[Open Post] Evening, Residential Area

[cloudypuddle]

Things were falling apart - she didn't like it.

Nanase had a very set pattern to her days, for a very specific reason, and yet the last few it had collapsed in on itself. She still made it to class, to swim meet, to bed at the same time, but the bits in between didn't come naturally to her, like her feet had forgotten where to go. It had led to more than a couple run-ins with her folks, when she'd normally sidestep the chance by habit. She was thrown so off, she'd actually headed home today when her teammates did, and the blank stare her mother shot her in the kitchen was as oddly jarring as taking the time to dry her hair, or going through her closet and pulling out an old sweater and pants to replace her uniform.

The material felt fresh, never worn as she slipped back onto the street, and she pulled roughly at the stiff sleeves as she stomped through the snow still on the ground. She remained uncertain where to go, but her street eventually circled back around, passing near every house in town. Surely there wouldn't be many out in the middle of dinner time, or on the outskirts of town. And even if... What's so jarring about a girl taking an uncharacteristic walk around the neighborhood?

Comments

[negativegate]

"Yeah, something like that. I just can't figure it out...but you know what I'm talking about, right?"

Even Mari was having trouble with anything more specific than what she'd already gone over, and it was so frustrating being unable to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

But at least it really wasn't just her, so maybe she could stop feeling a little less like she was going crazy.

[cloudypuddle]

"-well yes, something's off lately."

She didn't feel quite comfortable admitting it anymore, whether it was the confusion that hit her moments ago, or the unknown cause was now looking much bigger than presumed.

And here she thought she just forgot to do some chore or something.

"I wouldn't be out here if things were normal."

[negativegate]

"Right..." She recalled again how they started talking and massaged her temples. They were on the tip of something, she was sure of it, but they just couldn't quite get there. Besides being frustrated, it was also really unnerving.

After a moment, she said, "Sorry for being weird. I'm just glad it's not just me."

[cloudypuddle]

"Don't sweat it- Everyone feels off sometimes." Quite literally, in this case. In multiple ways.

Nanase stuffed her hands into her pockets, getting more aware of the said odd weather by the second. But - even if she wanted to brush this whole mess aside - she did feel there was something unfinished here. So she tacked on a belated introduction, polite enough for its delay.

"I'm Shimizu Nanase, by the way."

[negativegate]

It was almost painfully true in so many ways, and Mari couldn't let herself dismiss it too easily.

Regardless, she was still glad to at least get the name and responded simply, "Mariella Hale." She wondered briefly how old Nanase was, since she knew well enough that looks alone were hard to go by. Mari certainly didn't look eighteen.

"Do you go to school?"

[cloudypuddle]

-while Nanase is far too used to judging ages by looks, and thus gets a whole different sort of confused.

"Of course, I'm in the 8-A class. Why?"

[negativegate]

Mari shrugged and shook her head. "No reason. I was just wondering." After a moment, though, she added, "I already graduated."

[cloudypuddle]

"Eh?!" That drew an outright gawk, though Nanase quickly tried to cover it with a cough. Even if she can't stop staring.

"Then- You work somewhere in town?"

[negativegate]

Really, Mari shouldn't have been expecting anything different, but pride made her huff and cross her arms.

"So what if I do?"

[cloudypuddle]

"-nothing." She waves her hand in front of her face hard. Because, of course she could just fan the awkward right out of the air.

"I was just surprised! I...haven't seen you in a shop anywhere or anything."

[negativegate]

"Hmm..." Mari wasn't really convinced, but it wasn't like it was that big of a deal before...

And Nanase was right about that, anyway. "You've probably never been to the café, then. Lily Garden."

[cloudypuddle]

"-no, I don't eat out a lot." Even if she stayed out of the house, most her meals came from leftovers or school.

But, at least she wasn't holding her to her gawking, and, if only keep smoothing that over- "What kind of things do you serve?"

[negativegate]

Mari didn't think much of that response; after all, a student probably didn't have that much spending money.

"Asian-fusion," she answered, almost falling into her waitress role. "And drinks and baked goods so that it lives up to the 'café' part."

[cloudypuddle]

"Oh- Maybe I can come by and pick something up for mother, then. She likes baked goods."

Grant it, she usually made them herself, but perhaps it could inspire it. It felt like she'd been making the same dessert every night forever.

[negativegate]

"Yeah, if you wanted to. We have exclusive desserts that change all the time." Yep, she was in full advertisement mode. She was so used to it, yet it felt a little more unnatural today than usual.

[cloudypuddle]

That was a pretty mutual feeling- though for her it was how foreign the whole conversation was. When was the last time she talked about something beside school, swimming, or idling around town?

"Then I'll stop by and see what you have- you work afternoons?"

[negativegate]

"That's right. So I'll be there for a little while when you're out of school." Mari wasn't factoring in extracurricular activities, though... She'd never bothered with them.

[cloudypuddle]

"That works- I don't have club every night." At least it did seem that way since she skipped a time or two.

Pulling her coat tighter around her, she tagged on a "I better head back now."

[negativegate]

Club? Mariella almost asked about it, but there was always that push in the back of her mind to get going, so it was almost too easy to agree. "Yeah, I guess I held you up from your walk. I'll...see you around?"

[cloudypuddle]

"Can't see how you'd miss me." Even if Nanase went by during the wrong shift, it was a small town. She wasn't worried about losing track of someone. Not around here.

Still, she threw a short comment over her shoulder, as she turned back. "Thanks for the chat." Whether she wanted to admit it or not, it helped clear her head enough to brave going home.

[negativegate]

"Huh? Oh, I guess..." Now that Nanase said that, Mari realized that she didn stand out a little bit. She wasn't sure why she hadn't realized that before.

In any case, she gave a short wave. Maybe it was weird to make friends with someone still in school, but Mari didn't really care about that. "Yeah... You too."