Aug 14 / Company / PG / Closed

[ariana]

Character(s): Mayumi Yoshida & Ren Yukio
Time: 12pm
Location: Zoo

With his hands in his pockets and actually feeling a bit comfortable, Ren was looking forward to today. Being with someone he could relate to was something that made him feel happy no matter what. Even though he was in the same place he ended the only serious relationship he was ever going to be in, he tried his best to shrug it off and not think about "that" moment.

Waiting for his friend, Ren sat on a bench and waited patiently for once. He actually felt calm; and he wondered how long that would last.

[alyssa]

Mayumi walked quickly to the place she and Ren had scheduled to meet. She was a bit early, but she didn't mind at all. The cold weather outside was waking her up better than coffee had that morning.

Trying to sleep had been hell, and she'd given up halfway through the night. There was too much bouncing off the walls of her head. It was noisy even in complete silence. Which was why Mayumi was glad that she and Ren had finally made plans. She hadn't heard much from him since their last meeting, and she'd heard nothing about him from Ayame -- who dismissed the topic as soon as she brought it up --, Mayumi was beginning to think he'd disappeared.

She looked up from her red shoes, eyes immediately locking on the Ren, sitting alone on a bench with his hands deep in his pockets. Her pace sped up a bit, anxious to get the day started. The dark-haired girl sat down next to him, her head turned in his direction.

"Hey," Mayumi said, sending the boy a small smile. "Hope you weren't waiting long. I thought I was early."

[ariana]

Ren heard a soft voice beside him - and he lit up. "Nah, I just got here." Ren said in a kind voice as he looked at her bright red shoes. He laughed a bit, "I like your shoes." He complimented as he smiled. Somehow, being with Mayumi put him at ease with what was going on recently. As he put one hand behind his neck, Ren asked: "So where do you want to go?" He stood up, offering a hand out to her.

"I hope you haven't been too stressed out." Ren said a bit worried, remembering the small conversation they had on Heello.

[alyssa]

Ren turned to look at her for a moment before his eyes dropped to her shoes. "Nah, I just got here. I like your shoes." He smiled at her, which Mayumi returned. She was glad to see Ren so... calm. Mayumi knew the gist of what had happened between him and Ayame only a few days ago, and, truth be told, she was surprised to see him looking so carefree. "So where do you want to go?"

"My shoes?" she looked down, smiling fondly. Red was her favorite color. "Heh. Thanks, Ren."

The boy stood up, sticking a hand out to Mayumi. "I hope you haven't been too stressed out." He sounded like he was worried about her.

Mayumi took his hand and pulled herself up off the bench, promptly dropping it the moment she was standing. She didn't want to give anyone that could be watching the wrong impression. The rumors circled Aozora fast, and Ren was pretty well known, it wouldn't take long for things to get twisted around.

"I hate to admit this out loud, but being at school is more hectic than I had originally thought. There are so many people, and they're all... really annoying." Mayumi babbled, glancing at Ren's expression a moment before changing the topic quickly. "And wandering aimlessly works for me, but I do want to see the tigers before we leave." She smiled softly again, hoping her quick word-vomit hadn't killed the comfortable atmosphere.

[ariana]

"Heh. Thanks, Ren."

Ren nodded and smiled, glad that she actually thanked him. "Red's my favourite colour, actually." He said as continued to stare at her shoes, not believing how nice and smooth this was going. Listening to Mayumi, Ren nodded once again. "Yeah, I know. All of them are nosy, and they don't know when to shut up." Ren started to laugh, "Aozora is filled with tons of annoying people. It really sucks." He shook his head, "The tigers? Sure, I think they're that way." He said as he pointed to the sign. "I want to see the pandas as well if you don't mind..." He said a bit sheepishly as he avoided eye contact.

"So what else has been on your mind?" Ren asked in a curious tone, "You can talk to me." He offered himself so easily, but he knew that Mayumi wouldn't take him for granted as some people would. He knew what kind of person Mayumi was, and he knew how similar they were personality wise. Smiling again, "Do you want something to eat?"

