2026-08-19: Progress
- Log: Progress
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Yukari Takeba
- Where: Central Street - Main
- OOC Date: August 19, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, December 27, 2012
- Summary: Earler in the day, Ririka and Ikumi met up in Tokyo, but ran into some unwanted attention. Later, Ririka is mulling those events over when she runs into Yukari, who is in Tokyo to take advantage of some sales. The two get to talking on a variety of topics, things turn tense, but then they choose to work it out rather than let things escalate.
(|========================== 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.
AS: masukukja does not match an attack in the databse. <Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
It's getting on later in the day in Tokyo, and Ririka is heading to the subway station after spending some time at a skate park. Why was she at a skatepark in Tokyo and not in Iwatodai?
No reason in particular, and that reason definitely didn't involve a girl with dyed-green hair and a charming grin.
But Ikumi had had to split earlier, so Ririka is walking down the street by herself. She's got her hair tied back in a ponytail, a jacket, cargo pants,a nd white skate shoes. She's listening to a pair of headphones as she walks, and she's carrying a skateboard with one hand. The rest of her gear is in her backpack, though a helmet is hanging off of it.
She seems to be a bit moody, though, and she keeps glancing around as if she's expecting trouble.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Snowflakes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhaNZ-4HOJ0
A snowflake falls. Then another. It's been chilly lately, and Christmas was even a white one. Though it has not fallen heavily this year.
It just falls, every so often, an ephemeral occurrence. The ideal way to experience snow. It comes, it goes, it leaves no mess.
Perhaps the children are disappointed, but to those who have known snow longer, it's definitely more convenient. Yukari Takeba is walking down the thoroughfare, a shopping bag from '901' at her side.
She has her purse over one arm, and is wearing a shoulderless, fur-trimmed dress, and leggings as she spaces out watching a few of the snowflakes fall, until beyond that, she sees someone across the street.
With a cock of her head, she looks at them and- "Huh. Really?"
Picking up the pace, she steps across towards her, up on the sidewalk, "Uhhh-Hey, Kawase-san. Didn't realize you were in Tokyo today?" There's an awkwardness to the question as her eyes look to the skateboard, "You know if you got some kind of bag for that, you'd probably get stopped less often by the police..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka pauses to blink at a snowflake that drifts by. "Huh... wonder if we'll get any in Iwatodai..." she ponders quietly, mostly to herself.
It's that stop, though, that perhaps gives Yukari a chance to notice her and catch up. "Mm? Oh! Takeba-san. Sec." She reaches into her pocket to pause her music, and then pulls her headphones off. "Oh, yeah, I met someone here earlier."
But when Yukari points out the skateboard Ririka sighs, looking away. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I already got an earful from some woman earlier. Just..."
She shakes her head a little and looks back to Yukari. "Um... that's a nice dress, Takeba-san. I geuss you were doing some shopping?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Oh yeah? Friend from school?" She asks, curious, rather than bring up family as an option. Better to have it corrected then look that nosey.
"Well yeah, I mean its like when I have to carry my bow anywhere other than school and back to the Dorm... people ask fewer questions when you look like you're complying with the law." She says, with a shrug, like 'What can you do?' to a woman messing with Ririka over it.
"Oh- thanks." She grins a little at the compliment, "It's one of my faves. I could help you find something like it, if you were interested? But I'm guessing you're going to say it's not your style."
A beat.
"Yep. There was a sale today. One of those 'in-between' two holidays where they're trying to move inventory. So I got some of my brands of makeup dirt cheap."
She says with a smile, "Practically free... well kinda. And given everything going on lately, I can't afford to waste too much of what I have. Tartarus and Mementos don't exactly give enough money to cover everything, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Friend from schol? Well, Ikumi goes to a school, but. "Oh, no--she's a friend from Sumaru. It was just easier to meet in the middle, you know?" She's a little bit more than a friend, of course, but Ririka isn't ready to admit that part of things yet.
"I mean, a skateboard isn't a weapon, though... and I was heading to a skate park." Ririka sighs, and she still looks a little troubled. "I think... she was just looking for someone to blame her problems on. Or society's ills, or... whatever."
She does manage a smile. "You're welcome." Ririka shrugs a little. "I mean, it's not like I never wear dresses. I just... also like wearing other things."
But, a sale! "Oh, cool." Ririka looks distant for a moment. "Mmm... I wonder if I need to stock up on anything... I should check when I get back to Iwatodai."
"Oh, the sales were that good, huh...? Cool." She nods. "Yeah, tell me about it. If we have to go into Tartarus anyway, at least we get something out of it..."
Ririka looks at Yukari for a moment. "Soo... off to another sale, or back toIwatodai, or...?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Oh from Sumaru!" She does seem surprised, "Is she- someone your sister knows?" It's an easy enough question to ask, after all, given that she lives in Sumaru City. It's logical to think that the two met through her.
"Well sure but it's associated strongly with 'delinquency'." Yukari points out, "You might as well be carrying around spray paint... to most people."
Yukari isn't so sure she doesn't think that HERSELF, given that she's definitely had skateboarders around her who are menaces, but she's not about to condemn it too strongly.
It's not like she's not breaking the law herself, in some ways just by carrying a bow around with intent to use it in public, or an Evoker.
