2023-02-10 - Hachiko Meetup: Fox Anxiety
| Title: Hachiko Meetup: Fox Anxiety | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Kyouka reaches out to Endo to update him on the latest news about her search for Strike Wolf's creator. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Shibuya Shopping Ward (Yamanote High City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 2/10/2023 - Wednesday, February 17, 2016 | |
.***************************** Yamanote High City *****************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Shibuya Shopping Ward +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Any rural ingenue looking to come to the big city and get swept away at
first sight would be well-advised to get off at Shibuya Station, where you
could fill a high school yearbook with the people teeming over a single
crosswalk, and a legion of ten-story department stores offer a choice so
broad it resembles existential crisis. Shinjuku might administrate Tokyo,
but Shibuya is its style capital. Its densest concentration of boutiques,
retailers, and restaurants is bound together by Shibuya Crossing, a bustling
pedestrian intersection resembling an even gaudier Times Square.
Within walking distance to Harajuku, Shibuya is less whimsical, and far
grander. Its most iconic symbol is the Shibuya 109 department store, a
cylindrical grey monolith famous even outside of Japan. Each floor of 109
has about a dozen shops, and with ten flights of escalator to ascend, it
doesn't take a mathematician to realize that even this single store can be a
lot to take in. But Shibuya too has its side streets and quirks, and it's
not hard to find a chic little cafe to rest in. Those who find themselves
energized instead have recourse to the night clubs that trade on Shibuya's
stylish reptuation.
Shibuya Station has a humbler landmark as well. It was here that the loyal
dog Hachiko waited for his owner each day, even after the owner had long
since died. A bronze statue of Hachiko waits here still, a reminder that
love and loyalty never die.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It's been a few days since Kyouka threw her party--Endo definitely got an invitation, though Kyouka wasn't entirely sure what his work schedule might be like--but since then, she's been a fair bit distracted. Endo might have noticed if they crossed paths at school, but it's not really the type of thing to discuss at length in the middle of the school day.
So instead, Kyouka texted Endo, asking for a meet to discuss something important. (Though the text promised "It's nothing to be worried about. ... Mostly.") She suggested a place and then...
Kyouka is already here, dressed in her jeans and parka, her seeming default when out of her school uniform. She picked the statue of Hachiko both because it made an easy landmark and, well... she has a fondness for dogs, and she digs the statue's significance.
Loyalty has been especially heavy on her mind as of late.
She's found a bench to sit on while she waits, and she's a bit lost in thought when Endo finds her, staring not quite at the statue so much as past it.
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
Endo wasn't able to attend the party, the boy having been busy juggling his various plates at the time. There seems little time in his schedule as of late, and not too much time to talk at school. But when Kyouka texted him, he made some time to spend with his friend and hear the news.
He's not in school or work uniform, instead favoring a simple pair of dark pants and warm jacket. He's glancing at his phone as he makes his way toward their designated meeting place, pecking at it from time to time before slipping it away once Kyouka is spotted.
"Hey, Kyouka-chan." Endo greets his fellow device user.
He plops down on the opposite side of the bench, folding hands together to keep them warm. Perhaps sensing something amiss, there's a small note of concern in his voice when he asks: "What's up?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka doesn't begrudge Endo his schedule--there'll be other parties, probably.
She's leaning forward, elbows on her knees, chin on top of her hands as she contemplates. It takes her a moment to react to Endo sitting down, and she glances over. She gives him a somewhat reserved smile. "Hey, Endo-kun. Thanks for meeting me."
She looks over to the statue again, gathering her thoughts. It's a moment before she continues.
"So... the person who made Strike Wolf showed up at my party--or at least, their assistant, I think." She tenses a bit, and there's a bit of an edge in her voice that quickly fades. "Nobody was hurt, thanks to Passion and La Sirene, but... well, she wants Strike Wolf back."
Strike Wolf's standby form is still on her wrist as she lays that out, remaining silent to let his partner do the talking.
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
"Uh-huh." Endo replies, adding, "No problem."
When Kyouka delivers the news about what happened at the party he pauses, head tilting. "Ah, I see." He says, adding after: "What do you mean, nobody was hurt? Was she dangerous? What all happened?" The boy leans forward expectantly, waiting for further details.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka smacks her forehead a little when Endo asks for details. "Right, you weren't there. Sorry, it's... Okay, let me back up a bit. So, party was going fine, but at a certain point everyone started falling asleep. There was this mist, I think? I tried to ask Strike Wolf about it, but he wasn't able to answer me because..."
<Kyouka's credentials had been revoked by an administrator,> supplies the device.
"Right, that. The spell got me, but then... Did you hear about that weird fox-woman-thing that's been found rummaging through peoples' houses? We think this was her, and she came in, but Passion and La Sirene managed to avoid falling asleep, so they were able to keep her at bay until Strike Wolf fixed my credentials."
Kyouka sighs a bit. "We think her plan was to just knock everyone out, take Strike Wolf back, and then leave. We think." After a beat she adds, "And probably steal some food, I guess."
"But she says she made Strike Wolf, or her and her master did. I think she thought that I stole him, but she left when Strike Wolf told her I hadn't."
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
Endo nods as Kyouka explains the events that transpired, his frown increasing in depth as she goes on.
"I've never heard of magic like that before." He supplies, adding: "I'm glad Passion and La Sirene were around, though. And that you can still use Strike Wolf."
