[center][h2][color=FF0000]Higashiakemi Ryuuko (東明見 竜子)[/color]
[color=a2d39c]Franz Steiner[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

What a fantastic night he thought, as his sobriety had only been fully restored as he was leaving the hall. The lights were brighter in the hall, the music more moving, and he had a dance partner who knew how to dance. In fact, at points she danced better than him and took the lead. This normally would have been a point of wounded pride for the Austrian boy, similar to his exchange with the violin virtuoso. But in his altered state, he found it rather enjoyable.

[color=a2d39c]"I don't know where you learnt to dance like that Ryuuko. But you are certainly no run of the mill Oriental girl. For that you have my commendation."[/color] Franz twirled her around with hand above her head as if the dance was still continuing. [color=a2d39c]"Although next time, I'm afraid, I will be taking the lead. I have a reputation to uphold after all."[/color] He stated in a joking matter.

It was a fittingly great end to the night for Ryuuko as well. Ryuuko was most certainly not among the best of dancers, but she also most certainly possessed of much more gusto and endurance than most; and Franz were able to keep up with her lead. She kept her smile as she left the hall walking alongside Franz, feeling quite content indeed. Of course, Hana's administration of whatever chemicals it were that she produced also helped with that. The effects had faded now, but it regardless contributed to Ryuuko's good mood.

[color=FF0000]"Why thank you, you honor me with your commendation."[/color] She giggled lightly, half playful with her answer. [color=FF0000]"You yourself had proven yourself to be extraordinary once more, Franz. Not many had the guts to actually finish a proper dance with me. And sure, I suppose it's only fair to let you take the lead next time, hmm?"[/color] She returned the jest accompanied by her typical wide toothy grin.

The pair continue with their small talk as they board the same tram together. They've found out along the way that they're actually going to be in the same accomodation with one another. From Ryuuko's part, she had assumed that they'll be rooming together; something that Ryuuko had been quite pleased about. After all, on top of having a positive impression of Franz due to seeing him as fellow "mold breaker", Franz had proven to be pleasant company. That it would be highly unusual for a male and a female student to be put together as roommates didn't occur to her.

Alas, her mood then took a not insignificant dip as she stepped out of the tram and looked upon the place that was to be her accomodation. A frown immediately formed on her face as her left eye twitched in irritation. [color=FF0000]"... A ryokan."[/color] She paused, standing still for a good five seconds. [color=FF0000]"A. Damn. Ryokan."[/color] Ryuuko grinned wide, eyes seemingly ablaze as she tried her very best not to follow it up with an actual fiery blast of flame. Instead, she took a few deep breaths in and out to settle her nerve. [color=FF0000][i]This is either an extremely annoying fluke, or a deliberate attempt by someone who had it out for me. Gods. Blasted. Damn it.[/i][/color]

Franz was left curious by his companions sudden drop in mood. It was pretty obvious that it was the living arrangements that had caused it. Franz of course had no idea what a Ryokan was, but it looked nice enough on the outside. It even had a big garden he could bring his spiders out to. By all regards, there was nothing too bad about it on a surface level.

[color=a2d39c]"You must forgive me for my ignorance. But I would assume you would find such a place... homely. No?"[/color] Sure the girl had a rebellious spirit, but she was still Japanese. Wasn't she? Franz thought.

Ryuuko turned to look at Franz as he asked the question. She took one more deep breath in and then slowly sighed it out, now slightly less aggravated. She didn't exactly smiled as she usually would when talking with other people, an obviously unhappy grimace still on her face as she started talking. [color=FF0000]"Yes, well... I didn't came all the way here to Bermuda to just experience... "home". If that made sense."[/color] She sighed again, trying hard to stop herself from getting pissed off again; which her emotional part was nudging her toward.

[color=FF0000]"I'd much rather be placed in an accomodation based on an Occidental design. Or heck, even another kind of Oriental design instead of something that I've already experienced countless times before all my life. Now I'm just hoping it won't be as... Traditionally Japanese inside as it looked outside."[/color] Ryuuko then lightly bit her own lower lip, eyes narrowed as she looked toward the building again. She paused for a few more seconds before then letting out yet another sigh, followed by shaking her head casually and shrugging. [color=FF0000]"But hey, at least I can count on your company, hmm? That'll help make this way more tolerable."[/color] She grinned widely at Franz. While she said it playfully, she really did feel that his presence was one of the positive things she can take away from this.. disaster.

