Strawberry Short-hair (Seiya Hangout Thread) (RANK UP!)

[seiyayamada]

((Open RP, I welcome multiple threads! <3)) It had been a few days since... the incident. Seiya and her friends were able to save Miho, however, there'd been some emotional side effects. Well, and physical. Seated behind the Yamada Mart counter, it was her first day back in the saddle after the whole ordeal. Mr. Yamada had somehow had a miraculous moment of compassion and let his daughter stay home for about four days. Now that her little mini vacation was up, the girl was expected to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for a while. Still, despite the expectations put on her, Seiya couldn't help but feel down. Self-consciously tugging at her now stubby pony tail, the girl reflected on what she'd told Greg about her hair. How important it was to her, and how it was the one thing in her life that she could control. Oh well. Win some and lose some. Propping her feet up on the counter, she opened a magazine, deciding to lose herself in the lives of celebrities for a while.

Comments

[americandiplomacy]

Being sick sucked! Greg had been fast asleep while the group fought off a horrible shadowy death demonic version of Miho, and remained that way for most of the rest of the week after. Fortunately one of the other boys in his class lived in the same apartment complex, so his notes and work (as useless as the former were, given he'd already read far ahead) were delivered every afternoon. That meant he hadn't fallen too far behind in schoolwork! Socially, though... Well, he hadn't really talked to anyone who wasn't his mostly-absent father in a while.

That's why he was headed to Yamada Mart, now that the boy wasn't feeling absolutely sapped of all energy and sniffly as hell to boot. Gregory felt pretty good today actually, but not quiiite good enough to outwardly express anything more than his usual 'bluh'. That said, he /was/ hoping that Seiya would be working today... Not just so he could ask how that whole situation went, but also so that they could... Y'know. Hang out, or whatever. That wasn't weird, or anything!

After dismissing that thought, he pushed the door opened and accepted the jingling noise that came with it.

[seiyayamada]

Flipping the page, she paused at the chime of the entry bell. "Welcome to Yamada Mart." she called half-heartedly, tossing the magazine into a pile of the others she'd been reading. Seeing Greg admittedly caused her to perk up. It was just nice to see a friendly face, or at least that's what she told herself. Seiya leaned up from her chair, fussing with her hair. It just didn't feel right. "Long time no see." Seiya added with a little smile. Sadly, it didn't last.

[americandiplomacy]

It was hard not to notice the change first thing. "You cut your hair!" Wait. Hadn't she said... "... You cut your hair?" Seiya got an odd look after he realized it, and the supposedly 'friendly face' stepped right up to the counter for a closer look. "Don't look too good, either. Something went bad, didn't it?" Yes, it was that obvious.

[seiyayamada]

Tugging at the short strands, she shook her head. "No, /I/ didn't." Seiya felt horrible, dumping her other world issues on her friend like she always did. Reaching back under the counter, she produced his favourite soda from the employee cooler, sliding it across the space between them. "She's okay, Miho-chan, I mean." She couldn't really say things went wrong. They accomplished what they were supposed to, after all. "It looks awful, doesn't it?"

[americandiplomacy]

Greg caught the soda in one hand and cracked it open, then took a seat on one of the nearby coolers... It was no substitute for a real seat, but it'd have to do. "Awful? You kidding? Hmmm..." The boy leaned back, closing one eye like he was Picasso over here, and even set the soda down to form a little frame with his fingers. "Mmmnah. Think I like it a little better, actually. You look pretty good with short hair."

[seiyayamada]

Seiya watched him take a seat on a cooler, amused by his makeshift seat. Hoisting herself up on the counter, she cracked open a soda for herself, taking a swig. She'd just mess around with the inventory numbers later. As Greg put on his artiste persona, she couldn't help but let a tiny smile creep up on her. Of course, that smile spread full force when he complimented her. Cheeks red, she hid her reaction by chugging her soda faster. Coming up for air, Seiya was still grinning stupidly. "You think so? Really?" She couldn't deny that his approval made little butterflies in her chest. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."

[americandiplomacy]

Hah! She was blushing. ... Thinking about that made -his- cheeks get a little pink, though. Greg fixed that in much the same way, by picking his soda back up and sipping, then nodded when she needed confirmation. "Of course. I was the one who, uh... Asked you about cutting it, in the first place. Already knew it'd look nice, heh." After wiping at his nose a bit (he was still sniffly, admittedly), he took a look around the fairly empty store. "Not a busy shift today, then?" He felt bad when she left work early, but... After a week of laying in bed, he was eager to do -something-.

[seiyayamada]

Her only response was a little giggle, which she quickly muffled by answering his next question. "No, not a single customer today." Adjusting her hat, Seiya gestured around her. "Dad said the sale would bring people in but, as you can see..." It wasn't so. Tilting her head, she frowned. "Are you alright? You were sick, weren't you?"

[americandiplomacy]

"We should go do something, if it's that dead." He sipped his soda with a slightly thoughtful expression... 'Sick' wasn't even a good word for it, his father had even said one more day and he'd probably get taken to the hospital. Greg hadn't done well over the last week! "I had the flu or something, uh, yeah. Fever and stuff... Pretty miserable, but I'm feeling okay now. I had a breakfast that wasn't, uh... Chicken soup, at least. Heh."

[unexamined]

This wasn't part of Kota's usual meandering routes, but he'd chosen this street specifically because of that. Nobody who knew him would see him doing something wildly out of character: running. He was sweating, for goodness sakes! That never happened, even during baseball games! So people might ask questions, and though he had a 'training for baseball' excuse prepared and ready, he wanted to avoid lying if possible.

