2025-11-27: One Last Birthday Part Two
- Log: One Last Birthday Part Two
- Cast: Myunghon Yeo, Shinjiro Aragaki, Mio Kazama, Remi Ryuuja, Shinobu Shimizu, So-young Park
- Where: The Cardboard Dragon, Hirasaka Ward
- OOC Date: November 28, 2025
- IC Date: August 17, 2012
- Summary: The Cardboard Dragon crew prepares a get-together now that Shinjiro is back from Yakushima. Gifts are exchanged, and even a cooking contest is had!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
SEES is back from Yakushima, and Myunghon's gotten in touch with people about hosting a small get-together for Shinjiro's birthday. They've also conspired with Shinobu and Remi and Mio to get some secret equipment and training, which becomes very readily apparent when people turn up on the day...
Because the back lot that's often just described as 'somewhere you might see Yakuza fighting' has been turned into something kinda special -- and there's a griddle set up with an open tent where the purveyor of the Cardboard Dragon is currently...
Cooking??????
That's right, Myunghon's dressed in an apron and is in the midst of cooking okonomiyaki, letting others help them with the batter and toppings. There's a little stage for, assumedly, So-young to go play some music, and there's drinks on a table opposite the tent; the fire escape stairs to the Cardboard Dragon itself is still open, with the door pinned open where people can retire to the couch to go play games or watch television, and some board games have also been set up on the poker tables that the customers typically use.
"I have one with pork and cabbage ready to serve," Myunghon calls as they flip the finished pancake again and places it on one of the serving plates (disposable paper, with similar disposable utensils, cause it's not like Myunghon owns that much cutlery).
The okonomiyaki is... perhaps, better than one would expect from someone who can't smell or taste -- Myunghon's just been grinding out the recipe on BooTube videos for a few days now in secret and just has to trust that the process works.
Of course, it's nowhere near Shinjiro's level...
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
As Shinjiro enters the back lot, he's clad in his usual red coat and beanie again (the one Myunghon got him). It's like he's never been without it...
He's got a slightly melancholic look on his face, but it's not clear from what. Is it being done with his trip? His usual depression? Or more likely... the fact he still thinks he doesn't deserve all of this.
Given that he's staring at the tent and grill set-up with wide eyes, it's probably that last one.
He approaches the grill, rubbing the back of his head. "...you didn't need to do all of this, Myunghon." There's a tone of appreciation, but also just nervous energy.
And then, he's eying the food. "...that smells good, though." He knows it's not of his skill level, but frankly, he doesn't care. The gesture is greatly appreciated.
"I can help, if you need it," Shinjiro says as he looks over the setup. Myunghon would be unaware that he grilled all the food for SEES on his birthday out of a similar desire to 'make up for the inconvenience'.
<Pose Tracker> Mio Kazama has posed.
Despite not being much of a skilled hand in the kitchen, there are things that Mio can do to help out with the birthday preparations. For one, she has the driver's license and has been ferrying around whatever Myunghon has needed her to go fetch. Two, she has enough passing knowledge of how to hook up speakers and gadgets to help the stage setup come to life. And also to pipe in some music for when no live acts are happening. Three, she has no fear in rolling up her sleeves to get stuck in with things she has little to no knowledge about! There's nothing guts can't overcome!
Which is why the gal with pink hair has a ball-cap fitted backwards, a long-sleeve shirt tied around her waist, and is scooting around in the background doing things like dicing up ingredients (albeit slowly) for Myunghon to cook with at the main station, or refilling the squeezy bottle of cooking oil, or making sure the drinks are all properly on ice. "Hokay! That oughta last us for a few minutes, at least!" she declares with typical aplomb, hands on hips. Jack of all trades, master of none.
A party is a team effort, after all!
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi is allowing Myunghon to cook since it seems really important to them to do so.
... but that doesn't mean she's not standing by with a fire extinguisher, just in chase. That's her duty as Chief Lieutenant of the Cardboard Dragon. Probably. (She's honestly still not entirely clear what her actual duties are.)
In less foreboding news she is actually doing her best to see that the other arrangements are in order. This might not be the most conventional soiree she has ever participated in (in no small part because most people would call this a party and not be so fancy about it), but she does still recall some of her social graces and hospitality.
She also offered to help taste-test Myunghon's cooking grind. Sometimes having no fear is a benefit.
She also got Shijiro a birthday gift, set aside to wait for an appropriate time.
"Happy birthday, Aragaki-kun," says Remi warmly as she spots the birthday boy. But at the offer to take over-- "Nonsense. If Myunghon tires of cooking I shall take over in their stead. Your job is to relax and enjoy yourself."
Shizuka Kuroki has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
A birthday party for Shinjiro, huh... Shinobu was surprised when the idea was presented to her - but when asked to help, she gladly pitches in. She's not so great at party planning, but the actual physical work side of things is something she's more than capable of doing.
With everything actually put up and assembled now, she's sitting back in one of the folding chairs that have been set up(and tipping back just a little dangerously, but that's Shinobu for you), tossing a small, wrapped box up and down in her hand as the scent of okonomiyaki wafts through the air.
"Looking pretty good..." Shinobu notes to Myunghon about their cooking. ...She's pretty impressed at how far they've come in their cooking. They really put their all into planning for this day. "I think everything came together nicely."
Shinjiro speaks up... and she's not surprised that his first instinct is to ask to do some work.
"She's got a point, Shinjiro." Shinobu comments with a nod at Remi, as she says that it's his job to relax and enjoy himself. She nods, then, at the serving plates. "Go ahead. Grab a bite and take a seat. See? Mio's got us all covered."
