Lunch Rush Without the Rush (Tomomi/ Akuma)

The bell for the lunch period to start rang, and with it, a large amount of people walked towards the cafeteria. And among this crowd, near the back, was Tomomi, school bag on his back and jacket over his shoulder as he made his way there, keeping as far out of the way of others as he could.

There, at the cafeteria, with large swaths of people gathering in groups, Tomomi went over to find a relatively quiet place to sit, having long given up on trying to sit at a table with other people. After looking. And looking. And looking.

The boy gave up looking, and instead settled for sitting down on the floor against the wall. There, the boy set his bag to his side, and opened it up, looking through it for a brief moment, before taking out a single juice carton, and a breakfast bar, looking in front of him at the crowds of people. If he was lucky, there'd maybe be a familiar face. Maybe.

That thought aside, he took a bite of his super healthy lunch.

Akuma was engrossed in his own reading when he had his lunch. He might of not been the brightest on the block, but one thing he did do well was reading literature. Despite his lack of smarts in math and science, he always was able to appreciate art in some form or another. The one blessing he got from his late mother.

The cafeteria was huge and catered to both the school kids and college members. The methodology of this school really was hard to wrap his head around, but as long as none of the kids were acting like idiots, he could tolerate it. That and he had his headset on, listening to rock music while he read and ate an apple slowly.

He was pretty much oblivious to most till he felt movement behind him. Curious, cause it was so close to his sense of space, he turned and looked. At first he saw no one behind him-- till he looked down.

It was that kid ag ain, Tomomi, the president of the martial arts club. It baffled him why he would be in such a club when he was so timid. But then again, he had good sense of fighting skill... even though their spar had ended in a failure on Akuma's part. Did he even notice that he was beside him?

"Got something against chairs?" Akuma asked to grab his attention. It probably would surprise him to find Akuma there looking down at him from the relative height. "What the hell are you doing on the floor like some stray puppy? "

Akuma held his book in one hand, and looking down at him with a puzzled look. He knew this kid was timid but this just looked pathetic to him.

At the sudden voice, Tomomi looked up. Ah! Akuma, right? Was that his name? The guy that smacked Tomomi square in the chest. At his questions, with the slightly aggressive tone, Tomomi rubbed at the back of his neck slightly, holding his bar in his right hand while rubbing his neck with his left. "A-ah, um, h-hi Akuma! Um... N-nothing against chairs, but, well, um..."

Gesturing to the tables and people in front of him, Tomomi continued. "There's a lot of people, and they're all saving their seats and stuff for people they plan on meeting up with. P-plus, I know it's awkward if someone you don't know sits next to you, so um... I didn't w-want to, well, make things awkward for someone? B-besides, um... Aren't you technically doing the same thing, but, standing?"

(He is sitting)

Akuma squinted his eyebrows at him. Was this kid slow or did he not get sarcasm? Well that was another matter that he couldn't argue with. People were different... At least he had sense, that was one thing. Still, it made Akuma sick to see a person like Tomomi who actually had a decent sense of strengh be so timid. It was pathetic...

"More awkward than this? For crying out loud..." he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. He could really use a smoke after just talking to this guy. How pessimistic was he? After a moment he looked down at him. "Just get up, will you? You can sit here..."

It felt more like a command than an offer, but anything to stop him from doing this to himself. He was unsure why he would be so self-conscious, but that was Akuma. Blunt and to the point. Not afraid to step on someone's toes if it came to that.

He gestured to the chair across from Akuma at the table. Even with his book open in one hand, he hoped Tomomi would be able to eat in peace. Still, it bothered Akuma the guy was so passive. "Why the hell you do that? " Akuma asked up front, "The whole stepping out of others way, being a doormat for others. You're a club leader. If anything you should take iniciative. Let alone just have enough balls to ask if you could sit somewhere. I am not trying to be mean here, but it annoys me to see you act like people should walk all over you. Eventually, the wrong people will do just that." he said.

