Introduction
Your Love Is Like A Blooming Flower;
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In modern-day Japan, magic is not quite so uncommon. Many people use magic, for any and every purpose in life. For the Minami family, magic is sacred, ancient spells and techniques passed down from generation to generation as the family continues to prosper in their field. xx
Minami Kenji is a young mage thriving with his magic but wilting in his heart, struggling to get through life in the midst of his grandfather's death. After losing the only person he's ever really loved, he doesn't feel much purpose, or like anything he does is worth doing. And though his spells are perfect, he's lost the spark that makes them truly magnificent. xx
Seongjae is another young mage from Korea who arrives in Tokyo with an old letter, written by Kenji's deceased grandfather. The letter states that he be given a place in the Minami household- a job, a home, a family, even. And no one is very willing to argue when the wife of the man who wrote that old letter insists Seongjae stay and learn from them. xx
After all, who's going to argue with the mage running the damn place? xx
Kenji is distrustful of Seongjae, an invader in his already upturned life. But an old letter isn't the first mysterious appearance- more letters, long abandoned research, a myth about an enchanted flower that can make a person fall in love- like pieces in a puzzle, incident after incident has the boys searching for something that might not even be real, and under it all lies a devastating truth that might well break the Minami household. xxxxx
Minami Kenji is a young mage thriving with his magic but wilting in his heart, struggling to get through life in the midst of his grandfather's death. After losing the only person he's ever really loved, he doesn't feel much purpose, or like anything he does is worth doing. And though his spells are perfect, he's lost the spark that makes them truly magnificent. xx
Seongjae is another young mage from Korea who arrives in Tokyo with an old letter, written by Kenji's deceased grandfather. The letter states that he be given a place in the Minami household- a job, a home, a family, even. And no one is very willing to argue when the wife of the man who wrote that old letter insists Seongjae stay and learn from them. xx
After all, who's going to argue with the mage running the damn place? xx
Kenji is distrustful of Seongjae, an invader in his already upturned life. But an old letter isn't the first mysterious appearance- more letters, long abandoned research, a myth about an enchanted flower that can make a person fall in love- like pieces in a puzzle, incident after incident has the boys searching for something that might not even be real, and under it all lies a devastating truth that might well break the Minami household. xxxxx
Bright, Beautiful, And Ever So Sweet.
- 9 posts here • Page 1 of 1
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 2 authors
β΅ DIALOGUE : #4e817d xxxβ΅ THOUGHT : #ba982d
"Dude, have you heard of Speed?" Hiro questioned his brunette best friend in his native tongue, sipping his cappuccino. Technically, Seongjae wasn't supposed to be talking with customers, but it was his break, and Hiro devotedly frequented one of the cafes he worked at, partly to support his best friend, and partly just to fit in some more time with him, considering Seongjae's busy schedule of part-time jobs.
"Speed?" Seongjae thought it over. "Never have. Who are they?"
"See, that's the thing, Speed is so fucking underrated," Hiro bit into his chocolate muffin as he spoke."They used to be part of Coed School back in 2012, but they disbanded. The guys - 'cause Coed School was obviously a coed Kpop group - became Speed. Practically no one knows who they are, but they're really good. Their situation is even worse than U-KISS's." Hiro chugged his coffee before continuing. "You should check 'em out, Seong-ah. Their choreo is amazing."
"I be sure to do that when my next shift's over," Seongjae replied, looking at the clock - five minutes left. Hiro frowned slightly.
"Seongjae-kun, we graduated less than a week ago," Hiro began, tone rather somber. "You got into SNUMNS, right? I mean, your test scores were brilliant."
Seongjae sighed, stealing a piece of Hiro's muffin. "Yeah, I did," he muttered. "I'm not going to college this year, though."
Hiro slamed his coffee down on the table, nearly cracking the mug. "What?!" he screeched, catching the attention of the other customers. He gave them a strained smile, bowing his head and muttering apologies before turning back to Seongjae, whispering harshly, "What do you mean you aren't going to college this year?"
Seongjae sighed again, stealing Hiro's coffee as well as his muffin. "The school gave me a partial scholarship, but the tuition's still expensive. Hiro, I'm fucking broke, and my uncle's not that rich. I can't afford it right now. Maybe next year."
"So what are you going to do this year? Work?"
"Maybe. I could travel to Japan this year, or maybe Bulgaria." Seongjae said the last part in Korean, not recalling the term for his biological father's home country in Japanese.
"Seongjae, you are in no shape to travel if you're trying to save money for college tuition."
". . . I might not go to college at all, in that case."
Hiro gaped. "Kyung Seongjae!" He snatched his coffee back. There was a long moment of silence between the two friends as Hiro sipped his coffee. Finally, the auburn-haired teen sighed. "Seongjae, if you don't want to go to college, I'll support you. In fact, I'll support you no matter what you do. But it's not going to be easy to get a good job. After all, this is South Korea. College is practically required for basic survival past the age of twenty-three."
Seongjae groaned, leaning back in his chair. He was about to reply when he boss called for him to continue work. Seongjae sat up, returning Hiro's muffin. "Gotta go right now, but about the college shit . . . who said I was staying in Korea?"
Seongjae dashed back to the counter just as Hiro got what he was trying to convey, the auburn-haired boy whipping his head around to squint at his best friend's retreating apron-clathed form.
Seongjae groaned - it was already eleven at night by the time he finished the day's work. He was grateful that he had the opportunity to work and earn money, don't get him wrong, but the amount of part-time jobs Seongjae worked could honestly be a pain in the ass.
Seongjae still had to clear out the boxes in the back of his closet. They were his passed mother's possessions; Seongjae knew it was rather late for him to start sorting through her things, considering that she passed away almost half and decade ago, but he never came around to it. He had, however, made it a goal to sift through the items once he graduated from high school, and that had happened three days ago.
Seongjae sifted through the boxes, waves of nostalgia hitting him. He was planning on donating things he didn't need, but he later figured out that that definitely wouldn't be happening. Every time he stumbled across something with no practical use, he found himself putting it in the "keep" pile anyway, purely for sentimental reasons.
At the very bottom of the second box was a simple envelope, made of faded cream cardstock. Seongjae furrowed a brow, slowly picking it up. He could tell that the envelope had been opened in the past, but it was resealed. Seongjae contemplated over whether he should open it or not; at last, he finally chose to do so, carefully urging the envelope open in favor of not ruining the letter.
Inside the heavy cardstock envelope was a letter made of thin, bright white paper. Seongjae opened it carefully as if it was going to crumple into dust any minute. His eyebrows shot up; it was in Japanese, and in vertical format. The brunette knew that one of his great-grandparents was full Japanese, but he wasn't aware that his mother could speak the language. Luckily, Seongjae had spent years as Hiro's best friend, and could read hiragana and katakana with ease. His kanji was a bit more limited, but there was always the internet.
Seongjae began reading the letter, opening his Japanese Dictionary app on his phone just in case:
Dear Recipient, member or friend of the Kyung (κ²½; ζ Ά) family,
Fortunately I am doing well, thanks to your help.
The aid my dear friend, Kyung Minseung, has supplied me, is something I can never thank him enough for. However, I can attempt to repay the favor, even if I will eternally be in Kyung Minseung's debt. The recipient of this letter, who I assume is a member of the Kyung family, or someone they deeply trust, can travel to Tokyo, Japan, and request for me at the Minami Shop, where I shall gratefully receive you and give you a space in our home, to learn and practice our ways of magic. This is not nearly enough to repay my debt, but it's perhaps the best I can offer.
Kindly look after this matter for me.
Sincerely,
εε₯δΊ
January 24th, 1996
This letter is really old, Seongjae thought to himself, surprised at his findings. He looked inside the envelope once again, finding even more pieces of paper. There was a paper-clipped handful of money, with "flight money" written on a sticky note in Japanese, along with an address. Seongjae assumed that the address was for the shop.
This is actually really convenient, the scheming portion of Seongjae's mind started to kick into action. After all, I can't afford the university tuition . . . and I did say I wanted to go abroad. Plus, I could learn magic from the famed Minamis!
There was a satisfied smile on Seongjae's face as he went over the pros and cons of following the instructions in the letter. He stood up abruptly, making the sudden decision of choosing to go to Japan as he headed to his room to start packing a suitcase, searching up flights on his phone as he did so. Seoul and Tokyo were both capital cities, and were quite close to each other; booking a flight wouldn't be too hard.
True to Seongjae's words, there was a whole list of flights from either Gimpo or Incheon airport to basically any airport in Tokyo within the next three days. Seongjae booked a flight that would be taking off in 12 hours, praying that he wouldn't be kicked off because of overbooking or something stupid like that.
The brunette bit his lip, finger hovering over the KakaoTalk app as he contemplated on when to message Hiro about his spontaneous decision. Finally, he decided simply to man up and just send Hiro a quick text.
μ±μ¬μΌ
news flash, im going to be flying to tokyo tmw
21/02/2018, 23:56 
νλ‘μΌ
νλ‘μΌ is typing...
eXCUSE ME YOUNG MAN
ha, u CANNOT just drop that kind of bomb on me
it's fuckin midnihgt
we just gradutaed from high school, so that means no more cramming until 2 in the morning
aND YOU STILL STAY UP THIS LATE AND JUST DECIDE TO FLY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY
do u even have a passport???
