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05/31 16:00

The student council elections take place after class on Monday, with students instructed to gather in the auditorium for the assembly. Attendance is not mandatory, but once students enter the auditorium and take their seats with the rest of their homeroom, they will find that they are not able to speak or get up from their seats. There are no teachers present.

Fifteen minutes past the hour, the doors to the auditorium close and the assembly commences, with the current student body president Maya Arisu stepping up to the podium, obligatorily thanking everybody for coming, and briefly going over the agenda: the student council candidates, sitting in a neat row behind her at the back of the stage, are to first introduce themselves to the student body, after which the candidates will make a case for why they would best serve the student body. As each person comes up to the podium, a projector shines on the white screen behind the stage with an image of the student's profile, displaying their full name, homeroom, blood type, handedness, club membership and leadership roles, current grades, and current merit points. Those in the student council are held to high standards, be it scholastic achievement as exemplified by grades or club participation, or eloquence or bravado if they have nothing else going for them but talk big anyways, like the current candidate in the middle of a passionate speech concerning the atrocity that is Ishimaru's eyebrows, like, do you really want that to be the face of the student body--

The mic cuts off and Maya drops the end of the power cord before striding up to the center of the stage, staring at the candidate to get out of her way or risk a broken foot.

"I'm going to stop wasting your time," she says, voice quiet but at the same time clear and audible in the hush of the room. "The qualities I'm looking for in a member of our council isn't intelligence or diligence or kindness. Who the person is matters the most: what they do and how they think."

She turns around, facing the candidates, looking at each of them in turn. "We will be testing your character. Follow me."

One by one, the student council candidates rise to their feet and file out of the auditorium after Maya, stiff and robotic, almost as if they have no control over their bodies as she leads them out the door. The moment the last candidate leaves the auditorium, the spell binding everybody's limbs and voices breaks, students jumping to their feet to push and shove each other out of the way in their excitement to leave-- not to go home, but to crowd around the windows surrounding the courtyard, or to race each other to the higher floors to claim the windows with the best views:

Out in the courtyard, the student council candidates line up against the side of the school. Facing them, in a half circle in front of the wisteria tree, are several familiar faces, each with a dagger in hand, a stagger to their steps, yellow in their eyes, and wild animalistic abandon in the way they lunge at the student council candidates.

The sun is bright overhead. Blood spills and soaks into the ground. The school stays true and does not turn.

OOC

✽ Happy Execution Day! For those unfamiliar with how murdergame executions work, the initial top-level is reserved for Ishimaru and Madison to fight to the death, while the rest of the post is free for characters to post reactions as well as to play out the aftermath.
✽ As a general guideline, the dropped characters look the same as originally, aside from yellow eyes, and the way they move is haltingly, as if they're resisting the compulsion to murder. It is a compulsion, though! So if both Ishimaru and Madison refuse to fight each other, they'll just get stabbed by somebody else.
✽ The execution will end once there is only one person left, after which the door will allow them back inside the school. Before then, the doors and windows are locked, and trying to escape the courtyard will result in loss of consciousness, with enough warning to turn back. The moment there is one survivor left, the npc students go home, as the position is won by default. Congrats! Hope it was worth it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Killing isn't the answer.

[ Nanami hears his voice, the way he calls her name is more then enough to grab her attention. She heard his speech, ignored it like a sensible person would. Knowing full well his misguided judgements and prattling on endlessly about hope - and how we must stay together through moments like this. Held only a slither of the truth, for moments like this need not exist in the first place. Or rather should not.

So she says that to him sharply, flatly. ]

Ahah, you sound like you're sick and tired of conversing with trash like me...

( he says that happily, despite his words that seem a little sad if he had used that depressing tone of his. no one ever gets him, and he understands that. even if she won't meet him eye to eye, he places a hand on his waist, and raises the other hand to wave towards her. )

Hope is the answer, even I know that.

That is your own assumption, not my real feelings.

[ Nanami retorts, again. Sharply. Her right hand still trembles slightly as it lines along the glass. ]

People dying isn't hope. Nagito. Why dont you understand that?

I said "sound," not that you were... Nanami-san.

( her real feelings are... who knows, komaeda's not trying to figure those out. )

Was she always like that? ( madison? ) Aggressive, feral...

I see.

[ Nanami stares at him blankly, rather surprise at Nagito's effort for small talk which did not meld well with her desire to process what was going on. Even if it were easy for her to feel black and white about situations, in the past. It felt different now, with everything said and done. As if she had to repurpose and file additional new feelings into new channels that she werent use to.