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
The moment that Shinjiro appears around the corner, So-young has pulled the string on three party poppers held between her splayed fingers, the saddest collection of dismal looking paper streamers arcing from the stage in the rough direction of the young man's head. They fall short, of course, but the conductor only looks more enthused by how crap the party favors have done at trying to be jaunty.
Alongside Remi, she's already taste tested some of Myunghon's work just through sheer curiosity as to how well her sibling is handling a grill without being able to stomach the food directly. Even habitual bacheloress So-young knows that as one of the primary rules of cooking - but she has been forced to admit she's extremely impressed at the result. While she hasn't actually played anything yet, the little stage has been claimed as hers if only because her violin case is there, and a drink next to it, and a paper plate next to that. That's how dibs work.
Scooping something up from behind her case, she hops down from the stage, walks up towards Shinjiro - and reaches up to bonk him on the head with a slim gift-wrapped box. "Yes, yes. We didn't need to do all of this," she can't do the deep voice, but she at least do a passable impression of the nervous wistfulness. "Good job that we chose to do it of our own accord, then."
(She's tried her best. The present is a fairly simple but high-quality journal - bound in black leather, because she has every expectation (and intention) that it'll end up weathering the elements in his coat pocket.)
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
For Remi and So-young's assurance, perhaps, Myunghon isn't being an anime mad scientist -- just a BooTube scientist, following a recipe to the letter and trying to mimic every stage of cooking to the letter, with just a need for a few guinea pigs -- okay, perhaps just a little bit of a mad scientist. But hey... it's not bad, especially for a first go-live.
They've delegated the hardest parts, such as not being able to do knifework, to Mio and Remi, since there's no pressure to make this a commercial kitchen or anything, and Remi's also on deck if they get tired. After a few times teaching them to leave it alone for a bit and you gotta let it cook, it does seem like they understand the relation to Thing on Heat fairly quickly...
Fire Extinguisher-kun hasn't had to be used yet.
"Have you had one yet, Kazama-kun? Why don't you take this one?" Myunghon offers, as they place the concoction onto a serving plate, taking up the ingredients to organise them. This is undeniably Myunghon's strength in cooking -- everything is ridiculously in order.
Shinobu's in the back chilling, but that's totally fine -- Myunghon needed her help to do all the heavy lifting and such! They call out, perhaps a bit fonder than normal, "What do you want on yours, Shinobu-ssi?"
But Shinjiro arrives to the sound of -TOOT-! Triple toot, even. Or maybe it's more of a pop. There's a pleased smile as Shinjiro, expectedly, says that they didn't need to do all of this -- then they tease, "I bet you cooked for everyone in Yakushima. Well, okonomiyaki has become something a bit special for us, so I wanted to surprise you by cooking it when you came."
Another one comes up -- this one's got the same ingredients as the one Shinjiro cooked. "Now, I don't expect mercy just because this is my first time." They've got all the toppings in order, and hands it over to him. "Happy birthday, Shinjiro-ssi."
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
The streamers miss! Shinjiro is saved, as he blinks twice owlishly.
Mio and Remi get nods as they help cook, before Shinjiro turns over the INSISTENCE in his head. "Yeah, but-"
Shinobu backs up Remi, and then So-young appears and bonks him on the head!!! Help help, he's being brutalized!
"Uuuugh," he says, rubbing behind his neck with both hands. Myunghon then follows up with a tease about cooking for everyone in Yakushima, and the 'but-' protestation he almost says again makes it clear they nailed it 100%, he did indeed.
"...thank you," he settles on. It's clear he has *no idea* how to relax anymore, as he just awkwardly shuffles for a moment, taking the plate.
He moves over to take a bite of it, tossing it around in his head how it tastes for a minute before settling on, "I like it."
He's not just saying that, though he does follow it up with a small laugh. "...There's some things I would have done differently, but it's nice. Thank you."
<Pose Tracker> Mio Kazama has posed.
Mio could probably go all afternoon with little more than a drink of water, and so needs to be cajoled into taking a break. Luckily, Myunghon is there to keep her from being a workaholic. "Oh--yeah, I'm hungry! Thanks Myunghon!" she's as chipper as ever, accepting the plate with a huge grin before skipping aside to blast the okonomiyaki with mayonnaise, bonito flakes, parsley, and sansho pepper. "Hehe... you really got the hang of these things in the end. Aren'tcha proud?"
She also blasts Shinobu with a big thumbs up from over yonder, a plastic fork bobbing out of her mouth while she does so. "Yeah! I got us covered!"
Which is how she somehow juggles the serving of okonomiyaki with party duties, joining in call to fire party-poppers as Shinjiro arrives. "Heyyy, here's the star...!" it isn't like everyone organized a huge serve of fireworks, perhaps thankfully.
Don't worry, despite being all over the place at the best of times, Mio hasn't forgotten why we are all gathered here today! She holds up one finger briefly and goes, "Oh! Wait a sec!" before ducking beneath one of the tables to fetch something she has stashed there. It is a box, gift-wrapped in the most comically obvious fashion: dark maroon paper tied with a black ribbon. Said box is slightly taller than it is wide, is more intended to be held in two hands than one, and weighs a good few pounds. It is probably about 13-14 inches high, for reference.
"A good birthday needs a good present! Happy birthday, Shinji-kun!"
(Whether it's unwrapped now or later, it contains: one of those fancy schmancy Shun kitchen knives with the faint damascus patterning)
"Ehehe, if it's too heavy to carry home, I can drop it off somewhere for ya."
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Shinobu backs her up on Shinjiro relaxing, and Remi affords her a grateful smile. "Thankj you, dear." Surely Shinjiro can't argue with the power of multiple adults?
aRemi is genuinely impressed with how Myunghon's cooking efforts have paid off... and she'll complement them on it, too. She had Yua to help teach her, and she couldn't imagine trying to learn by following along with a video.
