[Niwatori and Yuri, Date]

[slice_of_life]

[Having a date schedule in the kitchen did at least mean there was easy access to food and drink.

Yuri made herself useful preparing and straining orange-peel tea.]

Ah, hello! ...Would you care for some tea?

That, and I thought we could make sandwiches... do you like cucumbers or tomatoes...?

Comments

[pecker]

[It's always pleasant to see that her date is setting things up before she got there... Yuri seems like such a nice girl, with a plethora of ideas on any given topic, but she's also right at the top of the scoring list. Niwatori would wonder what kind of tricks she used, but being paired with an already-friend was a solid advantage... so she is not going to question it too much. Tea and sandwiches sound very good. Niwatori steps further into the room, and here Yuri may notice that she dressed up for the occasion. No longer wearing feathers and a bikini, she's opted instead for a cherry red apron dress.]

Oh, yes! Umm, yes to both. If you're busy with the tea, I could start making sandwiches... oh, and this may sound funny, but it's good to see you, Yuri-san.

[slice_of_life]

It's no problem. The hard part is already done... that's dicing and grating the orange peels.

[nods] I like your outfit... sorry I didn't exactly... um... dress up...

[she was wearing the same blazer]

...

[she'll blush at the last comment]

T-Thank you, it's good to see you too...

[pecker]

[Well that explains how she beat her there.]

I-It's fine! Um, most people haven't anyway. It's just that my battle clothes aren't really that suited for a date, you see? I'd have stopped wearing them entirely, but I kinda thought it would be nice to surprise everyone... I'm glad you like it.

[slice_of_life]

O-Oh, I see.

[pause]

Um... ...Battle clothes?

[pecker]

[She pauses.]

Oh... right. I didn't tell everyone this, but before coming here, I was in a, um, battle royale of sorts... I'm the Warrior of the Chicken. There's also a Warrior of the Boar, Dog, Monkey, Sheep, and so on... one of each of the 12 families. If I win, I'll get a wish granted, but that's more of a bonus... it's kind of similar to what we've got going on here in that respect.

[slice_of_life]

Ah... like... the Chinese Zodiac?

[she could see the pattern at least.]

I'm sorry... I had no idea...

[pecker]

I wasn't trying to hide it or anything...! It's just that, well, we've mostly known each other from playing these games, so it didn't really come up.

[slice_of_life]

N-No, of course not...

Um... sort of like, did you know I'm here with my Literature Club from school? It's... not something we were hiding either, but...

[she trails off]

Ah... maybe we should start on the sandwiches...

[pecker]

Oh! [She is indeed surprised by this news, but she'll nod and continue talking as she makes her sandwich the way she likes it.]

I figured you were from the same high school since your uniforms match, but I didn't realize it was an actual literature club. Y-You seem a lot more the type than Natsuki-san and Sayori-san...

[slice_of_life]

[she'll help by slicing up the vegetables... she might be lingering on the cutting action a little long.]

Ah...

[She couldn't agree without sounding full of herself, so she tried to just dodge the implication.]

They... they're very passionate about literature too... Monika... she's the President, and Sayori is Vice President, so I'm not even close to them, by that logic...

["logic"]

But, I'm glad you noticed... I was really afraid when I saw Sayori up to vote...

[pecker]

...I-Is the pecking order really that big of a difference in a club with only four people?

[Niwatori has absolutely no idea how school clubs work, that just seems a bit much. Still, she'll give Yuri a sympathetic smile when the topic of her friend comes up.]

It was a little concerning that she was up for elimination, but Sayori-san obviously wasn't going to go to the retreat. Ike-san was the biggest threat ranking-wise, and Avenger-san seems less likely to give his own partners a better score than Sayori-san would...

[Niwatori is putting toppings on bread, but after a while she glances over to watch Yuri chop. Is she just taking her time to slice them very carefully and precisely, or is it more like it's taking so long because her hand is hesitating?]

[slice_of_life]

Y-You knew there were only four of us?

[She's surprised, but also... not.] N-No, of course not. We all just... enjoy reading. Though there's no doubt that Monika is the one in charge... the club basically exists because she wanted it to exist.

[More like she's watching and hesitating at the moment the knife cuts into the flesh of the vegetable being chopped, then she slices it and moves on.]

Ah, that should be enough, I think.

...But I'm surprised... I hadn't thought that much about the scoring and how the rankings would be affected... I just thought everyone would sympathize with Sayori.

[pecker]

Well not exactly, I just assumed t-that if there were this many of you here, then it was probably the entire club... like, why would they only take half or less? Because you're the pretty ones?

But I wouldn't have guessed Monika-san was the leader. I mean, she voted for Natsuki-san to be eliminated, and then she did something to get disqualified. That's pretty weird. O-Oh, but I shouldn't talk about your friend like that, right? I'm sorry!

