yumemigaoka | 💎 A New Journey

You got done for vandalism, and it’s not even the cool kind?

[Like, where’s your spray cans kid?]

What were the posters for, anyway? And don’t worry - there is a correct answer.

[wow rude? 1) He can't bring aerosal cans on an airplane and 2) he hasn't had time or funds to replace them]

If the correct answer involves idols, I think I'll settle for being wrong.

[Nikki sends a sidelong stare at some of the ads strewn around the store]

I borrowed some posters from the botanical garden to put up. Bring a little Hanami into everyone's lives, y'know? I probably would have gotten away with it too if some kid hadn't gone "Ah, look mom, there's a guy hanging off the railing!"

[... Trespassing. He was reported for trespassing]

Hey, you’re talking to the wrong guy if you’re expecting that answer.

[That’s more Ango’s speed. The entire city, covered in Ai…]

Foiled by a kid, though…that’s rough, buddy. And it would’ve been the perfect crime, too. Except you weren’t really getting anything out of it - so I kinda don’t get why you’d bother in the first place.

[He’s far too selfish of a man to fathom it.]

Why not? [he grins] It seemed like fun, and it's been a while since I've been in town. What better way to learn the lay of the land than by exploring?

[he crosses his arms with a sigh] Really though, it wasn't like I was hanging off anywhere dangerous. Maybe if it was the roof or something, I'd get why the traffic cops got mad at me, but it was just the second floor balcony...

Second floor? How’d you even get up there? …Parkour?

[his eyes light up as he double finger guns at Misfire]

Jackpot! [his English is perfect and accent free. A little startling considering how fluent his Japanese is and... Didn't he just botch some words earlier?]

How'd you know? There was a fire escape on the building next to it so from there it was just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Let’s just say you seem like the type.

[Is that derogatory or not? It’s hard to tell.]

But, hey, now that’s pretty cool. You been anywhere else fun?

Wooooow. What does that say about people's impression of me?

[he raises a hand to his forehead and does a dramatic fainting gesture]

Depends. You mean locally or fun places in general?

... Oh yeah, you mind if I grab something to eat first? [he points at the cashier and the hot cabinet next to it] Running for my life is hungry business.

Go for it, kid.

[Like he’s gonna force him to starve!]

Just don’t ask me to pitch in. This coffee cost me enough as it is.

[he laughs]

Oh no! Has the overpriced coffee crisis hit Japan too? The inhumanity!!

[but Nikki jogs past to grab a croquette and a couple of meat buns from a very confused looking cashier. He wastes no time and pulls out one of the buns from the bag> Keeping the croquette for himself, he holds out the bag with the remaining bun for Misfire]

Here ya go. As thanks for being my lookout. [a wink before he takes a bite out of the bun in his own hand]

[He should probably turn it down, if he were a better man. Taking hard earned food from a teen…

…unfortunately, he faces no such dilemmas. He gladly takes the bun.]

Anytime. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with the law - you just gotta get smart about it.

[Misfire has never been smart about anything in his life.]

So, go on, what other places have you totally-not-trespassed?

Okay, first of all? [he swallows the bite of food he was talking around] Not my fault that the kid ratted me out. I would have been fine otherwise!

[in English;] ... Hey!

[and Japanese again;] Man, really? While we're still in a conbini?

[he bites down on his bun before turning towards the door to head out. If they're going to talk about it, he's not going to talk about it where they might end up incriminating a poor part timer]

[He follows pretty swiftly, bun and coffee occupying both his hands.]

Alright, so we're not in the conbini anymore. Better?

[They are literally just walking down the street, but he sees absolutely nothing wrong with this.]

[while he's eating his bun;] Medder!

[you'd think he was raised by animals and not a hard working artist the way he acts. Or maybe he's being more casual because Misfire is clearly not a stickler for rules so Nikki doesn't need to watch his manners around him. Either works!

He continues without missing a beat after he swallows his bite of food]

Haven't gotten anywhere I actually shouldn't yet. Y'know, the places with the actual 'Do Not Trespass' signs? Just your usual rooftops and balconies and the occasional backlot at the moment.

I did only just get here. It would be real bad if I got myself in serious trouble when I haven't even been here a month, y'know?

Just gotta make yourself harder to catch.

[He grins. He’s a terrible role model.]

How’re you finding Yumemigaoka, then? Where’d you come from, anyway?

[he slaps his forehead]

Obviously! You're so right. Why didn't I think of that?

[he tosses his remaining bite of food up in the air to catch in his mouth at the tail end of that]

It's nice! A lot's changed and a lot of stuff seems to have stayed the same. It's pretty nice all around. As for where I'm from... [he grins] Wherever the wind chose to blow in from today~

[laugh]

Mom travels for work, I help out. So we've been on a world adventure, if you will.

You’re talking to a pilot, buddy. More accurately - ex-pilot, but you get the gist. Been in those shoes before.

[Travelling the world is one of the few things he can claim to have achieved.]

Where’s been your favourite?

Oooh!! I took you as just a random bad influence, but I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover, huh?

[Nikki, please...]

As for me... I like 'em all! Whether it's places to go or food to eat or people you meet. Haven't met a place I didn't like yet.

[he just really likes adventure, all right? New places, new people, the works]

C’mon, there’s gotta be some places that outrank others. I refuse to believe you’ve liked it all.

I dunno, guy, I'm the 'glass half full' sort of person.

Chinese food is great though. Dumplings, noodles, bao... Variety is the spice of life and all that. Old World, New World... Like how do you choose? I'm just going wherever the wind takes me~

[and by wind, he probably means his mom. Probably]

The wind?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

No way, you’re way too young to go travelling on a whim like that. Unless you’re secretly loaded.

[Pause.]

Are you?

[he takes a pointed bite of the croquette he still has as he stares Misfire dead in the eyes]

[that's it, that's his answer]

[Misfire shoots a hand out, to shake.]

Name’s Misfire.

[and he takes it, all casual like, holding his snack in his other hand]

Call me 'Nikki'. Nice to meetcha!

[is he actually loaded? Is he doing a bit?? Who even knows?!? He does, however, reach back to pull out a business card to hand to Misfire. It's not Nikki's, but it does look to be for an actual business]

Feel free to swing by and check out mom's gallery some time! We're still closed for renos this month, but doors'll open once it's May.

[He takes the business card - man, this kid is prepared - and gives it a little look over.]

Hey, isn’t the stereotype supposed to be of a ‘starving artist’?

[He flips over the business card.]

What gives?

💎 A New Journey

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