Rutabaga [Shouhei/Yuri]

Wow, it sure is an ideal day to sit outside on Seven Stars Academy's campus at 4:31pm Friday afternoon. Yuri sure hoped nothing bad was about to happen on Seven Stars Academy's campus at 4:31pm Friday afternoon. If something bad happened on Seven Stars Academy's campus at 4:31pm Friday afternoon he would be caught up in it, and that would be bad. He sat outside, eating an orange. It was pretty tasty, just like sukiyaki probably was. He wouldn't know, though, as he'd never had it.

Precisely at that time did the sound of something (supposedly) bad approach.  A shrill, piercing whine of a motorcycle engine howled about the campus.  Shouhei Kagawa sped past Yuri and several other students nearby before parking.  The students badmouthed Shouhei before walking off, as far away from the delinquent as possible.  Helmet underneath one arm, small bag of groceries in the other, Shouhei happened to cross by Yuri on the way back to his dorm.

“Apples guy… Yuri, yeah?” He flashed a small grin.  “I guess you’re orange dude now.”

"Perhaps."

That Shouhei from the other day... with that outfit he was rocking the 'biker look' just perfectly. The bag indicated he just got back from shopping. He must indeed enjoy cooking. "Why were those kids bothering you?" Did they perhaps think the noise from his motorcycle was obnoxious? Some people just drive them for their gas efficiency. Maybe they were from a rival biker gang. The political landscape of Seven Stars was sure heating up.

“Judging by the way you’re still talking to me, I guess you haven’t heard the rumors and gossip floating around,” the smile on Shouhei’s face shifted to a scowl.  With a sigh, he craned his neck and scratched it.  “Well, whatever you hear don’t bother with it.  I’m just a working guy is all.”

It was true Yuri hadn't heard any sort of rumours, but that wouldn't scare him off from being near a person. Unless that person had some sort of super virus that was going to wipe out the human race. "I can tell you're an honest person. I haven't heard anything about you, and I'd be dubious of it if I did." That's quite a shame that Shouhei's reputation has been getting smeared. "Do you have an enemy, or are people just frightened of your appearance? You don't look like a threatening person." The latter would be disappointingly childish of the student body. Yuri finished the orange and put the rind in his pocket.

Shouhei’s blue eyes widened briefly at the “honest person” comment.  It had been a while since someone told him that.  Then, without warning, he burst out laughing at the remainder of Yuri’s commentary- because it had also been a while since Shouhei had enemies, was feared, or threatened others.  Not since he was the leader of his biker gang.  The irony of it all.

“...I wish that were the case,” he said while stifling his laughter, “But it isn’t so easy as that- that kind of stuff I could actually handle.”

That made sense. If it was so simple, most people would get to dealing with it. "Is that so? I won't pry into your personal life if you don't want me to, but I do offer my assistance if it's something I could help with." It wouldn't be right to leave it unchecked if he could do something about it, though that was up to Shouhei. They had only recently met, after all. Yuri took another orange out of his pocket and started peeling it.

Shouhei stared at Yuri for a moment.  The sickly looking student’s words were surprisingly sincere and Shouhei couldn’t believe that he was being offered such friendly aid.

“...Thanks Yuri, I appreciate it.  But the fact of the matter is, can you stop students from spreading gossip about me?  I mean it’s not like the rumors aren’t totally false either…” With a deflated sigh, his body lowering itself in defeat, Shouhei crouched to the ground.  His eyes looked off into the distance, at nothing in particular.

“There’s no denying that I work at a host club.  Sure I drink with my clients, sure I get hungover, but what I do with my body is my own business, dammit.  And it’s not like I’m some pervert sleeping around with my clientele either- I’m just doing my job entertaining them,” before he knew it Shouhei had lit a cigarette.  Its clove scent seemed to calm him, let him carry on with his troubles.  He wasn’t entirely sure why he was letting it all out to Yuri but it certainly felt good to vent.

“Then there’s the fact that everyone sees me gallivanting around on my motorcycle, but if you had a sweet ride, why not take it wherever you wanted?  Besides, it landed me a pretty boss gig as a courier.  You get to see a lot of the sights of the city, places you didn’t think you’d ever go.  You see people you’d never expect too.”  He briefly thought of Isabelle Salinov, the first person to befriend him in this city.  Another heavy sigh escaped Shouhei, along with a plume of smoke.  Finally he turned his head to face Yuri, his expression a somber smile.

