いらっしゃいませ！

The Super High School Level Ramen Shop Owner, Mayumi Hanezuka, at your service! Alive | RP blog affiliated with RWC2

[hadeanic]

ice cream cake || SH1BA || closed for mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

shsl-sh1ba‌:

While Mayumi moved around, Shiba moved to be out of her way. They kept the cheese bag with them but closed, now feeling bad since wow this probably wasn’t very sanitary. But at least this meant it was their shredded cheese now. 

They smiled a little, “It’ll probably still taste good…” It was kinda nice that even with everything going on Mayumi was still willing to do something like make a new recipe over some throwaway comment. 

Shiba nodded, “When have you known me to not be rude.” It was a joke but… well lately hadn’t they been more tamed and kind? Part of them really missed being rude and having an attitude. Although they did slip back to that during the trial and after the ranking results had come in. Did they have a right to mope or complain?

“I’m…” they sighed, why lie to Mayumi? “Well I’m a mix bag of things, I guess… Somehow, though, it’d be really shitty of me to complain, huh? I did just…” they frown, “…I did threaten to kill everyone. I- I’ve been trying to talk to some people and keep spirits up. Haven’t become a full hermit yet but, um…” But maybe it would be better if they did. They sighed frustrated with their own confusion.

“And you?”

There were still more things to get out... fresh noodles, a container of something dark, a chilled roast, ready to be cut into pork...

“Yeah, but... even if you’re rude a lot, you’d probably think of sparing my feelings if the ramen sucks, I bet.” She flashed a smile back at Shiba, “You’re way less rude than I thought at the start, after all.”

Once the water was bubbling, she could wait, turning to lean against a counter and watch Shiba properly, her smile fading slightly. This was a situation that ramen alone probably couldn’t soothe, what with the impending death and stuff.

“......I’m... doing fine. I’m not really thinking about it... it doesn’t really feel real. If I’m the fifth...” She shook her head, “...there isn’t much I can do about it, so I won’t think about it. So I’m more or less fine.”

“....I...”

“I think you have the right to complain, though. You exploded, yeah, but this situation is... it’s way more than any of us should have to deal with. If you’re trying to keep other people’s spirits up, that’s already a lot...” She scratched the back of her head, nervously.

“.....uh. So. I... don’t... um. You know...?”

[hadeanic]

Bothering the Dove | Mayumi | Chapter 4 | Closed for Wakana

[haneko-ramen]

songsforthedove‌:

It be a lie to say she had good sleep after everything that happened; the trial and the aftermath. She was happy for Ryouma to be alive, and to finally get her feelings across to someone she cared for, but it did not erase the regrets and mistakes she made. She sighed as she got up from her bed and went to move to her desk.

She has a lot to do now; speak to so many people and try to amend as much as she can.

She may still be in her pajamas, but that was not going to stop her from starting somewhere; she had to start somewhere.

She promised herself she would not waver any longer; she would not allow herself to be chained by fear.

She took a deep breath and sighed as she sat down on her desk chair and pulled a drawer open; taking out a journal. Then she pulled out a necklace from the drawer; a key bound by small chains, and proceeded to open the journal with the key- unlocking all her secrets and story to the world.

Or at least temporarily to the world.

She began to look for a pen, but then stopped as she heard a knock at her door. Immediately she got up and moved to the entrance of her room.

She paused for a moment; what if it was Jito…?

Even if it was; should she not be embarrassed either way?

She thought for a small moment; if it was an emergency, should being embarrassed be the first thing on her mind?

She decided; no, it should never be the first thought.

She quickly moved to the door and opened it; surprised to be greeted by Mayumi.

“Hanezuka-san…? I…”

She cannot help the curiosity, but with the fierce look Mayumi seemed to have; Wakana decided it be best to ask why she knocked on her door later.

“…  would you like to come in and talk?”

She opened her door all the way to allow Mayumi into her room. Her journal being open to the world being the last of the opera singer’s worries.

Mayumi flushed slightly, shuffling in place. She was uncomfortable, nervous... whether or not this was a good idea, or even a kind one, she wasn’t entirely sure anymore. But she’d started the conversation, and Wakana was inviting her in, and at this point the best idea was probably just following through and letting what happened, happen.

