crosswise | FOR AIBOU | got a good feeling.

[ Takane has since mastered the art of purchasing tickets (after being accompanied by the twins no less than three times), and she's fairly familiar with the ramen places in the area. This particular one wasn't large enough to warrant her filming as part of her 'exploration', but the food is more than worthy of her appreciation.

She's not quite as... well, that easily missed, in a long skirt and an elegant blouse and that hair, which is enough to mark her as an anomaly if her idol status did not. And her entrance is as calm as her appearance, a quietly confident greeting to the owner and a smooth stride to the counter to order what is probably the largest thing on the menu.

Surprisingly, she hasn't noticed the vaguely-familiar-and-yet-not presence already there. It's been a long day. ]

[ masamune's got a bit of a sense for when new entrances are individuals who may catch his attention. this is why his turn of the head to the familiar girl whose looks are in many ways unfamiliar to her surroundings is not met with surprise.

he looks at her for a little while longer before he turns back to his food, pushing noodles with chopsticks with a kind of cocky grin on his face.

she had good taste, that one. ]

Huh, not even a hello? [ very casually; a tease. ] And here I thought my first impression was strong enough for that.

[ she won't admit it, that the lightly rough voice catches her by surprise, and she certainly doesn't look it when she turns her head to look at him directly.

... It almost aches, how much she knows that face, the wide smirk, the lone eye bright beneath shaggy brown hair, and yet she knows she doesn't know him. Not beyond that brief instant, when he'd grinned up at her, dangling from the float, and she'd nodded her acknowledgment, throat dry.

For now, Takane's smile is a polite one with the slightest trace of challenge accepted. ]

To interrupt in the middle of a well-enjoyed meal would be considerably rude. [ the smallest of pauses, and on a breath-- ] Date Masamune.

[ he had never thought she'd actually forgotten him. call it a bit confident, a bit arrogant, but masamune always assumed he made some kind of impact, and scaling a float was admittedly one of his... more "impressive" actions. needless to say, he is not surprised to hear his name and not surprised to hear and see a bit of a push underneath the formality of takane's tone.

masamune wasn't one to follow idols; while he could acknowledge some, there were barely any that managed to get anything more than a turn of the head on his part. there was something about this one, though, that strikes a chord.

and it wasn't the dragon float. ]

Don't think that adds a bit more flavour to the food... [ a mirroring of her pause for dramatics. ] ... Shijou Takane?

Pleasant company can sweeten even water. [ and amusement colors her tone further. Circumstances notwithstanding, Takane's opportunities for banter are as few and far as the stars in daylight. ] However, I would advise against confusing company with an interruption.

And this is company.

[ he says, smoothly, as he takes the last of the noodles in his chopsticks and promptly downs them. it's not an elegant way to eat--that's certain, for masamune is not elegant--but it is as purposeful and direct as eating gets without being rude.

it's obvious he's finished, as he places two chopsticks on top of the bowl. ]

Nice words though, Shijou.

[ she receives her bowl at the same time as he finishes, delicately settling herself onto a stool. The bowl itself is stacked impossibly high, but she doesn't seem daunted by its appearance, only parting her chopsticks with a decisive snap. It's calming, the familiar fragrance, and her gaze softens in response. ]

Your own are also fitting to lighten the spirit, Date Masamune.

[ there's a moment of interest here where he wonders if she can actually finish that, but there's something about the way she goes through every action like a habit that makes him think that that particular action isn't very difficult.

his eye turns back to his own empty bowl with a chuckle. ]

Might be an interruption pretty soon.

Oh?

[ methodically and yet very happily working on lowering the amount in her bowl, she pauses to look at him in a manner that could only be described as quizzical. Clearly, she isn't bothered. ]

[ ... well, that certainly was going down at a steadier rate than he thought it would. he shakes his head to deter the thinking from before, as he begins to understand her a little better now. ]

Just wondering if you'd be able to outeat me.

Merely pondering will garner you no satisfactory answer.

[ this raised eyebrow means exactly what it looks like. ]

[ wooooah shijou, nice one. guess who's going to order up another bowl of ramen with a smirk just for that.

he's easy to fall to a challenge, obviously. ]

Let's see how this goes, then.

[ perhaps it's not very idol-like to straighten up, eyes gleaming in preparation for battle and expression oddly intent. Because while she's not as quick to succumb to competition in things like sports, when food is involved, she becomes a different person entirely.

But at least she's waiting for his bowl to get here before she eats any more. ]

Do you wish for stakes or do you simply aim to demonstrate your prowess?

[ it's bad manners, maybe, especially in the face of a lady but… of course, this is masamune, so he's putting one elbow on the counter and leaning his chin against his palm in interest and (I'm)patience.

this was going to be good. ]

Pride's a good enough stake, ain't it? [ a feral look. ] Unless you'd like to play for something more, Shijou Takane?

There is pride to be earned from simply performing an admirable task of what you would ordinarily enjoy.

[ yeah, she'd regret nothing, even if she lost. Her glance is more tranquil than feral, but there's no hesitation whatsoever in her eyes. ] Would you then deem it an adequate risk, Date Masamune?

We'll see if it was a risk at the end of it. OK?