Needless to say, she is unhappy. It shows in her voice, her hand trembling, the way she speaks. Despite how seemingly undeterred she acts and is.

Alien almost.
Robotic in a way. ]

I don't know who she is... It is not appropriate to describe her like that, anyone would act the way that they are in their situation.

[ Except her, and maybe Komaeda that is. Eyes look to the window, then back toward Komaeda. ]

Did you get asked to make the speech?

This would have happened no matter what, simply because she acted that way, and Ishimaru-kun... would need hope to make it out.

( while nanami's stabilizing, komaeda's trying to figure out how he should be, or well, how he should feel. he feels delighted, ecstatic, but there's something about the sadness in the air that makes him uncomfortable. this is hope, as long as he moves forward, his hope will strengthen. he already believes this was something he needed, as someone who sticks to the rules, he did play by the name of the game. isn't that to be admired? )

Because she acted that way, what was he to do... accept it? What's hopefully about dying for no reason, we're all here cheering for him...

( besides, he doesn't recall anyone concerned for madison, or maybe it's because he wasn't listening. )

... ( he sighs, walking closer to stand right beside her. ) I want to see their hope prosper, Nanami-san.

( he doesn't answer. )

It shouldn't have happened, this isn't how reality should be.

[ Nanami says with remorse kindling between her words. Its not okay that peoples lives are treated like this. It is not okay that people have to live only to kill, to gamble their life away instead of living it to the best that they can be. To a future that is meant for them to create - this is not living. ]

No one wants to cheer, but its the only thing they can do despite everything that is going on. You understand it dont you? Even if everyone is cheering now, at the end of it all the sadness that will linger from it. Not because its going to move us forward, but because it happened. Not because were gunna gain something for it - but because there is nothing else to do but cheer in the moment.

[ A pause, she is mouthy. Tired. There is drowsiness setting in, but she fights back.]

This isn't going to change anything, this isnt going to create a future for anyone. No one can prosper like this, no one can find happiness in this - even I know that.

[ Her words are telling if not teaching, a bridge to make him understand even though she knows deep down. His understanding of the world developed long before she ever existed in it. Long before she ever even met him, but she was made to always do as what his memories remembered her too. Always she would live up to that wish, to protect the ones she loved and always extend out endlessly. Even if they wont hear here or listen. ]

Reality?

( reality? what does nanami chiaki, the ai, know of reality? it's almost funny, and yet, komaeda doesn't say a thing. instead, he looks out the window, keeping his thoughts away from himself. what is their reality if not death around every corner, this is reality to komaeda. family dies, friends die, and relationships disappear like that. to witness a symbol of hope, someone he adores, in a life or death situation, yes, komaeda's also concerned for them. he wants to see their hope flourish, no matter what must be done, to see them live, and continue to brighten their paths. )

Will they become sad, will everyone not be happy he lived...? His hope brought him through this, his unwavering determination...

( ishimaru didn't give up, komaeda watched, he saw, and yet here's nanami telling him no one will be happy in the end. why will they all become sad? even komaeda doesn't understand that completely, but he falls silent, looking off to the side as he tries to figure out what he should feel, or what he should say. )

You shouldn't say that, Nanami-san... your hope helps brighten their hope, don't say it as if he's done this for nothing. ( he sighs, looking back towards her with his hands raised, and a sheepish smile like he's flustered by the mere thought of saying such a thing to her. ) Ah... but maybe you shouldn't listen to trash like me.

They will move forward, because that is how people always are.

[ Was her answer, says the Ai who can do nothing but watch those who are real from a outside perspective looking in with all the love she can give. See the value of their actions, and understand that she is nothing like them and know that what is going on is not okay. Never will be okay. Rationalizing it so that it can be spoken plainly, despite that it is a concept Komaeda would struggle to understand. She knows that. However, Nanami would not bend over to crumble beneath what he believes is right, and she knows is wrong. ]

Not because that is how its suppose to be.

[ Nanami says firmly again one more time, as if she had witnessed this phenomenal truth herself. When in fact she had, and knows as much because Hinata is living proof of that enough. ]

But because that is how people are..... [ Her trembling hand that is wrapped in bandages reaches for his robotic one and holds it. Pulling him closer and looking up at him with a sharp but... Sleepy look. ]

Its not JUST hope, its not.. Hope. Its not that... He didn't do it for nothing - its that he had to... Or else... Its not.. Hope.