The real reason, of course, was the mirror world and the sudden realization that lives depended on them. The added fact that Dagr didn't have any attacks meant that Kota had to take up the slack. Not that he was planning on going nuts - he just didn't want to be a burden.

He stopped for a rest, leaning forward and bracing his hands just above his knees as he caught his breath. A nearby store caught his eye, and he entered without noticing the name, intending just to buy a bottle of water and keep going.

[seiyayamada]

"Welcome to Yamada Mart." The voice that greeted him was less than enthusiastic. Seiya didn't bother looking up, figuring that if they were going to be robbed there wasn't much she could do about it anyway. Flipping the page of her magazine, she shook her head. Celebrities were insane. It was at least comforting to know that she wasn't the only one living on a rollercoaster.

[unexamined]

Kota froze at the familiar voice, his concern about meeting people overriding common sense for a moment. Then the sheer ridiculousness of it sunk in - really, of all the places in the world he had to pick the store Seiya worked at? - and he laughed as he grabbed that blessedly cold bottle of water. "Maybe if you say it again I'll believe it this time, senpai," he said, pulling out his wallet to pay as he made his way over to the counter.

[seiyayamada]

Senpai? Peering up over the edge of the magazine, Seiya's eyebrows raised. "Kota-kun!" Setting the literature down, she leaned up in her seat with a little smile. She hadn't honestly expected to see him outside of school, much less at her family shop. "You're not getting me to say it again." Taking a sip from her own drink, she stretched a bit. "What brings you out here?"

[unexamined]

"It's alright," Kota said. "I wouldn't really have believed you anyway."

"I was trying to avoid people I know," he answered her question, counting out exact change and offering it to Seiya. "Looks like I failed. Other than that, just running."

[seiyayamada]

Ringing him up, she deposited his money in the register before bagging his water. Sliding it over, Seiya raised a brow. "Wow, you really did. Way to accomplish the opposite!" Running, huh? She supposed that was rather normal, seeing as how both he and Ren were the athletic types. It was probably safe to assume they both did a lot of running. "Don't pass out on me, mmkay?"

[unexamined]

He held up a finger - hang on, excuse him - then twisted the cap off and drained half the bottle quickly. When done he let out a relieved sigh and put the bottle against the back of his neck to help him cool off.

Sometimes he had manners, but apparently not now.

"I'm good now. But I could pretend to, if you'd like. I bet you don't often get people coming in and collapsing on the floor." He gestured to the magazine on the counter. "It'd have to be more exciting than that, right?"

[seiyayamada]

Politely, she waited for him to chug his water. Dang, Kota, save some for the fishes! Seiya rested her hands on her hips, shaking her head. "You'd be surprised. Yamada Mart is a known pass out kinda place. Kids from all over Japan come here to lay on our very clean floors." Laughing at herself, she shrugged. "Anything would be more entertaining than working here."

[terminalshow]

Whenever Seiya checked her phone next, she'd find a little text that read from Miho Tanaka. If she opened if, she'd find this:

I'm sorry about what happened in the mirror. I miss you. ): I know my shadow said a lot of bad things, but you're my best friend!!! I'm sorry!!

[seiyayamada]

When her phone vibrated, it danced across the counter and landed straight in her lap. Lifting it up, Seiya peered down at the screen. It was the first time she'd heard from Miho since the battle, and honestly she wasn't quite sure how she felt about the whole thing still. It had been easier when it was Kota, or Ren. After all, she didn't know them.

I'm @ work. I am holding ur fave candy hostage. Come by or else. \(0_0)/

[terminalshow]

Miho honestly didn't expect Seiya to reply so quickly – she was almost a hundred percent sure the other girl hated her at this point. How could her shadow self say such cruel things, act so mean? The girl sighed, letting her shoulders slump a little. This was all so blehh! Still. Senpai had replied. That was something, right? With that thought in mind she smiled to herself and replied again.

I'll come by ^_^; ........ R you and G-san dating yet???

[seiyayamada]

Seiya didn't really know what to expect. Miho would either come in guns blazing like her shadow, or sobbing for forgiveness. She would have to admit that she didn't know her friend as well as she thought. Seiya glanced at her phone, cheeks flushing.

what????? why do u ask???? \(O____O;;;)/

[terminalshow]

Just wondering!!!! OMW over!!!

The walk to Yamada Mart was a bit of a slow one for Miho. Her usual peppy stride was subdued, and she found she kept glancing at her phone for the time, and to see if she'd received texts from anyone else. She was still literally convinced senpai hated her deep down, after all! She'd just have to come out one hundred percent honest, and apologize her butt off.

[seiyayamada]

Hopping the counter, Seiya gathered up a handfull of delicious nougat bars. In fact, she took every single nougat-y bar off the shelf and gathered it behind the counter with her. Hostage indeed! Tapping her fingers on the edge of the wood, Seiya eyed the door with a mix of nausea and anticipation. She'd pretend things were normal, but honestly, they weren't. Waiting was agony, and Seiya was beginning to regret inviting Miho over.

[terminalshow]

Alright! Almost there, now! The girl gulped and tried to steel herself. When she pulled open the door to Yamada mart, with was with a sheepish expression in place, and an apologetic incline of her head. This was really horrible! In her hands, beyond her pink old model flip phone, was a bouquet. Apology flowers, by the look of it - sunflowers. She must have been at the flower shop when she texted.

"Seenpaaii..?"

[seiyayamada]

The door chimed, and the little Yamada Mart jingle played from an old speaker. Seiya glanced up, feeling her chest flip flop. Miho was her best friend, so why couldn't she just get past this?

"Hey." Rubbing her neck, the girl looked a bit lost. "... Hey." She repeated herself, not sure what else to say.