An Overmeal Talk

"You know...Actually your style is cool, I like it. About reading..You know..I've never met a person who would read as many books as you. And also I've never met a person who would have a whole library in their homes. Yeah...I'm a girl from the countryside..Maybe that's why.." Angela said with a shrug.
"Honestly..There are many things that I would like to ask you..Eh..Sorry, if I'm annoying you."

"I must wonder what part of me anyone ever could regard as 'cool'. I'm almost an embodiment of a bookworm and a hikikomori at that." People like that was labeled like anti-social and creepy folks in society... It was true that she was kind of anti-social, except to one certain redhead. But anyone would be frustrated of being called a creep.
"Don't you worry about the questioning Angela. Frankly I'm not really used to talk this much yet but I can handle it... At least for a while." Shizuka said reasuringly. "But I will make sure to get a full compensation in exchange at a later date~." Shizuka said, as a small grin had made an appearance on her face. "Don't worry, I won't charge you any money... We will pretty much share that from now on anyway." Well... Shizuka had made up some other plans in that area. Some questioning would sure be worth it.

"Full compensation in exchange?" Angela asked with a little scared voice. She probably knew what Shizuka was thinking about! She was going to hurt her poor cheeks again! But Angela thought that she could survive it. She began to think of a question. Oh there was something I've always wanted to ask someone from japan! The witch thought.
"Okay...Fine. So..In japanese language there are things called the honorifics, right? You know.. -san, -chan, -sama and more. So as my partner, how should I call you? Shizuka-sama? Or maybe Shizuka-san? You know..It's just my curiosity.."

"Oh my god Andela. Do you know how annoying that question will be to answer?" Shizuka said with a deep groan. "Fine then let me explain this to you. Since the begining of time, Japan has been quite focused about how to show formalities and how to adress others. When you first meet someone you will call them by their surnames and add the '-san' after it. Anything else except if they are a higher rank are plain rude in the country. Given names are only used to close friends, which is why it actually becomes quite important and a bit embarassing for people when they finaly adress each others by their given name. -san is a honorific used when you are trying to be polite in general. If you aren't comfortable with any honorifics one could use -san. Though close friends will see it a s a bit too formal and stiff if they were to call each other such. -sama is used to adress someone of... Quite high status. You often say -sama to royalities like queens and kings, family overheads in noble families but you don't really say it to your boss at work. You can also use -sama as a good expression that you respect them. As an example you could say 'Onee-sama' to your sister if you truly love and respect her. Egh..." This level of talking was too much for Shizuka, but she was so darn cloe to be done! She wasn't going to give up halfway explaining it to Angela. Go Shizuka!

"-senpai is simply used to someone who is your superior, in any way when it comes to a cerain area. It can be a student that's one year above you, it could be a person at work who have been working there longer than you or it could even be in hobbies like... If someone have been painting longer than you, then that person is a senpai in that area. The -sensei is used in a number of different jobs. Most frequently it is used to your teacher in school but it is actually also used to doctors, scientists and proffessors too. And then there is also the commonly used -chan and -kun... They are basicly a less formal version of -san. You can use it with on your friends with no stiff problems at all. -chan is more feminine and is therefore mainly used on girls and... Rarely on guys. -kun is the complete opposite and is more masculine, but is at times also used to boyish girls as well... And that's it. I won't go into others that's not used as much. It'd only be for naught because they are rarely used and my voice is darn tired of this." She was slightly out of breath clearly not pleased about it. "Just you wait Angela" Shizuka though, this amount was certainly not "cheap". She didn't really like to act like a banker but she had to be repaid from this in some way!

"Ohh!" She almost forgot. "Haaaaah... Only saying each others given name is almost as a proof of two induviduals great relation of friendship or love. If you were to see a boy and a girl in Japan that were calling each other by their given names. Then you could be darned to know that most of the time they are dating. It is rarely any exceptions to that." Shizuka said in her grand finish. There was nothing else she wanted to do now than to go home and read the entire day that was left. Sadly... That was hardly going to happen.

