Bel: Created page with "'''Log: A Family Visit''' '''Cast:''' Ayame Watanabe, Shinobu Shimizu '''Where:''' Watanabe Residence, Flower Castle Apartments, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City '''OOC Date:''' August 09, 2025 '''IC Date:''' June 23, 2012 '''Summary''': ''Shinobu's been invited to come over anytime--and after a job conveniently close, she does just that, coming to see the Watanabe family--especially her sister Ayame.'' ---- Ayame Watanabe has posed. The Wat..."

2025-08-10T03:43:45Z

Created page with "*'''Log: A Family Visit''' *'''Cast:''' Ayame Watanabe, Shinobu Shimizu *'''Where:''' Watanabe Residence, Flower Castle Apartments, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City *'''OOC Date:''' August 09, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' June 23, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Shinobu's been invited to come over anytime--and after a job conveniently close, she does just that, coming to see the Watanabe family--especially her sister Ayame.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed. <poem> The Wat..."

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*'''Log: A Family Visit'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ayame Watanabe]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
*'''Where:''' Watanabe Residence, Flower Castle Apartments, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City
*'''OOC Date:''' August 09, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' June 23, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Shinobu's been invited to come over anytime--and after a job conveniently close, she does just that, coming to see the Watanabe family--especially her sister Ayame.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
The Watanabe family lives in the Flower Castle apartment complex, in a nice, tree-filled part of Aoba. Up on a higher floor, their apartment is nice enough to have an ''indoor'' entrance, and it happens to be quite large as apartments go, partly because it's out here instead of in denser parts of the city. And Shinobu?

Shinobu has good timing. This is a day when Ikkaku is home despite his extra-long works hours, Ayame's parents aren't visiting, and they're free to entertain!

At the door Ayame will greet her, looking much more cheerful than she did last week. "Shinobu-chan!" she answers happily, and steps back to let her sister in. "I'm so glad you could make it."

Ikkaku looks up from some work he brought home, which he's got at the table, and smiles. "Hey there."

Two kids wave! Koume and Tohka, who are doing other things, both greet in stereo, "Hi Auntie!"

But Isamu actually clambers up from the couch and runs over. "Hi, hi!" He's a little boy of not quite four feet tall, with short black hair and green eyes. He looks very much like Ayame. And he's bouncing on his heels when he runs over. "What kind of work were you doing?" he asks. "You always do such cool stuff!"

Ayame laughs softly. "...Well, we ''are'' happy to see you. Please, come in. Can I get you something?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu is frankly glad their parents aren't here. She has a lot on her plate right now without having to deal with them. She may have intentionally picked a day she was sure they'd be too busy with other things... and being able to catch Ikkaku at the same time was a nice, unexpected bonus.

She isn't going to dwell on them right now, though. Right now, she just wants to focus on the visit ahead of her.

She makes her way up the stairs, eventually finding herself at the door to the Watanabe apartment. It's always been a nice place - she's glad they were able to find something that could fit the whole family.

"Nee-san. Yeah, me too - thanks for having me." Shinobu greets, offering Ayame a warm smile and stepping inside as she lets her in. Some of that weight already feels temporarily lifted now that she's in the presence of family. Ikkaku gets a causal wave. "Ikkaku-kun. Nice to see again."

She looks up, then, as Koume and Tohka greet her. They seem busy, so she doesn't blame them for staying focused. At their age, whatever they're doing probably feels like the most important thing to them right now.

"Hey, kiddos." She greets them - and Isamu, too, as he hurries over from the couch. Shinobu laughs, a bit sheepishly.

"Wasn't that exciting... The konbini a few blocks away just needed someone to fill in for a few days." She explains, then looks up toward Ayame.

"Thanks, nee-san." She replies. "A drink would be great, actually."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
Ayame's not going to dwell, either. She's having a good day!

Ayame, of course, has mentioned wanting to get a ''house'' for their family, but that would require being sure Ikkaku isn't going to be transferred again in a year. But Shinobu is here now, and that's what's important. Ayame is happy to see her--and Ikkaku answers, "Likewise!"

They aren't unhappy to see her, of course, Tohka and Koume--but they figure this will be an Adult Meeting, and indeed they're right. Ayame leans down to get on Isamu's level, and gives him a hug. "It's nice to hear about what people are doing, isn't it?" she asks him. "Will you stay with your sisters for a few minutes while Dad and I talk to your Aunt?"

"Okay!" Isamu answers, and waves at Shinobu again before rushing back over to the couch.