[ She affirms to him looking at him. Honestly im ready for komaeda to say some shit to her do it. ]

Because no matter what bad things happen people - they want to pull through, not because they hope but because they believe in what they can change. Or do. Their future, your future. Its not JUST hope.

( he allows his hand to be taken, what nanami can tell from it that it's cold, manmade cold unlike his normal hand that pulses, but slowly. that's the fake part of his body, the part of him that he gave away for the sake of hope, for the sake of overcoming despair. this manmade construction is just a substitute for the original, but a telling sign that he's regained his senses, and that he doesn't need to firmly be rooted in despair to find his hope. while he may not be that way anymore, as destructive, as chaotic, he does still believe it takes just a little to help hope grow — if not that, then to see one's hope against another hope... )

I applied for that position too. He didn't have to, he could have laid there and died...

( that said, it's an idea komaeda could have done as well, perhaps he would have died to become a stepping stone for them all — for whatever hope that madison had. she didn't want to die, because she didn't want to go back. where? is the question, but they don't know, they'll never know. )

But his hope told him to live, to keep fighting, because there were people he wanted to come back to, his future that was at stake.

( komaeda's broken, he's not always correct, there's only a little truth in his thoughts despite not being the whole truth. it does seem like those his eyes fall upon, that he acknowledge say it over, and over again. there's no hope, that it's all empty. )

I won't take his hope from him, because that might be the only thing left that he's clinging onto... it's all some of us have, Nanami-san.

Thats why Im saying - what it is I am saying, it should not be that way.

[ Nanami's voice is cold when she says that. It grows warmer as she speaks bit by bit, taking what he says and redirecting it. She looks away somber, hurt to see that there are people killing each other while they talk like this. ]

No one should ever have to sit here and fight always for their life - for their future. Its... Suppose to be give and take.

Even for you - [ Her eyes come back to see his again.]

You shouldn't have to suffer all the time, for all the effort you put out.

But you do anyway in turn -

Thats not how its suppose to be for anyone.

[ That wasnt the miracle that the class of 77-B made for themselves, when they stood there and chose to face the weight of their actions. What they had done because of the manipulation of one woman. That they affirmed together out of their own wills, that they could overcome what they all originally were. Remnants... Even Komaeda himself. Yes, even him. Which is why it hurt all the same, he was subjected to this hell all over again. Him, Hinata - all of them. This would do nothing, but set him in a path he will fall into again - and she cannot accept that. Especially knowing as the one who died as a traitor, by his belief in his morals and luck alone. ]

That is not real hope, Nagito.

( the nerves in his arm causes his prosthetic to twitch at her words, and at that moment he manages to pull his hand out from hers. just a minor reaction, nothing too big, but nothing too small when she explains that what his hope is isn't real — it weighs a lot on him, and even he's compromised on how he should react. he's been asked what is hope, and he always gave his opinion, one that he's always believed. )

Give and take...?

( yes, perhaps it's meant to be that way, but when despair took their hope on that one unfaithful day, what were they given in return? he doesn't voice it, but he surely does breath in deep, and exhales slowly as he stares at the female. he chuckles, like even he can't believe what's being said to him. )

Nanami-san, he put everything into his survival, and now he'll grow from it. This is his hope in the making, he has used her as a stepping stone to ascend to greater heights.

( besides, komaeda's hope was made by hope's peak, everything he knows is wrapped around that one place — the stronger the talent, the stronger the hope. he sees that as true hope, what he's always been searching for, the hope where every ultimate resided. they became the symbols to him that he's always loved. )

If this happens again, he won't waver! He'll be able to handle this with ease! All because of how strong his hope came out of this!

This is not hope in the making.

[ Despite her empty look, it doesnt reflect the well of emotions she starts to feel and wonder what is real. Never would she think herself on Jabberwock island to ever speak back out to him like this - as if to say her feelings held more value here then there. As if it the choice for others to find their own feelings and decisions mattered yes - but also that her feelings for all of them were laid bare and heard.

It was compelling, freeing in a way.

Her face is even, but her voice is strong and unsettling at that. ]

That is wrong, that is not how it should be. You [ Because she's never not aware that she is subjective - in a literal meaning created form what they remembered of her, and they are not. ] are not stepping stones for one another, to wait for the next big thing to happen. Mads is not just someone to die and let us walk away thinking we can do better - she was a girl like. [ Not like me. ] A person like any one of you, with thoughts and dreams and a future she wanted to have for herself.