"Oooh my god....I will have to suffer so much to repay you for this answer.." Angela groaned. She felt that asking Shizuka about the honorifics was one of the worst ideas in her whole life. Well at least she learnt something about Japan. So she was ready to suffer a lot for that knowledge. "So! If I were your close friend -What I hope will happen in the near future- I could call you Hanari-chan, right? Oooor Shizuka-chan? Okay! Thank you very much for the information, by the way. Hm..So from now I will call Aurora Onee-sama.." Angela said with a little excited voice. She really hoped to be Shizuka's close friend and she wasn't even going to hide it.

Well Angela sometimes was annoying but she could be a very loyal friend.
She really wanted to be Shizuka's friend even if she was sure that she irritates her.
"Japan is such an interesting county..Yeah even after many years of study I wouldn't be able to understand everything. " Angela stated as she put her hands on her hips.

"I won't lend out any of books about it to you." Shizuka said sourly. Harsh as always. "They are all in Japanese anyway." Instantly redeeming herself. "If you ever were to become my friend then wouldn't it be be along the lines of Shizuka-san or Shizuka-chan right? I don't really care anyway..." Shizuka said to Angela, not really honest to herself. Angela was trying to get closer to her and at a pace far away from Shizukas own comfortzone would allow... But she also knew that Angela was somewhat succeeding, slow but steadily she starts to break down Shizukas own mental wall. This is how it works in the books after all. But she wasn't going to be brought down without some resistance! They are partners, nothing more, nothing less!... Maybe a bit more... Just for the sake of the cheeks. "We are just partners... Okay?" Shizuka sure wasn't honest with herself.

"I have my own books, Shizuka.." Angela said with sad voice. Well Shizuka's words hit her right in the heart. Shizuka was such a cold person! Why don't you want to have any friends? She thought. But then she did a very sad face and looked at the ground. "Fine..Just partners...I understood." Angela muttered, still looking at the ground. Then she put her hands into her coat's pockets. Hey! Angela couldn't just give up! She wasn't going to lose! Yes! Even if Shizuka will keep being so cold, Angela won't give up. She just couldn't.

"Did I go a bit too far maybe? It's good that she's energic and want to know me better for when we work but... Friends will just be in the way if you fight and one gets hurt." Even Shizuka has feelings, and watching someone being sad because of you still brings her guilt like any other normal being. Shizuka sighed, things were becoming more of a pain by the minutes. "Well..." She started. "I might not have any Japanese manner or history books in english but... I have a couple of others that you could borrow. For a while..." She was trying to comfort Angela the only way she could console herself: with books. Well, people don't usually work the same as each other so it might have mixed results really.

"Yaaay...Books..Cool..I still have my own.." Angela said emotionless. Yeah..She knew that Shizuka helps herself only using books. But being closed in the world full of books but with no real friends was just sad for Angela. She didn't really know what to do with it. But Angela knew that she can't just let Shizuka be closed in her world! She wouldn't be able look at her reflection in the mirror if she gives up. Maybe Aurora would just give up without saying a single word! But I'm not like her! No I-I will succeed! I'll show you, Shizuka, that without friends, the life is empty! You can't just spend your whole life, only reading books! You have to live! Angela thought. But Shizuka's earlier words were still making her heart suffer.

Shizuka were chocked. Sure she had been heartless but she tried to make up for it when she did! She had only been trying to console her partner and cheer her up! She even keept herself from getting to know her too much and possibly hurt her later. For her and.. S-such a reply... This is why you turn to books... In books everything is done and perfect, it already has a end and you don't have to worry about that an inorganic object will argue against you. It won't hurt you, it won't fight you and it will entertain you...

