Kasumi - Investigating - A lead discovered
Description: Students at Taiyo are getting roughed up a lot by the other schools lately. One new student is not about to let that go unanswered, however. Caught in an unauthorized act of late night investigating, 'Airi' lets Hitomi in on her plans.
Days at Taiyo High are nearly always a bustle of activity. Students running about, causing trouble or sticking to their curriculum, depending how far they fall toward being paragons or renegades. Bells announcing the changing of the hours, shouts, doors opening, closing, and traffic at the front gates. There are not a lot of quiet moments during the day at the Taiyo High campus.
The evening can be a different story, however. Much of the campus locks down at night unless there is some kind of exciting event going on at the famous Taiyo Dome. Not that students are necessarily kicked off the grounds, but there's really not too many reasons for them to be about once the sun has set unless they are taking advantage of the gym facilities attached to the first floor of the main building, of course.
One section that IS off limits to student kind after nightfall is the administration building, however. Other than teachers staying late to grade papers or other officials catching up on work, there's no particular excuse for anyone to be lurking around the seperate two floor structure where all of Taiyo's administrative needs are managed on a daily basis along with a number other logistics.
Which begs the question why there is a student there, now, crouched outside a single-door side entrance. Away from the central courtyard, the probabilities of foot traffic coming by just by happenchance are not that high. One knee on the ground, hands raised, occupied with fiddling with the lock on the closed door, the individual undoubtedly would rather not be noticed in their noturnal activity, given the way they keep glancing over their shoulder furtively between moments spent twisting and pulling their hands near the lock.
On the other hand, they do not seem to be the best dressed for disappearing into shadows either. Even from a little ways off, the white overalls they have on stand out fairly noticeably. The black and white horizontally striped shirt worn underneath is not exactly the best for being invisible either.
But it might not matter, in the end, as it only takes a little over half a minute to jimmy the lock, carefully open the door before rising up to her feet, and then vanish into the unlit hallway beyond... The door would be left to swing closed on its own as the furtive individual vanishes from sight.
Arms filled with a bulging paper shopping a student still in uniform is wandering the grounds, the bag laden with ingredients, frugally acquired at the market and just now brought back for the Home Ec. class tomorrow. Confused and a little frantic Hitomi looks around for Jira, there's little to be seen or even recognised. The mind plays a lot of tricks on the eyes at night, especially a dark and somewhat deserted looking school building. The Teacher's assistant and chore master had been in sight just a few moments ago but is now lost to the darkness, she was sure to be somewhere nearby. The unfamiliar layout of the campus at night wasn't helping Hitomi get her bearings. Without the students around and pouring in and out of doorways, the surge of life and activity and various sounds of the activities�c the place looked completely different.
Shivering in a wintery gust the girl abruptly turns her head at the noise of a door closing near the administration wing. Hadn't Jira been going to get a key for something? She turns in the direction of the sound and incautiously approaches the door; giving it a gentle push and having it open into a still dark hallway. Pressing with her shoulder she swings the door open wider and slips through careful with the groceries and straining for any sight or sound of the person she had been following.
"Jirrra..-sensei"
The honorific is added as an afterthought and still tastes strange in her mouth. The German girl moves slowly, ploddingly down the corridor, peering in doorways and stopping occasionally to listen for signs of life or activity.
Nothing seems too out of the ordinary as Hitomi ventures into the dark hallway. No loud noises. No sounds of people moving about. No sounds of Jiras. But there is a bit of a rustle down the hall a ways. A door hangs open. Unfamiliar with the campus as she is at this point, she'd probably not know that particular office from any other of the many doors lining the hallway that she is traversing down now.
The only sign of human activity seems to be further down the way, a door hangs open, dim light, pale blue or grey in hue, spills out from the door into the hallway. Only as the curious new student works her way further down the hall would she pick up the sound of movement within that room as well. At first it would not be clear what the sounds were but upon drawing nearer, it would become clear that whoever was in there was quite busy with moving things around.
Only when the newly independent girl calls out for the Teaching Assistant she knw would things seem to change in the slightest. The noises would stop for an instant as if whoever was within was surprised to hear a voice outside. A few seconds without any further sound pass before a shadow appears in the open door, barely visible in the dim light spilling out of the room. Another second passes and a head sticks out, glancing down the hall toward Hitomi. A ponytail dangles from behind the head peeking down at Hitomi but it is impossible to make out any features beyond that with how little light there is to work with...
And then the door where the activity seems to be going on is suddenly closed! Poor Hitomi, left all alone in the dark hall. But what could be going on there anyway?
