perfectmatch | week two

She does.

[ It's not that Shoko doesn't notice or doesn't care; she's no stranger to being the object of someone's affection, for better or for worse (sorry, Ijichi, wherever he may be watching this), but it's... different, when that someone doesn't yet know the full extent of Shoko's work, or what she's been through. ]

...I think you know how unsavory things can get when it comes to curses and the occult, though, Shindou-san.

[ Right. Of course. Rom glances over at her, gauging her expression for a moment before looking down to pluck another strawberry and flick an insect off its leaves. ]

I was wondering if maybe things would be different for you, since you work at a school.

[ So, yes. He's very well aware of the matter. Rom hums in thought as he fetches a few more strawberries before continuing. ]

... are you concerned about this matter in the context of winning the show, Ieiri-san? Or is it a more personal angle you're worried about.

[ Well... It's an interesting question. Perhaps it's not something she needs to think about strictly in the context of their matches. They don't know how detailed this "algorithm" is, after all. ]

...I suppose I'm thinking about it more with respect to the second thing, than the first. Maybe it doesn't matter to the algorithm.

[ Still, even Rom is missing some context, isn't he? To that end, she adds: ]

This is the thing, though. I don't work for just any other high school. It's the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College. [ phew. ] What you do for your work, Shindou-san, we send kids out to do.

[ There's a pause before he gives a vague laugh. ]

Should I worry I'm about to be made obsolete by your students? [ Though honestly, that's not what bothers him most. ] I suppose I also started my training when I was young, but. ... I see.

[ A school exclusively for exorcists, sending them out into the field at a young age. He's not sure how he feels about this whole system. That's a matter he'll have to mull over more later.

For now, he plucks a few more berries before looking back to Shoko. ]

I think it does matter to the algorithm. The question is how this algorithm [ cough, he means the producers ] might have taken that factor into account. Will it be considerate of safety? In which case your pool of eligible partners is probably much smaller. Easier for us, frankly, as it would help narrow down options. Though -- given this is a television show, I would guess the algorithm might take a more romantic approach. 'Love conquers all,' as the fairytale sentiment goes. ... though when it comes to the second thing, then I'm afraid I don't have much advice to give.

[ So did she. Maybe they'll circle back to talking about what training was like when they were young, but for the time being...

Shoko listens duly, drawing her hand away from the strawberries in favor of propping her head up with it as she gives Rom her full attention. Everything he says makes sense, logically-speaking, and she does find herself in full agreement. She'd considered what would happen if like was paired with like, and though it would make guessing each other's matches easier... ]

It wouldn't make for good entertainment, if we were paired off based on shallow reasons like that. Though we can't discount that sort of reasoning being used for at least some of the pairs.

[ But as for the second... Yeah. She's got nothing, either. ]

Guess there's only one way to figure it out, huh? Besides all that... you've been training since you were young, too?

That's also true ... [ Rom heaves a sigh as he sits back on his haunches and squints up at the skies for a moment. ] How much easier this would be if we could narrow down the choices down in any concrete way.

[ Honestly, he'd thought this entire game would be little more than a comedic setpiece he'd have to play along with until the wishes would be granted. But it's truly more difficult than he anticipated, enough that trying to untangle it's giving him a bit of a headache.

(Although maybe he's also starting to get a headache for other reasons.) ]

Aah, myself? [ There sure was a brief pause before he looked back her way. ] In a sense? Though at the earliest stages it was less training and more, hm ... learning to function. Learning to act like a normal person, first. [ 'Too,' Shoko had said. ] Is the same true for everyone associated with your school?

...Yeah. In a sense.

[ Shoko isn't particularly interested in teasing out all the subtle details and differences between the nature of the occult in their respective versions of the world, but... she can at least touch on it a little more, for the sake of getting to know each other.]

At its most basic, there are people who can see curses. Then there are people who, in addition to that, can manipulate cursed energy or use cursed tools. Young ones who can do that usually end up at a school like mine and become sorcerers. I work as a doctor at Tokyo Jujutsu High now, but it's where I trained as a teenager, too.

A whole pipeline for training exorcists, is it ...

[ A cant of the head in thought. It's truly impossible for him to imagine. And he feels ... a little jealous, maybe? This feels like envy. Just a little.

He gives a soft huff of an exhale as he swipes a hand over his jawline; it comes away damp with sweat. ]

I have to imagine we come from very different places. People with genuine spiritual abilities are much rarer, to my knowledge. Other than my Master's handful of associates, in recent years I've only found ... one. One and a half-ish.

[ It's a little wobbly when he gets to his feet and steps towards the containers of ice water the staff left them; when he picks one up, he offers it Shoko's way first. ]

Well... I guess I might have made it sound like the school is big. It is, physically speaking, but there are very few students. My own class was three—

[ she stops herself short, and despite her best efforts, the pause is rather noticeable. ]

...Two people.

[ Anyway! She tips her head to the side curiously when he gets up a little unsteadily... Uh-oh. Is the heat getting to him? Meanwhile, she's continuing to lazily pick random strawberries without regard for their ripeness... At least until he comes back with ice waters. ]

Ah, thanks, Shindou-san. Can't forget to stay hydrated in heat like this, hm? How are you holding up?

Edited (not my html!!) 2025-06-11 22:58 (UTC)

[ That pause is hard to miss. As he hands over the container of water, Rom's gaze briefly skitters past Shoko's eyes to fix on the empty spot behind her, before sliding back down to meet her gaze. ]

... it's quite hot, isn't it.