The law just doesn't cover such things.
"Well sure, I'm not saying that." In regards to Ririka sometimes enjoying dresses, "It's just you're not a big 'pink' girl- or like presenting yourself as too 'cute'. It just, clashes with the image you've built?"
Again she shrugs, but she notices fashion trends that people put themselves in. "Worth checking out, especially if you can grab a coupon." But-
"Oh I wasn't planning to go back right away? I was thinking of checking out some boutiques in Shimokita next-"
Pause.
"-Though mayyybeeee not Peacock Silk. The... Peacock is too weird for me."
Really? You have both a DOG AND A ROBOT in SEES, but the talking Peacock is TOO MUCH, Yukari?
"I still can't believe he made that ugly bag I won..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
They did, in fact, meet through Ichika. But 'meet' might be underselling it. "Oh, yeah. Onee-chan knows her." She considers saying 'She introduced us', but decides agianst it.
"Yeah, I got that," grumbles Ririka. "And I know most people don't think skateboarding is a girl's activity, either, but I can't change that, either."
Ririka, nobody said anything about gender and skatebaords.
Ririka's got her Evoker, too, just in case. She's been very careful not to let Ikumi see her with it, though.
"Oh! Right, yeah. Piiink isn't usually my color, no. That's more Mi-chan's thing." That's Emi, one of her friends from her band, who is also a Gekkoukan student. "But, I mean, I don't know..." If you look closely you can see Ririka's fingers tapping against the truck of her skateboard. "... 'cute' isn't always bad... I just..." She doesn't finish that thought.
"Yeah, I'll have to check what I have when I get back."
She nods along as Yukari lists her plans--and what is explicitly not planned. "You don't like the peacock? He's not really any weirder than Koro-chan or Roger-san, right...?" She frowns a little. "Though..."
"Maybe it was an artistic statement? Like the... I dunno, the difficulty of holding onto the things you have, or something?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Ah cool. Makes sense. Unless its to see her- you mostly travel to Sumaru on business."
Just like her, in a way, though she interprets business pretty broadly. "Nope." She agrees when it comes to skateboards not being seen as girly, "Honestly? I bet one of those Obaasans would think you being in a motorcycle gang is more girly... weirdly."
Just because it was established as a thing decades ago. She shrugs, "Maybe something to take under consideration, I guess? Kirijo-senpai pulls the whole Motorcycle thing off..."
What a thing to think of 'Get a motorcycle just to be seen as MORE girly'
"Yeah, exactly." She says with a nod, before tilting her head as she says cute isn't always bad, "Well, I'll keep that in mind. I just thought you had to curate your image more? Like, almost every celebrity has to be real careful like that."
The Peacock...?
"It's... its weirder." She insists. "Roger can at least look more like a person... and Koro-chan can't talk...?"
A beat.
"Unless Aigis is translating that is. I still don't have any idea how she even does that."
The bag...
"Maybe? But- it's hard to believe a Peacock was trying to be a fashion designer, you know? Especially since- he's..."
Another pause, longer pause, lonnnngggggg pause.
"... kind of a weirdo."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Pretty much, yeah," Ririka says of Sumaru. Though she does have a few friends out that way.
And business is pretty broad, that's true.
But, motorcycle gangs. "I mean, motorcycles are pretty cool, but... I mean, could I even take my guitar with me on one...? And besides, that wouldn't fix... ah, nevermind." Ririka frowns.
But Kitijo-senpai. "Yeaaaah, she really does. She knows how to work on it, too, which is pretty cool."
"I men, I guess there's some of that," Ririka says. "But, like... I don't always think of everything in terms of an 'image'? Sometimes it's just... what's comfortable, or what's useful And also... I dunno. I'm just..." Ririka glances aside, a little embarrassed. "... just, really tall, so I need to find stuff that works with that?" She admits, dropping her voice some, like she's embarrassed to even say it.
But is Pernelle weirder? Yukari has an argument. "I guess..." Ririka muses. "Aww, but come on, that's not a nice thing to say, Takeba-san. Maybe he was trying something new? He's a peacock that can talk, so why can't he be a peacock that wants to make bags?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Uhhhh..." Yukari gives another shrug on that one, "... Well I never claimed to know much about them. Just, trying to compare better options. I imagine there's a way but-" Well, first off, what is it, and second off- does it look cool or dorky?
"-and well, yeah. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing she can't do."
It's hard not to feel inferior next to the heir of a big corporate group. Which is part of why the tension is there. Because that big corporate group is the reason her Father died.
Even if she is- hesitant, to acknowledge it was through his own decisions too.
Some part of her still doesn't want to think that's true, but she told herself she wouldn't look away.
"Hmm..." She does consider what Ririka has to say, "... well comfortable is good, but- I mean just as an example, I want to be a fashion model one day so..."
She has to actually cultivate her own image, and who she's going to be. "... well, we'll see how it works out. It's not like it's a sure thing that I'll make it as one."
In fact she knows it's more likely that she won't.
"Well... that is a problem." She notes about Ririka's height, "But, well, your sister is tall and it's like she has a whole harem of boyfriends..." She says, as she glances sideways, embarrassed, "... so it's not like no one likes it. I bet you get confessions from guys all the time who just have a 'thing' for that."
