Wednesday is pretty much the least touristy day of the week. In Tokyo, that means only thousands instead of tens of thousands at the harbor, but it does mean there's elbowroom for people to spread out and enjoy the atmosphere.
Near the dolphin fountain, Ami Mizuno has spread out on the ground, with books to either side of her and a notebook in front of her. She's seated on the ground, still in her school uniform with a thin polo sweater overtop to stave off the late October chill. Thin-framed reading glasses rest on the girl's nose as she leans forward to read her biology textbook. Beside her, a pair of speakers quietly thrum out J-Pop; just loud enough for her to enjoy without impinging upon the peace of other passers by overmuch.
Daisuke Hansuke has been up since three in the morning. He had that fricken dreadful nightmare again for the second night in the row. He'd been having a lot of dreams lately- but yesterday things got kinda dark in them. He's hoping this is not the usaual way his nighttimes are going to go.
FOR NOW there was a soultion to this tiredness and it's an extra large cup of coffee that Daisuke is drinking right now in the slightly chill air. It's helping him keep aware because he has things he has to do today and he can't let a little grogginess ruin his work. He's actually come to sit down on the edge of the fountain as he blinks a bit. Huh? Is that J-pop? He's looking for the source a moment. His inital thought is 'Wow, someone has thier phone really loud, that's rude.'.
He peeks around the fountain and steps around to peek down at the girl who's having some sort picniced study session. Oh. Speakers. Maybe that isn't /too/ loud then. Though he does blink. huh-------
Does he know this person?
"Hello?" he asks inquisitivly. "That's an awful lot of books. Are you studying for a essay or a test?" he asks.
It takes a moment for Ami to realise she's being spoken to directly. When she does realise it, her head snaps up suddenly. Wide-eyed, she blinks at the boy, then blushes a little and reaches up to remove her glasses. "Sorry," she says, leaning over to turn her music down even further.
Oh wait, he didn't say anything about her music being too loud. What was it he said? She furrows her brow and replays his words in her mind, then her eyes widen again. "Oh! No. I was doing my homework, but then I finished and went to reread the text to double check my work ... and then I got sidetracked reading about the circadian rhythm. And then I got into thinking about sleep cycles, and the long-term effects of sleep deprivation, versus sleep indulgance, and ..." she trails off, then blushes again. "Sorry, was my music too loud? Am I taking up too much space/"
Daisuke Hansuke blinks and head tilts. Oh. He knows some of these words, yes! He seems confused though, overall. He starts on the more pertient points. "No, your music wasn't loud. I mean. I thought it was at first because some rude people don't use headphones with thier MP3 players. But if it's speakers- that's a fine volume I guess." he smiles.
"No, not too much space. Really. It was just the music." he insists. "I guess I'm just irritable today. Long night." he says as he sips his coffee. "My name's Daisuke Hansuke." he bows slightly. "May I ask why you're studying things like that?" he asks. He has a seat on the edge of the fountain Ami side now! He occasionally has a sip of coffee.
Ami stares at Daisuke for a moment, then leans forward to close her textbooks and her notebook, revealing a cover with a colour like her hair, and a dolphin leaping across the cover. She stacks the books one atop the other until the notebook is on top, and then, with all of her things mostly out of the way, she leans back to prop herself up with her hands. "It's nice to meet you, Hansuke-san," she says. "I'm Ami. Ami Mizuno." Yes that Ami Mizuno.
"--and I'm sorry to hear that you had a long night," Ami continues thoughtfully. "We're supposed to be going over biological cycles in class, which is how I wound up on the circadian rhythm. But honestly, I would probably study it anyways. My mother is a doctor, and I hope I can follow in her footsteps when I'm older. I really enjoy studying the diversity of life and evolution."
Daisuke Hansuke eyes the notebooks. He head tilts. Mizuno? Oh! Yeah that's a name he knows- but it's in passing. Rumors of test scores. He doesn't know the person. Well. Not until like a few seconds ago anayways. He taps his chin. "I see." he says to the first part. Oh! Her mom's a doctor. "My Dad's a Doctor. I'm supposed to follow in the family footsteps but I decided I liked cute animals more, so I'm working on becoming a veternarian." he says with a slight smirk.
"I work in my dad's office part time as a receptionist, thou, to get the office experience- since paperwork is paperwork regardless." he says. "Wether it's about a person on an animal." he says. "Still. That's pretty neat!" he insists. He head tilts. That's kinda deep. The last thing he said. He takes it in a moment.
