[b]Diner, A Planned Meeting.[/b]
[@Crimson Lion] - [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92aW93QVbhs]reFORGING[/url]

[indent][indent]Tired was an understatement meant to insult the sheer exhaustion on Ryoichi's face. His mentor's voice still lorded in his head; a confident, sincere, passionate baritone that overwhelmed any protest he could muster up. Even if he felt dirt tired or his mind was glazed over with an unfaltering insistence for sleep; it was no excuse. Ryoichi was more or less forced to agree to the meeting with Imagine Victory's team leader based on his mentor's "hunch". They were rarely wrong but still... [i]still[/i]... he felt so dead tired and sore to boot. Physical training was tough but it was the mental exertion of his tactical studies and therapeutic sessions that he dreaded the most. His mentor was dogged about uncovering where his trauma came from and what exactly it was affecting. 

Ryoichi entered the Diner after a burning jog from his apartment complex. He could smell the bitter-sweetness of the coffee and that small pleasantry perked him up, gave candlelight to his dead blue eyes. 

He knuckled his cheek lightly before sliding into the booth unannounced, hands tucked nicely into his pockets. His white hair was unkempt and his signature tea-shaped glasses was missing from his face, still he eyed Naoki with a degree of annoyance. "Before we start, did you catch that match Sunday after the tournament?" he let out a fatigued sigh that belied his words. "Those guys are the pinnacle, I want to be on that stage with them one day. My mentor says I can get there with Team Imagine Victory, tell me, honestly, what do you think?"   [/indent][/indent]