ayano's theory of bruises - 9/19, 4:15PM

[kagepuro]

Ummmm

Is there anyone on here who’s like...good at make up that can help me...Like one of those instagram models or something...

I was clumsy enough to give myself a black eye, and I need to hide it from my parents so they don’t freak out or get the wrong idea…

[A picture of Ayano follows, purple and black underline her left eye--thankfully not particularly swollen. Even so, whatever she smashed into must have smashed into her pretty hard. She wears a weak, sheepish smile on her face despite the heavy bruise. If it weren't there, this would be a perfectly good Facebook profile picture, in fact.]

It’s not that bad, right? Silly me...
Maybe I should just do the emo hair thing...?

Comments

[complementing]

[There are very few people in this world who are clumsy enough to give themselves a black eye...but she doesn't know the girl at all, so she's not going to pry. Yet.]

not an Instagram model but still pretty good with make up!

where can I meet you?

[kagepuro]

ummm, I'm still at the high school...I don't wanna go home yet.

who are you?

[complementing]

OH

right duh

I'm Minako Arisato!

sorry I thought you were a freshman at RU, it's habit to want to jump in and offer help without introducing myself hehe

[kagepuro]

[way to open up a whole OTHER can of worms.]

yeah...haha...well i should be...

Maybe you saw me on the registry or something before they decided to hold me back 😞

It's nice to meet you, Minako! I'm Ayano Tateyama Terranova

[complementing]

[Oops.] it's nice to meet you too! and oh no, I'm sorry to hear that Ayano (╯︵╰,) please don't let it get you too down but is there anything I can do for you right now? Go on a make up run? Bring you some cake?

[kagepuro]

...Cake? You'd bring me cake?

even though you don't even know me and I'm just a random girl on here...?

[complementing]

hey, anybody that's on here is a part of the Retrospec community, and we have to stick together! besides, even if I don't know you, you sound like you need a pick me up and I specialize in lifting spirits! you don't have to trust me, but I'll make sure to get one with a seal on it so you know I haven't done anything bad to it

[kagepuro]

...I trust you!! You seem really nice... [She actually reminds her kind of, of herself. Just the self that isn't dealing with being assaulted. Also a little bit like Soleil, but less ravenously affectionate.]

I could use a pick-me-up, if I'm being honest...This week hasn't been very good at all...

[complementing]

haha thank you (✩´꒳`✩) what's your favorite flavor of cake? I can meet you on the high school grounds once I pick it up...maybe the benches near the library?

[kagepuro]

I can wait there, yeah!

Just vanilla is fine! Normal cake...like, birthday cake!

Oh, also, your emoticons are really cute...
Just saying!!

I'll be waiting on the bench, I kind of stick out so you shouldn't have much trouble finding me, ehehe....

[complementing]

birthday cake is supposed to be more special than that...!! But okay, if you want vanilla, then you got it! thanks! I love my kaomojis~ ヾ(๑ゝڡ◕๑)ゝ see you soon!

[kagepuro]

birthday cake is whatever the birthday girl wants it to be!!!

I love regular emojis ☺️

I'll be waiting!!!

[Ayano lifts her fingers to her face and touches below her eye. Minako's attitude was enough to make her momentarily forget about the stinging pain and inner turmoil.]

[complementing]

[About thirty minutes later, Minako is heading onto the high school campus, a cute little cake box in hand. She visits here often enough for ReVA functions and watching Sora's soccer games that she knows her way around, so no getting lost, but she does feel very aware of herself, feeling so many stares in her direction as she walks by. Minako had taken a sneak peek at Ayano's profile picture on Retrospec, so she recognizes the girl immediately. The black eye helps with that, too.] Ayano? It's me, Minako.

[kagepuro]

Oh! Nice to meet you, Minako! [She waves the older girl over, smiling. Almost without realizing it, she covers the left side of her face with her palm.]

...






You're.


Really pretty...

[complementing]

[She laughs and goes a little pink in the face, pleased at the compliment, and sets the cake box onto Ayano's lap.] You're so sweet! Thank you. Here, vanilla cake, just like you requested. [The cake definitely didn't come from the grocery store.]

[kagepuro]

[Ayano puts her hands on her cheeks, gasping quietly at the piece of cake dropped into her lap.]

I....I'm not sure I can ruin something this cute by eating it...

[Looks over to Minako with a smile.]

You didn't make this, did you...?

[complementing]

I wish I had the time to hand-make you a cake! But no, this was from one of the shops on the way over. [She sits down on the bench next to Ayano, setting her purse to the side and crossing her legs.] Go on, eat it~ Or take a picture first, then eat it.

[kagepuro]

Oh, I don't have an instagram...Dad said it wasn't a good idea, and I agreed.

[Assumadly using a fork she picks at the cake and begins to rapidly put it away.

After a bit, she looks to Minako, pointing to her black eye]

Hashtag...No filter! [She's laughs and smiles...for a moment, but it turns out she's not quite ready to be joking about getting assaulted, and it becomes a frown soon after as she goes back to the cake.]

It's really good...

[complementing]

[Minako just so happened to sit on the side opposite from Ayano's black eye, so once the other girl turns back to the cake, she gets the idea and snaps a picture.] Yup, hashtag, no filter. [She turns the phone to show Ayano, smiling gently. Different angles make a difference!] You look really cute in it, looking so serious. Want me to send it to you?

[kagepuro]

[Ayano blushes softly at her own visage on the screen, and then blushes further upon locking eyes back with Minako. It's so, so sweet of her and for a moment Ayano forgets about the black eye and feels genuinely happy. She smiles earnestly.]

You think so...?

My number is --- --- ----!

[Another forkful of cake.]

Cake brings out the best in girls, I think!

[complementing]

Oh, definitely, or whatever else kind of sweet they like.

[A few taps on her screen, and then the picture has been sent to Ayano!]

Cupcakes are my personal favorite, though!

[kagepuro]

Cupcakes and cakes are the same, aren't they? [The last bite...]

Just...smaller. [She takes out her phone, smiling at the picture of herself.]

...

How long do you think it takes bruises like this to go away?

[complementing]

Hmm...in my experience, about two to four weeks, depending on how bad it is?

[She scoots forward and holds up her hand, hovering it near Ayano's cheek.]

May I look at it?

[kagepuro]

[Her cheeks flush a bit as the corners of her lips turn downward, leaning into Minako's hand. She offers the girl a look at her eye. A deep, black and purple bruise under her eye that, thankfully, is only a little bit swollen. Still, whatever hit her, hit her hard.]

...Yeah. Go ahead.

[complementing]

[Minako guides Ayano's face a little more her way, humming softly when she sees the damage. From the amount of public outcry in Ayano's post, Minako's sure the girl won't have any shortage of people raring to go at whoever did this to her.]

Do you wear glasses, Ayano? That plus sweeping over your bangs could probably distract from the worst of the bruising, after we put make-up on it. [A laugh.] Definitely a mysterious and sophisticated look, instead of emo.