Clearly, Akuma wasn't the sensitive type-- but his message was clear. He was trying to address the issue for his own good.

As Akuma gave what was borderline an order, Tomomi nodded, getting up to his feet and moving to where directed, sitting down while setting his stuff on the floor next to him. Then, at Akuma's question, Tomomi was... Very confused. Did Tomomi look like he let people do whatever? Well, in thinking about it, maybe he did? But, the idea of letting people walk over him... Why would someone want to step on him? That didn't make much sense... Was it a saying? That sounded like a saying.

Still, pausing for a moment, Tomomi thought on how to answer, before just giving a nervous little shrug. "Um... H-honestly, I don't really know what you're talking about? I-I mean, the last thing I want to do is start a fight with s-someone over something minor, s-so, um... I-if you mean, like, um, n-not wanting to ask about seatings, i-it's just um... E-easier to not? I-I guess?"

Tomomi then, pausing and not sure what else to say, took a bite of his breakfast bar.

It clear that the two people were very different. Tomomi probably had a situation where he could be more nicer to people and just consider more-- far more than anyone should. Give too much, and take too little.

Akuma, on the other hand, was far more different. He learned from the 'school of hard knocks' being the son of a crime boss. People who were passive were doomed to be kicked around or worse. That was how people got killed outside of the city where the rest of the world was shit. He fought Tomomi-- and had respect for him being skilled at a fight, but his drive was weak.

Akuma shook his head as he probably was too curt with his words. "So you're okay sitting on the ground like you don't have the right to eat at a table? How does that make any sense?" Akuma said in a more lighter, but insistant tone. "Tomomi-kun, you have the right to be treated like any other-- let alone to sit with the others. The problem I have is that with that attitude you have, people could take advantage of you or even hurt you because you let them. "

This struck a chord with Akuma, and it urged him to help him. He seemed so pessimistic, it made Akuma angry to see someone treat themselves like that. YOu need to be more assertive. Take a chance to just ask what you want. If you don't speak up for yourself, how will anyone ever know what you want? Let alone to interact with other people. Believe me, being this passive is no better than being invisible. " he said, trying to encourage his new friend to have more drive for himself.

Tomomi really had no idea how to respond to any of what Akuma was saying. He couldn't deny any of what he was saying without seeming pathetic and proving his point. So, Tomomi fell quiet for a moment, trying to think of a way to respond that wasn't lying, but also didn't prove Akuma's point about his pathetic nature...

"I mean, I'd rather not have to um... R-risk any confrontations? And, um, a lot of people might find it hard to sit on the floor, but, there's a large amount of people that attend the academy and so there might not always be seats, and also some people don't like when others sit next to them without permission or if they don't know them, and so... Um... Y-yeah..."

At this, Tomomi rubbed at the back of his neck. "I-I don't tend to eat much for lunch anyways so I don't need to worry much about being sat down for long... U-um, I hope you don't mind me asking but... A-are you also originally from Japan?"

Akuma took a deep breath and sat back-- knowing if he pushed too hard this kid might withdraw even further. He really could use a smoke right there as he tried to hold back the urge. He sank his hands into his pocket as he heard his questions. "Yeah.. I am, or was..." Akuma explained. "I used to live in west Tokyo. Kind of came here for a few reasons... mostly for a new start or something like that."

He glanced away, not sure how he would go about saying it. It wasn't like he was about to tell people he was the son of a crime family and his rough appearance made people afraid of him as it was. It was why Akuma had his own table to himself. No one really WANTED to get to know him. IN truth, he felt lonely...

"I came here for college since so few places now actually have good ones, but sometimes I wonder if I should even be here..." he grumbled, somewhat feeling out of place in this city. "Let's just say growing up even before the Eternal Divine wasn't glamorous. I Learned martial arts as a nessesity, not out of simple interest. "

At hearing that there was another Japanese person at the school, Tomomi beamed in a rather innocent smile, seemingly perking up as he listened. It was a bit weird to hear of martial arts as a need rather than a want, but he decided that would probably be inappropriate to ask about further. Still, this seemed like a good opportunity to change conversation to something less distressing for the both of them.