She catches that fondness in Myunghon's voice as they call to Shinobu, and smiles faintly to herself.
And a faint chuckle as Myunghon's guess about Shinjiro cooking at Yakushima hits true. "Sit, take a load off," she insists, as Shinjiro looks uncertain. "And, enjoy the present." She has something, of course, as several others do, and she retrieves several small, wrapped packages.
They're books! Several fiction books of various genres to enrich Shinjiro's literary palette (including her all-time favorite, The Three Muskteers), and... a cookbook! One featuring French cuisine.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"See? We're in good hands." Shinobu adds as Mio offers her a thumbs-up. Remi thanks her for the back-up, and Shinobu nods her way. "Any time."
So-young ambushes Shinjiro, and Shinobu smirks before looking toward Myunghon as they call out to her. Shinobu considers the question smiling just slightly at that fond tone, before eventually deciding,
"I'll take a little bit of everything." She replies.
"...Sounds like they've got you there." She notes to Shinjiro, as he begins to protest. She catches the box in her hand one final time and rocks her chair forward, standing up with the momentum. She moves to approach him, adding the box to the pile.
"...Happy birthday, man. Didn't know which ones you liked most, so kind of went off vibes." She says.
It might not immediately be clear what she means by 'which ones', but it becomes a little more obvious once the box is opened. Inside is a wooden figurine of a wolf... or maybe a dog? It's hand-carved, clearly, and as a result of some indecision in the carving the features are kind of in-between.
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
So-young probably cannot be trusted with a kitchen knife, in much the same way that a dog cannot be trusted with a flamethrower. This is fine; the conductor knows her limits well, and other people can handle the cooking probably much better than she can. She would probably try to say something profound about being the audience in this case, and thus being the consumer of art rather than the producer, but it's unlikely that would fool anyone here.
Of course she has an actual streamer, or at least she has one of those rolls of decorative paper that you unfurl into a long spiral shape, draping it over Shinjiro's shoulders without reservation if only to be mildly annoying. "I hope the trip went well, at least, or that you weren't this stiff the whole time," she sniggers, before moving back to the stage to perch herself on one corner of it.
"I do hope you got photos, as well. Don't think I haven't forgotten," she adds with a dangerous smirk, before shuffling across to give Mio and the others some space to sit. (Sure, there's some outside chairs around, but if you give So-young a stage she will just assume that everyone will sit on it at some point.)
The conductor hasn't forgotten that she probably owes a few people some apologies, but she's not really the sort to do great at apologiz_ing_, and kind of just hopes that fact comes across in the vaguely thoughtful present rather than an incredibly off-colour one.
"Well, we are slowly learning," she notes to Shinobu. "I think the main trick is to just not give him time to open his mouth or engage his brain. You'd be amazed how many people that technique is good for."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Mio's compliment does have them bashful. "You're helping me out. Not having to cut anything does make it a lot easier," they take the humble route. "But this is more fun than I thought..."
Her present -- a fancy damascus knife -- does impress Myunghon. It looks very fancy, what kinda connections does Mio have that she's sourced that from? Mio's got the whole shebang of toppings on there, though, and they have to admit, "I've never had anything like that... what does it taste like?"
Myunghon's had some coaching from Remi too, undoubtedly, and much like So-young, found their limits. They're never going to be great at certain kitchen tasks, given their arms and senses, and finding ways around that has helped them more than despairing about it. "It is nice that it isn't too hot tonight... I was a bit concerned."
Shinobu's dogwolf is a thing of true beauty. Perhaps, later, it will become a true effigy of power that will power some kind of dual tech. Is it a dog? Is it a wolf? What if it embodies the best of both worlds, like some sort of half-dog, half-wolf... heck hound?
Myunghon does have a blink-and-you'll-miss it pause as Shinjiro shuffles and doesn't relax. They've rehearsed this possibility a million times in their head because they know it's gonna happen, but it's still something to be handling it in person and not panic and scream internally. Fortunately, everyone else is more confident because their first reaction is to not panic and insist, and there's merit in the wrecking ball method (so to speak)...
... and he is laughing at the okonomiyaki, and they decide to tilt their head to say:
"Hmmm. If you're that confident, then perhaps we should have a little contest for Shinobu-ssi's okonomiyaki. And we can make a bit extra so others can judge too," they challenge, for a moment having a cattish grin on their face.
Which is a little at odds at getting Shinjiro to take a load off, but they did think having him get a bit of a hands on fun would be a positive experience.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro finishes his plate (he did enjoy it!) before looking over the presents. A knife... "Oh, that's *real* nice, thank you," he says appreciatively if a bit sheepishly just because he imagines it was Expensive.
Remi's books also gets a nod, looking over them and tilting his head positively. "These look good, too. Dumas is one I've been meaning to read." He's not quite sitting yet, though...
As Shinobu presents DOGWOLF. His eyes actually *light up at this one*, something he very much appreciates. He can tell it's handmade, too, "Shinobu, you didn't-" he says with a laugh, before allowing it to wash off. "Thank you."
So-young's journal is also very much appreciated - his old tiny notebook has gotten pretty beaten up and used, so... "Thanks. I'll start transferring notes later..."
If she's still sheepish about what happened at all, he's fine. He likely hasn't *forgotten*, but forgiven... yeah. "I've got some good photos. Me and Aki saw a deer up-close..." That was a good one.
Though, as Myunghon challenges him to COOKING, he tilts his head. He's a bit confused... but he is, slowly warming up to all of this, even if theres still tension in him.
"...you're on."
He'll move over towards the grill, removing his gloves and pocketing them.
"Don't get too upset when I beat you, though," he teases back. If Myunghon thought this would help him relax - they're probably right.
