Side story 1 - A normal day in Mako's life?

[Anastasia]

> Mmm...Dreams of vaguely remembered things and happy days fade as the incessant blair of the alarm sounds in your ears. Mmmm...school day. Homework. Breakfast. Class. These things pucker into Makoto's mind as she wakens, a stretching relieving the stiffness in her limbs.
<Makoto> "Mrrr..." Makoto groans sleepily as she arches and reaches for the sky, trying to force increased blood flow to her brain. "Want more sleep..." she whimpers softly to herself. "Damn clock..."
> Indeed, it rings with a spiteful vengence - it kicks on the radio station, bad pop music piped in LOUDLY to your room to accent your waking up.
<Makoto> "Gyah!" Makoto flinches at the loud noise, and without thinking, hurls a pillow at the offending object, HARD.
> It sends it moving a bit across the desk - yet like an enraged God of Vengence, it refuses to turn off. Your pillow does muffle the sound somewhat, however.
<Makoto> "Merfle..." Makoto mutters unintelligibly, and clambers out of bed, grabbing the clock and yanking on the cord, too out of sorts yet to attempt anything more precise to silence the noise.
> Now THAT works, thankfully. Not getting a battery powered clock seems more and more intelligent every time you do that - pity about having to reset it.
<Makoto> Rubbing her eyes and staggering off to the bathroom, in the blessed silence of her apartment, Makoto calms a little, sluggishly beginning her morning routine.
> After the warmth of hot water, the scalding of burning mouthwash, and the refreshment of deoderant, Makoto is somewhat more alert as she staggers into the living room. As you head you, you find your breakfast and lunch are fine in the refrigerator, premade. Probably a good day for that. Also, there is a message on your answering machine.
* Makoto hits the 'play' button on the answering machine as she uses an elastic to bind her hair up in the ponytail she favors. *Who would call so early...or late? I didn't hear the phone at all...*
> "Mako!" Yohko's voice sounds from the machine. It's snotty and congested, a sneeze breaking in before she can speak again. "Achoo! *Sniffle* Hey...I think I have a cold...so could you come to the bakery right after school today? I need someone to cover the afternoon. Call me back when you get this, ok-*Cough cough*."
<Makoto> Makoto winces. "You 'think'?" she murmurs dryly. "Ew..." shaking her head, Makoto consults the list beside her phone for Yohko's home phone number, and dials it.
> It rings three times before a vaguely familiar voice picks up. It's Yohko's mom or grandmother or aunt or something like that, the dusty recesses of your mind inform you. "Hello, Yamato residence."
<Makoto> "Hello." Makoto replies politely. "Um, this is Makoto Kino. Is Yohko-ch, er, -san, awake?"
> "No, she's not. She has a terrible flu bug," is the reply. "Can I help you, Ms. Kino?" She must not remember you or your name, but that probably makes two of you.
<Makoto> "Oh, I'm sorry." Makoto winces again. "I work part time for her, and she gave me a message to call her back as soon as I could." she explains, trying to wake herself up enough to remember is she has anything she has to do after school.
> "Ooooooh," she says, softening a little. "Yes, she wanted me to ask anyone whom called about that to please come in. She won't be working for a few days."
> Mako - You don't remember anything in particlar at school, of course. Sadly.
* Panda{away] is now known as Thepanda
<Makoto> Makoto nods, not missing a beat. School would take care of itself, somehow. Helping out Yohko-chan came first. "I'll be there right after school." she promises cheerfully. "No problem."
> "Alright," she nods. "I'll tell her when she wakes up."
<Makoto> "I'll try and come see her tomorrow, if I can." Makoto promises impulsively. "Thanks!"
> With that, the phone call ends, and your afternoon is booked solid. Yay...? Though, a glance at the time shows that the school hour is approaching with disturbing speed.
<Makoto> "Swell." Makoto sighs, and heads to the kitchen again to indulge in a light breakfast. No time for more, it seems.
> After finishing it, you find you need to leave pretty much THEN to get to class on time. Doing so, you head out into the world. The walk to school is nice enough - it's not as warm as the past two days, but you don't need a coat, either. It's cloudy, but not even that can ruin your mood...as you walk, you idly catch sight of a green haired girl taller than you walking down the street - a rarity indeed, seen for a second before she turns the corner and out of your life.
> turns the corner and out of your life.
<Makoto> Makoto watches the green haired girl discreetly, embarrassed but feeling entitled to gawk a little. *Wow...deja vu?* Shaking it off, Makoto heads to school, feeling oddly wistful at the brief encounter.
