karatebugmen | CALL ME OUT

[It has felt like an eternity since the revolutionary was able to visit his friend, since he'd moved away a few months back. However, he'd heard through eavesdropping at the local convenience store yesterday evening that Jyushi has moved back into town.

A part of Sabo wonders if he'd been told directly eventually, but his impatient, impulsive side isn't even going to give the other man a chance. Assuming that Jyushi still lives in the same apartment, Sabo makes a point to rush over there right after his shift at his job is over for the day, ecstatic to potentially be able to hang out again. He even stops by that same convenience store to buy some glass bottles of soda as a present, too.

When he arrives at the apartment, he knocks on the door very enthusiastically, almost rocking on the heels of his boots as he waits for it to open.]

[ Many, many events had occurred in Jyushimatsu's life that in the end brought him back to his fond hometown. He left few months back after he got his chances to a spot in one of the best baseball teams that exist in the country. However, the road to success was paved with so many obstacles even an optmistic ray of sunshine like him could barely overcome. The rest of his adventure was... far less savory, and he'll keep it tightly under wraps, never to be opened up again.

Long story short, he was kicked out of the team because of said adventures, and is now back to his roots, in that town where he knows everyone and is at least appreciated by them. Sabo in particular was the one he was most eager to see again... but he arrived just yesterday and dedicated all that time to unpack and get some nice rest that lasted him half a day.

He's just come out of the shower, in his shorts and yellow T-shirt, his hair still damp, when the door knocks loudly all of a sudden.

... Somehow, he knows who the visitor might be.

Swinging the door opem, his expression quickly brightens as he faces the person he had most wanted to meet today. ]

Saboooo! Good morning king-sized homerun!

[He's truly ecstatic to know his hunch was right, in that his friend still lives in the same apartment as before. If someone else had answered the door, he'd have quickly come up with some excuse as to why he was there in the first place, but thankfully, that wasn't needed. He beams, holding out one of the bottles.]

Hey, Jyushi! It's great to see you again! I brought you this. I know it's not much, but I didn't know for sure if you'd be in this apartment. I came here on a whim, really.

[The two of them have been friends for long enough, to where Sabo has no qualms just slipping past the other man to enter his apartment.]

Need help unpacking?

Hahaha! You didn't have to, but thanks!

[ He snatches the bottle, happily letting Sabo inside and slamming the door closed. It's a force of habit to just have no qualms with his friend entering his space so naturally. ]

I'm good, already unpacked most things! Sorry for giving no notice but I was so tired and busy yesterday!

[Sabo plops down on the couch, crossing his legs and tossing his hat onto the cushion next to him. He shrugs casually, his own bottle of soda still in his other hand.]

It's fine! I should have gotten you something a little more thoughtful, but --

[He twists the top open and takes a sip.]

I didn't know you were coming back! I'm so happy to see you again! [He can't help but really beam.] How have you been? What ended up happening with the baseball stuff?

[ His smile stiffens for a moment when he sits down next to Sabo, oddly calm for someone live him who would dive headfirst into the cushions, and also go on tirades about how baseball is the best sport ever and how much he loves it. There's nothing right now but a mild squeeze around the bottle of soda, as he chuckles awkward. ]

It didn't go that well, which I why I returned... but it's fine! I saw that coming a mile away!

[ A weirdo like him would have never been able to take part in one of the best teams. Some of the people there made sure to drill that into his head everyday. ]

[As one of Jyushi's closest friends, Sabo feels compelled to set his glass bottle down on the table in front of them and shift to face the other man. He can clearly sense that something went very poorly in that other town, and he feels badly. When Jyushi actually confirms his suspicions, he speaks:]

It's not fine. I know that was your dream. [He's already feeling a little angry towards the baseball team, even though he doesn't know them at all.] I hate that. [With a long, drawn out sigh:] I would have loved to hear that you made it, you know? I would have flown out to watch you play, whenever I had enough time off from work.

[He knows these words probably don't help, so, he rests a gloved hand on his friend's shoulder and smiles.] But there's nothing saying you can't try again with a different team! I'll do whatever I can to help you.

[ The last he wants to see is a friend being upset on his behalf, because the guilt of dumping his feelings on someone else is too much... that's why he tries to keep his smile shining at all times, make people believe he's always okay and nothing would ever strike him down.