[alyssa]

The dark-haired boy continued to look at her shoes, even as Mayumi stood up. "Red's my favourite colour, actually." Ren told her. Mayumi's smile grew, the two of them had even the trivial things in common. "Yeah, I know. All of them are nosy, and they don't know when to shut up. Aozora is filled with tons of annoying people. It really sucks. And the tigers? Sure, I think they're that way. I want to see the pandas as well if you don't mind..." Ren averted his eyes again, his voice quiet.

Mayumi chuckled once, her smile becoming knowing. For some reason, it seemed like Ren didn't feel entirely comfortable saying anything about pandas out loud. "I love pandas, so of course I don't mind."

"So what else has been on your mind?" The taller boy asked. "You can talk to me."

Mayumi sighed, closing her eyes and bringing a hand up to massage her left temple. Where was she supposed to begin? "This is going to sound extremely whiny, but being the only person completely alone in a school of one thousand plus students it starting to suck. A lot." It was the same tune she always whistled, and Mayumi knew that, but that didn't make it any less true. "And I can't write when I'm annoyed and doing cover songs isn't going to get me anywhere." She let out a long, tired sigh, opening her eyes and looking at Ren again, about to apologize for talking so much, but he cut her off.

"Do you want something to eat?"

The girl's smile took over again, softer this time. "Yes, please, I'm starving."

[ariana]

Amazed at how much Mayumi was talking, Ren's eyes widened. "Wow." He muttered as he stared at her, "You really are stressed out." Laughing to make the awkwardness go away, Ren stopped by the nearest fast food restaurant in the Zoo. "You don't sound whiny at all, I don't mind." Ren said as he sighed a bit; "I know that sounds weird coming from someone like me, but honestly you don't annoy me at all." He shrugged as he looked at the menu above them. "What do you want? I think I'll just get a coffee.." Ren said as he smiled.

Ren went up to order his coffee and looked behind him to look at Mayumi. "I'll pay for you! Come on. It seems like you haven't been eating much, that isn't healthy." Having some manners and acting like a proper gentlemen for once made Ren feel a bit weird; he didn't like change, and it seemed like his mean and crude personality changed for the better when he was with someone he was comfortable with. It was a bit odd, but it was something he had to get used to. Taking out his wallet from his back pocket, Ren waited for his friend to approach him, hoping for their conversation to continue so he could at least make her feel better.

[alyssa]

It was Ren's turn to sigh this time. "I know that sounds weird coming from someone like me, but honestly you don't annoy me at all."

Mayumi grinned at him, overjoyed that she had found at least one person that her abrasive personality didn't tick off around every corner. Ren really was a great guy, despite all of the things she had heard about him, Mayumi knew better. Sure he seemed cold and distant upon first meeting, but who didn't these days?

The boy moved forward, ordering a coffee and turning to look expectantly at Mayumi. "I'll pay for you! Come on. It seems like you haven't been eating much, that isn't healthy."

She walked quickly to Ren's side, unable to ignore how hungry she was for much longer. Her eyes devoured the menu, looking for something she could eat without making a mess. A second later, she turned her head to Ren. "I'd kill for a cheeseburger, honestly." she chuckled a bit, continuing while they placed their order. "And I'm glad you don't find me annoying. I like hanging out with you, it's... easy." The dark-haired girl shrugged a shoulder, being honest about her opinions of people had never been Mayumi's strong suit, not up-front, anyway. "How have you been, by the way? We haven't talked in a while."

[ariana]

Ren laughed along with her, "Alright, a cheeseburger it is then." He ordered for her and paid like he was supposed to, and handed her the food. "Here." He said with a friendly smile. "I like hanging out with you, it's... easy." She said with a calm tone, and that made Ren feel nice inside. At least he could make someone feel like that, all the other people he hung out with either ended up furious or really sad. "I'm glad to hear that. I feel the same way, actually." Ren said as he took a sip of his hot coffee.