21/02/2018, 23:59
μ±μ¬μΌ
uh, yes, i do have a passport (tho it might expire in a few months Β―\_(γ)_/Β―)
and besides, theres a reason behind this
i found a letter from the minamis in my mom's old stuff
long story short, im visiting their shop
22/02/2018, 00:01
νλ‘μΌ
...this is so fucking random seong
but i mean, if you really want to do this...
after all, there's no point in life if you just live in the tiny box of korean standards
just update me regularly and dont poof on me
21/02/2018, 23:59
μ±μ¬μΌ
dang, youre so lovely, hiro, approving me of my
shaneniagns and all that stuf
ill b sure to regularly contact you
youre the best ( Λ Β³Λ)β₯
22/02/2018, 00:01
Seongjae clutched the letter in his hands, anticipation coursing through him. He entered the shop the address on the sticky note had guided him to. Seongjae glanced around the store warily, before approaching the counter and peering at the small sign placed in front of a call bell. Ring for Service, it said in Japanese. Seongjae contemplated his life decisions as he stared at the small sign, before finally deciding just to ring the bell and see where it took him.
"Speed?" Seongjae thought it over. "Never have. Who are they?"
"See, that's the thing, Speed is so fucking underrated," Hiro bit into his chocolate muffin as he spoke."They used to be part of Coed School back in 2012, but they disbanded. The guys - 'cause Coed School was obviously a coed Kpop group - became Speed. Practically no one knows who they are, but they're really good. Their situation is even worse than U-KISS's." Hiro chugged his coffee before continuing. "You should check 'em out, Seong-ah. Their choreo is amazing."
"I be sure to do that when my next shift's over," Seongjae replied, looking at the clock - five minutes left. Hiro frowned slightly.
"Seongjae-kun, we graduated less than a week ago," Hiro began, tone rather somber. "You got into SNUMNS, right? I mean, your test scores were brilliant."
Seongjae sighed, stealing a piece of Hiro's muffin. "Yeah, I did," he muttered. "I'm not going to college this year, though."
Hiro slamed his coffee down on the table, nearly cracking the mug. "What?!" he screeched, catching the attention of the other customers. He gave them a strained smile, bowing his head and muttering apologies before turning back to Seongjae, whispering harshly, "What do you mean you aren't going to college this year?"
Seongjae sighed again, stealing Hiro's coffee as well as his muffin. "The school gave me a partial scholarship, but the tuition's still expensive. Hiro, I'm fucking broke, and my uncle's not that rich. I can't afford it right now. Maybe next year."
"So what are you going to do this year? Work?"
"Maybe. I could travel to Japan this year, or maybe Bulgaria." Seongjae said the last part in Korean, not recalling the term for his biological father's home country in Japanese.
"Seongjae, you are in no shape to travel if you're trying to save money for college tuition."
". . . I might not go to college at all, in that case."
Hiro gaped. "Kyung Seongjae!" He snatched his coffee back. There was a long moment of silence between the two friends as Hiro sipped his coffee. Finally, the auburn-haired teen sighed. "Seongjae, if you don't want to go to college, I'll support you. In fact, I'll support you no matter what you do. But it's not going to be easy to get a good job. After all, this is South Korea. College is practically required for basic survival past the age of twenty-three."
Seongjae groaned, leaning back in his chair. He was about to reply when he boss called for him to continue work. Seongjae sat up, returning Hiro's muffin. "Gotta go right now, but about the college shit . . . who said I was staying in Korea?"
Seongjae dashed back to the counter just as Hiro got what he was trying to convey, the auburn-haired boy whipping his head around to squint at his best friend's retreating apron-clathed form.
---
Seongjae groaned - it was already eleven at night by the time he finished the day's work. He was grateful that he had the opportunity to work and earn money, don't get him wrong, but the amount of part-time jobs Seongjae worked could honestly be a pain in the ass.
Seongjae still had to clear out the boxes in the back of his closet. They were his passed mother's possessions; Seongjae knew it was rather late for him to start sorting through her things, considering that she passed away almost half and decade ago, but he never came around to it. He had, however, made it a goal to sift through the items once he graduated from high school, and that had happened three days ago.
Seongjae sifted through the boxes, waves of nostalgia hitting him. He was planning on donating things he didn't need, but he later figured out that that definitely wouldn't be happening. Every time he stumbled across something with no practical use, he found himself putting it in the "keep" pile anyway, purely for sentimental reasons.
At the very bottom of the second box was a simple envelope, made of faded cream cardstock. Seongjae furrowed a brow, slowly picking it up. He could tell that the envelope had been opened in the past, but it was resealed. Seongjae contemplated over whether he should open it or not; at last, he finally chose to do so, carefully urging the envelope open in favor of not ruining the letter.
Inside the heavy cardstock envelope was a letter made of thin, bright white paper. Seongjae opened it carefully as if it was going to crumple into dust any minute. His eyebrows shot up; it was in Japanese, and in vertical format. The brunette knew that one of his great-grandparents was full Japanese, but he wasn't aware that his mother could speak the language. Luckily, Seongjae had spent years as Hiro's best friend, and could read hiragana and katakana with ease. His kanji was a bit more limited, but there was always the internet.
Seongjae began reading the letter, opening his Japanese Dictionary app on his phone just in case:
Dear Recipient, member or friend of the Kyung (κ²½; ζ Ά) family,
Fortunately I am doing well, thanks to your help.
The aid my dear friend, Kyung Minseung, has supplied me, is something I can never thank him enough for. However, I can attempt to repay the favor, even if I will eternally be in Kyung Minseung's debt. The recipient of this letter, who I assume is a member of the Kyung family, or someone they deeply trust, can travel to Tokyo, Japan, and request for me at the Minami Shop, where I shall gratefully receive you and give you a space in our home, to learn and practice our ways of magic. This is not nearly enough to repay my debt, but it's perhaps the best I can offer.
Kindly look after this matter for me.
This letter is really old, Seongjae thought to himself, surprised at his findings. He looked inside the envelope once again, finding even more pieces of paper. There was a paper-clipped handful of money, with "flight money" written on a sticky note in Japanese, along with an address. Seongjae assumed that the address was for the shop.
This is actually really convenient, the scheming portion of Seongjae's mind started to kick into action. After all, I can't afford the university tuition . . . and I did say I wanted to go abroad. Plus, I could learn magic from the famed Minamis!
There was a satisfied smile on Seongjae's face as he went over the pros and cons of following the instructions in the letter. He stood up abruptly, making the sudden decision of choosing to go to Japan as he headed to his room to start packing a suitcase, searching up flights on his phone as he did so. Seoul and Tokyo were both capital cities, and were quite close to each other; booking a flight wouldn't be too hard.
True to Seongjae's words, there was a whole list of flights from either Gimpo or Incheon airport to basically any airport in Tokyo within the next three days. Seongjae booked a flight that would be taking off in 12 hours, praying that he wouldn't be kicked off because of overbooking or something stupid like that.
The brunette bit his lip, finger hovering over the KakaoTalk app as he contemplated on when to message Hiro about his spontaneous decision. Finally, he decided simply to man up and just send Hiro a quick text.
---
news flash, im going to be flying to tokyo tmw
21/02/2018, 23:56
uh, yes, i do have a passport (tho it might expire in a few months Β―\_(γ)_/Β―)
and besides, theres a reason behind this
i found a letter from the minamis in my mom's old stuff
long story short, im visiting their shop
22/02/2018, 00:01
dang, youre so lovely, hiro, approving me of my
shaneniagns and all that stuf
ill b sure to regularly contact you
youre the best ( Λ Β³Λ)β₯
22/02/2018, 00:01
---
Seongjae clutched the letter in his hands, anticipation coursing through him. He entered the shop the address on the sticky note had guided him to. Seongjae glanced around the store warily, before approaching the counter and peering at the small sign placed in front of a call bell. Ring for Service, it said in Japanese. Seongjae contemplated his life decisions as he stared at the small sign, before finally deciding just to ring the bell and see where it took him.
The bell rings shrilly throughout the shop, echoing just barely in the shelf-crowded room until it disappears completely. Only three seconds pass before a circle of pale smoke rises from the floor behind the desk, lines in white paint glowing faintly before the smoke suddenly gathers in the center and whisks away into nothingness, revealing a short, smiling old woman.
βCan I help you, dear?β She asks, eyeing Seongjae and resting one hand on the desk, as if to steady herself.
Seongjae jerks back a few centimeters, surprised by the womanβs sudden appearance (although he really shouldnβt be - he is in a magic shop, after all). He recovers quickly, clearing his throat. βAh, yes, Iβm looking for a . . . Minami Kenji?β
The name barely leaves his lips before the woman is beaming brighter than any light in the store. βAh, finally! And here I was worried that boy would never make any friends! Come, come.β
Waving for Seongjae to follow her, the woman moves out from behind the counter and leads him to a rickety-looking elevator with metal bars instead of a door, chatting all the while. She introduces herself as Minami Naoko, owner of the Minami store, and goes on and on about how sheβs so excited Seongjae has come, because apparently Minami Kenji is as antisocial as one can get.
She doesnβt pause to give Seongjae a chance to respond to anything she says.
The elevator zips upward insanely with no hint of movement aside from the wood they can see flying by through the gate. They pass at least four other floors in what must only be seconds, and Naoko is sliding the gate open and gesturing for Seongjae to follow her out of the elevator.
The room they enter into is less of a room, really, and more of a greenhouse. Shelf upon shelf upon shelf fills up the room, each one reaching just below the ceiling and filled to the brim with every manner of potted plants, from tiny succulents to actual thriving trees with fresh fruit hanging on the branches. Vines crawl up most of the shelves and blanket the ceiling, small flowers blooming here and there, and the whole place has a distinctly forest-like scent.