“...But yeah, I’d love to see if you could actually get people to stop talking shit about me somehow, haha.”

Yuri could see how people would make that connection. A host who drinks and rides a motorbike around, if you didn't know him, you might think he'd be a delinquent. What a terrible fate for someone who's probably done no wrong. He ate the moderately tasty orange as Shouhei told his story. "I'll take care of it."

His eyes shifted around the courtyard for a few moments before he turned on the table he was sitting on to face the other way. "Caroline!" he shouted. After a few seconds he spoke up again. "If you're not busy, please come over here for a moment." His classmate answered his summons. "What is it?" she asked. Yuri stood up as he spoke to her. "Are you familiar with Kagawa Shouhei?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess. I heard there was someone named Shouhei who sold drugs at this school or something."
"They're lying to you, Caroline. He's a nice person. He's helped me many times. I simply don't want my friend to keep being slandered"
"Oh... Okay. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you for your time." After he thanked her, Caroline resumed her jolly way.

Yuri turned back to Shouhei. "It's not hard, just time consuming. There are a few thousand students at the academy, and it shouldn't take more than a minute or so to talk to each. On occasion we will probably encounter groups of students at once, saving time." He started to walk off to the gym, where the basketball team was practicing.

The cigarette nearly fell out of Shouhei’s mouth when he saw Yuri’s exchange with one of their fellow classmates; his jaw was left agape in bewilderment.  And did Yuri just refer to Shouhei as a “friend?”  Shouhei quickly scrambled back to his feet after Yuri, sprinting ahead of him.

“O-oi, no need to go that far man,” he held a hand up to prevent the pragmatic Yuri from moving any further, his grocery bag dangling from his wrist.  “I mean, I sure as hell appreciate it- I really do- but I’m not asking you to go throughout the whole damn Academy in some kinda ‘Make Shouhei Great Again’ campaign, you know?  You don’t need to defend me or go outta your way for me, it’s fine.”

Shouhei was right to say that Yuri didn't need to. There were other things he could do, like reforming society. Though, this was societal reform too, just on a much smaller scale. It came with the added reward of putting Yuri in Shouhei's favour. Having people like you is always nice. Still..."If that's what you wish." He stopped his advancement. "Anyways, I don't want to keep you out here holding that bag of groceries. I'll walk back with you. We can talk along the way."

There was a sigh of relief from Shouhei with that settled, as the pair continued on towards the dorms.  A moment of silence awkwardly passed coincidentally after Yuri mentioned holding a conversation.  

“...Sorry about earlier.  I didn’t mean to dump my problems on you.  But what are you, some kinda charity worker?  You’re befriending someone outta the blue and trying to help when you barely know me,” Shouhei voiced his thoughts aloud, his eyebrow raised at Yuri.  Was there some kind of ulterior motive here?  What could Yuri possibly see in Shouhei that was any benefit to him?  Maybe the frail looking Yuri needed a bodyguard?

How could Yuri not help a stranger? If you don't, you'll go to Hell and die instantly, and that would suck. "Perhaps I'm buttering you up," he said, smirking. Joke explained: Butter is a grocery, and Shouhei just went grocery shopping. "Just do good things. That's all you should do. It will cause people will look up to you, and that makes life easier." That's why the Queen has so much power, cause people love her. Otherwise, she would have been beheaded like Marie Antoinette.

Once more, Shouhei roared with laughter at Yuri’s response.  Was it really that simple?  That straightforward?  Part of Shouhei didn’t want to trust someone so adamantly altruistic- there had to have been some kind of malicious facade beneath that.  Then again, there were rare people like that in this world.  Like Mariko.  A cloud of smoke erupted from Shouhei’s face, revealing a grin of his own.

“...Ya know, I like the way you think Yuri.  ‘One good turn deserves another’ and all that.  So for that favor of talking to that cutey Caroline for me, I’ll owe ya one.  How’s that sound.”

That sounded perfect. Yuri looked straight at Shouhei. "Alright. If I ever need help, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." After a few seconds of silence, he looked back again and asked "What is it you're cooking today? Something other than sukiyaki?" It might be informative to write down everything Shouhei ate. He seemed to be in great condition, and it may have been a result of that. Perhaps his daily activities as well. Spending time with him to log what he does would double the knowledge gained. It sounded like a great plan.