infinite_reflection | In front of the Arcade...

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open rp

In front of the Arcade...

Ever since Miho introduced Greg to the arcade at the local mall, he's been there most weekdays after school for at least an hour or two... It ate a lot of money, sure, but it's money he would've spent on point cards for his phone at any rate.

At the moment he was just outside, though, sitting on a little bench near the entrance and fiddling with his phone for some reason or another. The boy was, as usual, paying no attention to his surroundings or anything but himself and the small piece of technology in his hands. The perpetual and unfortunately socially discouraging look of vague annoyance and great boredom was in place on his face, though he was completely free to approach for anyone not bothered by it!

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"[GOD BLESS AMERICA!]" She laughed, deeming him slow before linking their arms. "I do have a plan! But there's room for detours so don't hesitate to speak up."

Seiya led him along, passing a few beautiful fountains. It had been a while since she'd been shopping with someone other than her father. It felt nice!

Jeez! Seiya shouted and he winced a bit; that'd probably get them a few weird stares. It was weird enough that he was, like, the only American dude here! "Uh, yeah. I don't really go shopping a lot, so I dunno what most of these stores are..." About all he knew were the bigger worldwide brands, the gaming or technology stores, and then the groceries. It looked like a lot of clothing and fashion stores here, but then that wasn't horribly uncommon for a mall. Greg didn't actually have any clothing from here, minus the school uniform!

Hey, on the plus side, he didn't bitch about her latching onto him. Gregory's hand didn't leave his pocket or anything, so that was probably the best Seiya was going to get at the moment. "Do you, uh..." How to ask this without being rude? "Do you like America, or are you just using English for my sake?" He almost said 'for my amusement', which was more the case.

Seiya happily kept their arms together, not really bothered by his hand in his pocket. In fact, it seemed hardly anything bothered the girl. "I'll be your translator. That one's a clothing store, and that one says "Shoe World'."

As they walked, the scenery opened up into a more media-centric promenade. "Huh? I love America!" Seiya bit her lip. Okay, so maybe she also learned a bit of English on the side to impress him, no big deal.

Greg hadn't really explored a lot of this mall, so the whole promenade was entirely new to him. He let out a low whistle of apparent appreciation when they arrived. "Oh yeah? ... It's probably different than you think... Uh, I know Japan was a lot different than I expected." Then again, he'd expected what basically amounted to another planet where everything was weird and backwards. Still, there were a lot of mixed messages about almost every other nation over in the States! The same had to be true here in reverse. "It's a lot like here, actually. Maybe a little more chaotic, but that's probably just New York City."

Traffic filtered in and out of each store, yet Seiya was on a mission. She easily navigated around small clusters, keeping Greg close as not to lose him. When they emerged safely on the other side, she gave him a bewildered look. "I watch a lot of American tv. Is it like that?"

Seiya had a lot of time on her hands when she wasn't working. Even when she was, there were endless hours to be wasted.

Yeah, he actually ended up pretty glad that she'd physically connected them in some way. Keeping up with Seiya was not so easy in a crowded mall, and he probably would have lost her long ago if they weren't attached at the arms! Greg let out a sigh of slight relief when they'd navigated through the larger sea of people. "Depends, uhh... On what you watch, actually. Those crime shows, no way, that's all made up. The comedies... Those are kinda, uh... Well, those aren't really accurate, either. Heh." Wow! A lot of their TV really dramatized life over there, huh? "So... No, uh, I guess not. It's not really like that, at all."

That was really something to think about! Jeez. Gregory snorted with the realization and shook his head. "I never really thought about it, uh, before. It's all really... Exaggerated."

Seiya legitimately looked disappointed. She tugged his sleeve like a child, frowning. "Really? Even the crime shows?" Out of all the available options, it was those she believed? "I suppose I can take 'buy g-san sunglasses' off the list..."

She mimed both putting sunglasses on and pulling them off, "[Yeeeeeeeeah!] You know? That's all fake?"

"Crime happens, but it's not... Hmmm." This was hard to explain. It sounded like he'd gone and kicked her puppy, too, christ. Damage control! "Sunglasses..? Uh, I'm not sure I can pull those off. But, uh, television..! I guess it's sort of like that. New York City can be scary, if you go to the wrong parts of town..." Greg lifted a hand out of his pocket to rub the side of his head. "Have you seen 'The Wire'?" Please let that be one she liked! "That one's pretty accurate."

As he continued speaking she grew disheartened. Her whole tune changed when he mentioned the scary parts of New York. "Yes! I have! I knew it." Seiya smirked, basking in the glow of her renewed faith in the holy land.

Approaching the pretzel stand, she ordered one, nudging his shoulder with her own, "Want one? It's on me!" She'd dragged him along on her adventure, so naturally she'd cover his snacks.

Right! Danger was gone, and she looked a little happier. "Yeah. That one's good... There are a few others, uh, that I like... I can't remember their names, though." He'd been mostly watching the news around here since they moved, so! "Oh..! Uh, we're here. Right." Everyone kept treating him to food, that was weird. "Uhhh, sure. I like the real salty ones, so..." The stand's owner was nice enough to get him one on the saltier side, so that was nice.

Paying for their pretzels, she led him to the edge of the fountain, taking a seat. Seiya debated on letting go of his arm, but decided against it. What could she say, he was comfortable!

Nibbling on the cinnamon edges of her own snack, she flashed a pleased smile. "Hey, I bought you a snack when we first met, too." she observed, swinging her feet like a happy four-year-old.

