Cooling Off (For Caduces)

[CaptainL]

Even with the gap in communication between the two of them, Mayori found a way. Yuki could be happy for that, and she let out a breath, the tension in her relaxing. Even if her match wasn't that long ago in the past, Yuki was already in a headspace quite different from that of the high-intensity energy she brought to her bouts. She could rest assured, pleased that things were looking smooth for the two of them.

Nodding to Mayori, understanding the unspoken intent perfectly well, Yuki also got up, following the now calmed girl back to the locker room. She waited patiently behind her as she retrieved her phone, already figuring that Mayori felt this would be a more efficient way of communication. It seemed like one Yuki could get behind, too, as she smiled to her with another nod. "Ramen? Sounds good," Yuki said. "I know I really worked up an appetite." She wasn't sure if Mayori would hold much of a mealtime conversation, but the rumble in her stomach reminded Yuki of where her priorities lay. "Just let me go get changed, I'll meet you back here."

[Caduces]

Mayori tagged along with Yuki a bit, grabbing a hot towel on the way from one of the LAW staffers.

She dabbed her face and the back of her neck as she walked. She seemed to be repeating some of the words that Yuki used - like she was trying to learn them.

Mayori got cleaned up and went in search of Yuki, not understanding that she was to meet her back in the corner of the backstage area. She retraced her path and ultimately found her Ramen partner waiting. Mayori was so elated to see that Yuki was there.

Make a friend, make a friend, make a friend...

Dressed in an oversized O neck T-shirt with a Japanese phrase on it and a date beneath it, Mayori looked ready to leave as she slung her backpack over her shoulders.

[CaptainL]

After breaking away from Mayori, Yuki went to quickly shower, then retrieved her school uniform from her locker and got dressed, tossing her wrestling outfit in her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. Not wanting to keep Mayori waiting for her too long, Yuki was a bit hurried, but she would end up back at where they had parted ways just a few minutes before Mayori did; she was still fixing her hair when the girl showed up.

"Oh-!" Yuki said with a smile, looking up at Mayori. She stepped closer and brushed out her skirt, going for some last-minute tune-ups to her look. She did blush a little with the knowledge of how she was dressed, looking far more bookish and formal compared to Mayori; she hoped that it wouldn't cause her to take her any less seriously. Or make their meeting awkward; she wasn't sure if Mayori had a place in mind, or what the atmosphere of the place would be like.

"I came here right from class, so this is the only thing I had," she explained. "I'm just finishing up my last year of high school." She tried to speak slowly and carefully so that Mayori would understand, taking a relaxed breath to keep her tone even. "Anyway...are you ready?"

[Caduces]

Mayori tried keeping up with what Yuki was saying. With close to 80% being lost in common language translation, there was little that she could say back without being misunderstood, herself.

But, there was a remedy to this and it required a certain Ramen dive (restaurant).

Once Mayori gauged that Yuki was ready to go, she led their way from the arena. Sneaking past LAW fan lines and the camera girls made it through their side of Tokyo about two kilometers away on foot. They casually walked through the pedestrian gauntlet, stopping only for Mayori to look at a few window wares. She would try and share her love of shopping by holding up shirts like the one she had on against her body and seemingly asking Yuki her opinion.

When they finally came upon the restaurant, Mayori seemed like she was looking for someone through the glass. When it looked like she saw whom she was seeking, her non-common language indicated relief and happiness.

Mayori and Yuki were seated and she kept looking at one of the waiters (and her one sheet menu).

[CaptainL]

Seeing that Mayori was so bewildered by her attempts to explain herself, Yuki couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, and an embarrassed blush came to her cheeks. She didn't want to be insensitive or confuse her more than she needed to, and she decided that from hereon out she was going to try and avoid speaking as much as she could, or at least to make it easy for Mayori.

She followed her out of the arena, keeping her gym bag slung over her shoulder. Once they were out of sight of the fans gathered around the building, Yuki seemed to visibly relax, letting out a breath and softening her posture as her step became calmer and her expression changed to a contented smile. It seemed as though Yuki was living two lives, and that as long as she was in the arena, she was all business, committing her full attention to her performance. Now, though, she was free, and she could cut loose.

As Mayori modeled a few shirts, Yuki gave her feelings with a smile and a nod, uttering a few words she hoped would be common enough for Mayori to understand, or at least to pick up on for future reference based on the context. "That looks good on you," she said. Despite her more pedestrian and unassuming clothing at the moment, Yuki still understood what would suit someone's style, and she was happy to help Mayori out with this. It made her feel a sense of calm and comfort, in fact. She was glad to know that Mayori was someone who she could respect not just as a coworker, but as a friend.

