2026-10-04: Taking a Weight Off
- Log: Taking a Weight Off
- Cast: Ririka Kawase, Fuuka Yamagishi
- Where: Iwatodai Station
- OOC Date: October 04, 2026
- IC Date: Saturday, January 19, 2013
- Summary: After their half-day of classes, Ririka and Fuuka go grab lunch together. Ririka comes out to Fuuka, and the two discuss that and 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
AS: October Patch 15:48:24 AS: Ririka Kawase has readied for combat as Amphion! She is now fully healed! <Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Saturday! They still have classes, but at least it's a half-day. So there's a little bit more free time in the afternoon, and Ririka still has something on her mind.
She'd gotten Fuuka's attention and asked if she wanted to grab lunch after class, and so now they're here at the strip mall. Or a little ways away from it, at least. Ririka's picked up some sushi for herself. She's still in her winter uniform, with dark purple tights for the winter chill. And she's found a bench that's a little bit removed from normal traffic bustle and has a nice view of the ocean.
She pokes at her sushi for a moment, something weighing on her. She might be overthining how this conversation went with Suzume the night before, so she's figuring out how to broach it.
... But luckily, she does have something of substance to say as a starter. "So, you know that Kingdom we explored?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Ririka had reached out to her, and Fuuka accepted the invitation. Lunch did sound good, and she does like eating with friends. And so, they set out after school. They've picked up lunch, and now they're here. Fuuka acquired sushi, the same as Ririka, which she currently eats at slowly and carefully as Ririka works her way through her thoughts.
Fuuka can tell there's something on her mind, but she doesn't push her to say it until she's ready.
"Fukami-san's? The TV studio?" Fuuka asks for confirmation. "I remember it, yes."
She goes quiet, giving her space to elaborate.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
There's a lot of thoughts to work through, but... eating lunch with a friend is definitely better than eating alone.
"That's the one." Ririka takes a deep breath. "I happened to run into her after she was freed from th Kigndom." A slight lie, but Ririka doesn't want to say that she called Hana because she's got Hana's contact info, at least not yet.
"... she seems to be doing well. So, I'm glad for that. Thanks again for coming with me to help map out the place."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka listens as Ririka explains. She happened to run into Hana after she was freed... Right now, she doesn't see any reason to doubt that.
"I see... That's a relief." Fuuka says with a sigh. "I was worried about her... I don't know how much we saw reflected her real life situation, but it seemed difficult... And, I know how hard it can be to readjust after being stuck in a space like that."
Fuuka nods.
"You're welcome, though. I'm glad we were able to help her."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"It is," Ririka agrees. A relief, that is. But as for her real-life situation... Ririka lets out a long sigh. "... more than she'd probably like," Ririka admits. Ririka might not know all the details, but she definitely learned some both before and during that fight with Hana's Shadow.
But Fuuka knows what it's like to be trapped in a space like that. Ririka looks to her and nods sadly. "... yeah. I'm really glad we got her out."
"Me too. It sounded like... she's had a really rough time of things, in some ways..." Ririka considers for a moment, fingers drumming on her thigh. "... being different in a way that society doesn't approve of, you know? It really takes a lot of guts."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
'More than she'd probably like'... Fuuka nods quietly. She can't imagine how it must feel to have one's personal matters aired like that. At least in her situation, her thoughts got to remain private.
"Me too." Fuuka agrees.
Ririka comments on how it seems like she's had a really rough time of things.
"Yes, it seems that way..." Fuuka replies with a nod. She notes the way Ririka trails off, working through her thoughts, and takes the opportunity to finish off the last of her sushi.
She has to think about what she says next, though. Being different in a way that society doesn't approve of...
"...Yes. It's difficult. Society always places certain expectations on your shoulders, and if you try to step outside of it... the weight can be crushing." She agrees.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
It's true, at least in Fuuka's case, all people heard was her voice calling for help.
Ririka's working on her sushi, but slowly. She's kind of spending more time thinking than eating.
"... Yeah. It really is." IT's something they've touched on before, even. Fuuka's interests, as well as Ririka's, are both a bit atypical for what's expected of teenage girls. Ririka takes a deep breath. "But, Fukami-san is out there trying to be herself, and..."
She looks over to Fuuka. "... that makes me want to try, too. There's, ah, something I'd like to tell you."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka nods as Ririka agrees. It's something Fuuka herself still deals with - how what society says she should do and be clashes with her own interests. ...It's part of why cooking is so difficult for her.
Fukami-san... Fuuka nods - but it seems like Ririka has something more to say so Fuuka doesn't interrupt just yet. Ririka wants to try being herself, too... and she has something to tell her.
