Aika's First Personal Scene

[18:08] <@[NGM]> ---Start Scene---
[18:20] <@[NGM]> Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Your eyes open to an unfamiliar room, the loud clock on the wall signifying that it was barely dawn. "This is your new room". Those were the words spoken to you the day before. A dorm room within East Kiyami Academy. By yourself, the room was quite spacious, especially compared to what you had been used to. With no classes today, it felt as if the entire school was asleep
[18:20] <@[NGM]> at this time.
06[18:24] * Aika slowly rises from her bed and looks around with half-lidded eyes. For a moment she thinks she's still dreaming, the walls around her looking nothing like the dungeon she was held in and there was even a window. She had kept the blinds open, letting the morning light shine in unimpeded, to remind her of her freedom, that it was really real, and that any time she wanted, she could go experience it.
06[18:27] * Aika decided this was one of those times. Standing up and stretching, she quickly goes through her morning routine--although considering his was her first time doing it in 6 years, it's not much of a routine anymore. Brushing her teeth, showering, drying and brushing her hair, all of it seemed magical somehow, ironically, considering all of the magic she had been exposed to. Transforming kept her clean and neat, but somehow making these motions made her feel more like a girl and less like a superhero.
01[18:28] <Aika> After getting dressed and realising she doesn't know how or where to get breakfast she decides to exit the dorm a little early, still having some time before classes, just to look at the sky she's been forbidden from seeing and explore the school grounds from an outside perspective.
[19:03] <@[NGM]> Without much know of the school's layout, your feet carry you aimlessly around the school. Although you can't seem to find any one to ask for directions, the stroll is, for the most part, enjoyable. With each passing minute, the sky seems to get slightly brighter and brighter, signifying the oncoming start of the day.
[19:04] <@[NGM]> Just as it seems like the entire school just might be deserted, you pick up a sound from around the corner. It's faint, but, thanks to just how quiet your surroundings are, it's easy to identify the sound of singing.
[19:05] <@[NGM]> "Hmm...Hmhmhm...Hmhm..."
06[19:06] * Aika is surprised, but smiles. She doesn't want to disturb or startle them, so she makes her way towards the sound quietly.
[19:15] <@[NGM]> Upon turning the corner, your senses are suddenly overwhelmed. Vibrant colors of many different hues and shades fill your vision as a wonderful scent wraps itself gently around your head. Before you was a large and beautiful flower garden, neatly organize in a circular area with the school itself. At it's center was a fountain of water, glistening under the light of the sun.
[19:16] <@[NGM]> Kneeling down at one of the many beds was the figure of a person who looked to be idly watering the garden while humming to themselves.
06[19:17] * Aika audibly gasps and takes a step back upon seeing this after all the bleakness she'd been exposed to. She almost feels overwhelmed by sensory overload and has to close her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again to get a clear picture of the place. "Beautiful..."
[19:25] <@[NGM]> As if time had suddenly stopped, both the sound of humming and watering come to an abrupt halt. "Who's there?!" The voice, in contrast to the kind and warm humming from before, lashes out towards you in a mix of enmity and surprise. The kneeling person stands, revealing himself to be a male with black hair and sharp eyes. It doesn't take long before those antagonistic eyes focus themselves on
[19:25] <@[NGM]> you.
06[19:28] * Aika stumbles backwards at the sudden shouting, almost transforming instinctually but managing to restrain herself in time. "A-ah, I'm sorry! I'm ura no Micah--ack--Murano Aika, I was just walking around and..!" She stops herself and just bows. "I'm sorry, I'll go."
[19:33] <@[NGM]> The boy, not seeming to listen to your strained introduction, drops the watering can before moving towards you with quick steps. Like a snake about to devour a frog, he closes the distance and, just as it seems like he would attack, he walks past you. Without a word, he checks down the corner you had come from before letting out a sigh.
06[19:38] * Aika turns around and tilts her head. Wasn't he just mad at her? Is this how non-magical girls act when they're teenagers? Maybe. "Umm...?"
[19:44] <@[NGM]> As if remembering your presence, his attention focuses on you once more. He idly walks back over to you, his slightly cold gaze looking down on you. "You...What year are you?"
06[19:47] * Aika puts her hands on her hips, a little irritated by this guy's aloofness. "I'm a first year. You know, you should introduce yourself at least before asking all of these questions..."
[19:55] <@[NGM]> The boy frowns slightly. He stares at you silently, his eyes scanning up and down your entire frame. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he responds. "Masukawa Motoo... Though, for your sake and mind, it would be better if you just forgot my name."
[19:55] <@[NGM]> (mine*)
06[19:56] * Aika tilts her head. "Why? What do you mean by that?"
[20:00] <@[NGM]> <Motoo> "Last thing I need is you talking about what you saw here..." He lightly presses his hand onto his forehead, seeming to vent with exasperation. "Speaking of which, why are you even here this early..?"
