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Entry tags:

aya,
kaori

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Who: Aya+Kaori.
Where: Kendo club
What: Come in and hit things~
When: After Classes

"HARA!"

"MEN!"

Smack! Smack!

"That's it for now, guys! Ten minute break!"

Aya breathed and bowed to her kata partner and vice versa. She held it for as long as expected and then quickly disappeared to the side to grab her water bottle. It was hot enough in the armor during most days but with summer coming and the school's buildings as they were, it was amazing they all hadn't lost ten pounds in sweat by the end of each practice.

She sucked in a deep breath of air once the helmet was off. Her short hair was a mess, sweat was dripping down, and her face was red but she looked pretty content, even before she got her hands on the water bottle.

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It had taken weeks for Kaori to settle on a club to join. In the end, she had chosen not to join the Cooking Club. As sweet as it had been of Ito-kun to offer her a safe haven, she wasn't the sort of girl that needed protection. Neither did she want to join the school choir, the dance club, the theatre club or anything else associated with music or performance.

Eventually, she just wrote down a list of clubs taking members, closed her eyes, and pointed to one at random. The result had been kendo, something she'd never been interested in before and knew very little about. It had nothing to do with being an idol though, so Kaori was willing to try it.

And so Kaori walked into the gym after people had already gotten started, looking vastly out of place among the more athletically inclined.

Edited 2013-04-15 19:16 (UTC)

Aya downed half the water bottle when she looked up and noticed Kousaki near the entrance. The girl stuck out even in the classroom - with her bleached hair, former idol status, and rumors here and there - but it was still somehow even more surprising to see her at the gym.

Since Kousaki didn't immediately leave, Aya put down the water bottle and walked over. "Kousaki-san, were you looking for someone or something?"

Maybe she'd gotten lost? Kousaki was still relatively new.

"Yeah, actually. Kendo sign ups. The club's still taking members, isn't it?"

She looked around a bit, watching the members practice. Wow, some of these students looked pretty intense.

It took Aya a moment to register that coming from Kousaki. When it did, Aya quickly recovered,

"Yes, we're accepting to the last few weeks before summer break," Aya replied. "Were you or someone else looking to sign up?"

"Yeah, I am," she said, cheeks slightly pink with embarrassment.

Oh, gosh, what if no one takes me seriously?

"Oh." Aya let that mental association sink in. Then, brightened. "Great! We currently have an odd number of people so we're usually stuck with uneven number of match ups.

"Do you have any experience?"

Kousaki didn't look the type but she also didn't look like the type to be interested in a club like this. Aya would've thought choir or drama or band.

"Not a bit! I'm a total beginner," Kaori said, smiling with all the brightness of someone who had absolutely no clue what they were getting into.

"Oh, I see," Aya responded, with the brightness of someone who only sees an enthusiastic new member. "We can work on that, if you're willing to put in the effort. Its a lot of footwork at first to build up your endurance and control but if you can get that down, we can probably let you try armor and using a shinai right before we break for the summer.

"Do you have any experience with sports or just moving your feet?"

"Um, yeah. Does dance count? I have a lot of experience in that."

Her eyes lit up at the mention of armor and a shinai. Maybe kendo would be a good fit for her, after all. The more she thought about it, the more fun hitting things sounded. Plus it had nothing to do with being an idol!

What are the odds that I'd pick something perfect at random?

About the same as her landing a recording contract after her first audition, she supposed.

"I think it should." Aya nodded to herself. If she was as eager to learn as she seemed to be and she already had some base work than just maybe this might work out. "I don't know anything about dance but some of it might be transferable.

"We've already started for today but if you have something to change into, we can get you started on some exercises with the other newcomers. And if today doesn't work we've got practice three times a week."

"I don't have anything on hand but I could borrow some gym clothes if there are any spares lying around."

Three times a week, huh?

It wasn't nearly as strenuous as her schedule as an idol had been. Three afternoons a week Kaori didn't have immediately have to attack her homework was a bonus, too.

"What days is practice on, again? So I can be sure I'm free."

"Great!" Aya took a quick glance at the clock. "We're beginning again in a few minutes. If you hurry up you can catch most of our second half.

"We're here Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with Mondays being mainly for beginners work. You don't have to be here every practice but at least once a week would be great."

"So, definitely Mondays for sure..."

It didn't sound like there would be much point in coming to all the practices for a while. At least, not until she got better. Maybe she should consider another joining one of the culture clubs, too?

Or you could just join the performance choir, a tiny voice inside whispered. Stop your silly play-acting and show them all what you're really made of.

