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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 29, 2009 10:48:31 GMT -5
Yukiko stared at the three basins full of clothing that stood before her, their mountanous contents overflowing and spilling out onto the floor in various little additional piles. There had to be at least four or five hours of laundry here, mocking her in the large laundry room of the Amagi Inn. At least it was sort of nice out, so all the windows around her were open.
"I was supposed to go Junes with Chie and everybody," she said quietly to the space her mother had occupied a few moments before. But the busy manager had already disappeared into the recesses of the inn, leaving Yukiko with her new and unwanted task.
For a moment she just considered leaving. She'd get in trouble for it later, but she really didn't want to do this. Except that would probably just mean even more chores later on.
So with a sigh she peeled off her red sweater and set it on a nearby chair, pulling her cell phone from the pocket. She called Chie, but got a busy signal, so she tabbed down to the next number on her list...Souji.
When he picked up, she couldn't hide the irritation in her voice. "Hey Souji-kun, I...I can't come to Junes, I have to do laundry." She paused, and the fact that she was staring at the laundry was probably almost audible. "Lots of Laundry. I'm sorry."
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 29, 2009 11:26:59 GMT -5
Souji had been, and still was, very much alone when the call came in. He sat at their usual table at Junes while the unoccupied chairs stared at him along with a few other Junes patrons, all of them probably wondering what a high schooler was doing at the largest table in the food court by himself. All except the chairs, of course, but who knew? There was a TV World, after all. Maybe there was a way to get sucked down through the seat of a chair. Souji happened to find the idea amusing, laughing aloud before promptly ducking his head from embarrassment. The expressions of the people staring changed from 'what's that weird kid doing all by himself?' to 'what's that creepy kid laughing about all by himself?'
The phone call was a blessing.
"Hello?" He could hear Yukiko's voice on the other line, clipped and bristled as she dispensed her news. Souji promptly sighed.
"Jeez, you too? I don't think you're going to be missing much. I'm the only one here." Indeed, Yosuke had been swept up by a hundred-customer pile up in housewares (his Dad was implementing something called the Sunday Super Sale -- needless to say, the place was packed). Chie hadn't bothered to call, texting him that Tanaka was offering a mint condition, special edition, full collection of kung fu titles as an added bonus for being the hundredth caller to buy...steak knives, or something. Kanji simply hadn't shown.
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 29, 2009 11:33:29 GMT -5
Yukiko was a bit started by that...she'd figured everyone would show up, and she'd be missing a wonderful afternoon, and Chie would end up describing it all to her.
She was actually kind of looking forward to that last bit. Oh well...
"Well, I am sorry I couldn't come, Souji-kun," as she spoke, she tucked the phone under her ear and moved over to the first pile of laundry, pulling a few kimono's out and staring at them before dropping them unceremoniously onto the floor. They made satisfying little wet 'flops' when they smacked into the stones.
And then she paused, her gaze a bit distant, and her voice was a bit softer. "You...could come hang out with me while I do this. I mean, if you wanted. You don't have to!" The last few words rushed out in a wave, and she almost giggled at her own nervousness. It wasn't that she had any intentions towards Souji...she just didn't really have friends who weren't Chie over, ever.
And she figured no one ever wanted to, really. So she braced for his no, and continue pulling clothing from the vat.
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 29, 2009 11:58:45 GMT -5
A sincere, 'No, don't be sorry, it's alright' was on the tip of his tongue when Yukiko interrupted him with a flurry of quick, nervous sentences and a flighty giggle. Swallowing his words, brow furrowed in casual bemusement, Souji took a moment to try and translate his friend's tumble of words.
"Hang out with you at the inn?" Souji couldn't say he wasn't intrigued. He'd never seen where Yukiko lived, after all, though he'd heard plenty. He could sense the undercurrent of nerves emanating from his shy classmate and his smile softened slightly, "Yeah, sure. You can put me to work. No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, right?"