Focused on the newly noted source of light Hitomi accelerates travelling down the hallway jogging lightly such as to jostles the paper bags contents; absorbedly focused on the light while relieved and smiling, expecting to find Jira at the light source; approaching the office until something distant outside the window catches her attention.
Distantly a woman appears gracefullybut hurriedly half running around in a panic; up and down whilst directing a flashlight beam around, looking and moving as though flustered. Was that Jira out there looking for her? She raises a hand to rap against the window hoping to attract attention but isn't having much success, a somewhat futile gesture despite the loud rapping noise inside the hall.
Uuuuu�c She turns back to the extinguished light, eyes struggling to adjust and notes the what looks like a head peering at her from one of the doorways. Spine stiffening with shock and more than a little worried by the environment she reacts with a small jump and by staring. Was it like one of those Japanese ghost stories where the-
"AH-ah-a woman!?"
She hugs the groceries tighter to her chest but she is clearly looking at the figure, vainly trying to make it out better in the darkness as her eyes acclimatize, a reminder there been a big fuss made earlier because there had been an attack on the school and everything flashes through her mind, mostly because Jira had been adamant she be careful and not get separated, some minutes earlier.
"Sssh!" comes the reply at the loud outcry Hitomi makes.
"We're not even supposed to be in here!"
It seems whoever she's come across is as aware that the new girl is out of place as she is. Either way, the student of karate doesn't seem to be under immediate threat, as the other figure keeps her distance for a moment before finally sighing softly. A moment later a light flicks on behind her, casting some illumination in the hall from the doorway she had peeked out from.
"Come on," she urges, waving her hand. From outside, all that is visible is her silhouette at first, but as she turns to move back into the more brightly lit office, it becomes more apparent that she is likely a student of around Hitomi's own age. That certainly doesn't explain what she's doing in the administration building after dark. Or why she's sneaking around. Or even what school she's from, given her non-descript attire of overalls and shirt.
"Get in here before we get caught." she urges after another second, waiting at the door. It becomes clear what the dim light reaching the hallway was earlier upon closer inspection of the room she's waiving Hitomi toward. It appears to be the security office and the pale light from before was just the glow from the monitors and close circuit cameras surveying certain areas of the campus. For what it's worth, the girl doesn't seem to be angry at the intrustion, or even super anxious, just urgent in trying to get Hitomi to follow her into the small office.
The sigh causes a faint head quirk, the girl is slow to obey, wavering in resolve and plainly confused as to why this was even happening. Reluctantly Hitomi follows the verbal instruction and hand wave, hesitantly but hooked and reeled in -- mostly out of her own curiosity mixed in with the strangely conspiratorial tone the other girl? seems to be using. Hearing the voice helps, thinking it was someone at or near her own age, despite the hushed tone; someone who kind of inferred they were a 'we' and they were also worried about being caught which-
Wait, that wasn't at all reassuring!!
Despite the possibly dastardly intent to this scenario Hitomi hurries into the room and stands in a central location, still holding an armful of bagged lettuce and root vegetables. Now blinking away in the brightly lit room she scans the interior of the room before returning to what the other girl is doing. The contents of the monitors are recognisable but not of much interest to her, whatever could be going on. She's remarkable cooperative and confused thus far, calming down from her shock.
"What is all this?"
The other girl, now more plainly visible in the light of the office, waves her hand over her shoulder, "Close the door," she urges, voice still kept to a whisper. She doesn't turn to look at Hitomi. Instead, her attention seems focused on opening drawers in the desk in the room, rifling through it a little but not the point of disturbing the contents sigificantly, before closing it again.
Only then does she whirl around to look at Hitomi properly. Only slightly shorter, with long strawberry-blonde hair tied off into a ponytail worn high, her copper brown eyes focus on her fellow student thoughtfully before she finally musters a hint of a smile, her left hand folding across her stomach, her right hand resting her elbow in the palm of her hand, her fingers tapping at her chin.
"My name is Airi. I'm a student here. I hope you are as well and not some vandal here to cause trouble for Taiyo or this would have to get ugly." She pauses, eyebrows arcing questioningly, but she doesn't seem to take the idea very seriously before she turns her back on Hitomi once more.
"This school has had enough grief already..."
She crouches down and pulls a small round, plastic-lined trash bucket out from underneath the desk and puts it in the chair to glance at. The various moniturs continue to record the campus outside, their grey monochrome screens not seeming to show much in the way of interest given the time of night.
"What's your name?" she asks casually, hand slipping into the trash to pull out a slip of paper covered with a lot of hand written scrawl and begins to peer at it without looking up.
