School Supplies (Richard/open)

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I was going around the entire store. I needed everything from classroom supplies to new clothes for a teacher. I had very few items appropriate for one. Speaking of appropriate, I was not wearing the right clothes for a teacher now either. I had a simple rain coat open over my outfit as i walked about the store. I had just come from a Con and was doing a bit of shopping before I went back to my apartment. 

"Let's see now. What else do I need? I have eggs, bacon, lettuce, bread, hamburger meat, and milk. I still need to pick up some school clothes as well as school supplies. But groceries... What other groceries...?"

I wasn't talking to anyone but myself. It helped me sometimes when I spoke aloud.

[Richard Stock]

With the budget he was given, Richard could at least afford some quality in his foods. He was walking around the store with one of the plastic handbaskets and he'd gotten eggs, a loaf of bread, some cold cuts, lettuce, salt, pepper, a small jar of mayo, olive oil, a new thermos... and six different kinds of tea. He shifted the weight of the basket emotionlessly from one hand to the other, letting the compressing skin loosen a little from the gravity, before settling to put it down and look over his teas again, frowning at them. He was really uncertain how well they'd perform and he found himself stressing a little over it.

"Bloody yankee tea..."

But he wanted SJ to try a new sample and to thank Vi for lending him Ender's Game... and hopefully get Wren to be more helpful with telling him about classwork.---

---When he heard a woman speaking out loud. About her groceries. Her need for school supplies. For clothes.

Perhaps it was the recent number of people that Richard had been having run-ins with, or perhaps it was even just his empathy as a new transfer in to the school, but the urge to help out found itself in Richard, as he stood up, looking over at her.

...This lady was tall, holding a good ten inches over him, but her raincoat only helped to complement her. She looked (from his perspective) to be early twenties.

A teacher? If it wasn't for the slight maturity in how she held herself, he would've almost sworn she was seventeen or eighteen.

Unafraid, he found himself carrying over his load to her before setting it down next to her, announcing his presence.

"Office Max, next block.
"Kohl's, Target, down the left street."
"...Sorry, you look lost," he'd apologize, a clear London posh accent coming out as he Haiku'd at her.

It was a little past the afternoon at this point, and he had a brief visit home, so he was dressed comfortably in his normal, normal attire of a black coat over his white long-sleeved button-up high-collared shirt, black pants with a belt, and a nice pair of black shoes. His pony-tail kept his long, dirty-blond hair in check neatly.

...He might come off looking a little as a young, small English Butler.

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I looked up as a young man walked up to me. I hadn't realized there was anyone else in the isle. I smiled at him.

"Domo. I appreciate that. Thank you."
I often switched from Japanese to English. I hoped no one would mind it.
"I am not lost yet. "
I grinned.
"But I may be after I leave. I still have not gotten used to this city, much less California. I take it you are not from here either."

I paused and tapped my chin. Shrugging i decided I didn't need to get anything else, aside from chicken and beef steak. I put my hand on my hip, pulling the rain coat back to reveal more of my outfit, and grinned at him. He seemed really nice. His attire was very unusual, then again, who was I to talk?

[Richard Stock]

Katsuko wouldn't have to look up that high. Richard was only 4'9 feet tall.

The fact that Katsuko spoke in Japanese wouldn't even phase the Englishman. As a person who went to a public high school, he was incredibly tired of people asking him to say mundane sentences just to hear his accent. If he had to dwell on it, it would just a personal confirmation of 'Oh, she's Japanese. Lovely, that.'

Of course, Katsuko seemed to realize just from hearing him speak that he too wasn't from California, much less the U.S. When she asked, he nodded slightly, confirming her thoughts.

...She seemed to go back into her thoughts, looking up to contemplate her groceries, leaving Richard's eyes to stare at eyes that were no longer looking at him, so naturally, when Katsuko stretched out her raincoat in her thinking pose, Richard's eyes naturally caught onto the amount of... skin and... blue.

'What is...'

'...'

'Is she an incognito fancy girl?'

Richard cleared his throat and deliberately looked away. It was rude to stare without serious intent. It was still usually rude to stare without consent. Regardless of her occupation, though, if she needed help, his mother had raised him to do so... within reason of course.

"I'll lead you myself,
"Just finish up your shopping,
"I will wait outside."

...Seemed like he was going to be a little late finishing up his homework tonight, he noted.

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I looked back to the young man as he cleared his throat and looked away. I laughed. Seemed I had forgotten about my outfit.

"I just came form a Comic Convention in San Diego. I have a thing for Anime."

I grinned and blushed a little. It seemed he was going to wait outside. I looked at my items then back up to him.

"You don't have to wait outside. It's awfully cold out there. If you like, you can keep me company. I think I only have one or two more things I need to get. I'm sorry for asking, but do you go to school around here?"

