#Coordinating My Own Routine - Post P5R Verse

[epitomees]

Sumi has appeared! What to do?

Kick

Take picture

Kiss cheek

Kiss on the lips

[epitomees]

[Happy birthday Sumi!]

It had taken him a bit to figure out something to get her… and to be honest, he still wasn't sure if he had made the right call… but he'd already put it together, so he might as well see if she likes it.

“Hey, Sumi!”

He greeted the girl with a smile, before handing her two carefully wrapped boxes, both somewhat flat, though one was more of a large square, while the other was a long thing rectangle.

“I made you something for your birthday. It's not much, but… I hope you like it.”

The first somewhat larger box had a leotard inside. The fabric was a vibrant purple with an intricate pattern of flowers made up of thin red-ish pink lines, wrapping around it almost like a sash.

“I've been looking into light, stretchy, aerodynamic materials for a completely different project, so I thought I'd try my hand at making this… though Ann helped with the sewing and making sure it was the right size.”

Seriously, the way Ann could just eyeball the exact size someone wore was almost like a superpower of hers.

Inside the second thinner box was a modified rapier, a rather powerful one at that, as well as a long ribbon that seemed to glimmer in the light.

“I got this idea after seeing your routine. By itself it's just your standard rapier, but if you attach the ribbon like this-”

He picked up the sword and ribbon, looping a thin wire through the tip of the blade to attach it to the hidden mechanism inside.

“-then press the button on the hilt-”

The ribbon suddenly came to life, glowing a bright blue as the fabric surged with electricity.

“-and BAM! Now you got an electric whip sword!”

He tapped the button again to turn it off, before removing the ribbon and placing them both back in the box.

“It'll take a bit to get it right, but now you can have a little bit of practice for your routine, even while we're in Mementos!”

Probably not an efficient form of practice, since she's not really supposed to hit things with her ribbon, but it's the thought that counts.

It's difficult mustering up a faux excitement in order to appease family members and close friends, even though the vast majority hadn't bothered showing their ways of appreciation towards today's birthday girl. Parents aside, Sumi didn't expect any extravagant celebrations or overzealous enthusiasm since the majority of immediate family kept to themselves for as long as the red-head can remember. They never bothered sending a simple card, either, just to acknowledge today's importance. It became the norm when the end of March came around again, and it always ended the same. No joy, no elation, nothing different happened.

Just another, unimportant day.

This most recent year, however, presented a slight change in the usual routine. Not only did Sumi's most recent friends spam her phone with text messages, or several cake emojis courtesy of one infectiously energetic blonde delinquent, but her Senpai came prepared with several gifts in tow. As per the Aaron usual. Surprises and spontaneous benevolent gestures were her Senpai's specialty. She couldn't count the numerous times a steamy, hot cup of fresh coffee suddenly appeared by her side when depression took the reigns. Or when they found each other window shopping at the same mall and he kindly offered to take her out for a light lunch. His treat, of course.

Aaron always put her needs, her problems, and her well-being above his own. Though it may sound selfish, Sumi admired how much time he dedicated towards her overall happiness. Even when she fell into recession...

"..oh, you...made these?" It wouldn't matter what Aaron gifted her, be it something handmade or a rushed gift he bought before their planned meetup. Since it came from her senpai, it was rather important to her. No less after the first present rested in her hands did Sumi open up the beautifully wrapped gift, briefly pausing to stare in awe at the first item in his presentation. A brand new leotard, colored in bright cool colors complimenting the elegant floral design. "...you...made this?! For me!?" He stitched this altogether? By hand!? Entirely crafted, sketched, and planned to be used just for her!?

The second present was going to KO the poor girl in an instant. Not only a brand new weapon specifically for her usage, but one that catered towards Sumi's personal interests and abilities. The rapier appeared rather unique and alluring on its own, however the additive ribbon extension sealed this gift as the gymnast's own personalized blade. A weapon to be used by the one and only Violet. That's what Aaron must have had in mind when creating these customized gifts. Something to be used by her.

Something gifted, and made for Sumire. Not Kasumi.

"I'm...I'm not...exactly sure what I should say, Senpai..." His overall excitement, in both preparation for handing over these presents and in explaining their usage, stood out the most. Having someone so thrilled to properly acknowledge today's importance was not a common occurrence in her life. It was welcomed warmly, coupled together with a grateful smile and sprinkles of happy tears. She quickly brushed them aside though, so the moment wouldn't be ruined with a mixture of worry. "This...these are...incredible. Just knowing how much time, effort, patience, and diligence you must have poured into creating something so...remarkable..." Something with her in mind.

"I truly...can only offer you my eternal gratitude." Her arms gingerly wrapped around Aaron's taller frame, embracing him close enough so the newly-formed tears dripped behind him. They were happy tears, paired with a truly happy smile.

