2026-09-16: Tea and Rice Cakes
- Log: Tea and Rice Cakes
- Cast: Yua Ijuuin, Goro Akechi
- Where: Tokyo TV
- OOC Date: 2026-09-16
- IC Date: Thu Jan 10 2013
- Summary: Akechi brings Yua tea and rice cakes while checking in on her... and, surreptitiously, her experiences with the Kingdom.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua is at Tokyo TV -- the scene of the crime, as it happens, because Miho's unit was called to extract a man with Yua's subtler powers here just recently. (That's the true source of the blackout... and the 'terrorists' who supposedly kidnapped Hana, who in fact were incited through that strange power. Sadly, they didn't manage to extract the true target.) Of course, she's here as Yua, today -- as she has been a few other times, between then and now, when she's visited to deliver baked goods to Hana's loved ones.
... the difference today, of course, is that this is the first time Yua's ventured outside since the catastrophic assault on Blacksite Revelation. She's in her usual outside clothes, of course -- which are now a long-sleeved leotard and black tights to match, beneath that sheer skirt; her long hair is wrapped up in that tight bun, her makeup's all neatly done -- if, to a keen eye, recently touched up.
Despite the effort she's put in, she looks particularly tired, as she takes a seat on a bench at a quiet corner of the street outside and pulls out her phone... perhaps her recent misadventures are why.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
People come and people go down the street. Of course most people wouldn't recognize a pregnant woman. And most men would think better of making a pass at one, especially one this pregnant.
Perhaps, Yua thinks sitting here will prevent her from being bothered.
Perhaps.
Footsteps stop in front of her, and Yua sees- "You look like you could use this more than I." -a tea latte of some sort, with a stopper indicating it hasn't been drank from yet.
"It's said that anything beneath two hundred milligrams is safe in pregnancy."
What kind of a man just knows these things? Well, more a boy really, or a young man. It's Goro Akechi, of course- he's going to make some wife very happy one day, being this knowledgeable and engaged in her pregnancy.
"This as well. I insist."
And in his hand is a small bag of rice cakes.
"Seeing as your husband isn't around, I feel it's only natural that I make certain your needs are taken care of, sensei."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua taps out some messages -- first to Shinobu, of course, because she'd wanted to go out to afternoon tea with her but she was far too ambitious with her outside plans and she really just needs to go back home, and then...
... but before she can finish contacting her driver, a latte appears in her reduced field of view. Yua blinks, looking up from her phone, to the tea, to -- "Oh! Akechi-kun!" Her expression brightens, when she sees him. "Ahh, did you get that for me? Really, I couldn't -- ah, you're sure? Mm, okay!" She tucks her phone away in her handbag (suspiciously large enough to hold some bulky items, though there's surely not a revolver evoker hidden beneath a false panel at the bottom), to free up her hands to receive rice cakes and tea. "You're such a thoughtful young man...!"
She smiles, as she pops the bag on her lap to open up the tea. "Please, sit with me!" She invites him, and of course it's not improper because he's still a young man and Yua would sooner kidnap him to her nest to roost on him like a broody hen. (More to the point, he's not an assertive lesbian.) "Ah, Kimi-san's very busy with work right now, so I was coming to visit Yakoaki myself... her friend was kidnapped back during that awful business, so I ought to make sure she's okay, you know...?"
She sips the tea, and -- "It's delicious," Yua smiles, to him. "Don't worry, thanks to my medicines, eating's not so bad now!" She's downplaying it a lot; when it was so bad, she was having to get needles put in her to put food in her blood, so her present state of not being able to try her baked goods this morning because her stomach insisted on bland foods only really seems fine in comparison.
... but it is at least easier to manage now they've figured out what balance of medications work to mitigate it.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"For myself, actually. I just got out of an interview at the Station. It just happened to be coincidence that I was heading in a direction that took me just past you."
He smiles affably, because while certainly he could take credit- that would mean he was spying on her, and that sounds creepy.
Even as a Detective, there's something that goes 'Maybe not' on the inside when it comes to admitting to following a pregnant woman.
"Oh? Well if you're certain." He says, before putting his briefcase down, and sitting down beside her, gloved hands folding in front of him.
"Ah yes, during that terrible affair..." He looks off distantly, before resting a hand on his chin, like he's contemplating Kingdoms in general, including them appearing in the real world.
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear it. I'm told nausea isn't quite as large a factor after the first trimester, but I imagine it's always still a concern."
Which is in part why the rice cakes, because it's easy on the stomach without being too bland.