Though, before he starts, he's reminded. "Oh, I have news. I talked to Kirijo, and..."
"I decided to go back to school next semester... while I still have time."
<Pose Tracker> Mio Kazama has posed.
Mio has had a while to think about Myunghon's relationship with food, and so, doesn't have to think too hard about it when asked, to find a way that makes sense. "What's it like? Umu~. It's a couple layers deep, right? It's crunchy, then soft, then mellow, then spicy from behind." it's more an explanation of the textures than the tastes, per se. "It's good!"
As for the knife, well...
NOT LONG AGO~...
A group of men in dark sunglasses huddle around a mahjong table, either nursing cigarettes at their lips or fingertips. A hazy cloud of grey smoke drifts above them, a reflection of the stormy mood of this game. A burly man with a gold chain and a white singlet takes a long drag on his prize, then casually fires twin jets of smoke from his nose. "Riichi, motherfuckers."
But this isn't about them, actually. This is about the kitchen attached to this den of sin, the front for this... Mahjong Parlour. And in the kitchen, head chef and ex-con Daisuke Ota is explaining in surprising detail to a familiar, church-working idol fanatic as he chops half a cabbage with only one eye on it. "Good knife? 's gotta hold its edge, and that don't come cheap. Grip shouldn't be anything that'll get screwed up by the heat, either." Mio rubs her chin, immune to the controlled chaos as kitchen hands run around in their quest to keep up with the demand for udon and oyakodon. "I guess if yer guy isn't doing any commercial shit, you could try one of these. I know a guy who found a bunch that fell off a truck, right?"
A grin splits both their faces.
***
Anyway, back in the present, Mio is helping by getting more utensils dug out for the impromptu cooking challenge. "I hope everyone's hungry, 'cause I was brought up to never let a bite go to waste, y'know?"
+ooc :lean
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
So-young's response gets an actual laugh out of Shinobu.
"Yeah, I guess that's one way to do it." She replies with a shrug, then nods toward Myunghon. "Yeah, it's nice. Here's hoping the
Shinjiro accepts her gift - and seeing him actually light up gets an earnest smile out of her.
"It's a hobby of mine. Figured I'd put it to good use." She offers, and nods at his thanks. "No problem."
She moves to return to her seat, then... and it seems Myunghon has a Plan, because they challenge Shinjiro to a cooking contest. She raises an eyebrow, but smirks.
"Sounds good to me." Shinobu says. ...She's biased because she's the one who gets to benefit, here - but it is a pretty good plan, she thinks.
"You know it." Shinobu agrees with a nod toward Mio... but then, suddenly, Shinjiro has an announcement!
"No shit?" Shinobu replies, surprised, as he announces... he's returning to school! "Hey, congrats. I'm proud of you. Do you already have everything you need?"
School might have been a rough time for her, but she's glad she went. She thinks it'll be a good thing for him, too, to finish up.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
So-young's response gets an actual laugh out of Shinobu.
"Yeah, I guess that's one way to do it." She replies with a shrug, then nods toward Myunghon. "Yeah, it's nice. Here's hoping the weather holds out, yeah?"
Shinjiro accepts her gift - and seeing him actually light up gets an earnest smile out of her.
"It's a hobby of mine. Figured I'd put it to good use." She offers, and nods at his thanks. "No problem."
She moves to return to her seat, then... and it seems Myunghon has a Plan, because they challenge Shinjiro to a cooking contest. She raises an eyebrow, but smirks.
"Sounds good to me." Shinobu says. ...She's biased because she's the one who gets to benefit, here - but it is a pretty good plan, she thinks.
"You know it." Shinobu agrees with a nod toward Mio... but then, suddenly, Shinjiro has an announcement!
"No shit?" Shinobu replies, surprised, as he announces... he's returning to school! "Hey, congrats. I'm proud of you. Do you already have everything you need?"
School might have been a rough time for her, but she's glad she went. She thinks it'll be a good thing.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi looks on with interest as Shinobu offers her gift. "My, Shimizu-san, did you carve that yourself? How delightful." Yes, she sees the indecision, but she won't comment on it. It's more skilled than she could do, taht's for certain. (And it's not like she didn't also cover her own bases with her gift selection.)
So-young offers a technique, and Remi chuckles softly at that. "Yes, dearl, it can be remarkalbly effective, when used with the right sorts."
Remi would have gladly offered coaching... and done her best, now that she is more understanding of Myunghon's limits, to try and work around those issues, too. "The weather turned out quite pleasantly, I agree. And do not be afraid to take a break if you would like, dear," Remi offers to Myunghon.
"Yes, he is a personal favorite of mine, and if you like this work there are others I can recommend... but I thought it would do to give you a variety of books to expand your palette with."
Kirijo... Remi recognizes that name, but she sets that aside for now, focusing on the news. "That's wonderful, dear. I do hope you will enjoy the rigors of academia."
Remi takes a seat when Mio expresses enthusiasm for the contest. "It shall certainly be interesting, won't it, dear?"
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
Just as Mio might be better doing crimes than Myunghon, So-young leans back and lets her gaze zoom out on the scene in an introspective moment, letting herself think: Myunghon might be more of a social creature than she is. They seem much more alive like this, surrounded by people, whereas the musician will often crash face-first into independence, and is just at home on her own. There's no real upside or downside to that, and she's comfortable with who she is. It's just a passing thought.
"It is--" she goes to add to Mio's description, and then frowns at the realization that she's a bit lost at how to compare the taste of food if not to other food. She's never exactly been a prime wordsmith compared to other forms of art. "--very good. A little more heat would be nice, but I can always just use condiments for that. You have the base down."