I hoped I wasn't stepping over some boundary. 

[Richard Stock]

Anime?

Thinking back on it, Richard began to remember a few of his blokes with the crowd he was hanging out with were into that. Japanese animation.

Still, he wasn't too familiar with what a Con was. For intents and purposes, he half-concluded that as a fancy girl she had just finished conducting "business" at this "Comic Convention" in San Diego (a convening of funny people?) and half that he was probably misunderstanding this grossly. Either way, he wouldn't comment on it further. But her under-attire looked flashy and pleasant.

Then, just as he was about to go and finish checking out his items, she stopped him.

She commented about the cold, but, well... the cold never bothered him anyway compared to London, he almost felt normal at this time of day, but he wasn't about to trample on this lady's thoughtfulness.

"You're right, 259."

Richard seemed oddly comfortable dealing with someone older than him...

...He then took a few steps to her and then shifted his plastic handbasket to his left hand and held out his right to her for a handshake.

"Richard Stock. Pleasure," he'd say pleasantly, introducing himself with a confident air.

...And he might as well do that now, if he was going to be leading her around as opposed to being called "hey," "boy," "guy," or "kid."

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I smiled and took his hand, my own hands soft and warm to the touch.

The pleasure is mine, Mr Stock. My name is Katsuko Hinata. I am happy to hear you are attending the high school. I start the day after tomorrow as the new Choir teacher. After hours I lead the Thespians, or theater arts club."

He was polite and kind. I appreciated that he was unlike the other students in that respect. I remembered all too well what my school was like. I gave an inward shudder. I smiled at the student and released his hand.

"I still need to get cheese and cucumbers." I was so all over the place that i had forgotten to get the cheese with the milk and the cucumbers with the lettuce.

[Richard Stock]

'Katsuko Hinata.'

Solid, respectful grip, warm hands.

So far, Miss... Ms... Mrs... Katsuko (he remembered in one of his conversations with his blokes back in London how the Japanese said their names backwards, but here in the U.S., Richard initial assumption was that Katsuko was Hinata's first name) had proven to be an amiable professor, something unlike the rumors he had heard about most teachers in 259. Many were not pleasant, seemed to be there primarily to keep the kids in line, but just so happened to be very knowledgeable in their fields to prove their competency. Most classes effectively felt like they were all being taught by a proctor.

More then that, Katsuko was going to be a Choir teacher? And be in charge of the Thespian's Club? With the recent focus on academics and school discipline, the first thing that came to mind when it came to Student Hierarchy-run schools was not the arts. It was this this openness, this uniqueness when Richard and his mother were researching new schools he could board up in that made him glad he chose PHS #259, which showed a real prospect for reformation for majority of its students.

...Not that he would join the Thespian's club. One: He didn't speak much. Two: Being after hours would interfere with his Cafe work once that was up and running. But she would be one of the faces he would be happy to see there...

A blur of thoughts.

Their polite introductions aside, Katsuko finally produced two objectives for them to find.

"Ah, cheese, down this aisle," he'd say, picking up his own basket of groceries, he'd get ready to lead on for them... depending on her body movement. The cheeses were next to the meats in the refrigerated section, which would be closer. The vegetables and fruits would be towards the front, in front of the deli, so they could just loop around efficiently and go to the check-out in one go. Of course, Katsuko herself said she was not lost in here, not yet, so she just as readily could take the lead outpacing the young Englishman or walked next to him.

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I matched my stride with his and smiled as he led the way. I silently wondered what had brought him to the school, but would not ask. It was rude. I was a quiet for a bit. Had he asked a question or started a conversation, I would not object. The opposite, actually. I was more than happy to conversate, but for now, I remained quiet, silently observing.

[Richard Stock]

They walked together in silence for a while, as they made their way down to the cheese section. There he waved his hands out in front of him. Cheddar, Munster, Gouda... square cheeses, wine cheeses, cheese appropriate for cold cut sandwiches (he briefly wondered if he needed to restock on that). He'd watch her as he made her selection... for a moment.

"Miss Hinata, why here?"

An easily misinterpreted question. But... he looked around the store. He looked to outside the store, as he switched the plastic basket to his other arm, leaning slightly closer to her. 'Why here of all places?'

He wasn't going to complain about her transferring here... but Richard was curious

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I nodded in thanks as he gestured to the wall of cheese. I'd take a step forward and lean down to make my selection: Cheddar cheese 2 lb block and american sliced cheese. My hair fell down around my face before I stood to my normal upright position. My eyes looked over his face. Complete curiosity. Why was I here? The children, of course. I adjusted my footing to be more comfortable and to fully face him as well. My smile faded to one of passive pleasantry.

"I am here for the children." I paused, trying to find the right words to explain more. "I attended a school much like 259 when i was younger. It was not a school for delinquents, but it was a school filled with fighting. But I digress. I believe every student deserves a second chance. I know they can not go to a normal school, so I decided to be the teacher that cares." I paused again. "Does that make sense?"