"From what I understand for some women it can be quite tricky, including frequent hospitalizations during that time."
Which he brings up, only to poke right at that time when Yua was 'being treated'- because he's bit of an ass. Just a smidge.
"On that note... might I ask if you've seen a Pink Cockatoo about?" He manages a smile and a chuckle, "An odd question- but I've been hired to try and recapture her by her trainers. You see, she escaped from a TV set here during filming..."
A lie of course, but it's the kind of white lie one can attribute to just 'not wanting to talk about Fight Club' ie. the Supernatural.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Oh!" Yua gasps. "Of course, you appear here quite a bit, don't you? You're such a busy bee...!"
But so long as he doesn't admit to following her, that's fine, isn't it?
"Please," Yua invites him, again, smiling. (It sounds so different to the pleas she issued, when the Black Mask broke into their home... though, is it really that different...?) "I was just about to call my driver... but I'd love to chat! I don't get out as much as I used to... oh, on that, I'm sorry we had to pause lessons," she adds, kindly. "My doctor says that the third trimester could be the toughest time for me... so I had to put in leave a little early. I'm afraid it's getting a little too difficult to dance in my condition..."
She sounds a little sad, to say it, but that's something else understated.
Still -- it's just a little while. Just a few months. She can make up for the training deficit of a few months, right...?
Speaking of things which are terrible: Hana's kidnapping. "It was awful," she agrees, softly. "I can't believe terrorists would be so bold as to attack a broadcaster like that... mouuu, but Kimi-san does tell me the world outside Japan is getting rather frightening."
She smiles, though, when Akechi speaks on his knowledge of nausea. "I'm afraid I'm kind of... a hypernemesis gravitas!" Hyperemesis gravidarum. Why does she need to make her medical conditions cute. "So the sickness didn't really go away for me... I've had to get treatments, and even go to hospital, mm. It can be a little scary," she admits, downcast, "but I have a lot of people supporting me, so I'm okay."
She sips at her tea, and nibbles at a rice cake, and is taken entirely off course by -- "Eh?" Yua blinks, her eye widening as she looks to Akechi. "I-I, um -- oh! But aren't cockies white? I saw one at the zoo once, it was all white... with a big yellow crest! I... I'm sure I'd remember if I saw a special pink cockatoo!" Yua laughs it off, nervously.
She has, of course, seen a special pink cockatoo.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Exactly. Plausible Deniability is important- it's also what makes him an asshole.
"Haha, well- you're not wrong that my schedule is quite packed." He says with a chuckle. His expression changes with the 'Please' just subtly, before he sits down, trying to keep his feelings on that phrasing of invitation neutral.
He nods at that, "No no- there's nothing to apologize for. Doing what's best for your unborn child is what truly matters."
It is an incontrovertible fact about most women, in Goro Akechi's mind. Enough that a woman who wouldn't- has something broken about them.
Placing sentiment for a child above all else, no matter the consequences... is simply the way of the world.
"Yes, well... I certainly have my own theories on the nature of her captors. You see... I don't believe they were terrorists from outside this country at all." He laces his fingers together, "It's no secret that our nation has had a greater shift towards traditionalism in recent years. To the point where even a trans-woman who was acting as expected of her, might just be targeted by such elements."
Akechi says it with a troubled expression, "It might have been merely to 'send a message' so to speak, on the fate of those whose presence challenges our new... 'status quo'."
Her misspeaking the word causes a smile from him, "Well it is true that you do not lack for 'gravitas'." He says with a light tease in his tone. "Even when vomiting uncontrollably, I suspect."
Apparently he does find it cute, but he's gotta poke fun at it. "Yes, I can imagine so, even with modern medicine- it wasn't so long ago that such conditions could be a death sentence. The things that can happen with certain electrolyte imbalances are frightening enough... and in our country such things are rarely taken so seriously."
He looks sideways towards Yua, smirking, "If I'm ever mildly 'upset' at one of my colleagues, its common enough that I'm told that I must lack calcium in my diet... due to past pseudoscience that's accepted currently as fact. Still- I'm glad you're getting the support you need."
As Yua gets taken off guard, he does chuckle again, "Well, yes, most are. This one is a variant of the Australian Galah Cockatoo, where pink plumage is common."
Her nervousness causes the smile to vanish off his face and-
"My my. Is everything alright? You suddenly seem quite nervous, over such a mundane thing. Could it be that you've actually seen one after all and aren't being exactly forthright?"
...
...
...
...
