2026-11-07: F... is for Futaba Sakura
- Log: F... is for Futaba Sakura
- Cast: Futaba Sakura, Ryuji Sakamoto
- Where: Central Street - Main
- OOC Date: November 07, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, February 2013
- Summary: Futaba reaches out to Ryuji to take her to buy a gun. Hilarity ensues.
(|========================== 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.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
EARLIER...
Text messages to the telephone of Ryuji.
> Yo.
> This is Futaba.
> I need your help with something...
> I need to shop for something specific.
> And... it's kinda hard...
> Could we meet up?
> Your phone is really insecure, so soz for being vague.
> You can answer now btw.
Once she got an answer, a date and a time was worked out. After school. The Yongenjaya station. Futaba had been there, wearing a knit cap to supplement her winter attire - it might be warmer if you PUT ON PANTS, FUTABA, but some things are a lost cause, and kneesocks are almost as good, as are those military boots.
Futaba had been laser focused on the phone, to the point where when Ryuji showed up the first reply from her to a question, greeting, or other comment from his literal physical mouth was
> Sup
> oh
> my b
"Sup."
Futaba puts her phone away.
"... I need a gun, like you guys have."
SHORTLY THEREAFTER
Train to Shibuya! At least it's not a long one. Futaba is unresponsive during the train ride.
... and when leaving the station.
... but once they get towards the alleyway, past the place with the friendly Nigerian tout outside who's got pretty good Japanese at this point, Futaba relaxes. Or at least she speaks up, pointing towards the doorway to the Velvet Room.
"Do you see that?" Futaba asks, looking up at Ryuji.
"Is that the store?"
A perfect place for Ryuji to explain the situation! The actual store is like 12 additional meters away.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji was in the middle of his chick flick marathon when his phone was breeched. He was sure that Tsubasa's TOTALLY LEGIT EXPOITS were enough. It was a good thing that he deleted a lot of the questionable content on his phone. Otherwise he might've been a tad more annoyed.
However, once Ryuji realized who it was he merely sighed and responded.
> Yeah. Let me put on my face.
There was no hint of what that meant.
Which is why it is disappointed when the blonde delinquent shows up in sunglasses and a backward baseball cap. Very depression 2.0. In addition, he was wearing a baggy shirt with a certain leaf on it, some fitted pants, and some beat up sneakers. He stands across from Futaba, waiting to be acknowledged, blinking when he receives a text. "Huh..Oh, come on." Ryuji says, suddenly remembering his friend's little sister's baggage. He is about to take that particular fact in when...
'I need a gun...'
Ryuji stares at the request, receiving this information in many ways. First off, it was kind of touching that this girl reached out to make Ryuji a part of her rehabilitation. Very inspirational.
Next Ryuji is a little offended that he's the guy she'd ask for a Gun. I mean he didn't look THAT much like a Yakuza...right? Oh man...
Ryuji also wonders why she didn't ask Ren. Were they in trouble or compromised? Was that sleaze of a boyfriend harming them?
Finally, Ryuji is also playing nice because Futaba has dirt on him now if she looked at his piece of shit phone's contents. She could end his reign as the cool guy of the Phantom Thieves.**
**That's probably Makoto.
Ryuji jolts back to the world of the living when Futaba addresses him again. "Huh? Oh that place?" The delinquent squints at the hazy door, seeing something weird about the so called Velvet Room.
"I dunno. I think they sell those fake Katanas and incense...Not really what we're looking for."
Ryuji leads Futaba to the LEGIT store that sells fake contraband, walking in like he is a regular. "Hey, Pops!"
Iwai looks up from his newspaper, takes one look at Ryuji and presumably Futaba. "Oh this oughta be good..."
Ryuji grins and gives Futaba a thumbs up. He has a good feeling on this whole enterprise.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
"Face?" Futaba had said aloud, baffled, in her room.
She'd been wondering. The context in which she had encountered the expression was quite different, and Ryuji isn't living up to it, unless his makeup is so on point that Futaba can't detect it. After looking at Ryuji's thug-ass threads, Futaba nods once.