Ayame stands back up. "Oh, so you were close!" Ayame notes. "That's handy."

"And sure. Tea, soda, beer?" They have all three! Ayame starts to walk back in, "Ikkaku, come join us," she coaxes. Her daughters look at Isamu and back to her, and Koume slides over on the couch. "Lemme show you my newest game," she tells him. "It's cool!"

"To the kitchen?" Ayame offers Shinobu as she walks that way.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu nods as Ikkaku answers back, and waves in reply to Isamu as he goes to join his sisters. Once Ayame stands back up, Shinobu looks back toward her.

"Yeah. I wasn't gonna take the job 'til I noticed that, honestly." Shinobu admits. "Hard to pass up an opportunity like this."

And now, ''choices''. Shinobu 'hm's to herself, frowning thoughtfully.

"...The beer's tempting, but I should ''probably'' go with the soda." She decides reluctantly. She still needs to head back home after her visit. Ayame coaxes Ikkaku to join them, and Shinobu nods.

"Sounds good. Lead the way." She says, following her into the kitchen.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
Ikkaku sets down his pen and closes the notebook he was working on as Ayame and Shinobu move to the kitchen. He'll stand up to join them momentarily, but first, Ayame listens to Shinobu mention why she took the job. "I see! Well, that's great."

Shinobu declines beer, which is... fine, because, "Ha. Well, another time!" Ayame does like having sisters old enough to drink with. She goes to the fridge and pulls out the sodas and passes them out to her sister and husband as he approaches.

The kitchen is fairly large for an apartment kitchen, with all the usual accoutrements, and indeed has the dining area right nearby if Shinobu wants to take a seat. For the moment, Ayame and Ikkaku remain standing.

"So how have you been?" Ayame asks Shinobu warmly. "Ikkaku mentioned something about an accident the other day...?"

He opens his soda and chimes in, "I didn't mean to worry her, but it came up."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Another time, for sure." Shinobu agrees with a nod. They'll have to arrange something for sometime when she knows she won't have to worry about it - Shinobu ''also'' likes having sisters old enough to drink with, as it happens.

Shinobu enters the kitchen, accepts her soda, and takes a seat in the dining area, taking a brief look around. ...It really is a nice kitchen - she's thought that ever since she first saw it. They probably need one, with five mouths to feed.

Ayame asks how she's been, commenting on an accident the other day. Ikkaku says that it came up.

"Oh, uh -" Shinobu starts awkwardly. She massages the back of her neck, taking a moment to open her soda and take a sip. She supposes she should've expected this. "Yeah. Nothing serious, don't worry - just, got sideswiped by a drunk driver... I'm alright now, though."

She flexes the arm that had been injured, as if to emphasize that point. She isn't acting, at least - if only because most of it was supernatural in origin.

"...How about you two? How've things been going around here?" She asks, looking between them. She isn't ''intentionally'' trying to divert the topic away from herself.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
Ayame just likes beer because she usually has to have kid-friendly drinks. Give her bitter and dry flavors!!

Ayame waits for Shinobu's answer, and isn't suspicious because it's awkward. Instead, she listens. Nothing serious... "That's what she said to me," Ikkaku offers, and Ayame nods. "All right," she says. "Please be careful. To think we have problems with that around here, too..."

She is going to worry. But less, when Shinobu flexes her arm. "Hmm. It does look fine... Well, all right!"

Ayame sips her soda, and Ikkaku doesn't seem to mind changing the subject. "Ah, that's..." He glances to the other room, to make sure little ears aren't poking their heads around the corner to listen in.

"Mother and Father have been over a lot," Ayame says. "I'm not sure how I feel, but it's not... going very well, regardless. They want to see the kids, and..."

Ayame sighs. Ikkaku shakes his head. "And I've been working late. ...Missing a lot of things."

"Well, you came home last night at least," Ayame says, and she seems to brighten a little as she slides her hand into Ikkaku's.

"True. But one good night doesn't solve the problem... I have to figure out what I'm going to do about your parents."

A look to Shinobu from Ayame. "It's hard," she admits. "But I shouldn't be ungrateful. They weren't going to talk to me at ''all'', after all..."

Ikkaku frowns, but doesn't step in.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Yeah, don't worry... I'll be careful." Shinobu says. She nods, as Ayame seems to accep that she's recovered. "...Yeah. I like Hirasaka, but... it can be kind of rough sometimes, too."

Inwardly, she feels a little guilty. She doesn't ''like'' lying to her sisters - she's always been an honest, direct person. ...But she knows she'd be even ''more'' worried, if she knew she'd gotten caught up in what happened at Kasugayama.

