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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 18, 2022 9:57:06 GMT -7
Kenta was relaxing at what was becoming a regularly favorite spot of his, a little bookstore that was tucked away in the corner of a rather busy part of Nerima. Despite this fact, it was often empty and hardly saw many new faces, which was one of the reasons that Kenta liked to come here after a long day, finding a good place to just destress and relax after a long day of classes or other activities. Luckily it's been quietly lately, or at least from what he knows. he tries not to dip his toes into the Ghoul side of Nerima for fear of being found out or worse.
Another reason he loved this particular spot was the vast collection of new and old books alike that he could choose from, the owner, a rather old man, having taken a liking to Kenta after it became apparent that he'd become a regular here. The younger man has even considered asking if he could work here while he was still taking classes but he thinks it might be a bit too prudent of him to do such a thing so he keeps to himself.
So instead he resides himself to a spot by the window with a book in hand that he seemed to be just about done with while he sipped on his coffee from a straw. He places the book down for a moment to rest his eyes and stretch his arms and legs as he's been sitting there for quite a while when something draws his attention. |
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Post by Addy on Dec 18, 2022 10:17:11 GMT -7
Walking into the bookstore confidently, Addy glanced at all of the books on display with widening eyes. There were so many! And all these little guys contained a vast array of knowledge to learn from! Some more than others. Addy herself wasn’t particularly a book connoisseur, but her friend had recommended that she go here. Supposedly it would help develop her single brain cell into something better. That sounded like a good thing to her, so here she was!
Even after setting only one foot in the store, Addy could tell she was going to like this place. The store had a homely quaint vibe to it and it was quiet and peaceful. The perfect place to relax or read. Did the owner seek out this type of vibe specifically for that reason? Or did the situation just come naturally? Either way, Addy was quite pleased.
The only other people in the store besides Addy was the owner and a man with multiple piercings. She hadn’t met either of the two, but that was a task she could easily remedy. Waving hello to the owner with a beaming smile, Addy headed towards the man tucked away in a corner. She’d talk to the owner once she found a book to purchase. But for now, she wanted to see what the other fellow was up to.
“Heya! Got any good book recommendations? It’s my first time here.” Normally Addy didn’t like bothering people, but from the looks of it, Kenta was just relaxing. The perfect person to bother! He was drinking coffee as well. Staring at the brown liquid curiously, she made a note to tell Cat about this. She herself didn’t care too much for coffee, but her friend was an avid drinker. Was that why she gave this place stellar ratings? Not for the books, but for the coffee?
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 18, 2022 10:47:49 GMT -7
Kenta wasn't sure what to be more surprised by, the newcomer or the fact that they were suddenly talking to him however that didn't really matter as he would always take the opportunity to give out book recommendations, especially when he was voluntarily asked for them. So he gives her a big smile and sets his coffee down as he sits a little straighter, "Oh plenty! Just depends on what you're looking for though I doubt you'll have trouble finding what you like. They have plenty to choose from here."
He picks up the book he'd been reading, the title and cover art suggesting it may be a romance novel of some type and starts to stand up from his spot, "I was actually just about to get me a new book to read seeing as I'm almost done with this one." Next to where he'd been sitting was a pile of three or four other books which were all of different genres but didn't look like they were light reads either. |
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Post by Addy on Dec 18, 2022 11:24:31 GMT -7
“What I’m looking for huh.” Just what exactly was Addy looking for? Something romantic like Kenta was reading, or something with a little more action? A plot that kept her on the edge of her seat, eagerly devouring all the words on a page? So many options to choose from. It was quite daunting just thinking of all of the books she could choose to take. The true question was, could her brain handle all that raw knowledge? Books were quite fearsome after all.
“Hmm, that’s a hard question. I’m not much of a reader, but I would like to be! Do you have any genres you’d recommend for beginners?” Scratching her head with a wide grin, Addy followed Kenta to a set of bookshelves. There were quite a bit of fancy titles here. The Ballad of Samantha the Great, Fleeting Passion, and other juicy sounding titles. The pictures on the cover were quite delightful to look at as well.