Franz stood in silence for a moment, letting Ryuuko let out all she had to say until she asked him a question directly. He took her hand politely and smiled [color=a2d39c]"I'm afraid the interiors of this place will be more of the same. I can understand your frustration, variety is the spice of life after all. And, seeing as I'm the only thing of Occidental design around here, you are more than welcome to keep your attention on me."[/color] Franz gave a small laugh to his own joke. 

While Franz knew this exchange would be beneficial for his studies, he couldn't shake that he genuinely enjoying the girl's company either. He decided to follow his whims rather than continue to analyse each move she made.

[color=a2d39c]"I imagine my bags would have been delivered into my room. With all the trinkets and tools of the Occident they contain, I imagine the place would look far less... traditional. Once unpacked, you are welcome to come around any time of course."[/color] Franz begun to lead her inside the building. [color=a2d39c]"If you get sick of the taste of 'home'."[/color] He joked as he viewed the entrance, an alien archetectural design to him.

Ryuuko lifted her left hand, putting the palm against the back of her neck while making gentle rubbing motions as Franz held her right hand politely. She then sighed again, but at the very least it was then followed by a light smile. [color=FF0000]"Yeah, you're right. It's likely just going to be the same inside, heh... But you're also right indeed that I can just keep my attention on you instead!"[/color] She let out a hearty laugh at that, decided that she will indeed do just that for now.

[color=FF0000]"And oh I definitely can't wait for that. Anything that can make this place look less traditionally Japanese is a winning plan to me."[/color] A light, playful chuckle followed her words as Franz began leading her inside to the building. [color=FF0000]"And well, I myself definitely have plans to renovate. Small things first for tonight... And then bigger renovations on the first chance to do so!"[/color]

Ryuuko took just a brief look around as they entered, enough to confirm that Franz was of course right about how the inside wasn't any less Japanese than the outside. Light wooden furnishing, flooring, walls, and ceilings. Sliding doors. Wall scrolls with kanji letters written on them. Paper lanterns covering electric light bulbs. Even bonsai plants... She suppressed another grimace, instead making a shrug and returning her attention to Franz as she already decided. [color=FF0000]"Of course, you're very welcome to take in and enjoy the sight of this place. Not like I can stop you from doing so, hmm? Haha... I might even be able to answer and give explanations if something caught your attention about the design and such. Whether I like it or not, it's knowledge that unsurprisingly had now been permanently ingrained in me after all."[/color]

Of course Franz was interested by the scenery. As much as he liked to consider himself cultured, that often only extended to cultures of the Occident. With this being an entirely new place to him, he was filled with the desire to explore it. Similar to an archeologist who had found a new set of ruins to study. [color=a2d39c]"I..."[/color] He was about to ask for some sort of tour before he remembered the mood of his company toward this place. Franz cleared his throat. [color=a2d39c]"To you, these halls are mundane and blasé. I don't wish for you to stay out here any longer than you want to."[/color] Franz began picking up the pace toward their room.

Once they reached the door, Franz looked toward Ryuuko as he tried to open it. [color=a2d39c]"Besides, some long tour would just take away the mystery."[/color] Upon feeling around for a handle and finding nothing he drew his attention back to the door. Quickly putting two and two together he slid it open. [color=a2d39c]"Oh."[/color]

What Franz saw was a stylish but minimalist room with his bags placed neatly to the side. With his own grandiose Occidental expectations, the room looked empty to him. [color=a2d39c]"I am confused. Do they keep the rest of the furniture in a closet somewhere?"[/color]

[color=a2d39c]"And whose bags are these? I supposed I was bound to have a room mate. I hope he doesn't bother me too much. Maybe he passed out at the party and won't be coming home tonight."[/color] Franz chuckled looking back at Ryuuko.

[color=FF0000]"Oh."[/color] Ryuuko said with a look of surprise on her face. [color=FF0000]"I see..."[/color] While she did felt that Franz had been pleasant company thus far, she didn't expect him to be so considerate of her feelings. The surprise soon faded, turning into a wide smile. [color=FF0000]"Hehe, alright then! Let's just proceed as we are."[/color] She continued letting Franz led her through the ryokan.

Soon arriving at the door to the room, Ryuuko was about to point out to Franz that the door indeed had no handle when he quickly realized it himself. Then she looked at the room along with Franz. [color=FF0000]"Ha! Just as I expected then. A typical ryokan room indeed."[/color] She looked at Franz as he looked confusedly at the modestly decorated room. [color=FF0000]"Oh no, what you see here are indeed what we're getting. Well, there's likely some spare futon, blankets, and pillows there."[/color] She said as she pointed at another, smaller sliding door at the other side of the room. [color=FF0000]"But yeah... This is it. I guess on the bright side, there's lots of empty room to put our own stuffs, huh?"[/color] She shrugged and sighed casually.

