yumemigaoka | Help, It's Spring and A Drama Student Has Appeared

[The blossoms are almost gone.

And Junna never quite got out to see them, to her great regret. She is at one of the markets selling the last of the cherry blossom-themed goods -- and it's outdoors, which is all the nicer. She has stopped at one of the stalls; there's some assorted pins, a few plastic water bottles, and other odds and ends. She was looking them over...

But then the blossoms caught her eye. Even with about half of them blown off, Junna is still staring. She sighs, fondly.]

Pretty...

[KERRRRRRR-CHTHWUNK.

That would be the sound of the train encountering a malfunction. It jerks to a stop, jostling all of the people on the car. This includes Junna Hoshimi, who stumbles and almost falls into the lap of the person in the seat nearby. She had been standing; she straightens herself out.

Then she looks around.] What in the...?

[A train operator speaks up, over the intercom:

"Attention all passengers. The train has come to a stop due to technical difficulties. Please remain in the car and await further instructions."

...well, looks like everyone aboard this train is stuck here.]

[Golden Week has come!

And... and Junna said she would try to relax. So she did a quick post to the Dreamer Union message board, noting a chance to go bowling and a time. And then, on the evening of the 29th, she shows up at Meteor Bowling Alley!

There's one lane checked out. Junna is there to bowl with whoever comes; she has a sky blue bowling ball and rented bowling shoes. She is fiddling with the score tracker, some, trying to make sure it works.

And there's drinks and snacks, too! She has a soft drink on one of the tables. A snack is for later.]

Aren't they? I really like them. We didn't have these trees back in the village. So being here was my first time seeing them in person.

[Colette says as she overhears the other as she passes by, recognizing the voice and pausing when she recognizes the other from their prior encounters. She gives a nod, pausing and smiling at the sight of the blossoms. Even if they might be nearing the time they are starting to blow off. The trees and petals were still so beautiful. There's nothing quite like seeing it in person.]

[Junna blinks before she turns, smiling at Colette and waving. She looks back up at the blossoms, then she smiles and looks up at them.]

Aren't they just? They're in Tokyo, but... it's nice to have a reminder of home. Even if it's a little sad when they've almost fallen off.

A reminder of home. That's nice. Sort of like my friend's cookies! Or the necklace another friend made for me. Reminders of home.....

[She does miss it sometimes still. Well, more the people. The friends she had there. She might have her father and grandmother but this isn't necessarily the same as having her friends around. Even if she is making new friends here. She seems perhaps almost wistful for a bit, even as she waves back, glancing to the blossoms remaining on the branches.]

We can see them again next year. In full bloom.

Mm-hm. Did your friend send you some cookies?

[A care package, perhaps literally. She tilts her head to the side, then she nods.]

My grandmother had a tree like this in her garden, actually. Seeing it bloom every year was nice.

[Usually, Cooro wouldn't really be let out at this time. But when he explained that it was a Dreamer thing, those were the magic words to grant him permission. Not that he would've listened otherwise, though. He's become an expert in sneaking out.

Suffice to say, Cooro's never been bowling before. He has no idea what to expect, and as he comes in, he regards the place with curiosity. The shoes are pretty weird, too.

When he spots Junna, he gives her a wave.]

Hi~! [It's fun, he thinks, to meet outside of the Dream Sphere. Everyone's so different. He peers over the score tracker that she's fiddling with.] What'cha doing?

Mm. Every so often they do. I'm sure they probably will send me some on my birthday once that comes around too.

[She smiles, nodding. There was something rather comforting and almost perhaps nostalgic over blossoms like this. Each year. Especially if they remind of family the way it must do for Junna, with her grandmother's garden. It would make sense that she would want to see the blossoms, want to feel that connection to home, to family.]

Your grandmother? That sounds lovely.

I'm glad! Treats from home are something I just can't pass up on.

[Junna nods, then she looks up at the tree for a moment more. It's hard not think of her grandmother, when she sees it. And that's a good thing.] It is. It's nice to have the reminder of her.

And it's nice to know it comes year round. [She glances at Colette.] I imagine there's plants from your village that are around town? Just... blooming different times of the year, maybe.

Oh--hi! [Junna waves at Cooro. She takes a second -- then she places him. He was there, helping Amane. She doesn't hesitate to smile; she's grateful to him, for helping her mentor. And for...

Well, everything about that.]

Bowling! I'm between rounds. I'm a little rusty, admittedly...

[After the Disturbance, Junna kept contact with Lisa -- texting, talking, and trying to find a little extra time to hang out. Some of it was being worried about her; some of it was wanting to be sure they didn't spend the most time together when one of them was having a tough time.

And some of it was just wanting to see her more, without a great reason for it.

But when she found out the live action adaptation of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck was coming out -- and based on early reviews, was quite good -- well, that settled it. She had to go. So a quick message was sent off to Lisa.

