tushanshu | (01 video)

[The camera flips on to reveal a young girl with long bright blonde hair drawn up in two high pigtails, and a blue and white striped sweatshirt. There’s also noticeably a long, wrapped package slung over her shoulder, in what someone who’s familiar with swords might realize is exactly the right size for a full length katana. There’s a fierce, set expression on her face, and she dramatically points her finger directly into the camera.]

Alright! Let’s not waste any time around here! If we’re given obstacles, then we have to overcome them, right? I’m sure if you’ve all been here for a while, then you’ve gotten a lot more answers than what those unhelpful lackies told me on the ride down… So, fill me in. What's something interesting you've learned since you got here? Just one thing!

[She’s not totally mindlessly determined and naïve, though. Raimei sobers, frowning slightly.] My name is Raimei Shimizu, a samurai. We don’t need to keep any secrets here, do we…? I’ll openly try to achieve my goals with my sword.

[Then she brightens up again, not letting herself think about how dire circumstances are for too long.] Ah, and--! Since I guess I’m not going anywhere fast, what’s all this about a job? Shouldn’t a girl my age still be in school?!

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Uh. Sure, that would be great.

How old are you?

I'm fourteen! [she says without a beat.] What about you?

--Wait, I don't even know your name! Tell me that, too.

[She chuckles a little.]

Hayley. I'm fourteen too.

Are you always this.. energetic?

Are you calling me a ditz? [She sounds like she's teasing, though, not taking it personally.]

I'm pretty much always like this. My brother said I should learn to listen to others better, and I've been trying, but... [A slightly more serious, self-conscious look.] I think I have a ways to go.

That's cool though. Most people don't really say what they're thinking.

[Raimei tries to give a good-natured, sheepish smile, but ends up growing more serious.] I know! That's what gets me into trouble. I think I know someone, but there's so much I don't know.

[Raikou, of course; but also Miharu, Kouichi, Thobari, everyone Raimei cared about back home had been carrying so much to themselves. Huge secrets. Except her.]

Sometimes what they're not saying... isn't really something I can ignore.

It's usually what people don't say that's the most important part of them. I don't really blame you for trying to find it.

I didn't try to find it for a long time. And it turned out, someone important to me... [She trails off, almost introspective.

It's not an exaggeration to say that this topic was the entire basis of her character arc.]

I guess it's always where you're not looking.

Well, until you get good at knowing where to look.

You make it sound like you're good at that!

I'm trying to learn.

Any tips to share with the class?

[She really does want to know, though she says it lightly.]

I don't know. Just talking to people, I guess. Getting to know them?

[She sounds uncertain about her answer, as if trying to expertly explain something she had only once heard about in a tv show.]

So...

Since it's your suggestion, you don't mind if I start with you, right?

Oh, uh. [She giggles.] No. That's totally fine.

What, you make the suggestion, but you can't take the heat yourself?

Whatever. What do you want to know?

[Oh she hadn't thought she'd actually agree.]

Oh-- well... I know your name and age, so... [Thinking. What do you ask to get to know someone better that wasn't superficial or invasive?]

How have you liked it here?

I haven't? I mean, it's cool to have my own apartment, but working sucks and not knowing anyone here very well is super intimidating. Plus like, I don't have any family and we don't really know what the people here are capable of or what kind of people they are. It's a total recipe for disaster.

[There's just something about the way she says it that could make a skeptical person doubt its sincerity, but not enough to be considered an outright lie.]

[Raimei is too oblivious to doubt her sincerity. She sort of does by reflex, out of an awareness that few people are ever honest, but she loses track of it in the middle of conversation.]

... Yeah. [She deflates, because this assessment is close to the conclusion she's come to herself, already.] I didn't realize how much I depend on everyone, until I didn't have them anymore. But-- I'm going to try to stay focused! We definitely won't get home if we give up.

It'd just be easier if everything weren't so different... [It's kind of a lot, all at once, to deal with an entirely new context, without anyone from home to lean on.]

Yeah, that's kind of what I thought.

[And this time, it's entirely sincere.]

So, that means you won't mind hanging out with me, since that's something that's not 'different'. You seem pretty normal. More normal than I'm used to, [she adds with a slight laugh.]

I don't know about normal, but we should definitely hang out. It would be fun to like, watch a movie or have a sleepover or something.

Hmm... are there movies here?

Either way! We should definitely do something! I even live in a treehouse. It's practically begging for a sleepover.

I don't know actually.

We should sleepover anyway.

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