2026-09-29: You Remember?
- Log: You Remember?
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Hana Fukami
- Where: Iwatodai Station
- OOC Date: September 29, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
- Summary: Ririka reaches out to Hana to make sure she's doing okay after her harrowing encounter in the Kingdom. It turns out, Hana remembers, so they can talk about that and a number of other topics.
(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.
A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.
With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.
BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka was concerned about Hana, but hadn't wanted to intrude after her surely harrowing experience. She wasn't sure how much Hana would remember after getting out of the Kingdom, so opted to give her a couple of days before reaching out via text.
She was surprised to get a text message back, and so quickly. After all, to Hana's perspective, it must be the case they've only met the once, right? But if some part of the experience stuck with her... well, Ririka will play it by ear.
It's a bit later in the evening since she came out to her band, and there's definitely a chill in the air. Ririka's suggested a burger place that's near the Iwatodai station, and she's already waiting outside, checking her phone, and humming to herself as she waits.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
It was pretty harrowing, as it happens. And Hana has needed somet ime to attend to certain matters. But when Ririka called her... Of course, Hana is aware that she helped. She hasn't immediately decided whether she's going to let on this fact, not just yet. ...But probably.
it's chilly, and Hana as she approaches from the parking area is wearing a thick pink coat. She smiles, spotting Ririka.
"Hi, Kawase-chan," Hana greets her. "Glad I got the place right!"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka's wearing a darker jacket and cargo pants, fthough of course she's got a flannel on underneath. She looks up, a bit relieved when she sees Hana. "Hey, Fukami-san. I hope you found the place okay."
She notes the -chan and isn't immediately sure how to process that, but her own tone is friendly. "Are burgers okay? Mom's kiiinda got a craving for something they sell here, so... thought I'd save myself an extra stop. But there's a bunch of other places nearby."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
It's not that unusual! It's still lastname, after all. Hana... recognizes the flannel.
Of course.
"I did," Hana answers. And then smiles. "Sure," she says. "Burgers are just fine. I like a good burger."
She'll head in when Ririka does. But, before that...
"Thanks, too," she says. "For helping."
Then, "Once we sit down, you can tell me what you wanted to talk about?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka's just getting in her own head again. It's fine.
"Cool. And, me too." She might have a bit of an appetite.
She'll head in immediately! But she pauses when Hana thanks her. Ririka looks at Hana for a long moment and then slowly nods. "... you're welcome. So... you remember?" she asks cautiously.
"Oh, I just... wanted to see if you were okay after the whole... terrorist attack." There's almost air quotes there.
But, she will order for herself (she'll pick up her mom's order on her way out) and find a corner table to sit at.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"It's nice that you're picking something up for your mother. It's a conscientious thing to do."
Ririka pauses--and Hana looks right back at her. "I remember a lot," she says, which leaves the possibility that there are things she doesn't, but...
"Oh. Well, that's kind of you."
Hana also orders--she might take something home for someone, but right now, she's focused on having a small something for herself, since it's about that time.
At the table...
"I'm all right," Hana says. "It was pretty harrowing, and apparently I lost a few days... It didn't feel like it took as long to me as it seems to have really taken."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks." Ririka tries to be conscientious when she can. "She's pregnant, so I'm trying..."
But she does remember, at least 'a lot'. Ririka nods slowly. "Then... that's... well, that's why I wanted to see how you were doing."
Ririka got herself a little more than a small something. Losing a few days, though. "I can imagine... I'm just glad we were able to get you out of there safely, in the end."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"Oh!" Hana smiles. "Congratulations," she says. "...Hmmm." She considers it; at Ririka's age... "That must be something, having a younger sibling at your age."
"I see! Well, that's still kind of you," she says. "You all were very impressive."
"But I am, too. ...I was able to deal with the 'real' Producer myself. ...it wasn't as exciting as the big fight, but I think it went well."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Thanks! I'm happy for her." But Hana guesses the awkwardness. Ririka slowly nods. "Yeah, it's..." She sighs. "Weird, for a lot of reasons? Like, it's good, but... also weird."
"We were? Well, I'm glad to her it," she says with a soft laugh.
But the real Producer. "Whoa, really? That's great! Hopefully he won't be causing you any more problems, then..."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"Of course," Hana replies to being happy for her. But, it's... weird. "That makes sense. I come from a large family, myself. Four brothers!" The older of the two smiles. "It's all right if it's a little weird, I think."
Nodding, Hana continues, "Yes! Good."
Then, "He won't," Hana says, and she sounds very certain about that. "In the end, all I had to do was stand up to him. ...But until all that happened, I didn't know that I could."
"A lot of things are like that, I suppose."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"I have an older sister and I..." Ririka pauses for a moment. "... had an older brother. He passed away, a few years ago. I'm the youngest. Or, well, I was."
"If you're sure, then, good." Ririka smiles. "I guess if it was always that easy to deal with... things would be a lot different."
"But, I'm glad you figured out you could. I've been thinking about some things since that big fight, too..."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"I see. I'm sorry." Hana does look sympathetic; she doesn't linger, though. Instead, "At least I know what it's like to not be the youngest anymore. It takes some adapting."
She is sure! "They would," Hana agrees of things being very different.
"It got me thinking about a lot of things, too. ...But what's on your mind?" she asks. "Anything you'd like to share?"
She assumes so, considering.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Thanks. It's..." Well, she's said complicated already. ".. yeah. Guess I'm gonna have to get used to being an older sister." But Hana knows what it's like, too. "Got any tips for an older sister-to-be?"
"Can I ask what you were thinking about?"
She nods. "Yeah, I... came out to my band earlier. I... wanted to speak up at the big fight, but I wasn't really ready for it. So... I took a smaller step instead."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"It takes time, but you can do it--it helps that you're a bit older, so you can pivot to 'helping'. ...But remember your new sibling is your sibling, not your child, too." Pause. "Mostly that. Don't be afraid to show the way."