"Just kidding." He says with a wide grin, "Haha...! I'm only pulling your leg. The question's almost ask themselves. Call it 'Detective's Habit.'"
Jerk.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Say it isn't so! He's a nice young man!!
"That's right," Yua smiles, when Akechi mentions Hiroki's safety. "It's all for Hiroki, after all!"
That's a little more complicated, when you're actually carrying the weight, but... even if Yua wouldn't give her life for him to be born, she's still giving up an awful lot. Even with Miho...
Yua frowns, though, as Akechi talks about a different story, too. "But the police said they were terrorists," she points out, gently. "Surely if it was something coming from inside the country, they'd have said so...? Really... I'm really sure that the conservatives didn't have anything to do with this." Is she just saying that as a conservative policeman's wife...?
... well, it's not as if she can tell a normal boy like Akechi that she's never had dealings with such an odious cockatoo, and she's sure she'd remember her being mentioned at one of thier function dinners.
The boot of the nation can't be working with a bird.
She does blush, though, when Akechi talks about vomiting so bluntly. "E-eh-- y--yes," she stammers, looking down at her rice cake. "If I don't eat enough, I need to have these awful milkshakes to make up for it... s-so don't worry, I'm still healthy!"
And then -- galah! "Oh, that's a silly word!" Yua giggles, unwittingly comprehending the slang of far off shores in the process. "What a silly-billy bird that must be..."
Except, of course, her efforts to be cute are interrupted rudely by Akechi's incisiveness. "--eh? I was nervous? No, just -- um --" Would she have spit it out?! Luckily, Akechi assures her he's joking before she can, and her cheeks puff up. "Mooouuu! Meanie!!"
Even when she's mad, she's so cute...
<Pose Tracker> The Lovable Akechi-kun has posed.
Yes. *wink* He's such a nice *wink wink* young man.
"Did they now?" Akechi asks, as if to raise skepticism towards that account. "Not if they prize public order, as a greater good than safety."
He remarks, "Though forgive me, I do forget you're married to a police officer... you see, the police and I have often been at odds over the various corruption scandals I've uncovered within their departments." Though he then adds, "No I wouldn't say that the Conservatives are... necessarily behind this."
A beat.
"Though that does not mean their policies have nothing to do with such acts." He has a theory as to what force is behind Kingdoms, but he doesn't actually have enough evidence to connect it.
If the Metaverse is the result of Distorted Desire- then Kingdoms must be something else... still, he's getting ahead of himself.
Correction. The Boot of the nation does not know they're working with a bird.
"Ah, my sympathies, they do sound truly horrendous." As he remarks on the milkshakes, "Still the things one does for love..."
That's not necessarily connected, but he still says it anyway, given what his mind is focused upon. "I'm glad to hear you're doing well, nevertheless."
What a silly-billy bird?
Akechi does arch an eyebrow, "Well, the crew did say she was quite the mischievous character..." As he recalls his past encounter with this bird, glowering some.
As she calls him a meanie though, he all but cackles in the moment, "Ahahaha-! You're so cute when you're teased, it's quite the incentive to keep doing it, even if it's rather awful of me."
Well at least she's certain he's not hitting on her when he's calling her cute.
"Still, if you do happen to see one- you can always give me a call." As he hands her a business card that he slides out of his pocket, "I intend to see this case through, no matter what."
He's gonna KILL that bird if it's the LAST THING HE DOES!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"But Kotoba wasn't doing anything wrong," Yua protests, which gives lie to the idea that she agrees with her husband in all things despite never having spoken an ill word against him. When it comes time for that, though -- Yua shakes her head. "Kimi-san is an honourable man," she lies. "He'd never do anything corrupt!"
Just recently, he helped do terrible things to Katsuya's career... and thanks to his bragging, she knows all about it.
But she can't be such a liar about the impacts. "Mm, it does... make it easier for things to be harder for her," Yua allows, delicately. "Maybe if the state got involved, it would make things even worse, too..."
... because it's true, isn't it? Yua isn't quite sure why Jerri was so upset at her, but it had something to do with her powers.
What if that means... there's really no hope for Hana, even if people realise she's missing like 'that'...?
"Don't worry," Yua smiles, to Akechi, when he sympathises over her awful yucky milkshakes. "Moms are tough!"
Don't give her a gun don't give her a gun don't give her a -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE SUMMONS HER PERSONA WITH A GUN
"Mm, I'm... sure it's like that," and Yua's cheer falters, a little, as she insists Jerri must be mischevious, but she's at least a good enough actor to mostly pretend.
