[open! and a couple closed ones;]

[substitutable]

Date & Time: the beginning of July
Location: the market; a café
Characters: Shintaro and you! (and Erika and Momo)
Summary: Entering a café one afternoon, Shin discovers it to be almost full, with only one seat remaining -- next to you! So he nervously approaches. If you're Erika or Momo, you're for one reason or another out shopping with this loser.
Warnings: n/a for now! to be added if anything comes up.

[open prompt; a morning at the café]
[The café is crowded this afternoon. Granted it probably wasn't a huge shop to begin with, but there definitely are more people than he remembers usually seeing, and from what he can see and from what he's told, there's only one seat left at the counter.

He could go home. He could find somewhere else to get coffee. But he'd been distracted the last few weeks and didn't realize he'd forgotten his umbrella (or one of his roommates took it, either his sister or the blue-haired spawn of the devil) until he realized he was soaked, and the café was a walk from the housing building. It made him feel gloomy already thinking about how all the trouble he went through to come here would've been for nothing. He sighs and steps around a table toward the counter, hoping that the person sitting next to that empty seat isn't a scary person.]

Excuse me, um... is this seat taken?

[if you're Erika Furudo you belong here]
[Whenever he asked Erika how she was doing, he would always get the same answer: "I'm so bored." He didn't really know how to keep mystery-loving chopstick-worshipping twelve-year-olds (or at least he thinks that's how old she is) but, to most people, being in their apartment all day without anything to do probably counted as boring. And his sister would talk about wanting to go shopping sometime. He didn't know how much that applied to kids, but it is with that thought in mind that he knocks on her apartment door in the afternoon. When she answers, he curls his hands into fists loosely at his sides, slightly nervous, and states his invitation.]

You said you were bored, right? I'm on the way to the store, if you want to come with me.

[and if you're Momo you're here]
[After Momo's declaration that their apartment was lame and needed decorating and that he needed to help, they spent the last week or so arguing discussing exactly what they needed and how much it would cost for them to get the decorated apartment Momo so wanted.

On the list that Shintaro made Momo write out but has a general idea of in his head are things like curtains and shelves and dishes and appliances (etc. etc.). It's not like Exsilium had a department store for them to get everything at nor did they have the transportation device to carry all of the things back home, so they were limited. But Shintaro glances at Momo's face and hopes that this would satisfy her at least a little as he sighs.]

What are we getting first?

Comments

[vimdicare]

[How surprising. But nice, too. A little bold for him, isn't it? She blinks before smiling.

He thought of her though? Really? Well, she can't deny she likes it.]

...All right. I haven't been out shopping much.

[Erika grabs an umbrella from behind the door and steps out, shutting it behind her.] What do you need to buy, Shintaro-san?

[substitutable]

[Don't think things like bold it'll fluster him and he'll hide.

He steps back as she steps out, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small grocery list. It's not much. Momo had asked for snacks or something, and he wanted to get things for himself, too.]

Just some things here and there. I haven't actually gone there to look unless I needed something specific, so I thought I might look around, this time...

[vimdicare]

Why don't we window shop? I haven't done that in a long time. Though I really could use some more clothes but boys don't really want to stand around while girls pick out outfits, right?

[She smiles at him before starting to walk.]

[substitutable]

[He follows. He seems calm but in his head he's completely nervous and freaking out. It already took enough out of him to invite her, and now he had to choose between telling her if clothes shopping was okay or not -- honestly he didn't care, he's never had to wait around for girls like that, and he doesn't think he'd really mind but what sort of answer was she expecting anyway?!]

Huh? Uh, um... not really. I don't mind...

[vimdicare]

[Oh no this is going to be fun. She wants to tease him more now.]

Really? What about the usual questions? When a girl says "Ah, do you think I look good in this skirt?" what do you end up saying?

[substitutable]

You're going to ask me that?!

[He's regretting his decision already. He opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water for a while, trying to think of the right answer.]

I... I wouldn't... tell her she looks bad....?

[vimdicare]

[He looks too funny struggling for the right answer. He must be a hug virgin. Never been on a date or anything.]

Ah, Shintaro-san, that's not too bad but remember if she looks bad, you should find a tactful way to tell her so she doesn't embarrass herself, either.

[substitutable]

Aah, but, I don't even-- I don't know how I'm supposed to judge that, either. [His sister wears shirts with big bold brush calligraphy saying random words even he doesn't know if she knows the meaning of. And really, it's weird like everything about her is weird, but it's never looked terrible on her in his opinion and it's not like she would've listened. As long as they're clothes???]

[vimdicare]

[Another thing he needs to be thankful for: she doesn't know his mind went to his sister. Like wow Shintaro what kinks are going on in there?]

So you'll tell me I'm cute-looking when I try on clothes? That's really sweet.

[substitutable]

Huh? Well, er... sure? I mean, I'll probably wait outside the store unless you need me to carry anything.

[It's not like he has anything else to judge by! Ene is data and Ayano wore her uniform like all the time.]

[vimdicare]

Non non, that won't do at all. I suppose I have to teach you the proper way to escort a lady then? Waiting outside is fine if she asks you to, of course, but otherwise a girl wants you to see them in their new outfits and hear your opinions. If your relationship is close, she'll want an honest answer. Carrying bags is a must, however, so you're right there.

[substitutable]

["But are we that close?"

"Erika-chan, really, it's okay it's not like he's got anyone he's gotta escort."

Now that he thinks about it, whenever he followed that girl anywhere it was to make help her buy reference books for the high school exams or groceries at the market on their way home. She never took him shopping like that, but then again, theirs wasn't that sort of relationship.]

I'm really not good at giving opinions like that.

[vimdicare]

That's because you don't have enough experience in it. I assume you've had limited interactions with women. Don't worry. We'll practice until you learn.

[Teasing him is just so much fun.]

[substitutable]

I--

Wait, practice?! With you!?

[HE'LL GET ARRESTED.]

[vimdicare]

[What the hell kind of reaction is that.]

Am I that unappealing?

[substitutable]

[The sort of reaction of a man who doesn't want to be arrested!!]

I never said that! It's-- just-- why would you want to help me with that?!

[vimdicare]

[Do they even have a proper police system here.]

Why not? You seem bad at it and I have experience, which I don't think you have.

[substitutable]

I would like you to know that that's a blow to my ego. That was a definite blow to my ego and my self-esteem and yeah I don't have experience but is it that obvious!?

[vimdicare]

That's a blow to my ego. Is it really so unbelievable that I could have had an active love life?

[substitutable]

[KIDS THESE DAYS ARE REALLY QUICK]

I didn't say anything about your love life!

[vimdicare]

[She's lacking virgin skills, Shin.]

You're saying practicing with me is really low for you!

[substitutable]

I'm saying isn't helping me practice that sort of thing low for you??

[vimdicare]

[Oh. He's saying she's better than him. Well that changes everything.]

Hee... Well, I don't mind helping a dear friend. It's all right. It's not like you're dating me.

[substitutable]

Isn't that all the more reason why this is kind of weird...? I mean, I appreciate it, but...

[vimdicare]

Wouldn't it be weirder if your girlfriend to teach you how to be a boyfriend?