She bowed, formally, trying to Wakana’s baseline politeness, and shuffled in.

“T...thanks. Yeah.” She took a moment to look around, giving her brain a bit more time to realize whatever the hell she was thinking. There was plenty to see, luckily; Wakana had a beautiful bed, charming furniture... she was dressed cute, too, Mayumi noticed. She glanced down at herself and her t-shirt, and then shook her head.

The journal went ignored, for the moment. Her older sister senses begged her to peek, but it probably wasn’t the best way to have a conversation.

“...I... wanted to talk about the trial and... and how it played out.”

She was blunt, straight to the point.

“I’m sure you don’t want to think about it at all, but... I can’t stop thinking about how it went. S...so, I thought I’d talk to you.”

[hadeanic]

ice cream cake || SH1BA || closed for mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

shsl-sh1ba‌:

Truth be told, those options were sounding a lot better than just the shredded cheese. Maybe when Mayumi wasn’t looking, Shiba could sprinkle it on top of whatever she made for her. 

“… I’d like the pineapple ramen,” she said softly, looking down. This was just embarrassing now that it was settling in. 

“Or, um, whatever type of ramen you wanna make.” Because Shiba knew that no matter what it’d be delicious.

Ah...! This was getting somewhere! If Shiba was no longer in danger of running off with cheese, Mayumi could...

...Mayumi hadn’t really planned on anything to do or say beyond offering to cook. Shit. She was gonna have to wing it again.

“Right! Pineapple ramen it is! It’s still the first draft though, you know? It’s definitely not as complex as it could be...” She reached out for an apron and tied it around her waist, relaxing slightly when it was snug and comfortable, and moving to the fridge.

“So uh! You have to be really honest about what you think and what it needs. I can’t improve otherwise. Don’t worry about being rude--I’m definitely used to worse!”

She set aside her ingredients, including a tupperware container of pineapple slices, and grabbed a pot for the stove, waiting til she had begun prep to speak again.

“Uh. Um! H...how. Are you doing? Tonight. In general?”

[hadeanic]

A Worthy Challenger || Shuper Sentai || CH4 || Closed for Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

mango-fight‌:

With how much the sentai’s laughing, it’s a wonder that she isn’t being tickled too. She shows Mayumi mercy, allowing her to get away. Where she’s less merciful, though, is in what she does next. She rolls herself back up onto her feet and points at Mayumi, her other hand covering the mouth of her helmet like she’s trying to stifle her laughter.

She goes right into her victory dance, her legs swaying from left to right as she weaves an X in front of herself with her arms. After hitting the X, she drops her arms back, brings them up for a shrug, drops them down, raises them to clap overhead, and then goes back into the X on repeat.

Wow, this super hero thinks she’s slick, huh? She’s not even wearing orange nor did she play fair! Is this… Lemon Injustice?

Mayumi gave herself some time to lie on the ground and catch her breath, still giggling as she rested. It was certainly the first time she’d been defeated in such a way, but... she didn’t feel particularly bitter about it, and that was almost surprising. Well! The whole thing was a first for her; she hadn’t gotten into a habit of fighting masked superheroes.

She might make it one, given how fun it’d been and ALSO the way her opponent was acting post-victory.

“Aaah... you bastard. Don’t think this proves anything, alright? You won via dirty tricks!” She pushed herself upright to be able to pose dramatically, pointing at the sentai.

“Next time... next time I won’t fall for it! I’ll take you out, for sure!”

[hadeanic]

A Worthy Challenger || Shuper Sentai || CH4 || Closed for Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

mango-fight‌:

The hero lets out a shriek, not out of pain or fear but from the thrill of it all. That sure is a lot of power! Although she tries to twist and wiggle free at first, she ultimately seems to give into her leglocked fate as requested…

…until she reaches over to tickle Mayumi’s sides. Perhaps a sudden tickle fight will even the playing field again. What an illegal and underhanded move!

Yes...! Mayumi could feel a swell of excitement as the sentai hero stopped wiggling, submitting to the lock she’d got her in. She was entirely prepared to call it a victory before her opponent turned to dirty tactics.

They worked like a charm.

“Pff--hu--! AAHAHA...! No, no, stop--hey! You’re cheating, t-this isn’t--haahaha! Nonono, I’m weak to--ahahahahaha!!”