Seongjaeβs gaze travels around the room (or greenhouse) in wonder. βThis is very impressive,β he comments toward Naoko in awe. βWho created this?β
βKen-chan did! Well, most of it. This is his department. Heβs always had a way with plants, enchanted or not. Just like his grandfather.β Naoko answers. For a moment, she has a distant look in her eyes, her smile softening in something akin to nostalgia, before she turns back to Seongjae with a gleam in her eye. βKen-chan! You have a friend here to see you!β
Naoko continues a little further into the maze of plants and stops at seems to be the end of the row of shelves. A wall of windows, most of them open, stands across from her and Seongjae, and a long wooden table stretches in front of the windows, watering cans and bags of soil and pots of all sizes strewn about the surface.
In front of the table, sat on a tall stool, is a lanky boy with blonde hair, hands wrist-deep in a pot full of damp soil. A thin flowering vine is curled around one of his arms, the biggest blossom resting on his shoulder as if watching him work, and the other small plants sitting in the windowsills all lean toward him.
He turns as Naoko and Seongjae approach, his eyes a murky brown that shifts into a deep green as he continues to stare at Seongjae in confusion.
βWho are you?β He asks quietly.
Seongjae isnβt any less confused than this blonde boy is. He furrows his eyebrows and cocks his head to side, an old habit he has yet to break. There are a few moments of silence as the blonde boy awaits Seongjaeβs response, the latter finally realizing that heβs the one stalling the conversation.
βOh, sorry,β he says. βMy name is Kyung Seongjae,β he introduces himself, saying his native name with the proper Korean accent, βbut my Japanese name is Chiaki. I came here looking for a Minami Kenji . . . whoβs you, if Iβm not mistaken.β Seongjae fumbles for his letter, which he had folded and shoved into his back pocket before Naoko had suddenly appeared in front of his face.
βMinami Kenji wrote this letter and sent it to my family,β Seongjae tries to explain, βbut the letter was written in 1996, and you . . . donβt look that old?β Seongjae attempts to make that statement not sound awkward.
Seongjae tries to process the situation, dragging his gaze down to the paper in his hands so that he doesnβt end up staring at the blonde boy the entire time. βUnless . . . β the brunetteβs head suddenly whips back up. βIf you are the Minami Kenji who wrote this letter, than you must share whatever anti-aging potions you use with the world, because there are some people who will pay good money to look young again.β
Kenji just looks shocked and uncomfortable, obviously at a loss for what to say, so itβs Naoko who responds first. βIβm afraid thatβs not the case, though if anyone were to unlock the secrets of immortality, it would Ken-chan. May I?β
With permission, Naoko gently takes the letter from Seongjae, her face once again taking on that nostalgic smile as she reads. βItβs his handwriting.β
βOji-san wrote that?β Kenji prods, almost whispers, expression hardened. βWhat for?β
Seongjae falters, glancing at Naoko for a second, who gestures at him to explain. βWell . . . apparently, my grandfather, Kyung Minseung, helped your grandfather in some way? Iβm not sure how . . . but in this letter, it says -β Seongjae paused to find the specific words on the paper, β- βthe recipient of this letter, who I assume is a member of the Kyung family, or someone they deeply trust, can travel to Tokyo, Japan, and request for me at the Minami Shop, where I shall gratefully receive you and give you a space in our home, to learn and practice our ways of magic.β
βMagic is something Iβm passionate about in life; I was accepted into Seoul National University for Magical Studies, but I canβt pay the tuition. I have come here to learn magic and pursue the thing I love.β
Thereβs silence for a few beats, and then Naoko turns to Seongjae, still smiling softly. βI'm afraid my husband passed away a year ago, but you are welcome here. If you still wish to stay, you have a place in this house and can work for a livable wage. Anything you wish to learn, I will teach you. Do not be afraid to ask." Naoko pats him on the shoulder. Distantly, a bell chimes. "Oh dear, a customer! You two have fun now, I'll be downstairs if you need me!"
And before anyone can protest, she's disappeared beyond the bookshelves, leaving Kenji and Seongjae alone together in awkward silence.
βCan I help you, dear?β She asks, eyeing Seongjae and resting one hand on the desk, as if to steady herself.
Seongjae jerks back a few centimeters, surprised by the womanβs sudden appearance (although he really shouldnβt be - he is in a magic shop, after all). He recovers quickly, clearing his throat. βAh, yes, Iβm looking for a . . . Minami Kenji?β
The name barely leaves his lips before the woman is beaming brighter than any light in the store. βAh, finally! And here I was worried that boy would never make any friends! Come, come.β
Waving for Seongjae to follow her, the woman moves out from behind the counter and leads him to a rickety-looking elevator with metal bars instead of a door, chatting all the while. She introduces herself as Minami Naoko, owner of the Minami store, and goes on and on about how sheβs so excited Seongjae has come, because apparently Minami Kenji is as antisocial as one can get.
She doesnβt pause to give Seongjae a chance to respond to anything she says.
The elevator zips upward insanely with no hint of movement aside from the wood they can see flying by through the gate. They pass at least four other floors in what must only be seconds, and Naoko is sliding the gate open and gesturing for Seongjae to follow her out of the elevator.
The room they enter into is less of a room, really, and more of a greenhouse. Shelf upon shelf upon shelf fills up the room, each one reaching just below the ceiling and filled to the brim with every manner of potted plants, from tiny succulents to actual thriving trees with fresh fruit hanging on the branches. Vines crawl up most of the shelves and blanket the ceiling, small flowers blooming here and there, and the whole place has a distinctly forest-like scent.
Seongjaeβs gaze travels around the room (or greenhouse) in wonder. βThis is very impressive,β he comments toward Naoko in awe. βWho created this?β
βKen-chan did! Well, most of it. This is his department. Heβs always had a way with plants, enchanted or not. Just like his grandfather.β Naoko answers. For a moment, she has a distant look in her eyes, her smile softening in something akin to nostalgia, before she turns back to Seongjae with a gleam in her eye. βKen-chan! You have a friend here to see you!β
Naoko continues a little further into the maze of plants and stops at seems to be the end of the row of shelves. A wall of windows, most of them open, stands across from her and Seongjae, and a long wooden table stretches in front of the windows, watering cans and bags of soil and pots of all sizes strewn about the surface.
In front of the table, sat on a tall stool, is a lanky boy with blonde hair, hands wrist-deep in a pot full of damp soil. A thin flowering vine is curled around one of his arms, the biggest blossom resting on his shoulder as if watching him work, and the other small plants sitting in the windowsills all lean toward him.
He turns as Naoko and Seongjae approach, his eyes a murky brown that shifts into a deep green as he continues to stare at Seongjae in confusion.
βWho are you?β He asks quietly.
Seongjae isnβt any less confused than this blonde boy is. He furrows his eyebrows and cocks his head to side, an old habit he has yet to break. There are a few moments of silence as the blonde boy awaits Seongjaeβs response, the latter finally realizing that heβs the one stalling the conversation.
βOh, sorry,β he says. βMy name is Kyung Seongjae,β he introduces himself, saying his native name with the proper Korean accent, βbut my Japanese name is Chiaki. I came here looking for a Minami Kenji . . . whoβs you, if Iβm not mistaken.β Seongjae fumbles for his letter, which he had folded and shoved into his back pocket before Naoko had suddenly appeared in front of his face.
βMinami Kenji wrote this letter and sent it to my family,β Seongjae tries to explain, βbut the letter was written in 1996, and you . . . donβt look that old?β Seongjae attempts to make that statement not sound awkward.
Seongjae tries to process the situation, dragging his gaze down to the paper in his hands so that he doesnβt end up staring at the blonde boy the entire time. βUnless . . . β the brunetteβs head suddenly whips back up. βIf you are the Minami Kenji who wrote this letter, than you must share whatever anti-aging potions you use with the world, because there are some people who will pay good money to look young again.β
Kenji just looks shocked and uncomfortable, obviously at a loss for what to say, so itβs Naoko who responds first. βIβm afraid thatβs not the case, though if anyone were to unlock the secrets of immortality, it would Ken-chan. May I?β
With permission, Naoko gently takes the letter from Seongjae, her face once again taking on that nostalgic smile as she reads. βItβs his handwriting.β
βOji-san wrote that?β Kenji prods, almost whispers, expression hardened. βWhat for?β
Seongjae falters, glancing at Naoko for a second, who gestures at him to explain. βWell . . . apparently, my grandfather, Kyung Minseung, helped your grandfather in some way? Iβm not sure how . . . but in this letter, it says -β Seongjae paused to find the specific words on the paper, β- βthe recipient of this letter, who I assume is a member of the Kyung family, or someone they deeply trust, can travel to Tokyo, Japan, and request for me at the Minami Shop, where I shall gratefully receive you and give you a space in our home, to learn and practice our ways of magic.β
βMagic is something Iβm passionate about in life; I was accepted into Seoul National University for Magical Studies, but I canβt pay the tuition. I have come here to learn magic and pursue the thing I love.β
Thereβs silence for a few beats, and then Naoko turns to Seongjae, still smiling softly. βI'm afraid my husband passed away a year ago, but you are welcome here. If you still wish to stay, you have a place in this house and can work for a livable wage. Anything you wish to learn, I will teach you. Do not be afraid to ask." Naoko pats him on the shoulder. Distantly, a bell chimes. "Oh dear, a customer! You two have fun now, I'll be downstairs if you need me!"
And before anyone can protest, she's disappeared beyond the bookshelves, leaving Kenji and Seongjae alone together in awkward silence.