"Hahahaha..." She laughed a bit dryly. How could she have been so blind and to give people a go? 'Anything you can do with others, you can do yourself.' That is how it always has been. She give off a rare frustrated expression, looked at the job they were discussing and then she tore it of the board. She shoved it into Angelas hand without even bothering to look her in the eyes.
"I'll see you at the job on thursday. And you can forget about that repayment thing that I mentioned, I just don't care anymore..." She said with a clearly hostile tone before she turned around and walked towards the exit of the school. She was going home, to her own sacred sanctuary.

Angela was so pissed because of the tone Shizuka has just used. She put the piece of paper into her coat's pocket and turned around to not look at Shizuka. She felt two things: Sadness and Anger. "F*ck that..." She muttered to herself as she clenched her fist. Is it my fault? A least she wanted to help somehow..It doesn't matter..We won't be able to work if we don't finally try to understand each other! I don't need an useless weapon! My mission is to save poor people from the kishin eggs! No..I can't be like this...If I do, I will lose myself. But..I CAN'T. I f*ckin' can't! I can't work with her! She couldn't even notice why I'm acting like that! No..Just say, we can't be friends! At least It won't make me suffer a lot! Angela thought. But suddenly she hit a wall with a force of a very strong man. As she did it, she accidentaly summoned her wings. "Damn tsundere!" Angela exclaimed. The witch ignored the pain. That was the first time when her destructive nature woke up inside her. Angela knew that she had to do something or she will lose control over herself. "Soul Protecto!" She casted the soul protecion spell. It was the only way to block her powers. Her wings dissappeared and her hair seemed to be darker. She so wanted to throw a fireball at someone.

But then she heard a voice from behind her. A familiar voice saying: "Angela? What are you doing?" It was her older sister Aurora. She looked like she wasn't sleeping at night, but she also looked worried.
"What happened, sister?" Aurora Foster asked again. She used her voice of a worried sister. It was something surprising for her. Well a while ago she saw her with another girl and now this? She couldn't understand the situation.

"NOTHING! GO AWAY!" Angela yelled at her. She wanted be alone for a second. The younger sister only wanted to make friends with Shizuka..But she knew, she should stop. But..She couldn't. Angela wanted Shizuka to finally leave her little closed world!
Finally she calmed down. "Grr.." She growled.

"I guess, she said, she won't be your...No sorry..It isn't time for this." Angela said with calm tone. She only wanted to help. But well..What she almost said wouldn't help.

Angela knew what Aurora was going to say. You and your damn, stupid thoughts! She thought. "She..She's my weapon, you idiot." Angela muttered.

"Okay..You need to calm down. Come on and sing with me." Aurora said. She decided to sing Angela's favourite song to calm her down a little.
"...Though My destiny has been planted,
Nobody can predict what will happen.
I'll give my all to rise up against it
The future that reflects in your eyes
will be in my hands!" She sang, quietly

Suddenly Angela becagan to sing with Aurora
"Shout Out!! Make your existence known!
Raise your voice!! Whoa....
Shine your flame!!! And know you're not alone!" From that moment Angela was singing alone

"Hear my calling voice, and find your way to my heart!
Light my Fire!" Angela finished.
Suddenly Angela hugged Aurora. She felt a lot better. She didn't know what would she do without Aurora's help. Probably she would run away, find a hideout and cry. Cry like when Aurora decided to become forever alone because of her witch powers.

"And now tell me what happened.." Aurora said as she hugged Angela back. She was curious what could happen.

"I've..Just manted to make friends with her..But she says: We're just partners.
That..It made my heart suffer. I really want to be her friend.." Angela murmured.

"Can I be honest? For me it looked a little like you've told he-" Aurora started. "..F*ck you.." Angela muttered
"Fine..go to her and apologize for your behaviour...It always helps" Aurora said as she let her go. "See you later." Aurora said as she slowly began to walk away

The same word were currently circulating in Shizukas head over and over again. "Stupid, stupid, stupid" who were they directed at? "Stupid, stupid, stupid" Saying Angela would probably be the most reasonable answer to that. "Stupid, stupid, stupid" But in reality it wasn't really like that. "Darn... How stupid can I be? I lost my cool and I made an enemy out of my own darned meister! My goal had been to keep a safe distance to not get to know her too well, how am I going to work with her if we are hostile towards another?..." It really was a tough question to crack. "Well, that's to be expected." Shizuka muttered to herself. "

Leke wrote:

Angela: "You know, Shizuka. There are people who would stand you. To be honest if someone spends a few minutes with you, they will surely notice your good sides."

