Junko vignette #1

There was nothing but the drizzling rain to soothe Junko's nerves in that hazy space between finishing her exam and the arrival of the next bus on the 7 going off campus. It seemed only natural that a stop by the cafe in the student center was her temporary stop. At the small counter booth while sipping her cafe au lait, Junko lamented her unpreparedness.
She had really outdone herself and lived up to her title as "Princess of Procrastination". Regardless of her personal anxiety about the uncertain future of her GPA, she had every intention of putting on a brave face for her friends during their routine post-midterm celebration. They all had hard exams, too. It seemed selfish to talk about her problems when she was able to pull off solid grades most of the time without studying. Her thought process is interrupted by the merry chirp of her cell phone as she sipped on the lukewarm remains of her beverage. Dropping the cup in the trash on her way out the door, she answers with forced cheerfulness, "Hey Sakiko. How did it go?"

The hyper voice whines across the line, "I don't even want to talk about it-not without at least two drinks in me. Are you leaving campus to meet up with us soon? There's been a change in plans."

"Oh? What happened?"

"Shouhei got called into work unexpectedly, so we are going to meet him near his work at that little pub called Panic Paradise."

"That is the place with the purple and green sign that has the little neon jellyfishon it, right?"

"Right! They have great cocktails. We are already gathering so hurry over."

"Sure thing, see you soon."

Checking the time, Junko begins to briskly walk toward the bus depot on campus to grab the next 14 to head in the direction of her new, more exciting destination. Thoughts of her grade dissipate as she thinks of getting to try a new bar and spend time with her friends.