kaisou | too cool for school; ota

Entry tags:

too cool for school; ota

WHO: Alberto Scorfano and ???
WHERE: Kaisou Middle School and nearby restaurants in Midtown
WHEN: First two weeks of school
WHAT: Alberto suffers unduly... though it's still mostly his fault.
WARNINGS: woof, yeah— eighth grade...

a. between classes / lunch
[ The forgetfulness brought on by the muses' creative influences really shoots him in the foot when Alberto starts attending school for the first time ever. Already he was going to struggle, but the fugue state this creative mania has left him in just spells trouble right away. Multiple times in his first week alone, he's snuck off on "bathroom breaks" to secretly explore the school, but then gotten lost in the halls and missed half his class. He's forgotten to do his homework, left his textbooks at home, forgot his backpack in his last classroom, you name it. And the hell with learning the teachers' names — or his classmates'... Everyone is "hey, you" for the first couple weeks. Now, mind you, none of this is at all unusual for Alberto in the first place. But it is unfortunate that the muses' enchantment happens to highlight the worst of his worries for his first impression at school.

Find him wandering the halls between classes (sometimes several minutes after class has started), searching for the same classrooms every day like it's the first day — maybe even holding his school map upside-down. Or perhaps he disturbs you on one of his frequent "bathroom" adventures, poking his nose in other classrooms and staff-only rooms snoopily; he can easily be found in all the places he's not supposed to be... Lunchtime is more enjoyable, though he's a little overwhelmed being in such a huge group of kids for the first time in his life. But he's thrilled to try all the human food in the cafeteria — probably their most enthusiastic diner... Though he also brings pasta from home every day because he's a bottomless pit — and in case he needs to share with a new friend, of course, should anyone come sit with him! Lunchtime is about the only time all day where things don't go wrong for him. ]

b. in the classroom
[ The rest of school is gonna be an uphill battle the rest of the year... He'd come in very hopeful and excited, but with some skewed expectations; it started to seem intimidating rather quickly, as he'd secretly feared it would. His best friend Luca once accused him of being too cowardly to go to human school — "you're just afraid you can't do it!" — and while that argument feels like a lifetime ago now, Luca wasn't completely off the mark back then. Alberto's extremely uncomfortable appearing ignorant, especially about human stuff (go figure, huh), so the whole first month strikes a deep, tender nerve, knocking new cracks in his armor of bravado every single day. He's drastically behind the modern American eighth grade learning level; that's the education a lifetime of isolation on an uninhabited island will get ya, I guess. Whether he volunteered or was called on, his answers in class often draw awkward pauses from the teachers and sniggers from some of the snottier kids, all day, all week. The unusual, Very Human™, and unfortunately eye-catching fashion sense he's developing doesn't do much to stave away potential bullies, and speckling himself with Sharpie doodle "tattoos" while distracted in class practically brands him as a Weird Kid right out the gate. Plus, uh, you know, all the weird things he says and does — more so that part, really... Middle school is tough, man. Especially when you're brazenly pretending to be human in another dimension in the future... Ahem.

Language Arts prompts a lot of mispronounced words and gaps in his vocabulary, showing off his terrible spelling and penmanship compared to most of his classmates; great way to start the morning, he loves it. Maths class is no less embarrassing, having been taught the most rudimentary arithmetic by his father and nothing more. His saving grace is Spanish class; he's already been informally studying Spanish for months, and it's come easily to his Italian mind. This is the only subject where he can actually give correct answers when called on; it's just enough of an ego boost to get him through the rest of the day. Because Science, fascinating as it is, proves even further beyond him than maths; if he didn't have science class with Luca, it'd be much more discouraging. Apart from Spanish, Social Studies piques his interest the most; but like with any other class, his strange responses and wild baseless guesses in class discussions keep building him a reputation amongst students and faculty alike. At the end of each day, Gym is a reprieve because he doesn't have to talk to anyone if he doesn't want to... He gets to move around finally, after sitting still (err, sort of) at his desk for hours on end... And he gets to smack people with volleyballs if he doesn't like them and say it was an accident. The only problem with Gym is that he's supposed to shower afterwards — no, thanks. He'd rather leave school smelling like fish. Like... sweaty fish... ]

c. detention / after school
[ But by far, Alberto's "favorite class...?" Detention. Alberto loves detention. Lucky for him! He seems to have a natural knack for it. Yes, yes, already in his first two weeks, he got issued detention... twice. For what? You'll have to ask him! On his first two Fridays, staying late for detention leaves him alone for the afternoon, so he decides to treat himself to restaurant food after school, something's he's never technically done before. But it's exactly the kind of soothing his spirit needs to bring him back to his vibrant, vivacious, vexing self after roughing it at school all week. Food is always where it's at for him.

