Chance Meetings in the Park

    It's a nice Friday afternoon like most others, the summer sun out and shining in the sky with a few fluffy clouds up there giving momentary breaks of shade. There are plenty of people in the park and kids on the playground, but somewhat off by herself sitting on a bench near the pond is Nagisa. It's not just any other Friday to the small second grader, and she's looking distinctly down. Even the white cheddar popcorn she's eating out of a little bag doesn't seem to fully cheer her up- which might come as a shock to anyone who knows her. Not that she isn't enjoying it, there's just heavier things on her young mind than the delicious flavor of cheese. Were one to look at her face it's clear she's been crying recently even if she seems to be holding in her pain for the moment.

    Unfortunately for her the pond is far from empty, currently home to a number of orange billed white ducks- ducks that haven't been thrown nearly so many breadcrumbs today as they'd like. And while they're usually somewhat shy of humans that one sitting near the waters edge isn't quite so large and threatening! One of them splashes up onto the shore and waddles closer, quacking softly as it edges closer to the bench. It's quite close before Nagisa notices it, blinking and looking towards it. "Did you come to try and cheer me up too, Ducky-san?" She puts on a tiny smile, only to gasp in surprise when the duck flaps it's wings and jumps up onto the bench next to her and starts snapping at her popcorn.

    "Kweeeeeeeeh!" she cries out, waving her arms as her treat comes under assault, other ducks in the pond taking notice at her inability to shoo away their brethren, even while flailing her arms. "Noooo, this is mine, Ducky-san! Get your own!"

    Although the public park is not usually the sort of place that Kurota hangs out in, it is certainly a convinient throughway between various parts of the city and so it is not that unusual to find him walking through on his way someplace else. That happens to be the case today, the young man progressing steadily along the paved walkway, heading from the area of his school towards the more urban downtown districts while cutting through the pleasant scenery of the park. Even in the bright, sunny afternoon though, Kurota is Kurota, which means that he has the hood of his hoodie pulled up over his head, which in turn obscures the cups of the large black headphones he wears, the pulsing blue LED lights racing around their periphery indicating that they're in use, even if you aren't close enough to hear the subtle thump of bass as he plays music louder than the usage guidelines recommend.
    Normally Kurota would not pay much mind to kids in the park- I mean they're everywhere, and he doesn't really have much interest in people half his own age. However, even through the noise-obsfucating music being pumped through his headphones, he is passing close enough to the lake to catch a hint of that distressed 'Kweeeeeeh!' and to see the flailing out of the corner of his eye.
    He turns, and frowns slightly upon seeing the savage ducks assaulting a young girl. Though most would describe Kurota as a bit of a troublemaker, at least those in authority, he has a strong 'hero' streak when it comes to seeing people getting picked on and this qualifies, even if the picker-onners are birds. It takes just a few steps (he's quite tall) for him to turn and cross the distance to the bench, whereupon he unceremoniously punts the duck back into the water. It sqwuaks as it tumbles in a small arc and then splooshes into the water, though it rights itself a moment later, seemingly ruffled but unharmed. "Go on, ya duck." Kurota shouts at it, and it seems to get the message, paddling away after a moment and glaring back over its shoulder at the humans.

Reiko Touyama has come to visit the pond--- something about water and fish in water makes her feel calm and serene- and she needs to relax-- between Hiroko being miss mean girl, and her own friend's troubles. She peeks into the water--- and aww, she can't see any fish, they must all be deeper into the pond.

Then suddenly, a sound eminates from across the pond and she squints! OH it's... that girl. She frowns a little, and walks across the pond- to help!...

When an older boy intercepts and kicks the duck into the water. "Oh dear, were the ducks attacking you!?" she asks to Nagisa. She looks up at Kurota with a blink. This is not a boy she knows, but she smiles at him all the same!

"Um... hi..." she says turning back to Nagsia. "Are-- are you okay. I remember you ran out of the hospital yesterday, and everyone was super concerned!" she says as she tucks her arms towards herself a moment.

    The duck can sense that victory is near, and a greater one than imagined. Perhaps it intended to take only a few bites of cheese-dust laden popcorn, but as it flaps about it realizes it's on the verge of scaring the poor girl into abandoning her treat completely, the confused and now frightened Nagisa almost ready to jump up and run away, leaving her treat behind. But even as the duck stretches taller and flaps in her face it's downfall is at hand, never seeing the foot headed it's way, a loud quack of surprise emitted as it tumbles through the air before splashing down in the pond.

    And Nagisa, for her part, is nearly as terrified of this change as of the duck itself, jumping in her seat and instinctively holding her arms up in front of herself, not having seen the tall boy heading her direction. It only takes a brief moment, and his words, to make her realize she has been saved. She's a bit conflicted, as kicking ducks isn't what she'd usually consider a kind or heroic action... but given the circumstances she sets those concerns aside. "You saved my popcorn!" True, some pieces have been stolen and eaten, and others are now on the ground, but by in large her snack is intact. "I don't think I could have done it myself. Thank you-" She isn't sure what to call Kurota, so after a moment comes up with, "Headphones-san!"

