entranceway | [ 002 | Video/Action ]

[Kanji looks nervous as he turns on the feed, shifting uncomfortably with one hand at the back of his neck, eyes darting off to one side as if to make sure he's not being watched by anyone other than the folks he's broadcasting too-- it looks like he's in the diner at the moment, taking a break on one of the stools at the counter as he clears his throat and focuses his attention back on the device in his hands.]

So, I was just wonderin'-- would anyone be interested in some kinda arts and crafts workshop?

[He's been wanting to offer some kind of classes for awhile, if only to find other people with interests that are in line with his own, but he's been a little anxious about stepping up to actually say something. Events had given him plenty of reason to push it back, but if he was honest, being somewhere other than Inaba made him a little hesitant to take that big first step again, especially with how hard he'd had to work to make it back home.]

Nothin' fancy, but we could do different stuff each week maybe. Puppets, crochet, painting-- whatever. We've got this great youth center, thought it might be a good place for it. If-- if anyone's interested, let me know what days work for you, yeah? Thinkin' maybe some weekday afternoons. Y'know, we don't get events during the week for the most part, so-- probably seems like the best bet.

[He's rambling, and trying hard not to trip over his words, but he manages a hopeful smile as he closes out the message all the same.]

Hopefully I'm not the only one into this kind of thing. If you wanna talk in person, I'm in the diner most days, and I've been hanging out in the youth center in the afternoons. A-anyway-- thanks for listening. Lemme know if you want in.

[He cuts the feed, but he'll be working in the diner for most of the afternoon, helping Souji out both in the kitchen and behind the counter, wiping down tables whenever people finish up their meals. Afterwards, he'll be down in the youth center, where he's claimed a corner table for himself with a number of supplies laid out across it. Anyone who walks in will see him working on the finishing touches of a small knit doll: a monkey, to be specific, which he seems to be intent on dressing in great detail now that the doll itself is complete.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Since when do teenagers our age play with puppets?

[He very quickly proceeds to turn beet-red.]

Look, it's not-- you ain't gotta play with them, just--

[He makes a very restrained noise of frustration. He's not great at articulating himself.]

I like makin' 'em. Bunch of kids back home wound up likin' 'em and wanted to learn, too.

[His embarrassment notwithstanding, he's said exactly the right thing to make her lay off.]

That's your thing, isn't it? That's how you do good.

How I do good?

[He has to consider that for a second, but she's not wrong, really. He's never thought of that way. Working with the Investigation Team, rescuing folks-- that was doing good, absolutely, but it was a team effort, not just him.

This? This is his.]

Guess you're right. I only, uh-- started doin' it recently. I mean, sharing it with other people. Used to get made fun of for it a lot, so I wasn't good about being honest with myself or anyone else.

Yeah, that's because there are jerks out there who make fun of things they're too dumb to understand.

[Even though she was making fun of him about thirty seconds ago, that was before he made it clear that he was helping people with his dumb little crafts.]

Yeah-- yeah!

[It's nice to know someone gets it. She might have been teasing him, but his friends often did the same, however affectionately. It wasn't the same as the cruel, belittling things the girls in his class used to say, or the rumors they would spread.]

There's nothin' wrong with being who you are and liking what you like, right?

If you have to change to fit somewhere, it probably ain't a place you want to be.

[She shrugs]

I think -- if you can help people with art, then that makes it worth it.

More people could probably stand to hear that. Lotta people don't get it, where I'm from.

[Conformity and knowing your place are kind of a big thing in small-town Japan.]

That mean you're gonna come?

Eh, might as well keep the riffraff from getting out of line. Sounds like you could use a bouncer.

[Said the little girl to the tough dude,]

[Yeah, that gets a laugh, but not because he doesn't think she can do the job-- he just gets the irony of the situation. He knows plenty of girls who can kick a whole lot of ass; Chie-senpai can be pretty scary when she gets it in her head to be.]

Be nice to have someone to help me toss jerks out on their asses. Don't want anyone comin' in to make fun of people who are just doin' what they love, you know? Seen way too much of that back home.

Sounds like a good cause. I'd be happy to oblige.

[She's excellent at throwing paint at people. Also, at starting the occasional riot.]

Awesome.

[You're okay in his book, Maya.]

I'm Kanji, by the way.

Maya Penelope Hart.

[A beat. That probably sounds awkward to newer friends.]

I'm doing this thing lately where I'm trying to own my middle name.

Yeah?

[He smiles a little; it hitches up higher on one side than the other.]

I like that. Kinda like embracing every part of who you are?

Even the stupid bits, yeah.

I kinda get the feeling you do the same kinda stuff.

Just, uh-- just lately.

[It had taken some time for him to be honest with himself, and all.]

Kinda hard some days, but I think it's gonna be worth it.

Maybe trying to get better is something we can work on as a team.

It's hard just figuring out who you are, let alone learning how to like that person.

It definitely helps, having friends who get it.

[People who understand what he's trying to do, or who are trying the same thing themselves. He's all for teamwork.]

No kiddin', though. I mean, I guess everyone goes through this, but that doesn't keep it from being scary sometimes.

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