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 29, 2009 12:25:16 GMT -5
Yukiko was quite surprised when Souji agreed to come over. She genuinely hadn't been expecting that, and nearly dropped a piece of clothing she was holding, making a grab for it that sent her cell phone dropping into the clothing bin she was standing over.
"Oh...damn it..." She could be heard, her voice distant and muffled and annoyed as she dug the phone out and brought it back to her ear. "Sorry, I dropped my phone." She set the clothing she had caught down as well, turning to start out of the laundry room, to make her way through the long hallways and winding passages that made up the back of the Amagi inn.
"Uhm...You don't have to help me though, I just wouldn't mind some company. It gets really quiet here when I'm stuck doing this stuff. I will meet you out front, okay?"
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 29, 2009 13:34:00 GMT -5
There was a muffled thud, then some...swearing? Huh. Souji waited patiently, feeling more than a little adrift, as if it was him stuck in the tangled vat of laundry while Yukiko grabbed at him in annoyance. Another amusing thought, Souji chuckled, trailing off just as Yukiko put the phone to her ear once again.
"No worries," he smiled, a trace of humor still audible in his voice, "We'll see when I get there. I think the next bus leaves...," he checked his watch, swearing softly under his breath, "Now. Sorry Yukiko, got to run, be there in ten minutes!" He punctuated his rushed sentence with a click as he flipped his phone shut, shoving it into his pocket. Junes wasn't far from the shopping district (something the various shop owners of said district believed to be part of the department store's master plan) but he'd have to run to get there in time.
Zipping up his jacket as he ran, Souji found himself oddly looking forward to meeting up with Yukiko. There was some apprehension as well, he had to admit. They were good friends but he rarely went out with Yukiko alone; Chie was always nearby. It was nice and he loved both their company but the shorter girl was outgoing in a way Yukiko wasn't. More often than not, Souji could go a whole afternoon only saying a few words to Yukiko within their circle of friends. It wasn't that their relationship was strained or difficult; it was just that Yosuke and Chie had big enough mouths to drown out ten men, let alone two somewhat reserved teenagers.
Panting, he made it to the bus stop just as the white and blue vehicle pulled up alongside the bench. Paying his fare with a gasped, 'Thank you', Souji took his seat and allowed himself to catch his breath while making his way for the Amagi Inn.
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 29, 2009 15:09:56 GMT -5
Yukiko closed her own cell phone with a click after Souji hung up, letting it hang loosely by its wrist cord from her left hand as she continued her journey from the back recesses of the inn to the front steps. She didn't like having the cord on the phone, but the fact that she dropped it at least once or twice a week meant it was probably a good idea.
She had ten minutes, and a little voice told her she probably should've gone back and spent some more time with the laundry, but there wasn't a single part of her that actually wantedto do that. So she just headed out to the front steps of the inn and sat down on a small wooden bench there, smoothing her black skirt out as she waited. There was a faint chill in the air, as she realized she left her sweater back inside, but she ignored it, just closing her eyes as she waited for Souji.
There was a bus stop about a hundred yards from the ancient inn. One of the benefits of being a 'central part of tourism in the community' was a bus stop. And endless hours of laundry.
...Okay, that wasn't really a benefit...
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 30, 2009 0:22:36 GMT -5
The bus ride was short and quiet, which was a relief for Souji. It gave him time to think. Not that he had anything particularly earth shattering to think about but it was nice to be alone with one's thoughts every so often. He always got the impression that Yukiko felt that way too...but then again, she had invited him over to keep her company. Perhaps there was a lot about Yukiko he just didn't understand.
As the bus wheezed to a stop, he kept an eye out for the flash of red he'd come to expect where his friend was concerned. Seeing nothing, he got off the bus and glanced around, with one hand hovering over the phone in his pocket. Could she have been called away for some Inn Business somewhere, or...
There she was.
The sight of his friend leaning on the front steps prompted him to remove his hand from his pocket and lift it over his head in greeting. Trotting casually over to her side, he smiled and gave her a nod, "Hey, Yukiko-san. Hope you weren't waiting out here too long." He finally noticed the sweater, or lack thereof, "Aren't you cold?"
