infinite_reflection

Judging by the slight crease in his forehead, that sort of lifestyle was a little odd to Greg. Worrying, even, and he hoped it wasn't the norm around here or anything. "I guess you were a pretty busy kid, then? Or, uh... I guess he thought you were, anyway." That sounded a lot worse than his little predicament, actually! Ironically the reverse, too, given she was forced to have time apart from her family. "I guess playing here would be fun, uh, anyway." Something told him not after a few days in a row of it. There was probably more to Seiya than he'd originally figured, ehh.. Heh.

"Really different than my childhood though, yeah. A lot more, uh... Relaxed, to say the least."

The fountain trickled, the streams losing power before spraying hard again. This place could definitely use a Leslie Knope, but it wasn't likely that anyone really remembered it existed. A little red ball rolled up to the pair, a tiny little girl jogging after it. Seiya kicked it up towards her, and she smiled appreciatively before rejoining her friends.

Tossing her now empty ice cream cup in the trashcan beside the bench, Seiya shrugged. "I made up a lot of games to pass time with." She smiled, trying to push the conversation slightly off the Yamada path. "Relaxed, huh? What did you do as you got older?"

Greg followed suit, dropping his empty cup into a nearby (and very full, maybe they could use a better janitorial service too) trash can. "What did -I- do? Oh, uh... Hmm." It would be difficult to phrase this without basically saying 'I became really anti-social', but he'd wing it as he went. The boy turned his attention to the kids now playing with their ball rather than Seiya, only so her potential reactions couldn't mess with his flow.

"Well, uh... I used to like school a lot, I guess. I wasn't really a smart kid, but uh... Advanced? I guess. I learned a lot of stuff really early, so it made it look like I was really smart and junk." Greg leaned further back on the bench, rubbing his chin and going abnormally slow with this little explanation. Hopefully she could dismiss it as his usual language barrier shenanigans. "It was a lot of pressure, I guess? For a kid, anyway. I, uh... Either way, I ended up liking video games and stuff. So, I did that a lot and now I still do." So the end wasn't exactly believable, and it obviously wasn't all there was to it, but it'd have to do as long as she didn't stick her nose in any further.

The kids giggled as they passed the ball from one to another. Seiya just listened, keeping comments and reactions to herself until he was finished. His story seemed... lacking. There was probably a lot that he'd left out, but it felt weird to press. For now, anyway. "I knew it." She nodded slowly. "I could tell, you're really smart." Seiya played with her hair, twirling it between her fingertips. "Did you have a lot of friends?" Was that too nosy? After all, he was the coolest guy she knew so, it was probably just safe to assume he did.

"Uh... Ehh. Not really, anymore... I learn quickly, I guess, but it's not like I pay attention in class..." Learning quickly was more or less the definition of someone who was smart, but nevermind that. The part about not paying attention was true, but that was because he'd studied pretty far ahead in the textbooks already. Tests were easy when he'd done that, and so... Err, friends? Well, that was certainly a question. "... Uhhh..."

Greg had to be honest here, he supposed. "Well... Nah. I didn't have any back home, and, uh... I've got you here, and Miho-san. And, uhh..." Well, he didn't know Ren very well. Or Seung Mi, for that matter... They were just people he'd met in passing. "That'sss it. I guess."

"Trust me, nobody pays attention in class." Seiya giggled at her own comment, shaking her head. It shouldn't have been funny, but in a city like this, well, they weren't exactly well known for test scores.

"Yep!~ You have us." Seiya put her hand on his shoulder, then felt like that was a bit much and retracted it. "And I have you two!"

If she was implying that she didn't have (m)any friends either, Greg would color himself surprised. The girl definitely seemed sociable, a lot moreso than him anyway, so that came as a surprise... Even if it was only an assumption. Hmmm. "Well, I'm uh... Happy I made a few friends, yeah. Been outside the house already more than I have in the last year, I think." A bit sad when he thought about it, but Greg tended not to dwell on thoughts like that.

Seiya hopped up, deciding to climb up on the fountain and tip-toe her way around the rim. Arms out to hold her balance, she watched her feet as she slowly put one in front of the other. Was this a game she played as a kid? "I'll have to make up more excuses to get you out, then!"

"Don't make me come up with excuses to stay in the apartment, pff." Was that playful sarcasm in his voice? It certainly sounded like it, and the boy leaned back in his seat with a little snort. "It's kept me busy, uh, either way. Playing newer releases is harder here, because uh... Well, they talk kinda quick unless I can stop and read the text." Greg looked mildly embarrassed at that, actually. Hard to follow the plot when subtitles went by quick and people talked even quicker!

