2026-10-25: Like Plum Blossoms in Snow
- Log: Like Plum Blossoms in Snow
- Cast: Umie Akabane, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Bar Crossroads - Shinjuku Ward
- OOC Date: October 25, 2026
- IC Date: January 30, 2013
- Summary: With one of Honjou's PIs following her, Umie selects a bar to duck into, where she meets a familiar face. While this meeting ended with her slipping out the back, Umie now has another way to support her hard-working, very observant young co-worker, as well as some concerns. However, that last bit may be mutual.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
----EARLIER----
Last night was... an event. But what would one expect from anything involving the Mark's invocation? Umie has her suspicions of what happened, just by association and the narrowing down of possible suspects, but that would exclude the possibility of another unknown Mark user. Plus, seeing Taro-kun murdered before she could even get him free, and the memory of that 'kiss' that kept her up all night...
Even the fluffy quality of the snow isn't enough to allow Umie to divert from her thoughts as she walks down the streets of Shinjuku, the red muffler practically covering the lower half of her face.
Neither does the inconspicuous man trailing her, though it's what brings her here. She has a far enough lead that she could possibly lose him, but only if she chooses wisely...
Weaving through various sidewalks has done nothing but increase the chances of who the man is, as well as his intent. No confrontation can be forced, no matter how much she *wants* to. Ducking into Le Chat Marron was what her plan was, but unfortunately, on the way there, Umie realized something terrible: it would mean letting the man know where she worked. Sure, he might already know, but did she really need to ensure that?
Better to use... ah, right, Toki mentioned this place...
----NOW----
With a waft of winter air and bluster, the door opens, and the person in the white jacket walks in, like some displaced fairy of the snow. With their hood on and the muffler over their face, there'd only be the beauty mark underneath their right eye and the blonde wisps of hair to make their identity clear.
..... well, at least, to anyone else. Ran, however, would know, as it's the exact winter outfit they've seen Umie wear before after their shifts at the Triple 7.
Besides, the illusion of anonymity would be dispelled, once the customer(?) walks further down with an ease that suggests their visit is intentional, stepping further in to find a bar stool to ease up into and pulling their hood down.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Bar Crossroads is Ren's favorite part-time job, and they've had a lot since moving to Tokyo. Not only does it pay the best by a significant margin, they get to talk to lots of interesting people and hear all sorts of fascinating stories--and they also get to dress up in a cute kimono and practice their make-up skills. "Ran Umemura," as she calls herself, has become a popular sight at the bar too, drawing a number of new clientele.
(Lala has been firm about people respecting Ran's privacy and boundaries, though. She's still a minor. This has been especially so after a client recently got permission to take Ran's photo, but not to post it online, as he later did. It turned out he thought it'd been implicit in the request and apologized profusely for the trouble. Ran had chosen to forgive him, but he's on thin ice with Lala now.)
When Umie enters in her winter wear, Ran, dolled up in a flowery green kimono with a white hair pin and delicately applied make-up, greets her from behind the counter with a bow, since Lala's busy further down the bar with another customer.
"Welcome," she says, her deep voice velvet-soft. She pauses as she rises and takes in the sight of her as she picks a stool and sits down, pulling back her hood. Then Ran continues smoothly as she draws a pencil stub and pad of paper from her sleeve, "What can we get for you tonight, miss?"
Umie is a legal adult. It's not so strange to see her at a bar at night. Umie's seen her in dresses before too. If anything, the only awkward thing about this encounter might be Umie questioning why she's working at a bar, and Ran actually has a good reply for that. Lala is very scrupulous about what she has her part-timer do and not do!
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"Excuse my mess; the snow is really coming down outside..." The blonde settles into her seat, as she draws down her hood.
Immediately, there'd be a notable difference in the hair style: a braid runs along the right side of Umie's head, helped into a bun by a kanzashi hair pin styled with a lotus.
No one would ever know it was to help cover the patch of damage from the Shinichi fight, hiding the patch of pulled hair and still tender skin from possible questions.
"What do you have available?" Umie asks smoothly, red brown eyes beginning to glance up--
And then stay there, for a moment, as she is at a loss for words.
