Tuesday…
Four days have gone by since they returned to Yamaku. Tucker was in a bit of an agitated state with the finals coming up. He hadn't had any time to hang out with Rin other than their first period class. One last day before the exams were to begin. Tucker was rather nervous about all of this, but he had reason to feel confident.
"Last day, finals will be here, another week to myself and then summer break. Hopefully I will be prepared." Tucker told himself while he got his tie on. He wanted to appear as professional as possible for this last day. He decided to head out the door after getting himself ready. Once Tucker was out in the hallway, he looked around to see a familiar face as he was no longer in a wheelchair but in crutches.
Katawa Shoujo- Daylight
"Ah Tucker, I haven't seen you for the past few days, how was your break?" William asked warmly, almost if he was greeting a friend he hadn't seen in a while. Tucker scratched the back of his head as he seemed to be curious.
"It went well, Rin says she loves me, and we went to Hokkaido for a hobby shop with Hanako." Tucker explained. He noticed William in crutches. "How did the test go?" Tucker asked William if he had any results about the test. William looked at Tucker before he began to speak.
"It went pretty well, better than I had expected it to." William replied. Tucker smiled while looking at his friend.
"Nice, how long until you're walking again?" Tucker asked if William had an estimate of when he was going to be getting around normally again. William began to think about it as he didn't have a direct answer.
"Possibly at the end of summer, not sure." William gave a guess when he would be walking normally again, he wasn't entirely sure of the answer. Tucker nodded.
"Well good luck. I have to get going for class. I don't want to be late." Tucker explained to William that he couldn't stick around to chat. William nodded before waving his friend off.
"Take care." William called out before waving. Tucker walked off to his class with a renewed feel of confidence. He was still a little nervous about the tests coming up, he was praying he was going to pass English.
Tucker and Rin were busy finishing up their drawings as there was a bustle of activity. Shinichi was looking at his students. The bell rang as Shinichi decided to call it a wrap.
"That's it, have a good summer break." Shinichi told his classmates. The class packed their bags, and they were out the door. Tucker had finished packing Rin's stuff up and helped her bags on her shoulders. As Tucker was gathering his belongings, he was flagged down by Shinichi.
"Hey Tucker, before you go, can I have a word with you? You're not in trouble again." Shinichi tried his best to put it. Tucker paused though Rin decided to stick by his side.
"Sure, what is it?" Tucker asked. Shinichi began to think about what he was going to say.
"I wanted to say have you enjoyed the rest of your trimester?" Shinichi asked as he wanted to start off with something small. Tucker began to think about what his art teacher had said and wanted to see what he could get out of it.
"Well, it was great to say the least, I wasn't expecting to get to know someone that truly liked me and the more time I spent with her, the more I could understand. I want too sometimes be like her." Tucker explained. Shinichi smiled.
"That's good. I'd appreciate the feedback." Shinichi told Tucker; his face then turned into serious mode as he continued to speak. "But that's not the reason why I've pulled you over. I've been getting phone calls from your mother and father about Eleanor, and they've come over to speak to me. I don't want to hold you up as I'll explain more about this with Misha, Shizune and Ernest."
"That's fine Mr. Nomiya, I'd appreciate it, I'll attend the meeting after class." Tucker explained to Shinichi about what was going to go on in the afternoon. Shinichi nodded before giving a smile again.
"I don't want to make you late for your next class, so I'll see you around." Shinichi told Tucker that he didn't want to hold him up any longer. Tucker waved before he turned and walked off.
"See you later." Tucker told Shinichi. Tucker walked off to his next period class, curious about what his art teacher wanted to meet in the student council office for? He tried to think about it, fear began to run through his mind, was it about Rin and their club that was at risk? He tried his best not to think about it. He arrived at his next class before sitting down in his usual spot. He tried his best not to think about it and get on with the rest of his day. He was then interrupted by the playful voice of Misha.
"Hey Tucchan!" Misha called out. She and Shizune were sitting next to him.
Katawa Shoujo- The Student Council
"Oh Misha, how was your break?" Tucker asked. Shizune just signed with her hands as her means of communication.
"Shicchan says her break was great. We caught quite a few big fish which I helped Hideaki cook with. He's a smart kid." Misha explained to Tucker.
"That's nice to hear, we went to a hobby shop in Hokkaido, and we had a good time. Me, Rin and Hanako." Tucker explained. Misha smiled cheerfully before giving a laugh.
"Nice to hear." Misha told Tucker before Shizune began to make some gestures with her hands. Misha's happiness soured as her cheerful smile turned upside down. Tucker noticed this and was curious about what it could mean.
"Is there something wrong?" Tucker asked Misha why her mood went south. Misha began speaking while the rest of the class trickled in.
"It's the fact that Shizune says there's a meeting regarding Ernest, ourselves, you and the art teacher." Misha began.
"Mr. Nomiya?" Tucker asked. He began to think about what Rin had said when Eleanor was told not to do art, Rin to be her replacement and their club being disbanded. He tried his best not to think about it. As much as he cared for Eleanor, he also cared for Rin.
"Yeah… him." Misha explained to Tucker about it. Misha tried her best to put on a happy smile. "Hopefully the meeting shouldn't take too long and even though you suggested the club idea, I'm the one who is in charge of it so don't stress it Tucchan." Misha explained to Tucker that he didn't need to think about it that much and if he did, he might as well think of something else.
"When do you need me there?" Tucker asked curiously. Misha closed her eyes and began to think about it.
"After classes have concluded, we hope that the meeting will only take ten minutes." Misha explained to Tucker, now was the time to begin paying attention to their class. "I'll text you when we're on our way."
"Okay." Tucker told Misha. He thought things were going to get better or they were going to get worse. He was worried for Rin, taking away the one thing she looked forward to and loved having fun with was the thing that made him happy and taking it away from her was going to destroy her. He knew he had to avoid the subject at all costs.