And now, it's Friday evening and after the movie ended. Junna steps out of the theater doors excitedly -- it's a later showing, so it's dark enough out that she doesn't immediately blind herself with the sun -- and then turns back towards Lisa, practically beaming.]

That was fantastic! The--the way they adapted it to sets, the acting choices -- ah, sometimes it's stiff in comparison, but the director really made it work! And the ending sequence, and the angle they shot it from, and--

[She sighs, happily, and does a little twirl.] Oh, that was just terrific!

[The Theater Kid has been unleashed.]

[He looks over the scores. They mean nothing to him, actually. He’s just more confused.]

How do you play?

Right? Their cookies are the best! No offense to the rest I've tried but. I guess I'm pretty spoiled growing up getting those over the years, even with sometimes making some with my grandmother. It's just not quite the same as theirs, I haven't quite been able to perfect the recipe.

[She has the recipe. She's just maybe not quite getting the timing or measurements right or something. Or maybe it is just that she knows she made the cookies and not her friend. Something like that which makes it not quite the same. She gives a shrug, considering the question.]

I suppose there might be. If I checked around the gardens more. Found some that were familiar. I haven't looked yet.

You roll the ball down the alley! Here and here. [She points so it's clear, then she motions to the pins.]

You want to knock down as many of those as possible in as a few rolls of the ball as possible.

[Junna laughs, in a good natured way. It's nice seeing Colette excited about this.]

You're making me really want to try one, now. Your friend must be a talented baker!

[She isn't enough of a baker to help perfect a recipe, though.

Then, she nods.] Something to look out for, maybe.

Well, next time they send me some I suppose I can share one with you to try.

[Colette is at least happy to offer that much. It seems the least she could do when talking about her friends and their baking, their jewelry they had made for her. She
figures at this point as far as she can tell that she would be here for a few years yet if not for the rest of her left even after finishing school.]

Maybe next time I am out and the weather is not too bad I'll check the gardens. See if there's anything familiar. I'm not much of a gardener myself but I might at least recognize some things.

I-If you don't mind! I know they're a precious commodity.

[She laughs a little. She smiles, though -- it doesn't bug her if Colette would rather keep them. After all, they're for her. Junna's eyes light up a little, though, and she nods.]

It's fun! I have an app for it, for identifying plants. Animals, too. I'm not much of a gardener, myself... but I admit I find it relaxing.

I don't mind. Just one, so you can try it and see for yourself if you like their cookies.

[Maybe she could keep working on the recipe herself as well. She does want to try get it right. Eventually. Still, she does seem curious when the other mentions an app. Or, well, a new one to her at least.]

There's an app? I guess it seems like there's one for everything these days. So maybe that isn't too surprising there is one for plants. That's pretty neat though.

Gotcha~

[Cooro nods, then makes his way over to the collection of balls to pick one for himself. He doesn’t understand the weight differences between them, and just goes by which looks most appealing colour-wise, which leads him to picking up a rather weighty red ball.

As soon as he does so, he realises his mistake.]

It’s heavy! [But, determined, he lugs it over and chucks it down as best he can, watching it roll-

- straight into the gutter.]

Whoops…

[He doesn’t seem too bothered by it, at least. He’s the opposite of a sore loser.]

I'll take you up on that.

[Her sweet tooth may be the death of her. Or something less dramatic.

She thinks for a moment.] I'm not much of a baker, but a friend is. I could ask if she could help with the recipe if you'd like, sometime?

[Then she nods.] There is! Using it might make me a nerd though.

Ah--!

[Too late, but Junna realizes the price of her hubris. She hurries over.

And tries to not look embarrassed. It's a little hard.]

Let me show you. Sorry, I got a little ahead of myself.

Oh? I wouldn't say no to that idea. If your friend is up for it. Maybe together we could figure perfecting the recipe. And you can help taste test.

[Well, Colette would be the best in comparing the taste after having had many of their cookies over the years. But letting the others try and then seeing how they go in replicating that would still help. Would still be fun.]

A nerd? I wouldn't know but. The important thing is you are having fun, learning from it. I mean, it's important? Knowing which plants might be safe or poisonous or that sort of thing, right?

[Junna out here feeling embarrassment for both of them, because Cooro doesn’t feel it in the least. He watches her hurry over, and takes a step back.]

Okay! Go ahead!

I'll ask her, then! Lisa Imai, if you've ever met her.

[And she can definitely do taste testing. It's an important part of her job! Really.

Then she looks thoughtful. Colette raises a good point.]

That's true. Avoiding poison, knowing what a plant is if you want another for your garden...

Help, It's Spring and A Drama Student Has Appeared

Cherry Blossoms (Before They're Gone) | April 10

Stuck on a Train | April 19

Bowling During Golden Week | April 29

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Riverwalk Theater | April 26; closed to Lisa

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