[center] [color=f49ac2]Sakura Level 11: 045/110[/color] Location: Pools -> Retrocade Word Count: 1837 Points Gained: 3 New EXP Balance--- [color=f49ac2]Level 11: 048/110 [/color] [/center] – In between matches, especially with the rather packed schedule that was typical for a World Warrior competitor, it was always a good idea to stay warmed up. Friendly sparring wasn't really a thing in Esaka due to Galeem's curse, which tended to turn every altercation into a life-or-death struggle, but there were other ways to keep oneself ready. A number of the Pools tier's bigger rest areas offered a Mokujin training dummy or two, which could be adjusted to do things like block or jump in for combo or anti-air drills, and any stages that happened to be vacant were perfect for drills. Of course, some fighters stayed in the zone by talking strategy with one another, or by chatting with fans. Today's bouts were all still qualifiers, but with the herd thinned by several rounds of Pools matches the stronger, more high-profile competitors were more prominent. Most High Tier duelists had a retinue of fans in their corner for each match, and even some Low Tiers who'd managed to stay afloat for this long had managed to amass a loyal following. That went for Sakura as well, and among the mixed bag of people and yokai who showed up to cheer her on, she could count on one steadfast supporter to have her back: the elegant lady with the indigo braid, Ei. Sheltered from the rain by a lavender wagasa, yet still clad in her pixellated sunglasses, Ei was by no means loudspoken but still made her presence known with radiant smiles and gentle claps whenever Sakura pulled off a win. In the wake of yet another victory, Sakura found herself hounded by a couple of yokai, some trying to get her autograph and others asking entirely too personal questions about her relationships with Karin and Ryu. When Ei strolled up to greet the street fighter, however, the yokai shied away, most bailing on the spot. Ei gave them a bemused glance, then gave Sakura thumbs-up. "Well done, Miss Kasugano. How are you holding up? Anyone else would surely be tired by now." Sakura brightened at Ei’s approach. Fighting was fun, but the crowds, even the ones on the smaller side like in mid-bracket Esaka matches, were always a bad match-up for Sakura. Given her gregarious personality, one might be surprised to find her so introverted in the face of public scrutiny. Sakura tried doing autographs but didn't have a pen, and once you give out one autographs well, everyone wants one, right? As for the questions, Sakura could be heard stumbling over her answers or deflecting with her fallback 'no comment!' response. As Ei-san approached, and the yokai scattered, Sakura let out a sigh of relief. [color=f49ac2]"Ah, ahaha..."[/color] Sakura rubbed the back of her head as Ei-san approached. Sakura appreciated the polite yet steadfast support of her new friend, but was a little embarrassed to have been found in need of rescue like that. [color=f49ac2]"Oh, I'm- I'm having a blast!"[/color] She said, genuinely, with a vigorous nod and a return of two thumbs up. [color=f49ac2]"It's just times like this in particular I wish Karin was here. Or Asuka-chan. She would just tell everyone to scram, and they'd listen to her. Or Ryu-san has this, I dunno, air of dignity and humble grace about him that means even the most overbearing of strangers hesitate to mess with him."[/color] Sakura trailed off, thinking about her hero again. [color=f49ac2]"...I guess you have the same power, Ei-san!"[/color] Sakura brightly added after a moment of thought, referring to how the yokai scattered when she approached. The lady tittered. "Hmhm, maybe! Though I didn't say much of anything. Maybe they just don't like me." Her eyebrows rose above the rims of her sunglasses as she raised her free hand to her face. "Wait, I don't smell or anything, do I? It's easy to lose track of the days sometimes, heh...I really don't get out as often as I should." [color=f49ac2]"I think the yokai would let you know if they didn't like you."[/color] Sakura joked. [color=f49ac2]"Or, if you, uh...smelled."[/color] Sakura said. It was difficult to tell if Ei was joking or not, but the nervous shadow that passed over her flawless features soon passed. Her gaze shifted upward as she looked beyond the pandemonium of the Pools toward the overcast sky, to the curtains of distant rain and streaks of sun falling across the Fields of Gold, and to the darker, more tumultuous clouds behind the peak to the east. Was a storm brewing, or were the clouds about to part? "Wind blows, rain falls, and the strong prey upon the weak," she said solemnly, her voice soft. "It can be such a cruel world. But there is beauty to be found too, I think." Silence fell for a moment, and Sakura followed Ei's gaze out to the vistas beyond. It was beautiful, like always. Sometimes you had to really stop and pay attention to it to appreciate it, though. The view had Ei feeling existential, Sakura guessed. [color=f49ac2]"Uh, yeah. I think so, too."[/color] She looked over at her. [color=f49ac2]"You okay?"[/color] Her question seemed to take Ei by surprise. "Um...." Her high pitch and slightly furrowed brows, and hesitation to meet Sakura's gaze, seemed subtly indicative on their own. "I'll be fine," she decided after a moment before finally turning to Sakura. "It is what it is, right?" An apologetic smile crossed her face. "Sorry, didn't mean to zone out. The way people kill each other here, I don't know if I'll ever get used to it." Ei used her fingers on her wagasa's handle to spin the canopy back and forth. "I don't suppose you'd know of anything fun to do? Something that could take my mind off...things. I don't mean to monopolize you, of course. I just haven't managed to make any other acquaintances." Her eyes wandered to one of the yokai that had remained in the area after giving her a wide berth. "It seems like most people behave the same way. Like I'm an outsider." [color=f49ac2]"Oh. Yeah..."