[D5 MA - Boardwalk, Beach, and Ferris Wheel (expecting)

[Kakita Haruhi]

That morning, Bayushi Senshuken received a delivery of flowers - each bloom blending shades of blue and red. There was an attached note:

"My racer, my daisy, my heart is as bright as these flowers, looking forward to the chance to see you. I have planned an excursion to the harborfront and beyond! We can have a picnic on the beach, ride the ferris wheel, and visit the best mochi shop in the city on the boardwalk."

"I am not sure if the weather will cooperate. But I think you are someone who will enjoy watching the water under stormy or clear skies."

"We can race our drones, too!"


The Nakahama Koku
It is hard to miss the towering Ferris wheel that has become a stoic fixture in the famous Nakahama skyline since it was built more than a century ago. For its circular shape, it was quickly dubbed the 'Nakahama Koku' and kept the name over the decades. It is consistently popular, often with courting couples who are looking for some relative privacy. There have been some wild rumours that the Ferris wheel has been blessed by local monks to ensure all who ride it will find future prosperity. The ride offers a scenic view of the Harbourfront, and its rotation is perfectly timed to a one-hour ride.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu opens her door expecting the usual morning. Quiet, orderly and dramatically underwhelming.

Instead she finds... flowers. A whole bouquet of them! She lifts them slowly, almost ceremonially and leans in to breathe the scent. She finds the note tucked between the stems, reads it once with focus and then once again with the kind of grin that could absolutely destroy her reputation as a paragon of coolness.

Later on her hotel room becomes a battlefield of outfits. Senshu settles on street style that boosts her confidence even more. Black cargo pants with subtle red stitching, a cropped athletic top under a loose, sleeveless hoodie, fingerless gloves for style, not utility and the kind of sneakers that somehow make her look both ready to run and ready to pose for a magazine cover. A thin chain around her neck, her hair on a top knot with one rebellious strand left on purpose and her drone case slung diagonically across her back complete the look.

When she finally steps outside, she gets onto her bike. Engine on. Visor down. The scent of the flowers still clings faintly to her gloves. And with a small, irrepressible smile hidden behind the helmet, Senshuken rides toward the harborfront spot Haruhi indicated. Fast enough to look cool, slow enough to not miss a single moment of anticipation.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi was waiting on the beach. She had a straw hat (probably unnecessary given the cloud cover) but that she thought was very pretty. White with a blue ribbon. She wanted to look her best!

She turned at the sound of the motorcycle. A sound that now sung to her like birdsong. She was here! Her smile brightened as she caught sight of her. She waved enthusiastically.

In front of her, on the pleasantly uncrowded beach, there was a large blue blanket spread. A picnic hamper. Lit candles flickering in the wind. The edges of the blanket were secured by a border of beautiful seashells arranged with great care.

Her three avi drones hovered at corners of the blanket. A sack with her competition drone lay at the ready in the sand.

Her slate was out and playing a recording of gentle instrumental music that combined with the sounds of the beach.

"Senshu! You made it! Come join me. I have salmon! I caught it myself! In the sense that I caught it at the market this morning fresh off the boat when the fisherman tossed it to me! I promise it was actually prepared by the chef at the hotel."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu approaches with the kind of poised elegance old jidaigeki actresses used to pull off without trying and offers a slow, courtly bow. It's deep enough to be dramatic, but precise enough to be sincere, as well.

She settles onto the blanket beside Haruhi and turns fully towars her, giving her attention without distraction.

“Whaaat? These beautiful hands?” Senshu murmurs and catches Haruhi’s fingers gently to lift them with reverence. She brings them to her lips. Just a brush, warm and soft.

“Everything is so beautiful.” Her voice drops even lower. “You are so beautiful, Haruhi chan. Thank you for all the trouble you went through for me.”

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi gasped and blushed at the delicious kiss to her fingers, which smelled faintly of lemon and ginger.

"Ah, it is my pleasure to spoil you!"

She opens the picnic basket.

"I have fruit juice - a local favorite. Melon juice. Kept nice and cool."