At last, the two came to the restaurant. Yuki paused for a moment as Mayori looked through the window, not sure what she was looking for, or what it meant. Still, she sounded positive enough, and she was willing to follow her in, going to her seat to join her companion. She took a moment to look around the room, seeing that there were a few other students here, probably catching something to eat after sports or club activities. She wasn't sure if she would be too conspicuous wearing her uniform this late in the night, but she seemed pleased that she could blend in just fine. She would then look back to her menu, glancing it over before she looked back up at Mayori. She noticed her attention seemed to be wandering elsewhere, and she was curious. Eventually, she had to broach the subject. "Who's..?" she said, hoping the question she was asking would be obvious enough.

[Caduces]

Mayori caught the eye of the waiter, a young and skinny man that looked to be at least in his mid twenties. He approached their table and Mayori quickly intercepted his opening question with her prefecture's language. The waiter looked to Yuki and then back to Mayori as she continued to speak.

For Yuki, it sounded like Mayori had a lot to say to this waiter. Her shoulders were more relaxed and her smile was becoming frequent. There was a sense of commonality between her and the man she was talking to. The kitchen staff kept looking over at their table and seemed to be wondering why their single waiter was being detained for so long. The menu was just one page.

He smiled at Mayori, acknowledged Yuki with a bow and started to speak to her in common language. "Hello, I am Choki."

[CaptainL]

As the waiter began to approach the table, Yuki realized that she hadn't decided definitively on what she was going to order. A lump started to form in her throat, as she wondered what she was going to do; she didn't want to make a fool of herself, especially not in front of a friend. However, instead of asking for the order, the young man engaged himself with the two at the table. Though she didn't know who he was, it did seem like he and Mayori had a history, so there was at least that to go off of. She peered a little closer towards the two, trying to listen in on the conversation and see if she could glean what was being said. It was moving too quickly for her to keep up, but it certainly seemed friendly enough.

As he then turned to Yuki, the girl would meet him with a short bow of her own. "It's nice to meet you, Choki," she said. "I'm Yuki. Yuki Kazikura, and I'm a coworker of Mayori's. You two must know each other?"

[Caduces]

"Not that well, but she comes here often." Choki explained. "She has asked me to take your order first and she has much to say afterwards."

This was curious. Choki spoke the same dialect as the girl sitting across from Yuki and he hadn't admitted to knowing her long. Did he know what kind of co-worker Yuki was?

Mayori looked toward Yuki with expectation, biting her lip as if she was desperate to hear a word in response to Choki's translation.

"What bowl may I get you?" Choki added.

[CaptainL]

"Ah, I see..." Yuki said, nodding in agreement with Choki. "I don't want to be a problem for you two, is all." When she looked back at Mayori, Yuki could see how tense she was, and she blinked for a moment, confused. Especially after seeing how much more relaxed Mayori was in the waiter's presence earlier, Yuki wasn't sure what this meant, or what she was afraid of. Not wanting to linger on it too long so as to not worry Mayori, however, the girl cleared her throat, looking back at the menu. It was there that she realized she had been so distracted by their conversation that she still wasn't sure what to order, and a blush came to her face a moment as she worried if anyone would notice. She'd simply pick the first thing that came to her attention.

"I think I'll have the miso, myself," she said, clearing her throat.

[Caduces]

Mayori watched Yuki intently and when she seemed to finish ordering, she looked back up to Choki.

Another conversation was struck up between the two. Choki looked over his shoulder after a bit of this and noticed that the woman at the register was looking right at him. He asked something of Mayori and it seemed to quell the chatter for a moment.

"Miso, I will get it," He said politely to Yuki. He left the table and Mayori kept looking for him to come back. She seemed lost without him being there. She managed a smile or two to Yuki, but she looked like as if she wanted to talk.

The older woman at the register walked by their table and after Choki. He was still in sight for Yuki and she could see that there was some talk between him and the woman. It didn't last long, though. He came back to the table with two bowls of miso soup and placed them in front of the girls. Before Mayori could utter a word to him, he said a few things to her and she reluctantly nodded her head and bit her lip.

"I will return in less than half an hour. My shift is nearly over." He said to Yuki. "I also promised her (Mayori) I would help her speak to you when I do return." He bowed and resumed waiting on another table that had just been sat.