“Those books on the table there, you read them all? They seem quite thick. Props to you if you did though. Gotta show those books who’s boss.”
Giving Kenta a double thumbs up, she redirected her attention to the matter at hand. Books. Addy couldn’t imagine sitting at a table all day and reading, although that might just be a her thing. She was an excitable creature, always wanting to be up and about. It didn’t feel right sitting on a chair and doing nothing. Although technically she’d be reading, so she would actually be doing something? Her brain hurt thinking about it. Either way, she liked working on her body whenever she had free time. An action that required her to be up and about. Maybe she could try reading and exercising? Killing two birds with one stone type of thing?
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 19, 2022 4:50:35 GMT -7
Kenta could almost see the gears churning in her head and had to hold back a chuckle from slipping out. One look at her was all it took for him to figure out that she wasn't exactly the type to frequent bookstores and libraries, at least not voluntarily he imagined. They were the same height but he looked considerably fragile standing next to her with her impressive physique and muscles.
He's drawn out of this train of thought as she finally comes to a conclusion, or at least he thinks that's what she was saying until he realizes that wasn't the case, “Hmm, that’s a hard question. I’m not much of a reader, but I would like to be! Do you have any genres you’d recommend for beginners?” Kenta actually smiles and let's out a soft laugh as he rubs his cheek and chin in thought, "Hm, well honestly there is no one genre that's good for beginners. More so what your level of reading is at."
He places the book back on the shelf as she was glancing at some titles that were available until she eventually turned her attention back to him to question him some more, “Those books on the table there, you read them all? They seem quite thick. Props to you if you did though. Gotta show those books who’s boss.” He chuckled again as she gave him a double thumbs up and shook his heads, "Them? Oh gods no, I'm not that quick of a reader. No those are just a few I set aside to go through."
He glances at the books she had been looking at earlier and when he spots the rather evocative cover he can't help but blush as he quickly returns his focus to her, shaking his head with a bit of a smirk. He wouldn't judge if that was what she liked, after all he was a sucker when it came to romance novels.
However that wasn't important right now. She seemed genuinely interested in getting more into reading and Kenta would love to help her. So grabs the other book and glances it over in his hand, "They say don't judge a book by it's cover and I think that's true but what they don't tell you is that to see if you really like a book," He opens the book up to the author's notes and flips past that till he's at the beginning of the first chapter, "you'll have to actually open it and read at least the first few paragraphs. If you're not hooked by the time you get to the third page then it's probably not the book for you."
He then holds the book out for her to take with a soft smile and a friendly aura. Kenta hadn't really expected to meet anyone today and didn't really expect that he'd actually see this girl again after today but he was always the hopeful type and think that maybe he would and they could even get to be friends. |
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Post by Addy on Dec 19, 2022 7:14:45 GMT -7
“My reading level eh?” What was her reading level exactly? Addy could read perfectly fine, just not at the same pace that others did. She liked taking her time when reading, imagining and immersing herself in the world that was being created before her eyes. To lose herself in those oh so crinkly pages. Sometimes the words seemed to move around and jump up at her, but as long as she concentrated, they’d go back to their normal spot soon enough! Maybe that was part of the fun in reading? Watching the words tumble back and forth across the page?
As for the pile of books sitting at Kenta’s table, he had not in fact defeated them. Those foes of his were still standing strong, waiting for their moment to shine. “Yeah, I’m not much of a quick reader either! Slow and steady wins the race. Plus words do be hitting kind of hard sometimes. Like you’re just reading and them BAM, a big word you never heard of before uppercuts you out of nowhere. It keeps you on your toes you know?”
Gesturing with her hands expressively, Addy mimed the book giving her an uppercut for Kenta. Sometimes seeing was believing, and she truly felt the pain of a punch whenever she had to look up a new word in the dictionary. Twas part of the reason she didn’t read as much. So much to learn. So much information to stick inside of her brain. A brain that was already at max capacity.
“That makes sense. Reading the first couple of pages to see if the book is actually that good. Aren’t some of them slow burn though? They might not seem interesting in the first page but the pace picks up somewhere in the middle? I’d hate to miss out on a hidden gem just because the first page was a little iffy.”