"Okay! I'll go get changed then!" Kaori exclaimed with far more zest than necessary and hurried off to the girls' locker room.

Edited 2013-04-27 18:54 (UTC)

The gym was pretty much empty now, save Aya (now out of her armor and back in casual clothes). She sighed as she looked over her shinai, looking at the edges with a critical eye. It was starting to crack. Hers probably wasn't the only one too, thanks to budget cuts.

She grunted as she eased off the guard and then the grip. She pulled out one of the club's bottles of oil, a cloth, and some pliers. Even if it was cracking, it might last a bit longer with maintenance if they were lucky.

Kaori entered the gym, back in her modified uniform, damp curls hanging loose. She hadn't really noticed how long her bangs had grown until today. If she was going to keep doing this, she'd have to trim them before next practice. They kept falling in her eyes during exercises.

"Excuse me, Shirokawa-san? I was wondering how you thought I did today."

"You?" Aya stopped working, for a moment, thinking on what she'd caught during the practice. Then, "I wasn't watching the entire time so Kamiya's probably better suited to tell you, since she's the captain but..."

Aya nodded, speaking slowly. "For a first-timer, I think you did very good. The footwork's not perfect yet but you were able to keep up and you don't look like your legs are dying right now." At least, from what Aya had noticed. "You also look like you have more arm-strength than more people who come into this have at first. It's not easy holding your arms up for long periods of time, especially when you have to hold a stick while someone's hitting down on it. You looked like you were flinching a bit but everyone does, even some senior members. So for a first day, I think you did great."

Then, she looked a bit more self-conscious. "Does that make sense? I'm sorry if it's not helpful."

Kaori sighed with relief and smiled. Maybe this would work out, after all. She felt a little more relaxed by the idea, at least.

"It is, actually. You know a lot more about this stuff than I do."

Her eyes shifted to the shinai and her smile turned sympathetic.

"This school is really cheap, huh?"

"Yeah, it is," Aya replied, sighing. She broke the wood apart and started shaving surface with a small edge. "If this were as funded as an official club or some other schools, we'd probably have equipment that isn't on their last legs. At most, shinais can usually last a year with casual use but I think these are from my first year.

"We might have to bake sale it or auction or something."

"What about a charity concert?"

The words were out of Kaori's mouth before she could take them back. But it made sense, right? It hadn't been that long ago since she'd gotten the boot and like it or not, she still had fans. Giving up Glimmer wasn't the same as giving up music all together and it wasn't like she hadn't been writing her own material for years. She wouldn't know for certain if it was any good until she performed it or showed it to someone, at least.

"I mean, me. If I held one. I don't know if there are any other musicians in the club but..."

She let that sentence hang.

"A charity concert? I don't think we've ever tried something like that before. I don't even really know how many of us can actually do music - I can't at least," Aya admitted, grunting slightly as she worked at a particularly stubburn bump. Once it was gone, she continued, "Kamiya might go for it but I think she'd only really go for it if everyone has a part in it since we're a team. Everyone really gets a hand in everything as much as we can."

Edited 2013-04-29 03:09 (UTC)

Could she find a way to set up a concert that involved the whole team? Kaori didn't know. At least, it was an option if everything else fell through. Ticket sales would help bring in money for certain.

"Maybe I should ask the principal," she thought out loud. "This school is a dump and don't all the clubs have the same problem?"

"We all do," Aya replied. "It's pretty much a battleground whenever club budget meetings come up. If it's not space it's money and if it's not money it's supplies and it's worse off for the least popular clubs. I'm not even sure where the literature club is right now after the last shuffle."

Aya finished applying the last of the oil and the wooden staves made a soft 'clack' as Aya put them back together. Smiling though, she said, "It's worth a try though. She's always saying we should find ways to take initiative and improve ourselves without handouts. Something a bit bigger than just a bake sale might help open things up."

"Maybe. I mean, things can't get much worse, right? I guess it can't hurt. A school-wide talent show might help everyone. I'll think it over and ask."

Kaori smiled slightly though, her eyes twinkle in a way they hadn't in months. She wasn't giving up but she'd be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she missed performing on stage.

A moment passed.

"This school has a literature club?"

Edited 2013-04-29 07:56 (UTC)

"The worst that can happen is she'll say no." Aya nodded. "You can always pass it onto school council too. They're supposed to be pretty open...as long as you don't ask the treasurer."

She tried concealing it but some of the distaste was there regardless. She straightened when the topic changed though, "Ah, yes, we do. They're not a very popular club, though. There's not many members and they almost always get the short stick when it comes to budgets and space."

