Something Else Other Than Bathing

[Mizukami Ayumu]

Yay, a Hot Springs thread! While it's open, I prefer the characters that Ayumu hadn't already met. Or Nagisa, though it's improbable that she pop up here...

This happens on April 28, 5:00 PM.

Mizukami Ayumu absentmindedly yawned.

He'd been in his room ever since they'd arrived; he'd been napping. Travel usually took a lot out of him; while he'd love to see a whole bunch of places, his body had a way of complaining. He was content, at least, that he had survived the ride with merely getting dizzy and not puking. Puking was bad. And stinky, too.

He was supposed to have a roommate... somebody named Narukami or something, if he recalled right... he was a classmate too... he just couldn't conjure up a decent mental image. Well, he'll meet him, sooner or later, though right now he wasn't here. He sat up, stretched a bit. He thought about how people yawn when they just woke up and how they yawn just when they were about to sleep. And how the two things tend to be the same. He shook his head. It was pleasant to sleep, but he didn't want to waste his time in a bed. That sort of made it sound like I was okay with wasting time somewhere else...

He swept his feet off the mattress and placed them firmly into the floor, his toes looking for his slippers. He rubbed his eyes. When he found his footwear, he stood up, slowly, carefully. He didn't exactly want to bathe yet, even if that was what this place was for. What else could I do? He stepped towards the door, gingerly handling the knob.

Maybe I could go see some people and chat... and then ask them what they'd like to do. he considered. He knew that a fair amount of people he knew... went with this trip. Furukawa-san was here too... too bad that the quarters were segregated by gender, though he knew that was to prevent... things from happening. Were they allowed to wander to the girl's side? He'd be okay with it even with supervision.

It's not like he was going to peek at them or something... steam... Furukawa-senpai... in a kimono... just in... a towel...

"Bad, bad." he chastised himself, shaking his head, as if doing so would erase the small but goofy smile on his face. He opened the door. Who would be in the corridor?

[Narukami Akira]

Evening is approaching, so is dinnertime.

Since my roommate was taking a nap when I arrived and I didn't want to bother the sleepyhead, I decided to explore the baths. The plan was disrupted though, when I encounter two strangers and a newly made acquaintance of mine, Sakagami. She was tending to an injured person named Otomo and another guy named Densetsu stumbled on the scene. After buying ice for the hapless victim as Sakagami requested, we decided to get the former back to his room. Even if Sakagami is our school's heroine, it's a man's duty to help a woman out whenever possible (at least that's what my dad taught me). Besides, this is my chance to get a little bit closer to her, in order to overcome my shyness around the fair sex.

When carrying Otomo back to his room alongside Densetsu, I kept thinking about how he was fighting against bullies. This can be interesting, having an ally of justice other than Sakagami and me. Guess I am not alone in this school after all. Sakagami-Otomo-Narukami alliance, or The Power Trio? If we fight together, nothing can stop us... right? Man, do I desire to play hero this much? Is the spunky brat still stirring inside me, after all these years being suppressed? Is that kid still stirring my blood, trying to force me into action?

After getting the fallen hero back to his quarters, I decide to do the same as well, and saying goodbye to Densetsu. But the door to my room opens before I can touch it. Seems like the sleepyhead decided to go out.

"Hi, you're awake already?" I greet the platinum-haired guy by reflex.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

"Oh."

He had been hoping somebody was outside... but of course, it still surprised him, since not only someone was outside, someone was at the door. The other boy was taller than him, with brown, nondescript hair and gleaming purple eyes, which got his attention. He looked like he was thinking about something. (While Mizukami's expression often suggested that he was thinking about something, he was prudent enough to note that not everybody was the same.)

But then, before he could react... well, he was thinking too, fantasizing, even, but his expression was more sleepy than pensive... the other boy greeted him. It then occurred to him that the boy looked familiar; he must have seen him somewhere... in the classroom? He wasn't completely sure yet, but coupling that with the fact that he was going to enter the room (and people rarely do some introspection while breaking in into somebody else's room), that must mean he was his roommate.

"Narukami, huh?" he asked, clarifying.

He didn't know much about this guy yet, but he didn't seem too bad... though he didn't seem to pass his criteria for being 'interesting', either. Then again, Mizukami argued with himself, he probably wouldn't pass his own 'interesting' test. Every guy was a potential friend, even though Ayumu never really figured out how to be friendly. He usually let things go their way, unless it interfered with saying what he meant, doing what he wanted, and believed to be right...