A quick study would detail the path of Umie's eyes, over the hair, makeup, outfit, and demeanor, with the appraising look of someone who appreciates and is even *studying* how it's all done.
It is also the look of someone who doesn't recognize "Ran Umemura" at first, due to a number of various factors: unfamiliar location, time of day, lighting, and outfit.
Even still, there's something familiar about that face and choice of hair style (even if it must likely be a wig). Even the voice...
And it's that mystery that is enough to finally, -finally- draw Umie away from the uncomfortable answers from last night. A person who is used to 'locks' and getting past them would eventually find beauty in a mystery, even a strange comfort.
As long as the answer isn't something she needs to arrive at immediately, why not indulge?
She smiles, leaning her chin on one partially covered hand. "What would you recommend?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
So she sees, in regards to the snow. It's a good thing that Bar Crossroads' door doesn't open directly onto the street--plenty of space for people to stomp the damp and cold off their shoes before they enter.
As for the braid-bun, even if it's there to cover up damage from a supernatural battle, it's cute. Ran approves. She'd love to get hair long enough to style, but alas, with her curls, it all becomes a tangled mess once it gets past a certain length.
Ran smiles when Umie looks up, then stops to take her in. She sees recognition fail to clock in her red-brown eyes, and that's fun too. It's not like she invited her here to see her, like she did with "Kogoro," and green isn't usually her color. She went with blue shades of eyeshadow and black nails and lipstick tonight, too.
"I'm afraid I can't recommend anything directly, as I'm a minor and not allowed to handle the alcoholic drinks," Ran replies. "However, I've noticed the sake and the wine are both popular with our clientele."
Which is about as specific as a minor would be able to get with alcoholic drinks, huh...
"Oh, but there's been many orders for hot toddies tonight," she adds. Given all the snow, no need to wonder why. "If you need to warm up, why not try that?"
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Thank goodness for that; as the remnants of snow that stuck to her bangs have finally begun to melt, it's easier for Umie to not feel like she's about to freeze her bun(s) off.
As for the hair.... one day, Ran. A girl can still rock some curly short hair, as well.
But the black wig does well enough on its own. The softer greens contrasted with the black nails and lipstick is a nice touch.
A minor...?! Umie blinks, surprised, then continues. "I suppose it's easier than working in retail... though..."
The word 'minor' does change something in Umie's demeanor, however; while her countenance was purely casual earlier, she straightens up more, casting a look around the bar.
There are many, many questions, with most of them crossed off for now. The Umie Akabane of last night(ish) would have been more direct, but the Umie Akabane of the day is less so, especially with a minor.
"That works out better for me, then," she says. "I'm not one for alcohol, but I've become a fan of mocktails recently..."
A hot toddie, huh... it's been a while...
"Would it be too much to ask for a mocktail version of that?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Not at all. Lala-san makes a number of mocktails for the other minors who occasionally stop by to visit," Ran replies. She may or may not be the cause of that--but if she is, it's Ohya's fault for bringing here in the first place. There at least aren't any here tonight; it's the middle of the week, after all. When minors do show up, it's either on the weekend or they're with or for Ran.
So Ran takes Umie's sudden shift in demeanor in stride. She isn't the only one who's reacted that way to learning this fact about her. Once again, Ran bows to her, jots down the order, and carries it over to Lala.
There are other customers, so it's a little while before Ran returns. Umie's got time enough to settle in and warm up as a result. Since she ordered a mocktail, though, Ran gets to be the one to serve it.
"Your mocktail hot toddy, miss," she murmurs, setting it down with graceful hands before her. "Please enjoy."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
It's amazing, to find yourself an avatar of change, even in the smaller things.
Thankfully, the change in Ren's demeanor nothing disrepectful; more of an adjustment, though she seems grateful when Ran accepts her request as nothing unusual.
That must have been why no one's given her that much of a side-eye for being in here as a 'minor', unless--!
.... is Umie Akabane finally registering as an adult?! SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHY SHE FEELS CONFLICTED ABOUT THIS, why are these feelings contradictory...
As Ran moves away, Umie's gaze shifts occasionally towards the door every time the door opens, then towards the rest of the space. There's a bathroom; she could always casually sneak in there if the man comes in, but then, her drink would signal that someone would be here, right? Private investigators usually *do* pay attention to those sorts of things...