But he teases her, and she pouts, "Mooouuuuu..."
Akechi gives her a business card, though, and Yua -- looks a little baffled, for a moment, before she takes it with her tealess hand. (THAT'S STILL WRONG!) "Do you... talk to a lot of people your age about your cases...?" She wonders, quietly, as she tucks it away in her bag.
It's not impossible some of Akechi's friends have Persona... Miho and Remi weren't able to find Hana, but what if...?
<Pose Tracker> The Lovable Akechi-kun has posed.
"Would politicians even label prizing public order over safety as corrupt... if the truth would result in a panic that might cost more lives?" He prompts, "Even the common man might argue over whether such a thing is corrupt or not. We live in a different world from the politicians who exert control over our fates."
That part is true, he knows it well from hanging around his Father all the time. "Yes, just so." He agrees to what she allows.
Akechi suddenly has an urge to hand Yua over his gun, huh. He's quite strong in the schadenfreude.
"I'm not so certain of that myself, by accounts I've received so far." He says mildly, of Jerri being mischievous. "The crew has affection for their animal- but it seems most do not share their opinion."
He's still grinning over the tease, when she asks him a question, "Not so much, truly. However... it is in the case that I am often hired by individuals of my age group for... smaller things. To see if a boyfriend is faithful, to find a lost pet- to determine the responsibility for certain incidents in our schools."
There is a shrug, like it's no big thing, "Most cases are... tedious to be perfectly honest, but that is the majority of Detective Work. Still, it does give me the chance to sometimes speak of my work to others."
In essence... Akechi's friends? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU PUT A PLURAL ON IT!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"It is a different world," Yua agrees, mildly.
It's better, she thinks, if he doesn't know how much.
"Birds can be very rude," she allows, of Jerri's temperament. "I think it's because they're so smart...? Or just bossy... a seagull once stole my sandwich right out from my hand!" Yua huffs, before she pauses, thoughtfully.
"... but I like geese," she decides, at length. "And swans. They're very fierce! Hmm... I guess that means I like ducks, too...? Even though a simple duck is much gentler... oh, and crows are smart, but they're very cute! Did you know that if you make friends with a crow, he won't swoop you?"
Yua's thoughtfulness turns to concern, hearing Akechi downplay his social circle. "Ah, Akechi-kun... I know you're very busy, but try to make some time to see your friends, okay...? A little gossip is normal for a teenager. If you go through life so seriously, you'll forget you're young at all..."
<Pose Tracker> The Lovable Akechi-kun has posed.
It's better, he thinks, if she doesn't know how much he actually knows.
"A whole sandwich? Remarkable... usually one thinks of Seagulls as going for much smaller targets, but as your own experiences tell us- that's not quite true. There's nothing they would not snatch, with the right opportunity..."
She speaks of Geese, and Swans, and Ducks. "Ah yes, fierce is actually something of an understatement I'd say. There are accounts of Swans breaking grown men's arms in two. And a whole gaggle of Geese... well... I hesitate to say in current company."
As if he were merely being considerate of Yua's condition. "Haha... I did. Actually, would you believe I had a recent case I solved involving a crow?" He grins, "A woman thought she was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend, as she kept finding sharp pieces of metal on her doorstep. Well- it turns out, she befriended a Crow, and did not realize it was giving her gifts."
Technically HE HAS NOT ACTUALLY TOLD THAT WOMAN YET, he's left her on the hook- but Yua doesn't need to know that.
He's solved it, that's what is important!
Then Yua tells him he should take time to see his friends, a little gossip being 'normal' for a teenager. And well, he doesn't quite smile at the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.
"I am making more time for socializing... as of late, but..." He hesitates, then finally says, "... well, let us just say it is difficult to find friends that do not wish to take advantage of my status."
It's not quite the truth, but not a lie either- so too does it circle back to how they met, with his accusation that she might be doing the same as a teacher.
"As it stands I only have, ah- a singular friend, I'm embarrassed to admit." And it's more that he's their 'boyfriend' than friends in that way.
"And even then there's only so much I can say about certain cases and remain professional."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
Yua isn't telling him that it was a sandwich cut into quarters with the crusts cut off, of course, but that's just because she thinks that's the normal way sandwiches should be configured. "I think seagulls would steal the whole eatery if they could," Yua declares, boldly. "Though... I don't know why they like chips so much. Eeegh, they're so greasy... and chewy when they're not supposed to be, and then too sharp, and then sometimes chewy AND sharp in the same chip... it's wrong!"