Both brows raised at the playful banter. She didn't think he had it in him! Laughing, she almost slid face first into the water. Steadying herself, Seiya decided to start hopping on one foot. Apparently, this was level two of the game. "I could translate for you! You know, with my beautiful fluent English." Two could play the snappy game.

"Whoa, careful!" Seiya almost fell, and he sat up a little straighter... Looked like he wouldn't need to get up and save anyone from a flailing fit in the water, though. Not yet, anyway, considering she'd just started jumping on one foot! Christ. "Hope you've got good, uh... Good balance, Seiya-chan." Greg eyed her a little critically, now. "And, uh... Only if you did the voices, too. Think you could do the gruff American soldier, eh?"

Wobbling as her foot caught on her untied shoelace, Seiya cackled. She was all too close to falling in the questionable water, yet remained teetering on the last straw. "Thanks! I'm a [professional!]" Glancing over her shoulder at him, she narrowed her eyes. "We're out of time, captain!! There's no use!! [WE MUST FIGHT FOR THIS COUNTR--]EEEE!" Swiveling, she flopped straight into the murky fountain water.

Greg cracked something like a smile at her American soldier impression, though it turned more into a look of concern when it looked like she was actually falling. "Er, are you-- Uhh!" Sploosh, down she went, and the boy hopped up to run right over to the fountain. Thankfully it was nearby, though now that he actually got a look at the water in there it didn't look too healthy to be submerging any part of the human body in it. "[Shit], uh, here, here!" He offered his hand, then anchored one foot on the fountain's base to pull poor Seiya out when she managed to grab it. It meant a little bit of grime on his hand, and likely more of him, but oh well!

The kids playing ball stopped at the sound of Seiya's crash landing, running over to watch. "Are you okay, Onee-san!?"

Seiya just laughed from deep within, neither embarrassed or hurt. Just tickled. Grabbing Greg's hand, she allowed him to yank her out of the rather disgusting liquid. Hoisting her leg over the ledge, she finally stopped laughing, just watching him with a look of 'well, what can ya do?' "I true soldier will go down for their country, Guregori."

Shaking out his slightly grimy hand, Greg shook his head and put on a faint little grin at her, uh... 'Determination', go with that. "Uh huh. You've done your service, uh... I don't think you want a bunch of horrible unknown infections to show for it, though. Do you live near here? Probably need, like... A shower, and new clothes, uh... And all that." Hey, maybe they'd both get to see each others' houses today. Unless she went home alone, and that'd be totally okay! ... Or, he'd end up a little disappointed, admittedly. The boy was curious, was that a crime?

When he grinned, she couldn't help but flash one right back at him. Wiping the sludge off of her cheek, Seiya saluted him. "[God Bless America.] Lowering her hand, she tried wringing out her hair to no avail. Going home and changing sounded like a good plan!

"Good idea. Wanna come?" she bluntly offered to bring him along, seeing as he'd shown her his home.

Yeah, he looked a little grossed out when it came to wringing her hair out... Seiya didn't look all that sanitary at the moment, and he hoped her house was close. Was it weird, hoping for an invitation when she'd have to take a shower and-- Oh, apparently not, because there it was. "Oh, uh, sure. Why not? Make it even, and all that." Greg quickly adjusted his clothing, making sure there was no grime on any of it... Looked clean, so that was good! "Should I expect American flags? Heh."

Heading for the sidewalk, she took sloshy footsteps. Luckily for them, her house wasn't too far from the park. "Tons!" One couldn't tell if she was still joking or completely serious. As they walked along, the scenery changed from nicer buildings to more traditional homes, until Seiya turned on the little walk to one on the end of an intersection. Upon closer inspection, the lights were off, indicating no one was home. Fishing her keys out from her all but dry pocket, Seiya unlocked the door with a little shake.

The house was older, that much was clear. It seemed that the girl didn't bring people around often. That, and it wasn't too lived in. A front window was patched with cardboard and tape, and of course a story was attached to that. Taking her shoes off outside, she turned to Greg. "My dad's not here, so don't worry." That sounded... off. "About getting in trouble, I mean."

Hmmm. Well, he'd go in expecting the wall to have American flag wallpaper, at least then he could end up playfully underwhelmed. That or scared, if it was true! Greg walked at Seiya's side while they headed toward her house, though admittedly a little further away than he would have if she wasn't grimy at the moment. Things got a little more, er, 'classical' as they walked. It wasn't a bad thing, the boy could certainly appreciate houses that stood the test of time, though he was disappointed that he couldn't get a sneak peek into the house before they actually entered given the patched up window. A little surprising that Seiya was willing to pay for everything, not that he'd vocalize that thought.

"Huh? Uh, oh... I did that too, heh, I understand." Now they were even on the weird-implications front as well, so there was that! Greg slipped out of his shoes with a nod and followed her in, hands in his pockets. "No flag outside, I'm disappointed. Tch!"

