2026-08-18: Causing a Scene
- Log: Causing a Scene
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Ikumi Okuyama, Hana Fukami
- Where: Central Street - Main
- OOC Date: August 18, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, December 27, 2012
- Summary: Ririka and her girlfriend Ikumi head to Tokyo to spend some time together, but are accosted by a woman who takes them for delinquents. It's a situation that could turn ugly... until Hana Fukami steps in to help them out.
(|========================== Central Street - Main ===========================|)
-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-
Chances are, if you're a fan of a youth trend in Tokyo, it started here. Less
than a five minute walk from Shibuya Station, Central Street is lined with
businesses that cater to youth culture. Boutiques and media stores are just as
common as cafes and fast food. Arcades display the cabinets and claw games with
the latest merch, while back alley shops serve more merchandise for more niche
interests, such as military otaku looking for realistic-looking model guns at
Untouchable.
Drug stores, convenience stores, book stores, discount stores, video rental
stores? You name it, they got it. Sports gyms, karaoke bars, movie theatres,
diners? Yup. The local Big Bang Burger stands out most of all with its flashy
space-themed pneumonic entrance.
While it has a reputation as a safe neighborhood for both tourists and locals in
order to preserve its image as 'for the youth,' darker elements have started to
creep in from back alley folks that try to offer school kids opportunities for a
quick buck or job opportunities for tourists who find their passport stolen in
short order. Or so the rumor goes.
Still, rumors are just rumors, aren't they? There's no reason to hold back, so
come on in, enjoy yourselves.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Now that Ririka and Ikumi were official, and Ririka was starting to do better, they were suddenly motivated to find more time to hang out together. Plus there had been a promise of showing each other some tricks of varying kinds.
And so, they were back here in Tokyo, meeting up in the middle. Ririka's got her long hair tied back in a ponytail, and she's wearing a warm jacket, khaki cargo pants, and white skate shoes. On her back is her backpack with all of her pads, a helmet hanging off of it, and under one arm she's carrying a skateboard. She's tall enough to pass for a guy, but she's definitely a girl.
Next to her is Ikumi, wearing a dark green parka with a hood, jeans, and boots. Her hair is short, but its died green and spiked up a little. And the two are chatting in a lively way as they walk down the street, their hands brushing together as Ikumi cracks a joke and Riria laughs over it.
"Oh, no, please tell me she didn't say that, Ikumi-chan!" Ririka gasps between laughs.
Ikumi flashes a grin at Ririka. "Oh, he totally did. Of course, I told him he could take it and sh--"
"Hey, young man!"
The two girls keep walking, but the voice comes again, sharper. "Don't walk away from me!" And suddenly an older woman hastens to catch up, plnting herself right in their path. She's wearing nicer clothes and jewelry (while aslo being bundled up), so seems affluent.
"It's hooligans like you that are causing all the problems we're facing today!"
Ririka blinks and draws up short to keep from running the woman over. "Um-- sorry? I think you have me confused for someone else."
The older woman crosses her arms. "Don't think youc an fool me, young man. You skateboarders are nothing but troublemakers and hooligans! Damaging property wherever you go."
There's a self-conscious glance down at the skateboard under her arm. "Uh... but I'm not damaging anything? I fact, we're heading to a skate park--"
"I don't care, mister," snaps the woman. "Don't think your lies will work on me."
"Hey!" barks Ikumi, stepping forward just a little. "Lay off, lady! You didn't see her do anything, because she didn't."
"Yeah! Also, I'm a girl," interjects Ririka. "Not a guy."
"Well that's even worse," says the woman with a sniff. "I suppose you think carrying your boyfriend's skateboard will get him off the hook but it won't. And you," she starts, turning to Ikumi. "Dying your hair, you're definitely a delinquent."
Both Ririka and Ikumi are taken aback for a moment, and it's Ririka who recovers first. "Okay, for your information, this is my skateboard, I don't have a boyfriend, and I don't have to answer to you. C-- com on, Ikumi-chan, let's just... ignore her."
Ikumi is glowering but slowly nods. "Right, let's--"
They try to step around the woman but she just steps back so they can't actually pass her, and she' still going. She's going to cause a scene.
This might already be a scene.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Hana Fukami spent part of the earlier day in Sumaru, where she had a nicer time than she expected on a business matter. And now, she's on her way to pick a couple of things up by the station before she continues for home...