"I told you that people can't stand me..." Shizuka said as she thought about what Angela had said about a day or so. "I should just stop it. She pursues a relation that goes against my ideal. If I were to become a Death Scythe we'd have to part ways anyway. Sending me away to be a guard of some area... I don't want that either. It's better to hold a proffessional relation of work between a weapon and a meister." She was currently standing outside her own door to her school apartment, but she just couldn't find the will to even grab her keys from the pocket. Why?... Why did she have such a heavy feeling in her stomach after their argument? Did she feel guilt and regret? Feelings which orginates from opinions and disagreement between people. Another backside to socialising with anything other than a book. She bumped her head hard and loud into the door, pain won't solve them either.

"I hate this." She thought as she finaly took her keys out from her pocket and went inside her damp and dark room. She hadn't realised it until now but, it was actually quite hard to walk around without walking on another book. She slamed her door and tiptoed her way through the apartment. She then yanked the blanket off her bed and took it with her to the floor. She took a seat within a bunker of books, hugged her leggs with the blanket around her. "I'll wait until thursday and then go to work... What happens will happen, there is nothing I can do about it." The curtains were closed and only a glimpse of light made it into the room. She was going to wait there. Until thursday came.

Next day.
Angela was slowly walking towards the cafe where today she was going to work. She was in better mood than yesterday, but she seemed to be upset.
Well she was thinking a lot what happened yesterday. She decided! Angela won't give up! She will try and try to be friends with Shizuka. Even if that was a difficult challenge.
The day was beautifull. It was sunny and windy. Well it was good because Death City was located in the middle of a big desert,right?

But she wasn't alone. Someone was following her. It was her sister. Aurora was wearing blue hoodie, and brown...Cowboy hat..Seriously? Aurora seriously? That was your best idea? *Sigh* You keep surprising me..Even if you're my own character!

She was tired and didn't even want to leave her own department. Though the problem lied in that she had told Angela that she'd come over to work. Why were they even going to work now anyway? It was obvious that they didn't get along very well.
Despite of her negative thoughts, Shizuka already had the cafe within her vision. The place irritated her.It might possibly have been because she were up all night, doing nothing but to stare at her book of walls... Or was it wall of books? Anyhow, it had at least made some of that heavy feeling in her tummy. Her eyes were reallt red, it might not be on the level of red that one get after crying but it wasn't far away from it. What only made matter worse was the blasted wind which blew and iched her irritated red eyes.

Angela walked into the cafe and looked around. The place wasn't really interesting. It was just..average. Angela and Aurora were using soul protect today. But..Angela haven't noticed that her sister is followig her. Suddenly someone walked over to Angela. It was her boss. He was tall and he had brown beard and blue eyes.
"Good Morning, young lady." He said
"Good morning, sir! I'm one of the two girls who will work here today!" Angela said.
"Oh yes yes! Good. Go to the back room and change your clothes." The man told her

Aurora quietly sat at a table. Interesting...She haven't recognized me. The witch tought
Well she was going to watch Angela and her weapon becase she was very curious about them.

Soon, soon she was finaly there. An end to the eternal torment of the wind that were so deter-... "What the hell is that? Or should I say who?" Shizuka thought as she stared at the very-so-suspicious person with a cowboyhat and a hoodie, that looked into the cafe from afar. "I told her there were freaks of all kinds..."

