Episode 2.1 - Salutations Shirokami Eliza!
It is near the end of of first period. The teacher gave up halfway through the lesson on trying to get the class to pay attention and just declared it a free study period before spending the entire lesson watching sports on his tablet with earphones on. Seriously, what kind of teacher does that?
Next period was coincidentally a free study period as well. Thanks to everyone ignoring Miss Eri when she was talking, in favour of asking (read: interrogate) Shirokami about herself before coming to this school, what her favourite foods are, what bands she like and so on and so forth.
Thus, Miss Eri wasn't able to assign someone to show Shirokami around. Therefore, with second period free, it is the perfect opportunity to at the very least get a gauge on Shirokami's character. with your decision made, you get out off your seat when the bell rings for second period and head over to Shirokami's seat, left to Ando's own seat. It was slightly amusing to see the guy who she asked to give her their seat scramble to accommodate her.
Your classmates are still crowding around her asking questions and you can tell that she was not expecting this much attention. Looks like this will be doing her a favour as well. Without warning, you put your fingers to your lips and whistle.
The sudden loud sound makes everyone jump as well as silencing everyone in the room. You smile as everyone turn their attention on you before you turn to Shirokami who's just as surprised by your whistle as everyone.
"Shirokami-san. My apologies. My name is Hayashi Takumi and I wanted to ask you something but everyone was talking over me." You explain with a small apologetic bow, your tone perfectly pitched for maximum faux regret. "Since we have a free period, I would like to give you a short tour of our school. Will that be okay with you?" You ask, throwing in a hint of hopefulness in your voice.
"Eh?!" Everyone in the classroom is shocked by your sudden attempt to volunteer as Shirokami's guide.
"D-Damn it! Why didn't I think doing that!"
"Hayashi-kun is actually volunteering for something!?"
"Hayashi's been replaced by a pod person!"
Note to self, kill those guys later.
The girl in question stares blankly at you for a few moments while she processes what you said before smiling that fake cheerful smile.
"Ah, I apologies, Hayashi-san. But Ando-san has - "
"To continue wit his tour of the school!" Someone interrupts.
"Wait, I do?" Ando-san looks confused. Everyone, including you turns to see Class-Rep standing nearby, looking slightly smug. "Mi-chan?"
Smiling, Matsumoto-san grabbed Ando by the crook of his arm and pulled his off his seat before turning towards Shirokami with a friendly smile which in female terms was a warning to fuck off and not to try anything. "Ando-san here only transferred here yesterday himself so he still needs to get used to the layout of our lovely school. As I have already been tasked with guiding him through our wonderful school, I won't be able to act as your guide as part of my class representative duties."
"Wait, but couldn't you just do - Gurk" Hayate started, spotting fallacy in the class rep's statement, sealing his deal when Matsumoto to suddenly elbow him in the stomach.
"Like I was saying, since I'll be busy with Ando-san here, Hayashi-san here will be your guide instead. Now then, Ando-san. Let's get going. We still have class next period after all!" With that said, Matsumoto dragged a thoroughly confused Ando out of the classroom. For a few seconds, there was only confused silence as everyone's mind process what just happened.
Shirokami is first to recover and she giggles, slightly blushing before she turns back to you. "Well then, Hayashi-san. I guess that mean you'll be guiding me through school then." She says with a sweet smile. You don't fall for it at all, simply smiling back.
"That seems to be the case then." You nod. Still smiling, Shirokami gets out of her seat and picks up her bag.
"Then I shall be in your care then. Shall we be off?"
This promises to be interesting.
+++ break +++
"And this is where a lot of the more cultural clubrooms are situated. We have quite a number of clubs that I'm sure you'll find interesting. I recommend joining one to get the most out of high school. I myself am part of the Magic club and the Card game club."
You are currently in the right wing of the school building where most of the school's culture-based clubs are located. You've already shown Shirokami the school's library, the sports field, and the cafeteria. You think you're doing okay for your first time though it's kind hard to tell with how fake some of Shirokami's expressions are.
"Is that so? Would you mind doing a trick for me?" She asks, her eyes shining with unfeigned interests. You smirk. If a cute girl such as Shirokami asks for a display of your magical prowess, who are you to deny her such a chance.
"Very well then, Shirokami-san. Please enjoy this special show just for you!" You announce as you flourish your hand theatrically. With a flick of your hand, your make a fan of cards appear within the palm of your hand. "Now then Miss Shirokami, choose a card! Any card!"
She lets out a cute giggle and takes one of the cards, "Are you going to ask me to remember what card it is?" She asks sweetly.
"Why yes! Please remember it so that you don't forget it easily, Shirokami-san!" You request and she obliges, looking at the card for a few second before nodding. "Now please hand me back the card without reveal it." Shirokami does so, anticipation building in her eyes. You then reshuffle the card back into your deck before tossing the entire deck into the air.
