Trial 11: Mandatory Karaoke Episode / Backdated to the 17th

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Who: Open for EVERYONE
What: Tokyo Plot Day 2. Karaoke fun time!
When: July 17th. Evening
Where: Ikebukuro District
Rating: Awesome





Just southeast of the Ikebukuro Station is this tall building with inviting, bright neon lights. It's very hard to miss. Even for residents not familiar with Tokyo, they would probably have learned about it from the brochures in the hotel lobby and in their rooms. All it would take to get here is a quick train ride. It even says so in the hotel brochures.

One of them being Chie, who may be Japanese, but is not from Tokyo. So far nothing bad has happened, so why not spend some time in the night at a giant karaoke bar?

Comments

[pint_sized_carnivore]

"Hmm..." Chie pursed her lips while browsing. "Let's just pick something at random. It'll be more fun that way!"

[allthelinks]

"I'm on it." Random it was, and Souji pushed the button a couple times until it landed on something English...

"Baby Got Back?" What did that even mean?

[pint_sized_carnivore]

"Sounds like fun! Why not?"

Her English isn't very good, so she doesn't even know what the title really meant.

[allthelinks]

"Huh. Okay, let's go."

The theme was kind of catchy, Souji would admit, but when the words appeared on screen, Chie had the rare treat of seeing him completely falter.

1/2

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Chie was too pumped to realize the lyrics until finishing the opening first line...

"I like big butts and I can not li--

2/2

[pint_sized_carnivore]

--ei-ay-ay! Whaaaat?!"

[allthelinks]

Hearing Chie actually say that was a little funny, but Souji was mortified for her, and that took precedence. Maybe he smiled, a little, but he pushed it away quick.

"Ah... maybe another song..."

[pint_sized_carnivore]

"Sure"

But then, there was a knock on the door, a staff member telling them that the Below 18 booths are closing.

"Oh, right! Wow, time sure does fly! Oh well, let's go back to the hotel Souji-kun"

[allthelinks]

The news was as unexpected as the knock on the door, but Souji couldn't say he was entirely upset that it was time to head on home. That song, and hearing Chie sing it, was pretty much just as perfect an ending for the day as it could get.

"Looks like it's about that time. Let's head on back, and... promise I won't tell anyone about what just happened."

[pint_sized_carnivore]

"Haha, thanks that would be nice" Chie laughed a little awkwardly, but it's mostly sincere.

"But yeah, let's head out! Getting on the train again is so exciting!"

[allthelinks]

As far as Souji was concerned, that awkward laugh was the end of it, at least until sometime from now when he wanted to tease her about what she did. Ammo was ammo!

"I always did like trains," he spoke mildly as he led the way, heading toward their ride home.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

It's so much better than the one we have in Inaba. But it's so cramped.

[allthelinks]

Cramped isn't so bad. You get a chance to meet a bunch of interesting people.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Yeah. But it's almost rush-hour. I don't know if it's the same like in our time, but dad told me about how bad it could get in here during that...

[Chie and Souji arrived inside the station. It's a little outdated from the Shinjuku station they both might be familiar with. There's no ticket vending machines for one]

[allthelinks]

It's a little crowded, but it's not so bad. I've lived in the big cities a couple times. Never Tokyo, but...

[This was definitely one low-tech station, but it did the job. It wasn't like the people were real, either, aside from a handful from the castle like the two of them. Getting tickets was easy enough, but then there was the crowd. Unfortunately, Souji underestimated just how bad it would be.]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[A huge crowd is incoming, like a wave of humans or a bunch of Zerglings headed their way. But before they could move out of the way, the crowd smothered the two. The space became so cramped in an instant]

This is what you call "not so bad"?!

[allthelinks]

[Okay, maybe it's a little worse than he was expecting. Still, the Sooj is not panicked so easily.]

Just stay close- not that you have much choice...

[Their social link - and his courage - are high enough: he snakes an arm around her waist to keep her close as the rush overcomes them, holding on to a pole on the train for dear life with his hand..]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Chie blushes when Souji puts his arm around her, but still frustrated at how cramped the train is and it puts her in an awkward standing position, with her cheek on the pole]

Alright, alright...

[allthelinks]

[It sure is awkward, and he's beginning to wonder if walking home would have been a good idea, curfew or not. It's too late for that now, though, and holding on to Chie as best as he can, he settles in for the long ride.]

It'll be over in a minute. Makes you appreciate what we've got back home, though, doesn't it?

[pint_sized_carnivore]

N-No kidding.

[Chie responds in a wheezing voice, after a rather portly fellow scooched beside her, causing Chie to press against that pole and making it even more uncomfortable for her.]