After the statement on the gun, she sort of stares at Ryuji. It's a definite '...' moment. (Inwardly, Futaba is trying to grope for a way to express her thoughts. To Ryuji it may just be 'weird kid is staring at me, reason unknown.') But soon enough, they're on their way.
And that was then! Now, they're here!
"Oh," Futaba says, when the Velvet Room is inaccurately explained to her. "Makes sense." She does squint at the door - perhaps her honed Navigator senses are detecting Ryuji's otter-grade lies - but the real money is right over there. Futaba toddles along. The door opens...
And the scent of gun oil and a confined space waft out! The cool and dangerous aura of militaria embraces Futaba, even as Ryuji addresses Iwai with familarity. Futaba nods once slightly, but when Iwai turns her gaze towards her...
... she takes a step to the right to duck behind a rack of tactical accessories of some kind. A moment later, she peeks out. And looks at Iwai. "... u-um..."
Futaba looks up to Ryuji for a moment...
Back to Iwai...
("T... tell him we need... um... I guess you have to use careful language, r-right?" This is very quiet, and to Ryuji. Futaba has shown signs of anxiety throughout the trip, though it seems between it not being that long and Ryuji's reassuring, pot-leafed presence, she did not have a freakout. Now though? Now she is closer to one. "But...")
After this Futaba shrinks back slightly. Out of line of sight, she relaxes. Which means she can actually look at what her head is bumping, which seems to be some boxed lights compatible with both hiking gear and with... tactical equipment. Futaba picks one of the boxed objects up, looking at the label and turning it over in her hands.
It's taped shut, though, so she puts it back rather than proceeding to break it.
"It has to be discreet," Futaba adds, more normally, to Ryuji, because she is not in a position to see or speak to Iwai. However, this time she spoke in a tone he can easily hear.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji blinks when Futaba darts away from Iwai's trademark glower. He sighs and nods, again remembering that Futaba has this particular quirk. He is going to need to help her out here. However...
"I don't know what you want though? Like there's like a billion guns?" He checks Iwai's face for confirmation of that fact. Ryuji only finds mild disgust on the man's face.
To be fair to Iwai, his distain does somewhat soften to a mildly annoyed concern when he notices Futaba hide and act terrified to be there. He sets down his paper and swivels his chair to stare at the shelving she is hiding behind. "Alright...discreet...But I don't sell to just anyone. Why do you need one?" The stern shop keep raises a brow in such a way that it burrows through the shelving and judges Futaba in her safe space.
Ryuji has to think of something fast, looking at Futaba. If they are kicked out of here, they will have to go to the underground military Otaku method...and those people would likely send them back here or charge them three times too much.
Ryuji blinks and makes a general "uhhhhhhhhh" as he tries to think of a way out of this.
"She is a overseas% Airsoft Champion and wants a new piece?"
Iwai raises his brow further. Quick Futaba, save us!
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
Iwai is scary, Ryuji!!! Maybe your access to reefer marijuanas makes it easier to endure...
"... um..."
OK, Futaba, thinks Futaba (who to Ryuji's view is mostly a really intent-seeming expression). We can't get out of this. You have to say something, because he can't just buy it for you. You probably need one with a small grip anyway.
What should I say...
... there's someone I want to protect?
That's going to give him the wrong idea.
Also Skull. No go.
... there's someone I want to kill?
don't really have one of those rn tbf
also I don't think I could sound that hard irl...
... I'm a gun otaku and I really want one
do I actually care about guns?
Maybe in games, but...
Oh no! Ryuji's telling lies!
Time to gut it out.
"Th... that isn't true."
Futaba stares at the ground and... steps... OUT of cover, fully exposed to Iwai's view! It is entirely plausible that this may suggest she is Ryuji's sister, cousin, or some other relation. Slowly she lifts her head, and while she doesn't look Iwai in the eye, she can at least look at the counter top.
"... It's for insurance."