Come on, you're just meeting him. No need to overthink it. he finally decided, though his mind kept on buzzing. "How were things while I was out?" He'd ask about what he could do, if he didn't want to bathe, later... he'll engage in some small talk, first. Besides, Narukami might be wanting to sleep this time...

[Narukami Akira]

So the Sleeping Beauty, well, Prince, has awoken from his long slumber and decided to go out. He still took me by surprise though, after the things happened near the springs. This situation is kinda like a stranger passing by a superhero who just got out of his cape.

"I thought I could try the hot springs before dinner. But things happened, so I'm back here. Maybe I should go in the evening."

At least I managed to pull out an honest answer (I think). Even though Whitey is my classmate, we still hardly know each other, so I don't want to tell him about the incident, at least not now.

"There's still about an hour until dinner". I decide to change the subject. "Wanna kill some time in the game room?" The request pops up, as it was my plan in case Mizukami had not woken up. Guys love playing, so maybe I can get along with him that way. "We can play ping-pong".

[Mizukami Ayumu]

It seemed his roommate had been involved with... something, now that he had looked closer, though it was just a hunch. Despite that, and the differences that he had noted between himself and Narukami, it looked like they were thinking the same thing; that they would just enjoy the hot springs later, in the evening, perhaps underneath the stars, though the aforementioned points of light would probably be obscured by the steam.

He decided he wouldn't... ask him what he meant by... 'things happened'. At least not yet. "I'm thinking of going there much later, too." he remarked, approvingly. He completed his exit out of their room, shutting the door neatly behind him with a light flick of his feet.

Then it occurred to him that perhaps Narukami might want to enter the room... but his succeeding words suggested that it was not the case. Ayumu's ears perked up at the mention of a 'game room', though he kept his expectations modest; something like video games would be improbable here, perhaps he could get lucky with some board games...

"Ping-pong?" he repeated, considering it. "I've never really played before... but I suppose I could try." he announced, thinking aloud. He really wasn't the athletic sort of character, and even with fighting games his hand-eye coordination was just average. How would he fare with a sport, even if it was an indoor one? Would he even be able to serve properly?

"Would there be other games there, too?" he queried, moving from before the entrance. He tried not to sound too desperate; Narukami looked like a sporty person, and it wouldn't hurt to entertain his suggestion.

"Oh... and since we haven't really talked that much before... I'm Mizukami Ayumu."

[checkmate]

Mayumi wondered around the place, trying to get used to everything. It was clear that she was lost but she had made up her mind that she have to look for the exit herself, instead of waiting around and wondering who would show up and give her a helping hand.

Her long hair flopped on her shoulder, her forehead dabbed with sweat from walking so much. She has never been much of a sporty person but at that point of time, that wasn't really the time to stop for a break or two. Her eyes flickered from door to door, corridor to corridor, trying her best to recall whether she had been to any of the places before.

It proved futile, when she realized that almost everything look the same. The interior designs of the building were decorated under the same theme to make it look neat and organized and it would probably look really weird if they were to design every corner differently. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she continued forward.

The brunette widened her eyes slightly when her ears caught sounds of a conversation. There are people around? Her perplexed expression soon changed into a delighted and relieved expressions. It was glad to know that there was someone out there that could give her a helping hand. She approached the voices and found two boys around her age, standing along the corridor and having a little chat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but... Do you know where the dining room is located at?" Her cheeks flushed pink and she gave a small embarrassed smile. Taking the first step to speak to a complete stranger was never her forte. Mayumi's eyes turned toward the ground and she awaited nervously for their reply.

[Narukami Akira]

"I'm Narukami Akira. No need to be so formal, though. We're classmates after all." I reply to Mizukami's greetings.

Whitey said he never really played ping-pong before. It's not much of a problem since we only play for fun. "I don't play much either, so no need to worry. But since we are already in a hot springs inn, we should at least try the ping-pong table a bit". I try to reassure him. "Besides, there are some other arcade games like pinball there too. You can play anything you like."

Just as we try to leave, a petite girl with long brown hair approaches us from behind, asking where the dining room is. I try to be as helpful as I can: "Ah, well, I think you should go to the end of the corridor then turn left, then go a bit more until you see a large door on your right side. But it is still one hour until dinner though. Why do you go there so soon?"