Taking the book from Kenta gently, Addy examined the beacon of knowledge within her grasp. A solid hard cover was on the front, allowing the book to weather many more punishments than it should be able to. Hard enough to do some damage as well if she so desired. Which she didn’t! Of course. She wouldn’t damage something she didn’t own without just cause, she just thought it was interesting to note. Just in case you know?
“And hehe, it’s a little late but the name’s Addy. Are you planning on being here a while?”
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 19, 2022 18:14:32 GMT -7
Kenta shrugs with a smile, a little curious as to why she'd described it in such a manner but then perhaps there was something going on there that he didn't know. Still he knew what she meant when it came to suddenly learning new words. There have been a few times when he had to search up a new word that was in a book just to understand the meaning of what he was reading.
However he didn't comment on this and let's her continue. "I’d hate to miss out on a hidden gem just because the first page was a little iffy.” He nods in response, "Yeah that can happen sometimes but you'll usually know by the third page at least, at least that's how it is for me. Could be different for others." He smiled as she gently took the book from him, slightly curious as to what she was thinking.
He didn't ask however and was somewhat surprised that she was introducing herself. He hadn't really done so as he figured she was just to be another stranger that he met in passing, an unexpected but welcomed interruption from his day. He smiles brightly at her however as he holds out a hand, "Kenta and I'll probably stick around for a few hours." |
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Post by Addy on Dec 20, 2022 9:24:35 GMT -7
Shaking Kenta’s hand with a big smile, Addy nodded her head. Kenta had told her a few interesting things that she wanted to keep in mind. Things that would be vital to her book hunting! With this advice, no mere book will be able to stand in her way! Theoretically of course. She would have to test out the read one page strategy before deciding if it was for her.
“Oh, nice nice. Do you mind if I sit next to you then? I’ll be here for a few more hours as well.” While sitting alone was all well and good, sitting next to someone else was way better. And since the opportunity was presenting itself to her, Addy wouldn’t hesitate to seize it! There were alot of books here, and before she left, she hoped she found a novel good enough to take home. It didn’t matter what genre, she just wanted something she’d enjoy.
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 21, 2022 7:59:41 GMT -7
Kenta gives her a nod as he leads her back to the table, "Sure, I don't mind. There's not very many spots in here anyways and none as good as mine." He smiles and picks up one of the heavy books he had there with him as he plops down on the seat. He opens the book and grabs his coffee to begin sipping on it again as he's ready to lose himself in the pages for a few more hours.
A few hours later...
Kenta yawns and stretches as he places a bookmark in his book and sets it down on the table, having gotten through half of it in the time that had passed. He glances over at Addy to see how she was doing, "Welp not sure about you but I think I'm about ready to head out on here."
As he asks her this question, he gets up and begins to gather his things, placing the books in his bags and grabbing a notebook that'd been hidden under the pile and placing that in there as well. If Addy tried to peak at all, she'd notice that it was labeled for some classes and that he even had a few textbooks in his bag along as well. |
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Post by Addy on Dec 22, 2022 14:23:44 GMT -7
Scratching her chin in contemplation, Addy stared down at the pristine book in her hands. Did she like what she was reading? It was hard to say. The novel she was reading was about romance. Spicy too with a vast array of love interests. Maybe too much if she had to be honest. While it did make every chapter a rollercoaster of emotions, it happened so frequently that she was ready to get off this ride. Constant action wasn’t always a good thing.
“Yeah it’s getting pretty late. Should probably head back as well.” Although she didn’t have a concrete rating of the book she was looking at yet, Addy didn’t think she wasted her time. The hours had gone by quickly, and she even had Kenta as a reading partner! The two didn’t converse much during this time as they were reading, but it was still nice to have someone sitting next to her. It made the vibe just more enjoyable overall.
“Oh, are you a student? Some of those books seem familiar.” As Kenta was packing up, Addy noticed some suspicious looking books lurking in his bag. School textbooks had that signature look about them, and if her eyes didn’t deceive her, she was sure she made the right assumption. Was her new friend currently a student?