"Okay. I'm listening." Fuuka replies with a nod, setting her tray aside and giving Ririka her full attention. It seems like it's important to her.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka's leading a rock band is definitely on that list of things that clashes with society's expectations, but this is something else.
She decides to put her own tray aside, even though it's not finished. She leans forward, elbows resting on her knees. "So..." She takes a deep breath. She's done this a few times but it's still a little nerve-wracking, not knowing how someone will react. "... the thing I wanted to say is, I'm into girls. I'm a bian."
She looks over at Fuuka, to gauge her reaction.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka can tell she's nervous - but she can't really blame her for that. Ririka even sets aside her own tray. And then, after working up the courage, Ririka tells her. It takes a second for it to click - and then Fuuka lets out a small 'oh!' of surprise.
She's online enough that she's familiar with the concept. It's not something new to her - but it is a surprise, hearing someone tell her in person.
She also recognizes how difficult that must be for her.
After a moment, Fuuka offers her a small smile.
"I never knew..." She admits. "But... that's wonderful, Ririka-chan. Thank you, for telling me."
She offers her a nod.
"Um... is it okay if I ask, when did you find out?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Surprise is a fair reaction. She stays silent for a moment longer, though, letting Fuuka process things. She's trying to stay calm, but... she's still plenty anxious.
She's trying to keep tha anxiousness off her face, but itshe can't eliminate it completely.
But she smiles, when Fuuka does.
(As it happens, Ririka also found out more about this online, too, back when she was first figuring herself out.)
"Yeah, well... that's kind of what happens when you hide it..." It means people don't know. But she says with with a quiet chuckle. "Thanks, Fuuka-chan. I was hoping you'd understand, and... you're welcome."
She nods, "yeah, uh, I don't mind answering questions, so ask away. As for when I figured it out... about two and a half years ago. It was Summer Break, the last year of middle school." So about August 2010. "There was this girl that I used tohang out with a lot, and..." Ririka sighs.
"... I think I had a massive crush on her. But that summer was when her family had to move, and..." Ririka tries to shrug a little, but it's clear this still affects her dearly. "When I tried to figure out why her leaving..."
She trails off for a moment. "... well. I eventually figured it out."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka laughs a bit sheepishly when Ririka points out that's what happens when someone hides things - but she nods, wehn Ririka thanks her in turn.
She listens, then, as Ririka explains when she found out. A friend who moved away in the summer of 2010, and she didn't figure out why her leaving affected her so strongly until later. And not long after that, was...
...2010 was a difficult year for Ririka, it seems.
"I see... That's so sad. I'm sorry." Fuuka murmurs quietly. "I hope you're able to find someone else some day."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
2010 definitely had a couple different types of heartbreak in it. And the second one kind of consumed the first, and it took Ririka a while to start working her way through either of them.
She's still working on it, in fact.
"Thanks. It was... kind of a lot to go through, but... yeah." She takes a deep breath. And then she laughs softly, smiling as a red tinge comes to her cheeks. "Oh, thanks, but... I ammm actually seeing someone right now." Ririka rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "... remember when we ran into each other in Paulownia, before the Winter Break? And Suzuki-san was there too?"
"The, uh, 'friend' that I was shopping for was... actually the girl I'm seeing."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"I imagine..." Fuuka replies with an understanding nod. Ririka laughs at her comment, though, and Fuuka notices the red creeping onto her face. And then Ririka admits that she's actually already seeing someone. Fuuka looks on curiously - and then there's an 'oh!' of recognition as Ririka explains.
"I remember that..." Fuuka confirms, and laughs just a little. "I had no idea! But, that makes a lot of sense, thinking back on it now..."
She smiles. If she knew that back then, she would've made some slightly different gift suggestions to Hyousuke... but, it seems like things worked out anyway.
"In that case, I'll hope for happiness for the both of you." She says. "I'd like to meet her sometime! ...Whenever she's comfortable with that, of course."
Just because Ririka trusts her doesn't mean her girlfriend will, and she accepts that.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Eh heh... yeah... kinda makes sense why I was stressing about it so much, huh? But I did eventually figure something out..."
As it happens, the gift Hyousuke got her went over pretty well. Ririka will have to remember to thank Hyousuke for that sometime.
"Thanks! I really appreciate it." She sits back up a little again as Fuuka suggests meeting her. "Oh, sure. I'd really like that? But I'll have to talk to her about it. See if she's up for it, and, well, she lives in Sumaru, sooo..." Ririka shrugs. "You know, all the scheduling that takes."
"... But I'd like that," Ririka continues. "I've been thinking about... like... being more open, not having to hide as much, so... you know. That'd be nice."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"A little..." Fuuka admits with a small laugh. "That's good, though..."
She nods as Ririka appreciates the well-wishes - and then, she says she'd like for her to meet her, too.