"Oh, no. Did they bite you in the ass?" So-young asks point-blank at mention of deer, before realizing she should probably elaborate. "Every time I think 'I'll just feed them one cracker' and every time one of them startles me enough to drop the entire pack and then it's just a free-for-all. Carnage everywhere, people yelling, sirens." Hopefully... she's... joking about those last parts, her expression held in a careful deadpan.
Her shrug towards Shinobu is expansive as she breaks back into a light grin. This is the person who seemed completely unruffled at the idea of standing out in the rain so long as she could spend a few more seconds watching the fireworks, a position so at odds with her usual vanity that it seems hard to reconcile the two. "If it rains, it rains. I suppose I could have stolen the gazebo from work--" she means a tent, not a structure... probably... "--but even packed up it is a chore to carry, let alone onto a train."
"To be honest, I tend to use it on absolutely everyone, regardless of whether it works or not," So-young grins towards Remi with a smirk, before Shinjiro's news percolates through to her. "... hmm," is her first thought as she mulls it over and wonders what to say. It's not exactly what she would do with her time, but she can at least accept it if it's something Shinjiro feels he wants to do. So it is thankfully with a nod of approval that she adds: "Speaking of which, make sure to assert yourself. This is something you've chosen to do, so do not let anyone dissuade you."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
If So-young pointed the fact that Myunghon is more of a social creature than she is, they'd utterly disbelieve her. But then again, only roughly two months ago, they were more prone to being alone in depressive jags and also was indulging in Magic River Teleportation! That they've come from that to hosting a little get-together with their friends and found family is...
It might just be progress.
"Hmm... I'm pleased. I can tell when it's 'done', now, and I can always use a timer," Myunghon remarks, about food. Still very measured and precise. Her story about deer as Shinjiro mentions it has them extremely quizzical, perhaps, because they haven't really been a tourist around Japan, but you do hear stories about deer in rural regions sometimes...
"After this competition, would you mind taking over, Remi dear?" Myunghon reassures Remi, because they've been going at it for half an hour now and it is more exhausting than they expected. It's their way of reassuring her they're not pushing too hard either.
"Even if it does rain, we can just move inside," Myunghon remarks to Shinobu, adding to Shinjiro, "Because I did rent out the next Amazing Pet Story movie to wrap the night up." This is a remarkable act of Guts because Myunghon got ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED with the last one and now everyone's here to see them bawl their tearducts out.
It's a gesture of trust, you know.
Mio observes that the food is all kinds of textures and -- honestly, that is a way Myunghon can relate to food, so they do look down to say, "I wonder if I could also..." A pause. There'd be way too many intense flavours in there, but now they're curious after what Mio described.....
But, it's time for the contest. They hand Shinjiro another apron, and conspicuously there's basically a second station on the other side of the grill already prepared for him, like they planned all this the entire time.
"Even if you're the expert, this rookie isn't going to go down so easily," Myunghon confidently says in turn. Before they start, though, Shinjiro has news -- he's decided to go back to school... and Myunghon quietly nods in assurance to the others' approval as well.
"Hmmm... no doubt the others in Tatsumi are quite pleased too. I am too, of course," Myunghon offers, a smile as So-young points out to not be dissuaded by others.
"Now! Let the cooking contest begin!"
This is a whole bit of bravado for something that, ultimately, is a pancake at the bottom layer and just needs to sit there for a bit -- and they know they're doomed because they've just learnt from one BooTube video, haiyaaaah, but Shinjiro gets to show off here...!
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Mio gets a nod about the textures. He's a good cook but he hates talking in food speak, especially if he doesn't know if someone will get it. completely. "Thanks, Mio. Yeah, I don't waste food either." Though, reasons may be different.
Shinobu gets a nod. "Kirijo's gonna get it all set up. I assume if there's something I need she'll get it setup. Dreading makeup tests, though."
A shake of a head to Remi, as she tells him to enjoy it. "I probably won't. I've never liked school." Then why...?
"But I made a promise to graduate with my friends. So I'm going to fulfill that before time runs out." In the moment, he forgets he hasn't quite told Remi his condition. He doesn't speak to her as often, and the others know, so.
But DEER. Shinjiro's pulling out his phone, flashing a picture to So-young. It's in the forest in Okinawa, a deer standing there, looking around. It's a good shot, taken quickly and clearly. "There's more like this. I'll send them to the group chat later."
Though, she tells him not let anyone dissuade him. "...if it would have been anyone, it'd be me. But I told Kirijo I'm coming back. I think she'd literally kidnap me and chain me to my desk if I walked it back now." She might.
As Shinjiro tosses his apron on, he considers the earlier mention of the movie. "...I can't believe you're going to make me watch that around the others..." It doesn't sound disapproving, but he DOES know his tough guy aura that totally entirely still existed... will be destroyed.
(who are we kidding, they all know he's a softie)
But then, they get to the cooking. It's one thing to taste Shinjiro's cooking. It's another to watch him in the kitchen. He has a confidence of someone who could have gone *very* far in this industry... his knifework is good, his speed is good, and he has the magic touch when it comes to juuuust enough seasoning.
Also, he's not holding back AT ALL, Myunghon definitely got his competitive side going.
<Pose Tracker> Mio Kazama has posed.
Before anything can get too far underway, Mio has raced around to separate out a little collection of plates. No point in having people wait around, taking precious seconds off the golden minute between grill and mouth...! And upon Remi's query as to whether a culinary competition will be interesting, Mio shows no signs of dithering or uncertainty. "Mm! Yeah, I've never had a cookoff competition before!" with both fists clenched. Perhaps this feels like a celebration a long time coming, to her? How curious.