A beat passes.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"U-um, he was talking about airsoft guns and they sounded really cool... I play a lot of, um, of shooting games, so I thought..." Futaba's head droops down again, but maybe, just maybe, it's enough.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
When Futaba talks, Iwai softens somewhat, clearly feeling bad for this girl's problem. This disdain is transferred to the idiot who dragged this sad little girl into his store: Ryuji Sakamoto.
When Futaba corrects the record on her airsoft champion status, Iwai lets out a snide little chuckle, catching himself before he softens more. "Err...I know kid. Your friend can't lie for shit."
Futaba's explanation doesn't help Iwai feel better about the situation. He almost falls out of his chair when she mentions needing it for insurance.
"Well with a hardcore answer like that I'm convinced....Fine. Just don't bring me any trouble by doing something stupid." Iwai reaches for his paper and goes back to reading.
Ryuji gives Futaba a look. "I guess that's the ok"
The statement receives an disapproving grunt from Iwai but nothing further.
Ryuji to his credit is trying his best to help now. "So what kind of gun do you need? You don't really strike me as the Desert Eagle type."
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
'Your friend can't lie for shit.'
Futaba nods.
She jumps slightly when Iwai staggers in his seat. She looks at Ryuji quizzically as if he can somehow explain this. But he's apparently accepting it? Futaba blinks several times, nearly audibly, and then says, "... I won't. I promise."
There is gravity in how she says 'promise.'
But then Ryuji seems to be the key contact point here. She looks at him then, blinking a few times. "Oh," she says, "no, the Desert Eagle's overrated. The added penetration power's usually useless. It's basically a show piece."
SOURCE: video games
"... It has to be something kind of small, but not weak," Futaba concludes. "Umm... hold on."
Futaba is looking right through Ryuji!? No, slightly past him.
She steps forwards, sidles around Ryuji, and heads for the mysterious vending machine there. "'The Rations of the World'..."
Futaba shifts around and reaches into her coat. Moments later she's plunking hundred-yen coins into the vending machine! Fortunately it takes eight of them. CAN SHE BE STOPPED?
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji is a little taken aback by Futaba talking to adults and how she talked to people she knew. In a way, it made the blonde feel semi-sorry for her. Imagine being that yes sir, no sir.
Then again, Ryuji liked the shop keeper here. He didn't come here often but it was good to upgrade before a mission. So when she corrects him on the Desert Eagle, he ends up blinking back in response. "errr...right!"
It takes him a moment to reset, thinking about the other Phantoms. Something like Joker or Queen for sure. Only problem was he didn't know much about those kinds of guns. "Sooooo...."
He reaches for a random gun, offering it to Futaba. "How about this one?"
But she isn't there. Futaba is by the vending machine. The old, decrepit vending machine that likely didn't have anything good in it. Ryuji tries to articulate something to make her stop but he is kind of taken aback by this gremlin's ability to zero in on things to do. He tilts his head, waiting to see if Cthulhu or another monster is summoned forth by Futaba's spare change. That scrub was too hungry for a cameo after all.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
6, 7, 8 hundred yen! k-CHUNK
Futaba crouches down to collect what came out and holds it up. It's a packet with writing on it. The writing is in Polish, although - despite the obvious cultural cachet of Poland, the home nation of G*ralt the W*tcher - Futaba doesn't seem to be able to read it.
She opens it, though, because whatever's in it seems to be hard and not some kind of soup or stew. A stale sort of smell emanates, modestly. Futaba pulls out one of the round crackers, sniffs it slightly, and then bites on the side, breaking off a piece with effort.
crnch crnch crnch.
Futaba's eyes go wide. "This taste...!"
she meant that in a laudatory way.
She even holds out the packet! For Ryuji to try!
But he has a gun in a package. Futaba cocks her head and gasps. "Is that a Tokarev?? Which mark is it? Move your hand, I can't see-"
At least she warmed up, although the fact that she is not focusing on Iwai - who also seems to be minding his own business instead of staring at her and judging her - is helping a great deal. That, and it appears she has nerd joy at the sight of a simulant Tokarev!