The day wore on as Misha's invitation was ticking down and he knew that it was all going to blow up in his face. Tucker did his best to think about what he was going to do for lunch and what advice he was going to get for the meeting ahead. Tucker didn't know what he was going to do regarding the meeting coming up and what demands they were going to make. Natsume stopped Tucker as she needed him to stay with her for lunch.
"Hey Tucker, how are you doing?" Natsume asked. Tucker looked to the side for a moment as he seemed to be nervous.
"Nervous, Mr. Nomiya wants to see me later on today." Tucker gave his answer to Natsume. Natsume looked at him while Tucker looked at her.
"Yeah, I figure, especially with all of those tests coming up." Natsume began. "Want to hang out with us and figure out how things are going to go?" Natsume invited him over to see how things were. Tucker knew this was a break to get out and figure out what his friends were up to.
"Sure thing. I can use the break." Tucker replied. Natsume smiled in her own kind of fun away.
"That's fine. Follow me." Natsume explained as she began to lead the way. Tucker followed behind her. He was curious to figure out what Natsume had to offer. Natsume would enter the newspaper club room where she and the others were having lunch. They were joined by a rather familiar face.
Katawa Shoujo- Friendship
"Hey there Tucker!" Hanako's voice called out. Hanako was sitting there with the scrapbook she had, and a few cookies, Molly and Naomi were there alongside Tucker and Natsume.
"Hey Hanako, is there anything new going on? Monday seemed to be absent minded for me regarding studying for finals." Tucker did his best to explain to Hanako. Hanako began to speak.
"I showed everyone the scrapbook and they all seemed to like it. Natsume complimented me saying that she definitely wants to go to the hobby shop when she goes on her tour of Japan." Hanako explained to Tucker that the trip was catching on and the people in the newspaper club were curious. Tucker unpacked his lunch and began to eat. Natsume slid a couple of cookies to him to enjoy with his food.
"I bet everyone did like it." Tucker began. Hanako smiled as she placed her hands to her chest, she felt like she was welcomed into the crowd.
"Oh, Tucker you missed out on Lilly's going away party last night." Hanako told Tucker that he was invited and didn't show up. Tucker nodded as he understood.
"I completely forgot, I was caught up in studying and couldn't attend." Tucker did his best to explain to Hanako the reason he didn't show up. Hanako shrugged her shoulders, Natsume was eating a cookie while listening in on the conversation with interest.
"Such a shame. I would definitely like to hear you being able to attend. Also, we spotted Eleanor attempting to come in and Hisao telling her to get out." Hanako also added. Hanako looked down at her hands as if she was nervous about something, Tucker looked at her and he began speaking.
"Yeah, she's becoming like that, I'm even more surprised that she probably didn't make any attempt to apologize for her actions." Tucker added. He tried to think about something else regarding what he learned from Rin.
"I know. I don't know if she's ready for it or whether or not she's still doing her art. I was surprised she came back to Yamaku for art supplies. I don't think we had any Prussian Blue left." Hanako told Tucker about why Eleanor came back to the school. Tucker laughed a bit before he began to think. Was Eleanor still playing the devil's advocate for Shinichi? He was beginning to think about Rin again.
"I am starting to think what I fear from Rin might still be coming true as I have a meeting with Mr. Nomiya later on today." Tucker began to explain what was going on regarding the invitation to the Student Council's office. "Though…" Tucker paused as he tried to think, he tried his best to remember what it was that Shinichi tried to tell him about the meeting. It was still there in his mind. Rin's words came back to him as he began to think about what Rin had told him what was at stake if Shinichi found out and Eleanor failed. "Gah!" Tucker sighed as he couldn't think about it. Hanako stood up and walked over, she carefully draped her arm around Tucker as it was clear he was having trouble thinking.
"Are you okay?" Hanako asked Tucker as she sensed something was clearly wrong with him. Tucker knew he needed a moment to calm down and after calming down, he began speaking again.
"I'm… okay but it's the meeting coming up that Shinichi had scheduled with me, the student council and Ernest. Mr. Nomiya told me that my parents had told me about Eleanor failing and he wants to disband the club we're in so Rin can go back to painting, doing something she isn't happy about." Tucker finally blurted out everything. The entire room gasped, was Tucker the one trying to protect Rin and be the one undoing everything that he had built up just for the sake of having his younger sister pass and have his parents be happy? Tucker knew this was mentally exhausting. He just wanted Rin to be happy, but he also knew he had to look out for Eleanor. A person whom he wasn't fond of her behavior and by raising the alarm, he might undo all the progress he and Rin had accomplished.
"Shinichi wants to… disband the Trainz club?" Naomi asked as she too was starting to get worried. To Tucker, this was all beginning to make sense now. This was causing the other students to get alarmed; they didn't know if they too were at risk with Tucker's careless slip of the tongue. Hanako decided to speak next in an attempt to calm the situation.
"Now now. No reason to panic. I'm sure everything is going to be under control. Tucker's only saying that he is having a meeting with a select group of people to possibly smooth tension out." Hanako tried her best to get the students to calm down about their situation.
Katawa Shoujo- High Tension
"But this could be bad for all of us, what we do every Sunday, playing with each other as if we're children again about to become adults… it could be all for nothing." Naomi expressed as she was beginning to panic. Tucker felt like he was going to blame himself for everything that was going on though Naomi was the only person who was beginning to panic. Everyone else was trying to calm the situation or trying to formulate a response.
"I'm sure we can reach a peaceful conclusion and the club can stay the way it is." Hanako spoke again. She walked over and placed her hands onto Naomi's neck, Naomi began to calm down and take a breather. Natsume looked at Tucker as Tucker was trying to read her facial expressions.
"Is it a good idea for me to leave?" Tucker asked. He was worried about causing a lot of trouble in the newspaper club. Natsume sighed before she began to speak.