She started to walk with heavy loud and annoyed footsteps, which apparently gave the hint to the person that someone was approaching him/her from behind. I seems to have been a girl, it didn't matter as Shizuka gave her a not-so-friendly glare as she walked past her and flung the door open.
"Good Morning, yo-"
"I'm here for work." She interrupted. "I'll go get dressed and start right away." She said in an unmotivated tone.
She went into the dressing room, without slaming or throwing up the door and closed it quietly. The master scowled a bit before he gave of a small sigh. She looked like trouble.

When Shizuka walked into the dressing room, she could notice that Angela was already wearing her uniform. Her black and white uniform that made her look a little like a maid. "Hi Shizuka" She greeted with a honest smile on her face. Why she smiled when she saw Shizuka? Probably that question will never be answered. She didn't know why, but in Angela's opinion her uniform wasn't that bad. Then tge witch looked into Shizuka's eyes. "Hey, what happened? Your eyes are so red!" Angela commented with a little worried tone.

Aurora was still sitting at a table. So this is my sister's weapon? She looks like a.....nerd. She thougt. Well after many months of fighting against the kishin eggs, Aurora became more confident and even cold. When she started her adventure in the DWMA, she was a very calm, quiet and shy girl..Well she still is..But now less.

"Nothing serious..." Shizuka said a bit reluctant. Why were she acting so casually? Was she forcing herself? She must be, none of them had an acceptable ending to yesterdays argument. What was she planing? Shizuka knew fully well by the book that it was a bad thing to suspect their partner, it could disrubt their compatible wavelength... Wait... They never did that did they? Well whatever.
"I'm just a bit tired. So it's nothing..." She held a small distance between them as she slowly started to put on her uniform. "It looks nice by the way. On you that is... Will probably catch attention from the suspicious person I saw outside. Wearing a cowboyhat..." She said relatively normal to Angela. In other words not normal at all. She still wasn't comfortable with the situation between them.

Angela raised her eyebrow. "What are you talking about? A person wearing a cowboy hat? Uhm..A man or a woman?'" She asked. Then she began to feel a little afraid. What if that a pervert? Or a pedophile?
"A-are you trying to scare me?" She asked with afraid tone. But then she also realised that they have never tested their wavelenght. "By the way..Before we go..Will you find a minute to test our wavelenghts?" The witch asked.

How much it takes to change clothes? Auror asked herself.

"It was a woman." Shizuka rapidly answered as she almost fell over, trying to get a uniform sock on her leg. "She wore a blue hoodie and was looking into the store from afar... Seemingly stealthily. Except the cowboy hat part." Finaly done with sloppily putting on the 'maid' outfit, Shizuka delayed her answer to the last question.
"I know that we should test our wavelengths but... Now is really not the time. We can't get selfish and put our own priorities before the cafe's. We have been in here for a while now and testing wavelength isn't the priotity on our first job." She said determined. "We might find time for it when we get a break at lunch time." She then added.

Angela sighed in relief. "Okay a woman..So I shouldn't feel scared. Okay! Let's start working!" She exclaimed, with voice filled with energy. Then she run out of the room, ran over to the master and saluted. "Angela Foster's reporting for duty" She said with a smile. Well maybe working dressed as a maid was something new for Angela, but in her opinion it could be fun!

Aurora just looked at Angela for a second, before she started reading a newspaper. "Hm..Sis is full of energy, huh? She didn't tell me why is she working anyway..Maybe she spent her allowance on something stupid?" The older witch muttered to herself. She still hoped that Angela won't recognize her. And also she hoped that Angela's partner is going to take her order. Remember..You only want a normal cup of coffee...Nothing more. She thought to herself.

"Yeah, let's work..." Following Angelas example, with much lessenergy than a unemployed salaryman that just lost his only way of income. "Where did her cat ears come from by the way?" They had gotten on her head at some time. Must be the work of that darn master geezer... He already had the nerve to dress us as maids. Now he give me nekomimis? There is a line for everything old man...