Look, Yukari gets confessions basically constantly, has been confessed by every guy at her school, so she'd find it SUPER WEIRD, if Ririka didn't just because she was tall.
That's not nice? Not a nice thing to say, "Since when do I have to be nice to the weird talking peacock?" Yukari says, giving Ririka a weird look, "I'm not sure it's even legal for a Peacock to be- you know, just walking around. I just can't see something like that as normal."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, it's... it's fine." It's definitely not fine. "There might be a way to make a guitar work, but I'd probably want something that lets me haul more equipment, honestly..." For her shows, obviously.
"Yeah, it's... kind of crazy." Mitsuru's power is such is that she makes Ririka agree with Junpei, a thing Ririka will never, ever cop to.
Yukari wants to be a fashion model. "Oh yeah? I bet you'd be really good at that, you're always really well put-together." Wait Ririka noticed? (Yes, she did. Don't worry about it.)
Ririka actually laughs a little when Yukari brings up Ichika. "Well, it's just the two..." Which, admittedly, is more than the expected.
She'd also point out one of them isn't technically Ichika's boy' friend, but Ririka's not about to blast someone else's business. "So I guess that's true..."
She goes very quiet when the topic of her getting confesions comes up. "Y-yeah, but..." Why si Ririka blushing all of a sudden? "Iiii usually turn them down. I've been... too busy for that sort of thing."
For anyone keeping up with the gossip, Ririka hasn't gone on a date in two years, in fact. (At least, as far as anyone at Gekkoukan would be aware.) Though given that her brother passed away two years ago... maybe that's understandable.
Ririka sighs and shakes her head. "I mean, we have a robot and a dog on our team, but... whatever. If you don't like him I guess that's up to you." She doesn't feel like arguing about it right now.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you... are you okay, after everything that happened at the maid cafe? I didn't really get a chance to ask you then, and then Ikumi-chan was there, and then finals... That all seemed... kind of intense."
Oh yeah, the girl with the dyed-green hair that Ririka went to go spend time with after her shift. Weren't they on a last-name basis then? Probably not important.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Hm, not that crazy? I mean just look at her. Even if someone didn't know she was the Kirijo heir, who could accuse her of being unfeminine?"
Basically, that's just the reality of Japanese life in Yukari's eyes. If you meet the gender standards, you can do things like that and make it work.
Since Ririka is pretty openly counter-cultural, well, it just makes everything more difficult for her. And part of Yukari can't even think that's wrong?
"Oh hey thanks!" She says, seeming surprised, "Well, I hope so. It's just- what I'm most interested in, on presenting 'who I am' to the world. That's why I put in so much work."
It's just, who she is- is quite acceptable, save for one thing. That one thing is a big one, admittedly.
"... For now." Yukari replies, re it being 'just two'. "If she lives that way, it always means she's open to adding more, right?" It may be embarrassing, but even if she would never be like that, it's not like she can't understand why someone would do that.
"Oh yeah. Same." She says towards turning them all down. Because Yukari Takeba has never been on a date- ever. Not really. It's often the talk of the school. "Though it's not about being too busy, really? I just don't like someone walking up and assuming I'm something to be conquered, you know? And that's what most of it's about."
She sighs, exasperated, "Because I haven't accepted anyone's confessions- I'm what they all want now, and can't have. Who wants to go out with someone because of that?"
It's interesting, because it's actually pretty insightful. It's not like she doesn't understand why guys confess to her en masse. Not just because she's beautiful, and put together in that way.
It's just- even if she truly thought someone was in love with her. What does it matter if it's someone who's put in no effort to get to know her? She just wants to be respected.
She furrows her brow, then looks disturbed, and looks away from Ririka, "It's not the same thing. It's- everyone there expects us to accept that these things are just normal. They act like I'm weird because I don't think it should be. Aigis- Aigis knows she's not. And Koro-chan is just a dog- a really smart one, but- he doesn't expect people to act like he's not."
Pause.
"Putting something out in the world that expects people to treat it as normal, is going to get someone hurt some day. Because all it takes is- one incident to take away something they can't ever get back."
All she can think of is some kid hearing Pernelle's voice some day- waking up in the Dark Hour, and getting killed because of it.
"Hm? Ah." The maid cafe, "I forgot for a moment it was a maid cafe..." She says, in a tone as if disappointed that she was reminded it was, "Geez... I'm alright, I'm just- really, weirded out by what they were trying to do. It doesn't really, make sense, you know? Nothing about anyone involved with the New World Order does."
She looks away, but then, "First name basis, huh? Two of you must be really good friends..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Oh, I just mean, her whole..." Ririka gestures with her free hand for a moment. "... Kirijo-ness? That part. She's... definitely feminine."
She is a little bit that, and that's not even the half of it.
"Welcome!" She nods, as Yukari explains. "Yeah! The effort you put in really shows."
But as for adding more, Ririka shrugs a little. "I mean, maybe? But it's not like that's guaranteed to happen. And she'd probably wanna make sure if she saw someone new that the people she's already seeing are okay with it, too?"
"Oh, yeah, that part is definitely gross, too," Ririka says of the 'being conquered' part. "I just say I'm too busy because then there's like, a reason? And I put a lot of work into Polychord, so..."