"Hmmm..." What has she been thinking about? "A few things. For one, what I'll do from here about... everything, I suppose. Relationships... my show. There's a lot."
She smiles. "Congratulations," she says. "You go at your own pace--there's no shame in that at all. How'd it go?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"I'll do my best to help, but... it just feels like... gradution is next year, you know? Like I'm about to starting my life while my new sibling is still just a little kid, you know?"
She nods. "But I'll remember that. Thanks."
Ririka wants to be supportive, but she's not going to pretend she can offer anything to an adult about their polyamorous relationship. "You gonna stick with your TV show or try something new?"
"Thanks!" She nods. "Yeah, I... can at least be supportive of everyone else. And it went... pretty good, I think. I was a little--well a lot--nervous, they were a little surprised, but... also supportive. I'm gonna see about bringing Ikumi-chan around to band practice sometime, or maybe our next show."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"Yes," Hana says. "That makes sense! It'll be an interesting experience, I'm sure."
Hana isn't going to ask on that front, of course; some things the adult doesn't ask of the teenager in the first place. "I'm keeping my show," Hana says, "For as long as they let me. But I may try to shake things up a little... Before, I was really enforcing the gender binary some, myself--just by virtue of working so hard at it. If I take a more natural approach... It may resonate with viewers, or it may annoy the producers. I don't know yet."
"I'm sure you were! I didn't really start coming out to people beyond a couple until I was in university, myself." She smiles. "I'm glad. And that sounds like a wonderful idea!"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah... It sure will be. I wonder how the world's gonna change as they grow up..."
"Cool!" Ririka says of Hana's TV show. "Oh yeah, I guess it could've been like that, huh..." She grins a little. "I sure wouldn't object to the gender binary being a little looser. So, good luck!"
"I haven't really come out to a lot of people. Just, my family, my band, one person clocked me but it was okay because he's also gay, you, Shimizu-san." She shrugs a little. "There's a couple more I'm thinking of, but... I think that'll be good, for now."
Ririka considers for a moment. "What was it like for you in college? Coming out more, I mean. Like, were people cool about it, or...?"
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"You might be part of how it does!" Hana says to Ririka. "There's no limit."
She smiles, at first a little distantly, and then a little more warmly. "Yes," Hana says. "I don't imagine I'll be changing gender roles all over Japan... but if I can teach people there's a little room to be different, maybe that'll help."
Not a lot, but... Hmm. "I see. Well, a supportive family is a great start."
Ririka asks that, and Hana nods. "Well," she says, "I had a lot of gay friends--and I spent a lot of my time in the gay district in Shinjuku. So I had a great community. Outside that community... it was harder. I mostly had to keep things to myself some other places."
"...And of course, there are difficulties with being 'out' today. I respect people who can't be... But since I have to be, I want to support those who do, too."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka can't help but smile a little. "It'd be.. really cool, if I did. I'd like to be. Maybe someday..."
"Let's hope. Like... I'm a girl, but I also like skateboarding, but that doesn't mean I also don't just... like looking nice sometimes."
(She's still a little annoyed Junpei made things weird on the Yakushima trip.)
"Yeah. And I know I'm lucky that they are."
A lot of gay friends... and the gay district in Shinjuku. Ririka perks up at that. "Knowing a lot of other people like you would definitely help..." she muses quietly. She nods sympathetically, about Hana keeping things to herself.
"That's good. I think... someday I want to be more out. Maybe even connected to my music. But I'm gonna start small. I've got a song I'm working on that I think is coming along nicely..."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"Then keep at it."
"Right. You can have layers, as a person. Just having a few interests that aren't traditional doesn't have to mean you've thrown everything out, either."
Ririka seems interested in the idea, and Hana nods. "You're a little young for things there, but it sounds like you're making friends your own age with this sort of thing in common with you--and that's great!"
"Well, good luck," Hana says. "What i said before about how it's eazier not to rock the boat..."
"Well. Sometimes the boat needs rocking, too. Maybe youc an shwo me your song sometime, when it's done."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, exactly. Like, what did he expect me to do, wear all my leather stuff to the beach? I mean, c'mon." Ririka you might need to back up a little bit and explain.
A little young. Ririka blushes a little. "Eh heh... r-right." But she smiles and nods. But making friends! "Yeah! And it's really helped a lot knowing I have people I can talk to. It.. makes things feel a little less lonely, you know?"
But rocking the boat... Ririka nods firmly. "I'll keep that in mind. It'll be... easier, now that I've told my band. We can talk about it and figure out how to do it." She smiles. "Sure! I'd love to. I've got a demo version that's just me and guitar I could send you if you wanna hear it?"
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"...?" Hana tilts her head. But she decides not to ask. Instead...
The fact taht Ririka blushes just at being told there's stuff she's too young for makes Hana all the surer she's too young. So she focuses instead on, "Good. ..It can be lonely. But when you make your community... It really becomes worth it."
"Good," she says. "WEll, that sounds lovely! Just send it to me when you're ready."
She'll probably pick something up to take home, too..
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka might explain someday, if asked. But for now...
She's not that young. She'll be 18 in July!
"Yeah... Even just coming out to the few people I have feels... a lot lighter, you know?" The fact that her sister is going to be part of that community is exciting, too, but Ririka won't bring that up here.
"Sure!" Ririka finishes her meal. "Thanks for the talk. And I'm really glad to see that you're doing okay. Um... if you notice anything else weird or out of the ordinary, you can reach out, okay?"
"I'll send you the demo when I get home. Thanks again, Fukami-senpai."
She'll stop to get her mother's order, and then she'll get going home.