[ throwing down the glove, obviously. the steadfast stance in her eyes is good to see, but something about it that hits him as familiar.

he cooly plays off his glancing away, at least. ]

[ she'd raise an eyebrow, but she's centered on the challenge now. At the same time, familiarity stirs, something more fond (but this isn't him), prompting her response. ]

Then good luck to you.

[ that hits something; there's a bit of an expectation for her to do that, a nostalgia he doesn't quite understand, a feeling he doesn't really know.

it was just english. "just" english.

yet that wasn't the only thing that made it familiar. ]

Leave that to you.

[ he's pretty good at hiding that uncertainty. this is said as the bowl of ramen is put down in front of his place. he grips the side of it with one hand almost immediately, still feeling a little bit confused. he'd just direct his focus to the food in front of him.

he looks at her from the side of his gaze--he's prompting her to begin without speaking, a mental countdown in his head. that felt more appropriate than simply saying it. ]

[ she feels that look before she sees it, the burning impression of a single eye, and perhaps she does it out of familiarity, or perhaps Takane just knows how to read cues, or perhaps it's a different explanation entirely or both combined, but there's a beat, and then she blinks and suddenly the chopsticks are flying in a graceful arc and THE RACE IS ON. ]

[ there's a bit of a smirk as he raises the chopsticks to his lips at the same time she does, and before long masamune is scarfing this down with the ferocity of one thousand dragons. does he care about manners? oh hell no he doesn't, but at least he manages to eat with. well. some humanity.

he does spare a glance or two over to shijou (let's say he's scoping out the competition), but the majority of his time is spent staring into the deep abyss of the ramen bowl.

needless to say, this was not as easy as he thought it would be. ]

[ perhaps if he had engaged her in something like horse racing or an English-off or anything that didn't consist of a.) Something Takane is highly skilled at and b.) her favorite food ever.

Well, maybe he'll learn once he sees just how happily and neatly she's managing to gulp down that ramen like it's the most ladylike thing he will ever see in his lifetime, next to flower arranging and the proper way to sip from a teacup. ]

[ what is this woman this is inhuman. the fact that she'd delivered such organized, divine vengeance to that unlucky bowl of ramen is the only thing that makes the fact that he's being beat a little easier. in fact, that's really the only thing he notes during his entire ramen crusade.

and that's going on right down to his finished bowl... done a short time after takane's, of course.

there's a whistle. ]

Wonder what Kojuro'd say about a speed like that. [ maybe if he showed him takane, he'd stop hounding him about how fast he eats... ] Sure you don't practice these kinds of things, Shijou?

[ she actually looks puzzled, eyes lifting from the empty bowl (no, staring at it wouldn't magically replenish it) to his face. It certainly isn't the first time someone's commented on her eating habits, but the question? That's new. ]

I merely enjoy repast, and seek to savor the taste as quickly as possible. Would you find that strange?

Most'd say savor it slowly. [ most would say a lot of things both takane and masamune don't, he figures, and most would avoid what they'd say. he doesn't mind it.

he also doesn't know why he gets that from just an eating habit. he really doesn't. ]

Not bad!

[ she dips her head in a polite bow of acknowledgment, smile playing at her lips. One can savor at any speed, she figures. That's the way it's always been. ]

You were a worthy adversary, Date Masamune.

[ really. there's a scoff, almost--a playful one, but a scoff nonetheless. ]

Usually I'm the one to say that. [ to the loser, that is. though it's not exactly the same really; he's a little less respectful, a little more cocky, but the sentiment is there. ] Not often I lose.

Our paths have not often crossed.

[ yep. She went there. Takane takes pride in her food victories. ]

[ .... oh lol come on shijou. that there's a challenge. ]

Hah! Once, Shijou. They'll cross again. [ and he's sure of that, somehow--even if he didn't aim to seek her out ( which he admittedly thought about, sometimes ), even then. ] I'll outeat you then.

One should not assume victory before a second encounter. I would be pleased to face you in battle once more, however. Regardless of the outcome.

[ oh look, she likes you. ]

[ … ]

The fight might just be enough.

[ ... he does too. :T ]

Your sense of satisfaction appears to lie within the challenge, then.

[ like she can talk. ]

That's half of it. [ look, straightforward comments! he pauses as he mulls something over, and then finally responds with: ] A challenge isn't much without a good person to give it.

[ ... oh. Was that a compliment?

She lowers her head to ponder it, a smile playing at her lips. ]

There is a strength of will to be admired about you. To spur an exact response from your opponent is a talent.

[ . . . ]

You're laying it on thick there.

[ feeding his ego. ]

I do not offer hollow words.

Heh. You don't offer hollow anything; that's what it seems like.

... You're observant.

[ she's almost surprised. ]

[ . . . . letting that sink in for a moment, and the look he gives her is nothing short of really. he's not offended, though, but. ]

What, that isn't obvious? Come on.

[ she has to chuckle, the smallest shake of her head. ]

Obvious to those who look, perhaps.

Obvious to the ones who are worth the trouble.

[ because if one can't see it, then they sure don't have the observant traits that'd interest him, even a little bit. ]

Would you call this troubling?

Name a guy who doesn't think losing is troubling.

[ not that this is troubling for what it is, essentially--which is perhaps a new thing for him, who rarely gravitated towards seconds or situations for the sake of a person. ]

... I'm unfamiliar with many men, I'm afraid. Would that be considered a masculine trait?

[ Takane, don't take that seriously. ]

FOR AIBOU | got a good feeling.

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