Anyone out for a late lunch might notice a tall, freckled preteen boy all by himself looking a bit baffled and lost as he enters the restaurants, not really sure what to... do... He's winging it. His first Friday he can be found at the Madrigals' Colombian restaurant, Nuestra Casita, visiting alone for the first time as a real diner, so he's a little more careful to be polite on his own — since usually he's just trailing behind Bruno getting takeout... His second Friday, though, he tries Wanmin Restaurant. It's his first foray into Asian cuisine, just on a whim — and that whim led him right; it's incredible. He might even catch someone else's eye because he eats his meal with such, um... gusto... ~~No, it's gross, disgusting table decorum, omg child stop you're in public~~ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Ken's a well-behaved kid, keeping his nose in a book, just trying to do some homework and grab a bite to eat, even working in public. Should Alberto look, indeed, he may or may not question Ken, a seemingly normal, studious kid... But should Ken look, he very well may question Alberto. He is not well-behaved, studious, low-key, or normal... And he's struggling. Kid's a mess — literally and figuratively.

He's just received a plate of tamales, which he's never had before, and frankly had no clue what it was... He'll eat anything. Clearly: because he's doggedly biting straight into the corn husk, trying to eat that too. It's not going too well for him. He's diligently trying to gnaw the husk open and it's hard to get it to give without putting too much pressure in his hands and squishing the stuff inside. This is hands down the most inconvenient human food he's ever eaten. And as his frustration with it mounts, he's starting to draw some attention to himself, which is just making him more determined to tear up the husk so that he can hurry up and look normal. Bad tactic. But it makes sense to him. Unfortunately for Ken, Alberto's sitting at the table across from his, so while they're a way's away from one another, if Ken should look up from his books... he gets a front-row seat for this disaster. ]

[While Ken was doing his work, he couldn't help but stare at a strange looking child. he knows that he shouldn't stare but he couldn't help it. Not when he was eating his food in a rather bizarre manner.

Between trying to squish his food and looking unsure of what it was, he wondered if he should help him. Looking down at his homework and then back at him, it couldn't hurt to help this person out for a few minutes.]

Um...do you need help? It seems like you don't know how to eat it, do you?

[Not that Ken should ask that when he too had some difficulty before.]

[ Alberto narrows his eyes at the other kid, embarrassed to admit to a stranger how he's really struggling here, yeah. ]

Nah, nah, I've got it — it's just kinda, y'know, at first...!

[ And with that extra bit of embarrassment now to fuel his determination, he really does manage to tear the corn husk in a clean rip with his teeth at long last. It's... not exactly an accomplishment, but it's progress of some kind? ]

See? Got it.

[ As he proceeds to eat the bite now, trying to hide on his face how unpleasant this is, in a vain attempt to maintain some shred of dignity here... ]

[He says he got it but Ken has his doubts. Looking at the corn and then back at Alberto, he wondered if he should say anything. While he just met him, he already got the impression that he was a very confident person.

After all, he doesn't seem to be bothered at how he eats said corn despite how much he hates it. Again, Ken just kept on staring before coughing his throat.]

Are you sure? There's nothing wrong with saying that you don't like it.

[ He swallows the bite of husk hard at that, ready to retort, brow furrowing thoughtfully. He points to Ken with the tamale, gesturing with it lightly as he talks, a bit of the meat he'd finally exposed dripping out onto his plate. ]

What? No, no, it's just hard to eat. Of course I "like it!" Everything here's fantastic. I know the family that owns this place, their food's always great.

[ While he's never dined as a patron in their restaurant, he's also never tried anything he doesn't like in the Madrigals' kitchen yet. So he can only assume he'd like everything on the menu, too. And sure, these tamales are giving him a hard time right now, but he's getting there...! ]

Edited 2022-09-27 01:37 (UTC)

[All Ken could do was just stare at him before looking at said tamale. He didn't say anything and instead, he focused his attention on the meat dripping down.

Oh dear, he already had a feeling he knew what kind of person he was talking to. With a sigh, Ken shook his head before mumbling to himself.]

I'm glad you do but if it is hard to eat, you can always ask the family to help you out.

[Again, he didn't know who this person was but he could only assume he was someone may or may not have trouble asking for help.]

[ Alberto watches Ken watching him, and, yeah, he's that kind of person. It's true. He narrows his eyes after a beat, awkward and uncertain knowing this probably isn't the slight he perceives it to be, but... how do you people, he doesn't know how to people. ]

I'm fine... I'm not gonna bother anyone...

[ You're bothering people by insisting on not bothering people, Alberto. ]

I've got this.

[ He says as he lifts the tamale to take another bite, and a whole glob of filling falls out and onto his shirt. Love that. He's got this. ]

[Again, Ken didn't know how to carefully approach this. He was most definitely the type to not ask for help despite the obvious. The problem how was how to carefully approach this. Giving a slight frown, he had to think of something.]