Minami Kenji
FC - Mamura Daiki ; Theme - After The Rain by Yanagi Nagi
Dialogue - #F5999D ; Thought - #81CA9D
" Yesterday rained, but tomorrow will be sunny; because there's no such thing as an eternal rain, right? "
- - - - - - - - - - -
FC - Mamura Daiki ; Theme - After The Rain by Yanagi Nagi
Dialogue - #F5999D ; Thought - #81CA9D
" Yesterday rained, but tomorrow will be sunny; because there's no such thing as an eternal rain, right? "
- - - - - - - - - - -
Kenji watches his grandmother walk away with as blank an expression he can muster when he's so filled with confusion and frustration that he's genuinely considering asking this teenage Korean boy to please leave. But that would be so many levels of impolite. His grandfather wouldn't have wanted him to be impolite. Hell, his grandfather is the one who invited this kid here in the first place, even though he surely had no idea it would be this kid in particular. Kenji's never even heard of Kyung Minseung, so this letter must have been written so long ago that his grandfather had not once thought to tell the story of it. Kenji feels a little sad, that his grandfather had a friend so close he gave them an offer like this, and he never told Kenji. It had seemed like Kenji had known everything about his namesake, but perhaps the man really was just that mysterious after all. xx
A faint whisper of wind signals to him that his grandmother is gone, having used her alchemic teleportation circle. Of course she'd only have used the elevator because she had a guest. Of course. With proof that they're now completely alone, Kenji turns to Seongjae and forces himself to unstiffen, levitates the dirt on his hands back to the worktable, carefully untangles the clematis vine from his arm and leaves it to slither back to its arbor against the wall. He then bows to Seongjae politely and wrings his hands together in front of him, speaking quietly. "I'm sorry if my grandmother was a bit too forward, she tends not to let people question her. If you want to leave now that you know my grandfather is passed, I wouldn't blame you." You dumbass, you're not helping the situation! "For now, I can help find you a room to stay in. I doubt my grandmother will let you pay for a hotel when we have the space for a guest." xxx
With a simple hand gesture for 'follow me', Kenji leads the way back to the elevator and presses a button on the bottom of the panel. The button is labeled with the two kanji characters meaning Minami. He says nothing as the elevator plummets downward, stopping after a few short seconds. This time, instead of the gate opening onto the first floor of the shop, the back wall opens onto a long hallway with wood floors and open shoji doors on the left, showing glimpses of a garden outside. "Please wait here a moment." Stepping into the hall, Kenji turns back around and places a hand against an invisible wall that runs from the top of the door frame all the way to the floor. A spell shimmers across the surface of the invisible wall and after a moment, Kenji moves back, gesturing for Seongjae to enter. "This doorway is enchanted so that only members of the Minami family can enter, but you should be able to walk through it now." xsx
Kenji leads Seongjae down the long hallway and around a corner, the garden visible from the left throughout the journey. The shoji doors along the right side of the hall are all closed tight, and no sounds can be heard from within. He pauses next to a stretch of wall just as plain as the rest, and opens it to reveal a room with nothing but a neatly folded futon in the corner and a clearly enchanted window with a view of a roaring ocean. "I'm sure my grandmother has a plan to put more furniture in here, likely enchanted to look however you want it to, but for now, do what you like. The room itself is a pocket dimension that will adhere itself to your own magical energy, meaning no one can enter without your permission. As such, you won't be able to find or enter any of the other bedrooms in the hall, so don't worry about accidentally stumbling into one. Feel free to wander about the house and the shop, but please don't touch anything. A lot of items are enchanted and can cause issues if handled incorrectly." Feeling like he's been talking for hours, Kenji deflates. xxx
"I apologize if I seem frank. I'm not... I'm not used to having guests. Especially guests my age. If you have any questions about... anything... just ask." xxx
A faint whisper of wind signals to him that his grandmother is gone, having used her alchemic teleportation circle. Of course she'd only have used the elevator because she had a guest. Of course. With proof that they're now completely alone, Kenji turns to Seongjae and forces himself to unstiffen, levitates the dirt on his hands back to the worktable, carefully untangles the clematis vine from his arm and leaves it to slither back to its arbor against the wall. He then bows to Seongjae politely and wrings his hands together in front of him, speaking quietly. "I'm sorry if my grandmother was a bit too forward, she tends not to let people question her. If you want to leave now that you know my grandfather is passed, I wouldn't blame you." You dumbass, you're not helping the situation! "For now, I can help find you a room to stay in. I doubt my grandmother will let you pay for a hotel when we have the space for a guest." xxx
With a simple hand gesture for 'follow me', Kenji leads the way back to the elevator and presses a button on the bottom of the panel. The button is labeled with the two kanji characters meaning Minami. He says nothing as the elevator plummets downward, stopping after a few short seconds. This time, instead of the gate opening onto the first floor of the shop, the back wall opens onto a long hallway with wood floors and open shoji doors on the left, showing glimpses of a garden outside. "Please wait here a moment." Stepping into the hall, Kenji turns back around and places a hand against an invisible wall that runs from the top of the door frame all the way to the floor. A spell shimmers across the surface of the invisible wall and after a moment, Kenji moves back, gesturing for Seongjae to enter. "This doorway is enchanted so that only members of the Minami family can enter, but you should be able to walk through it now." xsx
Kenji leads Seongjae down the long hallway and around a corner, the garden visible from the left throughout the journey. The shoji doors along the right side of the hall are all closed tight, and no sounds can be heard from within. He pauses next to a stretch of wall just as plain as the rest, and opens it to reveal a room with nothing but a neatly folded futon in the corner and a clearly enchanted window with a view of a roaring ocean. "I'm sure my grandmother has a plan to put more furniture in here, likely enchanted to look however you want it to, but for now, do what you like. The room itself is a pocket dimension that will adhere itself to your own magical energy, meaning no one can enter without your permission. As such, you won't be able to find or enter any of the other bedrooms in the hall, so don't worry about accidentally stumbling into one. Feel free to wander about the house and the shop, but please don't touch anything. A lot of items are enchanted and can cause issues if handled incorrectly." Feeling like he's been talking for hours, Kenji deflates. xxx
"I apologize if I seem frank. I'm not... I'm not used to having guests. Especially guests my age. If you have any questions about... anything... just ask." xxx
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life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
#4e817d XXX#ba982d
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The woman who introduced herself as Minami Naoko pat Seongjae on the shoulder, before disappearing and leaving Seongjae standing awkwardly with the lanky blonde boy.
Seongjae was no doubt taken aback by the events that had just taken place. The elder Minami Kenji . . . passed away? That detail was far from the most surprising thing. I can't believe I was actually offered a place in this home . . . and a job! Hiro will be shocked once I tell him about what happened today.
Before Seongjae could do anything, Kenji bowed to the brunette politely and started speaking in a soft voice. "I'm sorry if my grandmother was a bit too forward, she tends not to let people question her. If you want to leave now that you know my grandfather is passed, I wouldn't blame you. For now, I can help find you a room to stay in. I doubt my grandmother will let you pay for a hotel when we have the space for a guest."
As Kenji led Seongjae into the elevator, Seongjae bowed slightly out of gratitude. "Thank you for your hospitality. Don't worry, your grandmother seems like a lovely woman! In fact, all of you are clearly very generous people who I'd like to become friends with. As long as you'll allow me, I am interested in remaining here and helping out around the shop."
By the time Seongjae had finished speaking, the elevator had reached its destination. The back wall opened to reveal a long hallway. After telling Seongjae to wait, Kenji placed his hand against an invisible wall in the doorway. Seongjae watched in fascination as the doorway shimmered.
"This doorway is enchanted so that only members of the Minami family can enter, but you should be able to walk through it now."
Seongjae marveled at his surroundings and at the amount of magic utilized in the Minami home as Kenji led him down the hallway to what would presumably be his room. Although Seongjae's mother taught him a decent amount of magic back in her happier days, she never incorporated it into their everyday lives and lived as though she were an average human, without the assistance of magic (although in modern times, living such a life was unusual). After she passed, Seongjae started using more magic for everyday situations, as most people did, but he had never seen people use magic like the Minamis did.
Finally, Seongjae and Kenji halted near the end of the hallway. Kenji opened the door to reveal a plain room with a futon in the corner and an enchanted window displaying a view of the ocean. The blonde quickly explained the magic of the room, and cautioned Seongjae about the enchantments placed on the items strewn throughout the house and shop.
"I apologize if I seem frank. I'm not . . . I'm not used to having guests. Especially guests my age. If you have any questions about . . . anything . . . just ask."
"Oh no, you're completely fine. Don't worry about seeming frank -- I think you're being very hospitable. Likewise, if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask! I'm pretty open about everything, even things that most people would consider personal, so there's no need to hesitate if you want to know something about me. I mean, I did just randomly come into your home with a letter from your grandfather, so if anything, you should be questioning me." Seongjae chuckled and grinned unabashedly.
"Ah, but I guess I do have some questions already. If you wouldn't mind me asking, how old are you? I'm eighteen -- I just graduated from high school last February. Do you have any other family members who live here? I just want to know who else I should introduce myself to, haha. Also, your eyes are really cool -- how do they change color every minute or so like that? Is that a spell, or something else?"
Seongjae cut himself off, realizing that he had basically been bombarding the poor guy with questions."Ah, sorry, I talk a lot. I'll work harder at restraining myself if it bothers you; I know not everyone likes small talk." Seongjae flashed the blonde another smile, rolling his suitcase up against the wall as he did so.