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 30, 2009 0:29:18 GMT -5
When the bus arrived, it took Yukiko several moments to actually realize it, her mind having wandered off as it did sometimes. It took a second motion, Souji lifting an arm to wave to her, that actually pulled her attention out of her revery, and she stood quickly, offering him a smile.
"Oh, no, not that long," she shook her head, some of her hair scattering around her face a bit, her arms remaining curled around her stomach. "It takes a while to walk through the building from the wash area."
"Oh, uh...yeah, I am kind of cold but I left my sweater inside." She shrugged a bit. "I didn't realize it till I was already out here. But it's not so bad inside. Oh! Come on in." She would turn and head up the steps and into the front of the building, holding the door for Souji, a habit from when she was 'officially' working.
"We have to walk through some of the back parts of the Inn, I'm afraid. It's...they aren't much to look at, stone tunnels and storage rooms and stuff. I hope that's alright..." She said as she moved past him once they were inside, heading back into the tunnels that would lead all the way back to where she abandoned the clothing before.
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 30, 2009 10:38:18 GMT -5
Souji nodded, a relieved smile spreading across his face as he dropped his hand to his side, "Good. I was worried the bus might've been slow getting here or something. I wasn't really paying attention." He laughed airily at the admission, shrugging as he put his hands in his pockets to keep himself from gesturing embarrassingly. He tended to do that when he got a little anxious. Yukiko's presence usually was a relaxing one, but the Inn itself was large, looming, and intimidating, despite the beautiful decor. Part of him understood how Yukiko could feel trapped here from time to time.
"Oh, right, of course," he nodded, jogging up the steps after her, though her chivalrous act made him feel a little awkward. He knew it was probably an unconscious gesture but he paused all the same before stepping into the main lobby. It was beautiful, with traditional decoration reaching high up into the rafters. As he heard Yukiko explain where they'd be going, he had a hard time imagining any part of this place could be all that plain. Maybe that was a misconception a lot of people had.
"Don't worry, I think I've gotten enough eye candy to last me all day," he grinned with an easy shrug, giving the lobby another once over before following after her, "Can't believe this place really belongs to your family."
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 30, 2009 12:04:13 GMT -5
For a moment, Yukiko's rather random temper towards 'things that could be taken as sexual out of context' flared at Souji's eye-candy comment, and her fingers twitched twice before the rational point of her brain so helpfully suggested that maybe he meant the inn.
"Oh!" She seemed startled, and then she smiled faintly. "Yeah, the outside of the inn is very pretty, isn't it? We had it renovated uhm...three years ago, maybe? Or four."
She led him through the big, spacious, fancy lobby and through a door that was concealed in one of the walls, stepping into the first of many identical stone passageways. They looked as though they had been there since the inn had been built, but every decade or so someone came through and redid the mortar, which was still white and hadn't reached that flaky-crumbly stage that meant the wall might come down. They occasionally had to slip past shelving and armiors piled high with random inn supplies.
"Sometimes even I'm surprised we own it, honestly," she said softly as they walked, her voice echoing off the walls. "It's just so...big." She trailed off, her voice obviously amused. "People try to buy it from us every few months, big corporations and everything, but my mother never even listens to them. She wants this place to be the Amagi Inn forever.
She stopped at a cross-passage, and there could suddenly be voices heard coming down one of the tunnels. "Hey, hide!" She said to Souji, and promptly pushed him into one of the closets just behind them, leaving the door only open a crack.
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 30, 2009 14:38:54 GMT -5
"Hm," Souji murmured absently, just to show he was listening as he walked by her side and took in the rest of the visuals the inn had to offer. Maids and customers alike were in yukata, making him feel very out of place in his modern ensemble. At least he and Yukiko both were wearing dark, inconspicuous colors. The thought of Yosuke and Chie here with them decked out in their 'Look At Me!' wardrobes made him feel a degree of relief on behalf of the inn.