Or, she could simply just be here, and let herself be observed doing something unusual. But there's a minor here, and if they get sucked into this mess...
Well, it won't be like with Ren, at least--
...! .....? ..... No, Ren having *three* jobs?
But, Ren *did* look quite marvelous in that dress... and this person looks familiar...
Umie allows herself a secret smile, as Ran comes with the hot toddie.
"... Thank you," Umie says, taking it and sipping it slowly with closed eyes, savoring the taste.
When those eyes open, she asks, "Mind if I ask a name?" She smiles, an expression that manages to travel up into her eyes, as her lower eyelids crinkle up.
"Then again..." she continues, "I realize you may prefer not going by a name, as well." It's a offering to Ran: stay anonymous, or offer a name.
What mask would you like to wear?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
You may be tiny, but you're all grown up now, Umie Akabane......
Three jobs, though? Try eight. (Even if Ran works some significantly more than others.)
Ran smiles back at Umie when she both asks for a name and offers an out. "I go by Ran Umemura," she replies. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance..." Her lips curve up a little more, and she winks. "...Umie Akabane-san."
Ran caught her glancing nervously at the door every so often, and Umie is a trouble magnet. If there's something going on--and Ran already whispered a warning to Lala that there might be--then she'll protect her. Lala's already got her eye on the door too now.
Of course, Umie will just have to infer that by the fact that this is definitely Ren Amamiya, looking absolutely gorgeous in Eastern wear.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Finally, a proper adult! ...... who suddenly realizes that soon, she might be categorized as 'old' within a decade's time.
Umie'll deal with it when the time comes.
Umie is also an adult who may be amazed and even a little concerned, once she realizes the amount of jobs Ran works at, far beyond her dabblings as a store or there besides Triple 7.
'A pleasure to make your acquaintance... Umie Akabane-san.' As soon as Ran buys into it, and Umie knows they don't mind, her countenance makes a third even more subtle shift-- something more relaxed than the first, more natural, overlaid with the protective veil of the worker senpai (who is not one right now because this is another place of work).
It also comes with a level of trust: Ren may be a minor, but she's knows he's a sharp one.
"Ran Umemura... what a lovely name." One that Ran gave, during the events before Hodai's attack. As always, Umie is a trouble magnet.
"I guess I should've realized sooner," she then says, taking another sip of her drink. "You did *really* well at that event; it would have been a shame if you didn't have someplace to display it." Setting the drink down, her eyes light up. "Can I see the back of your kimono? That pattern is *amazing*."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Thank you," Ran says graciously. For something she came up with on the spot in a panic, back on that day when Goro saw her helping out at Alice's Apron, she's actually pretty proud of it. 'Ren' means 'lotus' while the 'Ama' in 'Amamiya' is written with 'ame,' or 'rain'; meanwhile, the 'Ume' in 'Umemura' is 'plum' while they chose to write 'Ran' as 'storm' (as opposed to, say, 'orchid'). It's a fairly clever inversion, if she does say so herself.
She smiles too when Umie praises her on how she did at that event. It's still a tragedy, what happened to that dress... Though she can only lament it because Umie managed to survive, if not quite unscathed. Ran still wonders what became of Hodai--but she can't ask without betraying herself. All she can do is trust that Umie did the right thing.
She turns around dutifully to let Umie see the rest of the kimono's pattern. "I inherited it from a friend of Lala-san's who outgrew it," she adds. "It was an incredible windfall for me. I could work part-time for a year and not earn enough to buy something like this."
That's probably at least somewhat of an exaggeration, but it does feel true in the moment. 'Ren' has a yukata back in Inaba, but being a men's yukata, it isn't nearly as pretty or stylish--just a plain black with a few gray and navy blue stripes.
The obi's also tied expertly in the back. That's Lala's experienced hands at work.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
It's much, much more clever than 'Kokoro Akechi', which was the equivalent of a heart-shaped perfume and Umie using the first name of the codename Tamaki uses for her: 'Akechi Mitsuhide'.
Maybe, in another world, where Goro Akechi was just a normal schoolboy... But that would be an impossibility, Umie knows. Such a thing could never exist.
.... Just like an Umie who did the right thing, in the days following, when she couldn't rely on being concussive or otherwise unable to investigate.