[color=FF0000]"Oh, those bags?"[/color] She looked at the bags as Franz joked about the room mate which was yet unknown to him. [color=FF0000]"Why, those are mine, of course!"[/color] Ryuuko let out a small laugh at that. [color=FF0000]"I most definitely did not pass out at the party, seeing as I am here, hmm?"[/color] She joked back, not yet realizing that Franz really didn't know that he's going to be staying together with her.

Franz listened to Ryuuko speak as he inspected the room for anything else. Not that he didn't believe Ryuuko, but more out of disbelief of the rooms emptiness. 

The beds were a particular sore point for him, seeing them so close to the ground. Lifting up the blankets of one, he saw the remains of something that could hardly be considered a mattress. It reminded Franz of home, 'home' home. While some may call such a thing tradition or humility Franz had another word for it. Poverty. Was this another humility the universe saw fit to bestow upon him tonight? Like his exchange with the maestro.

Franz took a double take when Ryuuko claimed the bags. At first with a startled expression, but then widened into a smile which he did his best to downplay. This truly caught him off guard, what luck did he have that he was given a room with an Egoist. A coed room with some good company at that. What luck indeed.

[color=a2d39c]"Well, what a pleasant surpise. I look forward to the year."[/color] Franz attempted to lie down on the mattress to confirm that, in fact, his ankles hung off the side. [color=a2d39c]"I believe these beds will be the first improvement"[/color] Franz joked. [color=a2d39c]"Even stacked on top of each other, they would hardly make a decent mattress. And I believe I'll need a proper desk also."[/color]

While Franz inspected the room, Ryuuko started sorting out her bags. Well, bags and crates. She had a perfectly square wooden box about a meter in length, height, and width among her belongings. She didn't open this box, instead carrying it with one hand and opening the sliding door of the in-room storage space; putting the box there beside the spare mattress, blankets, and pillows.

That done, she returned to her bags while looking at Franz, a smile also on her face. [color=FF0000]"I'm definitely looking forward to the year as well, Franz."[/color] She then pointed to the spare mattresses inside the storage space. [color=FF0000]"Oh I definitely agree about that. Futons are subpar compared to even a standard Occidental bed."[/color] She chuckled lightly before continuing. [color=FF0000]"Still, I don't know if we'll be able to obtain a more suitable bed tonight, considering how late it is... So maybe we can make use of the spare stuffs that they've provided to at least make things more bearable."[/color]

Ryuuko sighed lightly at her own suggestion. She's honestly not looking forward to sleeping on a futon either, even with extra mattress and blanket. It was one of the things she definitely didn't miss after she moved to Germany, after all. It was ridiculous to her that the Kaiser Institute were able to provide way more comfortable lodging for her than her own so-calledly influential and very wealthy family... Oh well. At least the room came with its own proper toilet and bathroom, unlike some of the really traditional ryokan in Japan with their dark, drafty bathroom. That would be extra annoying.

Franz joined Ryuuko over where the bags are kept and begun unpacking. [color=a2d39c]"Tonight was a good night, and I see nothing to suggest things go down from here."[/color] He stepped in close to her and made direct eye contact. [color=a2d39c]"I hope this does not come off as too forward. But I would like to have the record straight going forth."[/color] Franz leaned in and kissed her.

Why was he doing this? Franz thought to himself. Tt was a bold move, and there was considerable risk involved. Would he take such risks for something as seemingly trivial as a kiss? Having an egoist on his side would be an unimaginable benefit to his plans. But then again, she could just as easily get offended an leave. So internally Franz knew his logic was flawed. For now, he just continued and hoped one of his lips wasn't claimed by razor sharp teeth.

After a while, Franz stepped back and tidied up his suit. [color=a2d39c]"And with that Miss Higashiakemi, I will be getting ready to sleep. We can begin making renovations in the morning."[/color] Franz stated matter of factly before going about his own business.

[color=FF0000]"Well now, aren't you an optimist. Very good."[/color] Ryuuko laughed lightly, still in a joking mood as Franz stepped closer to her. She returned his gaze directly, looking at Franz's eyes in turn. [color=FF0000]"Too forward? Now whatever do you mean by that?"[/color] She was still smiling, expecting Franz to make a joke in turn even as he leaned in closer.