"I see... Yes, that makes sense." Fuuka replies, nodding in understanding. It can be difficult to schedule things, especially with school still going on. Having lunch with a friend who lives in the same dorm is one thing, but finding time to meet with someone who lives in another city entirely... That takes some thinking. "Then let me know, when you figure something out."
She listens as Ririka explains that she's been thinking about being more open, and not having to hide as much. Fuuka nods in understanding.
"I want that for you too, Ririka-chan. So... I'll be cheering you on." Fuuka offers her support.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka is feeling a lot better, now that what she had to say is actually out in the open.
"Yeah... we've started meeting in Tokyo? You know, kind of meet in the middle kind of thing... though, I'm still going to Sumaru to see my sister, too, so..." But she nods. "I will!"
"Thanks, Fuuka-chan," Ririka says. Having support does wonders for her nerves, too, especially when it's vocalized like that. "Did... you wanna ask me anything else? Or... what's been up with you lately?"
Ririka leans back, picking up her tray to take a bite out of some sushi.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka nods thoughtfully as Ririka explains that they've started meeting in Tokyo.
"That's a fair way to do it... and, I imagine that helps, too." She replies. If she's going to Sumaru already, she imagines that makes it easier to meet up.
"Of course." Fuuka assures as Ririka thanks her. Any other questions... Fuuka 'hm's to herself thoughtfully, tapping her chin. "...How did you two meet? And... how long have you been dating?"
As for what's up with her...
"I haven't been doing much, myself... Now that school's started up again, I've been busy between that and Art Club." She explains.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
It's even easier when your girlfriend happens to live in the same dorm as your sister, but Ririka won't say that part yet.
"Yeah, plus... less chance of running into someone we know before we're ready, so..." Ririka shrugs. There's still some hiding left.
But how they met. "Oh, well," Ririka laughs a little. "Actually my sister introduced us. So, you know. Tookk some of the guesswork out of it... And we've been seeing each other since about the start of November, I think. I'd have to check the exact date."
Classes and clubs. Ririka nods. "Cool... whatcha been working on in Art Club?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"I can see how that'd be helpful..." Fuuka comments. It makes sense. They still have to be careful...
Ririka explains that her sister introduced them, and that they've been seeing each other since about the start of November.
"Oh, I see! I'm glad that worked out." Fuuka comments with interest. And if her sister introduced her, then that obviously means that she knows, too. "I'm glad that she was able to help you both meet... and that she accepted you, too."
She 'hm's for a moment.
"About the start of November... So it's been a little while. That must be exciting." She comments.
As for Art Club...
"I don't have any specific projects going on at the moment, but we've been learning new techniques we can use in our art." Fuuka explains. "Trying out different art styles and methods... things like that."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"yeah..."
Ririka smiles. "Me, too. And... thanks. Nee-chan ended up being the first person I came out to last year... my family knows, a few other people... and now you." And a couple of people in SEES, as it happens.
Ririka grins happily. "It is, yeah... it feels... really good, after holding that in for two yeas, to finally able t... you know."
"Oh, cool," Ririka says of new techniques. "It's always cool when you can learn new methods for things... helps keep what you like fresh and interesting, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Ririka lists off the people who know. Fuuka nods along thoughtfully.
"That's good... I'm glad you have a lot of people behind you." She offers. It would be difficult if she couldn't trust her family. She smiles, then, as Ririka says that it feels good. "I'm happy for you, Ririka-chan."
Ririka says that new techniques are cool, and Fuuka nods.
"Mm-hm. And even if I don't intend to use them myself, just knowing them and why other people use them broadens my horizons quite a bit." She agrees.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, I guess I do..." When you add it all up... it suddenly feels like a lot more. And having at least a few people in SEES feels really good, too...
A few years ago, it might've been a different story for her family to accept. But after everything that's happened...
Well, her parents' priorities have changed a bit.
Brodening your horizons. "Yeah! I feel the same way. I love studying different types of music, even if I'm not like, ever gonna write a symphony, knowing how they work is cool."
Ririka picks up her last piece of sushi and takes a bite, chewing it down. "Written anything new lately?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Ririka decides that she does, and Fuuka is pleased. She nods, when Ririka agrees on the usefulness about learning other methods.
"Exactly." Fuuka agrees. "It gives me a greater appreciation for them, too."
Ririka asks if she's written anything new and Fuuka thinks it over for a moment.
"Mm, well... I don't have anything on the page yet..." Fuuka admits. "I do have some ideas forming thanks to the books I've been reading lately, though."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Oh, cool! Then... what hav eyou been reading lately?"
With the heavy news out of the way, Ririka will let the conversation drift to other topics, such as books, manga, and so on, all while the sun shimmers over the distant, rippling ocean.