Watching Ran turn around, Umie takes care as she leans over the bar to look; while she and Ren know each other, her (his? their? what's proper in this setting?) co-workers may not see it that way, despite the casual assumptions that may come with Umie being a woman.
"You've had practice moving around," she says, nodding with approval. "Can't tell you how hard it was to remember when I had to rent one several months ago. There's moving in one, and then, there's moving gracefully in one. And ahh, the bow..."
It's definitely not a garment someone can easily wear without some help getting it assembled. It had to have been by design, Umie thinks.
Settling back into her seat, she nods. "Tell me about it," Umie sighs. "The rental prices alone set me back for Seijin no Hi. I can't imagine kimonos would be that much less expensive in that market."
Umie could have skipped it all... if she had went home, even once.
(Did... her mom ever imagine what her daughter would look like, on that day...?)
But that would have come with... other... things to deal with.
"I would have guessed red to be your color, but not this shade of green. But you pull it off well." She takes another drink. "But getting a job here..." she starts, more softly so that Lala won't overhear, "... you haven't had to deal with any bad customers or anything, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ran chuckles when Umie remarks on her moment. "Lala-san was a godsend there. She's been teaching me a lot about how to put on and wear a kimono," she says fondly. "I've been learning a lot here in general. She looks out for me and pays me well, too, and it's fun serving people. It's a great job."
Maybe one day, they'll become a full-time bartender at their own place, like Lala. It's not a bad thought. There are worse ways to end up.
Once Umie's had her fill, Ran turns back around. It also helps that she's already graceful, thanks in part to her phantom thievery and thanks in part to... well, she is a former athlete, training with Kasumi to at first return to and now maintain a strong, flexible physique. Ice skating is just gymnastics with blades on your feet. (Which might help explain why Arsène's shoes take that particular form.)
"That bad? I'm sorry to hear it," Ran says, genuinely. "I borrowed a friend's yukata one day this past summer for a festival, but otherwise, until I got this, I just went without."
Red is their color. They quirk a slight half-smile at that. "That's what happens when you inherit something--you don't get to pick the colors," she replies.
Their mother won't ever see them like this if they can help it. It would be nice if their mom would accept them for who they are, but they're certain their dad never would, and they have no expectation that their mom would go against him.
Ran shakes her head at the question, though. "No, Lala-san looks after me," she murmurs. "If anyone does start to get rowdy, she handles it, but that almost never happens. Her regulars already know what's up."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Hearing the warmth in Ran's voice puts that bit of caution at ease; it'd be one thing if Ran closed up over it, or seemed evasive, even if that sometimes seemed like a natural state for the young teen.
And indeed, a bartender would seem like a natural fit for someone who seemed to have a knack for listening and observing others.
It's likely Umie's own balance and wanderings that make her oddly blind to the small displays of Ren's own, outside of occasions like this. It's not like working at a konbini necessarily allowed it, save a dislodged box, or a display tipping over.
"Oh, yukatas are much easier rental wise. But even then, there's how long you rest it out for, the hair, the makeup, the accessories..." She holds up a hand, counting off the many trials and tribulations of yukata rental. "I suppose it's nice, because you don't have to store it afterwards, and you can pick out another cute pattern each time... It's not going to break the bank or anything. And... it's nice to dress up sometimes..."
It's a fact she never thought she'd ever want to talk to Ren about, before. Sure, Ren did well at the convention, but that didn't mean kimonos and yukatas. The male side of that would be a world Umie would have no knowledge of, unlike her dressing up in princely butler clothing, which already bent towards a feminine ideal in the light of today, not to mention ouji clothing....
And indeed, that *is* what happens. Umie chuckles, lifting up her hot toddie and drinking it. "Definitely."
So much of life is things you can't choose, that you make the best of, like the family you were born into, or the situation you inherit.
As Ran lets Umie know about her (that being Ran's) safety here, Umie seems comforted by this. "I'm glad." How many times has Ren not being on duty allowed him to escape a tense moment, or a dangerous encounter?