"Wait, really?" She glanced at him with wide eyes before slightly pouting. That tease! Flicking the lights on, the interior seemed rather average. A clean hallway lined with pictures branched to a living area, kitchen, and three other doors. It would be safe to assume those were the bathroom and bedrooms. Each picture frame held pretty generic scenery, and those that did include the Yamadas were missing one family member: Seiya. Turning on more lights as she went, Seiya gestured to the living room. "You can sit here while I get cleaned up, if you want! I'll give you the rest of the tour when I look less like a slime monster."

Smiling, she skipped off towards the bathroom, sliding the door shut behind her. The room she'd left Greg to chill in housed a little dining table, a small couch and a modest television. All in all, her home was pretty typical.

Definitely more of a classical house and less of a compact little apartment than Greg's place, here. It certainly looked homely enough, and the boy rubbed the back of his neck while he got his first look around. Hmmm. Had Seiya judged him based on his stuff? Not that he was judging, here! Just scoping things out, all right? Nothing he'd ever mention to her, anyways. The pictures were interesting, if only for what they lacked-- "Huhm? Oh, yeah. Uh, maybe do an extra sweep with the soap and shampoo, huh? Heh." Grime like that had a tendency to stick; he really didn't envy the poor girl right then.

Being alone (more or less) in someone else's house was always weird, at least to Greg, so he took a few aimless steps around before just... Sitting himself down on the couch with a quiet sigh. This'd do, he figured. Out came the phone, which had been remarkably absent today. That meant he had a few e-mails to check, so it'd take up the time! Hopefully.

"Will do!" she called from the bathroom, starting the water. Stepping into the shower, Seiya began to wash off the layer of God knows what.

Fourty-five minutes later, she emerged clean and dressed in fresh clothes, toweling off her hair. Approaching Greg, she frowned apologetically. "Sorry that took so long. I'm sure staring at my walls was an infinite spring of fun." Frown twisting to a smile, she turned back towards the hallway. "Now I get to show you the rest of the house!" Providing he followed her, they'd come up on the three doors Greg'd previously seen. One was half open, showing bathroom tile and a mirror covered with a cloth. The other was blocked by laundry baskets full of folded men's clothing. And finally, the door to what could only be Seiya's room.

"So, are you excited? It's like peering into the unknown when you first see a friends room."

"Oh, no big deal." Greg looked vaguely concentrated on the screen, and she'd hear a twang followed by something like an explosion coming from his phone's little speaker. "Bah. They make this crap too hard." A button on the side dimmed the screen to black and then he stood up, taking a look at Seiya before nodding in approval. "You look, uh... Fresher than before, to say the least. Here's hoping you don't come down with something." He followed her first with his eyes, at least until the girl hit the hallway, and then promptly realized that he was meant to follow. "Oh! Uh, coming."

There was the bathroom, obvious from what was inside... The blocked door would likely be her father's room, then. No womens' clothing to be seen in that laundry basket, which meant either her mother didn't fold specifically that or her mother wasn't -there- to do that task. Greg wasn't about to ask, that was rude as hell in any culture, so he directed his attention to the only closed door that likely mattered. "Well, uh, I hardly think my little cave was that exciting. I'm expecting red, white and blue everywhere, though." He snorted, one hand on his hip.

Seiya chuckled, sliding the door to her room open. The inside was a bit more spacious than his room. It was to be expected, of course, seeing as she didn't live in an apartment. There wasn't red white and blue everywhere, per-say, but there definitely was some! An american flag pillow sat on her bed, which was also the home to several cute plushes. The wall adjacent to it held posters for various bands, and of course, a vintage uncle sam poster.

Her room also included a desk, computer and television. Various game systems sat atop the TV, the PS2 still on. Seiya gestured to her room as a whole with a smile, "It's not exactly what you were expecting, I'm sure."

A small table by the door held her american flag bag, as well as a few pictures of her and Miho, most likely from Miho's entrance ceremony. Stepping into Seiya's room had an odd air about it, as if the duo had entered a completely different house.

A lot more normal than he'd expected, to be perfectly honest! The few pieces of patriotic paraphernalia were obvious, but the rest looked... Well, like a normal teenager's room, more or less. Now that he thought about it, Greg wasn't quite sure what he had been expecting, but it most definitely wasn't this. It was a good kind of surprise, though, and he nodded slowly while taking his first look around the place. "Pretty cool. A lot like mine, just uh... More room, really." And more decoration, but he'd be fixing that likely this weekend.

Finding a place to sit was always weird for him, so Greg decided to instead stand near the door and keep on looking this way and that. There was plenty to take in, so that worked out well. "No pets, huh? I heard they're less, uh... Common over here, anyway."

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