Try though she might, she couldn’t continue to keep her sentai opponent in a hold and had to let go, immediately trying to squirm away.

“NooooO!! Ahahaha--I yield, I’m yielding!!”

[hadeanic]

ice cream cake || SH1BA || closed for mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

shsl-sh1ba‌:

The light came on and Shiba jumped, holding the bag of shredded cheese a little closer to prevent herself from making a mess. Her face turned red with embarrassment when she realized just how ridiculous she probably looked. All she could do was stare ahead at Mayumi, gulping down the shredded cheese in her mouth and ignoring the bits that were on her cheeks. Sometimes people, especially when they thought they’d go unseen, were just messy eaters!

“You… you don’t have to do that,” she said softly, averting her gaze. “I can leave so you can cook though…” But the shredded cheese was going with her. 

Man... this was... what did her sister say? Mood? This was a mood. Mayumi averted her eyes slightly to try and give the whole situation, shredded cheese and all, some more dignity.

“No, no... listen, it’s more embarrassing if I’m cooking ramen on my own late at night, just--if you let me cook for you I’ll feel better about myself, too. And I don’t like pineapple that much, so I can’t taste-test the ramen on my own.”

“Or maybe shrimp? Or... uh. I’m working on a lamb ramen... and a vegetarian ramen... just uh. You don’t HAVE to eat that...”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

He seemed happy that Mayumi might’ve had some hope for the future.  After all it seemed inevitable, might as well try and get used to it all right now.  

“What can I say?  It’s just one of my many charms.”  

How many charms he did have?  Who knows, but optimism as certainly one of them.

“Maybe this is how they get their sick sadistic joy out of us.  If we knew what we did maybe we wouldn’t suffer as much, but if it comes to us as a shock well… it makes sense that we’d be suffering more.” 

Who knew what sort of sadistic ideas their captor had.

“…No we really have to.  Arisa’s orders and I uh… don’t want to make her angry.  She’s scary when she’s angry.  But I did mean it, and if she comes asking just say that we did.  Really I just don’t want any trouble!”

Mayumi didn’t really understand but he HAD to apologize, it really was for a selfish reason too.  But that didn’t mean it wasn’t honest at the same time.  

“Hmm… you think so?  Well… I guess that’s not wrong.  It’s a little scary though to not be nice.  To not be liked by people, sometimes I just think it’s better to push myself for the sake of others liking me than to be selfish and risk them all hating me.  Even if… even if that’s a silly thought it’s still scary.”

How many times did he hear this now?  If only he could commit it to his heart at this point.

“Alright, alright, if you say so.  But I’ll be back tomorrow, if only to see how tasty that meal is.  ‘Till then, keep on keeping on!”  

And this time he really did go away, feeling a little relieved than he did coming in.  

“So it was Arisa-kun who told you to...” It all made a lot of sense... she might’ve been able to bristle enough to chase Jito off on her own, but who had the strength to tell Arisa no?? No one, probably. Maybe Hiroyuki. It also... meant that she might have to do this again, then, huh? “...Wakana-kun doesn’t have to apologize, even so. I’ll tell Arisa-kun, if I see her.”

She looked down at her cutting board and closed her eyes. Awkward though it was, and even though she’d nearly cried... perhaps she felt... yeah. Just a little bit better.

As thanks, she cracked a small smile at him.

“It’s.... uh. I mean, it’s not bad to be nice, and I appreciate it, but... don’t... like.” She stumbled over her words a bit, “Don’t hold yourself in because you’re afraid people will hate you. It’s.... alright. If people don’t respond to your kindness. Particularly when things get tough... just... don’t throw yourself into trying to be... ugh. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

She began to make shallow cuts over the surface of the meat she had.

“I’ll have a new special, so come back soon.”

[hadeanic]

ice cream cake || SH1BA || closed for mayumi

With the motive now announced and her list submitted, Shiba felt like she deserved a bit of a break from it all. That included people as well. She didn’t stick around for people to try and preach to her the same monologue she had gotten from Jito about ten times already. She had spent a good amount of the day just literally running and doing anything to keep her body moving faster than her mind. 