And that's when she spots a scene unfolding.
It is definitely already a scene.
Hana steps over--she's wearing a nice coat against the chill, and frankly looks a little affluent herself. She's in her mid-20s, with purple-black hair and an easy smile. ...Not that she's smiling now.
"Excuse me," Hana says, as she walks over to the woman and the girls. "It's rough when people shrug off well-meaning advice, isn't it?" Hana asks, and then looks to the girls--and winks, just out of the woman's sight. "Can I help?"
"Oh--" Disarmed by Hana's good cheer, she turns to Hana and then, "Oh! You're that nice host from television!" she exclaims.
"It's very kind of you to recognize me," Hana replies politely.
"And so polite! Just like on the show. You really are a good egg. Well, I suppose if you'll take responsibility for them..."
"I will," Hana assures the woman. "I have some experience with the youth. I was just talking to a magazine editor earlier..."
Their chatter dies down after a moment, and the woman starts on her way, while Hana follows after Ririka and Ikumi.
"Just pretend you're sorry until she's out of sight," Hana advises under her breath. "Even if you don't feel it. A scene like that could be bad for both of you."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka is already sighing as she hears a second voice, and Ikumi actually lets out a small scowl. But they both blink as they catch the wink from Hana, and exchange a glance with each other, uncertain.
Ikumi mouths, 'Television?' to Ririka and Ririka just gives her a nod back and inclines her head in a way that means 'I'll explain later.'
But in a matter of moments, the woman is mollified and sent on her way. Ririka just kind of stares for a moment before Hana's quiet comment catches her attention again."Oh, gotcha," she mumbles. "Uh..."
"Sure, whatever," mutters Ikumi, and both girls just sort of... hang their heads and try to look like Hana is giving them a stern talking to.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
They turn the corner, and Hana sighs in relief, glancing back over her shoulder to see that the woman is no longer in sight. "There, that's better. That could've been dangerous," Hana says, looking over the girls.
"Sorry to sound like I'm not on your side; I remember what it's like to be strong-armed by people who want to blame you for their own bad days. But I saw you talking back to her and I didn't think it would end well."
"Now, though..."
"Are you both all right? I think since I stepped in the police won't be bothering you."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka lets out a quiet sigh of relief as the woman turns the corner, but Ikumi still looks agitated. "Damn people can't mind their own business."
"I know, I know, I'm mad too," says Ririka. She reaches out to put a hand on Ikumi's shoulder, her voice softening. "... seriously, though, you okay, Ikumi-chan?"
Ikumi reaches up to put her hand top of ririka's and squeeze it in a way that is definitely platonic. "Yeah, I dn't know. You gonna be alright, Ririka-chan?"
"Eventually," says Ririka with a sigh. She looks to Hana next as she apologizes. "I... it's fine. Um, thank you for the help." Ririka bows, and Ikumi quickly bows a moment later.
"Yeah, thanks," Ikumi says as she rights herself. "I don't think either of us really want to draw the attention of the cops, so... if it works, it works. That was actually kind of slick."
"I think we'll be okay," Ririka says, to answer the question. "You're... Hana Fukami, aren't you? Ny mom watches your show."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Hana waits through the extremely heterosexual way that Ikumi and Ririka comfort one another. It could just be good friends, of course--but Hana saw the way they've interacted so far, and she has a fairly good radar...
"You're welcome," Hana says. "I didn't want to see things get worse."
The cops... "Right. I imagine not. They wouldn't give you a fair shake, I'm sure. Not that I'm anti-police or anything," she's quick to clarify, "But I remember what it was like being a kid who didn't quite fit in."
Pause. She smiles. "Yes, I am. That's nice to hear!"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Extremely heterosexual. They both lean in a little closer together--not quite holding hands, that'd be a bit too obvious, but not really wanting to keep apart from each other.
"Yeah..." If one looks, Ririka's fingers are drumming on the deck of her skateboard, though the board itself may bock the view. "Thaaat's kind of why I was trying to walk away, but... I guess she wasn't about to let up."
Ikumi snorts about the mention of the cops. "Yeah, probably not."
Hanah clarifies she's not anti-police, though, and Ririka glances off to the side. She doesn't say anything, but she has some opinions. "Yeaaah, I..." She shrugs a little and holds up the skateboard. "... yeah."