"Yeah... they say people want what they can't have? But when you apply that to a person..." Ririka grimaces. "Gross."
But then back to Pernelle. "I mean, okay. Compared to what I've seen otherwise I guess a talking, Awakened Peacock is unusual, but I wouldn't just jump to calling him a weirdo, that's all. For all we know, he's normal for peacocks of his kind."
Ririka frowns. "... though... I guess I did get a weird vibe from that place...? Buuuut maybe I'm overthinking it."
Seeing Yukari's reaction, Ririka wonders if maybe she shouldn't have brought it up. "If you'd rather not talk about it...?" she offers. And then she looks surprised and then frowns. "Oh! Yeah, no, the NWO are deeefinitely bad news, but... I meant... at the Christmas Village? With Iori? And then.... everybody else afterwards...?"
Blink. "Wait what did the NWO want with a maid cafe?"
Pretty close. Ririka suddenly looks away, scratching her cheek as her face heats up. "O-oh, well... Iiii guess you could say that..."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Hmmm." Yukari gives Ririka a funny look, like she's not even sure how to parse that, "Well, yeah? That's- what I said." Did she look kind of entranced? "You're not going to join that club of those crazy Mitsuru fans at school... right?"
"Haha... well, thanks." She says, as she cards her hair awkwardly on one side.
"Well sure, I wasn't saying that- but, it's not like if she's dating two people that they can really say no, right? It'd just look- jealous and possessive at that point."
Which, seems to defeat the point of not committing to just one person.
"Oh, huh, yeah. You just didn't strike me as the type who'd say they were too busy I guess, but, I do get it."
Why doesn't Ririka strike her as the type?! But she doesn't explain herself on that one.
"Yep. But well. It's just how guys are? ... Most of them." She sighs, looking up, as if exasperated. She is attracted to them, which makes it a problem that she doesn't like so many of them for being so... immature.
"What would even be 'his kind' Kawase-san?" Yukari says with an unusual look, "Talking peacocks aren't... really a part of this world, right? Which means, people exposed to him doing stuff that isn't normal, what if they 'wake up' because of it? People could get really hurt- or killed."
Ririka then clarifies she meant the Christmas Village, and she looks startled, "Huh!? That's what you were talking about? I thought- since we were talking SEES stuff-"
She groans, then shakes her head, "-It's- I'm not even sure at this point? They were doing something. Except Scion- I think she just wanted to try the food?"
She grimaces, "It didn't really make much sense, but they don't do this kind of thing out of nowhere, I mean the Bride is... like, very- very pregnant. They wouldn't risk her life to try some cheap food?"
As for the maid cafe, she doesn't ACTUALLY talk about it as she's embarrassed she enjoys wearing the outfit, because it's cute- it was just everything that happened while serving the GUYS that she hated.
"Huh." She looks at Ririka strangely, "There's no need to get embarrassed, I mean, you're both girls right? It's not unusual for two girls to get really close."
Nope she has no idea.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka also looks a little confused. "Right, but... I just meant, that part was crazy, not the.." Ririka frowns. "... Well, whatever." She shakes her head quickly. "Oh, no, I'm not. That'd be weird, right? We're in the same dorm... A-and, I mean, it'd be a bit much even if that wasn't the case..."
"Yeah, but like... them communicating is what makes it work at all, that doesn't mean Onee-chan just gets to do whatever she want and everybody goes along just because..."
At leat, that's not what some of the websites she looked at would suggest.
Ririka looks confused. "I... don't look like that type? Why not...?" Beat. "... what type do I look like...?" Should she even ask that? Well, she just did.
Ririka sighs. "A lot of them, yeah."
"I mean, except they are? I mean, at least that one exists, you can't really say it's not part of the world when it's right there..." But then Yukari mentions 'waking up'. Ririka frowns. "I guess you have a point... but they turn away people who aren't Awakened, right? We saw that at the event that they held..."
"We're talking about a bunch of different stuff, not just SEES stuff though? My sister isn't 'SEES stuff', after all."
"Right, Scion... we saw her at that rehearsal, too..." Ririka frowns deeply. "They deliberately provoked someone into transforming into another Joker Killer, they have a... Scion's a robot, but there's something about her I can't place? And then a maid cafe... should we go investigate...?"
It's not unusual for two girls to get so close. That doesn't help Ririka's blush, but she tries to rally. "Right. We are. And it's not. Umm."
Quick, topic change. "... did you wanna talk about the Christmas Village at all, or...?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Hmmm." Yukari doesn't actually say anything really to Ririka seeming so flustered on the suggestion that she join Mitsuru's fan club.
"I mean sure, but- it's still dating more than one person. It'd be hypocritical if they were upset about it? They're already okay with more than just them."
'What type do I look like...?'
"The type who really wants to be with someone?" Yukari shrugs, "I dunno, you just have that vibe. Here I thought it was just a celebrity thing where you can't date- but, if it's not- then, I don't get it."
Her posture shifts, when they discuss Pernelle, frowning, "So what if they do? Does that mean he never leaves the shop? I mean we already see him going with them to fights... and then he just turns into a giant monster Peacock with a Persona? And you're really okay with that?"
