open || ain't no party like a birthday party

[complementing]

WHO: Minako, Sakura, Ragna, and you!
WHERE: One of the arcade bars in the city.
WHEN: March 10th
WHAT: BIRTHDAY PARTY!
WARNINGS: None foreseen! Feel free to threadjack for Minako's Hot Potato Categories game.



[Welcome to the Emporium, an arcade bar that Minako and Sakura have decided to host their joint birthday party at! Come on in and have some fun playing games, eating junk food, and just hanging out with the birthday girls (and guy, if he decides to come).

There are, of course, the numerous arcade games that the place is known for, ranging from the old school 2v2 fighters to the shooting gallery kinds. But there are a smattering of other games as well, like DDR, darts, mini hoops, skeeball, and the pool table, too. There's also a wall of crane games in the back, with plenty of random and mostly cute prizes to win.

Make a stop by the purikura booth if you have time. Make some duck lips at the camera and then take the snaps home! (Or give them to the birthday girls for the memories.)

Oh, and be sure to exchange your money for tokens before you play all these games. The token machine seems kind of finicky, though. Maybe a strong (and hopefully discrete?) kick will help jumpstart it.

Walk to the dining area, and there'll be a feast waiting you! The arcade is providing a ton of pizza and wings, as well as alcohol, if you can show your ID. For dessert, there's the cake that Shuji made for the girls, as well as Minako's lemon tea cakes. Those are limited supply, though, so snag one before everyone eats it up.

Next to the dining area, there's a big sign that says "DUNK TANK OUTSIDE". Maybe take a look? Just be reaaaally sure you want to climb in before you do it, though. The towels provided by the arcade are pretty small.

And finally, if you need a break from the chaos, there's a couple of couches on the second floor. Take a load off and watch from above.]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

Both. I'm not going anywhere, lay it on me.

[Reveal to him your secrets~]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Ah...his head is swimming a bit...maybe he’s just nervous? Either way he’s a bit more talkative as he flops down onto the couch beside Shuji.]

I like guys and girls but...for girls I like long, pretty hair, and for guys I like shorter hair. [A beat.] Red hair is super pretty...black hair too...

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji nods to all of this - red hair is pretty, he wouldn't dye his hair red if he didn't agree.]

What about personality?

[beneathmoonlight]

Someone kind, who likes to help others. Maybe someone who’s not too shy, but not too much of a party animal either. And I’d love it if they liked sweets, and reading...

[Oh no. His juice is gone.]

Hang on...be right back...

[He goes to refill his cup before returning. This poor soul.]

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji will wait patiently for Atsushi's return. When he does...]

So your preference for a guy would be short red hair, a kind and helpful person who's outgoing but not a party animal, who likes sweets and books. Is that right?

[...that sounds familiar.]

[beneathmoonlight]

[SWEATS.]

Oh, well, yes, but...no one has to have ALL of those qualities...haha...

[He laughs nervously, hiding his face behind his cup.]

A-anyway. This is good juice.

[thesettingsun]

That's good, because I don't think I could find anyone who fits that exactly for you. Except me, maybe.

[But he's taken.]

[beneathmoonlight]

...I know.

[Atsushi sighs, looking down into his juice cup.]

That’s because I like you, Shuji-kun, even though I shouldn’t. I’m sorry.

[thesettingsun]

[Oh.

Shock quickly turns to sadness, because Shuji can't return Atsushi's feelings. Everything they've done together is cast in a different light, and Shuji wonders how painful their outings must have been, the affection and gifts he showered on him, when Atsushi knew he didn't feel the same...

Shuji stares at the floor.]

Atsushi... I can't return your feelings, but that doesn't mean you need to be sorry. I'm sorry for not realizing before this.

[And hurting him that way.]

[beneathmoonlight]

I know you can’t, Shuji-kun. I’m not angry or anything. I really was trying to hide it from you.

[Atsushi doesn’t like that sad look on Shuji’s face, and he especially hates that he’s the cause of it. He leans his head against Shuji’s shoulder with a sad smile.]

We can still be friends, right?

[thesettingsun]

Of course we can. You're an important friend to me.

[And even if it's just friendship - that's still something worthwhile.

Shuji starts to wrap an arm around Atsushi's shoulders, then freezes. Maybe the hug isn't welcome...]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi notices Shuji freeze up, and immediately throws his arms around him him in a big, warm hug.]

Please don’t change anything, Shuji-kun. I still want to hug you.

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji relaxes, squeezing Atsushi in a solid hug.]

Good, because I still want to hug you and I was never going to be able to remember not to.

[beneathmoonlight]

I’m glad.

[Atsushi doesn’t let go just yet. He’s attached like a barnacle.]

Thank you for not being angry at me.

[thesettingsun]

[They're both barnacles.]

I could never be angry with you, and definitely not for something like that.

[beneathmoonlight]

I’m so glad.

[Finally he detaches, smiling sheepishly.]

Do you wanna play some games? I saw you doing DDR earlier.

[He wasn’t very good.]

[thesettingsun]

[No, he wasn't very good, but he still grins when Atsushi brings it up.]

Do you want to challenge me at DDR? I won't go easy on you, you know.

[beneathmoonlight]

I won’t be any good at it, but yes!

[Atsushi is now dragging Shuji over to the machine, but he has no idea what song to pick.]

Um...whichever one you want is fine!

[thesettingsun]

How about... this one?

[Shuji picks a song that he's played before, on easy mode of course.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Okay!

[Atsushi steps into the machine beside Shuji and...isn’t prepared when it starts. Oh no, he’s already failing!!]

H-how am I supposed to keep up??

[thesettingsun]

Practice!

[Even Shuji, who can't really make much of a combo, still hits most of the notes.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Right!

[He’s so bad, but he’s having fun, and that’s all that matters.

When the song is over he falls back against the machine, exhausted but smiling.]

You win.

[thesettingsun]

You did really well.

[Or they're both kind of bad, either one. Shuji props himself up on the railing.]

I'd challenge you to a second round if I could move.

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you!

[He’s way too tired for that. And his head is spinning a lot. He’s just going to take a drink of juice to try and get himself grounded...

But then he hits a pocket of pure booze at the bottom and realization dawns on him.]

This is spiked!

[thesettingsun]

...What? Who would have done that?

[Who dared to spike the punch at Minako and Sakura's birthday party, because he is going to murder them.]