She's 5'7" and she;'s got a skateboard. What more does she need to say?
"I've been watching it a little on break," she adds."It's pretty good."
Ikumi's fiddling with something in her parka's pocket. "Sooo..." She's kind of at a loss. She doesn't want to just bail since that might be rude, but she's not exactly sure what to say, either. "... what kind of show, is it?"
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"With someone like that, if she thinks you're ignoring her it registers as disrespect; the trick is to make it feel like you hear and understand what she's saying. ...But there was really nothing you could have done in a situation like that; she wanted kids to be the problem, and so you were."
Ririka... has opinions. Hana laughs delicately. "I understand," she says.
"But thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it."
Hana considers the two of them.
"It's a talk show; I and my co-host Kiki have guests on, and we talk about things like what the guest does, how they feel about it, and so on. We also have segments on ways to handle the household, how to make friends, and other things of interest to housewives and others who live at home."
"Though, some people watch just as a curiosity," she admits. Her trans status is not a secret.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Auuugh, right, right..."Ririka says with a sigh. "I... did not think of that." Ririka grimmaces a little. Trying to keep up with the social logic sometimes is hard.
"If there's nothing we could've done then what do you expect us to do next time?" points out Ikumi with a scowl. "Hope another TV personality airdops in to save us?"
But she's at least listening as Hana describes her show. "Ahh, that kind of show..." Under her breath she mutters, "... wonder if my mom watches that."
But... curiosity. Ririka frowns. "They should treat you like a person, not a curiosity."
"Mmm?" Ikumi looks between the two. "Curiosity?"
Ririka starts to say something but catches herself. She looks at Hana with a questioning look. Ririka knows what's up but she doesn't want to just say it...
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"Honestly? 'Yes ma'am, no ma'am' and just do most of what she says. Pretend you respect her and that'll defang her argument. ...But it's easier said than done, to swallow your pride when you're being pushed."
She isn't sure if her mom watches it... hmmm.
"I like to think that most do," Hana says to Ririka with a small smile--then she looks to Ikumi. "It's all right," she tells Ririka. "I'm transgender, you see. I wasn't always how I am today."
"...But that makes me want to look out for other people who don't quite 'fit in', too."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"I mean it wasn't pride so much as she was just worng..." Ririka says. (It was still a little bit pride.) She groans. "And she called me a guy! Come on. I'll try to remember, but..."
Ikumi rolls her eyes. "That old routine, right." She shoots a worried glance to Ririka. "... I'll... try it, if that happens again when we're out together, though..."
Ririka manages a smile back. And she definitely looks less surprised by what Hana says next than Ikumi does. "Oh--" The shorter girl's eyebrows raise. "Oh! Uh... rock on, then."
But other people that don't 'fit in'. Ririka and Ikumi share a glance that is far too significant to be casual, evn if Hana's radar hadn't gone off yet already. "You wanna...?" murmurs Ririka quietly.
The other girl shrugs. "Uh... we can, I guess."
Ririka smiles to Hana. "I'm Ririka Kawase."
"Ikumi Okuyama."
Ririka leans into Ikumi for a moment. "Annnd she's my girlfriend."
Ikumi leans back, but she casts a nervous look around as she chuckles. "Just... don't go spreadin' that around?"
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"I know; it's hard. But it's the best way to de-escalate with someone like that; if you fight back, you might win... but you'll definitely cause a scene." Hm. But isn't it better to fight sometimes? Hana shakes her head after a moment, that's a tangent.
"Thanks." 'Rock on'. But they...?
"Mm. I see. Then I'm glad that you have each other," she says with a small smile. "I won't, of course. I know what it's like; before I transitioned, I had a few boyfriends I had to keep secret..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ikumi just grumbles still and nods to the advice Hana is giving. Ririka nods, and is a bit more accepting (even if she clearly doesn't like it.) "We'll... try to remember that. Thanks, Fukami-san."
But Ririka smiles as Hana says she's glad for them, "Thanks." Ikumi was glancing off to the side but does look at Hana with a smile (and a light blush.) "... yeah, thanks."
But Hana had a few boyfriends she had to hide... "That must've been difficult... Um... we're the first girl either of us have dated, though we both figured it out at different times."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Of course they don't like it! They're teenagers. But Hana's learned to manage people, and that's how you do it.