But, it's upon the next point though that Yukari gives Ririka an odd look, then looks troubled for a time, then says in a conversational tone, "You know, I wasn't arguing or anything. You don't have to be defensive about it? Trying to be right all the time- even when we're not actually arguing...? It just makes you seem like a bit of a jerk, you know?"
She's not arguing that she isn't a bit of a jerk sometimes anyway. Yukari knows she isn't some incredibly nice girl. It's just, in her eyes, Ririka sees herself as one- and doesn't always get how she comes across.
And needs to be told sometimes that she's not acting like she thinks she is.
"Well, I mean right off the bat, Scion is more- emotional than Aigis? And childish? Like she treats her handlers like they're actually her parents or something, near as I can tell."
She says, as she clarifies, before "And nope- I'm definitely not investigating a maid cafe. Besides- we'd have to come during the Dark Hour? We couldn't go back to where they were messing with unless we did."
Ririka fumbles around on the topic of the 'two girls being the best gal pals in galpalla' and Yukari blinks, "Uhhh, sure? But now it sounds like you're just trying to distract me away from- whatever that was."
She shrugs, "What's there to say really? All the guys of the school used it to try and work out their frustration over me rejecting them. It sucked, it's over with. I'm never doing that kind of thing again."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, but--" Ririka frowns, trying to figure out a way to phrase what's in her head. "They'd be concerned if she was dating someone bad for her, right? Or... if she started dating someone who was bad to them, or even who just didn't gell well with them, it wouldn't be hypocritical for them to say something?"
'The type who really wants to be with someone?'
Ririka blinks as Yukari drops that, pausing and momentarily caught off-guard as she considers. "... really...? What... gave you that impression...?"
She sags a little as Yukari reminds her of ~celebrity culture~. "Oh man. Right. That's going to be a drag..."
"I guess that's true..." Ririka says of him leaving hte shop. "Then... what would you do about him?"
'It just makes you seem like a bit of a jerk, you know?' Ririka just stares at Yukari. She takes a deep breath. "... I was just confused, because you made this sound like we were discussing nothing but SEES stuff, when..." She gestures a little.
She's trying to not point out that Yukari comes across the same way to her sometimes. Like calling someone a 'weirdo.'
"Yeah, that's true, but I meant more like..." Ririka frowns, trying to think of how to put it. "Like, I haven't scanned Aigis-chan--and I don't know how I'd ask her--but she seems like she'd be a robot all the way through? And Scion is like... a robot built on something else, or something? Like a completely different type of robot. I don't really know how to explain it..."
mental note, compare notes with Fuuka sometime.
"I'm not." She is. "But... I really did want to ask. I didn't want to get a chance then, but... it seemed like kind of a lot?" It sucked, it's over with. "... Okay, then. Well, sorry that happened, still. I don't know what is up with Iori sometimes."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Ehhh. I'm not sure I buy that one. If someone is happily dating two other people then it's really unlikely they'll pick up someone who's treating them like that? It'd just come off as a jealousy thing?"
Honestly, the way this sounds to Yukari, it's like Ririka herself doesn't approve- and is projecting her issues onto the relationship.
She wonders if it's just that Ririka doesn't like the guys she's dating? Whatever...
'... really...? What... gave you that impression...?'
"Uhhhhh..." She gives Ririka a strange look before sighing, "... you're not exactly subtle about it? Honestly as you've always come off, you reminded me of every girl that's in a rush to get a boyfriend but is embarrassed about it and doesn't want to be seen as boy crazy. Happens all the time."
Of course, she's wrong about the boyfriend and the boy crazy part, but- that doesn't mean she's not seeing that vibe.
'What would you do about him?'
"Uh? Honestly? I don't know enough about him to make that call. And to be honest... I'm not sure anyone does?"
She rubs her opposite arm, uncomfortably, "The Kirijo Group was studying Shadows right-? But even Kirijo-senpai was surprised about the kinds of Shadows we encountered- so if she doesn't know- and they don't know- who would? I just- that group is too carefree to be deciding something like what to do with the talking Peacock Shadow."
Ririka stares, then takes a deep breath- and-
"Uh, sure you say that but- again- I wasn't trying to argue anything? I was just trying to explain why my mind went there? And you're kinda saying my brain was wrong to go there?" She grimaces, a little, "It's like even now you're trying to hedge your bets or something- because I pointed it out. I'm trying to help you out, you know? Sometimes you really don't seem to get how you come across... and well, I doubt I'm the only one who thinks this."
There's just a deep sigh at this, because it feels like no matter what she says, she can't get the point across, when she thinks it would absolutely help Ririka relate to other people, including the people in her life better.
The thing is, Yukari fully understands how she comes across.
She doesn't think everyone thinks of her as kind all the time. She thinks she's a bit of a bitch, and that that's fine that people see her that way.
"Hm, maybe. But, Aigis- doesn't really seem like a robot? She never has, not really. She's too- attached, to people." She finally says, whenever she thinks of her reaction to Minato, "Whatever the case- the Kirijo Scientists who went over the New World Order are probably the ones who built her. So it makes sense we'd see at least some similarities..."
As for the maid cafe.
"Honestly? Junpei-kun was just trying to be 'cute' in his usual way."
She sports a sour look, "Or at least what he thinks is cute. It was annoying, sure, but not even close to the worst thing there. Really, it was everybody else that was much worse? People who just wanted me to- 'step on them' or 'be mean to them' because for them it was some kind of fetish or something..."