06[20:02] * Aika blushes a little. Saying something like "I just got out of prison and wanted to smell the fresh air" probably wouldn't go over well. She decided to try a softer approach. "I just transferred here and I wanted to see the grounds before classes." She leans forward a little to look at the garden more closely. "It seemed like you enjoyed it here, I don't know why you want to keep it a secret..."
[20:11] <@[NGM]> Motoo stares at you quiet as you gaze at the school garden. "A transfer student... I see. Then you don't know of the curse of this garden I'm guessing."
06[20:14] * Aika looks back at Motoo, intrigued. "Huh? Curse?" It looks so pretty, though...
[20:21] <@[NGM]> A quiet step. "One of the six curses of East Kiyami Academy. 'The Forbidden Garden'." Another step, closing the already shortened distance. "Should two people exchange their names within the garden, a contract is formed." He slowly lifts his hand towards you. "Should the two hold eye contact within one another for an extended period of time..." His thin fingers touch your chin, lifting your head
[20:21] <@[NGM]> slightly to meet his face, only a few centimeters away from yours. "One of the two would fall under the other's spell...forever." His last words come out as a hushed whisper, his deep, black eyes reflecting your image.
[20:22] <@[NGM]> (with one another*)
06[20:23] * Aika 's heart leaps a little. Why? Why did my heart just leap? She laughs and steps back. "I guess one of us is doomed then, huh?"
[20:27] <@[NGM]> Motoo doesn't reply. Rather, his expression softens, as if slowly falling into the abyss of your own eyes. It could be your imagination, but it feels as if, slowly but surely, he's moving closer to you.
06[20:29] * Aika 's ears feel hot and she backs up a little. "And there are six of these curses, huh...?"
[20:35] <@[NGM]> "...Pft." Unable to hold it back anymore, the boy's mask crumbles, his previous expression of passion quickly shifting to that of amusement. He pulls back, hand over his mouth as he continues to chuckle. "Sorry, I-kh...I didn't think you would take it so seriously, haha..."
06[20:37] * Aika blushes fully and glares embarrassedly. "You mean you made it up?! There's no Forbidden Garden curse..?" She frowns. "What about the other five? Did you make that up, too?"
[20:44] <@[NGM]> <Motoo> "I'm sure this school has a couple of stories like that, but I'm not really one to believe in those kind of things, much less care about them."
06[20:46] * Aika puts her hands on her hips and grins victoriously. "You know, that teasing really makes me want to tell everyone I know about who I saw tending the garden."
[20:55] <@[NGM]> "...Ah." As if having just realized the consequence of his actions, the boy's expression darkens. He goes quiet, pondering to himself for a brief moment. He frowns, glancing at you briefly before going back to thinking.
[20:56] <@[NGM]> <Motoo> "...I'll probably regret asking this, but I might as well. What can I do to make sure you keep quiet?"
06[20:56] * Aika smiles. "How about you don't tell anyone about me falling for the curse thing and I won't tell anyone about you being here." She sighs and crosses her arms. "I did just transfer here so... I want to make a good first impression."
[21:03] <@[NGM]> The boy looks to you with a surprised expression. "You...You're pretty pure, aren't you?"
06[21:06] * Aika looks confused. "Huh? Pure?" Should she be asking for more? "Well, I guess you should be happy I'm letting you off the hook!" She grins again and leans in and wiggles her fingers for a "spooky" effect "...Or maybe this is just the first part of my spell for the Curse of the Forbidden Garden!"
[21:10] <@[NGM]> <Motoo> "Hoh? So you /were/ hoping I'd fall for you."
01[21:12] <Aika> "Fall for..?" Her eyes widen and something seems to connect in her mind. She blushes again. "Oh, a spell like... that." She turns around. To save herself from more embarrassment she quickly blurts out "Remember, this whole curse incident stays quiet!!"
[21:17] <@[NGM]> With your back turned towards the young male, you faintly pick up the sound of rustling behind you, followed by the something lightly touching the top of your head.
06[21:18] * Aika blinks and looks up.
[21:25] <@[NGM]> "For some reason..." Motoo speaks from right behind you, "I've had this strange feeling that you really bring out the flowers around you... That is, they seem livelier than usual." A lone flower lays nestled within your hair, it's petals swaying slightly back and forth despite there being no real wind. "Well, consider this as a welcoming present."
06[21:27] * Aika smiles and strokes the petals of the flower gently. "Thank you, Motoo-san. Maybe we'll see each other again!"
[21:34] <@[NGM]> Motoo idly moves back towards his watering can, picking up where he had left off. "Don't think much of it. Also, you should find better ways to spend your Sundays off than wandering around school. Careful not to go making a fool of yourself by waiting outside an empty office."
01[21:35] <Aika> "..............Oh."
06[21:35] * Aika quickly moves off before she can make a fool of herself any more.
[21:37] <@[NGM]> As you make your way away from the radiant garden, your ears once more pick up on the sounds of light humming before it fades off into the distance.
[21:37] <@[NGM]> ---Scene End---