"I guess there aren't many avid readers around," Kaori said, sounding a little disappointed.

Maybe they'd be a good choice if she still wanted to join a culture club after this.

"Oh, I think I met someone from the student council my first day. Some guy with glasses? Terada-san or something."

"Maybe? The media clubs seem more successful so that might be it," Aya replied. "I only checked in on them occasionally for club business but they don't seem to do a good job advertising themselves.

"Terada? Oh, you mean Terumi-kun." Aya nodded. "He's the vice president. He's pretty nice and he always does what he can, even if its a small gesture. If there's anyone on student council you should approach with a request he's the easiest."

Edited 2013-04-29 08:24 (UTC)

"Terumi-kun..."

Kaori repeated it to herself twice more. Hopefully, this time it would stick long enough for her to bring up her idea to him. Calling someone by the wrong name wasn't the best way to get them to do a favor for you.

"Thanks! Sounds like he'd be the best place to start."

"Right. I can't think of any reason he'll just turn you down." She pushed the handle and the guard back on with some difficulty but the parts eventually slid back on.

That done, she stood and took a swing. She smiled, it'd last a bit longer. Aya continued, "And if he says no for some reason we can just ask someone else. I don't think everyone would just shoot down the chance to get out there and earn more."

Kaori brightened.

"You're right. It'd be something, at least. If it works out, we'd need a committee to start organizing the event."

How did one do that? Kaori's manager had always handled all of scheduling, booking, and other set up stuff.

"Well, if you get the okay you need at least two people." Swing. "Just submit the form with your plans, who you'll be working with, who you got the okay from, and an outline and once you're approved you're set. The more organized you look, the easier it should be.

"Have you ever done anything like that before?"

"Not really," Kaori admitted sheepishly. "I'm just a performer. My manager always took care of that kind of thing." For a moment, she looked almost worried. "I'm better at ideas than organization.

"But I'll learn," she said with confidence, determination shining in her eyes.

It wasn't as if she was completely stupid, after all, and really how hard could it be?

For the briefest instant, Aya felt an odd twinge of envy looking at Kaori. That sort of confidence and determination was pretty nice to have...

"Then I'm sure you will," Aya said with an encouraging nod. "It always starts with the desire to learn. And you can always make sure you have someone with experience organizing to support you so you don't have to take it all on yourself."

Kaori nodded, toying with her hair a little.

"I don't suppose you're any good at organizing, are you? Or know anyone who is? If it's a bother, I'll understand. I can ask someone else."

She ran through the rather short list of people she'd actually spoken to at this school so far.

Ito-kun's president of the cooking club... Maybe he'll have some ideas?

"Me?" Aya looked down for a second before looking back. "Yes, I have a bit of experience organizing." Beat. "I used to run a club last year so I got a lot of practice. If you really need someone who can help you I could give you a hand with that stuff. I don't have that much on my plate this year aside from school and kendo so it might be good to give me something else to do."

She missed that, oddly.

Kaori breathed a sigh of relief then began speaking again in a rush.

"I'd appreciate all the help I can get. It'd really help a lot of people-"

Abruptly she cut herself off, turned a little red and stared down at the gym floor, clearly flustered.

Aya nodded and smiled. "Yes, it probably would. Every little bit helps and it might even be fun - we just need to get the plan rolling first."

She walked over to her shinai bag and slipped hers in with her practice bokken. "Do you have anyone else in mind to help out?"

Edited 2013-05-08 06:08 (UTC)

"Ito-kun from the Cooking Club, maybe. I haven't met many people since I moved here."

Well, aside from the baristo, the frisbee guy, the homeless kid, the student council person's name that she'd already forgotten agan, and that cute boy from the disciplinary committee.

"I guess I could put a note on the bulletin board about it?"

"There's that." Aya nodded. "You can also try approaching other clubs or put a post up on journalspace. It can't hurt to show you have some wider interest before asking for permission."

Kaori nodded. What Shirokawa-san said made perfect sense. The idea of blurring the line between real life and cyberspace made her inwardly cringe a little. What if unwanted fans found her blog and word spread? But, if she wanted this to work out, she'd need to use her real name so people could contact her.

I guess I could just make another account for that.

"That sounds like a good idea," she said though she looked almost pensive for a moment. "Doing both couldn't hurt, I guess."

Edited 2013-05-10 02:15 (UTC)

"Yeah, exactly," Aya replied. She slung her shinai bag and her backpack over her shoulders.

"Keep me posted?"

"Yeah! I will. I'll let you know something soon. See you later, Shirokawa-san."

She gave her classmate a friendly little half-wave then headed for the gym doors.

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