A shake of her head, "People... use things like that cafe as an excuse to act out things that they know better than to say on any given day."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka is thrilled for her sister. What she doesn't get is why Yukari keeps insisting on this. "I mean, fine, my sister wouldn't put up with someone like that anyway, you're right. But I'm telling you-- Ugh. How did we even get on this?"
She comes off as every girl who's boy crazy but ashamed of it. Ririka starse at Yukari for a moment. That is... kind of off the mark but also not that far off. "I really give off that vibe, huh..."
ABout Pernelle, Ririka sighs. "I guess you've got a point," regarding all the weird types of shadows Kirijo Group--or Mitsuru--don't know about. " She frowns, and now her left hand--the one not carrying her board--is tapping something out on her thigh. "Carefree... I mean..."
"You remember the event they held, right? Did you... get the impression they did that just to..." She hesitates, feeling kind of embarrassed for thinking it. "I dunno. Trick a bunch of Persona Users into revealing themselves? I'm probably just imagining it..."
"Hey, you're putting words in my mouth," Ririka retorts. "I didn't say it was wrong, I was just saying I got confused, that's all. All I wanted to do was make sure you were okay. That's it."
But as for how she comes across to others, she stews in that for a moment. She likes to think she's easy to get along with, but... she's had her moments fighting with and rubbing Ichika the wrong way. But she's doing better, right?
Well this is going to get stuck in her head now.
"Great. I'll add that to the list of whatever standards yuou're holding me to this week. Whatever it was that I did."
But as for Aigis. "Yeah, no, I get that they're different, I'm just... wondering about the differences, you know? scion didn't have any weapons, she has that little... attack thing? If it was ex-Kirijo scientists, why did they need to build her differently?"
"Yeaaah, 'cute' isn't the word I'd use for it. And I don't really feel inclined to let him off the hook for starting everything, even if other people were way worse. One of the things I do like about you is how you don't take shit from people, but it still sucks that you had to go through that."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"We got on 'this'-" Yukari reminds her, "-because you mentioned you're so tall that you have a lot of problems with your image. Your sister doesn't have the same problem- and is found appealing- is what I pointed out."
A beat.
"Now you kinda sound like you actually have a problem with her whole lifestyle? If it's so embarrassing for you to talk about...?"
There's a shrug, as she just points out that Ririka does not seem altogether too thrilled. "Or just you don't like being compared to her- that much."
But, when it comes to Ririka's vibe, "Yep, pretty much. Like- it's not a bad thing?" She qualifies, "It's just what I pick from listening to you, that's all." Then as she thinks upon the subject, she asks, "Say- is that why you find talking about your sister so embarrassing? Because it puts your mind on how much you want to be dating?"
Again, there's a shrug, "Well, whatever, I've never had a sister or anything- so it's not like I can judge what goes on between you two."
The subject turns to Pernelle though, and as Ririka taps out those notes, Yukari adjusts one of her bags in her hands, to get a better grip, before nodding in confirmation, "Mmmm-hmmm?"
The event- whether it was to get Persona Users to reveal themselves, she cocks her head to the side in consideration then.
"Not really, actually. Because they've showed up to plenty of our fights- they were even there that night when we were in Tartarus to rescue Fuuka-chan. So it's not like they learned anything they couldn't learn anyway."
There's another pause, "But that doesn't mean there wasn't some ulterior motive. Something they had to gain from it- and I don't really know what? They're not exactly forthcoming with what they're after..."
But what- is that? She definitely doesn't trust them, which is why she hasn't made any orders since, but- she has no idea.
"The thing is, it's hard to even speculate. We just don't know about them- or what they're after, or what about Ateliers they want." She shakes her head, seeming baffled on how else to figure out that group. "We'd need to know more."
Yukari gives Ririka an odd look, as she continues arguing the subject, "No, I'm really not?" She notes to her, "I mean listen to yourself. You're really getting defensive over me just pointing out what I'm hearing from you. Just because those weren't your exact words- doesn't mean that's not how you're coming across. Doesn't mean that's not how most people would think you're coming across."
There's a frustrated noise from her, as she looks up, and then lowers her head down, in a sigh- "Look, I'm trying to help you. Not judge you. And you're acting like I'm just- attacking you by pointing this out. If I really wanted to attack you- trust me. You'd know. I wouldn't bother trying to explain this all. If you're really 'just confused' then- it's still how you come across. And you need to know that- because I doubt you want people to see you as a jerk, right?"
As she looks her right in the eyes, "Right? That's why I'm saying something, because I don't think you even realize you're doing it. So take a step back- and ask yourself why I'd bother saying something- when it'd be so much easier to snap at you without saying why."
She's at least hoping it gets through to her this time, but she's not exactly sure that it will.
"Whatever, let's just drop it then, if you really don't want to hear it."
Fortunately, there's the subject of Aigis to move on to. "Well- why does anybody build anything differently? They're hoping for a different outcome, I guess. Or maybe there's just gaps in what they know? Remember, Aomori-kun's mother built the movement systems- so if people are just that specialized- then they might not have any idea how to replicate it in the exact same way?"