"And--uh, going back to school is good, y'know? But it's gonna feel tough, so, hang in there." Mio advises Shinjiro with a sly little grin, trying not to err too much on the side of adulting (something she is not good at). She swerves on over to the music setup, ad-hoc as it is, and fiddles with the bass knob while Shinjiro and Myunghon get set up for cooking. With a glance over her shoulder, she locks gazes with So-Young. "Hey, come use some music smarts and help me find something good for this!"
In the tangle of wires and aux cords there is an off-brand mp3 player, so, there's probably at least a sizable library of stuff to leaf through... maybe...
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu offers Remi a nod, in answer to her question.
"Yeah. Just something I do in my off time. It's great for stress relief. Just get yourself a block of wood and a good knife and take your frustrations out on it until somethin' starts to take shape." She offers.
So-young gets a small laugh, and Shinobu nods as Myunghon points out that they can just move inside.
"Yeah, guess there's no use worrying about it." She agrees. ...Amazing Pet Story, huh... It sounds like something they both legitimately enjoy, so she isn't going to judge.
"Yeah? Good to hear." Shinobu replies with a nod, as Shinjiro explains. Makeup tests... She grins. "...Yeah, that's probably gonna be hell."
Mio tells him to hang in there, and Shinobu nods.
"What she said. If you need any help studying..." ...She pauses. "...Okay, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but there's probably someone around here who can give you a hand."
A promise to graduate, huh...? She thinks on that - and nods.
"Good on you, man. It's good to keep your promises." She decides.
The cooking contest is on!! Shinobu watches with interest. ...Shinjiro really isn't holding anything back, huh? She only cooks for herself so her own skills are nothing special, but even she can tell he's got some real experience behind that knife...
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi chuckles to So-young at her admission. "Yes, dear, I have no doubt that you do."
She offers Myunghon a smile and a nod, "Certainly, dear. You've been doing quite well, but I wager you're ready for a break. You should get to enjoy the efforts of your work, too."
"Amazing Pet Stories...?" Remi ponders out loud, if to herself. "I am not familiar..."
REmi might understand more of Shinjiro's condition than he thinks. But Shinjiro does explain about the promise. "I see... well then. That is a admirable goal, and I wish you luck in your endeavor." She looks to Myunghon, recalling, for a moment, her own high school days. How things were happier then.
And in some ways, with a large chunk of her life stolen, they still feel so... recent, too. The four of them, hanging out... how times have changed, and their situations have grown more complicated.
"I admit," Remi says to Mio. "That I would not be confident enough in my own skills for such a thing. But perhaps Myunghon has a trick of their sleeve. What do you think?"
"I see," she answers Shinobu next. "Well it seems you have made a delightful gift. Wood carving is not something I have ever thought to try... my artistic expression is of a rather more dramatic nature, but it may be interesting to try sometime."
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
"Oh, _actual_ deer!" So-young realizes with an amused laugh, as if the ones in tourist spots at Nara are somehow imaginary creatures or animatronics deliberately designed to mob unsuspecting tourists to make them spend more on 200 yen packs of vanity crackers. Maybe they are. Maybe they're just an NWO conspiracy in this world. "That is quite the lucky shot indeed, especially if you managed to take more than one before it bolted."
She looks to Myunghon, and then nback to Shinjiro's promise, and lightly purses her lips. "Well, certainly I am sure you will have the support of Miss Kirijo and the others. But I had meant more--..." Unthinkably So-young trails off, folding her arms. "Honestly, I am a little worried I will end up dissuading you myself by saying this, but chances are you will meet at least one teacher who goes 'you can't just show up like this!' All I am saying is that the best way to deal with someone like that is to prove them extremely wrong."
"... I have my violin right here! Philistines," she exclaims to Mio, but with a grin on her face as she hops up to squint amongst the wires down to the little screen on the MP3 player, flicking the little button on it left and right as she seeks back and forth though the files in apparent indecisiveness before settling on what could be called some driving music, a rising doof-doof climbing up the volume scale as if to egg the competitors on. "... honestly, for a cookoff, you need something really climactic. If we had a drum kit I would be much better served."
So-young picks immediately up on Shinobu's comment. "I always thought I'd make a good teacher," she decides with apparently no shame whatsoever, her hand beneath her chin as she strikes a pose. "It's certainly another field that would be ripe for some fresh new faces in it, if I look back at my time at school. I think I'd manage a pretty engaging curriculum. 'Class, today we will learn why 11/8 time is absolute nonsense and why you should stick two fingers up at whoever tries to make you play it, me included.'"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Mio and So-young's gone to go pick some more beats out, and Myunghon doesn't seem to mind. "Perhaps we should have more regular get-togethers? I wouldn't mind... this is all very fond to me. Whose birthday is next?" So-young has some concerns, but... ultimately, it's on Shinjiro to prove them all wrong. "That's always been the Cardboard Dragon's energy, yes? Kaneshiro wouldn't have an inkling as to what hit him."
"I don't think Amazing Pet Stories is something we should feel shame in enjoying," Myunghon insists to Shinjiro. "Besides, I'm pretty certain I came out of it worse last time." There's a quiet smile as they think more upon the promise to go back to school, though. "... you know, I often think of myself as-- wasting my school years, in a sense. Remi might have another opinion, but it did feel as if I just drifted from day to day."
When Shinobu points out that she might not be the best person to ask, though, they suddenly look proud as they say:
"This may surprise you, but I was Student Council President in our time. Remi can confirm this," Myunghon points out. "... so much so that meeting Kirijo felt a little like deja vu, to be honest."
But the contest!
At one point during the contest, Myunghon is heard expressing:
"Oh... how come yours has a much nicer colour in the end?"
"You have to put that much effort into it...? I can't see what they're doing in the video, so..."
And:
"You can do WHAT with cheese? That's... that's... cheating..."
...
...
...