Compared to the lobby, the passage were underwhelming. Still, the heaps of eclectic furnishings and carts of cleaning supplies that looked strong enough to strip skin off the bone held their own brand of interest. Souji was running his hand along the dusty surface of an old wooden chest when Yukiko spoke, prompting him to jerk his hand away in an almost guilty fashion. Everything here seemed so old and untouchable, like it belonged in a museum. Perhaps it was the poor lighting in this area compared to the brightness of the lobby that gave him that impression.
"Well," Souji paused thoughtfully, stepping over a mop that was leaning into his path, "Maybe she doesn't want the inn to lose what makes it special. I mean, if it becomes part of a chain, why come?"
Yukiko suddenly came to a stop beside him and Souji slowed as well, the thought that he might have said something to offend her briefly crossing his mind. Walking back over to her, ready to apologize, he was surprised to find Yukiko moving toward him quickly saying something about...hiding? His eyes widened slightly as her hands pressed against him, shoving and pushing as he was forced towards an open supply closet.
"Yukiko-!" The door closed abruptly, with only a small sliver of dim light making a dent in the darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could make out the hazy outlines of bleach and buckets. Of course, it had to be a chemical closet. It couldn't possibly be a nice, soft, linen closet -- no, never. It felt small and somewhat cramped, but Souji couldn't tell if that was due to the size or the sheer magnitude of bottles and cans piled within it. He just hoped Yukiko let him out soon -- hopefully with a reason for why he had been shoved into a closet, of all things.
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 30, 2009 15:43:14 GMT -5
If Yukiko had any opinion on whether or not the inn would lose it's charm if it turned into a chain, she didn't have time to express it before she was stuffing her friend into the closet.
Which was ironic in ways she didn't really understand...
"Oh, Yuki-chan," the voice was young and female, and belonged to one of several of the inn's live-in staff, as she and two of the others came around the corner mere moments after she had closed the door on poor Souji. "Your mother said you were taking care of all that laundry, what are you doing out here?"
"Oh, Etsu-chan...yes, everything is fine, I was just uhm...going to the bathroom. I'm going back to work on the laundry now..." Yukiko trailed off, offering the group of women a weak sort of smile that she hoped they believed.
"Okay, you'd better hurry though, we need those kimono's for that guest group that's supposed to come tomorrow," there was a dismissive tone in the woman's voice. "Here, we were bringing this bunch to you too." The third woman set down a medium sized basket of clothing she'd been carrying, and Yukiko barely managed to resist sighing at it.
"Okay...I'll add it to the rest," she offered, and then the three woman were walking off the way they had been headed before. After a few moments, Yukiko pulled the door open enough to peer in at Souji.
"Sorry, sorry, come on out. I...uhm..." She backed away, letting the door swing open, her hands clasping behind her back. "I'm not really supposed to have other people back here." She explained.
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Post by Souji Seta on Apr 30, 2009 16:49:59 GMT -5
Souji adjusted himself uncomfortably in the confines of his temporary prison. Something was pressing into his backside unpleasantly while his shoes kept getting stuck in...some sort of sticky substance on the floor. He shifted again at the sound of voices outside, moving a little closer to the door (with an cringe-inducing 'scklit' as his he pulled his shoe away from the tacky substance). The combination of stone and thick wood made the voices come through garbled and hard to hear, almost as if they were underwater.
Yuki-chan...laundry...bathroom...kimonos..., Souji couldn't determine who was speaking; both voices were soft and sounded as if they'd be hard to hear even without the obstructions in his way. He did know that he wanted whoever it was to leave. The smell of bleach was starting to get to him. Thankfully, their conversation was brief and the sudden silence made him hopeful for his freedom.
Sure enough, the door opened to reveal a timid looking Yukiko and a fresh basket of soiled laundry.