Minami Kenji
FC - Mamura Daiki ; Theme - After The Rain by Yanagi Nagi
Dialogue - #F5999D ; Thought - #81CA9D
" Yesterday rained, but tomorrow will be sunny; because there's no such thing as an eternal rain, right? "
- - - - - - - - - - -
FC - Mamura Daiki ; Theme - After The Rain by Yanagi Nagi
Dialogue - #F5999D ; Thought - #81CA9D
" Yesterday rained, but tomorrow will be sunny; because there's no such thing as an eternal rain, right? "
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Oh no, you're completely fine. Don't worry about seeming frank -- I think you're being very hospitable." Kenji takes a breath, nods, tries to push down the lingering paranoia that he's making his grandmother's guest uncomfortable. "Likewise, if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask! I'm pretty open about everything, even things that most people would consider personal, so there's no need to hesitate if you want to know something about me. I mean, I did just randomly come into your home with a letter from your grandfather, so if anything, you should be questioning me." He's right, actually. But what would I even ask? Kenji allows himself to wonder. He tries to think of something to ask: what do you really want in coming here, why did you leave your family behind to come here from an entirely different country- xxxxx
But before his thoughts are completed, Seongjae is talking again, and Kenji feels slightly thankful for the interruption. He doesn't need to say anything he'll regret. Or anything stupid. Speak not. "Ah, but I guess I do have some questions already. If you wouldn't mind me asking, how old are you? I'm eighteen -- I just graduated from high school last February. Do you have any other family members who live here? I just want to know who else I should introduce myself to, haha. Also, your eyes are really cool -- how do they change color every minute or so like that? Is that a spell, or something else?" xx
Seongjae pauses, and apologizes, and Kenji realizes it's probably more than obvious that he really wants nothing more than to escape from his current situation. He's standing ramrod straight, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, expression (hopefully) as blank as can be. Kenji shakes his head at Seongjae's apology, even if the kid is right. "It's no problem," He lies. "You can't expect to know how someone will respond to conversation. Especially strangers." xx
"To answer your questions, I'm twenty. I graduated a year and a half ago. My parents and sister also live here, as well as my grandmother. I doubt you'll see my parents much, if at all. They're away on a business trip and I doubt they'll be back anytime soon. My sister Kaori apprentices with my grandmother after school, so you'll likely meet her within the shop itself. You're... a lot like her." Kenji pauses, not quite sure how he wants to broach the sensitive subject if his eyes. He'd been ridiculed for them as a child and hid them away, and now here's a stranger calling them cool. "It's an illusion charm. I cast it in the morning when I wake up, just around the eyes to save mana. The spell doesn't change my eyes, just what other people see when they look at them. The illusion changes color according to the light refracted into my eyes, so in the dark they'll appear black and in direct sun they'll be white." xx
Kenji shifts nervously and looks down at the floor, trying to avoid Seongjae's gaze. The guy is too bright, too lively- it's driving Kenji insane how out of his element he feels. Even Kaori isn't like this with him. The only person he knows who can be so kind and overbearing is his grandmother, and Kenji can only stand her because he's spent his entire life dealing with her particular strange tendencies. Kyung Seongjae, despite any similarities to his excitable sister and eccentric grandmother, is uncharted territory, and Kenji does not like uncharted territory. With spells, maybe. But definitely not with people. Absolutely not. xxx
Kenji gets the distinct feeling of being watched, and knows a customer must be in the greenhouse, his plants calling for him to help. "I still have work to do today, so I need to leave. If you need anything, my grandmother will be in the shop. Just ring the bell." And thus Kenji takes the clean out he was given. xx
But before his thoughts are completed, Seongjae is talking again, and Kenji feels slightly thankful for the interruption. He doesn't need to say anything he'll regret. Or anything stupid. Speak not. "Ah, but I guess I do have some questions already. If you wouldn't mind me asking, how old are you? I'm eighteen -- I just graduated from high school last February. Do you have any other family members who live here? I just want to know who else I should introduce myself to, haha. Also, your eyes are really cool -- how do they change color every minute or so like that? Is that a spell, or something else?" xx
Seongjae pauses, and apologizes, and Kenji realizes it's probably more than obvious that he really wants nothing more than to escape from his current situation. He's standing ramrod straight, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, expression (hopefully) as blank as can be. Kenji shakes his head at Seongjae's apology, even if the kid is right. "It's no problem," He lies. "You can't expect to know how someone will respond to conversation. Especially strangers." xx
"To answer your questions, I'm twenty. I graduated a year and a half ago. My parents and sister also live here, as well as my grandmother. I doubt you'll see my parents much, if at all. They're away on a business trip and I doubt they'll be back anytime soon. My sister Kaori apprentices with my grandmother after school, so you'll likely meet her within the shop itself. You're... a lot like her." Kenji pauses, not quite sure how he wants to broach the sensitive subject if his eyes. He'd been ridiculed for them as a child and hid them away, and now here's a stranger calling them cool. "It's an illusion charm. I cast it in the morning when I wake up, just around the eyes to save mana. The spell doesn't change my eyes, just what other people see when they look at them. The illusion changes color according to the light refracted into my eyes, so in the dark they'll appear black and in direct sun they'll be white." xx
Kenji shifts nervously and looks down at the floor, trying to avoid Seongjae's gaze. The guy is too bright, too lively- it's driving Kenji insane how out of his element he feels. Even Kaori isn't like this with him. The only person he knows who can be so kind and overbearing is his grandmother, and Kenji can only stand her because he's spent his entire life dealing with her particular strange tendencies. Kyung Seongjae, despite any similarities to his excitable sister and eccentric grandmother, is uncharted territory, and Kenji does not like uncharted territory. With spells, maybe. But definitely not with people. Absolutely not. xxx
Kenji gets the distinct feeling of being watched, and knows a customer must be in the greenhouse, his plants calling for him to help. "I still have work to do today, so I need to leave. If you need anything, my grandmother will be in the shop. Just ring the bell." And thus Kenji takes the clean out he was given. xx
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life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
#4e817d XXX#ba982d
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Seongjae should've been reassured by the statement, but as a natural extrovert, he spent a lot of time socializing with people, and could recognize the uncomfortable yet polite introvert when he saw one.
"To answer your questions, I'm twenty --" Huh, so a couple years older than me. "-- I graduated a year and a half ago. My parents and sister also live here, as well as my grandmother." A sister? That's exciting. Seongjae was an only child, but Hiro had both an older and younger sister, and while Seongjae didn't interact with them that much, it was always fun when he did. "I doubt you'll see my parents much, if at all. They're away on a business trip and I doubt they'll be back anytime soon. My sister Kaori apprentices with my grandmother after school, so you'll likely meet her within the shop itself. You're . . . a lot like her."
That certainly wasn't unpleasant for Seongjae to hear. It would be nice to meet a kindred spirit -- not that there was anything wrong with Kenji. People often assumed that due to Seongjae's lively nature, that he wouldn't be that fond of quieter folk, but there were qualities Seongjae appreciated in his more reserved friends.
"It's an illusion charm," Kenji continued speaking, now talking about his eyes. "I cast it in the morning when I wake up, just around the eyes to save mana. The spell doesn't change my eyes, just what other people see when they look at them. The illusion changes color according to the light refracted into my eyes, so in the dark they'll appear black and in direct sun they'll be white."
Kenji finished speaking and began to shift his feet, avoiding Seongjae's gaze. "That's a really cool spell," Seongjae said. "The most I've done to change my appearance with magic is to highlight my hair." Seongjae gestured to the golden-brown highlights strewn through his brown hair. "Oh, and a few years ago, I also used a spell to give myself a digital perm -- is that how you say it? Sorry, my Japanese isn't that great. That stuff's really popular in Korea, but a good haircut isn't cheap. My best friend back in Seoul has eyes similar to yours, though. They're usually a reddish-brown, but depending on the light, they can turn amber or even violet! I'm not sure if it's magic or not, because he says it's all natural, but no one really believes that. Regardless, it's still really cool."
Seongjae wasn't sure how uncomfortable he was making the blonde, but Hiro, who was pretty uncomfortable in social situations, once told Seongjae he felt more comfortable when people just rambled on because it simultaneously got rid of awkward silences and any chances for him to talk.
"I still have work to do today, so I need to leave. If you need anything, my grandmother will be in the shop. Just ring the bell."
"All right, then. See you later, Kenji-san!"
With that, Seongjae gazed at his room for a few moments, taking it in, before starting to unpack. He left his clothes sitting in his suitcase, but took out his toiletries, sketchpad, and drawing utensils. Seongjae attempted to use a charm to create a desk with drawers similar to his desk at home, with some success. It was far from identical to the desk he used in Seoul, but it had drawers and was definitely usable. After he set down his sketchbook and tossed everything else in the drawers (Seongjae admittedly wasn't the most organized person), Seongjae took his phone out and called Hiro, who picked up after a few rings.
"Oh thank god, Seongjae, you haven't died yet." The amount of relief in Hiro's voice was almost insulting.
"Not only am I still alive," Seongjae responded cheerfully, "but guess what? The Minami family actually accepted me and gave me a place to stay in their home. Heck, I was even offered a job! With wages!"
"Holy shit, that's great. Don't take offense to this, but I didn't expect you to do so well so early on."
"Oh, it's fine. To be honest, I didn't expect it either."
After Seongjae finished catching up with Hiro and responding to messages from his uncle and other friends, he set out to explore the Minami home. He marveled at the garden visible through the open shoji doors, before entering the elevator, pressing a button to go to the shop floor. The elevator doors opened to the sight of Minami Naoko presumably finishing up business with a customer. Seongjae grinned when she saw him and started towards her.