Which meant that now, late at night with less of a chance of running into anyone, Shiba was hungry. The idea of having to make a meal, while staying quiet, and cleaning up right after wasn’t… very inciting. If there was someone else requesting it of her, she could probably cook something, but since it was just for herself it was hard to really wanna focus. 

So here she was, standing in front of the open fridge of Mayumi’s lab and… eating shredded cheese straight from the bag. At least it looked like she was trying to think of something else to snack on. Either way, she was so invested in staring and figuring things out that she didn’t notice someone else coming in. 

[haneko-ramen]

Mayumi hadn’t particularly gone out of her way to capture Shiba and talk to her about everything, though... she really, really should have? Shiba probably needed more people on her side, but it was so much easier to just cook and hide in her lab and not... actually do the hard work of helping someone.

Well, joke’s on her, apparently. If she’d just done something earlier, she wouldn’t be so eager to get back into her kitchen, and she wouldn’t flick on the light near midnight to find Shiba in front of her fridge, munchin on... god. Not even BLOCK cheese...

“........”

“...I... I have...! An idea for pineapple ramen--let me cook s-something for you, Fumiko-kun!”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

Ah there is was, a little smile that made it all the more worth it.  He as happy to finally see that maybe some words got through, or maybe she was faking it… but it was better than not knowing at all.

“There’s nothing wrong with being weak, it would be a pretty scary world if everyone was strong and able to muscle through everything don’t you think?  But… I think things would be very different.  But it’s not like we wouldn’t be able to change with them.  Maybe our families catch us up on everything, maybe the changes will be hard to accept for awhile but… we make it through.  Eventually we’ll get used to the new world we’re in.  Maybe that’s optimistic of me but… it’s not like we’d have any other choice right?  We evolve, we adapt, we find a way.  I don’t think two years of radical change will break us…”  

That was relatively easy to answer, the second one question or rather the second set of questions… that was a bit more than the painter could reliably answer.

“Hmm… well those kids were pretty nice to us at the start, and they warned us that going back might not be a good idea.  So maybe this is supposed to be some kind of retreat for us?  It only got turned into a killing theme park once Monokumi showed up.  Maybe she showed us those things to make us want to kill… she said she hates us so maybe she or whoever she works for wants revenge for something we did?  I don’t know why the ‘higher ups’ chose to spare Reizei-san, is he involved in this somehow?  Like a spy or something?  Or… ugh I don’t know.  It’s hard to tell fact from fiction anymore… literally.  Is this some fantasy world or a simulation?  Are we dead or alive?  Are we really… us?  Or are we what we remember ourselves to be?”  

So many questions and yet no real concrete answers.  He wished he could abate Mayumi’s worries but they just kept on coming.  

“Well sure I don’t have to do this but I want to Mayumi-chan, c’mon you really think that I’d go around listening to peoples sad stories and worries because I’m forced to do it?  I care about you all, and as painful as it gets sometimes and it weighs on my hearts I think I’d be worse off if I didn’t at least check and make sure we were okay.”  

But he ought to not overstep his boundaries.  

“That said, I’ll leave you to it.  Wouldn’t want to miss you making a miracle menu item after all.  I’ll be off, I do have a few other people to check on but if you ever got any questions or anything, I’ll be around.  I might be wandering to take some time off for myself but I’ll be around.”

He gives one last chipper smile before turning on his heels and heading for the exit.  Though something seems to stick in his head that forces him to stop before completely leaving.

“Oh and uh… sorry about what happened at the end of the trial.  I know you don’t like anyone but uh… it was the wrong place and wrong time for that sort of display to happen.  And uh… Wakana-chan will be coming around to say the same.”  

Well he didn’t know that actually, but if Arisa came around and asked things like that then he needed to make sure that his basses were covered.

“So… no hard feelings on that right?”

God he felt like such a jerk right now.

“You’re really optimistic about all of it... I’m kinda jealous. You’re not really wrong, though... I guess once we leave we don’t really have any c-choice. We have to... we just have to try and fit back in, right?"

She got up, took a deep breath, smacked her face and then turned to find her knife and bring it to the sink and start cleaning it off.

“......but... while we’re here... I think maybe you’re right. Maybe... Monokumi hates us? Maybe all of this is... revenge. But if it is... I wish they’d at least let me remember what I did, rather than... tease it all out like this. This is... too cruel. It’s just too much, no matter what happened.”