Jyushimatsu uneasily chews the inside of his cheek, holding onto the bottle of soda with both his sleeves and deliberately looking away. ]

O-Of course that wasn't the only team! Maybe it was one of the most popular... but not the only one!

[ But his wound is open and sore, imbued by negative thoughts of self-doubt and fear for the future.

Maybe it was much better when he didn't think he should have grown up. Adulting is a nightmare. ]

[Having had to rely on close friends and colleagues during rough times, Sabo knows that he has to do whatever he can to help the other man out, even if it's just expressing with words how important he is. He's a great person, the blond truly believes this, and he wants to show him that's the case.

He works on drinking a little bit more from his own glass bottle as he ponders the best thing to do. The two of them could go out and have a nice dinner together! That could at least get Jyushi's mind away from his troubles.

Sabo holds out a hand and waves it excitedly as he suggests his idea out loud.]

Let's go get something to eat. On me! What do you think? Fresh air might help you clear your mind a bit, and there's never anything wrong with a good meal.

[ ... He blinks some sad fog off his eyes at the suggested idea.

Food. That sounds very nice. Actually he didn't have a proper meal yet since his return, only plucking at some things because he wasn't very hungry.

Which could have worried anyone if they knew, so he never mentioned it. ]

Yeah, we could go! To our favourite place, right...?

[Literally as soon as he's told that his idea is a winner, Sabo jolts upright, then spins around to face his friend. He holds out a hand for him to take after he's no longer moving.]

The burger place? [He was almost considering something a little nicer, but that was their favorite place to go. Convenient, reasonably priced, and tasty.] Sure! Let's head out, then. If you're ready.

[When Sabo's hand is taken, he'll lead the other man to the front door, so they can head over to the restaurant. It's still early enough in the day where it shouldn't be too busy there.]

[ A reinvigorated nod is what Sabo gets, and it's a bit ironic how the guy gets to be the more energetic between the two this time around. Jyushimatsu is just done with so much bullshit right now, so that works in his favour for as long as he needs to seize his happiness again.

Placing his drink down, abandoning it there, he allows his friend to drag him away from his apartment, locking it beforehand. And off they go, to that favourite burger joint! ]

Are things still the same in town? Nothing changed?

[It is ironic how Sabo is the energetic one here, but -- he knows he has to be. Someone has to be, and he's sure that after this dinner, his friend will have cheered up some.

As they start to head to the restaurant, Sabo hears that question and quickly answers. It's an easy one to respond to, since not much has changed.]

Most things are the same. I'm still working at the same office, writing short stories in my spare time. The ramen shop across from our burger place closed down, though. [He sighs at that.] Nothing has taken its place yet, so -- I haven't been able to find another ramen shop that I like. [But that means:] So I've been trying to learn how to make my own! I'm doing alright so far. I'll have to bring over some next time I visit you.

Nooo... I liked that place! Well, it's better that one closed than our burger spot!

[ After what he went through, he really didn't wish to have one of his favourite shops closed down, which is why he's kinda relieved to know it's safe. ]

Oh, well, if you master your skills at ramen making, you sure ought to cook some for me! I'll wait for it!

[He feels a little guilty for throwing that bit of bad news his friend's way, so he makes a point to excitedly agree to sharing his ramen. When he gets enough practice in making it, of course.]

I'd love to! Hopefully I won't take too long to learn. It'd be easier if I could take proper classes, but -- haven't found any. So I'm learning by reading and watching what I can.

[He takes his friend's hand so they can rush toward the burger place, because he's getting hungry, and he knows, after spending enough time with the other man over the years, that food will certainly cheer him up.

Thankfully, after a few minutes, their destination is in view.]

There it is!

Well, that's the right way to self-teach something! Way to go!

[ Maybe Sabo will be more successful at it than himself, who burned three kitchens when he wanted to learn how to make french fries.

Not at all opposing the handhold, he will at least make it so Sabo won't have to drag him there, rushing along with him. He smiles genuinely when they reach the place, waves of nostalgia filling his heart with warmth. Nothing about this place changed a bit in these past months. ]

It's been a while, huh...

[It has been a very, very long while. So long, in part because Sabo hasn't been here on his own. He likes the restaurant just fine, but he's been so absorbed in learning how to make his own ramen, that he hasn't been out to eat that often.

He opens the door for his friend, and once they both enter, lets it close on its own.