"I think it's best if you stick around with us. We don't want you to leave. We want to know more about your break." Natsume calmly told Tucker it wouldn't be wise to leave, and he needed to stay. Tucker sighed and decided to sit around. He was still fearing what Shinichi was going to say at the meeting.
Lunch went on as Tucker and Natsume continued to chat into the last period of the day. Tucker was still nervous about the rest of the day and hoped something positive was going to come out of it. When the last period had concluded. Tucker got a text from Misha, telling him that she and Shizune were on her way. Tucker sighed. Natsume and Naomi waved to Tucker that they wished him luck. He quickly disappeared off the scene.
Tucker arrived at the Student Council's office before he opened the door inside. Shinichi was waiting for him along with Ernest, Shizune and Misha. Tucker felt nervous about what their demands were.
"Hello Tucchan." Misha greeted Tucker with a good speech. Tucker walked in when he found out who was going to be visiting.
Katawa Shoujo- Air Guitar
"Ahh… Mr. Kagami, you've kind of missed out on everything." Shinichi began. He was pretty happy with how everything was turning out. Tucker was confused, did he take forever that he didn't learn anything that happened. He needed to learn more about what happened. Shinichi smiled before he began to speak.
"Okay Tucker, I'm going to be a little serious about this, but the conversation was about Eleanor and your little club. I only invited you as I want to talk to you about your sister and the club that you, Rin and your friends have been involved with. Misha and Ernest said that they needed some more time on the matter to decide as they hadn't thought about how they were going to proceed on with it." Shinichi explained to Tucker about what was happening.
"So, when will they come to a conclusion?" Tucker asked Shinichi. Shinichi's smile beamed as he began to give the results.
"Misha and Ernest were undecided on the matter as they wanted to debate it with themselves even though you were the one who proposed the club in the first place." Shinichi explained to Tucker that the ones who made the club work in the first place needed to decide on what they were going to do with it for themselves. Tucker knew that Shinichi wasn't making this up. Now came to the order of business he wanted to bring up with Tucker. "Now I want to talk to you about Eleanor."
"What about her?" Tucker asked. "Has she decided now would be a good time to apologize?" Tucker asked. He still remembered what he learned from Hisao and the fact that he was spending more time with Lilly than her. Shinichi's smile faded away as he looked more serious this time.
"She's…" Shinichi began, he paused, trying to figure out what he was trying to say. When the idea finally popped into his head, he began to speak. "She's doubled down on her art. She came back here to get some more supplies as she's been painting a lot. There is a lot of pressure to get the place ready next week and she needs every second of it. She's not getting much sleep as a result of this and when we try talking about other people as the director of the art gallery asked Eleanor about you, she shouted for her to go away. She's devoted but I'm probably overreacting."
"So, Eleanor is going to destroy herself if she continues down this path is what I'm going to guess?" Tucker asked Shinichi if this was going to be true. Shinichi's mood dampened when he learned about this. He needed to set some things straight with Tucker.
"Not necessarily but…" Shinichi paused as he tried to find that thought in his head that he wanted to say to Tucker. "Your mother and father is putting a lot of pressure on me to get Eleanor out of the art club for a long while now due to her grades, I've tried everything as I know there is talent and I can send her off to a good university which will allow her to pursue her talent and make Rin have more free time to think about what she wants to do but… your parents want the old order back so I came over to ask you about the club that was what I was speaking to Misha and Ernest about. So, the question is, do you want the club disbanded?" Shinichi asked as he wanted to see what Tucker's answer was going to be. Tucker began to think hard about it, he definitely liked Rin and wanted to make her happy, but he knew Shinichi was going to have to give in to his parents' demands and make Rin a painter again. Rin meant a lot to him and so did his parents and Eleanor. Tucker felt like he was facing a roadblock and didn't know what he wanted to do.
"I would like some time to think about it." Tucker told Shinichi as he too, much like Ernest and Misha couldn't come up with a decision. Shinichi opened his eyes before he looked at Tucker.
"Well at least I tried to ask about it. You got my word; the meeting has been dismissed and hopefully I can see you next week. Oh, and Eleanor might be coming over tomorrow as part of another supply run." Shinichi explained to Tucker that Eleanor might be coming over to get more art supplies to help get the gallery set up. Tucker nodded before he walked out of the room.
"Take care." Tucker explained to Shinichi. Shinichi waved as Tucker decided to head off back to his dorm when he got a ringing from his phone. He took it out to find out it was Lilly who was on the other side. The text had said: Meet me in the library, there is something I want to talk to you about. Tucker decided to make his way to the library.
When Tucker finally arrived at the library, he entered to see Lilly and Yuuko standing beside her, they wanted to talk to Tucker.
Katawa Shoujo- Everyday Fantasy
"Hey Tucker, how are you doing?" Yuuko asked with curiosity. Tucker looked at the two maidens who were standing over him.
"I just got back from a meeting with the art teacher Mr. Nomiya, and we're perplexed on what we should do. Is there a reason you've called me over here?" Tucker asked Yuuko and Lilly if he had a reason to be here. Lilly placed her hand by her mouth before she gave a soft giggle.
"Yuuko said she got a note from Rin when she visited here earlier today. We kind of opened it by accident and we lost the letter. I remember what the letter said." Lilly explained to Tucker what this letter was going to tell them. Tucker listened in on the conversation. Curious to find out what Rin had sent to him.
"What did she ask me to do?" Tucker asked Lilly if she knew anything about what Rin had sent to him.
"Rin has asked you out on a date." Lilly told Tucker what Rin wanted to do. Tucker was both astounded and nervous. He didn't know what Rin wanted to do or where she wanted to go.
"Where… where does she want to go?" Tucker asked. Lilly smiled before she began to speak.
"She wants to go to the same place I'm taking Hisao to." Lilly began. Yuuko raised her hands before putting them together.
"There are some rental suits you can take as the place is pretty fancy if you ask me." Yuuko told Tucker that he needed to dress up if he was going to attend.