> Arriving at school, your timing is perfect. The moment you sit in your desk, the starting bell rings. Class begins - and in a lucky break, your first teacher doesn't show up at first. Conversation takes over the class, only a few studying the work. IN fact...the gaggle of girls behind you are having quite the conversation about...is it a new TV show? (More)
> "And then this huge guy appeared out of nowhere...it was incredible..." one of the girls goes on. "I never saw anything like it!"
<Makoto> Makoto listens with half an ear, taking out a notebook and beginning to doodle aimlessly. *After all, attention from the tomboy is likely to stop the conversation cold.* she thinks, somewhat self-pitying, before devoting her efforts to eavesdropping. *I wonder what channel this is on?*
> "No way...are you sure they weren't filming a TV show or something," another girl asks, to which the first one denies. "No, it was all real. And then...there was this totally cute guy there in a tuxedo..."
* Makoto stiffens, just slightly, as she hears that, but forces herself not to turn around. By now, her ears are straining to pick up every detail.
> "And he threw roses, too...it was sooo romantic! I think he was helping his girlfriend there or something," she speculates. "Afterwards, she was with him before he left..."
<Makoto> Makoto slumps a little. *Figures. Still, I wonder what they're talking about?*
> Just as she goes on again, the first session teacher comes on. My, he's a wreck today - looks like he just got out of bed. "Attention," he calls, as class begins...
* Thepanda is now known as Panda[away]
<Makoto> *Dammit. It was getting good. Oh well...another day...* Makoto sighs and does what passes for concentrating...at least for her as they day begins...
> School begins - it's a pretty typical day until the last class before lunch break. Math, and the teacher comes to you while the class is doing problems she put on the board. "Miss Kino," he asks, slender face peering down at you. "Could you see me after class?"
<Makoto> "Umu...After school?" Makoto clarifies nervously. *What's the policy on part time jobs again?*.
> "No, after this period," he clarifies. "Before you go to lunch."
* Usagi (WinNT@user-4501.l6.c1.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Quit: bedtime -=SysReset 2.53=-)
<Makoto> "Oh! Sure." Makoto agrees readily, relieved. *What am I so happy for? This is going to be about my grades again, I just know it.*
> He nods, going off and leaving you to your classwork. The end of the period comes around quickly enough, the teacher staying in the desk for you, as if waiting at the front of the class for your presence.
* Makoto sighs a little and heads for the teachers desk. *Let's hope for relatively painless...*
> His hands are folded together at the desk, as he eyes you the entire time you walk up. "Ah, Miss Kino," he nods. "I graded your last quiz this morning," he begins thoughtfully, as carefully as a man solving a multi part calculus equasion would be.
<Makoto> "...Oh." Is all Makoto says, with sigh and a bowed head, giving of a clear aura of 'I knew it'.
> "Yes...your grade was not encouraging," he goes on. "It's not quite a failing grade, but it shows a fundamental struggle with the material, a trend you have shown this semester."
<Makoto> Makoto nods, sighing a little. *Get to something I -don't- know...*
> "While you currently have a passing grade, I'm worried that you may not be able to pass the class at this rate. Miss Kino...do you feel you are struggling," he asks outright, pushing up his wireframe glasses with a single finger.
<Makoto> "It's not-I...I mean..." Makoto stammers, feeling put on the spot, despite the relatively good news so far. "I, Um, maybe. A little." she sighs grudgingly.
> He nods. "I believe you could use some extra tutoring," he goes on. "I think you can certainly pass the class with a little extra work. I'd hate to see you in the same class next year, Miss Kino."
<Makoto> *Gee, thanks* "If...you say so, sir." Makoto agrees with a sigh.
> "I do," he confirms. "The math department has a twice weekly tutoring program that's picking up steam, and I think you'd benefit from some time in there."
* Makoto hedges. "My schedule is kinda hit and miss, sensei." she tries. "The last time a teacher tried to pair me with a tutor, we were never available at the same time."
> "I'm sure we'll manage something. I really think the extra help would do your grades a lot of good," he insists. "If need be, I'll find someone whom can fit your own schedule."
<Makoto> Makoto tries to find a loophole in that, and slumps a little as she fails utterly. "I...understand." she agrees reluctantly.
> He nods. "Can you make it afterschool the day after tomorrow," he asks. "If you can, we can sort this all out there."
<Makoto> "I'll try." Makoto promises slowly. "A friend of mine is sick, and she needs a little help, but I'll ask her if she can make it without me tomorrow." she replies vaguely enough to not implicate herself.
> He nods. "Good. If you can't make it, we'll work something out the next day," he nods. Rising, "Go on, now," he nods, picking up his books.
<Makoto> Heaving another sigh, Makoto turns and goes back to her desk to retrieve her bento, and begin her lunch. *Just great...*
> OOC - BRB.