She grabbed a sponge and turned on the water, pausing slightly and turning her face away as Jito got to the awkward part of the conversation, clearly stiffening up.

“It.... Wakana-kun doesn’t have to apologize, and you don’t really, either, I guess. Y-you’re right--I don’t like anyone. It’s not--you were both just relieved, or something, right? I-it’s not a big deal to me, and it’s fine if you guys wanna kiss more and stuff.”

From behind, her ears were burning red.

“..........you’re really nice to everyone... sometimes, it’s like you feel like you have to be nice to everyone. So... you don’t really have to be. It’s alright if you don’t. And... you can just... do things because you want to, and be selfish, and... not worry about everyone else, sometimes.”

“...I told you, didn’t I? Y...you’re really, totally not cool at a-all. So... I don’t care much about it all.”

“.....if you come back tomorrow, I’ll h-have something for you to eat, so we won’t have to do all this again.”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

When Mayumi waves a hand he takes a step back.  Yeah he needs to be less touchy sometimes.  But he’s a little relieved that it’s not the fear of her family being gone but a different fear… one that doesn’t make much sense to him.

“No…?  I kind of can’t wait to get back home.”  

Was that odd that he’d be more than excited to go back home?  He rethinks it though once Mayumi makes things a little more clear.

“Hmm… I hadn’t really thought that much about it.  I mean I’ve thought about it, who we might’ve been before all this.  But… we are all acting and remembering life as if two years hadn’t passed. If we leave out of here… will we be like we are now?  Or will we revert back to what we were like before all this happened.”  

It’s a lot to think about, maybe too much for Jito’s simple mind.

“I honestly don’t know what our plans were or what we were trying to accomplish.  It seems like it might’ve been some noble cause though, if that makes you feel better?  Maybe it won’t… but Monokumi gives us little glimpses sometimes.  Those motives tell us about what’s going on outside… I think?  I’m not sure…”

Though he does have to think, if he really was some kind of rebel.  Some kind of over thrower of the government then what would his crew think?  Were they supportive of him?  What about his mentor?  Would he know anything about what happened?  Would he have thoughts?

“I don’t know, I guess I’m just thinking I’ll go back home the same way I am now.  Even if that’s not quite true… maybe I’m just optimistic, or maybe I’m just stupid.”  

Either way, he’s going to be trying to imagine that things are good on the outside and that he’d be liked and okay even if he looked a little older.

Mayumi pressed her hands together until her knuckles went pale and exposed the little cuts and burns that covered her fingers, looking at them. It was only after Jito said his part that she looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time since the trial had ended.

“...maybe you are a little stupid.”

“Or maybe I’m too weak? I... I don’t want to think about it, but the moment I do, it’s all I c-can think of. Two years... even missing a single year, it’s... it’s so different, you know? E-everyone but you becomes so different... you don’t fit in right at all. I... thought maybe if I just stayed the same it’d be alright once we got out, but... I think I’ve... already changed too much.”

She turned over her own words, unsure what exactly she was trying to say. It was all too much for one ramen shop owner to parse on her own, quite possibly more than a ramen shop owner and construction painter could handle.

“...if it was just that first memory we got shown... I wouldn’t think much of it, but... hey, Jito-kun... why do you think we’re here? Why is Monokumi showing us that stuff--the outside world, the passage of time? Why... were we brought here, before Monokumi even showed up? And... hey... when Ryoma-kun was spared... why did... those kids talk like it was out of their hands? I just...”

She took a deep breath.

He didn’t need to be here, comforting her.

“............you don’t have to stick around and listen to me. I... I really should be getting back to cooking. I’m working on a lamb bone broth, you know--like tonkotsu without pork? I should get... get back to working on it. Recipe testing... it’s hard. It’ll take a while. I’ll be... I’m alright, you know.

“You have other people you want to check on, right?”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

No one really thinks about their own death, even here where it’s ever present it no one probably wants to think about how they’ll be remembered… or forgotten. But what he’s given is enough.

“Alright… I guess I’ve bothered you long enough I’ll go.”