Hitomi reaches out for the handle, fingers twitch and halt for a moment before closing the door quietly and remains there chastising herself internally for doing something like this; on her first day no less. But there was intrigue and danger here, and she wasn't sure about the cause, it was kind of thrill-
She gives a mousey squeak at the closing slam of a drawer, now noting that she feels she has and is doing something wrong and is now just as worried they may get caught. How is it her heart starts racing -now- and not earlier.
Hitomi flashes a rather awkward looking smile when the other girl looks her in the face at the same time as she leans forward and stares openly at the other girls face, wow.
If Airi was ~that~ pretty and this passionate about something she probably had some admirers or followers in the school, in the very least a purpose being here; Unlike Hitomi. Her eyes rove around the office as she speak.
"Hmm, I'm sure as many people were enjoying talking about what has been happening as those who were emotionally hurt or saddened by the vandalism. Everyone was talking about it; But�c vandals hah?" it had escalated beyond that today! People had been hurt by these' vandals' now though, it wasn't just the property damage anymore. A type of person that finds frowning unnatural but there's definitely good cause to when she thinks of the people hurt and how fast this is escalating.
"Hitomi, today was my first day, I'm pleased to meet you Airi�... -sempai."
The latter sounding a best guess based on the way the other girl is carrying herself. Airi, with some grace and deftness digging purposefully through the trash, searching for clues? While Hitomi hugs groceries to her chest somewhat awkwardly.
"Hmm, I'm sure as many people were enjoying talking about what has been happening as those who were emotionally hurt or saddened by the vandalism. Everyone was talking about it; But�... vandals hah?"
it had escalated beyond that today! People had been hurt by these' vandals' now though, it wasn't just the property damage anymore. A type of person that finds frowning unnatural but there's definitely good cause to when she thinks of the people hurt and how fast this is escalating.
As she speaks, Airi seems busy with her search, nodding her head slightly at first before pausing, eyes losing their focus on the uncrumpled paper in her hand, as if she was suddenly thinking of something else far away from here. Finally, she nods slightly, "Good. Then you do understand." she speaks softly, closing her eyes, shaking her head, then refocusing on the words on the paper.
Only when Hitomi offers her name does the girl glance her away again, that gentle smile returning. The fellow student she shares the office with has a certain poise about her. It seems like she should be nervous about this late night intrusion, but she appears as calm as can be. If she caught the brunette noticing her studying her, she doesn't appear to responde to the scrutiny. Graced with a natural beauty, her soft eyes glance from Hitomi's own face to the sack of food in her hands then back to looking at her eyes.
"Those people who have come here... have hurt our own." Her right hand lifts and clenches into a fist, while her left keeps the paper held, "They're attacking our family, Hitomi. And I intend to put a stop to it." She looks back down at the paper, smile fading, expression grim as her fist is lowered. "These are notes taken from witnesses of an attack on one girl. Yuri Sakazaki. From a girl from Seijyun high. The fight went far beyond any friendly schoolyard spar. I intend to look into it."
The paper is folded and stuffed into a pocket. "No doubt the real records are on this computer, but..." she waves at it vaguely. It's locked. Things are at least /that/ secure, it seems. "I was hoping to find footage of the incident today. Of the students involved... Daigo Kazama was one... but no one is giving names of the others." She looks back at Hitomi hopefully, "I don't suppose you know anything about it?"
"Not at all�..."
Theres not as much the new girl can get so worked up and involved about in property damage, the attacks on students saddened her, but not enough that she were the one being proactive enough to be in here at night searching for clues. Certainly not enough to see a phantom figure or school she has never set eyes on before as an enemy deserving of investigating or fighting.
But one thing does set get under her skin, there is a name that means something to her; 'Yuri Sanazaki' lips compress into a firm line and the bag crumples in her arms, vegetables bruising and stalks splitting before she notices the impact she is having and forces herself to relax.
Apologetic thoughts directed to Jira and a firm recollection of how carefully selected and good a deal that produce was - or had been; but it was just a little bit personal now since she could still recall a brightly shining opponent who was all smiles; A gracious, fair and honourable opponent.
"If you want to know more.. That is fine. Why is this even happening?"
She wants to warn the girl not to go looking for revenge as well as answers. That clenched fist has left her uneasy but she feels inadequate in a lot of ways at the moment. Was she listening to an adult talk about important things that were outside her range of experience? Even the computer keyboard doesn't even look like one she was used to, let alone the hiragana on the keyboard and unfamiliar program.
"I don't think so, ... But what will you do?"
"I will find them," Airi murmurs quietly, glancing down at the floor. "And, if appropriate, see to it that their crimes do not go unpunished." There is a sternness to her voice then. A resolve that seems utterly serious and devoted to this course of action.