Now a kiss, she didn't expect at all. Even in that short frame of time, she could have had avoided it in normal circumstances. This time, she was too preoccupied with wondering what interesting things Franz will do or say. [color=FF0000]".... ?!"[/color] Ryuuko's eyes widened at the contact, very much surprised and more than a little bit confused. In a way, Franz was lucky for quite a few reasons. Being bitten on the lips would have been the least of his worry if not for those reasons, considering Ryuuko's slap could well be lethal to the average person. Heck, she had primed the venom sacks in her throat by reflex. He was sooo close to being incinerated to ashes.

Ryuuko stepped back as Franz himself did so, her face still full of bewilderment. [color=FF0000]"Wuh- Wha- Uhhhh."[/color] She raised her left hand halfway. And then lowered it again. Before then raising it again, finger pointing at Franz. [color=FF0000]"Now hold on a sec! What was that just now?? Why did you- just- WHAT??"[/color] She continued staring at Franz even as he started going about his own business. She wasn't about to let him just go to sleep after something like that.

That was her first kiss for lord's sake, it was a massively big deal! She definitely wanted explanations!

Franz was lucky to have gotten out of that unhurt. It didn't take a genius to know when someone was caught by complete surprise. Ryuuko could have hit him out of panic and the sheer force would put him in the hospital. And that is all assuming that the hit was unintentional. He shuddered to think what a hit with intent could do. 

Franz turned his head away from his business and back toward the frantically questioning Ryuuko. At first he feigned some slight surpise but then switched to a pleasant smile. [color=a2d39c]"Why is an easy enough question to answer. I was taken by the moment of the night and stunned by your beauty. I apologize for my actions if you found them truly so awful. I will mind my manners in future."[/color] Franz pondered for a bit before continuing. [color=a2d39c]"You know, that was my first kiss."[/color] The speech as a whole had some truth and some lies. Although Franz is particularly good at hiding which is which.

[color=FF0000]"..... Uhh."[/color] Ryuuko's mind was still trying to comprehend what had happened. It took her some time to register what Franz had said in answer to her bewilderment. [color=FF0000]"I- Well that was my first kiss too but- wait that's not the point!"[/color] She was even more confused. Did he meant that he liked her? Or did he meant that it was just an in the moment thing? She rubbed her own temple with one of her hands, unsure of how to react. It's been a while since the last time she were completely caught off guard by something just so very unexpected, and now it suddenly happened twice in such a short period of time.

So she did what she always do whenever it happened. She took a few deep breaths in and out to calm her nerves down. She also needed to undo the priming of her venom sacks while at it. Accidental arson wouldn't be funny even if it was a ryokan that got burned down. In any case, it was a couple of seconds later before she finally calmed down enough to respond to Franz again.

[color=FF0000]"Huff... Look, Franz. I like you as a person. I did said that you're good company, and I'm honest about that..."[/color] Her left hand rubbed the back of her neck as she tried to compose her next words, pausing for a few more seconds. [color=FF0000]"But umm. A kiss and such other stuffs. I uhh, I'd rather only do that kind of things with, you know, people that actually wanted to be romantically committed to me, so... Yeah."[/color]

Franz was taken back in a bit by Ryuuko's reaction. He had not expected such a sullen reply. The weight of his actions had certainly had an effect, and the dip in mood was certainly not one he welcomed. [color=a2d39c]"I apologize Frau Higashiakemi, I had not expected you to be so conservative about matters of love."[/color] Franz definately had an air of sincerity about him now. [color=a2d39c]"I too, enjoyed the company and think we could make great strides in the field of Egoism together. I dare not jeprodise that. Who knows, I may end up a commited man by the end of this year. But not right now. So, for the time being, I can only wish you a good night."[/color] Franz hopped into the 'bed' that was provided by the accomodation. Trying to downplay the discomfort of such a thin mattress.

[color=FF0000]"....."[/color] Ryuuko took one more deep breath in and then out, an especially long one. Then she looked at Franz again and nodded. [color=FF0000]"Yes, it's... alright."[/color] She tried to smile, managing a small one. She'd rather not ruin her relation with Franz too. It looked to her that he really wasn't meaning any harm after all, so it will not do to hold any resentment toward him. [color=FF0000]"Indeed... I continue to look forward to your company, in work and out of. And well..."[/color] Finally, she grinned her usual toothy grin as she spoke her next words. [color=FF0000]"I suppose we shall see about the matter of "commitment", hmm? Good night, Franz."[/color]

And with that, she turned around and started to prepare her own futon as well. A good sleep will be very much welcomed after the eventful day and night.

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