Are you sure? I think you might need a napkin if food is falling everywhere.

[He didn't want to imply that Alberto was a messy eater but at the same time? There was a slight wince showing on his face as he had to thread this carefully.

He didn't know how he would react to his words.]

[ His dubious grimace at Ken slightly deepens, trying in vain to hide his embarrassment with his ego. After a silent beat of discerning staring, Alberto grabs a napkin, wipes off his shirt, examining the stain before he tosses the napkin onto his plate, as if throwing in the towel. He leans back in his chair with his frame totally open, again feigning some comfort and control and confidence here, which he doesn't really have, as if that'll make up some traction. It doesn't, of course, but, y'know. Fake it til you make it. That's his MO. ]

You know what — I changed my mind. I'm taking it home to share it with my friend. Because it's so good. Not cuz I give up. I'm just not that hungry anyway, since I ate at school, so, y'know — whatever.

[ ...Yup, you sure showed him. Alberto, let people help you... For someone who's so well-practiced at showing his ass, he sure has developed very little grace at it. Bravado doesn't count as gracefulness, that's for sure. ]

[With that, Ken leaned back against his seat and wondered what he should do. He could tell him that there was no point in trying to prove himself to someone around his age. After all, at the end of the day, they were still kids in this world. Why not act like one? That said, he huffed a side of his cheek as he wondered what to say.]

Then how about you order some more? Especially if you're going to share it, you might as well.

[What else could he say about that without embarrassing this boy??]

[ No matter what Ken says, it's going to embarrass this boy. We are well past that point. Alberto's ego is inflated and fragile — maybe like a balloon. Not to mention, full of hot air. There's almost especial point in trying to prove himself to someone around his own age. He saw that little huff and he's digging his heels in, thanks. ]

It's enough. We're saving our money for a Vespa. Besides, I'm a great cook, too, so we've got tons of great food at home. This was just a special treat.

Then you think you can cook me something? I'm sure I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

[Because that was the only response he could give. If he didn't want to embarrass him, he might as well try to encourage whatever he was good at!

That said, it still didn't erase the awkward feeling he kept trying to not step on any eggshells.]

[ That reaction draws complete surprise from Alberto, and shocks him out of his bad attitude. He looks at Ken with raised brows and wide eyes for a silent second, blinkingly considering this request. But when he answers, that defensive edge in his voice is all but defused suddenly. ]

Uh— Y-Yeah, sure... Why not. ...Youuu ever had Italian food? We make a lot of pasta.

[ The mess of eggshells successfully avoided, bravo, Ken! Apparently all it takes is one stroke of this kid's ego and that's enough to win him over. Jeez... ]

[At least that got him out of his bad mood! With that, he gave a sigh of relief. He really didn't want to continue having this awkward conversation!]

Not really, Italian food isn't really too popular in Japan.

[That and he's been too busy with other things to even try foreign food.]

[ He looks disappointed at first, but his face lights up at the word "Japan." ]

Oh! I know a guy from Japan!

[ ...That's it. That's all he has to say. That's all he knows about Japan.

But thankfully, apparently that alone is friendly enough, as he stands up and abandons his half-eaten, half-destroyed tamales at his table. Grabbing his backpack as he gets up, he slides into a seat at Ken's table instead, uninvited but undeterred. Great... Serves you right for talking to weirdos, Ken; sometimes they talk back. ]

Okay, so, Italian food's basically the best food in the world. Now, I haven't had all the food in the world yet, but I know that's what people say.

[ The nonchalant air of expertise he speaks with as he launches into this spiel just proves Ken's first impression true that all this kid wants is to just be correct, it seems... Seemed like he was all ready to talk about Japan, got up on that note and came over to chat closer, as if they had something in common due to this Japanese friend of his, but no, that's just— dropped by the wayside, once he sits down and starts talking about what he wants to talk about. No social cues taken. ]

There's lots of cheese, lots of garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, definitely lotsa fish— and most importantly, pasta. You have pasta in Japan, yeah?

[ ...For someone boasting about "the best food in the world," he seems to have pretty poor understanding of any other food in the world... ]

[Ken half expected him to come up to his seat. What he wasn't expecting was to leave his food behind and act as if nothing had happened between him prior to the conversation. For a moment, he was rather surprised to see how forward he was being.

But at the same time, he really should have known.]

Yeah, we do but I don't think it's what you think of. We have ramen in Japan, which is kind of likes noodles? So it's kind of like pasta?

[Of course, his knowledge of Italian food was based on what he had heard and from what he knows about Italy online. He really didn't want to offend this strange boy but he really didn't know how to approach this.