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji watches her use the cursed machine with a sort of dull horror. He wanted her to stop because she was either going to release some terrible smelling expired food into the stuffy shop or just get sick. He didn't want to be responsible when he had to explain to Ren why she ate expired rations.
I mean the radium is what makes it truly of Polish Quality. That acidic smell that slightly burns the back of the throat? Truly a marvel of European engineering.
When he is offered some of the mystery substance, Ryuji feels a little bit of bile come up his throat. This girl was -eating- it. He wasn't sure if he was horrified or impressed.
She definitely has the street cred thing down despite being a shut in. Ryuji thinks about this and nods.
The package is snatched away from him quite easily. "Errr. I dunno. I'm more of a shot gun guy and that's more of a ...small gun. But it sorta looks like something Jo---" Ryuji looks over to Iwai and then back to the red head. "Uhhh Ren uses something like that I think. Seems more of what you're looking for."
After a moment, Ryuji holds a hand over his mouth as he whispers. "Whats the deal with 'It's for Insurance'? We aren't getting involved with the mob are we?" He wasn't sure what to expect with secret hacker world.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
"It's good," Futaba says, about the crackers. But soon enough she has a cracker in her mouth while holding two objects in both hands. The opened package of Polish hardtacks - fun fact, they are often called "panzerwaffel," after the German term for 'armor' - is stuffed in a coat pocket.
Futaba will find them several months in the future.
They will still be just the same, thanks to the preservatives. Master Miller was right.
Futaba turns the box over in her hands for a moment and says, "I think you might have nailed it... This is the gun commissars used to maintain discipline during the war." But then there's a question.
Futaba glances towards Iwai, who is probably deliberately not paying attention to whatever drug deal these two clowns are cooking up. She then tilts her head a little to guide Ryuji closer, and huddles up, facing away from Iwai, to answer his question.
"... I don't trust their boyfriend."
Futaba looks at the box. "I..."
"You understand what I mean, right? It's not like he's a bad guy... as far as you can tell. It's kind of the opposite."
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji continues to stare in abject astonishment that Futaba is eating old ass crackers from a hell dimension machine. He finally just sighs and takes one, chewing quickly before he stops.
It did have...something. It wasn't bad. He swallows and makes a face still. "Alright. That wasn't the worst but try to be careful."
When the answer is given, Ryuji's eyes widen as he feels he's found a comrade in arms in a very trying time. "I know!" He flinches at how loud he just was, hushing himself as he regroups and changes gears to whispering loud.
"Like they are happy but the guy....bugs me. He's too made up. It pisses me off more than anything." Ryuji offers, unsure of what bothers him about Akechi. Maybe it was how he just had to be right about everything. How despite being a prick he had them dead to rights.
"Yeah. Almost too good to be true...but that's not a real thing is it? Like you think he's hiding something?" Ryuji crosses his arms and he thinks about, wondering if there was some secret side of Akechi. He didn't have a Palace so it wasn't too bad but....Maybe he lives in a horder house or something weird like that.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
Chew on it, Ryuji!! It's hard - iron hard. Except it cracks, and it does seem like it's crumbling, so Ryuji isn't going to break a crown on it or otherwise have his mouth severely damaged by eating rocks. Still, it's absorbing all the saliva in his mouth...
It sure does taste Polish. Can you taste the real artificial synthetic natural lard product in it, Mr. Sakamoto?
Futaba glares slightly at the sudden outburst, but Ryuji brings himself in. Futaba seems empowered, both by the ancient ration crackers and by Ryuji agreeing with her. "I don't think he's completely fake... or lying about how he feels about Ren. At this point, I don't think he is... but that could just mean he's good."
Munch. "It's like he's doing a bit. It's just a really good bit. And I guess..."
crnch crnch, "It seems shady. And his loyalties are divided, too." A look of guilt crosses her face. "... I feel bad, but when they said that..." (That Ren, that is, is Dating Akechi) "... it just seemed like a really bad idea. What if they break up?"