He'd probably get some freedom now that they had to eat-- Or not, Seiya seemed intent on keeping them together. Whatever! Greg took a large bite out of his soft pretzel, very salty, and nodded with vague appreciation. He waited until he was done chewing to talk, at least. "Yeah, uh, you did. Miho keeps buying me snacks, too. Gonna end up looking like a freeloader, heh. I'll pay next time, uh, okay?" Thankfully he didn't let that little bout of self-consciousness get to him too much. "So... Uh, how's your side doing?" He was a little curious, though hadn't wanted to ask! Seemed like it might not be his place.

Seiya giggled, amused. "If you say so~" Far be it from her to deny him the chance to treat her.

Chewing slowly, she pondered how to answer. On the one hand, Seiya could talk about Arthur and the strange medicine. On the other, she could remain fairly normal in his eyes. She preferred the latter.

"I've healed up nicely, so they say. The actual ordeal shook me up, though." Seiya frowned, continuing, "I can't stop seeing it when I close my eyes, you know?"

"Well, uh, that's good." After tearing off another large chunk of the pretzel, he nodded. "You might be fighting fit soon, and then uh... We can figure this whole thing out, right? Or... You and Ren-san can, or something." Without a persona he wasn't sure how much use (or even how much of a hindrance) he might be on the other side. "Though, if you've got, uh... Something like that, maybe you're not in any rush to go back over there." The 'I gotta explore' bug had gone and hit Greg, which was unfortunate with the lack of any means to defend himself.

He shrugged that topic away, figuring she wouldn't want to speak much on it, and got back to things in the real world. "Did you miss a lot? In, uh, the hospital I mean. Sounds like it'd be a lot to catch up on..."

"All four of us. You and Miho-chan have seen the other side too, you know. And having people on this side is just as important." Seiya licked her lips, the cinnamon on her pretzel going a bit rogue.

"Yeah, I have a lot of work to keep up with if I want to graduate." sighing, she leaned her head on his shoulder. A defeated Seiya knew even less about personal space. "Miho-chan might help me study, though."

"Mmmm." Yeah, he sounded more than disappointed about being one of those people 'on this side', but Greg could probably handle it for a while longer. "Yeah, uh, school's always just been a lot of work to me. It's worse here... We don't do as much in America, heh." Given that Seiya had already locked their arms and all of that, he was prepared and didn't seem to care about her leaning on him. It didn't hinder eating, at any rate, and that's all he was doing at the moment. "Miho-san is, uh... Pretty smart. Really diligent, too, I think that's more important in school."

This mall was always so damned full! Greg idly watched people pass as they ate, would've been looking at his phone if he had a free hand, and took note of all the damned people (and a lot of students). "Oh, we also don't have school on Saturday in America. Even if it's only a half-day, that's pretty lame, here."

Seiya agreed with him wholeheartedly. Miho was the patron saint of hard work and dedication. She really admired that. "I wish I was more like her, sometimes." In more ways than just diligence, though she wouldn't admit it to him.

"Wait, no school on Saturday?" The concept seemed insane! "What did... what did you do?"

"Uhh... Stayed home, usually. It's sorta like... People didn't hang out after school as much. You do all that on the weekends, there's less clubs and less people in them, so... I mean, I wasn't in any. Most of them are just sports, anyways." Right, he's still not in a club here, either. Greg had been meaning to look into those, sort of vaguely. "It's what I'm used to, heh, that's probably why I usually go straight home. Or did, uh, until I found the arcade."

"That sounds depressing." Seiya was a bit blunt, though she supposed her situation was much different than his. "Being alone, that is. Then again, if you're used to it... ugh I'm babbling." Pouting slightly, she decided to drop it, finishing her pretzel.

"Any stores you want to look at before we head to our next destination?"

Greg took note of the odd wording, though if he assumed correctly he was in a very similar situation. "Uh, it is easier if you're used to it, yeah." He shrugged and popped the last bit of his pretzel into his mouth, then took a look around the promenade... Nothing looked particularly inviting, and he was curious about the book store regardless. "As far as stores... Nnnah, I don't think so. The book place next, right?"

Sitting up, she released his arm as she stood. Stretching her limbs, Seiya looked around. "Ah, yep! This way!" Offering her arm to him, much like in the movies she'd watched, she waited for him to hopefully latch on again. "It's just down this little strip here."

No surprise when he moved a little slower, taking his time to get up and foregoing the stretching to instead stare blankly at the invitation for arm-locking. That apparently wasn't enough to make Seiya retract the offer, though, so he resigned to looping his own arm through hers (but not without a begrudging little sigh, he couldn't look willing). "What kind of bookstore is it?" There had only been the bigger chains with all sorts of books in his neighborhood in NYC, so Greg had never really been to any specialty bookstore. If this wasn't one, well, he figured he'd have to find one later and see just what it was like.

Yeah, fine, Japan was okay. Everything within reach with public transportation, anyways.

Her mood brightened significantly when he linked their arms. It was like christmas! Seiya lead the way, cheeks flushed. Okay, maybe she wanted to hold his arm for a little more than keeping them together, whatever. "It's a little mom and pop shop." She smiled, dodging large stalls with colorful candies. "So it has a little bit of everything, I guess!"

That added another reason to come back here... Maybe he'd spend a day checking out comic shops instead of at the arcade, or something. There was a surprising amount to do here, a lot more than he had back home. ... Maybe he'd get something sweet, too, given all the nice stalls they were passing. "Huh. I gotta explore the rest of this mall, sooner or later." The necessity of holding hands or something similar appeared again with a larger crowd of what looked like students, and they made it through without splitting up because of it. "Jeez. I don't, uh... Do too well with crowds, sometimes. Miho-san said she's like that, too."

"Don't worry, I got ya." She flashed a reassuring glance as they broke free from the pack. There, in a more secluded area, was the book shop. The sign was handpainted, and the old couple inside seemed inviting.

Seiya opened the door, releasing his arm so he could go inside. "Hardly anyone ever comes here, so don't worry!"

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