"Yeah. Just been having a berth of nightmares recently. Dunno why. Woke up too early." he says, drinking more of his coffee.
"Nightmares aren't fun," Ami replies with a wrinkle of her nose. She eyes his coffee thoughtfully a moment, then begins putting her things back in her bag. "Are you experiencing stress or anxiety? Those are often the cause of nightmares. I find thirty minutes of yoga in the evenings, about two hours before bedtime, helps a lot with ensuring I go to sleep without too much stress."
Not that she's had much time to do that in the past few months; Sailor Mercury's business frequently takes place late at night.
Ami lets out a soft sigh at the thought, then returns to a gentle smile. "Veterinary medicine is still medicine. Animals are just as in need of doctors as we are, and for all that humans dominate the Earth, there are still more animals. And besides, they're really cute, right?" she asks, smile growing a bit wider. "I think it's a wonderful course of study."
Daisuke Hansuke head tilts. "Eh. I dunno. Maybe anxiety? A lot of the dreams started when-----" meh. This is a personal thing. He doesn't feel comfortable explaining. "You know what, nevermind. I can deal with it." he smiles a little. He head tilts. He sips another bit of his coffee. Mmmmy. It's still warm at least. The air isn't helping with that. He nods a bit down at Ami.
"My grandparents weren't happy about my course of action- but my dad's fine with it. So that's really all that matters I guess." he smiles.
"Though, I just like helping in general." he adds.
Ami blushes at Daisuke's sudden closure, but she doesn't pressure him on the topic. If he doesn't want to discuss his nightmares, that's his decision.
Instead, she hesitantly offers her hand to him, as if asking for help up. "Your dad's got the right idea," she says. "So what brings you down to the harbor district?" she asks, as she picks up her bookbag. "I was thinking I was going to go get a snack. Do you want to come?"
Daisuke Hansuke offers his hand down to help Ami up. He blinks a little as he hrms.
"Oh. I take a little walk here once in a while to clear out my head. It's been a long morning, as I said. Wasted most of my early hours in a silly computer game." he says with a smile.
"What kind of snack?" he asks gently.
Ami pulls herself to her feet with Daisuke's help, then slips her feet back in the black flats that compliment her school uniform. "Well, there's an ice cream shop, and a bakery, and a candy shop, nearby," she suggests thoughtfully. "I was planning on the bakery, because your coffee smells good and they serve it, as well. But I could be persuaded to go for something sweeter, if you'd like.' She smiles at him just faintly, then asks, "What video game?"
Daisuke Hansuke ehs. "Just an MMORPG I play to unwind my head. I'm a pretty good healer." he insists.
He lets Ami gather up her shoes and all her stuff. He'll help her pack it all, too- that's a lot of books. "Bakery is good then. I need more coffee anyways." he insists. "And this regular stuff is tasting bad. Do they have flavors?" he asks.
He looks around a bit. "It's getting colder and colder. Holiday season soon." he says.
"Mmm," Ami agrees pleasantly as she shoulders her bag and walks along towards the bakery. "I won't be able to swim as much, but on the other hand, Christmas is always fun. And this year I have a lot of friends to buy gifts for. I'm looking forward to it."
She glances aside at Daisuke, then smiles and looks back to where they're going. "So, a budding veterinarian. Do you have any pets?"
Daisuke Hansuke hehs. "I'm always busy around the Holidays. I do a lot of work around the city." he says. He doesn't specify what kind of work. Bragging about chairty work seems lame to him- so he's vauge. He shakes his head. "No, I don't- my life's too busy to have a proper pet. I could get a fish- that'd be all I have time for." he says softly. "I'd rather be responsible, and all- after all." he says.
He head tilts. "Friend's are always good!" he says with a soft smile.
"I always wanted a cat," Ami says, a little wistfully. "But my mother doesn't have time to care for one, since my father left us, and she doesn't think I will, either, with all of my studies." She frowns, just faintly, then admits, "I think I would do just fine at it, but it's her house."
Aaaand she's rambling. Woops. "So what do you do that keeps you so busy?" she asks curiously.
Daisuke Hansuke sort of bites back something as he thinks. "I don't really like telling." he says. "I belive helping people is it's own reward. I shouldn't need to scream it from the rooftops, you know? But I do a lot of chairty work, overall. It's something I belive is important, is all." he says with a shrug.
