A Night for Two [Closed + Chihiro]

The fun thing about afro textured hair is that you do not easily transition from one style of wearing it to another. Straight hair might get a slight impression in strands from being up in a ponytail, but it’s nothing a good brushing and a flat iron can’t fix. However, Chihiro’s coils were not that quickly moved from one style to another. The high, soft circular puff of a ponytail and framing braid she kept her hair in for her hero costume was not some five minute fix ordeal, nor was it something she casually decided to abandon. It was commitment.

All of this was to say this: Chihiro definitely did not push to arrive at the cafe together because she also needed the time to get ready. Somethings do work out nicely.

Arriving with a bit of more effort in her step than one might expect, Chihiro was wearing a very detailed and thus showy but quite reserved number in sharp contrast to Chikara’s also showy but decidedly less demure outfit. The color choice each half of the date picked already laid down a defining statement on how this was likely to go. Red and pink. Bold, passionate, striking… compared to a more quiet and less attention grabbing dilute.

At any rate, Chihiro did arrive, hair down and curls carefully coiffed. She did indeed realize that Chikara had arrived first. A less honest person might have felt guilty and tried to make up for it. The pink haired woman, however, merely smiled at her date. Chikara’s plan had worked, though. She would immediately be receiving compliments.

“You made it here early, Hashigane-san! And, you look absolutely stunning!” Chihiro, being shockingly old fashioned, didn’t even dare let her eyes wander. It was probably a waste, considering Chikara’s intentions, but the healer kept her eyes trained onto the rising hero’s face. Clutching her little purse strap, Chihiro nodded. “Well, let’s not let our reservation slip by!”

Ah, and now onto the issue of entering the establishment. It was probably blatantly obvious by her mannerisms, but Chihiro did not hold open doors for others; that isn’t to say she was the rude type to shut them on people behind her, but, rather, that she expected them to be held open for her on dates, regardless of whether it was with a man, a woman, or any other variety. So, her saying that and then waiting for Chikara to make her way towards the door was probably going to be quite the interesting exchange if Chikara felt similarly at all.

She was a little shocked when Chikara hugged her. She didn’t reject it at all, though. Chihiro was actually well known among her friends for needing to be told that she was being too affectionate to the degree that she now often waited for other people to set the boundary. As such, she’d happily hug Chikara back, looking even more thrilled than before.

Legacy’s such a nice person, Chihiro would think, oblivious to how she was being used as an ego boost. She speaks sweetly and she’s affectionate…! This’ll be a nice date. The dark skinned woman always assumed the best in others, though. Always.

She was all too happy to be led by the hand, falling into step. The dynamic was too easy. Chihiro entered when prompted, giving a half bow of gratitude at the waist for Chikara’s chivalry and a quick, quiet “thank you.” Approaching the hostess, Chihiro would discuss the reservation and inquire about their table.

In the mean time, Chikara would be getting what she wanted. They recognized her, first, only putting it together when the scene was understood. Legacy and some pink haired woman, alone and together. Chihiro turning towards Chikara to smile and once again take her date’s hand as they were led to their table would only confirm suspicions. Would Chikara be happy at the subtle way people craned their necks? Chihiro didn’t even notice.

Once they were seated, Chihiro would quickly thank the hostess before making small talk before the waiter arrived.

“Oh, yes! About the event earlier – did you get any good promotions? Those are always so exciting to hear about! If I understand correctly, you’re a solo hero right now? That gives you a lot of freedom with the persona you want to project, and thus what all you can be associated with, doesn’t it?” Chihiro was genuinely curious about Chikara, eager to listen.

Solo hero work was very difficult – though, for different reasons in Chihiro’s opinion than Chikara. Chihiro had only found a marginal difference in pay; as she was a healer, she was (for better or for worse) always in demand. It was really the security of it. With no certain teammates or group dynamic, she never knew who she could rely on in the field. It was, truthfully, scarier. Would these other heroes be so caught up in the action and posturing that they’d forget to take care of themselves and her? Could she form a good dynamic with them? She liked to think so, but…

What she vocalized was merely a little laugh of understanding with a nod of her head. She was about to add in that she wished she was with an agency again, too, when she was complimented.

“Oh,” Heartstrings said at first, voice going up slightly in pitch and quirk very nearly activating. “Mercy, Hashigane-san, you are quite the charmer!”

The waiter arrived, sparing Chihiro a moment of girlish giggling under the attention of her charismatic date. She gathered herself, saying a quick gratitude for the water, before taking the menu. As she browsed it, she kept speaking, unaware of the craning necks around them. After all, Chihiro only had eyes for Chikara right now.

“While quite happy with this lovely date I got out of the event, let’s wish ourselves well to hero work, huh?” She’d wink, raising her class in a playful little toast. “You’re very pretty and an extremely talented hero, from what I’ve seen, Hashigane-san. I’m sure all you need is time to become a true star!”

