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]

[ He gives her a nod, appreciating and understanding the protection of his toy. He's fine with this. He gives it a brief squeak, as if either saying thank you to Sen or checking if it's still functional, then goes off to shower, completely oblivious to any fanservice he may have been giving.

It's a good 20 minutes before he comes out again, cleanly washed and re-dressed in the clothes he arrived in. ]

[hoasen]

[The gesture of him squeezing that toy is already cute. He can be cute! So she's going to work hard! Or at least listen to some of the offers that the owner is providing. She does negotiate that in the end, it's up to Midorima, after all, he caught much attention. So they're going to have to offer well if he wants to stay.

But she says this all pleasantly, to ensure that Midorima can still use the gym even if he says no, and they'll just pay like normal individuals.

When he returns, she excuses herself from the conversation for a moment to go back to him.]

How are you feeling now?

[accurately]

[ He's got his things in his bag still, just in case. There are lockers, but he doesn't have one, so there's definitely a sweaty stank coming from his bag. He'll have to clean it properly later. ]

Fine. I've been through much more difficult games. What did they say?

[hoasen]

[That smells like sweaty boy. Dear lord they need to spray the shit out of that thing.]

More difficult? My! Either way, you fought alone, so I will treat you to something to eat after this.

[She looks around.] So they are willing to offer you a contract as an upcoming player. Meaning junior. Meaning. [She squeezes her fingers together. Not as well paid as their star players.] I have a feeling it is because they are a little threatened, but also desperate. So I told them it is up to you, and if possible to allow you to practice with the team before you consider accepting. This way, you can practice in this gymnasium for free a little longer. [Thrifty.] In the meantime, considering the crowd you gathered, perhaps better offers will come in.

[accurately]

[ Midorima is the clean one, so she doesn't need to worry about that. He just doesn't have access to their stuff here yet, so he has to wait until he can get home. ]

I'll think about it and get back to them.

[ He's definitely got no intention of playing as a junior. He started in his first year in high school. Waiting for other offers is the better solution, this gym's team is just collateral damage.

Which may sound cruel, but the fact is, if they can't swallow their pride then they aren't willing to do everything they can even if it means doing something embarrassing. ]

[hoasen]

[Time for him to organise his basketball bag. Then he can be prepared every time.]

I'll look around as well. I think...it's like catching a bigger fish, today. We'll just have to make sure you're easy to contact!

[She had a feeling. Today, watching him was like watching sport as an art form. Personally, she was vexed that they were offering him something like this only because of how he's an unknown at the moment, and that he crushed their team. But if they behave like this, she wouldn't be sure if he could get along with them either.

Besides, she saw a few others look at him, calling up their peers in the audience. So a little bit louder than she is, meaning what's a bit more than soft:]

Shall we go now, Shintaro Midorima?

[Now they can known his name.]

[accurately]

Yes.

[ He slings his bag over his shoulder and starts walking toward the exit. He's not going to respond to them. If he's an unknown, that's an advantage, not a disadvantage. This coach is no Nakatani. He'll wait for the other offers to come in and use this gym in the meantime while the 'bait' gets nibbles. ]

Lets go, Doan.

[hoasen]

[See it all works out--URK.

While she quickly follows him, she does it again:]

Sen will do.

[OI!!!!]

[accurately]

[ It will do but she responded and followed at Doan, so what incentive does he have to listen? None. Doan it is. ]

I want Japanese food.

[hoasen]

[SHINCHAN. BAD. But also he worked so hard, so even while he's being a demanding piece of sh--]

Very well! I did say it was my treat! There is a place that has Japanese food just a little bit away. Different types, lunch boxes, ramen...

[accurately]

Okonomiyaki.

[ He knows exactly what he wants right now. ]

[hoasen]

[Oh that makes things easier.]

Next door to it. Come.

[accurately]

Do they have oshiruko?

[ Give him his favorite. ]

[hoasen]

Oshiruko...[She thinks hard about this.] That's red bean soup, no? I am sure they do. If not I can always make it for you. [Guess who has shared desserts across Asia.]

[accurately]

[ He nods. ]

We're going out, you're not allowed in the kitchen.

[ He's not going home with her for oshiruko, ok. ]

[hoasen]

[Oh? That actually makes a lot of sense too, even though she just got scolded! Not that she minds at all, since he's right. They're going out for food right now.]

O-oh! In that case, we'll make sure it'll have it!

[accurately]

It's fine if it doesn't, I don't expect another world to have everything.

[ He's many things, but he's not unreasonable. Everything he does can be reasoned with.

Except his lucky item. Most of the time.

...He's been convinced not to use live animals after he caught a frog once, so there are a few exceptions. ]

[hoasen]

That's very reasonable. I felt the same, but I also noticed that they have a lot of similar things here. If not...just a bit different. I saw takoyaki, once! Then they coated it in chocolate.

[It's...it's a thing.

Also stop using live animals, Midorima dear lord, your superstitious behaviour makes her entire family look like normal people.]

[accurately]

..Not the Valentine's Day takoyaki?

[ Look. There's a special kind that's made with chocolate cake in the middle instead of octopus. He went to get some to send to Murasakibara once. but the way she's saying it, it sounds like they just put.. real takoyaki.. in chocolate...

He hasn't in a super long time?? His team had a talk with him about live frogs on the bench and it was settled. ]

[hoasen]

W-what's the Valentine's Day takoyaki?

[That's the one she would give a go. The other one? Definitely as he suspected.] It was...your regular takoyaki, but instead of a savoury sauce, it was chocolate. I was confused. It was definitely because of a party! I'm not sure why it had to be chocolate, the other places sold them normally.

[LIVE FROGS. Midorima, for someone so smart...]

[accurately]

There's a booth that sells it in Shibuya. The outside batter is the same takoyaki batter, but instead of octopus a small ball of chocolate cake is inserted. The outside is then drizzled with chocolate instead of sauce and sprinkled with crushed macarons.

[ Midorima.. has a sweet tooth. So he tried it and then sent some to Murasakibara since Murasakibara eats everything. ]

[hoasen]

[Does he have a sweet tooth because he's a salty boy. Also why is this super cute, SUPER CUTE. He sent it to his friend...]

I...would eat that.

[accurately]

[ He pushes up his glasses. ]

Indeed.

[ It's much better than actual octopus dipped in chocolate.. ]

[hoasen]

[Could it be that Midorima really likes sweets? She's sure of this.]

Perhaps one day you can have it again, and I can try it.

[HOWEVER...they're at the eatery, so she steps up and asks for two places.

She adds in also:]

Oh! We need one of those with the stove.

[For okonomiyaki!!]

[accurately]

Someone will have to sell it here for that to happen.

[ Midorima sure af doesn't know how to make it.

He follows the host to their seat and sits down once they're there. He doesn't need to think about his order, he just lists off what ingredients he wants for the okonomiyaki. ]