kismet bloom [Riku/Kyoko]

enter! the buzzingbee

Summer classes were going so smoothly that Riku felt she had a surplus of free time, much more than she was used to while juggling school and production and leisure. Although not necessarily a problem, a busybody like herself could only hope to find more busywork. So when her class's production set crew plasters Volunteer Painters Wanted ads across some of the boards around the dorms and hallways, it's only perfect timing.

Buzzing, Riku shows up on the appointed following Monday after hours to assist the stagehands and other volunteers in what she assumed would be easy paintjobs. Yet despite being a few minutes early, the auditorium is rather lacking with only a few students looking diligent, but not as painters. Snooping around enough to find the class representative, she finds out that they're still incredibly shorthanded. "That way," the rep says, flicking a pointer finger towards the hall behind the stage. Meandering to the end, the third year finds a theatre room unfamiliar to her own class. Brief inspection told her this was a fourth year's theatre room. Fancy.

"Good morning!" Pushing open the door and strolling to a small cluster of spread out groups working on painting scenery and backdrops and the like, Riku announces herself as if they had been waiting for her.

hope this is okay! ( ; ◇ ; )

200

Kyoko Kitamura

Kyoko was still struggling with her painting classes. She didn't know what the block was exactly, but she just couldn't get the inspiration for anything decent. Well, if she was honest with herself she knew exactly what the block was but Kyoko always tried not to think of that. It was just depressing. Student Council was going better, but she needed more distractions. When she spotted a flyer asking for volunteer painters for the drama club production, Kyoko figured that would be a good way to take a break. Not painting a piece, but a simple set prop. That might actually be fun. With hopes high, she signed up right away.

On the day of, she headed for the theater building as soon as class let out and was directed to a fourth year class. Lots of Senpai were around, which made her feel out of place and awkward, but she did as instructed and began working on some backdrops. Her painting skills made things all the better as she added realistic details on to the trees, giving them a leafy appearance and making the pop all the more. It didn't even take her long to do it, despite how it looked. All about the brush control. She was just getting started as there was some distraction as someone called out good morning. Kyoko was focused though and didn't move right away. She wanted a darker green though, to add some shading. Looking around she spotted what she needed across the room. Without thinking she quickly hopped up and took a step back, unknowingly walking into the newcomer as she joined the group. Not hard, but the moment she felt something touch her back she squeaked and stepped forward again. Kyoko spun around and bowed.

"S-sorry!" she apologized. Then she looked up at the girl she had almost bumped into. Her face turned red. Flowing locks of lovely blonde hair, vibrant green eyes that were so full of energy and life, flawless shining skin... for a moment, Kyoko thought she had almost walked into an angel. Which was silly of course, but the blonde was easily the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen.

And Kyoko had almost walked into her. Probably made her angry. Yep, she could just go ahead and die right now. That'd be great.

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Words - 388 | Tag - Riku Ichiyuma | Notes - N/A

and the feelings are established

Moving swiftly, sparing little time, Riku jumps to work without direction. Darting leisurely forth to gather necessary supplies for the job, she immediately slips a large cardboard bush from the stack of unpainted backdrops and holds it under her left arm. While turning a pivot on her heel she feels a graze, the faintest of bumps at her shoulder. Twirling to meet purple eyes of a sheepish culprit, emerald orbs glimmering momentarily, Riku would look briefly starstruck. Who was this flustered girl and why did she stir a palpitation in Riku's heart? Her expression breaks, smiling and ignoring those foreign butterflies as she half-laughs an easy reply. "Oh, no no, you're fine! No apologies!"

Casually, as if their fateful meetcute was an invitation to befriendment, Riku simply begins speaking her mind to her fellow volunteer. "Is this yours?! It's amazing! You must be a talented artist. Mind if I use yours as reference?" Gesturing to the detailed tree in the slightly taller girl's wake and marveling it with sincere admiration, Riku begins laying out her piece adjacent. "Were you heading to get more paint? I'll come with you, I still have to pick out my colors and get some newspaper."

Seamlessly, Riku wanders over towards the paint cart alongside the other girl, still blabbering a mile a minute, barely leaving breath for the cute fellow volunteer a chance to interject. Riku was both absorbed in this new world, this new face and the subconscious anxiety of drawing attention with her booming voice. Being nervous only flooded more words though. Finally, she breathes after a final thought. "Hope you don't mind the company. I'm not a fourth year so I don't know this room or anyone in this production." Pace catching up to her, she slows at the paint cart, expression softening. Her energy is still brimming with sunshine, radiating a boisterous fuzz.

notes

318

Kyoko Kitamura

?

The girl responded that no apologies were necessary and Kyoko let out a breath in relief, happy she wasn't angry with her. Though her blushing didn't have a chance to subside as the beauty complimented her painting. Kyoko didn't manage much more then a stammered thanks as her brain still attempted to process everything happening all of a sudden. And then she wanted to go with Kyoko to get paint!? So they were staying together? regardless of nerves, Kyoko found herself following the blonde over to the supply area. The girl was a talker, but this was good for two reasons. One, because her voice was because it gave Kyoko a moment to get her mind straightened out. She didn't really know what was going on, but every time she looked at the girl, her heart flipped. She had an aura of radiance that was so warm, Kyoko was happy to stay near it. By the time the girl paused her talking for a moment, Kyoko had managed to get used to the strange feelings enough to form proper sentences again. Thank the gods!