"But..."
Her tone shifts, softening slightly, glancing up at Hitomi then, offering her a faint, almost sad smile.
"I cannot help but feel like there is something else going on. Some... greater agitation taking place between the schools. Who is the ring leader? Who sparked all of this off?" She leans back against a filing cabinent and folds her arms across her stomach, head bowed slightly again.
"I am a new student here, myself. But from what I have been able to learn, the schools in this city have never gotten along worse than they are now. There has always been tension, yes... and pranks, of course. But violent assaults? That girl Yuri was severely beaten and cut and-" she pauses, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"And today? Daigo Kazama charges in here, bloodies multiple students, and even assaults our principal? What could possibly drive him to do that? I intend to find out."
She cants her head to the side, eyes back on Hitomi, smile warming a little now. "Sorry. I- I shouldn't talk about all this. I've already wasted your time as it is. I know enough to try and find the Seijyun girl. And of course I know where Daigo can be found." She pushes off from the filing cabinet.
"It was nice meeting you, Hitomi."
She shifts forward then, a step toward the door, clearly intending to take what she found for now.
Hitomi just nods in response to that conviction, it's a resolve completely foreign to Hitomi even more so when you consider it was when talking about investigating something dangerous and bringing perpetrators to justice. Awed Hitomi has to suppress the urge to applaud or bow or do something when confronted with someone this amazing. She nods along and quirks her head at mention of things going on behind the scenes at a school. Surely the authorities would get involved if something was that bad, right?
The bomb drops and detonates when Airi mentions that she also is new to Taiyo, It's a complete defeat, on every level. Airi had a maturity, compassion and sense of adventure and justice that was impeccable, worlds apart.
"Airi-san! Please find out and do all you can!"
Bowed, on the verge of tipping the bags contents to the ground Hitomi is supplicating to Kasumi for all she is worth; she doesn't want anyone else to suffer or anyone else to be hurt. But at the same time she had never thought to try doing anything herself, to set aside everything she wanted or was having trouble with for others. Airi was amazing, but she was a girl like Hitomi as well, she would be making sacrifices. For people who didn't even know she was fighting for their peaceful school lives. She maintains her bow because she doesn't know what else to do. It's killing her inside but she has to admit inadequacies if she is to grow beyond them. So, she'll rely on someone strong for now.
Airi strides across the room with that same graceful confidence Hitomi had already discovered in her in this brief encounter. Her right hand reaches for the door handle, her left hand extending, a delicate looking finger resting on the light switch. "Just don't be caught sneaking back out," she murmurs. There's a hint of amusement in her voice. Neither of them are supposed to be in the building, after all, but it is also somewhat adventerous to do so!
"I will see you around school. Please don't tell anyone about my little indiscretion tonight, okay?" She glances to the side then, only then noticing the other girl is about to spill her food out of the bags, Airi's eyes widen in concern, hand moving from the door handle to the side of the bag as if to push it up a little, "Watch out!" she urges with a touch of alarm that might be overstated over the fate of a few items of fresh, tasty food. It's then that she actually notices the contents and smiles again, "You have healthy tastes. Very responsible of you." she observes, voice shifted back to the light teasing from a moment before.
Her left hand flicks the light off at last, her right hand returning to pull the door open finally. "Good night, Hitomi."
She slips into the darkened hall quietly as a shadow, even her footsteps don't make a sound.
By the time Hitomi leaves the security office, the hallway appears to be completely empty.
Alone in the dark Hitomi lets her eyes have the time they need to adjust. This was a lot more than she bargained for in just carrying a market trip and carrying some groceries but it was also rather amazing. Japan was shaping up to be more entertainment that she had ever thought it could be and she hadn't even been in the country a week!
Making her own way to the door Hitomi leans out into the hall peering left and right, no sign of Airi whatsoever. Maybe there was nothing to be concerned about at all if she was that good at disappearing. Paper bag rustling as she inspects the content Hitomi turns back and fumbles to find the handle closing the as quietly as she can manage.
A beam of light illuminates her through the window from outside and she raises her arm to shield her eyes and then turns the gesture into an awkward wave noting the figure outside staring at her with the paper bag in her arms. Raising and lowering the beam of light to get a good look at her
"I can explain."
Actually, could she explain any of this at all without mentioning Airi, start to finish? She remains still trying to look as innocent as humanly possible, in the darkened hallway, carrying a large paper bag, suspiciously smiling when apprehended by campus security-- Right outside the security office.
"Well, maybe I can..?"
Log created on 23:00:34 12/03/2014 by Kasumi, and last modified on 04:35:37 12/05/2014.