Cherry Blossom Evening Party

[wipingallout]

You have received a private message:

Throughout the week, Hamuko has messaged the vast majority of people she's met so far - and eagerly invited them to come meet at Inokashira Park starting at 5pm.

⋆🌸₊˚⊹♡❀˖°🌸⋆

You're invited to an evening sushi-party-turned-hanami-picnic-party! I've organized a bunch of cognitive chefs and performers to come to that park on the listed date/time.

I've sent this to you because you were part of one of the three teams that helped with fighting Fatalis or rescuing Falcon and Wolf (or are Falcon and Wolf themselves!!) - we've all busted our butts a lot lately, so I think we deserve to have something nice together too!

Of course, the party is open if you have any +1s or more. But before spring turns into summer, let's celebrate what we've all accomplished together!




.🌸˚𑁍.ೃ࿔*:･

The Venue...


Inokashira Park has a lovely river and trail and a phenomenal collection of cherry blossom trees. They're in the tail end of their season, filling the air with petals like snowfall.

In a large open area, Hamuko's arranged a ton of picnic blankets for people to claim and sit down on, though each blanket is HUGE to accommodate people sitting with as many people as they can handle! There are cozy pillows for sitting on too, stacked neatly to be borrowed.

There's a truly humongous row of tables laid out with an impressive amount of sushi presented. With a few trucks nearby, it seems there's a few sushi chefs making fresh platters of it to lay out through the night.

Similarly, there are food carts along the trails if you're not in the mood for sushi and would rather have some more traditional fare like dango, taiyaki, matcha, takoyaki... it's got the place lively and smelling fantastic! There's sake for the adults, and some cherry-blossomed themed mocktails for minors.

🌸𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🎐

Activities

There's a few set out activities besides just chowing down and socializing or walking along the lantern-lit trails under the cherry blossoms! Inoshikara Park has always had cute little swan pedal boats or regular rowboats for 'rental' (not that money matters here).

The area is SO pretty, perfect for taking pictures to have as keepsakes. There's even a booth to claim a yukata and privately change into it, if you want to go the extra mile!

Finally, in lieu of a traditional band or modern concert, Hamuko has picked out a large set of speakers connected to a small karaoke stage and screen - menace the party with your sing-along! Get a little boost to your Guts!!

Comments

[wipingallout]

Hamuko giggled, bouncing on her toes a bit. "Then let's all sing together! If we're all terrible at the same time, no one can tell who's worse than who!"

[mountainfoggedlotus]

EYAH!!! Ren wasn't expecting to get dragged into this!!

"Wh-- are there even enough mics for all of us?"

[ Poor boy. Turnabout is fair play, though. ]

[fogboundcrow]

"Oh my... Could it be that you're getting cold feet?" Sorry, Ren. If he has to humiliate himself, he's not doing it alone.

In stark contrast, Shiro beams, clasping his hands together. "We could always share!"

[wipingallout]

"Of course there are! I got enough mics for six people to sing at once!"

She wasn't gonna let ANYONE escape, not for good....!

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Well...well, I'm not scared!!!" He isn't! "Last person to get a mic is a rotten egg!"

He makes a dash to the stage!! Karaoke, here he comes!! He isn't a scaredy-pants!!

[fogboundcrow]

Oh no you don't! Raven sprints after. "I refuse to yie—"

Then Shiro dramatically leaps over them, does a front flip, and lands next to an available mic, because he's a Persona and wants to look cool...

And he hands it to Ren with a wink. "For you, my dashing rogue."

[wipingallout]

Aww, she can't pull of a trick like that in a yukata... Hamuko will just settle for getting to the stage and passing out mics, an impish little smile on her face.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Ren grabs his own mic and takes the one Shiro offers. "Thank you."

Yes, he's now holding two mics, and intends to use them both. Game face, no fear, no butterflies in his stomach.

[fogboundcrow]

Raven raises an eyebrow at the double mics. Ren... You are so strange.

But he accepts the mic from Hamuko with a nod. Now comes the real question...

"...So, does anyone have any song preferences?"

"I have one!" Shiro flips through the track selection, eventually stopping on something deceptively jazzy.

It might be too innocent, really.

[wipingallout]

Oooh, jazzy, that's fun. Akechis like jazz, huh? Hamuko doesn't say anything, tucking her hands into her yukata sleeves and nodding her head to the beat.

Go on, boys. Give her a show.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

The lyrics are in English.

The lyrics are in English.

...Ren doesn't know a whole lot of English.

He glares at Shiro. How is he supposed to English??? And he has NO idea what this song even IS--

Whatever.

The start to Ren's rapping career goes about as you'd expect.

"M in the house like ca--" and he's already unable to keep up with the words. "house that...who built on the hil--"

[fogboundcrow]

Shiro happily steps in. "'Cause this shit's gonna feel like velvet, turtle! My style fits tighter than a girdle." Yes, he's rapping in slightly accented English.

In stark contrast, Raven's face crumples up. "I will never understand why they would desecrate such a fine jazz accompaniment with such absurd lyrics."

"Raven, you need to sing along!"

...Damn it. "Like Chef Boyarde, my rhyme is truly cookin'..." Ugh. This is horrible. So, so horrible.

[wipingallout]

Oh... oh this song is bad...

Hamuko restrains herself, stepping back from the stage just a bit and sizing the two up, moving a little, aaaand...

...while they're singing, out comes the disposable camera that she's been using all night. She snaps a picture.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Hamuko is supposed to be up here! With them!

Ren's determined, though. He keeps making noises vaguely in-tune with the music. Loudly.

[fogboundcrow]

Shiro happily raps along. "I don't eat pork or swine when I dine. I drink a cup of Kool-Aid, not a big glass of wine!"

"...Ren, why don't you choose the next song?"

Shiro flashes a playful grin. "That implies you want a next song..."

This may have been a scheme. A tricky little play.

[wipingallout]

"Yeah, you gonna let the Akechi boys all choose jazz all night? Show off your taste in music!" Hamuko heckled, amused as ever, tucking the camera away again.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Ren puts his mics down. "I need a breather after that. What even was that song about?"

[fogboundcrow]

Raven presses his hands together, taking a deep breath. "Complete nonsense. Houses, carpets, velvet turtles, and for some godforsaken reason, Chef Boyarde. The cheap, canned pasta sold in the west that likely tastes of heartburn and broken dreams."

Shiro shakes his head. "Oh, live a little, Goro! Nii-san loves this song."

"Yu is also a human cryptid. His opinion doesn't count."

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"Does Yosuke even know enough English to understand the song...?"

[fogboundcrow]

"No, not really. Yu, on the other hand, does. He's a model student who excels in every class."

Shiro pats his shoulder, tsking. "Nii-san finds humor in it. There's an absurdist charm to the lyrics."

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"The next song can be in a language I understand so I know what I'm saying."

[fogboundcrow]

Shiro droops, suddenly self conscious. "Did I take it too far?"

Shaking his head, Raven says, "Japanese is perfectly fine, Ren."

[wipingallout]

"It's your turn to pick a song anyway, right, Ren?" Hamuko encouraged, her jovial attitude kept up to help lighten the boys' mood as best as she could.

[mountainfoggedlotus]

"I dunno..." Ren kicks at the floor. "Where's the song list?"

[fogboundcrow]

Shiro, being a good sport, brings it back to the song list. There's... a lot of Lotus Juice, but other options to pick from as well.

Raven offers Ren a supportive smile. "Take your time. There's no rush."