Year One

Taiyo: "Not really. Think I might just go swimming a lot. Think we could hang out over the summer?"

=======================================

The two are merrily strolling down the street as police vehicles of sorts go by every now and again.

Azuma: "This is horrible. Let's go to the park, so I don't have to see this."

Mimiru: "The usual spot?"

Azuma: "Yep."

A"I'd...I'd like that."

T"Do you have anywhere I could write down my phone number or E-mail address?"

Taiyo holds her hand out.

Taiyo: "Do you have a pen?"

==================================

At the park, the two sit under a shady tree on some hill overlooking the path and stream.

Azuma: "Why don't we ever sit on the other side?"

Mimiru: "Because it overlooks the old chemical plant."

Azuma: "Exactly. It's so industrial. I want to take pretentious black and white photos of it and refer to it as the proletariate keeping kept down by the burgouis."

Mimiru: "That's stupid."

Azuma: "I'm trying to find a hobby. Help me out here."

*Thiera digs out a pen.*

T"Yes, but no paper."

Taiyo: "Write it on my hand?"

=================================

Mimiru: "Why did we do this? It's fucking boring."

Azuma: "Didn't have to join me."

Mimiru: "Then I'd have to pick you up at the pound. Like what's her name's dog, Jake."

T"Okay...but I've never done this before."

*And as a result, she presses too hard, & it's kind of blotchy.*

Taiyo looks at her hand, tilting her head to the side.

Taiyo: "It'll work. And yours, Aroma?"

Fast forward some time to the end of day, Taiyo having successfully gotten two lady's numbers at the same time like a real playa is waiting at the front door of the school.

=====================================

Mimiru: "Wha... You better not be licking my face again, mutt."

Mimiru opens her eyes, having fallen asleep at some point and being rudely awoken to a wet feeling on her face find the parks sprinklers have turned on. Azuma remains undisturbed, leaning against her, fast asleep.

Mimiru: "You're almost tolerable like this."

*Aroma & Thiera emerge from the building at about the same time.*

*Eve heads out behind most of her classmates, trying to avoid getting trampled*

[FINALLY!]

*Eve waves goodbye and heads for the nearest place to grab a snack on her way home*

Taiyo: "Hi!"

=================================

Mimiru: "Hey, mutt. Wake up."

After nudging him fails, she stands up resulting in him falling over. Which actually wakes him up.

Azuma: "I waa having a wonderful dream. You weren't in it."

Mimiru: "I'm going home."

Azuma: "Sprinklers again?"

A"Hello. What's your favorite flower?"

Taiyo: "Umm, catsmint?"

A"I said, 'Snapdragon.'"

T"I still haven't made up my mind. The lotus has so many medical uses, but I much prefer the aesthetics of the gardenia."

*Eve continues walking, humming quietly under her breath*

[After I grab a bite to eat, I'll go return the Constellation guide to the Public Library, and then I'll be free!]

Taiyo: "Okay... Do you want to hang out later today?"

A"Umm...sure."

T"What would you like to do?"

Taiyo: "Swimming?"

T"When do you want to do that?"
===========================
*Ven wonders why she is being ignored.*

Taiyo: "Six o'clock at the outdoor pool?"

============================

For much of the same reason everyone else is. It's a dull day with nothing happening.

T"I don't know, maybe we should try it tomorrow. It'll be dark a few hours after that, which could be a problem if one of us is running late. Unless maybe there's something else you want to do, during the evening."

Taiyo: "We could just hang out. Unless Aroma has something in mind."

A"I guess we could get something to eat, maybe go to the park...unless either of you...have something else...need to go to bed...or something."

Taiyo: "We could have a sleep over afterwards! Err...unless. Going to the park sounds fun."

T"Yes, let's just go swimming, then to the park."

Taiyo: "Okay."

Fast forward later in the day to the pool. Being the first day of summer holidays and a nice day on top of that it's relatively crowded. Taiyo is waiting outside on the deck in her bathing suit, a pink leopard print bikini.

====================================

The two are on the roof of their apartment building, sitting old lawn chairs, a damaged patio table between them.

Mimiru: "So you two idiots got bored and put some discarded lawn furniure on the roof for what reason again?"

Azuma: "You must enjoy this story if I have to tell it again. It's like how rich folk have a deck or some nonsense. He found some old lawn furniture, cleaned it up and took it up here. It's a pretty nice view."

Mimiru: "I guess, if you enjoy dive apartment buildings and meth labs."

Azuma: "There's always the park again. The view of the old chemical plant is spectacular in the pale moonlight."

Mimiru: "Shut up."

======================================

Elsewhere in the city, all is calm. Some people find the peace to be a sign of bad things to come while others see it as something to be cherished for it could disappear at any moment.

There are even less people in sandwich boards warning of the end times on the streets.