thenearshore | Multicoloured kindnesses, met by chance, one by one

Who: Yuna and EVERYONE. No CR? No problem, drop on by to make new friends!
When: March 21st, all day
Where: Shinju's Temple
What: Hanami birthday party yayayay

[With a blanket invitation delivered, the only matter of business left is ensuring the temple is set up nicely for a gathering!

The main attraction of the day, of course, being flower-viewing in the temple's courtyard. With light snacks and refreshments lined up at tables inside the building itself and blankets and pillows available to pick up for lounging under the flowering branches, the 'viewing' part of the day should be set. As winds blow lazily through the area, blossoms in an array of colors are occasionally shaken free from the tree, falling in gentle showers to the ground below, creating a serene, relaxing atmosphere. A handful of paper lanterns have been strategically placed around the grounds as well, ensuring that anyone who happens to arrive or stay as the sun sets can still have a good view.

Elsewhere in the temple, the room Yuna uses largely for crafts appears to have spilled over somewhat. There are a few stands set up with origami paper, watercolors and brushes arranged at a table with a few chairs, card stock, glue, colored pencils, stickers, ribbons, and most importantly, there are flowers. There are flowers everywhere. Some arranged tastefully in vases, some dried and pressed and left alongside the other craft supplies, clearly for use in tandem with whatever you feel like making with the other things left out in such a tantalizing way. Go ahead. Make some stuff.

And, while the invitation had been extended to pretty much anyone wanting to drop by, should any of Yuna's friends decide to stay a little longer, she'll let them know of a cozy hot spring bath in one of the back rooms of the temple. Towels will be provided, of course, so why not stay and have a soak to wind the day down with?

The hostess herself will be roaming about the party in high spirits, ready and willing to top up beverages, share a snack, or just have a nice chat. So - kick back! Enjoy the sights!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hm, I would not doubt that. After all, one of those things is the Commander's fault, and besides that... I've seen plenty of soft music as well.

[A light shrug.]

Maybe not all that surprising.

...but I guess if you insist I am good company, who am I to refuse?

Heh. You're one of the few who get to see that side of me. You, Miku. Kirika. Shirabe. Yumi and the others. Our... whole... class...

Okay, maybe more people have seen it than I thought....

[She clings a little bit harder to Tsubasa's arm as she pouts a bit.]

Can I confess something?

Hm. Just a few.

[She's not going to needle her too much more on that, but the next question raises her curiosity. She gives her an inquiring look.]

Confess what, Yukine?

[Chris looked upwards for a moment, before answering.]

I wouldn't mind doing more stuff like this. Quiet stuff. Just. Us being together, talking. We hang out a lot, sure, but... it doesn't always have to be dinner, or karaoke, or whatever loud thing the idiot has going on, you know?

Ah. Hmm...

[She blinks a little, looking away and back at the flowers.] I would see nothing wrong with that. After all, you are my friend. You're the closest person I have here...

[She glances back and smiles.] Normally when someone says they have a confession I expect something a little more surprising. That would seem natural, Yukine.

...

[Chris looks down. A more surprising confession, huh? Chris could give you that, Tsubasa, if she didn't think it would ruin everything and make it awkward.

... But maybe she could add something more, all the same.]

Well, you know me. I'm awkward about everything, so I feel like I have to make a big deal every time, I guess. But. Uhm.

...

You say "the closest person you have here." For me, it's a bit more than that. Senpai, I really think. I really think I consider you my closest friend of all. Like, whenever I think about something like this, and who I'd want to spend time with... it's always you.

I end up missing you when you're gone. Every time I'd do something with the girls, my first thought is that I wish you were there. Every time I hear from you when you're overseas, it's like the highlight of my day.

In a lot of ways, you're. You're my best friend.

[Tsubasa stops and listens. Setting aside all playful banter for at least a moment. Chris sounds nothing if not sincere at the moment, and it feels important. Chris is often full of bluster and more often than not tries to obfuscate what's going on with her from others.

Of course, she understands Chris. She, Chris, and Hibiki, be it from how close they'd worked together, the way they were united when they first accessed their X-Drives, or just simply being around one another for so long had an intrinsic sense of one another sometimes. Nothing metaphysical or the like, but they just... knew each other.

So it was hard for any of them to let much slip past the others for too long.

Except maybe Tsubasa herself - though she'd started to lose her temper with regards to her grandfather, there were still very few who saw certain sides to her.

But she listens closely, but ... nods once she's done.]

It's funny for how we started out, isn't it? I suppose... you aren't wrong.

I work closely with Maria of course, but... I do think there are many times we still do not fully understand each other. Tachibana... [She gives a soft laugh, and actually looks a little embarrassed to admit the next thing.] ...is probably about as close to a sister as I have ever had.

But, you...

[She pauses for a moment, remembering the texts they'd send back and forth when abroad. How they'd just... go out to eat for no reason other than to do it.

How instinctive it was for them to coordinate their attacks to fool Dr. Ver. How easily she could read through Chris's forced lies then. How they could communicate without talking, or how quickly they took to uniting their songs when faced with the Alca Noise. Even without Hibiki, long before Genjurou had pushed them all into intense training to resonate with everyone.

Grasping for her hand had pulled Chris from her darkness, and gave Tsubasa a grounding to stay out of hers when they first activated their Ignite modules.

That all...

Hrm.

Tsubasa... blinks a bit to herself, tilts her head, but just smiles.]

Yes, that all sounds about right, Yukine. If that were anyone, it would have to be you, and I ... appreciate that.

I'm glad you can be so honest now, too.

[Chris smiles as she finds that she didn't reveal too much, and smiles wider as Tsubasa says what she does, confirming that the case is the same for her. She can't help herself, and ends up clinging a bit more securely to Tsubasa's arm, closing her eyes in contentment.]

It... it means a lot to me to hear that from you, senpai. I truly mean that.

[But... while she's more honest, she's not completely honest, is she? There's still something she's holding back.

...

But. That's something she can save for another day.]

[It's giving Tsubasa a lot to think about, really. A lot of thoughts are tumbling through her head that she most certainly does not have the space or time to sort out, right now.

So... another day feels about right for her, too. It seems better to just stop and admire the flowers, for now.

It's calming. Peaceful.

She feels more at ease than she has since coming here, in large part due to the company.]

I know. It's fine. If you wish, it is always fine for you to be honest with me, Yukine. About anything.

But you should already know that, I think.

[... Yeah. That's going to leave her feeling a little bit guilty.]

I know. Trust me, I know.

[She just needs to be ready.]

Anyway. Uh, we haven't been paying much attention to the flowers so far, have we?

...no, I suppose we have not. But, it is as you said, is it not?

[She glances back and smiles.]

Good company is what makes it special.

Multicoloured kindnesses, met by chance, one by one

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