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

2/2

[counterfeitphantom]

"I would say something dramatic like Welcome to my digital world-! but you're just like me really. Here, handshake request," she chirped excitedly as she held out her hand. "I will move you guys into my domain before I end up losing contact."

[rookandhound]

He accepted the hand. "I don't think anyone else could. Kind of a talent unique to us, and I wouldn't recommend going through getting it."

"That said, Miss Akane, it is good to see you. I never got the chance to properly thank you for your assistance."

[counterfeitphantom]

Goodness...she can feel his hand. The handshake itself felt so hesitant in comparison, as if she still couldn't fathom it for a bit.

Placing another hand on top of Wolf's- the space shifts to a familiar office space. Her home. "Holy shit..." She murmurs really not able to believe how this moment came to be.

She turns to look at Rookmon and pulls away from Wolf for a bit.

"Rookmon!!! C'mere!" She cries out in almost childlike joy as she pulls the digimon into a deep hug- patting his feathers while leaning down like caressing a big dog. "No need to thank me at all, hehe. I am just glad both of you are okay now. I gotta ask though ...was he being difficult after the dungeon?" She grins at Wolf while pulling away to inquisitively glance at the digimon, her bitterness and distance gone from the physical contact. Heart soaring.

[rookandhound]

Goro looked positively affronted. "Difficult? What's difficult is you, constantly talking shit!"

"... No more than usual," Rookmon added simply, with the faintest trace of a smile.

"HEY."

[counterfeitphantom]

"HA!" Akane laughs at just how she called it- smirking at the boy as she keeps petting Rookmon, feeling his fluffy feathers. "My deduction was correct. My Wolf is no different, believe me."

That said...

Her smirk sobers, eyes softening with an earnest smile pulling on her lips. "Still, you came here so I could hold Rook, right? Thank you, Akechi-kun."

[rookandhound]

"... Yeah, well. You... showed up to help me, and the secret's out anyway, so I don't have to hide what I can do, anymore. Right? Might as well."

[counterfeitphantom]

"I really am sorry for peeking in without permission," she admits. "I lost my shit when I first realized what happened to me so I have the emotional capacity of measuring how much that must have affected you."

[rookandhound]

He sighed, quietly, and... took a seat.

"Ever since Mom died, it's just been me, and... later on, Rookmon. For years he was the only person I could trust, the only person I had who understood, who could listen, I didn't- It's not like I wanted to get into this shit, but fucking Shido-"

He glared at the floor. "Shido offered me shit for surveilling his political opponents. Money. Schooling. Smoothing over the paperwork. He even- he even offered to have me legally adopted when he became Prime Minister, if I would help him get there. I thought- I thought that what he was asking probably wasn't legal but- it was only helping him blackmail some politicians. It wasn't... it wasn't that bad."

[counterfeitphantom]

Akane tilts her head at him, standing straight from Rookmon- listening quietly.

Her AI processed the information, filling in the gaps where she could while glancing down at Rookmon when he was mentioned. The idea of a Mom...she had to have one too, right? Since she was Zenkichi Hasegawa's biological daughter?

Would he tell her about her mom?

And why she never found her in his directory when he was recruited into the Kirijo Group?

After a while, she frowned. Processing and noticing the cracks in his story that aligned with her own.
"You didn't know any better," she offered as she raised her brow, genuine curiosity in her expression. "All your life you were given this one purpose which didn't seem to have any negative impacts. You thought you had someone you could trust when nothing else seemed to be a viable option."

"Am I correct in coming up with this conclusion?"