Pondering, 12/27 (Previous Year)

[Yoshinari Natsuichi]

Inside, Natsuichi was cheering when Arano chose her seat next to him. He would smirk at Takashi now, but he decided not to show it. And then when she referred to Takashi, he narrowed his eyes a little, until she seemed to have burnt herself.

"Are you okay?" he automatically spoke in concern. Realizing what he had said, he quickly added in a slight haughty tone, "You're so clumsy, Arano. At least you didn't stick your tongue to an icy pole out there."

[Riosamu Arano]

Arano sighed and shrugged, "And here I thought you were on my side Takashi..."

She then turned to Natsuichi and waved her hand in front of her, "I'm fine, it was just a slight burn, that's all. And I'm surprised you didn't fall on some sort of patch of ice out there," she retorted back, smiling evilly.

[Yoshinari Natsuichi]

"I'm not as clumsy as you are," Natsuichi retorted back. "At least I skate better than you. If you don't believe me, we can go over to the skating rink at the mall some time later."

He hoped that Takashi did not hear that. But then again, he needed not worry much. Takashi was not the type who would decide to go skating like that.

[Riosamu Arano]

"We'll see about that," Arano replied hotly, glaring at Natsuichi, "If it's a challenge you want, then it's a challenge you'll get!"

She regretted those words once she said them, but didn't let her expression falter. She wouldn't back down from a challenge, that just proved how persistant the girl could be.

[Inoue Takashi]

Takashi was watching the pair, sipping his tea (which the waitress had brought during '...stick your tongue to an icy pole...') and expressionless all over his face. He was merely just watching, as if it was a movie which didn't interested him at all. And then it came to the part about skating. It was one of his good sports (then again, he was good in almost everything), but he did not consider it a hobby or anything. The talent was just there.

At the moment, he was wondering why he was even watching the argument, and why his tea was tasteless.

[Yoshinari Natsuichi]

Natsuichi snickered, somewhat feeling triumphant. "We'll have to stop by home to get our gear then. You might need to pick up a pillow too, in case you fall. Maybe some ice as well, in case you get too warm in the face from the embarrassment and need to melt something."

While he had said that, he turned to Takashi with some sort of smug look on his face. "You're quiet a bit there."

[Riosamu Arano]

Arano stood up suddenly, her face slightly red in irritation. "We'll just see..." she said, turning her back on Natsuichi.

As she started heading towards the entrance, she remembered her cocoa, and went back to get it. Glaring at him once more, she brought it up to the waitress.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I get a to-go cup?" she asked politely.

The waitress nodded, and ran off, just to return shortly after with a cup in her hands. Arano took it, muttering a 'thank you' at the same time, and poured her cocoa in it. She then handed her cocoa mug to the waitress, and smiled.

[Inoue Takashi]

"I'm surprised you noticed," Takashi told him, putting down his cup.

He had noticed Arano getting a to-go cup. "You going somewhere?" he asked, even though he knew the answer. He was just asking for no reason in particular.

[Riosamu Arano]

Arano turned to Takashi and smiled, "I have something to do before the challenge." At the word challenge she threw another glare towards Natsuichi.

She was going to end up making a fool of herself...and she knew it.

[Inoue Takashi]

"What challenge?" Takashi almost yawned. He was kind of bored, and the warmness in the cafe was getting to him. The tea was not helping him much either. He could have ordered another coffee, but he had a couple of that before Natsuichi even appeared.

[Yoshinari Natsuichi]

"Skating," Natsuichi answered him before downing the rest of his hot cocoa and getting up. He stretched for a moment and looked down at Takashi. "We'll be at the mall. Just the two of us."

He made it sound as if Takashi was not allowed there. It might be a challenge, but Natsuichi was looking forward to at least help Arano when she screwed up---and he knew she would---and indirectly made her realize that he cared.

[Riosamu Arano]

"Like I said, I have to do some things before ice skating," Arano said, her anger dissipating. She hadn't really been mad, but she planned on practicing her ice skating before she met up with Natsuichi.

She smiled again at her two friends, and waved, before exiting the cafe. She sipped on her cocoa as she walked, planning to go straight home first before going to the mall to practice. She just hoped that he wouldn't be there when she got there.

[Inoue Takashi]

Takashi just, looked. He did not really care whether they were going to be skating together, like Natsuichi did. It was none of his business. He finished his tea and got up, putting on his coat. "I'm heading to Mr. Pices's home. Remember the meeting."

He did not make it sound as if he was going to invite Natsuichi along. He never did anyway. If they wanted to go, they would ask. He preferred not to waste his time on asking questions which would bring no profit.

[Yoshinari Natsuichi]

"Don't fall over a patch of ice out there!" Natsuichi called just when Arano left. Then he turned back to Takashi who had spoken. "No problem, I'll be there. Send my regards to Mr. Pices. He was a good principal."

He walked over to the door, pulled it open, and was immediately knocked over by the icy breeze. He shivered a little, trudging back out. He had to get home first to pick up his skates.

[Inoue Takashi]

Takashi picked up the newspaper he had left on the table. He narrowed his eyes at the picture of their new principal. For some reason, he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. And he rarely had that, which added to the bad-enough feeling. He let out a sigh, tossed it onto the table, and exited into the snowy world. It was going to be a hectic year.