Still, Hana smiles back at the smile and blush. Still, "It was," Hana says. "Just like it is for you two, I'm sure. That's worth congratulating though! That you've figured it out, that you know how it is for you."
"Just be safe, all right?" She is preparing to leave them be to their... date?
But it's possible to catch her before she turns away. "I hope you two have fun."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ikumi can manage people just fine if she's got a pool cue in hand. Ririka needs her guitar. But netierh approach probably would've helped them with that woman, sadly, so maybe Hana's advice is the way to go.
"A little bit," Ririka admits. Ikumi nods along, too."Yeah, I'm still... feeling this out? But..." She smiles a bit more openly and looks to her taller partner. "Ririka-chann makes me pretty sure I'm on the right track."
Ririka smiles back at Ikumi, giving her a small, affectionate elbow bump. They're trying to be discrete in public, at least.
"We will, thanks," says Ikumi and she turns to leave. "C'mon."
Ririka, though, hesitates, watching Hana go. "Fukami-san! I... um... I know this is sudden, but if it's not too much of an imposition... could I ask you about something?"
Ikumi pauses, looking back to Ririka with a questioning look, though Ririka doesn't elaborate for the moment.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"That's great!" On the right track...
Still, as Ririka hesitates, Hana turns back around. "Hm?" she asks, looking between the two of them and then back to Ririka in particular.
"Sure," Hana says. "What's on your mind?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"I'll try to make it quick, okay Ikumi-chan?" Ririka says.
Ikumi shrugs casually, hands in her pockets. "Hey, take your time. Do what you gotta do."
"Thanks." Ririka looks to Hana. "So, you mentioned not fitting in,and you're on TV, and... sorry." She takes a breath, and has to organize her thoughts.
"I have a band. A rock band. I'm the lead guitarist and vocals... but... I've been thinking about, if I should be more out or not, or... to put more of those feelings in my songs, and since you're out and on TV I thought... you might have some advice?" she finishes hopefully.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Sorry? Hana waits through for Ririka to talk. And then she explains about her band. Ririka isn't sure, but Hana at least takess her seriously, adopting a grave expression as she considers the matter. To put more of those feelings in...
"I don't know you or your situation well enough to really advise," Hana admits. "Do you have a supportive family? ...Is your audience open to those things? These are the questions tht I'd consider."
"...But I'll tell you what. I'll look into your band, if you tell me the name, and we can talk another time about what's best for you there. In the end, it's your decision... But I might be able to offer some insight."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Hana doesn't know her. Ririka nods, that makes a lot of sense, honestly. There's a quick glance at Ikumi, but Ririka nods to Hana. "My family's supportive. My parents, well... they're concerned, but... I mean, I'm concerned too, so..." But as for her audience, Ririka frowns."Thaaat I'm not so sure on? I mean, they're on board with with a girl leading a rock band I guess?"
But Hana offers to look into it. "Oh! Thank you very much! The band's name is Polychord." Ririka pulls out her phone."Here, I can get you our website, plus my contact info if you want it... our last big show was over the summer."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"That's good," Hana says of Ririka's parents. "It's fair to be concerned--it's a decision that carries a lot of weight, and will absolutely close some doors for you. Whether or not that's worth it... ultimately, that's up to the individual. But it helps that you live in this area, rather than out in the country."
A girl leading a rock band... "That's not nothing," she says.
"You're welcome." Hana smiles. "Sure. And let me give you my card." She hands over a business card!
"I'll talk to you again soemtime, then. Take care, you two."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Closing some doors... Ririka sighs and nods. "... yeah, I know." She's defintely thought of that. But she nods to living in the city, not the country.
"Oh, thanks!" Ririka accepts the card with a smile. She gives a polite bow. "Thank you for taking the time to consider this!"
"Take care, Fukami-san!" Ririka calls.
Ikumi lifts a hand to wave. "Yeah, and thanks again!" She means for handling the woman from before, not the advice.
Ririka has a burst of nervous giggles s she turns to join Ikumi. "Whew. I wasn't sure how she'd take that..."
Ikumi grins, and elbows Ririka's side playfully. "Bold moves, Ririka-chan. But I liked seeing you take your shot. Good job."
The taller girl laughs softly, "Thanks! And hopefully those aren't the only moves I get to show you," she says, returning the grin.
"Right on!" cheers Ikumi. "So, as I was saying..." she starts as they continue walking down the sidewalk.