She fights the urge to look towards the door again, instead going for her purse. "Oh, I should show you." She brings out a phone-- a newe(er) model now, actually looking like it's an actual smart phone. ".... In case you've ever wondered how I would manage in an outfit that *isn't* a mess of pink and lime green." That is, the Triple 7 uniform, of course. "Furisodes can be a pain, with the sleeves, but... I have to admit, I looked good in one."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
A conbini isn't where you'd expect to find someone with a high level of grace working, either. It's the ultimate in NPC interaction. Why would anything about the workers there be special?
Why, indeed?
Umie explains more about what all one has to rent in addition to the yukata, and Ran nods slowly. Not that she didn't already know, but there's a lot that goes into being a woman... or rather, in performing society's ideal of femininity. She has an accessory that goes with this kimono--the flower pin on the left side of her head--but even that was gifted. Make-up is absolutely a huge time commitment, especially for more complicated looks. Lala encouraged her to stick with simple looks for now and work her way up, and even then it takes nearly an hour. That's not mentioning their daily skin care regime, on top of their daily exercise, on top of... well, all sorts of things, at this point.
Good thing for Ren that they like to stay active. Keeping busy is a good way of keeping darker thoughts at bay. At least Sojiro let them know that their parents reached out to him to schedule a meeting about their future... Something else that chafes on them, but as long as they're a minor, that's unfortunately how it is. Good thing they and Sojiro have built some trust between each other by now.
"It is nice to dress up sometimes," Ran says aloud to push those thoughts away. They display a more muted smile. "Maybe I should think about looking into yukata rentals come summer."
Choosing to assume they'll still be here in Tokyo in six months to rent a lovely women's yukata is also choosing to hope.
That smile thins some as they see her twitch her head towards but not quite look at the door. Their own dark eyes flick towards it as she pulls out her phone, but she leans in to look. "Oh, you do look good," they murmur, watching as she swipes the pictures. (They also note the upgraded phone.) "That shade of red really suits you, Akabane-san."
She rises. "I should check on other customers, but I'll be back. Let Lala-san or me know if you need anything, all right?"
And then they lower their voice. "Including on if you need a quick exit through the back."
Umie will be left to chew on that as Ran heads off to see to other customers.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Why would someone do that, indeed?
How is Umie Akabane, a konbini worker who takes random shifts and always trying to budget, still able to afford an apartment, albeit a small one, in Shibuya?
Well, for one, she's a legal adult, which is a reality that Ren is dealing with now, on their side of things.
Umie takes a moment to tilt her head towards Ran, at the muted tone. No, it's not disinterest, something else there.
.... ah. Perhaps, it's... yes. Few parents would have allowed their son to work at such a place, unless they were distant.
"Umemura-san," Umie says, quietly, under the cover of showing those photos. "If there's something that I can help with, let me know."
Red in snow, moments held in time like wine-red plum blossoms. Would either be in the same spot six months from now? It's a question neither of them know.
"... I can't loan you a kimono, of course," she adds, as a off-handed way of indicating her thankfulness towards another one of Ran's 'work senpais', "but..."
She stops, realizing the tide in customers have shifted. "... not with your shift, obviously," she says, with a wink. "Let me finish this hot toddie and..."
However, like always, Ran manages to surprise her with what she's managed to glean from the smallest hints.
"....!" Umie's eyes widen slightly, as Ran moves away.
She'll reluctantly indicate an affirmative to that offer, once Ran circles back.
".... I may have to take you up on that," she adds, one corner of her lips pitching upwards. "Don't worry if he comes in; he's just a PI. You'll know it when you see him." She pockets her phone, turning her face downwards for her wallet. "Maybe I'll tell you the story sometime, of what happens when you spurn a proud, but very foolish man..." She chants it like it was the beginning of a ghost story, as she mentally sorts out the cost of the drink. "But I'll save that comedy for the next time I'm in."
Ryuusei Honjou's tendency towards 'predictability' and 'consistency' make him not only a bad match for Umie, but an easy way to predict the sorts of people he'd hire: men, for one, and ones that look painfully ordinary to him alone.
When Umie slips out through the back, it won't be a moment too soon, as an unfamiliar man walks in. It would be easy to overlook him if not for the bar's niche. An everyman, with a style as beige as humanly possible.
Umie chose this place for a reason, after all, but for once, her brand of 'luck' allowed her to find a friend.