"And of course I asked the chef to make salmon in maki rolls with cucumber! But also three more salmon dishes fit for a picnic to surprise you. A salmon feast! We have yuzu salmon onigiri (rice balls), salmon ochazuke (flakes of salmon on top of rice bathed in aromatic green tea), and a salmon skin salad."

She began to set out elegant plates to try each of the four dishes.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu accepts each plate like it’s a rare artifact, but her gaze never leaves Haruhi. Not even when she lifts the first maki roll to her lips. She tastes it, makes a soft, approving hum, then moves on to the onigiri, then the ochazuke, then the salad. Every bite gets its rightful moment, but Haruhi gets all of her attention.

Her grin only grows. Lazy and delighted. The kind of grin that says she’s enjoying the food, but devouring the company.

“You really do spoil me." She finally murmurs. “If…” Her voice dips. “If you honor me with a third date, I will try my absolute best to up my game. And that will not be easy. You have set the bar outrageously high, Haruhi chan. But I will be thinking of you and something magnificent will come up just through mere correlation."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi grinned.

"Thank you. That is exactly how I hoped you'd feel. And we have just begun to savor the afternoon!"

The pace of the meal was languid. Enjoying the tastes and the sights and sounds of the moment.

As they finished all they wanted, she grinned.

"Shall we race our drones while we are here on the beach? Before heading over to the boardwalk? I definitely wanted something related to racing. I thought about renting jet-skis to zip around the harbor. But that's an idea for a future date. Should you want another. When we plan ahead with water gear."

She certainly was giving thought to future dates and hoping there would be many.

"Today, we shall try the Nakahama Koku." She glanced over at the wheel dominating the harbor skyline. The end of the board walk. "It's an hour ride, with excellent views of the skyline, and remarkable privacy due to the shape of the cabins. Very popular with couples, I hear. It is a bit colder today than I expected, so we may need to cling together for warmth. Happily, that same private shape offers plenty of cover from any rain." The gondolas were like little hanging pearls, with rounded walls and ceilings.

A crack of thunder had her looking nervously up at the sky, but for now, there was only cloud cover. No rain yet!

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The moment the word drone is uttered, Senshuken grins and pops up on her feet to prepare the Pinky Swear.

"Let's do it. I can't wait for this!"

D5, MA, Drone duel vs Haruhi, 1st roll | 6k4+2 ⇒ 35

D5, MA, Drone duel vs Haruhi, 2nd roll | 6k4+2 ⇒ 40

D5, MA, Drone duel vs Haruhi, 3rd roll | 6k4+2 ⇒ 53

D5, MA, Drone duel vs Haruhi, 4th roll | 6k4+2 ⇒ 22

D5, MA, Drone duel vs Haruhi, 5th roll | 6k4+2 ⇒ 23

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi's drone was named the Sky Blue. The banner was painted to look like a carp. She had modified the drone so that is sang a folksong about carp streamers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vlSlSZ ... rt_radio=1

Her piloting and aerial tactics were amateur. A little inspiration from the battle tactics of raptors.

She was totally outmatched. And impressed! She got a little closer in the final two match-ups.

"You are incredible! Ah, I may need some tips."

https://sakkaku.org/r/19957 1st roll: 23
https://sakkaku.org/r/19958 2nd roll: 11
https://sakkaku.org/r/19959 3rd roll: 30
https://sakkaku.org/r/19960 4th roll: 19
https://sakkaku.org/r/19961 5th roll: 19

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu brings her drone down. The rotors quiet, the sand settles and she’s already moving toward Haruhi.

Her steps are soft and unhurried. Soon she's behind Haruhi and the woman can feel the warmth of her presence before she’s even touched. Then Senshu’s arms slip around her. Not trapping, but guiding.

Her hands settle over Haruhi’s on the controller, fingers aligning with slow delicacy. Senshu presses in just enough that her warmth spreads along Haruhi’s back, a slow, quiet flush of heat.

Jasmine rises first. Clean, soft, unmistakably hers. A scent that brushes the senses as lightly as her touch does the skin at Haruhi’s wrists. She lowers her head, her lips close enough to Haruhi’s ear that her breath skims along its edge.