"Oh, uh, not at all!" Kyoko replied, giving the girl a smile, "I am not from this class either, I just signed up because I like painting. My name is Kitamura Kyoko, by the way. I am a first year painting major." Kyoko introduced. The feeling of raw excitement still grasped her heart and she was very happy the girl still wanted to talk to her. She didn't even care about what, she just wanted to hear her voice some more. She never thought a simple thing like words being spoken could make her spine tingle like this. She also never expected she could run into one person who would make her feel an explosion of many new emotions all at once to the point her brain stopped running properly. None of it made any sense. All she knew at the moment was that the girl seemed to want to spend time to her and now Kyoko couldn't stop smiling.

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Words - 344 | Tag - Riku Ichiyuma | Notes - N/A

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Pleasantly, a warm smile graces Riku's previously boisterous and ecstatic expression. Continuing to shift, she seemed to soften, beginning to feel a strangely calming comfort beside this girl - Kyoko Kitamura - and she found herself yearning to pursue the feeling. She did not know what it meant or why her stomach fluttered with a thousand giddy butterflies. All she knew was that this Kyoko girl was nice, welcoming and already easy to talk to. Or perhaps it was Riku who was easy to talk to.

Green eyes widen slightly but remain glued to the supply cart as she slides out a palette and begins methodically squeezing dollops of color onto it. A first year!? But she's so talented, and cute, and taller than me! Green, brown, a slightly darker green, blue. She chose not to make a big deal about it. After all, it made sense. Riku had never seen her before, they didn't share any classes. Different majors, different years.. bah! That's never stopped her from making friends before!

"Painting major!" Riku parrots, her voice and interest piqued. Truthfully, she was a little.. lacking, when it came to art. Anyone who could lay out a beautiful piece with simple strokes and color was pure genius to her. Already she admired Kyoko. "No wonder your tree is so amazing! I bumped into the right gal!"

Palette satisfied, she grabs a handful of brushes without much thought and turns to Kyoko, waiting patiently for her to be ready as well. Brilliant green eyes glimmer as they fall back upon her, a thump against her ribcage from her heart not easily ignored. Dorkily, she cannot stop the small smile painted on her face. Swimming purple eyes were near hypnotic when they'd meet her greens again, but she chose to remain oblivious. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kyoko-chan! I'm Ichiyuma Riku, but my friends call me Ri-chan!" Striking a silly pose with one hand on her hip and the other elbow cocked over her head, two fingers poking up from the grasped brushes in a classic 'peace' sign smearing the faintest of green paint under her left eye, Riku announces herself excitedly. "I am an actor, third year!" Followed by a fiendish giggle, she'd move alongside Kyoko once she was ready to settle back into painting, keeping pace so that they walk side by side. Riku was beaming.

notes

396

Kyoko Kitamura

?

The girl was slopping some paint onto her pallet all haphazardly without much consideration and Kyoko chuckled. Well, it wasn't like this was suppose to look like a masterpiece in the end so it didn't really matter. It was Kyoko who was overdoing things after all, but the blonde seemed impressed and genuinely interested in her painting, which created this strange happy bubble in Kyoko's chest and suddenly Kyoko found herself being even more selective with her own choices. Instead of green and a darker green, she picked green (and a lot of it), some yellow, and some black. She also picked up some brown, red, and white. Next were the brushes and the blonde grabbed a handful, but Kyoko was once again more selective. In fact, she had brought her own brushes and already had them in her apron. When Kyoko was done she turned around to find the blonde watching her. It made her feel all giddy and blush again. That was when she introduced herself. Riku Ichiuyuma. Pretty, like it's owner. Riku also struck a flashy pose that made Kyoko giggle. She really was full of energy. The blonde stated she was an actor, which explained the theatrics, and that she was a third year. Kyoko realized she hadn't even been considering social hierarchy and had been most disrespectful to an upperclassman. How shameful!

"A-a pleasure to meet you, Ichiyuma-senpai." Kyoko replied awkwardly with an equally awkward bow. Riku seemed to be a cheerful, easy-going sort and didn't seem offended by Kyoko's lack of proper manners so far. Hopefully there was no issue. While Kyoko normally practiced proper respect, with this girl it suddenly became all the more dire. She was far more worried about the blonde hating her then usual. What an odd sensation it was, all of these powerful emotions flooding into her like a tsunami against her heart. It was like the balance between pure bliss and utter despair rested on Riku's fingers. Why her opinion mattered so much was difficult to fathom. Or perhaps Kyoko was just trying very hard to not find the answer.

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Words - 355 | Tag - Riku Ichiyuma | Notes - N/A