    She nods quickly when the other girl calls over to her, blinking in surprise and clearly recognizing her from the day before, becoming slightly embarrassed and demure at the memory of being seen in such a sorry and sad state. "Um... yes. I'm sorry if I was cause for you to worry. ...but thank you for being nice enough to be concerned for my safety."

    Kurota scowls after the ducks as it retreats, and then turns in time to notice that the girl he has heroically saved is speaking to him. He can't hear a word of it because his headphones are still playing quite loudly- they're a really good pair, so the bass is pretty incredible. Still, years of wearing the things has given him some small degree of skill in reading lips, and he presses the 'off' button on the MP3 player hidden in his pocket, and between those two actions he is able to at least get the gist of what is being said to him. After a moment he reaches up and pushes back his hood and his headphones in one motion, freeing his unruly mop of black hair and resting the headphones around his neck.
    "Don't mention it, kid." He says, smiling, though his tone is perhaps just a bit too self-satisfied to be entirely admirable. "It's just the right thing to do, when you see a little kid in trouble, right? I don't think those ducks will bother you any-"
    He cuts off when Reiko rushes up and starts fussing over Nagisa, frowning slightly. Perhaps he had wanted a little more recognition of his amazing, heroic deed! Oh well.

Reiko Touyama frowns. "Ducks are like natures jerks!" she insists, crossing her arms and gives a matter of fact nod. She looks at Kurota. "But you shouldn't kick ducks Headphones-san! Ducks are still special, too! You shouldn't do it!" because she likes that Moniker Nagsia just made up. She has a seat next to the younger girl and frowns. "I'm sorry that , that happened." she admits- she got lost in the jargon of 'wishes' and stuff that was being discussed yesterday. "But... My Grandpa always says things will get better! So you gotta belive that, as long as you try!"

"Um, my name's Reiko!" she explains. "What are your guys names!" she asks.

She takes off her backpack and puts it into the lap as she sits down on the bench,

    Nagisa looks up at Kurota as he takes off his headphones and hood, nodding quickly to him. "I'm sure they'll think long and hard about trying to steal from me again after that! They definitely won't try to do it lightly," she praises, even after he stops speaking himself. She then looks over to Reiko and gives a small nod, "That one sure was."

    Looking a little torn on whether or not to defend Kurota for kicking the duck, she instead takes a third path and sorta cuts Reiko off before she's entirely finished. "Um! Would you like some of my popcorn? It's a special white cheddar kind!" She picks up the little baggy full and holds it up to Kurota first, who clearly should get first dibs if he wants it since if not for him it would all be duck food by now. Biting her lip a little as yesterdays conversations are brought up one more she nods, "I know... I was feeling really horrible, but thanks to you and everyone else I feel a bit better about it. I'm going to do my best to remember happy things with my mom, and I've got to try and be strong for Papa- he needs me!"

    She's not in any position to be bowing but Nagisa tries anyway, shifting in her seat and leaning towards the other two in turn, "Nagisa Momoe. It's nice to meet you formally, Reiko-san."

    Kurota frowns a bit at Reiko. "Well, ducks shouldn't steal. Stealing is wrong too, right? If you steal you get punted. Them's the breaks." He shrugs a bit, but offers a smile to Nagisa as she offers up part of the rescued snack as a reward. "Sure, thanks." He says, taking just a couple of pieces to show that he's appreciative, but not much because he doesn't want to deprive the girl of her treat after going through all the effort of rescuing it.
    He pops them into his mouth, chewing for a moment while listening to the two young girls talk, although he has no idea what they are talking about. When names are requested, he doesn't bow or anything but he does incline his head slightly and offer, "KUrota Aizawa. Though I've been called worse things than Headphones-san.."

Reiko Touyama politely declines the snack. "No thanks, that's yours!" she says softly. She looks at Kurota and frowns! She has choice words, instead it just ends in a frustrated nrrhgmg sound, because arguing about hitting ducks for being jerk around Nagsia right now isn't going to make her feel better. Instead, she opens her backpack and removes a sketchpad and pencil set.

"I'm glad you're okay though!" she says. "I mean, as well as can be given... the stuff. Yeah." she says awkwardly. She begins sketching idly, as she ponders.

"Worse names than that?" she asks. "Headphones-san suits you well! I think I'm going to call you that!" she says with a smile!

    Nagisa offers the treat to Reiko once Kurota has chosen his own portion, and quickly pops a piece into her own mouth afterwards. Perhaps it's because it was almost just taken away from her but it tastes amazing right now! Depending on how discriminating his tastes are he'll either be able to tell that this is no mere vending machine popcorn but a true delight, the popcorn itself a mere vehicle for well aged white cheddar... or just that it's extra cheesy. Either way the young girl herself is in a momentary state of bliss before returning her attention to the conversation.