He leaned back his seat before crossing arms as he was rather uncomfortable. He really didn't know what to say as he waited for his response.]

[ Alberto struggles to read social cues in general, but also in this moment. Unfazed by Ken's body language. In fact, he leans over and props himself up on the table by his elbow, cheek cupped lazily in the palm of his hand with a flat look. ]

"Kind of" like pasta... So what makes it different? I've never had Japanese food. I just know that one guy. And, uh, you, I guess. What's your name?

[ He sits up again abruptly, wide-eyed, like the though has only just occurred to him to ask. ]

I guess it would be the texture? You know how some pastas can have various shapes and sizes? Ramen is kind of the same thing but probably made with something different?

[Ken raised an eyebrow at Alberto's forward nature. He really wasn't used to people being this blunt with him. If anything, he didn't know if he should find it rude or not.]

But my name is Ken Amada, it's nice to meet you. What about yours?

Alberto Scorfano. Piacere.

[ He reaches across the table to offer his hand for a firm, jaunty handshake. ]

So how long've you lived here? Did you move here from Japan? On purpose, I mean.

[ As opposed to accidentally moving somewhere; he's still not sure how to address the whole "spirited away to another time and space" thing with strangers he meets in person. So this is his way of trying to get at the issue right off the bat, without sounding entirely like a lunatic, maybe — though it might be too late for that. Blunt, forward nature, indeed. Rude? TBD... ]

[He wasn't going to argue over making a new friend. As he took his hand and gave it a firm handshake, he didn't grip it as much as he should. American customs sure were interesting....]

I suppose it's been around 7 months? I haven't really been keeping count these days.

[Which he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Now that he was getting comfortable with this new setting, he found the days were starting to blend together. At least he knew that he could relax but at the same time? He also knew he shouldn't get too comfortable.]

What about you?

[ The way Ken phrases that hits a certain note with Alberto, who raises a curious brow. ]

'Bout the same. I haven't kept count, either. It's kinda hard to, heh. I know for sure I've been here almost three seasons, though. A long time...

[ Hearing himself say it out loud to a stranger strikes another chord within himself. That's half a year. That is a long time... Far longer than he'd lived in Portorosso. Feels like a lifetime ago by now. ]

[Ken didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned back against his seat as he was trying to figure out what to say. Oh dear, what would his leader do at a time like this?]

...And you're doing okay?

[His leader would do something that would make sure the other person was okay. He just hoped this was the right thing to do.]

[ Alberto raises his brows in surprise at the question, it being the last thing he'd expect a stranger to ask him. But after a beat, he gives a lopsided smile and a breath of a chuckle, kind of tickled by this now. ]

Ha— Yeah, definitely! More than okay. My life's perfect~ I live with my best friend in this really cool city, our home is gorgeous, we go on adventures, and we're finally gonna get our Vespa! We've got tons of friends, too; I talk to people every day. And my other best friend's fantastic~ He's pretty much the coolest guy ever, plus his family's amazing...!

[ He gestures around them at the restaurant to indicate he's talking about the Madrigals (and considering Bruno is the only Madrigal man in town, it's an easy inference if Ken knows him), waving emphatically at the space around them with a grin and growing energy. It may have seemed at first like he was just laying it on thick, like a cover-up, but as he starts to brag in detail, it actually rings as quite genuine. ]

I love my life here. This is the happiest I've ever been!

[ A heavy statement to say outright to a stranger, positive as it may be. But far less bristly than the boy who'd been stubbornly eating a corn husk a few minutes ago. ]

[That wasn't what Ken was expecting. If anything, he was fully prepared for apprehension or ambivalence to this whole ordeal. Again, he found himself pausing before crossing his arms.

Despite his body language, there was a small smile on his face.]

Then that's good, I'm glad you're having fun here! It sounds like it was a lot better than whatever was going on back home.

[It was a bold remark to make. He didn't know anything about Alberto, he only made the assumption that it was better. Not that Ken can complain, the life he has here was definitely better than what he experienced back home. But at the same time, he also can't deny that he was missing his friends back home...]

Oh, well, it is, but my life back home was also fabulous. My life here is just fabulous-er. Living in Portorosso was just a different kind of paradise, heh.

[ ...Welp. There's that. This is not a bold-faced lie, at least, but it's also true that the night before he arrived spontaneously here in Kaisou, he'd nearly run away from his new home in "paradise" after he'd almost ruined his boss's business (and almost killed his cat) by accident in misguided attempts to earn his affection... But he's not getting into that with a total stranger. Or, uh, anyone, really. Even his friends. All anyone needs to know is that his life in Portorosso was fabulous, because it was! ...Minus the long string of failures and flubs that led him to almost skip town. But other than that! Life was great. ]

too cool for school; ota

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