(Expecting, but open. Also, OP may suddenly become a ghost)

Yul was as good as his word. When he'd told Ichika that he'd meet her and they could talk the next night, he would make it so. Even if it did mean challenging her palate a little...

He waited just outside the familiar shop, dressed in a uniform jacket, tank top, and uniform pants, boots completing the outfit. He glanced at his communicator, but seemed perfectly content to wait patiently for his friend to arrive.

Walking through the mall she held her purse, waving it a little while she walked through the people milling about in their daily routines. Wearing the white shirt over blue skirt she'd gotten when she first arrived and came just over from the Blue Bird with Ryuu. A little pep in her step as she made the last leg of her journey, spotting Yul through the crowd. Bringing up a hand to give him a quick wave she moved a little faster than a casual stroll.

"Shinjo-san!" she called out while she was yet farther away, getting up close and adding on, "Hey!"

Tucking away his communicator, Yul gave Ichika a grin and a way.

"Doji-san." He said, adding a quick bow to the greetings he'd already given. "Hey. You look good tonight. Of course."

He crossed his arms, grinning again. "So. You ready for some bubble tea?"

"Thank you, Shinjo-san," she said with a smile and a dipped head. Looking up to him there was a little flash of a memory and she glanced away, toward the shop. "I- haven't tried anything like this before, I think," she said with a soft laugh.

"What's it like?" she asked, stepping up closer to join him when walking in.

Yul tilted his head, regarding her curiously, but the moment passed.

"Well..." Yul smiled gently. "Have you had milk before? It's... refreshing, and thick, I guess you'd say. They make it sweeter, too. I'll get you one of the easier ones, if you like."

"How have you been, anyway? Everything okay?" Yul asking, casting Ichika a sidelong smile as he lead the way into the shop.

Ichika looked at him, even after he asked how she was. Furrowing her brows deeply she seemed to pause into the thought but lifted from it. "I'm doing alright," she said, "Was just thinking about you the other day, and everyone," you shook her head, "I was in the room we all watched that movie that time and it was a nice little memory," she waved her hand in front of herself. Getting ahead of herself she cut in with, "But wait- thick?? I- I don't think I've ever heard a drink described quite like that Shinjo-san."

"Oh, yeah. That was pretty fun, huh?" Yul smiled at her. "Seemed like you were having a good time. Me too. Hey, was this one good?"

He frowned. This was challenging. "I guess you could say that it's sorta like broth." He waved a hand. "Here, you can give it a try, and let me know what you think.

Yul stepped up to the counter. "One Half Moon tea, half-sweet, one Neutrino Wave, half-sweet." He glanced at Ichika, giving her an encouraging smile.

"Alright," she said, a slight nod as she stepped up with Yul. Leaning over with a little smile, "I'm trusting you, Shinjo-san," she scrunched her nose and shook it teasingly.

Yul grinned. "Good. I'm a trustworthy guy." His expression grew more serious. "But really, I think you'll like it. And if not... hey, I'll get you something else."

The drinks were passed over the counter with a bow. Yul picked them up, along with a pair of straws, heading to a nearby table. "This one's for you." He said, smiling, sliding it to her side. "You take one of these straws, and you stab it into the top." He mimed the motion with his right hand.

His drink seemed to have some dark balls floating in it. Hers did not.

Taking the straw into her hand she furrowed her brow a little, then a little more when she looked at the drink, "O-ohkay," she said, a soft and awkward laugh.

Putting in the straw she glanced up to him with a furrowed brow. Then, shaking her head and smiling she took a sip of the drink. Opening her eyes a touch more, furrowing and then raising her brows as she got her first taste of the drink.

Yul looked at her, eyebrows going up.

"Well?" He asked expectantly, lips curling up at the corners. "Hey, if you don't like it, I promise, we'll find you some regular tea. But..." He shrugged. "Trying new things is kinda fun, huh?"

"Mm! Mhmm!" She hummed a little with the drink, then swallowed. "That's.. different, but yea," she said with a little laugh.

"So," she said, crossing her feet over one another as she sat. "How have you been," she glanced aside for a moment, "Yul-san," she smiled conspiratorially.

A quick flash of a grin at her apparent approval, and then Yul took a sip of his own tea drink. Looking across the table at her as he did, his brown eyes seemed to glint. "I've been great, thank you." He leaned a little closer. "Ichika-san." He murmured, just for her ears.

He straightened. "Really great, in fact. Kinda like last time we talked, except more, I guess? Been meeting interesting people, and doing neat things. I've gotten to fly a few times." He frowned, just a little. "I'm sorry, I really should have taken you up! There's just..." He waved a hand. "I didn't realize this miai stuff would be so busy."

"It's okay!" she said, a small chuckle as she glanced away, toward the door for a moment as she furrowed her bow slightly. Separating her feet she swung them a little under the table. "It's certainly been very busy," she said, looking back with a little nod. "I never realized how busy it would be! I mean.. I thought I would have to work hard but not quite like this," she said, covering her mouth with her knuckles as she laughed.

"Sooo," she leaned forward a little, "tell me, tell me! Who's some of the interesting people you've met?"

"Yeah, right?" Yul flashed her a grin. "Hard work, and more. Meeting people, these competitions. Adventure..." He shook his head. "You would not believe the day I've had..."

He pursed his lips a moment, taking a sip of his tea. "Lots of people. Matsu Hide's become a good friend, if you remember her. Some of the other Lion. Ikoma Shoan and I have been spending some time together. This Kuni, Eriko."

Yul cleared his throat. "There's Nakauchi Mumei. Do you know her? She's a navigator, as well as the most amazing dancer." He took another sip of his tea, smiling around his straw as he did so.

Ichika furrowed her brow, noticeably so, right on that last one, at the smile. Glancing down a moment, she shifted herself up into her seat, and then looked up as she smiled a bit. "Mmm, Matsu Hide-san I remember.. a little, and I know Ikoma Shoan-san pretty well! I wanna ask about her but.. Nakauchi Mumei-san?" she said the name a little slower, leaning into her seat a bot.

"I met her last night," she chuckled a little. "She was hanging out before sleep at the inn, seems really nice."

Straightening, Yul took a breath, smiling again. "Yeah, she is really nice. We met the other night. Got some noodles together." He grinned, then shook his head. "And then we had some adventure today."

Tilting his head, he regarded Ichika curiously a moment, then he smiled. "Hey, I heard you did well at yesterday's miai competition. Congratulations. That's really great." His smile became a grin.

"Thanks!" she said, laying her hands around her drink as she leaned over to it, taking a sip. Swallowing, "I didn't think I was going to find something here to prove myself with but.. I did, and I managed!" she paused, smiled. Looking to him for a moment with a furrowed brow she smirked, and then held that away for the moment.

Both brows raised, "Oh!" she renewed her looking toward him, "Did you know Utaku Hyeon-ju-san was my roommate? I don't know if I told you."

Studying her, Yul leaned forward, smiling. "You know, I didn't know you before this, Ichika-san." Yul said speaking softly. "But it really feels like you've come into yourself, or something. I guess that's how I'd describe it." He shrugged. "I guess what I'm saying is, you're pretty impressive."

He sat back, still smiling, although his lips quirked when she mentioned Hyeon-ju. "Oh, she is, huh?" Yul shook his head. "How are you getting along with her?"

"T-thank you," she said, glancing down, a touch redness to the cheek. Below the table she put one of her feet over the other but.. untangles them almost immediately after.

Looking up she just smiled, a nod, "Mmm," she glanced to the left, "well? Utaku-san is.. well she's, I think she's nice. I'm not sure how much she likes me sometimes though," she gave an awkward chuckle.