[Mizukami Ayumu]

"It's nice to meet you." the white-haired boy said, and he meant it.

While it was not exactly obvious, Ayumu was in a slightly more cheerful mood than usual. He thought it must be because of his nap. Sleep can be very revitalizing, once you've managed to fully wake up afterward. While Hikarizaka wasn't so bad... after all, it wasn't exactly a city, and kept most of its greenery... out-of-town trips to places like these were refreshing, even though they forced you into doing things you usually won't do, and might not want to.

"Okay."

For most of his classmate, and currently roommate's, answers to the questions he had thrown, he remained silent, only nodding. He was happy that he wasn't limited to just ping-pong, and while pinball and stuff weren't exactly his usual definition of a fun time, they weren't as... challenging to the slow youngster.

Besides, he liked sports, though that like was mostly relegated to watching them. Even if the moves weren't greatly exaggerated and flashy like those in anime and manga, a competition can be very exciting to watch. I probably won't be exciting to watch though. I'd probably miss the ball a couple of times. Still, his supply of optimism was quite full. He could probably engage Narukami in a match, hopefully not fail so spectacularly, and then move on to some other mode of entertainment.

He was going along this train of thought, when a brunette appeared, asking for directions. He was unfamiliar with his surroundings yet, and he was relying mostly on Narukami's memory. She must be really lost, though... this is the boy's rooms' corridor, already... The taller boy had spoken ahead of him, and he felt he had nothing more to contribute. He was content to await the girl's reply to Narukami. Is the game room isn't segregated by gender? Maybe Furukawa-senpai would be there... though I don't know if she likes games... maybe we could invite this girl, if she's merely lost, and is free...

He kept his propositions, in the meantime, to himself. They, however, made him look like a cat, curious, watching the lass innocently. What was missing was a flicking tail.

[checkmate]

The blood beneath her cheeks boiled, her face flushed pink. Not only has she gotten lost, she has also gotten the time wrong. She lifted her hand and smacked her face lightly before responding with an embarrassed expression, “Oh no, Oh no! I thought it was dinner time a couple of moments ago and now I’ve gotten the time wrong too.” Mayumi chided herself in her mind for being such a major klutz. She needs to be more observant.

Her eyes nervously flickered around the room and indeed, there was nothing that seemed familiar to her. Her gaze slowly travelled to another male with soft silver hair. His expression painted a mixture of curiosity and interest.

Mayumi could barely hold her laughter in and they burst out in giggles. “I’m sorry. You’re really interesting,” she apologized in between her giggles. The boy was like a child, curious and interested in everything.

Somehow, she has found herself calming down and the nervousness from before has already dissolved, bit by bit. It was then that she realized that she hasn't introduced herself yet.

"I'm terribly sorry for my rudeness. I'm Kinoshita Mayumi, nice to meet you!"

[Narukami Akira]

I just wanted to chat and play for a while with Whitey to kill time and getting to know him a little. But the brunette's presence really startled me.

Why does flustered girls have to be so cute? If this was an anime, I would probably see a pink background behind her with small flowers. If she had introduced herself just seconds sooner, I would have been in her current state. Inner peace, inner peace... Yeah, that should do it.

I manage to cough out a reply: "U-Uh, ahem... Oh, sorry, I'm Narukami Akira". I give Whitey a pat on his back, trying to smile as broadly as possible. "And this charming guy here is Mizukami Ayumu, my classmate and roommate".

"We plan to play in game room while waiting, so would you like to come along?" Somehow those words just slipped out of my mouth. That girl is still a stranger to me, and I flat out invited her to join the fun. Perhaps my first meeting with Sakagami does have some benefits after all. "The more the merrier... right?" I turn toward Whitey, seeking his confirmation.

[Mizukami Ayumu]

"I'm not charming, and you're not being rude." replied Ayumu, cordially; he resisted the urge to take a joking jab at Narukami, since he wasn't that well acquainted with him yet.

"But yes, I'm Mizukami." he continued.

Whilst the girl piqued his curiosity at first mostly because of how lost she was... and she was lost even in terms of time, not just in terms of place... now the girl had sparked his interest because she said he was interesting.

Interesting was a very important word for Ayumu. He'd never thought himself as... 'interesting', ever. It was... strange. His natural silence, however, stopped himself from asking the girl why she'd found him... that. Interesting.

He looked at her in much the same fashion as he had been doing for a while, and then felt a little embarrassed for gazing a little too intently. "Sorry." he found himself saying.