[What a strange knife technique. Ultimately though, she doesn't comment on it, as Yuri is pointing out her lack of a sympathetic approach and that seems like a bigger danger for now.]

Ah, well I don't know what kind of bond Sayori-san has made with anyone else besides me, so that's why I looked at it strategically first... that's the best way I know to analyze big groups of people.

[People tend to act on their own best interest, that's what Niwatori's experience has showed her.]

[slice_of_life]

[she blushes furiously at the 'pretty ones' comment.]

...To be honest, we were also pretty confused about that.

[she looks down, pausing, as if lost in thought.]

We thought... maybe she was planning to change her vote at the last minute...

[her tone was vaguely sad.]

[pecker]

[Niwatori just smiles innocently while Yuri is blushing, taking the chopped veggies to add to the sandwiches.]

Hmm.... well, you know her better than I do. I-If that's what you think she would do, then I believe you, Yuri-san....

Anyway, did you want to put anything else on these?

[slice_of_life]

... I don't know. I just don't know...

[She knew... the only alternative that made sense was Monika didn't like her club members and wanted them gone... or possibly had been replaced by a clone, but that was too easy a solution.]

Oh, but this is a date, right? It should be... fun.

[She tried smiling.]

Traditionally if we had some sort of spread it'd be good, but... I mean, b-butter or cream cheese or some such thing...

[Did the kitchen have that now? She wasn't sure.]

But I think we might be out of luck.

[pecker]

Y-Yeah.

[Off the depressing subject sounds good.]

Oh wait, I actually have some mayonnaise from the gift exchange. I didn't think it'd come up before this, b-but I put it in the fridge in case anyone wanted to try it.

[slice_of_life]

Really? That'd be perfect!

[Yuri really was excited; there were so many little food items she'd taken for granted before the past few days... it really made her miss having a kitchen with little things like mayonnaise. It was like a reminder that normalcy existed.]

Thank you! I-If you don't mind... we should definitely use it.

[pecker]

[Seeing how convinced Sudoh was that no one would ever want mayo, she's pleasantly surprised it would make Yuri so happy. So apparently that was a great trade to have made. Niwatori pumps up a fist in good cheer.]

Haha, awesome! Let's do it!

[A brief moment later, she is brandishing the mayo at the counter with the two sandwiches.]

[slice_of_life]

[Such a simple thing, but it really made her happy... before long they had a tray of sandwiches and a pot of steaming orange peel tea to share.]

Thank you so much, again. It's really nice to be able to share something so simple as tea and sandwiches...

[pecker]

Same! They look good too... a-and then after this we can share the book and stuff.

[So, pouring herself some of this tea to start, she takes a little sip.]

[slice_of_life]

A-Ah! Wait... it's more traditional to pour each other's mugs...

[She'll try to pour Niwatori her own cup, first.]

[pecker]

Gah, it smelled so good I forgot manners...!

[She will let her]

[slice_of_life]

[breathes a sigh of relief.]

It's all right... it does smell good.

[She'll pour Niwatori's then place it down so she can pour hers.]

[pecker]

T-Thank you....

[She pours Yuri's cup, still slightly abashed, but grinning and bearing it.]

[slice_of_life]

[Niwatori's embarrassment invited Yuri's embarrassment, but she tried to smile through it too.]

Ah... I'm... something of a tea connoisseur to be honest... I love teas.

[pecker]

[She will accept this slight change of topic.]

Oh... really? What kind's your favorite?

[slice_of_life]

I would have to say... oolong tea. Not as light as green tea, not as dark as black tea... just right.

Though I do enjoy those too... of course.

[pecker]

I see... you do like a lot of kinds. I mostly just stick with green tea, myself. Maybe that's why orange tea seemed so exciting.

[Well, for now she'll take a sip.]

Uwah, this has such a healthy taste. You did a good job!

[slice_of_life]

[she takes her own sip as well, nods]

Thank you... it was Shirou's idea. It should have occurred to me, even if there was no tea, herbal tea was an option... though I do miss tea...

[she'll trace a finger along her sandwich's edge, considering.]

Um... can I ask you something...? Something personal...? I-It's all right if not. I don't mind at all.

[pecker]

[Niwatori blinks, but her smile doesn't falter.]

Sure, why not? W-We are on a date, after all... ask whatever you want...

[slice_of_life]

Ah. Actually, that's what I'm wondering...

It's... just between you and me, but...

Do you think... it's possible... to really find someone you want to date like this?

[pecker]

Umm... hmm...

[That's pretty loaded. The first thing Niwatori wonders is how many other people Yuri has asked this same question to. She should probably try to give an interesting answer, rather than one that placates her. She seems too smart for that. At the same time, she shouldn't dash her hopes.]