YUA DOESN'T LIKE HOT CHIP?!
Okay so THAT'S why she's a villain.
"Mm, mm, that's right! With a single sweep of their wings...!" Yua waves a hand, merrily, as she describes the qualities of the swan. "Swans are so graceful and strong and big... just like Mimi!" Big is also a positive qualifier, to Yua. How mysterious...
But Akechi talks about solving a Crow Mystery, and Yua's legs swing, under the bench, as she nibbles a rice cake and listens. "Oh, that sounds scary... but I'm sure the crow was trying to be nice! Hmm, hmm... I wonder if crows are smart enough to understand if you tell them you'd like a different gift...? Maybe if you were really happy when you got something you liked better..."
Yua doesn't even think that Akechi would leave that poor woman on the hook, as it happens. She definitely doesn't know how much he knows. She trusts him! He's a lovely young man!!
But... an isolated one, too. "Mouuu..." Yua says, sadly, grasping her tea in both hands for a moment. "It's really not fair on you to make you have to think about that stuff when you're young, and keeping secrets, and stuff... but it's hard, right? Mimi told me about how it was having lots of fans and not many friends... I don't really know about it myself, but I heard it's hard. Hey!" She realises, straightening up. "I bet Mimi would know what to say, though! Mm, mm... you should talk to Mimi about that stuff, Akechi-kun! Yeah, that's a great idea!"
How does she just -- emit a little shining sun as she speaks? Okay, it's a figurative portrait, but that's still got to be illegal somehow.
<Pose Tracker> The Lovable Akechi-kun has posed.
"May I share something with you?"
Akechi leans over as if to confide a singular fact.
"I'm not the biggest fan of fries either."
He'll eat it, because he'll eat most things. He's just not a big foodie in reality, and he hides this from everyone out there as he'd just seem like weird.
This is how you know he TOO is the villain.
"It does make sense that you'd find them graceful- their imagery is oft associated with ballet, after all."
He does put a hand to his chin, "Perhaps the two of you should dance a Pas de Deux... together one day. Though, what am I saying?" He chuckles as he peels the hand from his chin, "I do know that it's done by two men on occasion but- two women would be looked upon with disfavor by most audiences."
He nods with a smile, "Indeed, I'm certain of the same. The crow simply does not understand how such an act might look, unless they were seen placing their gifts there in the first place."
He does consider the question, then... "I think perhaps with enough prompting. They are smart creatures, and do seem in tune with at least the positive or negative emotions of those around them. Still- it would be challenging."
Her mourning of him having to consider such things, well- there's something of a thin smile on his face, as he looks away.
"It's a lesson I learned long before I was a celebrity, Ijuuin-sensei. As you may know- I grew up in Foster Care. You learn quickly that most of your caregivers care little about you beyond the paycheck."
There's an odd look that he gives Yua's way, before he leans back, crossing his arms, "Oh? And she has a great many friends? By all accounts I would expect she faced the same problems..."
And more besides, given some other facets of who she is.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ijuuin has posed.
"Oh, thank goodness! Someone finally understands...!" Yua thinks Akechi does, anyway. ... she really did love food, you know? Before... well, everything.
"But Mimi dances with me all the time," Yua protests, when her hopes of a pas de deux are squashed by social norms. "It's not that weird... it's just dancing!"
Well, sure, technically speaking.
"Then I hope she's able to meet her crow! Maybe she could put on a performance... 'I Want To Be Your Crow'! Mm, that would surely call it out!" Yua, those tickets are fake. "Then, she can tell it how she feels!"
Still... Akechi didn't have a crow, did he. "Mm..." Yua hums, frowning with concern. "I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for you, Akechi-kun. But... you survived, and so long as you're alive, you can find people who matter to you," she urges him, gently.
"Mimi's got friends from searching, and from her team and stuff... but that's what I mean!" She goes on, shaking her head. "Mimi knows how hard it is... so I bet Mimi could say much smarter stuff! My head's all full of cotton balls, so I'm not sure..."
She pauses, biting her lip. "Oh," she realises, as she actually stops to take inventory of herself. "Oh, I'm really feeling rather faint... I'm sorry, dear, but I think I had ought to summon my car and head back home." Her smile is a touch strained, as she dips her head in apology. "I should really be able to help you more, but my health's been a little poor... please excuse me, Akechi-kun."
If he wants to help her to the car, of course, she won't protest; he's a very responsible young man, after all.
And the Yua has become tired... just like she said in her text message.