Well he should’ve gone way earlier but as he turns he can hear the clattering of the knife on the floor.  And when he turns back to see Mayumi covering her face and trying to hide herself even further he sighs quietly as he walks over to her.  First turning off the stoves because hey, we don’t want anything else to boil over.

Curse him and his inability to leave anyone alone if they were in trouble, even if he was trying to be a bit more selfish.  He just couldn’t do it…

He silently puts a hand on her shoulder and tries to guide her away from the stove and just near one of the seats.

“C’mon… let’s just sit down for a minute.”  

He’s not quite sure how to console her, is he supposed to say that she’s right and that no time has passed?  Or confirm her fears that there’s been some kind of time skip.

“Mayumi-chan the way I see it is that we can look at things one of two ways.  Either you’re right and it’s only been two weeks and we’re being mislead into thinking a long time has passed.  That makes sense, after all nothing motivates more than fearing we’ve missed a lot.  Like… all your loved ones growing up and missing them.”

He bites his lip.

“The other way is that it’s been two years and we’re being given a vision of the truth.  But on the bright-side, from what I’ve seen most of our loved ones are still well and alive.  My mother was a little weary but she was alive, everyone else seems to recognize their loved ones as a bit older… but not gone or dead.”  

Haruto’s mother was an exception to this as she might’ve been worse and he feared that Mayumi might feel the same way about her father or family.

“What I’m trying to say is that either way I think there’s a good chance that our loved ones are okay despite what’s happening here.  So… even if yo missed a few things as long as you’re alive you’ll be able to see them again.  Maybe they’ll even tell you stories… but you gotta be alive for that to happen so… don’t lose hope and do anything drastic.”

Deep breaths, deep breaths... she’s got pots on the stove and meat in front of her and recipes to make, and she tries, so, so hard to pretend there’s customers waiting just outside the kitchen, but it doesn’t come together. She tries to remember how furious, how angry she was, enough to break fingers and risk guns, but there’s no recalling it.

Though Jito is gentle, reaching out to touch her shoulder, Mayumi tenses, reaching back to wave his hand away before he can reach her. It’s all just a little bit too much, though she can at least sit down, trying to compose herself behind her hands. Her ears are burning... god, she’s really doing this, huh? In front of someone, huh?

“......I... I’m n...not afraid my f-family isn’t... they’re... they’re there, they’re surely okay...”

She took a deep breath, a sharp inhale. If she told him to leave, he probably would.

“....a...aren’t you afraid of g-going back...?”

“......after... after all this... if two years have passed... how... how can we be the people we were before? Is anyone we know... w-will anyone we knew see us the same way? I just... a-all I want is to g-go back to normal, but if t-that’s impossible, then... t-then what? What do... what am I... if I c-can’t go back to what I was doing, huh? And... and if all that time passed...

“Jito-kun... the f-first motive... you remember, right? I thought I was seeing your older brother or... or your father, but.. but if it was you, then... I think we were planning an attack on the Government.”

“...if... if it’s not all lies... then who the hell are we, if we leave...?”

[hadeanic]

A Worthy Challenger || Shuper Sentai || CH4 || Closed for Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

mango-fight‌:

The sentai hadn’t accounted for the possibility of Mayumi going down of her own volition. She squeals as she falls with her, losing the hold she had. Whoops. Better that than potentially having her arm pinned.

Laughing, she tries to grab onto what she can of Mayumi so she can attempt to roll them both over.

On the ground, Mayumi could bring her full power to bear... specifically, her full weight. On the ground she could rely more on being pure muscle and near six feet tall to try and wrangle her Sentai Opponent into a proper leg lock, finding herself laughing alongside Shu as she got her limbs around her.

“I got you now--give it up! I have the high ground!” She laughed again, harder, “Contestant Hanezuka can’t be beaten when it comes to a grappling contest!”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

“…”

This was going to hurt like hell to say but he had to say it.

“If that’s the case then can you at least tell me what you’d want for a mural if you died?”

He didn’t want to spell it out like doom and gloom, but he couldn’t see this going well for her in any way shape or form.  Either she’d gt killed or survive but have to suffer through some nasty injuries.

“Mayumi-chan it sounds to me like you’re trying to convince yourself that it’s only been two weeks.  Like you don’t really believe it yourself.  Even if it really has only been two weeks don’t you think you’d need some time to rest up and just… recuperate before things get bad.”