"Where can I find them?" Tucker asked curiously. Lilly smiled before she began speaking.
"The school has its own tailor, so it lets you borrow fancy clothes. I can cover the expenses." Lilly told Tucker that there wasn't much to worry about. Figuring out where everything was. Tucker knew the best thing to do was to get ready. "I'll text you when we're ready to go." Lilly explained to Tucker that she was willing to take him out with her.
"Thanks Lilly." Tucker explained to Lilly. Tucker turned and he left the room, he was excited that everything was coming into place and now the only thing that was needed was to enjoy the night out.
Katawa Shoujo- Red Velvet
Nighttime…
Nighttime when two friends could get together, two lovers to confess their love under the moon, two ordinary people, to get to know themselves more. It felt like what was happening with Rin and Tucker. Rin was dressed in a fancy Cheongsam dress and looked good on her even though Rin's arm stumps looked a little out of place with the fancy dress, Tucker was dressed in a basic man's attire. He looked at Rin as they weren't sitting too far from Lilly and Hisao.
"I guess this is a new experience for both of us, then?" Tucker asked Rin. He had never been on any sort of date before. Rin turned to Tucker, looking somewhat sheepish.
"I've never come to a place such as this before, no." Rin expressed to Tucker before Tucker began to blush awkwardly, neither of them knew what they were doing.
"One hell of a first date, that's for sure. It's going to be pretty hard for me to top this." Tucker awkwardly expressed to Rin. Rin turned her head to the left to see Lilly who gives her a thumbs up saying she's doing all right. A small giggle from Rin's lips. Even now, their nervousness is dissipating. Rin's arm stump skates along the center of the table until it touches the menu, realizing she had nothing to grab the menu with, she slumped into her chair and placed her feet on the table which she takes in both her feet and brings to her face.
"Um, Tucker?" Rin began. Tucker looked at Rin as he knew he had to say something to her. Rin lowered the beige, laminated sheet just below her eyes, Tucker can see another sheepish look. Tucker doubts asking the waiter for a menu to be read out to Rin would be productive.
"I can read it out for you, no problem." Tucker told Rin while flipping through the pages of the menu. Giving it a quick read, his small grin faltering." "Er, perhaps there is." Tucker began. Rin's eyes looked at Tucker as she looked concerned.
"What's wrong?" Rin asked Tucker. Tucker continued to look at the menus as if he was having trouble reading it.
"There are quite a few items on here... and I'm not completely sure how to pronounce a couple of them." Tucker explained to Rin. Rin couldn't pronounce many of these names either. One fine cuisine after another is listed. Most may be in Japanese, but a few are in English and French. Neither Tucker nor Rin guess it's to be expected, but neither have no idea what's in some of these. Oh, this one Tucker could recognize. Wait, hang on... ...You can cook that? A small giggle of amusement comes from behind the paper sheet. "Well, I could read them all out, but it'd take a few hours." This earned a giggle from Rin who decided to look at Lilly again as she gave another thumbs up, signaling to Rin that she was doing a good job so far.
"Is there anything with some kind of fish in it?" Rin asked out of curiosity.
"Let's see..." Tucker told Rin as he began flipping through the menu to find a good fish dinner. No. No. No. No. Aren't those poisonous? No. No. No. They eat that stuff. No. No. No. No... Ah, here we go. "A tuna salad seems to be a good bet. From the picture, it looks like it'd be pretty filling as well." Tucker told Rin. He looked to his right to see Lilly looking at them, she waved her hands awkwardly, Tucker had to ask, was she getting the same dinner as they were?
"That seems to be a reasonably safe option." Rin smiled as she explained to Tucker.
"Let's order two, then. I'm pretty sure a couple of these dishes are from poisonous animals. I've had enough deadly run-ins for now." Tucker explained to Rin that they were going to play it safe and not eat anything that killed them. They both turned their heads to see Lilly giving them a thumbs up with both of her hands. She observed them carefully to see if this date was going to work out for them. Rin maintains a smile, but there's a distinct lack of laughter. Black humor mustn't be her cup of tea, though to be honest Tucker doesn't find it exceedingly funny either.
"There are certainly quite a few interesting smells wafting about. The same is true of the sights, I assume." Lilly began talking to Hisao about it. Tucker takes a good sniff around the place; he never knew anything like this smelt good either.
"I've never been anywhere quite like this. A fancy Japanese teahouse on an occasion or two, but never anything this lavish nor European in styling." Tucker admitted that this place was unfamiliar to him. He looked ahead to find out what was going on. Before another word can be said, a portly waiter in a distressingly tight vest appears at our table to take our orders. Tucker and Rin placed their menus down. "Provençal Tuna Salade Niçoise, please. Two." The waiter nodded as he listed the words down in a jovial manner. He smiled while waiting for the other options. Tucker hoped he didn't mess up the pronunciation of that too badly. Even if he did, he doesn't want to show it.
"And may I have a glass of Chardonnay, please. Tucker?" Rin asked as she wanted to have something fancy to drink with their food. Tucker knew he didn't want to be left out from this.
"Oh, uh, the same." Tucker told the waiter, pressured by Rin and also somewhat by Lilly who was taking quick glances to the direction where the words were coming from. As the waiter nods and leaves, I suddenly realize what I said by absentmindedly mimicking Lilly's answer. I regret it pretty quickly. "Alcohol… is there a reason for it?" Tucker began. Rin smiled before she began speaking.
"Only a bit." Rin gave her answer. Tucker began to think about Rin. This girl has an odd propensity to getting hooked on things.
"Surprising that they didn't ask for our identification. Then again, I guess we both do look mature for our age." Tucker explained to Rin, he was more or less surprised about what was going on. Rin gave a laugh as she began speaking again.
"I'll have to take your word for it. I'll add that this isn't what I'd call the type of place to ask such things, though." Rin explained to Tucker that she was willing to take his words for what she learned about. Tucker liked where the conversation was going.