Just because she didnt make it - doesn't mean her hope was the weakest.

[ Shes tired, it might not show on her face. But she is. She steps forward if he pulled back. Reflexive he were. She was not. Determined. If anything.]

Your future is happening now, not [ Shes tired. Not because of him, because shes overwhelming herself. ]- not later after all the bad has happened and there is nothing left to look forward to it.

[ She left them all, never got to say her goodbyes. Never got to learn everything Hinata wanted to show her. She supposes, she is learning now though. She supposes, this is a reflection of that. Still her face is neutral. ]

I was pretty unfair to her, you're right...

( nanami's getting to him, he's starting to understand what she's talking about in regards to madison also fighting for her own, and that's true, she had a future as well. he should have looked from her perspective as well, as a human being — although untalented — she did put up a pretty good fight. it's just that in regards to komaeda, he puts ultimates first, and it's always been that way. he gives others like a crumb of his attention, but isn't that unfair when there was hope from another being fighting for their future like nanami says. )

She put up a pretty good fight, and her hope was strong, but nothing that Ishimaru-kun couldn't handle!

( he's unfortunate, but he'll agree on her thoughts, sometimes they're able to have an understanding. even ifit's scripted in a way where their logic collides, in some way, they manage, or maybe they'll never see eye to eye properly. their hopes are pretty different in how they're achieved, and while komaeda doesn't care for what horrible thing happens due to his luck, nanami's able to appreciate what's around her, and how it influences everyone together. they need bonds, they need friendships, and komaeda gets that, he really does, that's how bonds form. )

Those that lost her will fight for her, Ishimaru-kun defeating her will either live on with her hope, or use her death to feed his. The possibilities are endless, Nanami-san!

( but saying something like that to him who waits for all the bad to happen so that he's able to witness the good luck, he's unable to relate. )

Being locked away here isn't my future, my future is wherever hope leads me... I wish you all could understand that too, then maybe we all could reach the same hope together. It's pretty lonely.

...

Youre the only one who doesnt understand, and make us feel lonely being beside you.

[ The cyncism leaks through, she normally show this only to Hinata. Good for you Komaeda. ]

Everyone has fun with you, but youre the only one who doesn't notice it. So you try hard for everyone else to fit in - 'for their hope'. When you already are apart of what we do. Except then you make it worse - cause you try too hard.

[ Her expression is empty despite the words that come out of her lips, and the seeming tired feeling that creeps over her and tells her shes said too much. ]

Ne, ne - You are the only one who doesn't understand, and you don't see it.

[ Anyway it would be ooc of me to not have her pass the fuck out, so here you go. ]

( this never pans out well when someone says he's unloved, or when he's told that people feel nothing around him. he should be used to it, but every time it, it always gets to him. old habits die hard, feelings he don't understand always make him feel like he's at the end of his rope.

his breath is caught in his throat, and he thinks he can hear his heart beating in his ears — a hand raises, resting over his chest, and he looks off to the side. he stands there, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, and there's various thoughts running through his mind — what to say, what to think, what he should do, where should he go. it's hard to decides, but that's because he doesn't know what to do with what was said to him.

he should take it to heart right? of course, it'll sit in his mind festering, reminding him of unfortunate circumstances. perhaps this is the bad luck he accumulated from what he did to hinata awhile ago, perhaps this was well deserved. when his words pierced the male's heart, maybe nanami's was meant to do the same thing upon komaeda. unlike him, he doesn't voice his words, he won't learn if his own tone is raw or if it's just empty — he'd rather not know, and nanami is sleeping so it's not like she can tell.

lifting his prosthetic hand, he thinks of reaching out to her, but there's something that stops him. trash like him shouldn't even bother an ultimate like her, especially when she fell asleep so peacefully afterwards. he can't even touch her, and instead his arm drops back down towards his side. he stares outside, watching as ishimaru has won his match, obtained his hope, and then komaeda watches nanami — a hope of his, in his youth, someone he trusted with everyone, that would lead their hope.

instead he thinks i'll figure this out... which means he'll do it alone, it's always like that, but he's used to it. he pushes people away for this reason, he'll do this for them, help their hopes, manage it in some way. with that in mind, he sighs, turning away from, and leaving her where she sleeps.

stay tuned. )

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