"How I've been..?" Ren repeated as he sighed. Where should he start? From Ayame to Yousuke.. he always found himself in some really serious and depressing problems. "Well, I'm pretty sure you know what happened between Ayame and I.." He shook his head just thinking about it. "And Yousuke and I aren't really.. friends anymore." He shrugged, trying to fight back his frown. "So basically I just lost two of my best friends. And I'm pretty sure Ayame's going to see that... Sora douche now." His frown finally making it onto his face. Ren gripped the coffee cup tightly - making a slight dent. "I don't know why I feel this way; Obviously if I let her go, I shouldn't be feeling jealous, correct? But... That Sora is just bad news." He shook his head once again, not knowing when to stop talking. He smiled and turned to her, "I'm sorry, was that too much?" He said with a nervous chuckle, "I'm the type of person that doesn't really experience happiness."

[alyssa]

Ren repeated her question, sounding thoughtful and exhausted around the lid of his coffee cup. "Well, I'm pretty sure you know what happened between Ayame and I..." The boy shook his head, not dismissing the topic, but Mayumi felt as if it wasn't something he would have brought up without her asking. "And Yousuke and I aren't really... friends anymore. So basically I just lost two of my best friends. And I'm pretty sure Ayame's going to see that... Sora douche now." Ren frowned, fingers digging into his coffee up. She had been right, but anyone would have been. It was a painful thing to talk about, Mayumi knew, but she also knew that if he kept everything bottled up, Ren would snap. "I don't know why I feel this way; Obviously if I let her go, I shouldn't be feeling jealous, correct? But... That Sora is just bad news." The dark-haired boy finally turned to her and let his frown dissolve, a small smile taking over. "I'm sorry, was that too much? I'm the type of person that doesn't really experience happiness."

Mayumi sighed this time, taking small bites of her burger as she listened to him. Though she hadn't been though exactly what Ren had described, somehow, she knew the feeling well. There were very few people that Mayumi could openly admit to caring about, and Ren had done nothing but admit it since they had met. She envied him for that.

"Yeah, I know what happened with Ayame..." Mayumi told him, "And I'm sorry, really, about all of that." Her shoulders dropped a little. Mayumi was bad at consoling people, and she felt worse that it was Ren she couldn't find the words to comfort. "I wish I knew how to help, Ren. And I think it's alright to feel what you feel," she chuckled, preparing herself to feel extremely stupid. "I'm jealous of a boy I've never spoken to because he kissed my crush before I worked up the nerve too -- your feelings are beyond justified." She smiled up at him again, "And I haven't been happy in a long time, either, but being here's a nice feeling."

The girl felt like she was being incredibly sappy, but she did like hanging out with Ren, and if they could wallow in their misery together, and still feel generally alright about it, why not enjoy it?

[ariana]

Ren's eyes widened at Mayumi's story - "Ah.. that's... unexpected." Ren said in a shocked tone of voice as he furrowed his eyebrows, feeling sorry for the girl who didn't deserve any misfortune that came her way. "I don't really know what to say, I'm bad at relationship advice..." He said as he laughed a bit, "But I'm really sorry to hear that, and you already know I'm here." He winked at her as he took another sip of his coffee and sat down at the nearest table at the restaurant.

"Ah..." Ren mumbled as he looked down at the table, nervous of asking the question he planned to. "...How's Ayame? Since you're her room mate and all.. Is she doing well?" Ren stared at the coffee cup in his hands, trying his best to not care too much of what she was going to say. "And that boy, if you don't mind, what's his name?" He tilted his head in curiosity, "Maybe I can talk to him, tell him a few words." Ren laughed playfully, "But I'm sure there's a different guy out there for you, Mayumi. If someone like me can find someone, I'm pretty sure there will be someone for you."

[alyssa]

The girl shook her head, smiling somberly. Mayumi wasn't concerned about that incident anymore. It was what it was, and Kakeru was her friend first, the feelings she'd harbored for him were dissipating with every passing day.

Ren winked at her, moving to an empty table nearby. She followed him, tossing her garbage in a trash bin as she passed it.

Her friend mumbled something lowly, his eyes on the beverage in his hands. "...How's Ayame? Since you're her room mate and all... Is she doing well?"

