[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

[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?

[substitutable]

I don't... think it's that weird....?

[To be completely honest if Shintaro ever developed into that stage with anyone he would consider that a sort of bonding moment. Let him be otome.]

[vimdicare]

It's very weird, Shintaro-san. You have to be ready for a girlfriend first, not be taught by her.

[substitutable]

[He glances at her, narrowing his eyes a little, voice quiet as he responds.]

... I don't have any intentions of ever having one.

[but, should that girl ever want to]

But if you insist, I guess knowing won't hurt.

[vimdicare]

[Interesting reaction. A painful experience in his past, perhaps? She files it away.

Erika claps her hands together.] Very good! Now then.

[She spins around, hopping forward with sudden energy.]

Every girl has her own favourite things, of course. Some girls like cliche shoujo romance lines and others like gloomy shut-ins. What matters is that the girl likes you as you are, so that itself is already in your favour. Remember that first and foremost: for whatever reason, the girl likes you, so don't question it. If the girl wants to be around you, then... isn't that enough of a start? Love has no answer, just multiple truths gleamed from a prism. Analysing love leads to a spectrum of light and all of them are 'true' so enjoy the truth presented to you.

[Ah. She didn't mean to get so personal. It's a little too close to getting into her own feelings. Get rid of it.

Erika twirls and sticks a finger in his face.]

Pop Quiz! What's the best kind of date?

[substitutable]

[It only takes her a few seconds to speak those words and it only takes a second more for him to think on it. The more he hears, the more he realizes that he knows all of this, and the more disgusted he feels with himself. He says nothing in response to the explanation and instead widens his eyes a fraction at the question.]

... I've never been on one nor have I read about romance enough to know.

[Meaning: he's been exposed to shoujo stuff. He's seen it. He really likes Kami**** Kai*** J***. But he also knows those are for cartoons. So how could they work on IRL stuff?]