<div class="floatleft">(http://oi67.tinypic.com/30rp8i0.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Shizuma Nori (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=257738.msg12729551#msg12729551)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Cafeteria<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Flashback - a few days before school starts, sometime mid-late afternoon<br/><strong>With:</strong>Taro + Open<br/><hr/><br/>Shizuma accepted the bit of apple from Taro after nodding when he humbly confirmed her assertion. "Your self discipline and will are both strong, Taro. And you have grown over the years. So it's no wonder you've traveled far beyond what your younger self could imagine," she said amiably then nibbled at the apple he gave her. She sighed when she heard they didn't share a home room, but was heartened as Taro immediately laid out plans for how they could see each other regularly. "That sounds nice, Taro. But do tell me if I ever start taking up too much of your time," she begged him, earnestly wishing never to be a burden to him.<br/><br/>"Sounds like you've the best of both worlds," Shizuma said after Taro shared his living arrangements and how he spends his days. She wasn't able to keep hints of envy and regret from her voice, which she apologized for with a gentle smile. "Your parents must miss seeing you, with you spending so much time here," she said in a half teasing tone, hoping to dispel any ill temper in her energy. It's not Taro's fault he gets to live at home with parents who work hard to support and understand him while hers hadn't once visited her in the Institute, not even on her birthday.<br/><br/>Shizuma looked away to keep him from seeing the pain in her eyes and nodded when he shifted subjects and invited her to look around the campus with him. She nodded and stood up from her seat, holding a hand out to him to help him from his seat. "Yes, fresh air and exploration sounds like a perfect way to spend the day. I want to learn my way around before I'm rushing to class. Taro, can you tell me about school life here? What are the teachers like? What festivals are celebrated as part of the school year?" She posed questions and listened to his answers attentively as Taro toured her through the school. She enjoyed the easy way he had about himself and the patience he showed with her. Whenever they walked outside a school building the wind would pick up a bit, playing with her hair and occasionally shoving her closer to Taro. It was acting the part of matchmaker, wanting to give Shizuma every chance to be close to him. Shizuma apologized for this more then once, then just sighed and dealt with it, blushing constantly but trying to keep up her end of the conversation even though her hip played along his once or twice as they walked together as morning melted into afternoon.<br/><br/>"You know what I just realized?" Shizuma asked as she paused halfway across a little bridge that spanned a creek. "I only have school uniforms, no cloths of my own. I wonder who I could talk to for permission to go home to get some of my old things. Or," her eyes sparkled as a thought occurred to her, "I'd love to go shopping some weekend..." Then her smile turned into a frown as she realized she really didn't have any money. "... hmm... though I might have to find a job on campus before I get to do that..." she said, her voice trailing off as she leaned against the railing on the bridge.