"...thank you for making my special day feel special to me."

[epitomees]

@wildxcardrebel replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

kiss on the lips

HIGH-PITCHED TEA KETTLE NOISES!

[epitomees]

@rubbarband replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

"You look great with glasses." Accidently kisses cheek cause he's too wrapped up in her looking cute to use the one braincell.

His compliment was greatly appreciated, but Sumi didn't expect Des' genuine excitement to cause such an infectious reaction.

A moment passed where Sumi stood rather stunned, processing what just happened and gently touching her cheek with her fingers. A hint of warmth bloomed through her face as well. It was a rather innocent gesture, and the smile on her friend's face confirmed it for her. "...uh...th-thank you."

[epitomees]

@oraclememehacker replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

Take picture. Group selfie!

"H-Hold on! I'm coming, I'm coming!" She made it just in time to be included in the group selfie. Even throwing up a double peace sign, as it was a signature Sumire pose.

[epitomees]

As far as he knew, chocolate wasn't the best or most desirable dessert for athletes-- most of them preferred something healthier like a protein shake. Granted, he's never seen Sumire drink any, so for White Day, he decided to go for a near perfect bouquet of violets. A callback to her codename as well as the symbolism behind those specific flowers: faith, mystical awareness, inspiration, spiritual passion, profuseness and sovereignty. He's certain that she would appreciate and become flustered at the card he hid between the stems that read:

Happy (late, sorry!) White Day, Cinderella.

From: Your future Prince Charming

He waited at the school gates for her to make a proper presentation instead of leaving them on her desk.

It never hurt to indulge on different foods every so often. So long as one kept their diet consistent, treating one's self to their favorite comfort meal or gravitating towards their preferred junky snacks of choice truly brought no harm on one's health. Considering today's special celebrations, Sumire saw it fit to participate and partake in tasting any gifted sweets labeled just for her.

Not many of her classmates presented the red-head with an equally delicious White Day snack, but some offered a card of appreciation or small, inexpensive trinkets as their sign of gratitude. Either way, to be recognized as an important figure in a person's life meant more than any material objects. She made an impact on them. How could she ask for anything better?

As the school day ended, the first-year gathered her belongings and any other gifts out of her locker, swiftly heading towards the entrance. Subway lines would be crowded, either way, but catching an express train meant passing most local stops to prevent any overcrowding. She'd make it...unless-

"...oh, Senpai..." She recognized his curly black frizz and signature smirk. Her eyes, however, lingered to the beautifully-colored floral arrangement resting in his hands. Violets. A special name given to her by Joker. Deep purple shades mixed together with lighter, lavender hues creating a majestic, royal theme in its presentation. The card, too, matched together very well. "...wow, you really went out of your way to plan a surprise like this." Just for her too. She giggled, very lighthearted in nature. "I should have expected something like this from you. You seem to adore spoiling me whenever you get the chance." Sumire shared the same sentiments.

Homemade, store-bought, or started from scratch. Sumire always wanted to make it known just how appreciative she felt towards Akira.

"Uh...w-would you like to accompany me to the station? If you are going that way...unless you-" Her cheeks grew warm. They grew red, too, matching the color of her crimson locks. "-happen to uh...have another surprise? For me?"

What was that about making the express train?

[epitomees]

After Sumire got home from gymnastics practice, there was a bouquet of violet roses along with a brand new red and black sequined leotard waiting for her. With the bouquet, there was a note:

for my favorite kouhai

show the world that beauty is devotion

from love, Senpai

What a beautiful surprise.

Extravagant gifts hardly ever arrived so neatly placed on her doorstep, much less ones involving a colorful array of flowers. Thankfully she arrived home first before anyone else took note of the presents set outside their door. After unlocking the entrance, she toted them both inside minding the bouquet's glass vase. There didn't need to be any watery mess involved because of a careless mistake.

Once inside, Sumi diverted her attention towards the wrapped box. The note made it quite clear on who the mysterious sender was, since most of her friends rarely ever regarded her younger school year status. Or in turn, allowed Sumi to refer to them as nothing but their senior standing.

It was a special relationship between herself and her 'Senpai."

"...he is still so thoughtful..." Sumi mused aloud, letting her smile spread to each cheek. Senpai always knew how to bring it out of her. And he never failed to mention how much he adored her smiles. They were warm, bright, and pretty. 'Just like you,' he added at the end just to tease her more. It worked, though, every time.

He always made her feel special.

"No worries, Senpai. I won't fail you! Or us."

@wildxcardrebel

[epitomees]

“Is it true the Godzilla mechanical monster at Destinyland caught fire during its nighttime performance? It’s a shame to hear...”  

[epitomees]

"Oh yo, so this is one of those appreciation trains, yeah? Cause I gotta say Sumire here is mad cute! I'm talking about the kind that gets even sugar of all the damn things jealous, haha! Better be givin' it up for our girl here."