Shinobu sips at her soda again as Ayame explains. Mother and Father, huh... Her expression darkens, but she listens as they explain through everything.

"...Yeah, I guess things would be pretty rough over there... Sorry, man." Shinobu mutters apologetically, of Ikkaku working later. "Is there anything you can do? Anyone to, uh, delegate to?"

Ayame says it's hard, but she shouldn't be ungrateful... Shinobu shakes her head.

"You wouldn't be. They're the ones who dropped ''you''... And now trying to worm their way back in like it never happened... Ugh." She says, shaking her head... and then frowns, staring into her soda for a moment. It's easy enough to ''say'' that. She recognises that. They aren't here right now. Actually saying that to their faces...

She wouldn't be able to say a word.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
Ayame accepts that, too. "Good," she says when Shinobu says she'll be careful. "I do worry." But Hirasaka? "I suppose so. ...it's unfortunate. How much worse does it end up for those students at Kasugayama, because their ward is dangerous too?" She has them on the brain, thans to Tsubasa--and thanks to the news. "Having people come to your school to cause trouble..." A shake of her head.

Meanwhile, while Shinobu's expression darkens, Ikkaku is emboldened. He does stop to deal with his own matter, "That... I need to figure out," he admits. "I told Ayame that I'm pursuing the promotion," he explains. "So that we can have a little more stability, maybe get a house. But... So far, that's meant doing all the spare work myself."

Ayame adds, "Which is obviously not ideal. ...I hope you can come up with something," she says. "At least they let you bring some home, today."

"Right."

As to their parents--Ayame mentions 'ungrateful' and Ikkaku squeezes her hand. "You aren't," Ikkaku agrees with Shinobu. "She's right. They failed ''you'', not the other way around. Frankly, they failed all three of you, and--"

"Ikkaku..."

"...All right," he relents. "You know how I feel."

Ayame shakes her head. "I don't want to deprive my children of their grandparents, so... it's very hard."

A pause. Ikkaku says, "Though, it'd be convenient if we could hire ''you''," he jokes. "...But I think the office work would be too limiting for you."

"Yes. She needs to be free," Ayame agrees warmly.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"...Yeah." Shinobu mutters. "Akiyama wasn't much different. It's all just folks shoving them into one place so they don't have to think about them too hard."

And a dangerous ward means having to pick up a dangerous attitude to get by... She thinks about Tsubasa briefly, too. Ayame mentions the news, too.

"...Yeah. I still worry about that kid." She says.

Ikkaku seems emboldened, but he still needs to figure things out...

"Yeah... I want that for you guys, too. And I hope that's sooner rather than later." Shinobu replies with a nod.

Ikkaku agrees with her, though, and is about to launch into something on their behalf - but he relents, at Ayame's urging.

She does ''appreciate'' that he feels strongly enough about it to get heated, at least.

"...Yeah." Shinobu says with a sigh. Not wanting to deprive her children of their grandparents... She can kind of understand it. "...It is. Just wish it didn't have to come at your expense."

Ikkaku jokes, though, and Shinobu smirks.

"Oh, I'd die. ...Or ''someone'' might, anyway." She agrees with a small laugh. Her ''last'' office job... didn't go so well, after all. "...Yeah. That's the way for me."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Ayame agrees. "...It's terrible." She's thinking of the same kid as Shinobu, probably--but she doesn't ''realize'' that at first. Instead she asks, "Which kid?"

But Ayame smiles too at Shinobu's answer to their situation. "Thank you," she says. Ikkaku adds, "Yes... It's a little of a complicated situation," he admits, "But we've been through complicated before, right?"

"...Yes." Ayame is a little shifty on that one; she has other worries. She doesn't voice them though.

Instead, Ikkaku looks appreciative that Shinobu is on the same side on this one. But Ayame sighs. "...I know. I should stand up to them."

Someone might die! And not of fun. "Right," Ikkaku agrees warmly. "I think--"

"Dad! Dad!" Koume suddenly calls from the other room, "Look, look, I won!"

She starts to pad over, her steps audible on the floor--and Ikkaku laughs. "I think I'm needed," he says. "But you two should get in some time on your own, anyway. I'll watch the kids; just take your time."

Ikkaku has left.

Ayame watches him go, a muted smile on her face.

