.. that it's needed." She IS trying to help her mom after all.
"Well, we run it, you don't have to cook! And there's still some room. We might have to pile up a bit though." She's probably joking. The rest was offered helpfully, tone closer to laughter at that. He may not have caught her accent as much, she does actually try to hide it most of the time.
"What.. were you two planning by the way?" She asks, her brain catching up to what she should have asked prior.
"Quiet's nice too. Not trying to put pressure on any shape form or way, you know?"
"It is what I was thinking, but it's so cut throat and miserable to start." She rubs the back of her head, "And I know where I could work earlier on." She bobs her head, "Poll'd be good. I'll work on that."
Athletics. Moriko tilts her head and asks, "Why not that way? Even if you're sticking with the spooky company thing, it gives some decent cover to travel right? And the trades are good, I was thinking less mechanic and more actual engineer, but I do have places to work tehre too." She sounds less thrilled about that.
"Oh. Yeah the convention." This time it's Moriko's chance to look a bit skittish. She bites it down for now though, "I did! It was for a doujin circle I'm in." She pauses, "Scifi and fantasy sorts." Before scratching her cheek, "So. Yeah. Her costume was really good." She adds with some actual warmth in her voice when relaying it to Akihiko.
Moriko's hangups are somewhat contradictory. No shame in the tomboy, more in the geekdom.
"I'd prefer it to be temporary at least." She adds, maybe a bit lamely. Most wouldn't want it to keep going. "That won't stop the other weirdness though, will it?"
"What kind?" She asks genuinely curious, "What do you yourself want to do though? Uh. If oyu don't mind."
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
"Ha! Might be good, if you're ever talking with Mitsuru about it, to pitch it like that." Akihiko says with a smile. Though, it is true. It would be nice if SEES was closer...
Piling up won't be too awful. "We could pass permission slips around." He says with a wry smile. "See who's interested."
"I imagine Amada-san will be able to handle Koromaru. And whoever elects to stick around here." Otherwise... Well, the Kirijo Group has it's resources.
"That, yes." Akihiko nods with Fuuka, as she says it was a convention. "So, you two are friends already. I'm glad." Maybe that's not for him to say, but it's nice to see.
"Ah, Kumamoto, we're just talking about our careers for after high school."
"There's no time like the present, Kumamoto." Akihiko says with a nod. "Aren't there plenty of Manga contests? You can try them to get started, and build up your name recognition."
"A costume?" Sorry, Fuuka. Your secret's out...! "That's pretty impressive..."
"Yeah." Akihiko says to Fuuka. "I just wanted to grow stronger... So I could protect the things important to me." He lets out a little sigh. "Going pro doesn't exactly fit in that for me. It'd be more for fame and glory." He pauses for a beat. "I could just become a vigilante." He says with a snort.
"You're not into the idea, Yamagishi?" He asks. "It is a big commitment."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka considers Moriko's talk of how cutthroat the business is to start. That's an issue, too.
The convention... Moriko explains what it actually was. Fuuka had been evasive about it before... and Moriko mentions the costume, too. Fuuka laughs sheepishly. The secret is, indeed, out.
"Ah... Thank you." She replies, as they both compliment her.
She looks toward Akihiko, then, as he explains that he just wanted to grow stronger to protect the things important to him.
That certainly sounds like him - and it's something she appreciates. She feels the same way, even if she goes about it more differently.
"That makes sense..." She replies as he explains that going pro would just be about fame and glory. She laughs a bit awkwardly when he says he could become a vigilante. It's hard to tell if that's a joke or not.
Moriko asks what kind of doctor, and Akihiko comments that she isn't into the idea.
"Mm, well... Our family has a lot of doctors, so... They want want me be to be one, too. I don't think they care what kind, just as long as I make them look good..." Fuuka comments with a frown. But what does she want to do? She hesitates for a moment, looking into her cup. "I think... I'd like to do something with computers, instead."
She takes a sip of her tea. She's feeling a little tense now, thinking about the future, but there's one thing she can do that she knows will help.
"I could go for something sweet to go with this... I'm going to check out the kitchen." Fuuka decides, standing up.
Snacks make everything better.