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Dec 22, 2022 22:41:02 GMT -7
Kenta looked up in surprise at the question and then notices the books in his bag and then realizes how she came to that assumption and nods, "Ah yeah, I'm currently a student at Kamii University. I'm uh studying computer programming and stuff like that." As he tells her this, he looks a little shy and embarrassed by it despite how friendly and social he'd been.
He finishes packing up his stuff and heads to the counter to purchase the books he had left to finish and glances at her, "So how as your book? Think you're up for becoming more of an avid reader?" He could sort of tell that she didn't really like the book but then again he could of been wrong.
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Post by Addy on Dec 31, 2022 8:12:45 GMT -7
“Ohhhh, good for you! You like all that programming stuff? Think you’re gonna stick with it?” Addy herself had partaken in computer programming before, but she still didn’t know that much about it. From what she had seen, the whole thing looked quite complex. It wasn’t for her, but she was sure that Kenta would do great in that field! She just had that gut feeling.
Gathering her pristine books and placing most of them back on the packed shelves, Addy left two hardcovers in her arms. One was the book she had been reading a few minutes ago while the other was one she had been keeping her eye on. The size of them wasn’t the largest that she had seen, but staring down at all those pages was still a bit daunting. Maybe the more she read, the more she would get used to the feeling?
“Um, I think it was pretty good! Not my absolute favorite, but I liked some of the twists and turns the author threw at me. Wasn’t expecting them! And hehe, as for being an avid reader, I dunno just yet. Definitely working my way there though!”
Scratching the back of her head with a chuckle, Addy patted the books in her arms tenderly. This had been a nice little experience. A calmer way to spend her freetime, as opposed to what she normally did. She was still improving her body, so the hours spent here weren't a waste. She was just focusing more on the mental aspects this time around. Either way, a better her was coming into being. Something she was particularly excited to see.
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Post by Kenta Fujiwara on Jan 1, 2023 3:13:53 GMT -7
Kenta was pleasantly surprised by her response and smiles, "Well that's good to hear. I mean, it does take some time to really get into it and enjoy it but being able to just get lost in another world through nothing more than some words on a page is pretty amazing I think."
It had been a while since Kenta had a chance to fully gush over his interest and love of books and when he realizes that what he was doing just then he sheepishly chuckles, "Ah sorry. I just mean to say that there's plenty of reasons to really get into it."
Then realizing he hadn't even answered her own question for him, he shrugs as he rubs the back of his neck, "I'm not quite sure to be honest. I enjoy it a lot although it can be quite frustrating at times however the satisfaction of successfully making something work is rather addicting. Still, I think I need some more time doing it before I can make that kind of call."
He packs his newly acquired books into his bag, the now stuffed back looking rather funny against his frail frame yet he seems to be having no issues holding it up or showing signs of struggle. He then moves to leave the shop holding it open for her. Once they were outside he gives her a friendly smile and motions towards the direction he intended to leave towards, "My dorms are back this way."
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Post by Addy on Jan 10, 2023 17:38:34 GMT -7
“Yeah, it's definitely a unique experience, that’s for sure. The fact that authors can create their own worlds that readers can lose themselves in is pretty amazing in itself.” Addy herself couldn’t even imagine tackling such a hefty task. Creating her own world? Filled with itty bitty people she had to make as well? Just the thought of it was making her nervous.
“I get you. That kind of call can be difficult to make. Although I find that the journey is just as important as the destination. While there can be some frustrating parts, as long as you get past that, the satisfaction will be well worth it.” The situation was similar to Addy’s workouts. At first, she was forced to undergo pain all across her muscles as she trained them. But later, when they recovered, she was stronger for it. It was a tad difficult at the beginning, but well worth it in the end.
Paying for her books, Addy waved to Kenta before heading back towards her apartment. Unlike her friend, Addy didn’t think to bring a bag so she was forced to carry both of her books in her arms. It wasn’t bad though, as she had lifted heavier. Plus her home wasn’t that far away. At most it was like a fifteen minute trip. Nothing crazy.
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