He walks along slowly as he sighs. "Cats can be a lot of work. They're independent, but need attention too- but not as much as attention as say--- a dog." he says. "A cat'll come to you if they want attention and loves n' stuff." he says as he tosses his now empty coffee cup into a nearby bin.
Ami tilts her head to glance at Daisuke curiously, then says, "You know, it's not bragging to tell someone you do charity work when they are asking." She grins at him faintly, then slows when they reach the door to the bakery. "And I think it's a very noble goal. What kind of charity work do you do?"
Usagi is just strolling along, totally not with the intention of drooling at the bakery window, nope.
Wait, there's Ami-chan! And...a booooooooooy!
"Huehuehue!"
She's now being sneakity. A stealthy ninja!
"Usagi, leave her alone."
"What? She's my friend! I'm just gonna go say hi." A pause. "Huehuehue."
She sneaks over, totally not stealthy.
And then...
FIGURATIVE POUNCE!
"Ami-chaaaaan! Who's your new frieeeeeend?" Huehuehue.
Luna sighs before hopping to Ami's shoulder, an apologetic nose to the cheek.
Daisuke Hansuke laughs. "It would be easier for me to get a list of chairtable organizations in Tokyo and check the ones I'm not involved with." he says. "I tend to get involved in a little of everything, though some only at different times. I get into the canned food and donation drives this time of year." he says softly. "I also help my Dad when he does his free clinic day once a month." he says. "Lots of other things like that, really." he says. "I know it's not bragging. Just. When you tell someone you do chairity work, it paints thier opinon of you. Either your're some primmadonna who can't be touched, or they feel compelled to feel bad because they don't do much. I don't begrudge people. I'd like to think most people help when they're able to with other things. I think people are kind." he shakes his head. "They don't need me wearing a bright red 'better than you' button or something like that to make them feel bad." he says--- and then!?
Usagi 'pounces' Ami and there's a cat!? He blinks a little. There's that strange feeling again. That sinking feeling of light Deja Vu.
He actually doesn't say anything at this point- instead, he reaches out and tries to peek at what's on that's cat forehead. Did the cat get hurt or something?
"Or you respect them," Ami points out to Daisuke, as an alternative, "because helping people is a very noble and k--Usagi-chan!" she is completely interrupted (and startled) by the appearance of the blonde pouncing into her face. And for all that Luna is trying to be apologetic, having a cat jump on your shoulder when you're already off balance is not helpful.
"Luna!" Ami greets the cat nevertheless, clearly excited to see her. She reaches up to pull Luna down from her shoulder and into her arms, then offers her to Daisuke so that he can inspect her forehead. "Usagi-chan, please meet Daisuke Hansuke. Hansuke-san wishes to be a veterinarian, and caught me studying biology. Hansuke-san, this is my best friend Usagi Tsukino, and her cat Luna."
Luna has a very wary pair of cat eyes on Daisuke. She doesn't squirm when Ami hands her over, but she has a paw on his chest so she can give him a very cat glare. I got my eyes on you, buddy.
"Daisu-kun! Very nice to meet you!" Usagi is not at all about propriety, unless she has a crush. Which she does (not really shut up) but not on him. She holds out her hand, which is almost all but hidden in a suspiciously oversized green shirt. "Ignore Luna, she's cranky at me, not you."
She whispers to Ami. "She's grumpy because I didn't take her along when I snuck out last night."
Daisuke Hansuke huh, and taps that weird 'scar'- or least what he's perciving on one. Cat doesn't seem on pain. He feels bad though. He's kinda running through a few unpleasent scenarios in his head and then----pop! Back to reality. "Oh....! Sorry. Luna is the cat's name? She's cute." he says with a smile. He doesn't read cat thoughts.
He bows softly at Usagi. "Hello, Usagi-san. We were on our way to a bakery, as I need more coffee. Oh- is your cat in a bad mood?" he asks softly. He takes the hand pointedly. Shake!
He gets distracted by the same things Ami does, and Ami notices this--right up until Usagi addresses him as informally as possible. Ami blushes, embarassed on her friend's behalf (and maybe a little on her own).
"You snuck out last night?," Ami asks Usagi curiously. Absently, she reaches up to take Luna back from Daisuke. It's not jealousy, honest! She just doesn't think he should have to hold a cat that isn't his. Staring at Usagi's shirt, Ami furrows her brows, then peers up at the girl curiously. "That shirt is awfully big for you," she notes thoughtfully.