Well. Yes, I do... it's no less impossible than any other first date, right? But, um, I think mechanically, the game itself doesn't seem to encourage that. So it would be up to the people who want to continue dating t-to um, step out of the framework and ask for that second date... does that make sense?

[slice_of_life]

[she nods] Yes... yes, I think so...

I meant... well... I was speaking more in the sense of you, personally... do you 'want' to find someone...?

I mean, I've had a lot of dates were just talking and chatting. Um. "Hanging out," as they say. So I was wondering if you were interested more in "hanging out" or... actual... romance.

... That sort of thing.

[pecker]

Yuri-san....

[Niwatori stares in what may be mild awe, and takes a sip of the tea before answering. Her face is normal then, as she gulps it down, but once she starts talking, a bit of red faintly dusts her cheeks.]

You know, um, y-you're the first person to even ask me that. ...The truth is, I don't really know. Because I'm really someone who shouldn't get close to anyone, but that means dating in this place would be my only chance. But I've never thought about what I wanted before...

[slice_of_life]

... [Oh no...]

I'm... I'm sorry... is it because of... the battle royale thing? [she hesitates, then adds]

Is it... vicious...?

[pecker]

[Her eyes shift around the room nervously.]

I-I mean, the Juuni Taisen.... it's an obstacle, for sure... I think there must be some way to use my position here as an advantage to win it, but it's definitely um, the Koushun Takami... sort of Battle Royale. It's a war.

But even after that, I'd still be a member of that family, y'know? There would be another mission waiting for me. It's how I've always lived.... If you want to romance someone dangerous, though, I guess... I guess you might find that exciting for a little bit, huh? I mean, some people would be into that....

[Niwatori trails off. Actually, maybe she should just shut up and eat this sandwich for a second.]

[slice_of_life]

[she listens attentively, nodding after every line.]

...I understand. I more than understand, there are... actually more than a few people here in that exact situation...

...You... really don't seem like a dangerous person though... you've been nothing but nice and... [pause, as she tries to think of a good word] ...stuff.

[she had to settle for a not-very-good word.]

[pecker]

[She knows. If she were being honest, Niwatori has seen being nothing but nice as another war of attrition. She's telling herself that so she can be sure that hanging out with an unprecedented number of friendly, attractive peers who like her is not going to make her soft. And neither will engaging in truly romantic gestures. Yes, surely.]

I'm glad you think so. I'm ... I'm trying really hard, to make people like me... so if you like me, I'm happy, Yuri-san.

[slice_of_life]

That's... funny... I've been doing the same thing...

[Every day, forever.]

... Thank you for telling me. I know... I know that was a pretty direction question.

[She sighs, looking down.]

I'm sorry, you deserve the truth, just up front.

[she takes a deep breath]

I... I... I was hoping you were going to say 'I just want friends'...

Because.... I'm sorry, but I've found someone... someone I really like... here. Someone... I am involved with... romantically...

I... kind of wished there was an option to say 'no more dates are needed,' but of course they don't do that, and... that's why... I really want to have fun with you and enjoy our date, but... um.... I can't be a real... romantic... partner...

[she couldn't look Niwatori in the eye. She had hoped for a small 'let's be friends' speech, but...]

[pecker]

Oh... oh! I see.

[It's actually fine with her, and yet she still feels a bit strange. Puzzled, she leans slightly forward as if less gaps in space will mean less gaps in her knowledge.]

But... why did you ask it that way to start, then? About if it's possible, w-when you yourself had already found someone... wouldn't you know, then?

[slice_of_life]

W-Well... yes... but it was true for me, I think, because... I was secretly... wanting... to find someone? If that makes sense...

[she blushed a little]

I mean, you're only going to hit it off with someone and start a romance if you want to do it... otherwise you'd just tell them you weren't interested and stay lonely, right? N-Not that there's anything wrong with that, exactly, but... yes.

[She held a hand over her chest, finally feeling the tension die down.]

But... yes, I think it is possible, but that was my truth, so to speak.

[pecker]

I see... well, you did say that you like to hear people's thoughts, so I guess that makes sense.

[She'll take another bite of the sandwich, thinking about that.]

I'm happy for you, Yuri-san. You and your new, um, significant other... What are you planning to do at the end?

[slice_of_life]

...

[her face takes a turn for the downcast]

I'm hoping she'll come with me, but... um... if not...

[pecker]

[What a sad face.]

....You couldn't go with her?

[slice_of_life]

[long pause]

...I would go.

[pecker]

I-It's probably better for you to talk about that with her than me, huh... I was mostly just, um, curious. It seems difficult to leave the life you'd always known behind.

[slice_of_life]

Yes... but she's... so amazing...

[sighs, dreamily, smiling]

She makes my heart pound just thinking about her... and she's so nice and kind... I... I... she's wonderful...