She caught a glimpse of the suspicious lady that she saw earlier. Using a paper to try and hide her face. Hmm... Angela had been inside when Shizuka saw her outside, looking into the store. There is no other employees other than them and the master. Angela were wearing a 'maid' suit. "This woman is dangerous... I can't let Angela take the order from someone that's potentially her own stalker. I won't let you have the pleasure, you creep."

"Might I take your order?..." Shizuka said to the 'customer'. It was defiently not a friendly face she gave off, but neither was it one of hostility. It was a difficult face that didn't really expose what she thought of them at all, yet it would be a bit uncomfortable for most. It was a face she'd mastered by being alone for many years, a face that was difficult to approach and one that keept people away from her.

Aurora looked at Shizuka. "Um..O-one cappuccino please." The witch said. Well it's a good occasion to look at Angela's friend. Hmhmh... She thought. "..Oh and maybe..A piece of apple pie" She added. Aurora's voice sounded so innocent! It was thanks to her shy personality!
Well but Shizuka somehow scared her. Her not so friendly face, really was scary for poor Aurora. She only wanted to observe her sister!

Angela noticed a pair that walked into the cafe and sat at a table. She walked over to them, smiled and saluted. "Goooood morning! May I take your order?" Angela said to the pair.
She was trying to be as nice as she could. But yeah...She liked working. Yeah..It sounds odd but it's true.

"Okay..uhm..We would like two cups of espresso.." The man ordered then he looked at the woman "Anya?"
"Eh that's all" The woman said.

Angela nodded. "Two cups of espresso, understood!" She said as she walked over to the master. The younger witch seemed to be somehow happy. It was almost impossible to understand. Why was she so happy? "Two espressoes, master." Angela said to the master with her happy almost singing voice.

Shizuka had obviously underestimated this girl since their first brief meeting outside the cafe. This wasn't just a creep... No, no, no. She must be some kind of freak! She'd been seen in a utterly suspicious fashion outside a few minutes ago, creeping the store. But yet, she was able to say that order with such pure innocense! She'd honestly only seen a couple of people like this in books, but she didn't expect to meet someone with sublety of this level. She must've really started to hone those skills at a young age when you consider that the girl didn't look particulary much older than Shizuka herself.

"Understood, then it will be a cappuccino with a piece of apple pie correct? Then please wait a minute" Shizuka said indifferently before she gave a short bow before she went to the counter where the master was.
"Master, please prepare one cappuccino with an apple pie filled with some Vicious Viper Hot Sauce. The faster the better" She said, clearly having an ulterior motive behind it. The master in question, simply put his hand on his face and gave of a sigh as he slowly shaked his head towards her.

"I doubt that I would gain many more customers here in the future if I were to put the 4th spiciest hot sauce the world has ever known into their sweet apple pies. How about we do the normal approach and do it like everyone else?" The master answered her with a slight serious expression. Shizuka howerer clicked her tongue irritatedly and took the tray with the order. "Fine." She delivered the order to the girl and then took a look at her energic partner. The dress were fluttering everywhere and her hair did all the same, surely it was like fanservice to the person who sat just next to where Shizuka stood. "Damn it Angela... You are enjoying this to much..." She muttered, but still loud enough for Aurora to hear.


(Say hello to the picture that actually resembles Shizuka and her uniform in the current situation.)

"Yeah...She is acting like it was the best job ever" Aurora muttered to herself as she looked at Angela. Then she looked at Shizuka and lightly smiled. "T-thank you." She said, again using her innocent voice. Then pulled $4 from her pocket to pay for her order. "Here..I-I prefer to pay now" Aurora said as she gave Shizuka the money.
Then she took a sip of the coffee. Hmm..Tasty Aurora thought almost forgetting that she is here to keep an eye on Angela.

Angela took a tray with the order and brought it to the pair. "Here I bring your coffee, my dear customers!" Angela said a very sweet voice. Then she put two cups of coffee on the table, bowed, and walked back to the master. Of course she heard what Shizuka wanted to add to her customer's order which made her feel a little angry. But she hid it. The young witch was waiting for another customers, so she began to hum a very happy tune.