week four | dates

[showhost]

You worked up your courage and asked someone out on a date! Good job!





Now you have to hope the producers are kind re: where they send you.

Comments

[willandaway]

[it doesn't take Will long to comply at all, so. . .! the song takes him off guard, but not nearly as the scenery change. it really is similar to what is happening back at the house, isn't it?]

[unfortunately, he barely has time to react before that girl comes barreling towards Tsukasa, and a startled noise escapes his lips as he gawks]

-- it's her!

The famous songstress!

[HATSUNE MIKU!!!]

[aspirings]

That's right.

[Tsukasa sounds tired, but like, fondly so. Miku bounces over towards Will to peer at him curiously.

"Ah!! You're a new guest! Miku's never seen you here before!"]

[willandaway]

[he holds the ramen between his palms, cradling it carefully against himself just in case she tries to tackle him, too]

I've never been here before.

I'm Will. I'm a good friend of Tsukasa's. It's nice to meet you, famous songstress Miku.

[aspirings]

[She does not. Lucky Will. Or lucky Tsukasa (?). Depends on who you ask. Regardless, Miku laughs at that, but before she can get any hairbrained schemes into her head, Tsukasa is hastily plopping his plate and drink into her hands and ushering her away.]

Go share those with the plushies or with Kaito and the others, okay?

[Off she goes, if a bit reluctantly, and finaaally, they're left with some peace and quiet. Well. Relative peace and quiet. It is an amusement park. There's music playing. The flowers are singing. The rides are running in the background. So it's not a very quiet SEKAI at all.]

Ah, this way. There's a bench over here where you can sit and eat.

[willandaway]

[oh. . .? does Tsukasa not want his friend chicken. . . well, Will is gonna share his drink and his ramen. so there!!]

All right. Ah-- you can have some of mine, since you gave yours away.

[they'll have to share chopsticks]

[Will still isn't quite sure how to use chopsticks]

[aspirings]

Ah, it's alright. As far as shareable meals go, ramen is a little...

[he is not sharing chopsticks with u, Will.]

Besides which, when we go back we'll be back in the cafe. I can order something then.

Anyway! Is this sort of additional space what you mean?

[His Sekai--though it's a lot more chipper and a lot less traumatic than everyone else's, huh]

[willandaway]

[WHY NOT IT'D BE CUTE!! but Will seems content with that answer, so. he takes a seat, before opening his li'l pack of chopsticks and. . . staring at how they're connected. help]

Oh-- yes. This is exactly what I mean.

[glancing up to look around, smiling a bit as he does so]

Your space-- Sekai?-- is so cheerful, Tsukasa.

[aspirings]

[He doesn't notice yet to save Will, rip.]

Hm? Yes, I suppose so.

[???]

Are the others you've experienced not that way?

[willandaway]

[NO, BUT. . . CAN HE SAY THAT ALOUD. . .]

They've been. . . interesting. [that's the politically correct way to put it] Like a little peek into other people's minds.

[and their memories. which isn't intrusive at all!]

[aspirings]

I suppose that is what a Sekai is.

[He still doesn't get it.]

Since they're formed from strong emotions.

[willandaway]

Strong emotions. . .

[yeah, that tracks. Will finally realizes he is supposed to tear the two chopsticks apart as he dips the ends into the ramen broth]

[wait-- how does one eat the broth like this. . .?]

And these Sekais are common in your world?

[aspirings]

[What a mystery.]

Ah, no, not exactly.

[Tsukasa tilts his head back to look at the sky (too bright of a blue, as it ever is), and hums.]

I've never met someone else with one, actually.

Still! Of course it would be all of you who would have strong enough emotions to create them!

[willandaway]

[with chopsticks still submerged in his broth, Will also tilts his head up to stare at the sky, taking in its brilliant color. beautiful. . . Tsukasa's Sekai is truly beautiful, full of color and whimsy. . . just like Tsukasa himself]

[he smiles]

I suppose that's true. And a competition like this one would just amplify those emotions tenfold.

. . . I like it here. [nodnods] It's bright and colorful.

[aspirings]

Why, thank you!

[He grew it himself (???). But he seems pretty content to just vibe here for a minute. It's peaceful, and he missed it while he was being a contestant.]

Of course, it is only fitting that the Sekai of a star be as bright and colorful as the multitude of roles I look forward to someday portraying!

[... That all said.]

When you've finished eating, I'll show you the stage!

[willandaway]

[sitting up a little straighter]

I'd love that. Though-- ah. . .

[glances down at his ramen]

[. . .]

[attempts to adjust his fingers around the chopsticks the way Ryuji taught him. . .]

. . . it might take me a bt.

[aspirings]

[... Oh dear.]

... We should have brought you a spoon.

[He did not think about the chopsticks thing... Regardless, Tsukasa just leans over to adjust Will's grip.]

Try like this. Now see if you can grab some of the noodles.

[Tsukasa will guide his hand along if it seems Will's struggling. He already did this for Anna with the piano, may as well do this for Will now with chopsticks.]

[willandaway]

[thank god all of these cute blondes are here to help. Tsukasa's assistance helps remind Will of Ryuji's lessons, and he relaxes a bit as he allows his fingers to be guided]

[with that help, he manages to pick up like. . . two noodles. success!!]

How do you eat the broth after the noodles are gone?

[aspirings]

There really is usually a spoon.

[Poor Will. Spoonless...]

But you can also just drink it straight from the bowl.

[Eat the noodles, Will!]

If you keep practicing, you'll definitely get used to them eventually.

[willandaway]

[SPOONLESS. . . FORKLESS. . . TRULY HIS LIFE IS PAIN]

[but with the noodles in his grasp, he lifts them to his lips to eat, slurping them a bit as god intended (though he, personally ,si a bit embarrassed by this)]

Ah. . . it's delicious!

[truly he has never had a soup as rich as flavorful as this]

[aspirings]

I'm glad you like it!

[Good news, Anna, your boyfriend likes Japanese food.]

Try some of the pork next.

[willandaway]

The pork?

[don't mind if he does pick a piece of pork up, tucking it into his mouth (sloppily) afterwards. he chews thoughtfully]

It's so tender. . . it practically melts in your mouth.

[aspirings]

[Tsukasa looks amused at that.]

You sound like a culinary aficionado when you talk like that.

[willandaway]

Oh, not me. But I suppose I've picked up a few things from Hulkenberg.

[picking up another piece of pork. . . and offering it to Tsukasa]

[aspirings]

[... from his chopsticks... Will.........

Tsukasa just blinks at him.




...... Will........]

Er... please, feel free. I'll--ah, I'll be fine.

[willandaway]

[what??? feels weird to eat alone!!!]

If you're sure.

[he isn't offended at all by the refusal, though. he'll gladly eat this entire bowl by himself; he was just being polite!]

[anyway]

[it does take him a while, but eventually he polishes off the ramen! hooray he did it]