It's Usagi's turn to blush. "I went checking for bad guys at the apartment." Not really, because of the rug.
She fiddles with the sleeves, the waist tied at her hips.
"Mamo-ru...kun said I could steal it! As payment for...stuff! Because it's pretty, and soft. See?" She holds up her arm to be petted.
She didn't steal it just because it was his! Nope, nope, nope!
Luna is less cranky, now, and even purrs as she bumps her head against Ami's chin.
Usagi looks at Daisuke. "Yeah. She's a very over protective kitty and thinks I do silly things."
Daisuke Hansuke has Luna taken back from him. He's fine with this. Luna looks healthy- even with the odd forehead mark. He looks at Ami, then blinks, and shrugs. He doesn't seem too bothered by the informality. His eyes peek back towards Usagi. He blinks. Bigger shirt? Really this is none of his damn bussiness so the politer part of his brain is tuning this out.
Oh. Her cat thinks that? He blinks. Wait what? He squints at Usagi.
"Okay." he says.
"What are you wanting at the bakery?" he asks.
Ami very pointedly does not pet Usagi's sleeves. Instead, the blonde gets a very patient, very pained look from Ami, before the blue-haired girl decides this is not her fight. She will let Makoto and Rei deal with it (and yes, they will hear about it, later). Instead, she merely lets out a sigh and mumbles, "Oh, Usagi-chan," and that's that.
Instead, she squeezes Luna just gently in a hug, and turns right back to Daisuke. Bakery. She glances in the window at the storefront, then looks back to him once more and shrugs, "I was going to just get some dango and coffee. Maybe some daifuku for dessert?"
Oh no! Ami-chan is mad at her! Though Usagi doesn't exactly see why (She had reasons! They were legit! And she went when he wasn't there!) the weight of Ami's disapproval weighs as heavily as Rei's anger.
"Sorry, Ami-chan..." It's a sad little mumble.
So really, it's not that she's giving Sad Puppy Eyes when the mention of food is brought up. Nope, they are already there. "Nothing for me. I spent my allowance."
A sigh. Long and sad. And nothing to do with food. NOPE NO SIRREE maybe a little.
Daisuke Hansuke looks up. "Coffee. And a pastry. I'm not even picky." he politly insists. He raises his hand. "Nah, you get tugged along by me somewhere, I pay." he insists. "That's only polite, really." he says. He really doesn't know the precedent he's setting here- really.
"So. Just order. I got it." he says. He goes to Verone, right? This won't be a problem for a Verone guy.
He looks at Ami. and Between Usagi. Huh?
"Is something wrong?" he asks.
There is a very brief moment where Ami's shoulders start to drop, sagging as the crushing weight of Usagi's best sad-eyes compel her to feel guilty. She even, almost, thinks to offer Usagi to buy food for her. But Daisuke beats her to the punch, and Usagi's sadness is forgotten in favor of a furiously shy blush from Ami. "I--if you insist," she says to Daisuke, barely audible.
Oh no again! Her being sad has made Ami-chan sad, too!
There is only one cure for this!
Ami-chan soon finds herself victim to Usagi's Hug of Doom.
And then, still clinging to Ami-chan, she perks up more. "Really?" (She, of course, ignores the fact that she crashed this part of two. But she doesn't ignore the blush! She locks it away for further huehuehues.) "Can I have cocoa instead of a coffee?"
Daisuke Hansuke says. "Sure. Like I said." he says opening the door and holding it open. "Come on. Also, you too Mizuno-san~" he says. "I needed coffee anyways so you just reap my need to keep myself awake for the rest of the day." he says. He looks between the two girls again and huhs. Okay. Things are okay. Also. Shy.
He isn't really shy. He walks up and orders his coffee. And what appears to be a bear claw- and what appears to be a plain bread roll. He steps aside and let's the other say thier orders. When that's done. He swipes card. Done. Paid.
He'll go have himself a seat. There's other chairs at that table there.
He breaks up the bread roll and begins offering bread pieces to Luna. This should be safe enough for a kitty to eat, he figures. Just bread. Not a lotta sugars. Probably just end up makin Luna fat if this was a continued thing. Kitties get fed when Daisuke exists.
Ami's smile returns when Usagi hugs her, and she leans into her friend just a little to return the affection. She'd hug her back, but there's a cat in her arms. When Daisuke opens the door, Ami blushes again (although not as furiously) and lets Usagi go in ahead of her.