The contest isn't that much of a contest, really, with Shinjiro's okonomiyaki looking resplendent and marvellous and restaurant grade and Myunghon appears to be doing a little worse than five minutes ago as the PRESSURE gets to them. It's a bit lumpy and...
Myunghon spends ten seconds staring between the two of them.
Then they put their hands to their waist and looks at Shinobu, especially.
"T-this one's made with love, okay? Keep that in mind when judging!"
Choose wisely, Shinobu. Your decision may affect The Timeline...
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Mio gets a nod as she advises Shinjiro, the teen clearly appreciating the sentiment. Music!!
Shinobu also gets a nod. "Don't worry. Umie's helping too," he explains.
Though, keeping his promises... he hopes he can, at least. He can't guarantee it anymore.
Remi wishes him luck. "Thanks." He has no idea her own inner turmoil... they might need to talk sometime, at least about his.
So-young laughs about the deer. "What'd you think I meant?!" Though, then, he considers the rest of her statement. "Don't worry... as I said, this is something I have to do. No teacher's gonna stop me."
Shinjiro rubs the back of his head when it comes to Amazing Pet Stories... but he understands what they're saying. "Fine... and, yeah, we should do this more often. It's... nice."
And that means a lot coming from him.
THE CONTEST BEGINS.
Shinjiro focuses, though he does explain a few tricks during it. (Except the cheese one. That one's a secret.) As they move to present, he looks over them, and he's in a good mood by now - mission accomplished.
"...and mine isn't?" he asks Myunghon, however. He puts love in his cooking too!!! Though, he's mostly joking.
Mostly.
<Pose Tracker> Mio Kazama has posed.
It's probably for the best that Shinobu or Myunghon, or similar, be the ones to offer Shinjiro a hand studying. Mio's academic record is markedly middling, but that's a story for another, more self-reflective and indulgent day. Today is birfday party, after all. And, focused on the competition of the day, Mio gives thought to Remi's question: does Myunghon have a trick up their sleeve?
Why, the answer is obvious. "Of course! The boss always has a plan B, that's how they always come out on top." Mio has zero hesitation in her belief in Myunghon. Oh dear. She relinquishes control over the music station to So-Young, even if begrudgingly, given that the hobbyist idol stan has absolutely no business trying to figure out acoustics compared to a professional performer.
The third question is raised, from Myunghon: should they do this more often? Once more, the answer is clear. "Yeah, we should hang out properly more often! I like bein' busy like this. I like the energy." she beams happily, and settles down on crossed legs to watch the actual cooking, and cheer on the competition. ... and increasingly look nervous as Myunghon goes to bits under pressure, but, ah well.
"I--it's not about who wins and loses, right, team...?" she asks innocently, twisting her ball cap so that it sits with the brim facing forward again. "It's about doing stuff together...!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Thanks. Glad you think so." Shinobu replies to Remi with a nod.
So-young, meanwhile, says she'd make a great teacher. Shinobu laughs at her comment - and then Myunghon says that they were Student Council President.
"Oh yeah?" Shinobu remarks with interest. ...But Umie's helping, too, and Shinobu nods.
"Sounds like you've got a lot of good choices, then." She comments with a nod.
And then... it begins. Shinobu listens and watches the two of them as they work - and, finally, the final results are presented.
...On looks alone, Shinjiro is the clear winner. And on taste... that too, probably.
...But then, Myunghon hits her where it hurts.
Oh no.
...Shinobu swallows. This might be a more difficult battle than any she's faced so far...
She takes a bit of one, and then the other...
Her expression is serious.
"U-uh, yeah. It isn't about who wins or loses... They're both really good. Uh..." She starts, agreeing with Mio - but she knows that isn't going to make anyone happy, so she eventually has no choice but to admit...
"...I've gotta give it to Shinjiro, though." She concludes.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Myunghon thinks they wasted their time in high school. "Mmm. I must admit, I do have some particularly fond memories... and you, darling, are in not a few of them, rest assured." As far Yua and Miho, of course. "I knew that when I graduated... mm. How to say... my time would not be my own, so I did my utmost to seizes what chances I could in that time."
If only she had realized the extent to which her time would become 'not her own'... but it's too late to change what happened now.
But Remi can vouch for that. "You certainly were," says Remi. "And I believe you served with distinction."
She should talk with Shinjiro more--Shinjiro still holds some particular fascination for her.
She considers Mio's response. "I suppose you're right, dear." Inwardly, though, she is still concerned.
She's known Myunghon longer, after all. (Sorry, Myunghon. She belives in you! But this is Shinjiro you're going up against.)
But hanging out together more... well, that would be nice, wouldn't it? But... fraught with peril.
Still, she watches as Shinobu judges... and just nods to herself. "But Myunghoin, darling, just think how far you've come! You didn't know how to make this ish at all when you started, so I believe you can count that as a win."
She gets up and walks over to the grill. "And I think you've earned your break. I'll take over. Who would like the next one, and what shall I put upon it?"
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
"No, I mean it! You can go to some tourist towns and the deer have been taught to bob their heads every time someone approaches them with a cracker, and they call it 'being polite' rather than simple pavlovian training. Then the deer will mob you en masse. It is patently transparent from top to bottom," So-young huffs in what is, let's face it, rather a deliberately ridiculous way. At least she seems mollified enough that Shinjiro understands her concerns, nodding solemnly afterwards.
The musician hardly establishes totalitarian control of the MP3 player, not least because trying to figure out acoustics in a back alley is generally a futile endeavour as it is. Besides, So-young is also a bit of a hobbyist idol stan, and even with the music playing she keeps flicking through the contents of the player. "Oh, you're very up to date. Didn't this group just start a few months ago? I remember getting an email asking about my rates. I offered to do some work for their debut for free, but they turned to another composer in the end." She lets a snatch of it play, humming pleasantly along. "It seems to have worked very well for them," she admits graciously.