"Good point." Tucker began. He began to think about what he talked with Shinichi earlier today and knew it would be best to drop any talks he had with what was going on and the time being spent with Rin was a good way to get away from it all. They both relax a little into their seats, trying to take their minds off the choking formality of the surroundings. The moment they do, the same waiter reappears at our table with two empty glasses and a bottle, the contents of which are quickly and professionally poured into the and Rin both nods politely as he leaves, Rin taking her glass with her feet and gently moving it from side to side. The liquid inside glistens as it moves around in the glass, and to Tucker, he had to admit it makes him a little less regretful for ordering the same. Tucker makes a guess it must take effort to judge how the liquid inside is acting based only on its center of balance. Maybe it's like Lilly's origami; taking every little chance to practice her dexterity. Lilly was watching as the same waiter had finished pouring her glass and Hisao's.
"I guess I'm not surprised that you know about a place like this. Those who have money would, I suppose." Tucker began speaking to Rin that he hadn't been here before and those that were rich often came here with their loved ones. "This reminds me of just how completely different our upbringings were. In Yamaku, it's easy to forget about social and economic disparity between students all wearing the same uniforms, living in the same dormitories." Tucker began speaking as he was curious to know more about Rin and what growing up for her was like.
"Well, Akira was the one to tell Lilly of it. She's come here before, apparently." Rin smiled while taking a sip of her drink. Tucker did much the same thing though the drink wasn't as runny as the one he had at Hanako's birthday party.
"So that's what they were conspiring about on Monday?" Tucker began as he remembered the conversation, he had with Hanako earlier that day. "And you chastise me for cheating?" Tucker asked in a bit of a playful manner. Rin giggled at what Tucker had said and decided to speak to him.
"That's not cheating. It's simply making use of personal contacts." Rin began. She turned her head to Lilly who made several signs, acting as Rin's guide to the date. Rin nodded before looking back at Tucker.
"If you say so. Still, I get the feeling that you're more familiar with this kind of restaurant than I am." Tucker giggled as he took another sip of the drink. Rin pauses a moment, a wistful look on her face, before softly smiling. The compliment seems to brighten her mood.
"You can thank my former school for that. If I were to appear any less, they'd be gravely disappointed." Rin teased Tucker while figuring out what his overall mood was going to be. Tucker never knew Rin had mentioned her previous schooling before, but now I'm kind of curious. She seems to think a lot about her past, so he doesn't see any problem in asking.
"What was that like?" Tucker asked curiously. Rin closed her eyes, and she began speaking.
"It was one similar to Yamaku the one we were attending but the teachers were more or less breathing down our throats to come up with some form of talent, something that would impress them. That's how I got into painting, kind of like an origins story if I might say. I actually ended up here because of my talent and Shinichi wants to send me to a prestigious art school. If you and Eleanor hadn't shown up, I wouldn't be who I would have been." Rin explained to Tucker what her previous education was like. Tucker nodded as she seemed to be giving more about herself to Tucker.
"From how it sounds, life there must've been pretty strict." Tucker began. Rin sighed as she had some pretty unhappy memories from that place.
"I wouldn't say it was a bad experience... but you're quite right; it was very strict. Thankfully, I managed to adapt well enough and make a number of friends. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for your sister. She would have found the atmosphere and strictness aspect suffocating, and ended up leaving for a job the moment she would be able to." Rin explained to Tucker about what Eleanor's opinions would have been. She gives a small, self-deprecating chuckle. "I shouldn't complain about it though. Not many even have the chance to go to such a school."
"Do you... resent your parents for sending you there, then leaving?" Tucker asked Rin if she felt resentment towards her family. He began to think of Eleanor and what must have been going through her mind when they first arrived at Yamaku. Rin gently shakes her head.
"My family is highly patriarchal. My father, business always on his mind, was entirely lost as to what to do with me. In the end, he made the decision that my education was of higher priority than staying with the family. He simply did what he thought was best." Rin explained to Tucker what her family did to further her education and help develop her talent for painting but that also developed into other stuff such as cloud watching and game playing if Rin was to further herself along.
"To say such things so easily. What an unbelievable girl. That said, I'm a little surprised she doesn't think her lack of arms played any part at all... though maybe I'm being too harsh on her family." Tucker tried his best to say that he was impressed by Rin and that he was surprised by what he had learned from her. "My family was backward as my dad took care of us and loved us while the mother would be the one giving the discipline. I think the run in with my dad the other day can display how nice he can be."
"I bet my parents wouldn't have a hard time getting along with yours." Rin explained to Tucker that she was grateful for their families being able to get along nicely. Tucker gave a giggle before he continued to speak.
"You're too kind-hearted, you know that?" Tucker began. Rin blushed while trying to read Tucker's face.
"Hmm?" Rin asked, she didn't understand what Tucker was saying, at all. Tucker decided to speak again.
"Most would hate their parents for something like that." Tucker told Rin that his parents would fight if they had two kindhearted children spending time together as if they were one happy family. He raised an eyebrow as Rin began to speak.
"Well, some do..." Rin began as her voice awkwardly trailed off. Tucker looked at Rin. Oblivious to his raised eyebrow, she takes a sip from her glass. The wine slips down effortlessly, her fondness for it evidently helping her deal with the flavor of alcohol. Tucker can't say the same goes for him. "What about yourself? What was your schooling like?" Rin asked Tucker what his life was like before he came to Yamaku. Tucker began to think of what life was before he came to Yamaku, he knew he had to explain the car accident eventually.