[Richard Stock]

Richard would let the question simmer, as he waited for her to make her selection, figuring for himself that the cheese he had would last him at least until the end of next week. Anymore than that and he'd have to get more friends to share with him. In spite of his serious personality... it was taking some getting used to, shrinking down from being three down to one.

And slowly and thoughtfully, Katsuko went over her thoughts to Richard. To be here for the children, and how her past school experiences reinforced her to want to do work here. This only reinforced his prior opinions about the teacher. She'd receive a nod from him.

"Perfectly."

...But he found it odd that she mention "second chances"---perhaps he was just thinking too much on it.

Hers was a noble cause, and if she kept her demeanor about him around the school... it would be hard, but it could work overtime.

When she was ready, he would take a small step, pause (his time with SJ was teaching him more and more about how movements were read), look back at her, and then begin to lead her to the cucumbers. It was a bit dull, but this was how Richard was in his downtime. But he was aware of that. So he'd shoot her a glance, mulling over what sort of question would be appropriate for someone like him of his age to ask.

"...Cons for stand-up?" indirectly bringing up her blue attire again.

So far in his head, Katsuko Hinata was a 259 teacher, -possibly- moonlighting as a fancy girl, she had a thing for conventions for stand-up comedians (perhaps some Comedians needed to relieve their stress?)...

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I smiled and let him lead me on. I stopped and put a hand to my mouth and giggled at the suggested cons for stand up. Putting my hand back down to the handle of my basket I looked back to his face with stars in my eyes. He was a sweetheart.

"No, silly!" Giggle, giggle. "It's a Comic Convention. As in super heroes and Anime. We get together and have one large event. Most times spilling over a weekend. Most last between two and three days, though some are longer than that. There are a lot of people who like to dress in character." I gestured to myself. "And there are many who go to sell items such as comics, clothing, toys, and everything in between. I myself dressed up as Katana from Mortal Combat."

I smiled again and waited for an answer. One of approval, questions, or just flat out ignoring I didn't mind. There were several people who didn't like these kinds of things. It was completely normal to me.

[Richard Stock]

---Katsuko started giggling. Richard raised a brow---yes, yes apparently he had misintepreted something here. But she looked happy to explain and she looked at him... very fondly.

'Hm. Good eyes.'

She then proceeded to explain to the young man what a Comic Con---A Comic Convention was. He raised his head, opening his mouth, making a silent 'Ohhhhhhhhh' face. Going for buying super hero comics and other things and anime things in the same vein, he could imagine a could of the blokes from back home getting into that, like Trevor and Nathaniel. But it was the "dressing up" part that made the Englishman switch his raised brows.

'Katana from Mortal Combat'---that was a game. He played a few FPS games like Call of Duty: Black UPS or something with one or two of the friends that had a gaming console (and whose parents were fine with such games for a ten year old), but all Richard knew about Mortal Combat was that it was one of those side-scrolling "fighter" games. And some of the lasses and lads in there weren't particularly dressed for winter...

They arrived at the vegetable and fruits section, a rainbow collage of food. But Richard wasn't really paying attention to that, looking downward as he rubbed his chin with his free hand. Stopping in front of the cucumbers, he raised his free hand in front of her. Slowly, deliberately, so she knew he wasn't going to try to pull a fast one on her (trust was hard to build and maintain---especially at a school like this and he figured this sort of thing was a good practice).

He'd tug on the shoulder of her raincoat. Lightly.

"...You can't take this off," he'd state more than ask, and gesture with his hand in a circle---basically referring to the general area. The public.

"Still... I'd like to see."

...Was the 15 year old teasing the 20something year old? It was hard to tell with how little his face seemed to change---

---He pointed with his thumb outside of the market.

"---Where appropriate," he'd add, as though that were the most obvious thing. Somewhere not in public where it would be less awkward. Or maybe she wouldn't mind, he honestly didn't know.

But yes, he was most definetely teasing.

[Sugimoto Kuromori]

I followed him again, still giggling a bit. He was funny even if he didn't mean it to be funny. It was just ironic he had made a joke about a literal stand up convention. I was grinning so much, I didn't notice he had stopped at the vegetables. I looked over them without seeing them for a moment before finally 'opening' my eyes and reaching out to grab a few. I stood up and smiled at him as he tugged on my jacket.

"I'd be more than happy to show you, but I do believe you are right. This may not be the place...."
I paused and looked around. There weren't many people around here. Not that I cared. It was my body, not a weapon. side from the public disturbance, it was cold over here as well.
"Lets go to a slightly warmer place and I can show you there. Perhaps the bread or canned food?"
I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Students and teachers weren't supposed to have THAT kind of relationship. It was frowned upon.