Swiping her heart at a glance?! Perhaps she should have understood that it was simple flatter. But, Chihiro had a tendency to just accept the things that people said. As such, she was thoroughly flustered, one corner of her mouth hitching up in an unguarded, goofy smile.

…

Oh, right, the question!

Chihiro straightened herself out, smoothing her dress’s skirt under the table even though it hadn’t been ruffled in the least.

“I managed to make the acquaintance of a few new heroes, though you were definitely the most striking, Hashigane-san. The event was more of a networking opportunity for me, if you’ll understand.” At the risk of writing it for the upteenth time, she was indeed on the prowl for a team or agency to join. So, networking meant this: sniffing for an opening. There were a few leads, but nothing definite. Shopping had actually been the endeavor with more clear cut results: good sales at boutiques resulted in new, fresh outfits for her to wear.

If only her little on-off roommate wasn’t both ill-fit for duty and also often performing illegal activities. Ho-hum. Graduation was coming up soon enough… would it be exploitative for her to snatch up some promising third year? Obviously no one everyone else had their eyes on, but what freshly graduated student who focused on offense wouldn’t want to be snatched up by an older, more experienced hero who would happily allow them to go hog wild on missions with the assurance that they’d be healed quickly? That was a win-win situation, right? Right?

The drinks and the first part of the meal arrived. Briefly, Chihiro just soaked in the presentation of it all. Beautiful plates, artful composition, modest portions – truly the bullshit, trying-to-hard-to-be-cutesy skimpiness of a restaurant meant to be more boastful for its atmosphere than a place where you went to get full.

Hand holding, again…? How wonderful!

The dark skinned woman only faltered a little with Chikara’s smooth move, more pleasantly surprised than shocked. However, the invitation to call the other woman by her first name…! My oh my, how forward! None the less, Chihiro gathered herself, head swimming in a sea of flustered infatuation. If the other pink haired woman’s intention had been getting the pastel pinkette fully in her feelings, she had certain succeeded.

“If you’re sure,” Heartstrings began, a slight moment of hesitation springing between her last phrase and her speaking the other’s name again, “Chikara-chan.” Yes, certainly, she referred to friends by their given names (or, in the case of certain ones, their only names) with a little honorific thrown in or a nickname if they were particularly close, but she’d only personally know Chikara for a few hours! This felt as if it were rushing it somehow!

And, unfortunately, Chihiro was too much of a dunderhead to go, huh! Maybe I should learn from my other failed relationships about communicating clearly with my partner. Instead, what she did was try to continue on as if she were not blushing as thoroughly as she definitely was. “You are also free to refer to me similarly—if it’s comfortable to do so.”

Chihiro would have continued if there wasn’t a distinct flashing. Apparently the image of Legacy holding her date’s hand while her date was flustered was too irresistable. The healing hero blinked, taken by surprise.

"... Was that a flash?" Having never been hounded by the paparazzi before (the press might sometimes take pictures of her whole agency, but never her alone) she was genuinely puzzled as to what was going on. She didn't expect them to be in a restaurant at all. Was that allowed?!

Her lips briefly parted in a soft 'Oh' as she processed what Chikara was saying. Then, her expression softened even further; her head tilted, one cheek inches away from a shoulder as she tilted her head thoughtfully. She giggled, the sound of it light and twinkling.

"No, I want stay. I'm enjoying dinner with you. It'll be nice to have a special memento of this date with you, won't it?"

All pros, no cons. A wonderful meal with Chikara and some boosts to both of their public personas. It was just the sort of niche romantic that had to be savored, like a singers' duet or astrologists making a star chart for one another. It was special and she was on cloud nine for it. So, for the rest of the time they were in the cafe, Chihiro would alternate between pleasant inquiry and praise of Chikara. She'd speak as well, a little proud to talk about her current personal studies. The cameras would flash but eventually die down. And, of course, Chihiro would definitely happily hold Chikara's hand whenever it was offered.

When all was wrapped up and finished, with the two outside the little cafe, the healer would look up to the sky. The city lights obscured the stars, but there was a rising one beside her, so that was alright. Chihiro would grin. "That was fun. You've really got this..." How to word it. "In control atmosphere, you know?" Which was wonderful! But, it did lead to a certain issue. The dark skinned woman very much so preferred to take the following role in relationships. But, she had thoroughly enjoyed the evening with Chikara. How to ask for another date without being the one to ask for another date...?

Maybe leave an open invitation? Yes.

"Well, I have to get going... But, I've definitely saved your number, so I hope you've saved mine. Let me know when you'd like to do this again?"

Oh she of little ability to initiate, thy name art Chihiro.