He had a reason to suspect why that might be the case. 

“…Is it because you’re worried about what’s happening with your dad?  Two years would be a long time for him and you made it sound like things weren’t going so well for him.”

“...”

“.......I don’t know. How am I supposed to answer that? Just... whatever. Something... something other than ramen. Ramen, but... not just that. Maybe music notes...”

She shook her head, then shook her head again. Ahh... she felt a bit sick, but she couldn’t summon enough anger at anyone to be able to ward it off. What was she doing in the kitchen? She could smell each of the individual pots on the boil, she knew... right, was it lamb? It’d been lamb, right?

She turned back to the cutting board, still refusing to look at Jito, and tried to pick up her chef’s knife only to find herself fumbling it.

“It really... it has been two weeks! No more... not even a day longer! All of us, we’re the same as when we came in, and things will be the same when they come out...!” Her cuts became erratic as her hand shook, “M...midori is taking her high school entrance exams... and Momoe is going into first grade next y-year, and Megumi’s going to nationals, and... and I’m going to be there and see it all! I’m going to... to make sure they’re all okay, and the store is going to open, and I’ll be at the counter and... and...”

Her words choked her. Mayumi dropped the knife before she could nick her fingers, pressing both hands over her face, her chest suddenly too tight to keep talking. God, not like this... not here, not in front of him...

“I c-can... I can just g-go back, when this is over...”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

“Yeah I was a wild kid but… I didn’t like it.  If anything I was probably the kind of punk that you had to deal with.  But that’s not the point… yeah he’s a threat I won’t deny that.  But he’ll big a bigger threat if you make him paranoid.”  

He doesn’t know what kind of stuff Mayumi’s dealt with but he hope’s it’s nothing as dangerous as a kid with a gun.

“I see… so you’ve made your mind on the matter then?  Okay, well… I can only hope that you change your mind in the future.”  

He was surprisingly quiet, not giving much of a fuss.

“I can’t and won’t forgive him either.  But I’m not going to go off and break his fingers or anything like that either.”

He shook his head and sighed.  

“I don’t want to see you get hurt even if you can take it.  It’s hard enough seeing everyone suffer through this, but doing something reckless like confronting him is only going to make me suffer if I see you get hurt.  Even if you’re tough enough…”  

He shrugs, he doesn’t know if the information is truthful or not.  

“…Was there something that you saw in the past that bothered you?”

“That’s right. My mind is made up. Haruto resolved to kill someone... and I’ll damn well match that, even if I get hurt.”

She lowered her head a little bit, starting to score the meat and then reaching for a container of salt to sprinkle over top.

“.....I..”

“I didn’t see my letter from home, and... and I’m certain, every single one of the ones we got... they had to be fake. They had to be--if they’re acting like time passed... we’ve only been here for a few weeks. We’ve definitely only been here that long, right? So Haruto’s letter must’ve been lying to him. And... I couldn’t have seen anything from the past.”

She turned to the stove, stirring each of the pots, one by one.

“It’s only been two weeks... soon we’ll be out and everything’ll be right back to normal, like nothing happened at all. We can all go back to our lives... no time has passed at all... I... I’ll go back home, and I’ll drop out of high school and focus on the kitchen...”

“Only two weeks... it’s only been two weeks, so nothing can change outside...”

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

“Mayumi-chan!  That’s horrible!  Even if he is literally the worst person of us all here you can’t just… go out and do something like that!”  

She’s not wrong, she’s not wrong at all about what he did.  He wanted to do the same, an overwhelming urge to get revenge or just to inflict the pain that was inflicted onto him.

“Yes I want you to leave him alone.  Because if he gets a trigger finger thinking you’re going to snap his fingers then… what if something happens to you?  Something could go wrong and then…”  

He doesn’t want to imagine the possibilities of a confrontation going wrong.

“Is that really what you think?  That if you get hurt trying to pacify him that it’ll be fine?  Is there nothing I can say that would convince you otherwise?”

Mayumi set her knife aside, gripping the edge of her counter, staring down at the meal she was supposed to be preparing. What was it she was supposed to do next?

