001 POINTS | video | joint post with fineprinted

[accurately]

[ The video post flickers on to show two people, both looking rather different in demeanor. The taller of the two looks to have a scowl on his face, and eyes and hair a matching deep green. He’s not happy to be here, he doesn’t even feel comfortable leaving the apartment. Which is why he’s here with the shorter of the two boys.

It would’ve been hard to tell that the scruffy, blue-haired boy is the older of the two, but that’s probably part of his charm and it shows in how he addresses the network with a bright smile and a wave of his hand, as if he were a natural at this. ]

--Oh, I think we’re on! Hello, Lunatia! We’d like to introduce ourselves first of all: My name is Aoba Tsumugi, and this kind lad over here is my roommate! Ah, you should say hello too, Midorima-kun!

[ He gestures at the screen as smoothly as he could.

Midorima’s brows furrow before he’s even finished talking, looking mildly annoyed. What he’s annoyed about becomes apparent within only a few seconds as he doesn’t say hello and instead focuses in on correcting what he thinks was wrong with that sentence. ]

Who’s a “kind lad”? Focus on the task at hand.

[ Apparently, that’s all the greeting he’s bothering with. Tsumugi can only sigh a little before facing the screen again, smile still intact. ]

This is Midorima Shintarou, by the way. Seriously, kids these days… Um, but before I go off track, the reason why we’ve put this up is because we have one thing in common, and that is horoscopes. Luck, in general. Do you know there are apps here that tells you your daily fortune and what lucky item to bring around with you to ward off bad luck? Technology’s so amazing! Even though we’re from different worlds, it’s nice to know that there are other people who believe in them -- and that is why we are here today.

[ Midorima’s worried that Tsumugi’s going to go on for too long, so he chimes in with a much more direct demand of their audience over the network. ]

Respond with your astrological sign or birthday if you aren’t sure. We’re also looking to know what items are considered lucky in other worlds that may be incorporated into an apartment.

Y-You can just ask nicely them, you know! People wouldn’t know how to respond if you’re being demanding like that... [ why are tsunderes the way they are, man ] Anyway, it’d be very helpful for us to know everyone’s signs and birthdays to balance out of luck if it ever goes bad for a day so that we can stick with those people for a while… I’m a Leo and he’s a Cancer, if that helps.

Also! If anyone knows other forms of divination such as palmistry and tarot, that’d be greatly appreciated as well… I’m honestly more comfortable consulting with someone privately about my fortunes rather than rely on technology all the time, so let me know if it’s all right to approach you for regular sessions! I’ll pay with Chroma if I have to.

[ Midorima just decides to move on and end the video. He’s not going to give Tsumugi the chance to say goodbye. ]

We’re done.

[ And the video cuts out. ]

Comments

[accurately]

[ Good because he isn't saying more. He's done with that. He's not going to gush about things. He said just about the gushiest thing he's going to already to someone who isn't a Shutoku student. ]

We're in our apartment, so anywhere near the residential district is acceptable.

[ But he's not traveling too far out of the way on account of. Well. He's new, he still isn't super familiar with anything yet.. ]

[hoasen]

[It's so gross. He's really gross. What a tsundere.]

I can meet you at your apartment, and lead you there. If you're new, I can show you around a little on the way.

[Midorima use your own legs.]

[accurately]

[ He will!? He's not lazy, the rearcar is 100% Takao's fault. ]

No, you won't. I'm not giving a stranger my address. Choose a public location.

[hoasen]

[Stop blaming others too!! You got into the rear car!

Also, did he just stranger-danger her. It's strangely cute considering he's so grumpy about it.]

Very well, public location. If you're at the residential area. [Which everyone usually starts at.] What about the very start of that street? The sports centre I was at was is on Level 2.

[accurately]

[ Midorima invited Takao to go to Kaijo and Takao said only if he gets him a rearcar so he got him a rear car!! >:| And then Takao wanted to challenge him for who rides so it was fair and so they play rock paper scissors! It's not Midorima's fault that Takao is awful at RPS and the only person Midorima really loses to at it is Akashi. This is a self-dug hole that Midorima has no problem benefiting from. ]

I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes. What's your name?

[ So he can write a note that says who murdered him if he disappears. ]

[hoasen]

[MIDORIMA. Just before a stupid boy says he wants to do something you don't beat him to a pulp just so he can suffer--oh wait.]

Very good, I will see you soon. And my name is Vietnam, or Sen, I am an acquaintance of Aoba Tsumugi.

[See, she can't kill his room mate! Even if she's able to break him into two.]

[accurately]

[ At least at this point he's gotten the explanation from Japan, but he's still got a problem. ]

What's your family name?

[ He's not calling her by her first name. ]

[hoasen]

[Fun fact, Midorima, it's the other way around because almost everyone is a Nguyen in Vietnam.]

Oh! I remember now, you go by surname. In Vietnam, we do not go by surname, because of the frequency of surnames where most are Nguyễn. It is either first name or full name, so you can call me either Sen, or Sen Linh Đoàn. Or Đoàn Linh Sen if you wish to follow exact order.

[She is going to feel seriously weird if he calls her by surname.]

[accurately]

Đoàn Linh, I'll see you in 15 minutes.

[ GUESS WHAT HE DOESNT CARE WHAT YOUR RULES ARE. NO HONORIFICS, LAST NAME ONLY. ]

[hoasen]

Linh is my middle name.

[THIS IS GOING TO TAKE FOREVER. She's going to find him and school him.