Inside, Ami waits for her turn to order, asks for her dango, daifuku, and coffee, and then joins Daisuke at the table. Luna is placed down atop it, free to roam and enjoy offerings of food as she will. Ami, meanwhile, reaches into her bookbag and pulls out a textbook. "Thank you," she says to Daisuke for paying, and then promptly tries to disappear into her book and hide from her sudden attack of shyness.
Her phone trills, and she jerks up just before entering. "Oh no! I have to run an errand for Mama, I totally forgot!" She hugs Ami again. "Please tell him I had to run off for a bit? I'll be back!" And then she is dashing off, leaving Luna in Ami's arms.
Daisuke Hansuke is feeding a probably happy kitty. Sipping his coffee, and taking a bite out of his bearclaw. He sees that Ami is not retreating into a book. Blushing a lot. He blnks a bit. Is he intimidating to be around? He's not trying to be. He sometimes forgets acts of kindness can seem overwhelming to some people. But--- it was just paying for a snack, right?
"Hey.... Mizuno-san, are you okay?" he asks. "I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable." he says. "It wasn't my intent when offering." he says with a short smile.
"Whatcha reading now anyways?" he asks.
Luna does indeed happily enjoy the snack offered by Daisuke, although she also gives him periodic glances, as if not quite sure if she can trust him.
Ami, meanwhile, stays well hidden in her book until she's called on it. Another blush reaches her cheeks, as she slowly sets the book down on the table. It's not like she was very successful in reading it without her glasses, anyways.
"It's ... a chess strategy guide," Ami admits quietly, offering the book to Daisuke. "I have a tournament this weekend, so I'm brushing up on some of the newer gambits people have been trying." She bites her lip, then immediately stops doing that and instead leans forward, sitting on her hands. "You aren't making me uncomfortable. I'm sorry, I just ... until I met Usagi-chan, I didn't have a lot of friends, and sometimes I don't ... really know what to say or do around people I," am interested in talking to, "just met."
Daisuke Hansuke head tilts. "Chess is a fun game, but I don't play competively, I'm afraid. We could try a few times, but if your deep in it- then you'd just whoop my butt repeatedly." he says. "I'm not really intellectual I guess. I study in my dorm. I do well enough to pass. That's it. Just my upbringing makes me seem proper all the time and sometimes people things that passes for being smart." he says.
"And you know, the whole 'Rich Kids School' thing and eh." he says flipping a hand off to the side.
"I think my younger brother will probably become the 'real' doctor though. That should get my grandparents off my back- but I guess it still makes me a black sheep." he shrugs.
Ami smiles a little at Daisuke. "We could play," she offers him, "but ..." she trails off, then worries at her lip a little more. There is a long moment where she seems stuck in uncertainty before admitting, "I don't know how to say this without sounding conceited. I'm ... currently ranked number four in Japan."
And there's that blush again.
She buries her face in her hands a moment, then takes a deep breath before offering, "We could play 'Go' instead, if you really would like to play. I ... have a board with me, and it's customary to give a handicap to less experienced players. But ... but we don't have to play anything."
Daisuke Hansuke sees the blushing. He feels bad about this. He can only wonder what it must be like to only really ..... have friends? Recently. He's never been afraid of contact. "See. Right there. You'd kick my butt." he insists coyly. "I actually don't know how to play Go." he sheepishly admits.
"Yes. I know that's silly. It's a popular and traditional game, but I never really had the time. You could teach me maybe sometimes soon?" he asks politely. "I mean. If you want a playing partner for it. I'm sure theres others you probably would find more intrest who already know how to play." he smiles.
He gives Luna a pet, as he's run out of bread roll. Also. His Bear Claw is finished.
Figuring out how to talk to people with out a focused topic is one of Ami's greatest trials in life. This entire meeting has been an exercise in stress and shyness for the blue-haired girl. But now they're back on a topic she feels comfortable with, Ami seems so natural in the conversation. It's as if she's simply forgotten to be shy when discussing chess and go.
Ami grabs her book and replaces it in her bag, then pulls out a slender, folded board covered in black lines. "The thing about Go," she explains quietly to Daisuke as she also draws forth a pair of soft cloth bags, "is that it's a really easy game to play, but can require years to master." Laying the board out between them, she offers him a bag full of white pieces, then leans forward to explain the rules, the value and commonality of handicaps, and to help him with his first moves.