> Lunch goes, as does the rest of the day. Classes end without incident, and your trip to the bakery is a pleasant one. On arriving, you find the morning relief handling things, and you easily slip into the role of shop helper/cooker...
<Makoto> Makoto hums to herself as she works, making up the dough for the next batch of cookies, cheerfully secure in one of the few things she's good at.
> An hour of this passes, when, "Excuse me," a man asks, coming up to the front counter. He's a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, blue hair short and wild. Those eyes....just like...."How much are the chocolate chunk cookies," he asks, hands in the pockets of his Juuban High uniform.
* Ami-chan is now known as Merc-zzz
<Makoto> Makoto blinks, startled still for a moment as she stares-er, tries -not- to stare. *He's just...Sempai...* Heat rushes to her cheeks and she suddenly wonders inanely about how her hair looks. The slightly uncomfortable silence jars her out of her stupor, though. "Ah! Sorry...Chocolate chunk cookies are 100 yen each, and a dozen for 1000 yen!" she manages, smiling with as much cuteness as she can muster.
> HE nods, keeping his eyes on them. "I'll take four," he nods, rustling a moment in his pockets and coming out with a few shiny yen coins.
<Makoto> "Okay!" Makoto quickly packs up five and slips them into a little paper bag, hoping the little extra will at least make him remember her. Ringing them up on the cash register, she hands the bag to the boy...*The same eyes...and his hair is messy, but kinda cute...and he's -tall- almost as tall as me*
> He nods, handing the four coins over as he takes the bag. "Thanks," he waves absently...oh my. His pants are slightly tight in the back, and...oh my. He's quite a looker...that may even be better than your old sempai's.
<Makoto> Makoto's cheeks get even redder, and she nods a little dazedly, struggling not to gawk. *Mmm....* "You're...Have a nice day!" she replied cheerfully, mangling the customer service line.
> He waves absently, as he takes a cookie out and munches it...then he's gone, out back to his life and away from you. Sigh.
* Makoto stares at the door he left rather dazedly, a huge, wistful smile on her face. "Oh, wow..."
> AS you stare and daydream, you barely notice another person enter - a woman in full french chef's garb, down to th ehat. Her ruddy brown hair is tied tightly back, only a few wisps of it poking out. "Excuse me," she asks, in a tone that indicates this may not be the first time she asked it.
<Makoto> "uh...hah?" Makoto blink-blinks, beginning to blush for an entirely different reason. "I'm sorry." she replies instantly, and earnestly. "How can I help you?"
> "Yes, I'm looking for the owner of this bakery," she says, casting a glance at your glass covered goods about.
<Makoto> "She's out sick today." Makoto replies promptly. "I can help you, if you like." *Hmm...I wonder if we'll get a big order...*
> She pauses a moment, thoughtful...OOC - Soul check, Mako.
<Makoto> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 11."
> "No..." she finally decides. "I'll come back later," is the reply. With that, she simply turns and goes out.
<Makoto> Makoto blinks at the sudden departure. "Um, Have a nice day?" she calls, as per expectations. *Weird...*
> From here, the day winds on. The bakery closes around sundown, which is just as well. The last half hour is pretty much dead, and you end up munching the leftovers of the day, anyway.
* Panda[away] is now known as Napping_Panda
<Makoto> Makoto nibbles on the remains of a cake, sighing and yawning a little, but smiling. "Good day, all in all...here, at least."
> Once finished, you clean up and head home. Walking home is a good idea, considering the cake you ate. On arriving home...yep, just another day in your life. Right?
<Makoto> Makoto shakes her head. It's a nice life...really lonely, but there's nothing for it, really. Someday, it'll get better.
> As you settle down for the night, you find something nagging at the back of your mind - that woman, what DID she want?
<Makoto> "Why come in and stare at me, then leave?" Makoto wonders as she tosses a bit in bed. "Because I'm a kid? How could she know? No one ever guesses my age at less than 16, unless they know me..."
> Sleep claims you soon enough - yet...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! Like a moment's past, you wake up in a sweaty, mucky terror, breath jagged and heart pounding. The faintest images are in your mind, of something...you don't know what, but the terror of the nightmare remains strong.
* Makoto sits bolt upright in bed, looking around wildly, panicked, but oddly used to this routine. Nightmares again...
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> The images are too muddied to really sort, but they you have the impression that it's different tonight. You don't know how, but the very s haking in your body feels different - it makes you lonely, the shadows of the room intimadating. You want to be held, not to be alone, to...
<Makoto> Makoto shudders, and curls up into the fetal position under her covers, missing her long dead parents more than ever. She squeezes her eyes shut. "Mommy...please come back..." she whimpers softly.
> Slowly the night passes, the terrors gone...for now, sleep coming. Yet, even in your dreams, you can almost see what terrifies you. That face...why...?