"Naoko-sama! Thank you, once again, for your hospitality. I was actually just looking for you!" Well, Seongjae didn't set out with the purpose of finding Minami Naoko, but now that he did, there was something he wanted to ask her. "I was just wondering, what kind of work can I do to help out around here? You've been so kind, so I want to start making it up to you as soon as I can."
Minami Naoko & Kaori
Naoko - Grey ; Kaori - Maroon
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Naoko - Grey ; Kaori - Maroon
- - - - - - - - - - -
Naoko leaves the greenhouse with her heart fluttering in her chest, a smile on her face that betrays the nostalgia she feels. She appears on the ground floor, spooking the young mother who had rung the bell, and helps the woman find an anti-clumsiness charm for her daughter. As soon as the transaction is complete and the woman has left, Naoko pulls a piece of paper from the front desk and brushes her hand delicately across it from top to bottom. Characters sprout in perfect strokes beneath her fingers- words silently stolen from Seongjae's letter. xx
Naoko looks down upon the letter and her heart flutters again, her now gone husband's handwriting staring up at her like a relic of the past. And there, beneath the nostalgia and soft fluttering of her heart, is a strike of confusion. Because Naoko has no idea who Kyung Minseung is. She has never heard his name, not in the sixty years she and her husband had been together. She doesn't even recognize it from the old letters, school notebooks, and paperwork that had been left behind after her husband's death. If this man was so important to him, so dear, why only now does she learn his name? Deep down, Naoko feels slight betrayal. xx
"Naoko-sama!" Naoko slips the duplicated letter into her pocket and turns to greet Seongjae with a soft smile. She raises an eyebrow when she finds him alone, rather than with Kenji, but she says nothing. "Yes, dear?" "Thank you, once again, for your hospitality. I was actually just looking for you! I was just wondering, what kind of work can I do to help out around here? You've been so kind, so I want to start making it up to you as soon as I can." xxxx
"Well, why don't we start with a tour of the shop? If you're going to work here, you must know where everything is." Naoko holds her hand out for Seongjae to take, and when she does, magic transfers from her hand to his just as the words from the letter had transferred from her hand onto the paper. A birds-eye map of the entirety of every floor flashes in Seongjae's head, information now stuck in his memory. Naoko purposefully leaves out her map of the greenhouse. Call her meddling, but she wants Seongjae to explore that floor on his own. If she can manipulate her grandson into human interaction, she will. xxx
And then, because it still helps to see things with your own eyes, she leads Seongjae about the first floor, explaining which sections are for which products and which products will be sought after the most. She refreshes him on levitation charms to help retrieve things, shows him how to manage the spells that lock the doors each night, even teaches him the very transfer spell she'd sneakily used on his letter not much earlier. Naoko encourages Seongjae to interact with a few customers throughout the tour, carefully watching as he explains how to use a type of magic dust, or tells the story of why she's showing him about the place. He's charismatic and cheerful, a welcome change from her too-sarcastic granddaughter and her too-frank grandson. She's already enjoying having him around. x
Naoko is in the middle of explaining her teleportation alchemy to Seongjae when she senses Kaori. The familiar fire-feeling in her belly has her turning toward the elevator, and sure enough, the gate opens moments later to reveal Kaori, still in her school uniform and practically boiling with excitement. Over what, she has no idea, but she'll know soon. Kaori can't keep a secret to save her life. "Obaa-chan, I'm home! Guess what we did today in class? We're doing our necromancy section of the textbook and Sensei brought in an actual necromancer, they brought this dead frog to life and- oh I'm sorry. Customer." xxxx
Naoko chuckles at how Kaori's tirade had come to such a screeching halt. "No, actually. This is Seongjae, darling, he's going to be working here for a while and staying with us in the main house." Kaori's head tilts to the side, eyebrows raised as she looks Seongjae over. "Staying with us? Why? Is he homeless or something?" "No. Your grandfather apparently sent for a student many years ago, and Seongjae is simply the first to respond." Kaori's face falls, and she looks at Seongjae with almost a jealous expression, but the sad kind of jealousy that holds no real malice. "And as your grandfather is no longer here, I have taken it upon myself to house him. Your brother and I have both shown him about to a degree, but I believe you two will get along, if you'd like to introduce yourselves." Naoko takes in Kaori's unsure expression, chuckles at her utter doubt when she mentions Kenji having helped at all. xxxxx
"Well, if it's what oji-chan wanted, it must be for good reason. I'm Kaori, by the way. You're Seongjae? Is that Korean? Did you come here all the way from Korea? Just for a letter? Because if you did, that's pretty damn ballsy. Especially since you're, like, a kid. And probably broke and homeless." xxx
Naoko looks down upon the letter and her heart flutters again, her now gone husband's handwriting staring up at her like a relic of the past. And there, beneath the nostalgia and soft fluttering of her heart, is a strike of confusion. Because Naoko has no idea who Kyung Minseung is. She has never heard his name, not in the sixty years she and her husband had been together. She doesn't even recognize it from the old letters, school notebooks, and paperwork that had been left behind after her husband's death. If this man was so important to him, so dear, why only now does she learn his name? Deep down, Naoko feels slight betrayal. xx
"Naoko-sama!" Naoko slips the duplicated letter into her pocket and turns to greet Seongjae with a soft smile. She raises an eyebrow when she finds him alone, rather than with Kenji, but she says nothing. "Yes, dear?" "Thank you, once again, for your hospitality. I was actually just looking for you! I was just wondering, what kind of work can I do to help out around here? You've been so kind, so I want to start making it up to you as soon as I can." xxxx
"Well, why don't we start with a tour of the shop? If you're going to work here, you must know where everything is." Naoko holds her hand out for Seongjae to take, and when she does, magic transfers from her hand to his just as the words from the letter had transferred from her hand onto the paper. A birds-eye map of the entirety of every floor flashes in Seongjae's head, information now stuck in his memory. Naoko purposefully leaves out her map of the greenhouse. Call her meddling, but she wants Seongjae to explore that floor on his own. If she can manipulate her grandson into human interaction, she will. xxx
And then, because it still helps to see things with your own eyes, she leads Seongjae about the first floor, explaining which sections are for which products and which products will be sought after the most. She refreshes him on levitation charms to help retrieve things, shows him how to manage the spells that lock the doors each night, even teaches him the very transfer spell she'd sneakily used on his letter not much earlier. Naoko encourages Seongjae to interact with a few customers throughout the tour, carefully watching as he explains how to use a type of magic dust, or tells the story of why she's showing him about the place. He's charismatic and cheerful, a welcome change from her too-sarcastic granddaughter and her too-frank grandson. She's already enjoying having him around. x
Naoko is in the middle of explaining her teleportation alchemy to Seongjae when she senses Kaori. The familiar fire-feeling in her belly has her turning toward the elevator, and sure enough, the gate opens moments later to reveal Kaori, still in her school uniform and practically boiling with excitement. Over what, she has no idea, but she'll know soon. Kaori can't keep a secret to save her life. "Obaa-chan, I'm home! Guess what we did today in class? We're doing our necromancy section of the textbook and Sensei brought in an actual necromancer, they brought this dead frog to life and- oh I'm sorry. Customer." xxxx
Naoko chuckles at how Kaori's tirade had come to such a screeching halt. "No, actually. This is Seongjae, darling, he's going to be working here for a while and staying with us in the main house." Kaori's head tilts to the side, eyebrows raised as she looks Seongjae over. "Staying with us? Why? Is he homeless or something?" "No. Your grandfather apparently sent for a student many years ago, and Seongjae is simply the first to respond." Kaori's face falls, and she looks at Seongjae with almost a jealous expression, but the sad kind of jealousy that holds no real malice. "And as your grandfather is no longer here, I have taken it upon myself to house him. Your brother and I have both shown him about to a degree, but I believe you two will get along, if you'd like to introduce yourselves." Naoko takes in Kaori's unsure expression, chuckles at her utter doubt when she mentions Kenji having helped at all. xxxxx
"Well, if it's what oji-chan wanted, it must be for good reason. I'm Kaori, by the way. You're Seongjae? Is that Korean? Did you come here all the way from Korea? Just for a letter? Because if you did, that's pretty damn ballsy. Especially since you're, like, a kid. And probably broke and homeless." xxx
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life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
#4e817d XXX#ba982d
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Naoko then kindly guided Seongjae through the first floor, demonstrating some spells that Seongjae was eager to learn or review. Occasionally, they would stop so Seongjae could assist a few customers, which he did with ease -- not because he was the most knowledgable on magic, but because he was comfortable around people and great at customer service (after all, most of his jobs had been in either food or retail).
Naoko, in the middle of explanation on teleportation, paused to turns towards the elevator, which opened to reveal a young teenage girl in a school uniform. She was somewhat pale, and with her honey blonde hair in a bob, she looked like a younger, livlier, and female version of Kenji. Ah, so this must be Kaori, the little sister.
"Obaa-chan, I'm home!" the girl exclaimed. "Guess what we did today in class? We're doing our necromancy section of the textbook and Sensei brought in an actual necromancer, they brought this dead frog to life and -- oh I'm sorry. Customer." The blonde teenager halted her rambling when she finally noticed Seongjae's presence.
Naoko chuckled before saying, "No, actually. This is Seongjae, darling, he's going to be working here for a while and staying with us in the main house."
"Staying with us? Why? Is he homeless or something?" Seongjae raised his eyebrows, amused. Bold kid. Seongjae started to understand why Kenji had said that Seongjae and Kaori were similar earlier, but Seongjae hoped that he had more tact than her (he probably didn't) (no offense to Kaori, she seemed like a fun kid).
