Casual: potential socializing with the deadpan girl

[forgottencarol]

It was a regular occurrence since the beginning of the school year. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Seung Mi stayed after practice to tidy up the music room. Sometimes she would even practice by herself; it wasn't uncommon for others in the hallway to hear the sound of a clarinet. Such behaviour quickly became routine for the girl. Her fellow club members admired her dedication, but the exchange student seemed to have an anti-social aura that deterred people from holding too long a conversation. Not that she minded. It was more time for work, and more time for practice.

Today, like most days, she would be the last one to leave the music room.

Comments

[terminalshow]

This entire situation was tense tense tense! Down to Seung Mi’s bland faced browsing of the sweets to her offering of money. Poor Miho’s hands almost shook when she reached forward to accept the proffered yen, and the smile on her face was no doubt a hint ‘on edge’. Hanging out with her senpai was always like this, though. She wanted very badly to not do anything to annoy her upper classman, but at the same time she still wanted to hang out with her! The result was a lot of mental flailing around on the second years part.

“Half-and-half It is! It’ll be really good, I promise. They make good cupcakes, too. They’re s-so cute, ehe~.” She gestured at a display of them as she paid (halfn’half, of course) for their spring roll. The cupcakes were marvelously decorated, with all sorts of icing done in different and adorable styles.

[forgottencarol]

“They are cute,” came the older girl's rather neutral-sounding agreement. She picked up her case, eyeing the desserts again. Seung Mi had an unspoken fondness for all things adorable, and the cupcakes definitely fit the bill – particularly the ones with pink frosting layered to look like flower petals. Ah, and were the centers chocolate? Before she could catch herself, Miho's upperclassman seemed to actually be showing genuine interest! (Who knew baked goods could do that to a girl?)

A most unusual response followed, “I'll have to try them next time, yes?” It was still blank, still bland... But the third-year had indirectly invited Miho out, again! And of her own volition, too.

Sadly, the spark of interest vanished as quickly as it had come. Seung Mi turned and, without waiting for an answer, moved to take a seat.

[terminalshow]

Progress! That was progress, wasn't it?! Miho's spirits momentarily soared from the one off-handed comment by her senpai. They didn't really drop either as the girl turned to find a table. Instead she happily smiled to the cashier, spun on her heel and trotted off after Seung Mi. She helped herself to a seat, carefully setting her dessert down. “Ah, senpai... Have you noticed anything weird lately? L-like, around town and stuff.”

[forgottencarol]

“Weird?” Seung Mi blinked, setting her belongings to the side. Other than the reputation for crime Okachi seemed to be gaining, she couldn't say she had. That, and most of her days were spent studying indoors. The third-year looked at her housemate, studying her behind that indifferent expression, before responding. “No. Why?”

[terminalshow]

“M-mm, no, no reason. I was just wondering. ” She brushed it off with a bit of a laugh, but the third year would no doubt be able to notice something momentarily off about Miho’s expression. She looked worried about something. Worried, that is, until she tasted the banana spring roll in front of her! That unhappy face melted into something more along the lines of pure ecstasy. “Oh! Goodness, you have to try this! It’s so gooood.” She fore-went her usual manners and heaped another big ol’ spoonful into her mouth.

[forgottencarol]

Seung Mi could see there was more to it than Miho was willing to tell – after all, why would she bring up an odd subject like that, and then dismiss it as nothing? The third year briefly wondered what the other girl's reaction would've been should she have said yes. More suspicious, perhaps. Though as it stood, things were already teetering on strange, and she was curious about her fr... housemate's behavior.

“All right.” Seung Mi decided to leave the subject be after the worry seemingly vanished, but she would remain extra vigilant. If Miho continued to act off, then it was question time! For curiosity's sake, she told herself.

“Let me grab a spoon for myself and I will.”

[terminalshow]

As Seung Mi stood to fetch herself a spoon, Miho let her chin rest lightly on her palm. While her senpai was distracted she seemed to tense up a bit. Her brows drew together, and she frowned at nothing in particular. Life in Okachi had been odd for her, lately, what with the 'shadows' and the death of her classmate... Seiya and two others had 'personae' now, too, and had to protect the city or something. It was all really confusing, and here she was not being a help to anyone. It was odd for her to be a little sad when the weather was so nice, and she was eating something so delicious...

When Seung Mi returned, she'd no doubt notice a state of thoughtfulness about her housemate. The girl perked up, however! “Try it, try it. It's really good, I promise.”

[forgottencarol]

Hmm, strike two for odd behavior. The blank-faced upperclassman raised a brow, pausing to look Miho over. The shift in the brunette's body language was immediately noticeable, and something Seung Mi was very close to pointing out. Really, did Miho think she was fooling her, here? Anyone could see through the act, even if they weren't observant – in the third year's opinion, at least. Of course, perhaps she was giving her peers a bit too much credit there.

Wordlessly, she gathered some of the dessert onto her spoon and tasted it. Seung Mi was surprised to find it really was as delicious as it smelled; and the silence on her end lasted a bit longer while she let it sink in.

“It's good.” A bit of an anti-climactic response, but hey, since when did she ever seem excited?

[terminalshow]

“It’s the best. Um, there’s a bakery in the mall that makes carrot cake that’s on par with this. I’ll buy some and bring it home for dessert one day? Or maybe as lunch for school!” Miho scooped up another mouthful of deep fried dough, and banana, and chocolate sauce, with an oh-so contented sigh. It was hard to be worried about things when you had so much sweetness in front of you. “I-if you want to have lunch with me one day, that is..”

[forgottencarol]

Seung Mi took Miho's words into silent consideration as she helped herself to another spoonful of delicious spring roll dessert. Lunch was a boring time of day for Seung Mi. She usually spent it writing in her journal, with a bite of food here and there. She wasn't entirely opposed to Miho joining her, either; they often ate meals together, the Tanakas being her host family and all.

“Sure. I don't mind.”

[terminalshow]

“That’s great!” Hooray, she didn’t miind! Miho was really making all sorts of progress with her upper classman today, wasn’t she? That alone put another smile on her face as she went about polishing off her banana spring rolls. Maybe one day, Seung Mi would even refer to them as friends. “Did you want to do anything else after school today? We could play some games at home.. Though I think we both probably have homework.”

[forgottencarol]

The Korean girl shook her head 'no' at the offer. She had plenty of homework – particularly studying – on her agenda, and all this agreeing had been exhausting. “Sorry.” Was she really? It was back to being hard to tell! “I have a lot of work. We should leave soon.”