"Mine? Let's see... It was a fairly normal public school, I suppose, maybe a bit busier than the norm. I did quite well in class and wanted to be like my dad who was often at work. Since I had no friends of my own, I mainly stuck around with Eleanor's whom I hung out from time to time. Being the oldest child of the bunch meant that all the pressure of life was on to be successful but even then, with this accident I doubted my ability to be like my dad. More or less, I'm spending time wandering aimlessly around with Eleanor's friends. She feels none of the pressure I do and sometimes I want to say, "Be in my shoes for one day and see how I feel if your life is that hard." I've always tried to make my parents proud of me." Tucker explained to Rin what growing up for him was like. Tucker catches himself as he realizes that he's starting to zone out, the days of his old school disappearing to the night sky and bright city lights outside the window. Rin's face is an odd mixture of curiosity and sympathy. Given her strict schooling, Tucker supposed something like this would seem an interesting contrast to the only life she's known.
"It sounds like your previous school was a lot of fun if you weren't under pressure from your parents to be like your dad." Rin began. "But then again, your dad only wants what's best for you." Tucker nodded as this newfound confidence had caused him to speak again.
"I'm not really sure how much of it is nostalgia, but there are some nice memories. That's in the past though. I can't go back there now, but through my accident I found a new life I'd never have imagined leading. The peace and calm of Yamaku, a new direction for my future in science, the friendship of and most of all, you." Tucker explained to Rin that the accident seemed to be more of a blessing in disguise as he had found someone whom he's fallen in love with. He began to think how true this would be and if he was still hanging onto the left arm of his. Rin gives a deep, genuine smile as she moves her arm stumps towards him, the stumps just lightly searching out his face before softly caressing his cheek. Her other stump reluctantly retreated after a second of warm silence, they turned to Lilly to find out they had just begun eating and turned to their left to notice the waiter arriving with their meals. Rin does a deft job of covering her condition, except for the fact that her nod to him is slightly misaligned due to Tucker's silence. She really seems to work hard at appearing as normal as possible in public. While Tucker noticed it long ago, he still can't quite gauge whether it's a want to not be treated differently, a slight sense of vanity, or some mixture of both.
The dish served lives up to the salad name, and the portions are pleasantly large. With sliced eggs and tomato, it looks very enticing indeed. Rin takes her knife in one foot and fork in the other, quickly getting to work on the dish as Tucker does. It's later than when they usually have dinner, so they were both eager to dig in. Tucker's cautious skewering of leaves and vaguely meat-like squares with his fork is matched by Rin's silent and measured prodding and chewing. An occasional tap around the sides of a piece of the food to work out its edges is the only giveaway to her lack of arms. Tucker was done with his meal in little time, Rin taking the last few bites as he sat observing her and then Lilly for a moment.
"Finished, Tucker?" Rin asked Tucker if he was done eating. Tucker nodded yes before looking up to Rin.
"Yeah. It was pretty nice." Tucker admitted. It was pretty good for them. That much is very true. Tucker could have never thought a simple salad could be so tasty and filling, but then again, he supposed that's why it costs so much to eat here. Content with his appraisal, and evidently agreeing, Rin gives a small nod. "You know, given that Lilly's part foreign, exotic-looking and quite pretty, I'm surprised that nobody's ever confessed to before. I thought they would be confessing to her." Tucker began as he was commenting about Lilly who was sitting across the room from them.
"You're assuming nobody did." Rin teased Tucker into speaking as he wanted to know more. He looked at Rin. The simple statement takes him off guard. Tucker shouldn't be surprised, given that he was complimenting her just moments before.
"Really?" Tucker asked Rin if this was going to be true. Rin knew she needed to spill what she learned from Lilly.
"Lilly has received several confessions, both in this school and her previous one. Adolescence is a funny time." Rin explained. "Neither one of us has received any confessions until now and that was to each other."
"She's kinda talking as if she's above it herself..." Tucker told Rin as he was still puzzled about what she had said. Tucker sighed before his curiosity was going to get the better of him. "Huh. How easily does she say such a thing?" Rin looks surprised for a moment, before a playful smirk covers her face.
"Is that... jealousy on Lilly's end?" Rin asked. Tucker felt like he had taken a misstep to try to know Rin better before waving both of his arms in the air to shield himself from an incoming attack.
"What? No. It isn't." Tucker tried his best to explain to Rin that she wasn't jealous. Rin looked at him as a smirk reappeared on her face.
"You're a bad liar, Tucker. You should take that into account. Then again, I do appreciate how sincere you are. Even if you don't intend to be, sometimes. I think your honesty will always serve you well when dealing with others." Rin explained to Tucker that a person like him who wasn't a good liar was probably the better person to be around. She tried to figure out what emotions were welling up between them. Tucker cleared his throat in mock disapproval of this whole business and tried to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"To tell the truth, though, some of us do prefer solitude to being surrounded by others. I don't think either one of us could maintain a social circle like Lilly." Tucker began explaining that they weren't social butterflies as moreover they were literal ones, delicate wings flapping along the wind. Rin contemplates this for a moment.
"I don't think that's true either. I've seen how gentle and friendly you are around Hanako, and you get on marvelously well with others, even those whom you hardly know. I think you're quite adept at social situations. But on that note, what of your confessions, Tucker? I'm sure someone like you must have had at least one admirer." Rin began as she tried her best to figure out if Tucker had at least one girl that looked up to him and wanted to love him before he came to tried to think about it. As he opened his mouth to speak, he could feel his face turn slightly sour. At times like this, Tucker secretly appreciates the fact that she can't see his expressions.
"No one actually, the only girl that came close to asking me out was a girl that I had with me in my old school, I forgot her name as it was so long already and I'm hoping she writes back to me during summer break to see how I've been holding up but I wanted to tell her about the festival I've attended with my family and I've failed to win a prize but the next you know, another car came onto the scene and I had to shield Eleanor from it so she didn't get hurt and that's what's happened to my left arm." Tucker explained the closest girl that came to confessing her love to him. Rin finds herself speechless, not expecting for the topic to move into such an area. His condition has always been something of no concern for her, something that Tucker strives to minimize despite his body's best efforts to the contrary. "Afterwards, I ended up stuck in the hospital for four weeks as my arm slowly died off and I wondered if me and Eleanor were going to return back to school especially with the therapy I was trying to do if it meant to fix my arm." Rin began to think about it as she didn't know if he was going to be able to see her.