"No. Your grandfather apparently sent for a student many years ago, and Seongjae is simply the first to respond." Kaori's cheerful expression faded, and she gazed at Seongjae with a look of longing envy. He suddenly felt a little guilty -- this was the first time he had looked back at his choices from the last 48 hours, and it did seem like he was just barging in to claim something that wasn't his. He hoped that the others didn't see it that way, and that they didn't think of him poorly. "And as your grandfather is no longer here, I have taken it upon myself to house him. Your brother and I have both shown him about to a degree, but I believe you two will get along, if you'd like to introduce yourselves."
"Well, if it's what oji-chan wanted, it must be for good reason." Placing her faith in her grandfather, despite no explanation for anything that's happening? Huh, he must've been a good guy. "I'm Kaori, by the way. You're Seongjae? Is that Korean? Did you come here all the way from Korea? Just for a letter? Because if you did, that's pretty damn ballsy. Especially since you're, like, a kid. And probably broke and homeless."
Seongjae laughed. "Hey, I'm glad you think it's ballsy and not idiotic. Yes, my name is Kyung Seongjae, although you may call me Chiaki if you wish. I came from Seoul, and yeah, I guess I did put my fate in a piece of paper. But it was among the things my mother had left for me, and your grandfather mentioned my grandfather, Kyung Minseung, in the letter, so I assumed it was worth listening to. And watch who you're calling 'kid,'" Seongjae said playfully. "I'm eighteen, so I say I've got a good three or four years on you, at least. And I can assure you, I'm not homeless, but broke? Well, that part is debatable." Seongjae grinned cheerfully.
"So you're studying necromancy in school? Necromancy is actually one of my favorite magical subjects! Unfortunately, South Korea is pretty strict about magic. All the magic schools are elite private schools or universities, and it's technically illegal to practice necromancy, although it's still possible if you're willing to go through a really bureaucratic process. Sadly, that means that there aren't any lessons on necromancy in Korea. I think it's so cool that your teacher brought in a necromancer for your lessons!"
Seongjae turned slightly towards Naoko as he continued speaking, his next statements directed toward both of the Minamis in his presence. "That's actually another reason why I was so quick to come here! I can't say I'm too familiar with magic laws of other countries, but South Korea is really restrictive on magic -- the only people who can learn it are of the upper class, since it was money that got you anywhere. And yeah, I did get accepted into a good magical university, but Japan overall seems more open to magical learning, so I thought it'd be better to come here anyway."
"So, Kaori-san," Seongjae directed his next words towards the teenager once again. "What area of magic do you specialize in?"
Minami Naoko & Kaori
Naoko - Grey ; Kaori - Maroon
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Naoko - Grey ; Kaori - Maroon
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"Hey, I'm glad you think it's ballsy and not idiotic. Yes, my name is Kyung Seongjae, although you may call me Chiaki if you wish." Chiaki? That's cute. Kaori listens to Chiaki's story with apt attention, soaking in his answers to her questions. She likes him. He's nice. She chuckles to herself when he makes fun of himself for being broke, and silently promises to take him souvenir shopping sometime. After all, he's gonna be around for a while, might as well make the best of having a brand new live-in friend. "So you're studying necromancy in school? Necromancy is actually one of my favorite magical subjects!" Kaori nods and smiles accordingly. Necromancy isn't her favorite, but it sure was cool to watch. "Unfortunately, South Korea is pretty strict about magic. All the magic schools are elite private schools or universities, and it's technically illegal to practice necromancy, although it's still possible if you're willing to go through a really bureaucratic process. Sadly, that means that there aren't any lessons on necromancy in Korea. I think it's so cool that your teacher brought in a necromancer for your lessons!" xxxxxxx
"Here, magic is very commonplace. There are of course schools that have just a basic education, but most have both. Ken-chan attended the Tokyo Mages Academy, which focuses on harsher spells such as alchemy and necromancy, and the exams are said to be very difficult. Kaori-chan attends a public school and I rather think it's better that way- academy mages can be so uncreative." Naoko explains. She finds it sad that magic is used to divide people in Korea, but she can't say she's surprised. People have tried to do that in Japan, as well, with little success. She's grateful Seongjae came all this way. She likes him, wants to teach him, wants him to be able to put his love and interest in magic to good use and perhaps, one day, become an accomplished mage. xx
"So, Kaori-san, what area of magic do you specialize in?" Naoko chuckles to herself and Kaori forces herself not to frown and portray the discomfort in that question. "W-well, truth is, I'm not actually that good at magic. My spells... blow up a lot." She says, fidgeting with a lock of hair. "I'm studying alchemy under obaa-chan right now, but most of the time my circles get overloaded, which ends with them either short circuiting and blowing up, or just breaking and not doing anything. I can reform stuff if it's small and... non-flammable. But I can't use the teleporter or anything like obaa-chan and Kenji can. And we're doing necromancy in school so I've learned a lot about it, but it's kinda boring just reading about it and not practicing it, so..." xx
"Hey, didn't you say Kenji helped? Or something? Earlier?" Kaori asks Naoko, who simply nods. Kaori frowns. "Seems weird and out of character. He doesn't like people, so don't take it personal if he like, never wants anything to do with you the whole time you're here. He doesn't even hang out with us except to eat dinner, so the chance of him making friends with a total stranger is pretty damn low." Venom seeps into Kaori's words, though she keeps a steady, matter-of-fact tone about the subject matter, and Naoko sighs. She looks between Kaori and Seongjae, wondering what's going through their heads. xxx
Sadly, Kaori is right- Kenji is closed off, distant, cold. He's formal even with her and the only time she really sees him is during family meals, which are really only dinners, with everyone's schedules being scattered. It may be a lot to hope for, but Naoko wonders if Seongjae's curiosity might drag her grandson out of the hovel he's holed up in since her husband's death. Maybe a little bit of stubborn curiosity is what will bring back the grandson her husband knew and loved. xx
"Here, magic is very commonplace. There are of course schools that have just a basic education, but most have both. Ken-chan attended the Tokyo Mages Academy, which focuses on harsher spells such as alchemy and necromancy, and the exams are said to be very difficult. Kaori-chan attends a public school and I rather think it's better that way- academy mages can be so uncreative." Naoko explains. She finds it sad that magic is used to divide people in Korea, but she can't say she's surprised. People have tried to do that in Japan, as well, with little success. She's grateful Seongjae came all this way. She likes him, wants to teach him, wants him to be able to put his love and interest in magic to good use and perhaps, one day, become an accomplished mage. xx
"So, Kaori-san, what area of magic do you specialize in?" Naoko chuckles to herself and Kaori forces herself not to frown and portray the discomfort in that question. "W-well, truth is, I'm not actually that good at magic. My spells... blow up a lot." She says, fidgeting with a lock of hair. "I'm studying alchemy under obaa-chan right now, but most of the time my circles get overloaded, which ends with them either short circuiting and blowing up, or just breaking and not doing anything. I can reform stuff if it's small and... non-flammable. But I can't use the teleporter or anything like obaa-chan and Kenji can. And we're doing necromancy in school so I've learned a lot about it, but it's kinda boring just reading about it and not practicing it, so..." xx
"Hey, didn't you say Kenji helped? Or something? Earlier?" Kaori asks Naoko, who simply nods. Kaori frowns. "Seems weird and out of character. He doesn't like people, so don't take it personal if he like, never wants anything to do with you the whole time you're here. He doesn't even hang out with us except to eat dinner, so the chance of him making friends with a total stranger is pretty damn low." Venom seeps into Kaori's words, though she keeps a steady, matter-of-fact tone about the subject matter, and Naoko sighs. She looks between Kaori and Seongjae, wondering what's going through their heads. xxx
Sadly, Kaori is right- Kenji is closed off, distant, cold. He's formal even with her and the only time she really sees him is during family meals, which are really only dinners, with everyone's schedules being scattered. It may be a lot to hope for, but Naoko wonders if Seongjae's curiosity might drag her grandson out of the hovel he's holed up in since her husband's death. Maybe a little bit of stubborn curiosity is what will bring back the grandson her husband knew and loved. xx
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Ai no Hana
by cl.love on Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:17 pm
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Ai no Hana
Most recent OOC posts in Ai no Hana
Re: Ai no Hana
[center]Minami Magic Emporium[center]
I couldn't find any pictures that represented what I see the shop as in my mind, so basically just imagine the bath house from Spirited Away, only much smaller and in muted colors rather than bright red and green, nestled in a modern Tokyo city setting. The building itself has been around for far longer than a lot of the city around it, held up by spells and the like that keep it from deteriorating.
Floor One - Standard magic objects. Enchanted quills that never run out of ink and change color depending on your mood, charmed jewelry that deters hexes and curses, toys that have magical properties, things with basic spells on them such as levitation or warming or illumination, that kind of stuff. Things you would find in like, the Dollar Store, but with magic added. This floor is mostly stuff they probably get shipped in rather than made in-house.
Attached to this floor is the actual Minami house. It juts out behind the building and has a more formal entrance on the other side, but no one really uses it because the family never has visitors. It has a lot of charms and enchantments within it, such as a spell over entryways that allow only family members to walk through unless a family member gives another person permission. The garden and windows are also enchanted to change their scenery and block out the other buildings nearby.
Floor Two - A floor dedicated specifically to magic clothing. Sweat-resistant underclothes, panties that never ride up your but, shoes that absorb impact, clothes of every kind that are charmed to stay warm or cool no matter what the weather, color-changing clothes, etc. Any kind of magic-affected clothing you can think of, it's probably here. A lot of these products are brought in from local or individual mages, but there's a section for clothing made by the family members. Mostly Kaori, who has a knack for creative charms.