In about 15 minutes.

So she's there now.

TO SCHOOL HIM.]

[accurately]

[ Whatever Doan.

He's on time as stated, looking like he's never smiled a day in his life. He approaches her and says: ]

Đoàn.

[ Hi. ]

[hoasen]

[HE'S DOING IT AGAIN. Also she can't comment on smiling, her face creaks too.]

Sen will do. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Midorima Shintarou.

[SEE. SEE IS IT SO HARD TO SAY FULL NAME. She still bows politely.] Are you ready to go?

[accurately]

[ He's doing it for the rest of her life. ]

I'm ready.

[ He won't follow up with her name. He doesn't want an argument about it. He's just not going to call her Sen in the future, for sure. Good luck with that. ]

[hoasen]

[Somehow, she's going to slowly kill him. She just needs to figure out how...]

Very well, come.

[Time to follow her! Good thing it won't be too far, the amenities were made to be convenient. So she does turn to head down the street, away from all the housing, totally oblivious to Midorima's deep thoughts.]

[accurately]

[ His thoughts really aren't that deep. In this case, he's just trying to memorize everywhere he's going. He's following a strange girl who claims to be a country to god knows where for the hope of some basketball. This is super sketchy?? The things basketboys do for some hoops. He follows her though, staying silent unless she says something first. ]

[hoasen]

[Midorima this isn't a bad trip, if you're wondering. And she doesn't mind silence at all, so she walks with him, finding this not awkward. Even if he's trying to memorise an escape route.

Thankfully, his over cautious self is rewarded since they step in front of the sports centre (see, close!) and the pool she saw before was right there. Now to enter to see if there's a basketball court.]

See, it's close, no? Let's go in.

[accurately]

[ He's going to be disappointed if there isn't a court and never forgive her.

Midorima looks around, using his eyes more than head movements. It seems she really did bring him to an athletics center of some kind. At least there's that. ]

Lead the way.

[hoasen]

[Midorima stop being such a brat!!

Still, so far so good, so she starts to lead him to what appears to be a large building. She heard that was the gym, so hopefully that's a good place to start.]

Let's go here.

[The double doors were already slightly ajar, and there was the sound of balls bouncing. Yeah I'm leaving this sentence like that.]

[accurately]

[ Don't tell him not to be himself!!

Balls bouncing inside the gym is definitely a good thing. So is an indoor gym. He could deal with a street court, but he prefers inside. It's more private. He doesn't need complete privacy but indoor guarantees weather protection as well. It sounds like basketballs and not volleyballs or handballs or some other balls that might occur in a gym, so at least right now the gym is being used for what it should be. Because basketball has crossed the universe, Space Jam is a fact.

Midorima still doesn't smile or even look enthused because smiling is not his jam. ]

Do they have usage fees?

[ Most athletics centers do.. ]

[hoasen]

[BE CUTE AS WELL.

They probably could find a street court somewhere, but she just doesn't remember right now. Besides, Japan's finest (in highschool) sounds like he's aiming to be professional, so an indoor court might be more important to him. Also, she's relieved that it looks like there is a place.

Also, his face looks like it's jammed. Smiling might hurt him.]

I believe they do, but as I did not require use of the gymnasium, I have never checked. Let's go ask.

[She looks around. There might be coaches and other players training there, but she's not sure if they're the right people to ask. Any secretaries?]

At least, I hope they have a trial period as well, to see if it suits you.

[accurately]

[ He'll do whatever he wants.

He hopes it isn't expensive. He wants to play here already but he's not on a team here so he can't use a home court and he's not had enough time to research what teams exist here and frankly he wants Shutoku but that's not possible. ]

It would be a predatory practice not to, considering how much many athletics facilities can sometimes charge.

[ Which isn't a problem for him back home, but here...

Well, if he can show off during a trial period and get scouted then there won't be an issue. ]

[hoasen]

[Bad, don't do whatever you want all the time, don't make them put the selfishness limit.

Still, she's feeling bad for him that if they stop him, he won't be able to play basketball! Sure, he could play streetball but it's not the same when it comes to a more professional level.]

Indeed. Otherwise, you can beat every single one of them here and prove that they might as well sign you up right now?

[She looks right up at him. If he gives her the okay, she'll negotiate this. Because she sounds nicer than he does.]

[accurately]

That's inevitable.

[ He is fully confident that he can do that, okay. Set him up, Sen. ]

[hoasen]

[Time to be his de facto manager, which works out considering she's a politician. She straightens up, pushes her ponytail back, and walks with him to the coach.]

Hello, gentlemen. [And then they all look at him, amazed at his height.] My comrade here, Shintaro Midorima, is seeking a professional team. [And so starts a bit of a conversation, where without Midorima's established experience and name, he wouldn't be able to join what happens to be a "professional" regional team. Or at least a professional as one goes in this place.

Without experience, he'd have to go into tryouts like the rest of them, but it's a considerable time away.]

Then what if he can beat every single one of your players?

[Don't worry, boy, she got you. But also she's making sure that if he wins, the deal they broker with him won't cheat him either.]

[accurately]

[ Midorima doesn't want to get shoved onto the first team he talks to anyway. He wants his pick of the litter, which means he has to establish himself before he's scouted, so he looks a little annoyed when that's how Sen starts. A garbage team that won't put up with his attitude doesn't work for him.

That said, he's already decided to just crush them from the get-go, completely unnecessarily and in the most extra fashion. He's already figured it out in his head. ]