[ Yes, he's a pretty tactless person in general. But even he knows not to touch certain matters.

When he hunkers back down on the ground near her, he takes a long swig of water before taking his hat off to fan himself with it briefly. Notably: he makes no move to loosen his heavy clothes at all, not even hiking up the long sleeves. ]

How embarrassing ... I do my fair share of field work, but it's just usually not out in the sun like this. Do you do much work outside the office yourself?

[ Geez, he must be absolutely baking in that outfit... Actually, Shoko will go ahead and take her unbuttoned shirt off to tie it around her waist, leaving her in a tank top before taking a swig of her own water. See? No need to be so modest! ]

Usually, if I'm out working in the field, that means something's gone to shit.

[ And boy, has it .. . . ]

So on in normal times? No, not much. But lately... Well. Things are getting better now, at least.

[ He absolutely sees her taking her shirt off, but Rom only regards her for a moment before wearily putting his hat back on so at least the sun isn't in his face. Full coverage from neck downward is the only way he knows how to exist, apparently. ]

I see. Well, here's to hoping that things stay better, then.

[ Going to. Absently resume picking strawberries to drop into his basket, more in hopes that giving himself something to do with his hands will help level out his thoughts, rather than caring about the strawberries at this point. ]

I'd just finished a fairly big job before arriving here myself. But you never really get to rest in this line of work, do you. Haha. [ Another bug idly brushed off a plant before he looks to her, blinking sweat out of his eyes. ] Is that the main reason why you decided to join this game? For the vacation.

[ Rom pointedly ignoring Shoko taking her shirt of is going to go viral and escape viewership containment I just know it ]

That's right. You could say that our world got turned on its head pretty recently - it was a huge mess. But now that the worst is over, I thought it was a good chance to go somewhere else. But you're right - even when there's a lull, it's still so busy.

[ She heaves a very put-upon sigh before randomly plucking strawberries off the plants again. ]

What was your big job? Or is that supposed to be secret?

[ LOOK, HE STARED FOR A MOMENT OKAY!!! Any more than that and he'd get ripped apart for being the pathetic perv shamelessly ogling a woman, he has a questionable enough reputation without having to deal with that on top of it all!!!!! ]

My big job? Haha. It's not really a secret, but it's not really anything worth talking about, either.

[ Vaguely, Rom wonders how much of this will make it out of the editing room and onto the TV. Not much, he hopes. It already feels like he's said too much, and the heat's making it harder for him to keep track of everything. ]

... I guess you could call it a grudge match of sorts. Though it was good to finally get that off my plate.

[ He's looking a little... hm. Shoko slows down on her half-hearted strawberry-picking for a moment to check on him, though what he says next does surprise her a bit. ]

A grudge match? I didn't take you for someone who'd have grudges, Shindou.

Mm ... I don't think I am. Not normally. There's no point in holding grudges against ghosts and spirits, after all. Most cannot help being what they are.

[ Shoko's wise to keep an eye on him, because he's definitely starting to slump where he's crouched in front of the strawberry plants. Shoulders hunched, head ducked down to rest against his arm to try and blink away the dizziness. It muffles his voice a little when he speaks again. ]

But still. Some things wouldn't be right to let go of.

[ Damn... Must have been one hell of a grudge. Much as she'd want to inquire further and get a taste of the metaphorical ghost tea, there's something more urgent she must see to, first.

Shoko reaches over and places a steadying hand over Rom's shoulder. ]

Hey, you good? The heat's getting to you, isn't it? I can see if I can take care of that for you, if you want.

[ His shoulders jump a little at the touch, but other than angling his head to blearily glance at her past the (now sweat-damp) shaggy mess of his hair, Rom remains crouched in place. ]

Ah ... excuse me. [ Closing his eyes again as he tries to clear his thoughts. ] I do think the sun is getting to me a bit. But I just need a moment.

[ Take care of that? She said 'take care of that', right? How ... -- oh. His balance wobbles as he raises his head to look woozily to her. ]

If there's shade somewhere nearby, I don't need to trouble you. I can get there myself.

[ She draws her hand back after he startles at the touch, but hovers near in case she needs to steady him... ]

You're right that we need to get you somewhere more shaded, but... Don't push yourself when I'm offering to help, dummy. Here, take this and keep it on your neck, first.

[ She hands him her bottle of ice water and then gets up onto her feet, offering her hand to help him up. ]

[ Dummy ... it's been a while since he's been called that. It's oddly kind of sobering and earns Shoko a bit of cooperation; Rom does place the bottle at his neck as instructed, even if he has a little bit of complaint to make. ]

This is more embarrassing than I thought it would be ...

[ Still. He won't make himself too much more of a pain. Despite a moment's bleary hesitation, he does reach up to take the offered hand -- his hand's a little clammy with sweat, sorry, his skin calloused and scarred against hers. ]

[ Well, she'd be in the wrong line of work if a little sweat on someone's hands bothered her. With a firm grip, she helps to pull Rom back up to his feet, but doesn't let go. ]

Don't be. It's hot out, and we're inside of a greenhouse. It's not unthinkable for something like this to happen.

[ With that, she'll guide them towards a shaded little spot in the greenhouse, beneath an umbrella. ]

Still with me?

week two | dates

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