Floor Three - Spell-casting workshop. Used for custom spells/charms/enchantments. If you were bringing in a personal object to be charmed or something similar, this is where you would be led. Naoko also practices her alchemy here, and this is where you would find more intricate spells- the kind that would require either an ID or permit to purchase. Anything related to necromancy would also take place here, though the Minami family doesn't actually offer that service. Shelves of potions are also here, as most potions require an ID for purchase like alcohol would in our world.
Floor Four - Library. Books with moving pictures, books on magic history, books that talk while they teach you, books that are meant as pranks and bite whoever opens them, enchanted books in every level that hold spells for mages of every age to learn. They range in price depending on the contents and can be incredibly expensive depending on the subject of magic they teach. For example, a book on necromancy or potions is going to be a lot more expensive than a book on charms.
Floor Five - Greenhouse. Every kind of magic relevant plant you could imagine, carefully bred and grown. Normal plants meant for medicinal spells or home-brewed potions, enchanted plants that follow you around like a pet, plants charmed to change color or scent or do something simple like dance when they hears music.
Kenji, of course, spends 99% of his time on the fifth floor, as that's where the plants are actually grown, rather than them being grown elsewhere and transported their for selling. Naoko, as the owner of the shop, specializes in most fields and can be found just about anywhere, and if she isn't nearby, she will be the moment you need her. Kaori usually stays in the workshop, practicing her spells and terrifying customers when they don't work out.
There's an elevator that runs through all five floors and moves very fast, getting a person from the ground floor to the top floor in seconds. There are also alchemic circles painted into the floorboards in employee-only areas that act as teleportation pads. Anyone who knows how to activate an alchemic circle can use them, but they're mostly used by Naoko, since she's the one who created them. Kenji uses them for efficiency but only when he doesn't have plants with him, as anything organic that isn't the person activating the circle tends to end up burnt to a crisp. There are detection spells on every floor that act like security cameras- if someone tries to take something off a floor without paying for it, tries to use a product before paying (like a potion) or tries to break anything, a spell in the floorboards will activate and cause the person to be frozen, unable to move. (Think of Stein's thread-thing on Medusa in Soul Eater, but just magic instead of thread.) There are also spells on the shelves and racks that keep the products in neat rows/stacks and will levitate an object back into place when not being held by organic matter (a person). There are spells to test if money is real, spells to help keep records, spells that keep the lights and such on an automatic cycle, spells that keep anyone from coming in after the store is closed. A lot of spells. Because there are so many spells on the shop, it can be difficult to remove a specific one, as they all become jumbled together.
Floor One - Standard magic objects. Enchanted quills that never run out of ink and change color depending on your mood, charmed jewelry that deters hexes and curses, toys that have magical properties, things with basic spells on them such as levitation or warming or illumination, that kind of stuff. Things you would find in like, the Dollar Store, but with magic added. This floor is mostly stuff they probably get shipped in rather than made in-house.
Attached to this floor is the actual Minami house. It juts out behind the building and has a more formal entrance on the other side, but no one really uses it because the family never has visitors. It has a lot of charms and enchantments within it, such as a spell over entryways that allow only family members to walk through unless a family member gives another person permission. The garden and windows are also enchanted to change their scenery and block out the other buildings nearby.
Floor Two - A floor dedicated specifically to magic clothing. Sweat-resistant underclothes, panties that never ride up your but, shoes that absorb impact, clothes of every kind that are charmed to stay warm or cool no matter what the weather, color-changing clothes, etc. Any kind of magic-affected clothing you can think of, it's probably here. A lot of these products are brought in from local or individual mages, but there's a section for clothing made by the family members. Mostly Kaori, who has a knack for creative charms.
Floor Three - Spell-casting workshop. Used for custom spells/charms/enchantments. If you were bringing in a personal object to be charmed or something similar, this is where you would be led. Naoko also practices her alchemy here, and this is where you would find more intricate spells- the kind that would require either an ID or permit to purchase. Anything related to necromancy would also take place here, though the Minami family doesn't actually offer that service. Shelves of potions are also here, as most potions require an ID for purchase like alcohol would in our world.
Floor Four - Library. Books with moving pictures, books on magic history, books that talk while they teach you, books that are meant as pranks and bite whoever opens them, enchanted books in every level that hold spells for mages of every age to learn. They range in price depending on the contents and can be incredibly expensive depending on the subject of magic they teach. For example, a book on necromancy or potions is going to be a lot more expensive than a book on charms.
Floor Five - Greenhouse. Every kind of magic relevant plant you could imagine, carefully bred and grown. Normal plants meant for medicinal spells or home-brewed potions, enchanted plants that follow you around like a pet, plants charmed to change color or scent or do something simple like dance when they hears music.
Kenji, of course, spends 99% of his time on the fifth floor, as that's where the plants are actually grown, rather than them being grown elsewhere and transported their for selling. Naoko, as the owner of the shop, specializes in most fields and can be found just about anywhere, and if she isn't nearby, she will be the moment you need her. Kaori usually stays in the workshop, practicing her spells and terrifying customers when they don't work out.
There's an elevator that runs through all five floors and moves very fast, getting a person from the ground floor to the top floor in seconds. There are also alchemic circles painted into the floorboards in employee-only areas that act as teleportation pads. Anyone who knows how to activate an alchemic circle can use them, but they're mostly used by Naoko, since she's the one who created them. Kenji uses them for efficiency but only when he doesn't have plants with him, as anything organic that isn't the person activating the circle tends to end up burnt to a crisp. There are detection spells on every floor that act like security cameras- if someone tries to take something off a floor without paying for it, tries to use a product before paying (like a potion) or tries to break anything, a spell in the floorboards will activate and cause the person to be frozen, unable to move. (Think of Stein's thread-thing on Medusa in Soul Eater, but just magic instead of thread.) There are also spells on the shelves and racks that keep the products in neat rows/stacks and will levitate an object back into place when not being held by organic matter (a person). There are spells to test if money is real, spells to help keep records, spells that keep the lights and such on an automatic cycle, spells that keep anyone from coming in after the store is closed. A lot of spells. Because there are so many spells on the shop, it can be difficult to remove a specific one, as they all become jumbled together.
Re: Ai no Hana
n a m e ;; xAkahoshi Hiroyuki
a g e ;; xeighteen ( 18 )
g e n d e r ;; xM
b i r t h d a y ;; xApr 14
r o l e ;; xSeongjae's best friend
d i a l o g u e ;; x#740d0d
p l a y e r ( s ) ;; xKorruption
Hiro was a young Japanese boy from Osaka, not even ten years old when his family had to move to Seoul, South Korea, for business reasons. When he arrived in Seoul, Hiro's Korean was even worse than that of a brick wall. Of course, since he was relatively young, it didn't influence him as much as it would've if he was in high school or university. With the similar grammar between Japanese and Korean, and with the help of Hiro's newfound friend, Seongjae, Hiro learned to grow fluent in the language. However, he was still bullied by his classmates due to his Japanese accent and lack of the natural intuition in Korean that native speakers had. During his first few years in Seoul, Seongjae was practically Hiro's only friend. However, although Hiro's peers grew to accept him in later years, Seongjae remains his best friends by miles.
Hiro is just a little bit taller than his best friend, standing at 5'7" (171 cm), and weighing approximately 128 lbs (58 kg). He has natural dark brown hair with prominent reddish tints, making it appear a bit auburn. Hiro has gone through some hair dye phases in his life, but he has stuck with dyeing the tips of his hair red for the past year. His brown eyes are susceptible to change color depending on the light; Hiro's irises often appear a mix of amber, reddish brown, and even dark violet. He tends to dress in a bad boy manner, and has two piercings between his right pectoral and collarbone.
As a passionate fan of Korean culture, specifically K-pop, Hiro is always up-to-date with his favorite and underrated bands. He has a fiery spirit, always standing up for what he believes in. Hiro is also rather talkative, and despite being rather light-hearted, he's always very grounded and realistic, never overly optimistic. Although Hiro tends to talk a lot on stuff he's interested in, he's quite sincere and truly takes his friends' interests and problems to heart. He wants to best for all those close to him; Hiro is rather sensible when it comes to life decisions, but at the same time, supports whatever his friends choose on their own accord, whether he agrees with it or not. Hiro is dangerously loyal to those he has grown attached to, and can be extremely protective, doing practically anything to ensure their safety.
Hiro is just a little bit taller than his best friend, standing at 5'7" (171 cm), and weighing approximately 128 lbs (58 kg). He has natural dark brown hair with prominent reddish tints, making it appear a bit auburn. Hiro has gone through some hair dye phases in his life, but he has stuck with dyeing the tips of his hair red for the past year. His brown eyes are susceptible to change color depending on the light; Hiro's irises often appear a mix of amber, reddish brown, and even dark violet. He tends to dress in a bad boy manner, and has two piercings between his right pectoral and collarbone.
As a passionate fan of Korean culture, specifically K-pop, Hiro is always up-to-date with his favorite and underrated bands. He has a fiery spirit, always standing up for what he believes in. Hiro is also rather talkative, and despite being rather light-hearted, he's always very grounded and realistic, never overly optimistic. Although Hiro tends to talk a lot on stuff he's interested in, he's quite sincere and truly takes his friends' interests and problems to heart. He wants to best for all those close to him; Hiro is rather sensible when it comes to life decisions, but at the same time, supports whatever his friends choose on their own accord, whether he agrees with it or not. Hiro is dangerously loyal to those he has grown attached to, and can be extremely protective, doing practically anything to ensure their safety.