H-hold on! What did he mean by an appreciation train!?

"R-Ryuji-senpai...th-that's not..." Compliments from strangers were brushed off with ease. However, ones said from friends proved more difficult to pass. Ryuji calling her cute? Of all things!?

"I-I-I mean...y-you don't n-n-need..." It wasn't going so well in her favor. Her words choked on the building embarrassment, and the matching red coloring her cheeks too.

[epitomees]

~ Kasumi/Sumi’s Tags ~ 

More will be added as needed. 

[epitomees]

"Hey Sumire, I was wondering what you think about figure skating if you have an opinion on it? I've been watching an anime about it and it looks cool and seems to have similar things to the stuff that you do, just on ice. So I was just wondering how you felt about it."

"Oh! That's quite an interesting observation you made, Futaba-senpai." It wasn't the first time someone mentioned it either. When perceiving each individual sport from an outsider's viewpoint, one could assume the two share many similarities in performance, execution, and skill level. And they were right in some aspects!

"From my own understanding, gymnastics and figure skating do utilizing most, if not all, the same areas of the body and the body's muscle. Your legs, your back, your arms, and most importantly your core." She motioned at this point towards the upper section of her chest, just around the abdomen. "Having a strong core not only helps control the rest of your body, but it also keeps you balanced, which is highly required when undergoing a gymnastics routine...or a skating performance. Despite this, though, there are differences between the two sports many tend to overlook." Aside from rules and regulations pertaining to the respective sports' competitions and judging scores, several other factors came into play when distinguishing between the two. Sumire just happened to know only a few as she never truly attempted figure skating.

Or skating in general.

"I...wouldn't mind having a go at it someday, but...at a fun, carefree level." She laughed sheepishly. "Perhaps as a group hangout in the future?"

[epitomees]

"Wow sumi, you're really good at keeping up with me when jogging. I get to cheat cause I have the longer legs." He wanted to give Sumire one first.

'(n˘v˘•)¬'

Send '(n˘v˘•)¬' for my muse to compliment your muse

"Well, I must say I tend to stay more focused and be at my best when I have a good jogging partner with me." Exercising alone provided just as much benefits, but having another person keep up with her own pace made her work a little extra harder. Friendly competition was beneficial for both of them. "You help push me outside of my own comfort zone and..." She paused to catch her breath. Just for the moment. "...allow me to surpass my own limits. In a way, I see that as myself growing stronger and more resilient. For that, I greatly appreciate you joining me for this morning's routine."

[epitomees]

Today is Desmond's birthday, there he was walking around with a birthday hat sitting on a park bench in his workout gear. He sees you. "Heya Sumire, you working out today too?"

Fresh air worked wonders for her body, and clearing her mind of scrambling negativity. It felt much better when Sumire kept busy or forced herself out of the house. Being away from any reminders of her former life made her feel more at ease, and provided peace of mind. Any place outside, or for that matter anywhere in the city, would be much better for her general mental well-being. Hopefully, though, one day things returned back to normal. It wouldn't be anytime soon however.

Aside from coercing herself to stay outdoors, the warm weather was perfect for a leisurely jog. Nothing too straining, but enough to keep herself moving and stay in shape for the upcoming competitive season. As she kept a steady rhythm going around the nearby park, Sumire briefly paused when a friendly face greeted her.

"Good afternoon, Desmond-senpai." Taking a break now wouldn't hurt especially since he seemed to be enjoying the spring day for a reason. That birthday hat didn't go unnoticed. "I'm only taking a jog for today, but I see you must be wanting to bask in the sunshine for a different purpose." A finger motioned to the accessory placed neatly on his head. "What a perfect day to celebrate one's day of birth! I hope it has been enjoyable for you so far."

[epitomees]

@phantomuheist replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

>A kiss on the cheek that lasts a few seconds and a nuzzle against it.

​A smooch and a nuzzle? He must be feeling extra affectionate today if Akira snuggled so close. The tiniest, little squeak slipped from her closed mouth, bubbly giddiness filling her chest with an abundance of warmth.

"S-Senpai...you seem to be acting very cat-like at the moment, heh...~"

[epitomees]

@musaeon replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

ann is going to grab her so they can take a photo together! "ready, sumire-chan?"

"O-Oh! H-Hang on, I wasn't prepared to be included in the photo." After setting her bag aside of Ann's she hurriedly swept herself into the picture, throwing on a small smile.

[epitomees]

@ama-tcra-su replied to your post “Sumi has appeared! What to do? Kick Take...”:

Stare at . . .

...should she stare back? Attempt to slowly scuttle away without breaking eye contact with the large wolf?

Any fast or sudden movements meant a potentially grim demise. Perhaps, for her own safety, she should keep watch and monitor its next move.