"It's alright," Souji assured rather dazedly as he came out of the closet, still not entirely sure what had happened, "I don't want you to get in trouble or anything. But, uh..." He smiled a bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, "Do people come by often? I just want to know so I can prepare for it if you're going to be pushing me into any more places."
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Apr 30, 2009 17:03:17 GMT -5
She grinned weakly at Souji as he readjusted to being out of the closet, and then frowned for a second and she looked inside. "Oh I'm sorry! I thought it was a linen closet..." She laughed nervously, obviously a bit embarressed by all this.
"Uhm, no, we won't see a lot of people really. I can sometimes go for hours back here without running into anyone at all. Plus if people know Laundry needs to be done they tend to...well, not be around." That had been her plan, after all!
As Yukiko talked she moved over to the Laundry basket that the woman had left behind, getting a grip on it and hauling it into the air with a little grunt of exertion, wobbling backwards half a step before she steadied herself, holding the basket in front of her face.
"Alright, it's this way..." She said, her voice slightly muffled by the basket as she started down one of the halls, despite it seeming like she probably couldn't see around her burden.
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Post by Souji Seta on May 12, 2009 11:48:40 GMT -5
"That's a relief -- I'd hate to know what might happen if there weren't any closets around next time. Some of these ceder chests look a bit cramped," Souji smiled, a note of teasing in his voice. The shock of being shoved into the closet had worn off, finally, and Souji felt his bearings slide back into place. Just in time to see Yukiko lift a basket of laundry that looked like it weighed as much as she did.
"H-hey, let me help with that," Souji offered, striding up alongside her as his chivalrous side demanded, "It looks like it weighs a ton."
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on May 13, 2009 20:45:11 GMT -5
"I'm pretty sure I could fit you into one of those chests if I really had to," Yukiko joked back, offering the other a bit of a grin. "It might take me a few tries, and I'd probably have to sit on you, but it would work."
She continued leading him through the tunnels, seemingly knowing where she was going without being able to see. She'd walked these hallways probably millions of times, she could navigate them in her sleep if she really had to.
When he offered to take the basket she shook her head. "I've got it. We're almost there..." And indeed, a moment later she led him into the large, ventilated washing room. There were several bins in the middle, and a few washing machines on hte side, and a giant tub for things that had to be hand washed.
Yukiko set the tub down with a grunt, and then turned and moved to close the door they had come through. "Uhm...Here we are." She said, suddenly oddly nervous, her hands disappearing behind her back.
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Post by Souji Seta on May 18, 2009 20:58:27 GMT -5
Souji laughed, but it was edged with a touch of nervousness. He really didn't put it past her, to be honest. Yukiko was full of surprises and, if the force behind her earlier shove had been any indicator, disturbingly strong.
Not to mention kind of...frightening. In a mild way, of course.
"Ha, yeah, well...," he didn't finish the thought, following after her as she walked with confidence down the passages. Upon the rebuff of his offer, he slid his hands into his pockets and regarded her thoughtfully. This was certainly turning into an eye opening peak into how Yukiko ticked. Funny how it was the exact opposite for his other friends.
Maybe it's because she lives with this 24/7, he wondered idly before being struck dumb by the sheer amount of bins laying in wait.
"You have to do all this on your own?" he asked, sifting through the nearest one as if to try and estimate how much clothing it contained.
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Post by Yukiko Amagi on Jun 6, 2009 10:59:31 GMT -5
"Yes," she admitted when Souji asked if she had to do this all herself. "Normally there are several people that do it but we are having some...staffing issues today, and I have-" She trailed off, staring at the various bins of laundry.
Yukiko considered the containers before her and Souji carefully, her eyes slightly narrowed. "While I was waiting for you, they added another." She finally stated, with a faint edge in her voice that indicated someone, somewhere, was going to pay for that. Eventually.
"Here, you can just sit down wherever," she waved her hand vaguely at a row of cabinets that were just the right height to double as a bench. And then she moved over to the first bin and began pulling clothing out and dropping it on the floor in various piles.
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