"Did you ever... see her again?" Rin asked Tucker if he saw the girl regarding the festival and the car accident, he got himself into. Wrapped in his own little world, Tucker shakes his head before remembering the futility of the gesture. The memory of the encounters he had with her in class comes back to his mind.
"I never saw her again, but after I was sent to Yamaku." Tucker explained to Rin. Rin's face shows an expression Tucker didn't know very well. He piqued her interest. Tucker was slightly offended that it's simply a matter of curiosity for her, but she's never been very good at masking her reactions.
"In hindsight, it really didn't say much. What was going on in my old class, how she was faring, and, almost as an afterthought, we just didn't see each other again. After coming here and meeting all of you, it just reminded me that the world around me was still moving, and just how much I'd become isolated from it. And... I guess it also reminded me of what I'd lost." Tucker explained to Rin that the world wasn't going to change regardless of what school he was in, it was different environments and different people. Rin gives the information some thought before her face lights up in realization. No doubt she's worked out that it was this letter which had contributed to the unsettling angst during today regarding the meeting with his dad and him meeting Rin for the first time. It's a common site for Rin to be quite so lost for words, her entire persona is a little deflated from her earlier rapt interest. As charismatic as Rin could be, in the end that isn't any replacement for life nor relationship experience.
"Perhaps... it is better your dad had sent it, the letter to you than not." Rin began speaking to Tucker about how things were so different. Tucker was curious about it again.
"How's that?" Tucker asked. Rin tried to bring her arm stubs together and she knew this could be difficult to explain.
"It can be difficult to work out how best to communicate with those you don't have a good relationship with. All the more so, considering your separate situations. Instead of doing what was easiest, you should build up the courage to talk to Eleanor and try to work things out; not only for her sake but, from how it sounds, for yours as well." Rin tried to give Tucker some courage to find out what was eating away at Eleanor and figure out what was truly wrong. He didn't know what consequences that might bring. Tucker began to think about it.
"Maybe. I don't hate Eleanor for it, not that I really ever did, but... I don't know." Tucker was stuck on what he wanted to do, Eleanor's behavior had soured considerably, and Rin was telling him to try to make it work out between them to see if they could both find a compromise they could work on. Probably a more noncommittal answer than Tucker should give, but it isn't without cause. He had never looked at the situation from Eleanor's perspective like that before. Seconds pass in silence before Rin speaks again.
"Moving to Yamaku must have been hard for you and Eleanor, having your friends and even your girlfriend taken from you for no fault of your own." Rin explained to Tucker that it wasn't his fault to find him stuck in the spot where he was. Tucker looked at Rin, he didn't know if that was possible but if it was, he knew he needed to attempt to fix the relationship with Eleanor before the art gallery was going to happen. If he did, then he could get her back on track, but he didn't know if Eleanor was willing to go through with it.
"I don't know about it, but an attempt is an attempt, and I should try doing it. Eleanor used to be the one that often wanted the protection of me as she had all the friends. I often went with her everywhere she went and over these past few weeks while being at Yamaku, I've drifted away from her, and she has drifted away from me. I thought you were such a talented and friendly person that I wanted to stick around with, but the world continues to spin and the more it spins, the faster reality catches up. I don't know if I want to do what Shinichi has said for me to do as I care for you but at the same time I care for Eleanor. I don't want to see her fail." Tucker tried his best to explain to Rin that the only other person that mattered in his life other than Rin and all of their friends at Yamaku was his little sister in the end. He didn't want them to drift apart anymore, and he knew there was still a chance to bridge that gap. Rin was thinking about what Tucker was saying and she began to formulate a response.
"That's... pleasing to hear, Tucker." Rin began. Tucker looked up while Rin lowered her face slightly, her expression pensive. Tucker guessed he went too far and embarrassed her.
"I suppose you went through something a bit like what I did when you entered Yamaku anyway, right? I imagine the vast majority of our school's students did, after all. You said to yourself that you made friends in your old school. I can't imagine many people following you." Tucker did his best to explain to Rin that she must've had friends, much like he did that that she knew from her old school. Rin's deep smile drops, her expression unexpectedly darkening. Even her stubby arms retreat to her sides. After a long while, she speaks.
"Tucker... can you promise not to tell anyone else what I'm about to…?" Rin began. Tucker knew he needed to keep this promise if it was going to matter to him at the end.
"I promise." Tucker told Rin. Rin nods, she looks slightly taken aback by Tucker's serious tone, but then relents and smiles weakly before continuing.
"When I moved to Yamaku, I did regret losing the only few friends I'd had at my other school. But there was one person whom I most regretted not seeing again. He was the reason I ended up liking the stuff I did when we got the club started up with that game." Rin began speaking about the one person that mattered to her the most. Tucker began to think: "He?" Considering Rin was a painter, he wanted to see what this could entail. Was he a painter, did he get into painting? Rin began to speak again.
"The friend that I made and ended up regretting saying goodbye to be the person who got me into Trainz, one of my teachers and a couple of his students. I became fast friends with them as that game was a means for me to relieve my stress after a long day of learning. We often came up with routes from scratch, off of the top of our heads. I even thought of the game as a means of finding inspiration to paint. I wanted to keep this hidden from Mr. Nomiya and thought of a means of doing what I loved, and he said I was going in squares whenever I painted these days. I just really enjoyed that game." Rin explained who she ended up missing the most when she left her old school for Yamaku. To Tucker, this was all beginning to make sense now. Rin was acting the way she was as she was keeping her hobby hidden away as she thought of it as a means of escaping and inspiration when she wanted to go back and do what she loved.
"Did you...?" Tucker asked Rin if she had any ideas if she was able to confess to one of his students. Rin turned and she nodded it off. Quickly shakes her head from side to side.