In the end- on the maid cafe, "I think if he thought I was actually upset about it that he'd be the first to apologize." Junpei is a lot of things, but he's not a guy out to hurt her. "But, regardless- it's not like I'm letting him off the hook. The two of us go back and forth on stuff like that."
In certain ways, Junpei is the dumb little brother she's never had. Or wanted. But she at least recognizes that on SOME level- even if she'd ever admit it.
"He'll get paid back ten-fold on that one, you can guarantee it. But hey- thanks for saying so at least. It's nice to know that other girls saw that and felt the same way."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"I don't have--" Ririka's eyes dart away. "A lot of problems," she says defensively. She totally still has some, though. But she looks back at Yukari and frowns. "Hey-- I'm happy for my sister. You're the one talking like you know what's up with her dating life."
It used to be really awkward when Ichika talked about her dating life, mostly because Ririka, for a long time, didn't really feel like she could open up about hers. Or, well, what she wanted hers to be, at least. But they've moved past that.
"Yeah, no, we talk about that stuff just fine now." 'Now?' "I'm just getting frustrated because--" Augh. How much should she say? "Look, I've seen her when she was seeing a bunch of guys. And, before you say anything, I didn't have a problem with that. But that's not what she's doing right now, so."
They were also at Tartarus, the night they went in to rescue Fuuka. "Wait, they were?" Immediately she wishes she could take that question back. She wasn't at her best that day, and she doesn't want to drag that up again.
... not with Yukari right here.
"That's true, and they've shown up to other fights, you're right..." Ririka considers, frowning. "... Then-- I don't know. I just got a weird vibe, but... it was right after I Awakened, so maybe I was just... imagining it."
Or maybe she's just sensitive to the idea of people wanting to keep personal secrets about themselves, for some reason.
Ririka stares at Yukari. "Well then it just 'feels' that way since that's not what I was trying to say," she counters. There's an angry huff as Yukari points out that she'd know if the other girl was being judgemental.
... She hates to admit it, but this is a bit different from some of the other times they've gotten into it. She's silent for a long time, still tapping on her thigh as she thinks. She does hate fighting with Yukari, and if she's trying to help, even if Ririka's not sure what she needs help with...
She looks to the side, still silent for a moment longer. "If I came across that way... I'm... not sure what I did?" she admits. Reading social situations is tricky for her sometimes, but she can't bring herself to say that directly.
But the scientists were specialized. "Right, right... that's a good point," Ririka murmurs as she tries to look through her memories of the analysis she got off of Scion. "So if they had to make do... I got the feeling it was built on something, but I'm not sure what."
But Yukari says Junpei would apologize, and that surprises Ririka. "You think so...?" Well, if Yukari seems content with that, Ririka doesn't see a need to argue it. But then she laughs as Yukari says he'd get paid back for it. "Cool." She nods. "And you're welcome. It sucks to see guys act towards girls like that just because they think they can, so... yeah."
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"Hmmm." She hums, searching Ririka's expression as she clarifies it's not 'A lot of problems,' But what she says next, "But you have some problems." Yukari notes.
She's not going to even address the point on 'talking like you know what's up with her dating life.' Because that's not the case, since she was talking more about 'what it must be like dating more than one person' as a lifestyle rather than Ichika specifically.
Then listening to her say they talk about things just 'fine' now, "... Right, but- you're still avoiding giving a straight answer there." She shrugs, "Well whatever. You're not obligated to share your problems with your sister with me or anything. It just sounds like you have more of a problem than you're saying. Me? I used to have a problem with it- but I guess I really don't, anymore?"
It's because she always took dating a lot of guys as being in a situation of dependence, but she's convinced it's not really that anymore.
"Yep. And at a lot of other things too. They were there that night with the Hierophant- too, remember?"
As she tries to prompt that occasion too, because now- if the navigator doesn't remember, she wants to be certain that it isn't- something suspicious going on that's causing her to forget.
"Hmm. A weird vibe, huh?" She looks troubled, but doesn't say what.
There's a bit of a pause as Ririka finally seems to give a little ground on the idea, but she doesn't say anything at first, just staring instead, as she works through it.
"... I'll explain. I thought the maid cafe was about the time the New World Order attacked it- I said my head was associating our conversation mostly with 'SEES stuff'. You pointed out in return that- 'But we're talking about other stuff other than just SEES stuff, like my sister.'"
Yukari locks eyes with Ririka, giving her a few seconds to process, before then saying, "Do you see how that sounds? I was explaining my mistaken impression. Saying what you did makes it sound like you wanted to drive home how wrong I was- by making your impression of how I 'should have answered' the correct one. But it was a situation where you don't have to be 'right'."
It's interesting that she's actually taking the time and patience to explain this despite how Ririka is acting, she must have really decided it was unmalicious.
"Sounding like you're trying to be- gives the other person the impression that you have to be right and they- are wrong- whether you meant it to sound that way or not."
As it comes around back to Scion again, she nods, "Yeah, maybe. We don't know much of anything about what the New World Order is doing behind closed doors- though, maybe we can just ask her next time we see her? She's the type to just run her mouth all the time."
Honestly, that sounds like the best idea for her, to let her just give away all their secrets as they fight.
"Hmm, yeah-" She has an odd look for a moment on her face and, "-well maybe that's why we're both not dating." Even if Ririka comes across as really 'boy crazy' to her, "Since we seem to have pretty similar opinions on guys."