[/color] Sakura said, trailing off. Wait, how did she know about that? Wasn't the killing and respawning kept secret under Galeem's curse? Was it because she wasn't from Esaka? That must be weird. The only other alternative was impossible, though Sakura did wish she could see through Ei's sunglasses at the moment. [color=f49ac2]"If it helps, they all like, come back to life, and stuff."[/color] Sakura said, clearing her throat. [color=f49ac2]"But yeah, it's pretty weird."[/color] Sakura dismissed any of Ei's guilty concerns. [color=f49ac2]"Hey, don't worry. It's nice to have a friend outside the group I'm with."[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]"There's an arcade not too far from here, the Retrocade? It has lots of cool new arcade games. You play video games, Ei-san?"[/color] The suggestion got Ei curious. "Those words aren't familiar to me. I'm happy to try most anything, though." Smiling, she gestured broadly to the surrounding area. Since she didn't know where they were going, 'anywhere but here' seemed to be the right direction. "Please, lead the way!" [color=f49ac2]"Follow me!"[/color] Sakura beckoned with a grin. She skipped a few steps forward before turning around and walking backwards to warn Ei: [color=f49ac2]"I hope you have zenny on you."[/color] -- As promised, Retrocade was a large arcade venue, with a dark interior thanks to its black-painted walls and reddish galaxy-pattern carpet. A mix of hanging spotlights and LED strips (often tinted with vibrant neon colors) provided much of the illumination, although the dozens of arcade cabinets generated plenty of visual and auditory stimulation. In addition to the cabinets, there were other attractions like crane games, racing games, dance pads, and air hockey. Like most Esakan establishments, Retrocade had its own [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1e56b5a71638.png]designated fighting arena[/url], but in a neat twist this one made use of screens and projectors to simulate a variety of backdrops. The arcade machines in here could accept either zenny or Retrocade Cards, which could be stocked up with credits at special terminals by spending zenny, and once guests finished a session their tickets could be exchanged in a prize shop. Upon entering, Ei seemed rather overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds, each designed to be as loud and garish as possible to steal customers' attention away from the other machines. It also had to be pretty hard to see in here because of her choice in eyewear. "Whoa," she murmured, feeling quite out of place. "This is..." [color=f49ac2]"Oh yeah,"[/color] Sakura said, smug, hands on her hips as she surveyed the field. [color=f49ac2]"This is an American style arcade. But the fundamentals are the same all over the world. The arcade is as rad as it gets."[/color] Deciding to spare Ei-san the experience of challenging a fighting game pro like herself, Sakura pointed out a few other things instead. [color=f49ac2]"Air hockey, dancing, light gun. Monster games, space games, sports games. Win tickets, and get prizes!"[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]"Or skip the middle man and try to grab a prize right from the box with the crane game. It's totally rigged."[/color] Sakura nodded sagely. [color=f49ac2]"You see anything here you might be good at?"[/color] Sakura asked. [color=f49ac2]"Unsurprisingly, I like the fighting games and the table sports the most. But you can pick anything."[/color] Ei listened at rapt attention as Sakura pointed out the different sorts of entertainment that the establishment had on offer. When she mentioned the crane games being rigged, the lady absorbed the tip with an entirely too serious expression, as if she'd just received grave news about some tragedy. "Despicable. No honor." It was a lot to take in, but having someone to help her make sense of all the stimulating new technologies seemed to help. When asked what she might be good at, Ei considered her options. "Shooting, racing, not exactly my cup of tea." She turned herself away from the strident sounds of virtual gunfire and squealing tires toward the [i]clack, clack, clack[/i] of two players at an air hockey table. Intrigued, she sauntered closer toward an open table. When she ran a hand across the table's surface, she could feel the tiny jets of air almost tickling her skin. "I could give this a try." She turned toward Sakura with a determined smile. "My reflexes are pretty good, so don't underestimate me." Sakura grabbed a pusher disc and slid it across the table for Ei to grab. [color=f49ac2]"You have good taste, Ei-san. This is a timeless game."[/color] The puck itself soon joined as Sakura gave Ei first hit, as it were. [color=f49ac2]"In case it wasn't obvious, you have to hit the puck into the other persons goal."[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]"And, uh, put some zenny in. The air part of air hockey is going to turn off if it isn't appeased with coin."[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]"...You are rich, right?"[/color] She teased. "Uh..." Ei smiled sheepishly. "A bit? I mean, I'm happy to cover us." She pulled out enough zenny to satiate the table's slot, then took up her pusher. Once the table lit up and air flow began, the game was on.