“You said you were a wild kid, right? You should understand all this...!” She didn’t know why she was snapping at Jito, but goddammit, boy was RIGHT HERE and she felt like being snappy. “It doesn’t matter if I steer clear or if I don’t hurt him--he already hurt people! He’s a threat, and he has the power to hurt any of us any time he wants to!”

“I don’t WANT to wait until someone else is hurt! I don’t want to wait until he comes out and says ‘oh, I decided to turn myself in’...! I don’t want to wait until it’s too late! I have to act when I can, not when someone’s burning the kitchen down!”

She pressed a hand to her forehead, a vague dizziness rolling through her that she shook off. No... right. This was right.

“It’s fine if I get hurt... I’m sturdy. I’ve taken plenty of hits before and stood back up. Better me than anyone else.... I just... I can’t forgive him. Killing Lucky-kun and Ayumu-kun... what, because of... because of his... we can’t trust anything we get from the outside! How does he even know his mother is in that bad shape!?”

“IT... it has to be a lie! It’s gotta be fake--it hasn’t been two years, so he had no reason to kill anyone! So I can’t forgive him! And I won’t hold back!” She grabbed her knife again, and started cutting. It didn’t matter much, so long as her hands got moving.

[hadeanic]

A Worthy Challenger || Shuper Sentai || CH4 || Closed for Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

mango-fight‌:

If this sentai happened to be a regular everyday citizen who enjoyed sparring with her friend, she would have encouraged Mayumi to trip her other leg now. Alas, that’s not what’s happening at the moment! This is a showdown, and she has to do something about Mayumi’s successful hold on her leg.

For a fight, her touch is awfully gentle when she grasps the top of Mayumi’s head to keep her from moving. Stay low. The contact’s brief, because her next action is to try to reach between Mayumi’s legs so she can hook an arm around her thigh.

Getting tangled like that will bring the sentai one step closer to reversing this situation. Or…it will present greater problems for her. What happens in the next couple of seconds will decide that.

From the outside, it probably looked ridiculous... the ramen shop owner and the sentai, locked in heated combat in the middle of the ballroom, a side of bacon acting as the audience. But it was deadly serious--a true fight between masters!

Masters who were going to be on the floor very shortly, given the way the fight was going. If Mayumi had the chance, she was going to be the first to fall too, try to use whatever surprise or momentum she had, not to try and escape The Sentai’s hold but to get a better grip!

“If you think you’ll make me give in, you’re making a mistake!”

Though... right. If she could just hold on a little longer, this would be hers! Barring... barring her opponent getting her into a worse position.

[hadeanic]

Someone Call a Painter? || Jito || Chapter 4 || Closed @ Mayumi

[haneko-ramen]

jitosbizzareadventure‌:

“Good, good, well that’s all I needed to hear.  I’ll leave you to your cooking-”  

Well he would’ve until Mayumi got really scary and sounded as though it was inevitable that the two would get into some kind of confrontation.

“…He’s got a gun Mayumi-chan.  Isn’t there a saying don’t bring a knife to a fun fight?  And don’t grab one either!”  

Really that should’ve been the end of the whole conversation.

“Please, even if you see him don’t even go up and threaten him.  The guy’s probably like a ticking time bomb, if he’s true to his word… then he’ll leave you alone if you leave you alone.”

He looked pleadingly at Mayumi, almost like a puppy that was begging for another treat.

“Please… it’s just not worth the risk right now.”

“Oh, like I haven’t seen a gun before! He can’t shoot anything if I break his fingers, Jito-kun! He’s the most dangerous one here... when you see danger, you take it out, or it comes back and hurts you!”

She clutched the handle of her knife tighter, though the thought to use it in an attack... no, that was unthinkable. She didn’t sharpen it to use it on THAT kind of flesh...!

She turned to look at him, her expression furious, frustrated... certainly ignoring his own gentle tone.

“He’s the one to blame for Lucky-kun and Ayumu-kun! HE almost got Kent--Ryoma-kun killed too! And you just want me to leave him alone?! I’m not going to hunt him down, but if the chance is there...!”

“Better he hurt me, if it means he can’t hurt anyone else ever again.”

She snapped at him, then returned to her cutting board... but her mind had grown fogged. What was she supposed to be cutting next? Was she cubing... thin shaved strips? Dammit...