He squeezes his hands together, warming them for a moment before continuing: "So, she just left? She didn't leave a calling card, or any way to find her or her master, or anything?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka shrugs a little as Endo says he's never heard of magic like that. "Your guess is as good as mine. I'm still new to all of this. She called it a sleep spell, and nobody seemed harmed afterwards, so..."
So new and yet... she's seen so much already.
"Yeah," she says with a sigh. "I'm glad they were there too. Otherwise Strike Wolf might've been taken and I'd have no clue..." Her hands tense a bit from where they're clasped under her chin. "And yeah, I owe Strike Wolf big time."
"Yep, she just... left. I don't think she was expecting a fight. Passion was of the opinion she could've hurt people but choose not to, like she was trying to minimize harm? But I think she just wanted to get out of there."
She shakes her head. "Nope. She asked for Strike Wolf back, and I asked if we could ahve some time to discuss it. She didn't really seem like she wanted to give us that time but she also said she couldn't really take it by force, so... Dunno. She said she'd be keeping tabs on me but didn't tell me how to get in touch."
"Not really fond of the idea of the Phantom Fox--that's the name La Sirene called her--watching me, but until she reaches out again... I'm stuck waiting. Guess I have two things to look for now."
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
"Hmm." Endo muses, scratching at his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I guess there's lots of different kinds of magic. Maybe that's not the thing to worry about."
"Well, if she didn't want to fight that's at least a good sign. That shows you might at least be able to reason with her." Endo decides. He taps his forehead, settling his hands back in his lap afterward.
He peeks left, then right, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Do you think she's watching right now?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"I'm honestly more worried about the fact that she was able to disable Strike Wolf than the fact that she can put people to sleep. Though Strike Wolf is pretty sure he can prevent that from happening again." She frowns a little and then lowers her hand a bit so she can look at her wrist. "... Right?"
<Affirmative.>
"Yeah, hopefully the next time we see her it won't involve her coming to my house--" The last word is said through clenched teeth, but then she forces herself to take a deep breath to calm herself. "Sorry, still a little on edge."
Kyouka shrugs a little and looks around. "I'm... not sure. Strike Wolf's trying to keep an eye out for her magic signature, but... his range is a bit limited, so we might not detect her."
"But as far as reasoning with her goes... well..." She hesitates and looks away, with a guilty expression on her face.
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
"Well, that's good at least." Endo says to the mention of Strike Wolf's functionality. "That does sound pretty scary."
"It's okay." The boy adds. "I'd be upset too. I've never really had to worry about people spying on me at home..." He frowns, shaking away an unpleasant memory before focusing on the girl across from him again.
"Well, I'll keep an eye out. And Stern usually picks up anything weird, so we're probably okay." A small, reassuring smile is offered.
Noting Kyouka's look after, he asks: "Did something else happen?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"It was, but..." Kyouka does smile faintly. "I'm glad Strike Wolf had my back."
<Affirmative.>
"Yeah, not really crazy about..." she gestures vaguely, "... all of this following me home. My Mom was there, and Wolfy, and..." A slight shiver. "Anyway."
She nods. "Thanks, to both of you. Definitely let us know if you spot anything. Hopefully she turns up sooner rather than later."
"Not really," says Kyouka with a shake of her head. "That's about all of it. It's just... Strike Wolf and I have been talking and..." She glances to Endo before looking away again. "I'm thinking of giving him back when we find her again."
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
"It's scary when people you care about get involved." He affirms sympathetically.
At Kyouka's admission, Endo falls silent for a few seconds again. He puffs out a breath of air eventually, deciding: "Well, if that's really what you want."
Endo lets that hand for a moment before adding: "But...I think you should talk with whoever made Strike Wolf first. And maybe think about all the good that you and Strike Wolf have done--and can do--together. If you two weren't meant to be together, you'd never have been able to use it in the first place."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Yeah," says Kyouka simply to the idea of her loved ones being in danger. She says it in a way that indicates she's been thinking about that a lot lately.
"It's what we want," Kyouka says, holding up her wrist.
<Agreed,> confirms the device.
"Strike Wolf and I have been discussing it, and... yeah. That's the conslusion we came to."
Kyouka nods, "Yeah, I... I know. That's why I didn't hand him over right then and there. I'll ask, but if they're unwilling to let us keep working together, then..." She shrugs helplessly, "Then I'll have to give him back. Otherwise I'm no better than that mage who stole him to begin with, you know?"
"Strike Wolf was just a prototype. He wants to finish being built so he can do even more good for people than he can right now. And I want him to reach his full potential, too. He deserves it."
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.
Endo dips his head slowly. "I guess that makes sense," He replies to Kyouka's explanation.
"It's your decision, so do what you and Strike Wolf think is best. I'll support you whatever it is, and I'm sure everyone else will too." The boy offers a short but sincere smile.
"For now, I guess you'll just have to wait and see. Do the best you can until then!" A somber nod follows.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Thanks," Kyouka says, with a relieved smile. "I appreciate it. It... well, it wasn't an easy decision, that's for sure, but... There's some serious downsides either way, so... yeah."
"But hey, maybe once I get a chance to explain, we'll get to keep working together, so maybe all this worrying is for nothing, you know? Strike Wolf really has been an amazing partner, so hopefully we get the go-ahead."
<Thank you.>
Kyouka nods. "I will. Hopefully the Phantom Fox or whatever her name turns up soon. Until then... We'll keep doing what we do best. Right, buddy?"
<Affirmative.>