“I love doing this for you." She whispers." Guiding you into something new. Watching you take to it.” Her hands tighten just slightly over Haruhi’s, steadying her grip on the controller. “Now,” she continues, “let me show you how to win your way.”

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi gasped at the wonderfully intimate position that piloting instruction required.

"My heart is beating faster than the drone can fly," she whispered.

She felt the warmth of Senshu against her back, arms wrapping around her, hands over his. She breathed in the jasmine scent of her.

Part of her wanted to close her eyes to let sensation take over entirely, but she kept her eyes on the drone in the sky. How its movement related to Senshu's guidance of her fingers.

"Look at it go!" Sheer delight.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu smiles at Haruhi’s delight and shifts her grip just enough to guide. Her fingertips glide along Haruhi’s knuckles, adjusting pressure here. A tiny tilt here, a tiny tilt there. Her voice is low and steady against Haruhi’s ear. "Just like that… let it follow your intention.”

Under Senshu’s touch, the drone responds in smooth, confident arcs until she gently angles Haruhi’s thumbs downward, bringing it to a soft, perfect landing.

The moment the drone rests, Senshu lowers her hands, but only to slip one smoothly into Haruhi’s. She gives a small tug, a conspiratorial spark in her eyes, and murmurs, "Come with me.” She starts running, soft steps on the black sand.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi had not considered all the ways the drone could move, nor learned the pressures that brought the smoothest arcs and tightest cornering. It seemed so clear in Senshu's guiding hands!

And then it was just her hand in Senshu's. And they were racing down the beach.

She laughed, feeling the warmth and tug of that hand, listening to the surf and occasional thunder. Her feet slipped out of her sandals and she left them in the black sand behind them.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

And they run. And they laugh. Quiet steps in the sand until they’re half hidden behind the broad trunk of a seaside tree. The whole world seems momentarily distant.

Senshu turns to her, closing the short space between them. Both hands lift to Haruhi’s cheeks. They are warm, steady and they cup her face with a tenderness that feels almost reverent. Her forehead almost touches Haruhi’s.

“May I kiss you?” She asks. Her tone is soft, low, utterly sure.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi is rather fetchingly undone by the wild carefree run. Hair twisting out of her braids, hair further mussed by the straw hat sliding down to her mid back secured only by the ribbon around her neck, barefoot, flushed and breathless from the exertion.

"I'll perish if you don't," she said, sure it was true.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshu’s smirk deepens and she closes the last inch between them.

The kiss hits warmer, fuller than the ones before. Her hands still on Haruhi’s cheeks, guide her in. Her lips claiming hers with a slow, growing urgency. The straw hat ribbon brushes Senshu’s collarbone as Haruhi is drawn closer and Senshuken answers with a firmer pull. The kiss feels like she’s been waiting for it far too long.

Then she eases back. Not far. Just enough. And she studies Haruhi, her eyes sharp and inquisitive, her breath still warm between them. She says nothing, but asks every possible question.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi swims dizzily in the urgency of the kiss until it ends, and Senshu leans back.

But there is a magnetism between them that cannot permit this distance.

She nearly leaps into Senshu's arms, starting a next kiss. Finding every gap between their bodies and closing it, so all is warmth and pressure and connection. Inevitable. Inescapable. Delightful.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken barely has time to inhale before Haruhi surges forward and the impact causes a startled laugh from her. Senshu’s arms wrap around her instantly. Instinctively. One at her waist, the other sliding up her back to hold her close. Then she pulls her firmly meeting the kiss with matching hunger, evidently delighted by Haruhi’s sudden boldness.

When she finally breaks the kiss just enough to speak, her lips still brush Haruhi’s.

“Well.” she whispers. "That was something."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi looked up at her grinning. Happy.

"You know, the ferris wheel ride is very private. It is possible we shall have the chance to kiss again!"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken draws away with a grin of true enjoyment on her face.

"Lead the way then, fair lady." She replies and offers a gracious bow to allow her to walk ahead.