"O-oh cool! I'm also from Tokyo, a-although I'm originally from the Meguro district, so, um... You know, more of an eastern direction... S-still, it's so cool to see another person from Japan! A-although, I mean... Um... W-which district from Tokyo? O-or do you mean you came from the Tama district? Oh, um, y-you don't have to answer if you don't want to, I-I'm just curious, sorry!"

At this, Tomomi gave an awkward laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck with a giggle.

Koto, but we moved around a little after the eternal divine," Akuma said blunty as he took a bite of his own food with one hand. It's a bit complicated..."

Either way, Akuma realized he had one thing he had to address. "Hey-- I'm very sorry about what happened back at the club. I was... I just sort of go blank in a fight at times. Like your body just reacts on instinct and " He hesitated, upset at himself for letting his instincts take over and hurt someone. "Anyway, hope no hard feelings man."

At the reminder of the club fight, Tomomi gave a light laugh and shook his head, offering Akuma a light smile. "Do you think I'd be sat here if I minded? It's fighting. I don't expect people with muscles that they are used to using in things like boxing to be able to hold back all of the time. I mean, you saw in the actual club session, accidents happen and people get hurt. It's just a thing that needs to be accepted with the club."

Nodding, Tomomi continued to give his genuine smile. "Trust me, it's fine. I just hope that through the club, you'll be able to learn how to hold back properly when you need to."

Akuma was relieved that Tomomi wasn't holding a grudge against him for the accident, or even with the events that happened then. The need for a smoke also fell away a bit as he was more at ease.

"Yeah, I'll probably show up a few times..." Akuma said, trying to be casual at the thought. "I do worry if it is appropriate for me to be involved, being so much older, But I did find others close to my age. Especially that hot girl from before. Why do the hot ones have to be such ice queens though..."Akuma said in mild-jest, but remember that she was the one who sent the other guy to the infirmary. Still, he really had hoped for the chance to spar on her.. or hit on her.

Akuma turned to Tomomi with a smile. "But be more confident in yourself. You shouldn't be afraid to interact with people just because you might be a bother to them. That is their problem, not yours," Akuma offered. "Anyway, we should chat more often. I'm still new here. I'm sure you could show me around this city a bit. I really am kind of lost when it comes to what this place has to offer. " he asked.

"I uh... I-I'm afraid I can't really relate..." Tomomi replied to Akuma's comments regarding, what he guessed, was Eryka. Still, at the rest of what Akuma said, Tomomi gave a bit of an awkward smile in return, before nodding. "Right. I agree we should chat more. It'll be nice to have another friend, and, I mean, I hope you can rely on me as a future friend as well! As for showing you a-around the city, well, um... I guess I could? I mean, I know the streets pretty well from my job, so, um, I guess I'm in a good position to be a guide? I won't be able to really recommend places though I'm afraid, since, well, um, you know... Kind of don't go in those places enough to know what even does what? Too busy looking down. Drawback of the job I guess?"

Rubbing at the back of his neck, Tomomi waited a moment, before deciding to add context. "I'm a litter picker, so, streets are my know how. Kind of."

(Posted from iPhone)

Akuma got a small sadistic kick seeing the younger guy get a little nervous at the mention of Erika. Either way , he appreciated Tomomi’s general kindness. However he had to work on his self confidence, one that Akuma would work towards to help him.

A trash picker wasn’t a glamorous job but money was money. Though he could probably help him live a bit more. At that time the bell rang , signaling the end of that lunch period. “Well, I gotta take off but let’s tt to get together sometime after class. But seriously, hav more confidence in yourself. There is no reason why you shouldn’t.” Akuma said. Closing his book, he soon turned to head to his final class for the day.

At this, Tomomi waved and smiled, getting up himself and preparing to get back to classes. "R-right! S-see you later Akuma! And um, t-thanks!" He declared with a smile, before walking off to get to his own lessons.

[Exit]