"Ah!" Shirokami, surprised by your actions looks around, watching the cards fall. However before any of the cards touch the ground, they suddenly float up and start levitating around you. "Oooh!"
"Hmm, let's see. Let's see now. Which one of you is Miss Shirokami's card?" You ask aloud, rubbing your chin while grinning happily as the cards continue floating around you. You snatch a card from the air and turn it towards Shirokami.
"Is this your card, miss?" You ask. You watch as her face falls upon seeing what card you showed her.
"Um, no. That isn't my card." She replies slightly disappointed that you've apparently got her card wrong. You turn the card towards you and fake being mortified at the sight of the King of Hearts.
"Oh dear! What a naughty card to be pretending to be king when in actual fact…." With a flick of your finger, the image of the King of Hearts fades away to reveal none other than…"the Joker! Is this your card, Shirokami?"
"Yes! That's it!" Seeing the king of hearts suddenly transform into the Joker, Shirokami lets out a lovely happy cry and claps her hand together in joy with a true genuine smile on her face. "That's amazing! Do another! Do another!" She requests in good cheer, her calm and composed facade stripped away by your magic.
Smirking, you flourish your right hand and all the cards that flying around you stops in midair before they all float back into your palm. Without warning your clap your hands together with the deck still in your right hand. You hold your hands together for a few moments before pulling them away, the deck missing.
"Oh my, it appears I've misplaced my cards!" You start pretending to look through your clothes in search of your cards, all while Shirokami is captivated by your performance. "Wherever could they be?" As soon as you ask that, Shirokami's bag starts shaking.
"Eh!?" Surprised, Shirokami opens her bag and nearly drops it in shock when a dove flies out. "What?….How?"
Having rendered Shirokami speechless, you raise your left arm, allowing the dove to land on it. Rubbing the underside of its head affectionately, you coo at it a few times before making a wide smile. "I see, I see." Gently you nudge the dove onto your finger and without warning, you twist your hand. "There's the cards!"
The Keeper's eyes widen at the sight of the dove apparently turning into a deck of card. Then she smile a truly beautiful smile and clapping enthusiastically in gratitude for the show. "That's...how….Incredible! That was incredible! How did you do that? Where's the dove? How did you get it into my bag? How did - "
"Uh uh uh," You click your tongue, wagging your right index finger at her while your other hand puts away the cards, "A magician never reveals their secrets."
"But, but, that was amazing! I need to know! Tell me your - " Shirokami finally realises that she accidentally dropped her act and quickly tries to recompose herself. Patting herself down, she puts on a more demure smile. "I apologise for my outburst. That was truly a most wonderful performance that you gave me. I shall remember it with much fondness."
Letting out a chuckle, you snap your fingers and make a simple flower appear in your hand. "Well it's nice to hear that but frankly you were much more radiant when you weren't so concerned with keeping up with appearance." You note before placing the flower in her hair. She makes to protest but hesitates, blushing profusely as she reaches up to touch the flower.
Checking your watch, you note that third period is going to start soon.
"Looks like our tour will have to continue another time. Our next class is in five minutes so we better hurry."
"Ah! Y-Yes!"
Smiling at her suddenly blushing expression, you lead the way back to your classroom.
+++ break +++
It is soon the promise time that Ando and Shirokami agreed to meet up. Lunch.
Third and most of fourth period had passed by without incident save for your classmate badgering you to tell them what had happened between you and Shirokami. Her blushing face and the flower in her hair was already churning out rumour but you quickly dispelled them with a sharp comment or two. You were merely bringing out your full charm to provoke Shirokami into revealing glimpses of her true self. There was nothing to it.
Ando was now sporting a few bandages on his face and the class-rep was looking at him with a mix of shame and guilt on her face when she thought he wasn't looking. You wonder what happened during their tour.
Still, you got what you wanted. You got to see the excitable and cheerful girl behind that sweet and refined facade of hers. That was worth a few errant rumour about you though you expect them to disappear within the week.
In any case, you need to think about where to go from here.
[ ] Leave the classroom early, head to the school rooftop, and wait for Shirokami and Ando to show up in order to eavesdrop on their meeting which you have little doubt will be about Phantoms and last night's events. All while hidden from sight.
[ ] Actually, you don't really care too much about what's going to go down at the meeting that Shirokami and Ando will be having. Just go has lunch like usual and see your friends. And maybe get some pudding since you used yesterday's pudding to mess with those thugs.
[ ] You know what? Screw school. Leave for today and start planning your very first proper theft in this new life. You are Phantom Blue after all, the legendary Phantom Thief. You have to get started on rebuilding that legend anyway.
[ ] Your short and improvised magic show that you performed reminds you that the other day, the magic club wanted to see you about something. You think they may have gotten you a paying gig somewhere. That or they want to try and ferret out your secrets again.
[ ] Write-in
*whiniest voice possible* But what about mine?