Mayumi's expression softened, the urge to comfort Ren returning again. Thankfully, she didn't feel the need to lie to him to make him feel better. "She's... She's trying to be okay, but I can see that she's still pretty hurt. Sad, mostly. She doesn't talk about it, to me, anyway."

The boy then asked about Kakeru, laughing again. Mayumi chuckled with him, glad that their discussions were so open, free to swing between topics whenever they pleased. She tilted her head, leaning back in her chair.

"His name is Kakeru, but I think I'm past the point of... wanting to date him, I guess. He's my friend, more than anything, and if he's happy, I'm fine." she shrugged a shoulder, continuing. "And I may have found that other boy, but we don't know each other well enough for me to really know how I feel yet."

Her thoughts flitted to Takuma -- the boy she had met in the courtyard days ago -- and her cheeks turned a bit pink. She hoped Ren hadn't seen that, but knew he probably did.

[ariana]

Ren smiled as Mayumi began to talk about Ayame. He wasn't going to lie; he did miss her. And he did start to regret his decision of breaking things off, but Ren wasn't in the mood to sit there and regret about all the bad decisions he made in his life. This was just another decision, and he already decided to move on to other things. Ayame was just another girl.

Losing himself in his thoughts, Ren jumped a bit, snapping out of it - and that's when Mayumi began to talk about the boy she liked. "Kakeru, huh?" Ren said in a playful tone. "He sounds familiar. I might have seen him a few times in the hallways. I didn't know he was your type, he's kinda timid, no?" He said as he spun his coffee cup around, trying to figure out what else to say to the girl. "But I'm glad you took his decision well.." He added as he looked up to her, "That takes guts, and to be honest you made the right choice." He smiled, "You deserve better anyway."

Then all of a sudden, Mayumi's cheeks turned pink. "Eh?" Ren questioned as he tilted his head once more. "Why are you blushing, Mayumi? Whatcha thinking about?" Ren pestered as he laughed a bit, happy to see Mayumi in such a mood.

[alyssa]

Ren spun his coffee cup around in his hands, eyes fixated on it. It seemed to take him a moment to decide what else to say, looking up at here. "That takes guts, and to be honest you made the right choice." The dark-haired boy smiled at her, "You deserve better anyway."

"Thank you, Ren, that really means a lot," Mayumi looked away from him. His sincerity felt odd to her, she didn't know how to return it.

He then noticed her blush, tilting his head at her. "Eh? Why are you blushing, Mayumi? Whatcha thinking about?" Ren laughed openly, teasing her. That's how Mayumi knew they were friends -- she didn't let people tease her without snapping at them.

The girl looked away from him, her eyes narrowing at nothing in particular. How was she supposed to respond to a question like that without sounding like a lovesick little girl?

She sighed, turning back to him. "There's a third year boy that I... find attractive, and I finally formally met him the other day." She blinked at him, her blush still lingering. "That's all. And nothing really happened. I apparently attract the awkward types, and I'm not a conversationalist by any means."

As another comfortable silence washed over them, Mayumi took a deep breath. She wanted to find the correct words to ask Ren if her really was alright, but it could wait for just a little while. They could go see the pandas first.


(ooc: This is bad, I'm sorry!)

[ariana]

"Thank you, Ren, that really means a lot"

Ren smiled at the girl once again, realizing that's all he's been doing when he was with Mayumi - smiling. Surprised that this girl was able to do such a thing, Ren mentally sighed. He hasn't gotten this close to someone since he met Ayame and Yousuke - and that was ages ago.

"Ah." Ren replied as he listened to Mayumi talk about the boy she was interested in. "Third year, hm? An older man, I see." Ren teased as he finished the last of his coffee. "If you think he's worth it, then go for it, hmm? You never know what will happen." Ren was in no way to give advice, since he's really bad at relationships in general - but he thought he could lend her a hand, making sure she won't make the same mistakes as he did. "Awkward types are really hard to talk to though..." He added as he stared into space. "You need to work really hard if you want to win his heart."

Blinking a couple of times, Ren laughed a bit awkwardly. "Are you ready to go see the tigers?"