"I couldn't. Even then, I knew it was impossible." Rin began. She looked at Tucker as if he was the one thing she was missing in his life. Possibly the one piece of the puzzle she was looking for. A silence reigns over both of them. This does seem to explain her ardent focus on her future in playing computer sandbox games, but Tucker can't help thinking of her confession to him. Over a hill of dandelions or the wheat field where the words I love you rang out in his head. She lost him without ever letting her true feelings be known and what she often kept hidden that few people knew about... did she somehow fear that would happen again, but with Tucker and their club? Neither of them don't really know what to make of it. Tucker heard of such relationships before; ideas born of such things as fun and creativity. The fact that she had the good judgment not to act on it, though, is heartening.
"I know this must sound strange, but please... don't think of me… for a moment." Rin began. She closed her eyes and tried to figure out what she needed. Tucker sat there in silence for a moment before he began to speak.
"Why would I think any less of you for that? To be honest, I think he must have been a very nice person if you liked him so much. Not only that, but you stopped yourself before going too far." Tucker explained to Rin. "All the fun we had, the times we had each other for company, we should make it feel worth it in the end?" Tucker got no reply from Rin who still sat there in silence. For a moment, she looks somewhat lost. Most unexpectedly though, it isn't a second before she starts to laugh. The sound takes Tucker off guard. It's not a giggle, nor a restrained chuckle, but honest and genuine laughter. Tucker finds himself smiling, and not just at her display of relief and happiness, but for her to trust him enough to let me see this most private of secrets. Before Tucker could realize it, he felt her stubby arm touching his face. Her touch is gentle as ever, with her stub slowly stroking his cheek.
"You're kind, Tucker. I really do love you." Rin finally admitted. She opened her eyes while still stroking his cheek with the stub of her arm. Seeing her face like this, with her stub gently caressing his face... Tucker thinks tonight has been a wonderful night.
"I guess we've both had pretty weird pasts, eh?" Tucker asked Rin if this was going to be who they were and how they grew up. Rin nodded, her smile still wide as ever.
"I think by most standards, our present is rather odd as well." Rin admitted. She looked at Tucker, Tucker smiled back and hung his head. This woman can easily run rings around him in the metaphorical sense, of that he was quite sure. Tucker looks back around the room with its continuing quiet hum of patrons."
"This place probably fits into the "odd" category, too." Tucker admitted he wanted to pay and call it a night, they had final exams to get to the next morning.
"It is a tad... overbearing." Rin explained to Tucker. Tucker looked around as the waiters and waitresses were scurrying around the place, something they didn't want to return to but this worked out as a good first date.
"That's one word for it, yes." Tucker replied as Tucker looked around for a waiter to flag down so he could pay the bill and call it a night. Tucker catches the eye of a scurrying waiter, a short, scrawny guy no older than twenty. He kind of reminds him of Kenji, though unlike him the waiter isn't dressed for winter during midsummer. After a courteous bow and an offer to remove our plates, Rin asks for the bill politely and softly. With expert coordination, he maneuvers around the tables, the plates in hand, to retrieve their bill. In no time he reappears through the doors, smartly handing the bill to Rin. ...who promptly hands it to Tucker, causing him to raise an eyebrow. As Tucker read the small computer-printed leaflet, the cost was considerably more than he expected.
"Tucker?" Rin asked as she tried to figure out what was wrong with him. Tucker was looking at the bill.
"Oh... uh..." Tucker nervously told Rin while he was trying to figure out how to pay the bill. Tucker quickly stammers out the amount, to which Rin merely nods and reaches for her wallet. Giving her card to the waiter, he disappears once again.
"That was... a disproportionately large amount of money." Tucker admitted the food cost him more than anticipated. Probably the alcohol was the biggest killer when it came to the price. Rin and Tucker finished theirs as the statement seems to make Rin slightly uncomfortable.
"I did a lot of painting before you came along, and I made a lot of money that way. That said, I too dislike throwing money about. But this one time I think I can make an exception. Just for you." Rin explained to Tucker that her paintings did cover some of the expenses though she tried her best to make her money stretch the furthest.
"Not only did you choose our date, but you paid for both of us as well..." Tucker awkwardly told Rin that he was more than happy with how this date turned out and the fact that she was paying, made his day.
"I take the bridge of my nose with my fingers. If I had any." Rin told Tucker that she was willing to see how she could make this date stretch higher. She had set the bar really high.
"I can't believe how high you have set the bar for our next date." Tucker told Rin as they began to pack their stuff up. Rin turned her head to the left to see Hisao and Lilly paying for their food too. Lilly gave Rin a thumbs up, telling her that she did good. Rin gives a small giggle.
"I'll be looking forward to it, Tucker." Rin tells Tucker about it. The waiter reappears beside us, as if by magic, and hands Rin's card back to her. Evidently picking up on her lack of arms and hands., he places the card in her hand with an extra, perhaps unneeded, amount of firmness to make sure of her grip. Leaving, he exercises a measure of diplomacy by keeping a neutral face despite my own expression. Clapping his hands together, Tucker stood up from his seat in order to bring an end to their night out.
"Shall we be off then, m'lady?" Tucker asked humorously. Tucker and Rin headed out the door into the summer nighttime air. Rin looked at Tucker as she was now face to face with him.
"Can you handle the truth? Because I gotta hand it to you, hands down you're the most handsome dude here - and you're handy to keep around, too. I'd salute you, I'd congratulate you, and I put myself in your very capable hands." Rin told Tucker; she was more than happy to see how this turned out.
Lucky day for Tucker though today was the last normal day.
[A/N]: This was probably the longest chapter I've written, and I wasn't expecting it to be this long either and I was in such a rush to get this done that I burned through a lot of it and there is more character development while the date is happening, but the next few days will be Tucker's biggest test coming up. I hope he is ready for it. Goodbye for now. See you later.