"I guess thinking about it," Futaba says, "that's the scenario I'm concerned about. A breakup that goes bad. That guy's tough and can handle themselves, but... they might have a hard time pulling the trigger."
look at who is talking all hard
"... But if it comes to that... I won't hesitate," says Futaba, which is likely to turn out to be untrue.
After this, Futaba holds a hardtack in her mouth (helpfully muting any sassy remarks from off the cuff) while turning the box around. She's looking for the price sticker.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji can still feel the real Polish grit in his throat from the cracker. It isn't a good thing.
Still he was a gourmand in training. He had to experience some of this weird unappetizing stuff. He chews on the grit left in his teeth as he listens Futaba's assessment of Akechi, frowning. "Yeah. I get you. It also puts our lives on the lines for a relationship that might not last." He frowns more as he thinks about his previous relationship and how that felt unstoppable. Nope. Just as fallible as any other.
When Futaba reveals the reason for the gun, Ryuji whistles in satisfaction. That was a good plan. Very Cinematic.
"Well I'll help you get this so you can be ready, Sakura. I know they need someone like you watching their back."
And if Akechi did hurt Ren, Ryuji was probably going to break the guy's nose. Everybody knew that spiting a pretty boy's face was the way to destroy their power.
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
That cracker cost two hundred yen, Ryuji. You'd better...
polish it off
"... Do you think it's really a good idea, though?" asks Futaba after several long seconds of examining the box and finding the price sticker, to which she did not betray much surprise.
"I don't..."
"I don't want Ren to think I don't trust them... it's not them I'm worried about, but..."
Her hands come down, and she gazes mournfully upon the boxed airsoft Tokarev. Or at least on what it represents. Her crest seems to have fallen.
"I do trust them incredibly, I just know being in love can distort your perspective," Futaba says, which she 110% learned from watching TV and movies.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji sighs thoughtfully as Futaba opens up about her worries. He considers them and finally nods.
"Look, it's obvious you mean well and it's not like you're doing anything to him right now. So I don't think it's a trust thing." Ryuji nods. "Like you're just thinking about a theoretical future and being ready for that."
Having just lived some of this, Ryuji frowns on the mention of love. It stung pretty bad when he thought of it. "Yeah. It does do some of that. Again I don't think you're doing anything wrong unless you start trying to shoot him for being a creep. You're essentially back up."
Ryuji stops for a moment before adding. "Plus I already told them that I'd kick that guy's ass if he hurt them so it's not like you're the only one."
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
Futaba gazes at the Communist murder-gun dolefully, but then she does look at Ryuji. "Mm. Yeah... and besides, I --" She glances at Iwai, who they're facing towards, and with a motion so quick it can barely be believed, she brings out her phone.
Ryuji gets a text notification in about 0.7 seconds.
> I don't have any innate attack skills so I need something.
After this she walks towards the counter. Though she does pause, and leans backwards...
No, her head is leaning backwards...
... she is looking at Ryuji upside down...
"Does it need stuff to go with it, or is it all in the box?"
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji stares at the text, sighing. "Yeah. I think I understand what you mean." He turns to look at her, nodding. "You need me to spot you some cash or something?"
Iwai looks up at Futaba, looking between her and the gun. "Huh...So that's what you're gonna pick." He finally keeps his gaze fixed on Futaba. "Right. Which one of you is paying for it?"
Iwai also answers her question. "No you picked up a pretty beginner friendly model. All you need is BBs and maybe some gas or CO2."
Ryuji flinches when Futaba stares at him upside down. The girl was weird but she meant well. Still Ryuji was still figuring out how to act and not tick off Pops. "So what do you want to do?"
<Pose Tracker> Futaba Sakura has posed.
Futaba reaches into her coat pocket and produces WHO GAVE HER THAT MONEY
It's best not to ask from where Futaba sources pocket money. She looks to Ryuji and says, "This'll more than cover it. Um..."
She approaches the counter, her voice getting discernibly more anxious, if still managing to force the words out: "Can I have some BBs and the CO2 you mentioned...? Too? How much are they...??"