Oh Yukari, if only you knew how both on the mark, and off the mark you are simultaneously.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Some problems. "So what. Just--that's not even why I was thinking about it, so just..." She's feeling especially insecure since she got called a guy earlier. A lot of the time sh can try to put it out of mind.
And that might have been where the misunderstanding came from. But if Yukari drops it, Ririka will, too.
"A straight answer about what?" Ririka's trying to stay calm, but she's in a weird headspace right now. And ths conversation is a bit taxing.
"I remember," Ririka says about the Hierophant. She might want to forget some parts of that night, but unfortunately she can't. "And I remember how they went after Pernelle."
But Yukari explains, and Ririka really has to chew on that for a moment. And all the while her hand is tapping on her thigh so she can keep her hands busy. Don't worry, it's helping her think.
Finally, at length, she sighs. "Okay, I guess-- when you put it that way... sorry, Takeba-san. I wasn't trying to correct you, but I think I see how it came across that way. I'll try not to do that again." She offers a small bow, too.
"Yeah, or what their real aims are... but I guess we know they're collecting information on people, which is kind of creepy." There's a short chuckle. "Yeah, she wasn't really good at not talking, wasn't she?"
Ririka wrestle with something for a moment. "... yeah, maybe," she agrees, but in a noncommital way. She's keeping that secret to herself. She'll probably laugh about it later, when she's in a better mood.
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
"About what you said. How you still have some problems with her dating life- even if you're happy with her." She clarifies, just in case. But she also doesn't press further than just answering her.
"Really?" She seems startled, "That guy went after Pernelle? Why though?" After all, she was unconscious throughout all of that so- it's understandable she doesn't realize.
Yukari lets Ririka chew on what she said for a time, then, "It's okay, like I said- I realize you weren't trying to be malicious or anything. ... I don't think it's as easy as that- to change something like that about yourself right away or anything."
She adds, "But- you can't even try unless you know about it."
Strange that she's not getting mad about this- but perhaps it simply is she realizes it's unmalicious, like she said.
"... Well yeah, I mean, they're some kind of creepy secret society. It wouldn't surprise me if they were doing that on people all over the country..." She looks away, troubled, but then nods, "... Ha, yeah. At least until we know more about where they are... that is, she might be our best bet."
As for the '... yeah, maybe," she just nods, "Ah well, you headed anywhere? I had nowhere to go other than back to the station..."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka looks confused. "What? I don't have any problems with her dating life. I told you, I'm happy for her. Really. It used to be awkward for us to discuss it but we worked it out."
"Oh, yeah--" It takes Ririka a moment to recall the circumstances. "You were... sorry. A looot kind of happened? It was a bit hard to keep track of it all, especially with all the Unawakened people being affected... I'll fill you in later, okay?" She glances around. "It's kind of a lot to go into out here."
Yukari really is being way more chill than Ririka would expect, based on some of their past interactions. Yeah, I... appreciate it. And, um, thanks for explaining. Sometimes it's... a little hard, for me to see stuff like that," she admits, softly, choosing to show vulnerability. "So it helps."
"I just mean it's extra creepy. Like, they took out a whole train just to turn one girl into a Joka? I can't believe they're trying to force that kind of thing..." She frowns. "... I can't believe that forcing that or speeding it up is even possible."
"Well, I was gonna head to the station, but..." Ririka considers Yukari for a moment. "... I could use a bite to eat, after all that skateboarding. Wanna come with?"
<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
Yukari squints, because she wonders if Ririka has literally forgotten what they said not long ago, but then with a shrug, just says, "If you say so."
It's really not worth digging into something she doesn't want to talk about it.
"Sure. Alright. I mean I have a lot of it- just not... everything." She says, as she looks away, embarrassed.
Indeed, now it's her turn to be a little surprised by Ririka showing appreciation, and for a moment says nothing, but eventually, "You're welcome. I get that it's not really the easiest for everyone. So- hey- if you want to work on it, I can try to let you know when I see it?"
It's the best offer she can make on the issue at least.
"Well that's the thing. What does a single 'Joka' get them?" She asks, "What's worth going to all that effort?" Before settling upon it, "I think it's a really good thing we prevented them from taking her. We might never have seen Sakurai-chan again..."
The offer of a bite to eat? "Sure, anyplace in particular? I know a nearby diner a few blocks down where the prices are pretty good..."
It's progress, at least, for both of them.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka means what she's saying now, but if she forgot something she's been a little out of sorts today as it is. It's probably fine.
Most of it, but not everything. "Right, right," she says gently. "... we were all going through a lot that night, so it's..." Well it's not fine, but Ririka isn't holding anything against Yukari. "... you know."
Ririka nods as Yukari makes that offer. "Uh... sure. That'd be... helpful." She's not hesitating because she doesn't believe it, just because she's surprised, still, at Yukari being so agreeable.
"I don't know, but... it must be worth something to them, right?" She nods. "Yeah, I'm definitely glad we saved her, at least. It was a little surprising seeing Lisa-san Awaken, too, right?"
But Yukari mentions a diner, and Ririka nods. "Yeah, that'd work. Lead the way."
It's definitely a start.