The restaurant is the type where they order at a counter and wait at a table for their food, so Sabo goes right ahead and orders a fairly simple cheeseburger, fries, and a drink.]

I'm glad it hasn't changed at all.

[ For himself, Jyushimatsu will leap over and order three hambugers, double fries, a chocolate parfait, and soda. Somehow, coming back to his place brought some of his appetite back.

After that, he picks the table he's always claimed with Sabo for years, and settles down. ]

Even the smell's the same! I'm suddenly super hungry again...

[For the first time in a very long time, Sakura felt the bitter taste of defeat as it flooded her every nerve. Losing to Kenshiro was different. He was still far above her in terms of skill and temperament. With him, she had known that she was not his equal just yet.

However, to have been bested by someone else was unheard of. Unacceptable. Acrid disappointment hit her like a train once again and she found herself sliding to the floor of the dojo as she tried to reconcile her feelings to this unlikely occurrence. It was taking far longer than she would ever admit to anyone. She kept hearing the voice of her father admonishing her for allowing herself to become distracted in her goal of becoming the Strongest Human Alive. It didn't matter that she was supposedly the Ultimate Marital Artist. She was still not good enough.]

To have lost to him...

[Her voice is gruff and low normally, but there is a slight hint of just how she really feels lacing it. She's so wrapped up in her self-recrimination that she doesn't hear anyone else enter the dojo.]

I must train harder.

[ Today has been a most satisfying day to Aoi. She didn't have to fight for the last bundle of donuts at her favourite pastry shop, and while she didn't break any personal records at practice, the clear skies and not too warm weather boosted her mood significantly. Happy as she is, the Ultimate Swimming Pro knows of one way to make today even better, and that is to share her great mood with her best friend!

However, said best friend is emanating a weird aura which Aoi senses the moment she steps into the dojo. Light feet approach Sakura carefully as the Ultimate Martial Artist utters those words and gives out a vague picture of what's going on. Aoi is suddenly struck by concern, her voice breaking through the quiet but tense air inside the room. ]

Hey, Sakura! What happened? [ With some hesitation, she adds: ] Who's the guy who beat you? I can't believe for a second someone could ever defeat you, so how...?

[He moves to that table soon after his friend does, grinning in response to all of the food he'd ordered.]

You almost eat as much as my brother would, you know. [He then adds:]

Which is a compliment, of course!

[Since Jyushi ordered quite a bit, a waiter comes by and tells Sabo it'll be a few minutes. He thanks him and then chuckles.]

I don't mind the wait. Gives us time to talk, anyway. Did you have any burgers back where you were?

[So wrapped up in her brooding is Sakura that she misses the sound of the shoji doors sliding up and closing behind Asahina. Or her friend approaching her either. However, when the other girl speaks, Sakura raises her head, disbelief written over every scarred feature.]

Ah.... I've lost.

[The words still feel a bit foreign when talking about any person except Kenshiro.]

It was Nidai-senpai of class 2-B. He offered to spar.

Hahaha! I know that! You never shut up about how much you love your brother!

[ His laugh lasts short when the waiter tells them to wait a few minutes, and he feels his stomach already groaning from hunger. He also chuckles awkwardly at the question. ]

I had a couple, but they didn't taste as good as the ones I've got here! Now that I think about it, their food was rather too high class for plebe like me, haha!

[ Ah, Nidai... the Ultimate Team Manager. Big, monstrous, always shouty, and who might send anyone flying with a single flick of his finger. Aoi could understand how he was able to hold his own against Sakura, but defeating her? No way! Her best friend is invincible! Something must have happened in the background!

Crossing her arms and frowning, Aoi ponders the situation. ]

Are you sure he won fair and square? There was no dirty move he pulled out on you, was there?

[He blinks a few times at that, not even opting to protest. Because there'd be no point -- he DOES go on about Luffy to a ridiculous degree, and he knows it.]

What food do you consider fancy, then? Not ramen or sushi, right? Because I eat those all of the time and they're not fancy at all. [Ramen shouldn't be too fancy, in his eyes, and considering how sad his friend was about their favorite ramen shop closing, he probably doesn't think so either.

But where he'd spent some time away from home may very well have had fancy ramen.]

CALL ME OUT

jyushi - gen 7 (old friends)

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Aoi Asahina

HERE I AM

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SO AM I!

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