    She perks up when Reiko pulls out a sketchpad, "Oh! Are you an artist? Are you going to draw something?" She smiles a little up to the tall boy then and nods, deciding to go with the wisdom of the older girl- two grades older is a lot at her age! "Headphones-san does suit you, I can tell that yours are a very nice pair. I like their lights!" She shifts in her seat a little and looks down at her popcorn, shifting back to a less happy topic for just a moment. "I'll be okay. It's... a lot easier when I can talk to nice people like you."

    Kurota snorts a little bit, the ire of the 10-year-old Reiko not of much concern to him. He does have discerning tastes, just not about food.. but the extra cheesiness is appreciated anyway. He smiles again, though it has a bit of a smirky quality to it. "Headphones-san is a fairly apt description most of the time. Anyway, looks like you have things under control now. Just shout if any more ducks attack." He winks to Nagisa, then pulls his headphone sback up onto his head, and a moment later his hood over them, obscuring his face and returning him to the sheltered world of pounding music in his ears.
    With a flippant wave over his shoulder, he turns and starts to walk off down the path again, leaving a now duck-free Nagisa to chat with Reiko on the park bench.

Reiko Touyama beams. "I am! An artist. I think I'm good, at least..." she says as she sketches the pond's general shape before her. "I came...originally...to draw the fish! But... they're all too deep in the water, can't see 'em." she frowns a bit. "Just a lot going on--- my best friend got sent to the hospital twice, and now her sister has that creepy disease going around." she frets. "It's why I was at the hospital, I had to deliver a get well card..." she frowns.

"So drawing helps me relax!" she beams.

Her eyes glance as Headphones-san leaves. "That guy's okay....." she muses outloud. "But--- he still shouldn't be mean to animals!" she huffs a little under her breath. "Animals have feelings too, you know!"

    Nagisa blinks a couple of times when Kurota winks to her, her cheeks coloring a little as she lifts her arm to wave at him when he starts to leave. "Thanks again, Headphones-san!" She watches him walk away for a moment or two before settling down in her seat turning her eyes to Reiko's sketchpad as the other girl starts to draw. Eating another couple pieces of popcorn she pauses when Reiko talks about her own troubles, "I'm really sorry to hear about your friend and her sister. It would be so much better if no one ever had to go to the hospital for being sick or hurt." But even eight year old Nagisa knows that's a pipe dream.

    Luckily Reiko seems to perk herself up quickly so the white haired girl nods, "Having a fun relaxing hobby is important! I really enjoy cooking and baking; my mom taught me how to cook." She's quiet for a moment before adding, "I'll have something good to remember her by whenever I make something delicious!"

    A little pout is made as the older girl huffs, "They do, but Ducky-san should have just asked if he wanted some of my popcorn. He was greedy and tried to take it all for himself. I wouldn't kick at him myself, but I'm glad Headphones-san stopped Ducky-san, even if it was a little mean."

Reiko Touyama huffs. "I hope all boys aren't like him when they get older." she muses outloud, and makes a face. Ick! She instead looks up from her sketchbook, and thinks. She closes her sketchbook and thinks for a moment. "You cook!? Ugh I can barely operate a stove---and... you gotta be younger than me." she huffs. "Maybe..I should ask Grandpa to help me with that..." she muses outloud.

"Uhm... what school do you go to Nagisa? I go to Seishou!" she beams. "But, I'm hoping my friend can pass the exams to get into Infinity someday soon. That way, I can go , too!" she says. "I don't wanna go on alone...." she says with a sigh as she taps her pencil on the cover of the book.

"What do you usually like to cook?" she asks.

    Nagisa doesn't speak up on Kurota's behalf again, thinking she probably won't be able to change Reiko's opinion of a boy who kicks animals so easily. Maybe if the duck had been trying to steal her sketchbook instead she'd understand? A little smile is given along with a nod, "I can cook pretty well, so long as I have a stool to help me reach the countertop." When asked what school she goes to it gives her the perfect chance to also confirm her age, "I'm a second grade elementary student at Infinity. I'm sure your friend can pass if she tries hard, especially if you help her."

    Looking a little worried for a moment when Reiko talks about going alone, Nagisa quickly leans in and smiles, "You wouldn't be alone, because you know me and I go there, right? You look about the same age as my senpai Sakura-san, too. You might have seen her yesterday... she's very nice and I'm sure she'd be happy to make friends with you."

    When ask about cooking she perks up a bit more, "Anything with cheese!" she says enthusiastically, blushing a little at her own exuberance. "But I specialize in making sweets and deserts. Cheesecake is the bes-" She stops talking suddenly and looks over her shoulder as a mans voice can be heard calling her name. "Oh! Papa is calling me, he must be done making arrangements. I'm sorry, Reiko-san but I must be going now. I'd really like to talk to you more about cooking and your drawing some time, though!" She slips off the bench and then offers a more formal bow that she couldn't manage earlier while sitting. "Sorry again for leaving abruptly. Thank you again for being so kind to me." A small smile punctuates the statement, and she turns around and jogs off quickly towards her father, holding her popcorn in one hand while using the other to make sure no more falls out of the bag!