It wasn't like he'd find out why she said that if she kept on looking at her... and the attention can be mistaken for... all sorts of things. Averting his eyes, he stated, "It's nice to meet you."

Akira had said the necessary stuff again... not that he minded, this encounter would probably be slower if it was just him.

He should regain his composure. Breathe.

[checkmate]

“Narukami, Mizukami,” Mayumi repeated, trying to remember their names. It’d be rude and terribly embarrassing if she were to mix them up. Their names were similar and she wondered if they were siblings, but their appearance was really different so that was probably out of the question.

She tilted her head slightly when Mizukami apologized. The brunette didn’t understand the reason why he apologized but decided against probing as they have only just met and didn’t wanted to seem like a nosy person.

Her face flushed red when Narukami invited her to join them in the game room. She wasn’t good at making new acquaintance and she was glad that she has been invited. She gave a small, embarrassed smile in response and replied, “I’m not good with games but I’d love to. D-Did I interrupt your conversation, though?”

They were nice and friendly, and it’d be disastrous if she had made one of them annoyed.

She need to calm down and stop being nervous. Mayumi has never been good at taking the initiative unless she was in a tight situation. She needs to have more confidence with herself.

[Narukami Akira]

"Ah, no, no, not at all. You didn't interrupt anything. It will be nice if you can join us." I try to adopt the most friendly tone I can get. Seems like the petite brunette is trying to pull herself together like me. Maybe I can get along with her. Even though her stereotypical "moe" looks make me quite nervous. Somehow moe-ness really gets to me. And there's a pigtailed girl with that kind of appearance, along with an aura of intelligence. That is a dangerous combo for sure.

"There are lots of games available there, so feel free to try anything you like" I sound like a staff member of the inn now. "And, well, I think we can get acquainted better there rather than standing in a corridor." It's getting really stuffy here. "At least we will have more space, right, Ayumu-kun?"

[Mizukami Ayumu]

"I'm not that good with certain games, either." Ayumu said, trying to be reassuring. He had just managed to stabilize himself, to keep his questions tightly sealed for later.

The girl seemed nice, and perhaps if he had passed her, across a different corridor, perhaps in school, without her asking for directions, or even then... he might not have noticed her. But she had noticed him, and she might have noticed him, if it had not happened in this occasion. It still felt strange to be the actor instead of the audience... but he was coping. He had to learn to deal with people, better, if he was going to join the drama club...

He nodded, twice, in agreement to Narukami's statements, particularly the one about not interrupting, and going to the game room. "Space, yes." he commented, shortly, though he was mildly smiling and was definitely not being gruff. Just being his laconic I'm-with-acquaintances-who-might-become-friends self. "Lead the way, Narukami-san."

The reference to his given name startled him, since most Japanese would consider it presumptuous, but Ayumu didn't mind. He'll stick to not using given names until he felt it proper, and Narukami could do whatever he wanted. He imitated the girl's review, although in his mind. Narukami, Kinoshita. "One's under a tree, and the other's a rumbling, a thunder god..." he stated without much thought, in regards to the meanings of his companions' surnames.

From his thought earlier about the drama club and dealing with people, his mind inevitably fluttering onto his fawned-over Furukawa-senpai. He randomly brought up a question on his mind; he had not known much about it, because his childhood wasn't in Japan...

"What do you know about the Dango Daikazoku?"

[checkmate]

Mayumi beamed with delight when they assured her that she did not interrupt anything. She wasn’t really familiar with anyone in her school yet as she has just transferred over and it was really great that she has became acquaintances with them. On the other hand, she was relieved that she did not interrupt their conversation.

She tried to wonder whether she has ever passed by them in school before but the possibility was pretty low. Mizukami have snow white hair which would make him stand out in school and it’s probably hard to forget it once you’ve seen it before.

"One's under a tree, and the other's a rumbling, a thunder god..."

The brunette gave him a startled look and pondered over his statement. A soft laugh escaped her lips when she understood what he meant. No one has ever defined her family name before and it was pretty rare to meet someone that’s good with Japanese at their age.

"What do you know about the Dango Daikazoku?"

She paused for a moment to think about his question. “ They are a big dumpling family and there are 100 members. They are round and cute with two eyes and no mouth or nose,” she answered meekly. She wasn’t sure about what his question meant and she waited nervously for his reply.