"... Student Council President. I can see it, I suppose," So-young ventures after a moment towards Remi, trying to imagine what Myunghon must have been like that far back. If you have any photographs or yearbooks, I would be delighted to take them off your hands for blackmail purposes, and--"
So-young's ears prick up at the final comment from Myunghon, and she's slowly turning her head to lock onto the situation with an almost cat-like stare. "Hold on, when did you learn how to guilt trip someone?" she comments with naked glee, watching the interaction with her eyebrows soaring higher. "More to the point, when did you learn how to guilt trip Shinobu of all people?"
Given how often So-young refers to herself as a member of the audience, it is only good and proper that she gasps theatrically at the final verdict, a hand going to her forehead as she pretends to almost swoon.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's an almost unimpressed sigh with So-young as she starts plying Remi for pictures, and they say, "Nuna, if you're so keen to see what Myorei Yukichi looked like, she wasn't exactly a secret." Of course, it's not all just about the looks, now is it? That dangerous yearbook...
But So-young also asks them when they learnt how to guilt trip anyone. "Now excuse me, just whatever is that supposed to mean?"
Remi's kinder about their time together, though. "Hmm... I suppose we both have experienced that, in our own ways..." Myunghon is also leaving it a little vague. "But that is a point well taken. Assisting the theatre club was a pleasant enough experience."
Myunghon suddenly looks a bit bashful when Shinobu shows interest. This might be a dangerously careless tic when So-young is present. "... well, I do not advertise it often, but it is true. Even you might be surprised, I suppose, Shinobu-ssi... I don't believe you would've liked me much then." And they were reflecting on how meeting Mitsuru was almost like looking in a mirror... they've obtained an unexpected link through Shinjiro.
Mio so fervently believes in a Plan B, but, alas, the only Plan B present was for Remi to keep feeding everyone else after this. They've come up short...!! It's not just about who wins or loses, right...
...
...
Shinobu gives the edge to Shinjiro, which is a polite way to say it was a complete blowout. Myunghon pouts quietly to say, "Ah, that tactic didn't work...?" though there's a teasing note to their voice. "This is a lot more difficult than baking. ... there is something pleasant in simply waiting for your cookie to complete."
But they do get the wonderful prize of Shinjiro agreeing to do this more often, and after learning a few more tricks... they pick up a piece of Shinjiro's okonomiyaki and eats it, ashes and all. "Full of love," they agree, winking...
... no, is that just blinking, when you just have one eye?
"Oh, also, make me one with just beansprouts, please, Remi."
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
So-young fishes for blackmail material, and Remi pauses for a moment. Does she have any yearbooks or photos? If she does... they're at home, a place she hasn't been to in... quite some time.
If they even still kept those.
But she has another answer, and the gives So-young a good-natured smile, instead. "Why, I do believe it would be inappropriate of me to 'bite the hand that feeds me', as they say. Myunghon does still sign my paychecks, dear."
She might share a story or two later, though.
"It was indeed wonderful to work alongside you in the Drama club," Remi agrees.
She takes her spot at the grill, and nods to Myunghon as they give their order. "Bean sprouts, coming right up," she says, getting to work.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Myunghon says that even she might be surprised - but they doubt she would've liked them much then... Shinobu considers this, as well as what they say... And then, she nods.
"Then I'll take your word for it. I prefer Myunghon, anyway." She replies.
So-young asks how they learned how to guilt trip her of all people...
...And Shinobu pointedly says nothing.
<Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
Shinjiro hears it's not about who wins or loses. He partially agrees. Partially, because he's now eighteen and therefore likes to win.
Which he does! But he's gracious in it. "...thanks, Myunghon. If you ever want to learn more cooking, let me know. This knowledge is useful to more than just me."
Then, he moves to *finally* take a damn seat, sheepish as Myunghon tries his food and winks with one eye.
"...thank you, everyone. This has been... hard to accept, but it's real nice. I've never actually had someone throw me a real party until this birthday. ...didn't think I deserved it, honestly."
One last birthday... and it's been a good one, surprisingly.
"Now to enjoy the rest of the evening, right?" Shinjiro says. He's still not fully relaxed... but he's trying. And that's what matters.
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
If nothing else, So-young is apparently not trying to be mean about either of her requests, simply overexuberant. "It isn't simply about how--" she hesitates here, finally having the presence of mind to spot the way in which Myunghon delineates those two identities. She's not exactly sure how to best respect that, but at least she seems to understand enough to not draw a direct link between the two, and tries again. "There is simply a lot of history that it would be pleasant to catch up on. I think I'd feel fairly proud," she insists almost thoughtfully.
If anything brings her back to earth, it's the way in which Shinjiro mentions he didn't think he deserved his birthday, and her brow furrows for a moment. She wasn't exactly a latchkey child in the traditional sense, not when she was being passed around between aunts, but there's a familiarity to the feeling. "Yes, well. We do seem to be in the business of overtuning expectations. Even our own," she decides with a distinct confidence.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
There's merely a quiet chuckle as Remi points out Myunghon still pays her bills, though she wouldn't dare hang that over her head like that, now would they?
... even as they lean forward with their finger at their lips as Shinobu says she prefers Myunghon. The flush and smile from that is almost unmistakable. "Hmm. Well, that's a very nice consolation prize for losing the contest."
Shinjiro thanks them all as he sits down and Myunghon brings some water for them, since they've been exerting a bit. "This is... also new to me, actually," Myunghon confesses, since they sure weren't having birthday parties even back in high school. Remi knows how absent their parents were.
And So-young is trying! There's a fond little smile as they seem to pick up on what their sibling's trying to do, and then says, "... it's on the third shelf."