"...Apparently it was a co-worker who reminded him I'd miss him," she comments to Shinobu once he's gone. "I still worry..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"...Oh, yeah - you know that kid Reiko-chan's looking after? I ran into them the other day." Shinobu says. 'Looking after' is probably a polite way of putting it - but it helps that Reiko herself is polite about it. "Just got me thinking, is all."

It's a complicated situation, but they've been through complicated before... Shinobu glances toward Ayame briefly, but doesn't say anything.

And Ayame says she should stand up to their parents... Shinobu frowns a little. She wants to agree - and wants to say she'll be right there with her...

...But it's hard. And she knows it'd sound shallow, because it's nowhere near that easy.

"...I just wish they didn't force it." Shinobu mutters.

She cheers up a little more soon enough, and she can't help but smile at Koume's excited cheer.

"Thanks. Have fun over there." She offers him a nod as he departs to look after them... though her attention turns toward Ayame, as she watches him leave.

"A co-worker, huh...?" She replies. Ayame still still worries. "I guess this'd all be pretty hard on you... Are you alright? For real, I mean."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
"Oh!" Ayame answers. "Yes, I met them the other day, too." Not the same other day, obviously. It is polite to put it that way, but, "They seem like they're having a difficult time... But I like them. It got me thinking, too."

And there is much complication around them, and around Ayame. Ayame looks back at Shinobu; she can't argue. Tohka alone was... complicated.

But Ayame doesn't begrudge Shinobu not being able to agree immediately. They all know how hard it is. "...Me, too," Ayame agrees quietly.

But it is nice to hear her child happy. "Of course!" Ikkaku says over his shoulder, and then, when Shinobu looks at Ayame as he's gone, she looks--smaller.

She's not as tall as her sisters, but she looks more worried with Ikkaku out of the room. "Yes," she answers. "He says there's nothing to worry about, but... I'm still worried," she admits. "Still. Last night he came home earlier and we got to... spend time, together, for the first time in a while. It was really wonderful."

"But I'm still stressed. I know he's working hard for the family, but it's hard not to wonder if he's found some other reason to stay away. ...Maybe that's just because Mother and Father keep bearing down on me, so I'm less charitable."

"I can tell he's worried about something, but he won't tell me what it is."

"So I'm..." Ayame shakes her head. "I suppose I'm not, exactly." All right. "But I can't really stop and take a break, either..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Oh yeah?" Shinobu remarks, surprised. She didn't expect that. ...She nods, though, frowning a little. "...Yeah. They do. But... me too. Kind of got off on the wrong foot, but I think we came around."

She nods, as Ayame agrees with her, and then Ikkaku leaves -

- and Ayame looks smaller.

...It's difficult to see her like that - to hear the trouble she's going through. Shinobu doesn't really know where to begin to help, as much as she wants to.

"Hey, that's good." Shinobu says, forcing a smile as Ayame explains they got to spend time together for the first in a while the previous night... But she's still stressed. Shinobu's expression falls again - and she stands up, moving over to take the chair next to Ayame.

"...You've got a lot on your shoulders right now. More than you should. It isn't fair." She mutters with a shake of her head. "...I hope not. He doesn't seem like that kind of guy to me. But..."

She shakes her head. She can't blame her for worrying.

"...Yeah. It sucks. Life never really gives us space to breathe when we need it, huh."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
<poem>
"Oh! It seems easy to be on the wrong foot with them," she admits. "I'm glad you were able to turn it around."

Maybe just listening is a good start; Ayame does appreciate someone to talk to about this. Especially when it's her sister. Ayame accepts it when Sihinobu comes closer, and looks at Shinobu with a small smile. "...Thank you," she says. "It would just be easier to handle if he were home more, that's all. I've always relied so much on him..." And he doesn't seem like that kind of guy. "Or to me. But that doesn't quiet this nagging voice..."

"It doesn't. But it's given me a minute here, at least. Thank you for coming."

A beat, and she straightens. "Why don't I get you something to eat?" Ayame offers. "I always feel better when I share something with someone I care about."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>"Heh, yeah. It was my fault, though." Shinobu replies with a small laugh. This is probably no surprise, she's never been the most delicate of the three of them when it came to dealing with other people.

Shinobu is glad to listen, at least. That's something she can offer freely.

"...Yeah. Here's hoping his schedule eases up soon." She replies with a shake of her head. She nods, though - and smiles, when Ayame thanks her. "No problem. Glad we could do this."

Ayame offers something to eat, though, and Shinobu nods.

"That'd be great. You know I could never turn down that chance. Thanks, nee-san." She replies with a grin.

...And if it helps Ayame feel better, even better.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-08-09: A Family Visit - Revision history