yogen | rainbows

[ Omg.

But anyway, Meng Yao can only offer a smile of his in turn, which remains even if a spark of curiosity rises up in him all the same. ]

...Then, feel free to ask. And I, of course, will do my best to satisfy your inquiry.

( okay, so let him adjust the way he's sitting a little more first here — sitting with one knee pulled up onto the chair so that he's better facing meng yao. this is a topic of extreme importance, so of course he's going to want to pay attention to the answer he gets. well, after he decides how to phrase his question, which kind of takes him a moment or so. )

When you "woke up," you remembered another life, right? ( a pause, and he'll continue. )

Sorry, this might be a weird question, but was your life in any danger at the point when your memory cuts off?

[ ... ]

I...to be honest, there was quite a going on. But you must mean that 'life' where we lived seemingly as students and watched others die around us, and experienced certain events, correct?

[ He'll look down, eyebrows furrowed, considering his words. He thinks back to when he first arrived, and when everything is - was? - a jumbled mess. A seemingly impossibility for a man like him, who has eidetic memory. And yet...well.

By the end of that 'memory' or those 'memories', he believes there was no mortal danger. Before might be a different story, though. ]

...nothing right at when that memory ends completely. Why do you ask? It wasn't the same for you? Or has someone else experienced something different?

Hmm, I was thinking the life you remembered outside the school.

( it's not that he doesn't appreciate what meng yao does tell him, but...

there's a moment that passes, and he offers up a sigh, peering off at the window to their side as he continues. )

For me, the last thing I remember was apparently the moment before I died. Pretty sure it's the same for someone else I know, though it's not like it's the kind of thing I can go around asking just anybody about.

( he's not even particularly fond of talking about it himself, but he'll offer a wry smile despite the fact. )

I was wondering if that might have to do with what you mentioned the nurse saying to you before.

( about spirits being trapped in this place, and moving on from it through "graduation" )

[ Ah... so he misunderstood.

... ]

Then, you're...I'm sorry.

[ Meng Yao's eyes flicker down to his hands, falling silent. It's strange, he hardly knows Amami, but he's kind of a little upset at the revelation.

So because he told him this, he thinks of when he had just defeated Wen Ruohan. But Nie Mingjue, he—that man—turned against him. He wouldn't listen to a word he was saying and he was hellbent on killing him. Conflicted emotions clash with him, and he just sits down for a moment. It's something he's purposeful been avoiding thinking about. ]

...I was in danger before I came here, yes. [ He takes a breath. ] I don't believe that it means I died in my world, however.

Still, I think it may be related to all of this. So, I do believe there is merit in asking me this, at any rate. I believe that even if something like that has befallen you, the fact that we exist here might mean when we leave this place you could get a second chance.

Though, I would be a fool to insist on that to give you any false hope.

( it's a little strange, to see the reaction firsthand — someone's realization that they're talking to a dead man. different from the way his classmates had treated him, with the immediate shock, replaced by something uncomfortable that lingers in the air... amami wonders if he may have touched on something he shouldn't have, and tries to dismiss it with a wave of his hand and a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. )

Nothing to be sorry about. Well, it's a bit embarrassing if I said all that and still missed the mark, but if you think there's merit to it then I guess it's fine.

( or something. he's gonna tell himself that it's fine, in any case, because nothing ventured means nothing gained; if he were to never take a chance on anyone here, he doubts he'd ever get far in figuring this place out, and meng yao seemed a fair enough choice.

and as for second chances, he still can't say he knows whether or not that first chance has really happened or not, so he won't be committing to any concrete beliefs quite yet. not until he's sorted out the issues he takes with their memories. )

But your spirit moves on when you graduate, huh. I just can't help but wonder why they — and we — would be trapped here in the first place.

Still...if there is something more this one can do to be of service to you in order to make up for that, please do not hesitate to ask.

[ Meng Yao can't help but worry all the same. This is still rather personal information and if he can do more to make the other feel...well, better, then that'd be better, right?

It's probably just out of habit he offers as well. ]

The implication I received from the Nurse is that someone has decided to sign us up, which may be crucial in why we're trapped in such a place. Whether or not we've 'died' doesn't seem to matter. Just that someone or something from this world has had a hand in ensuring we made our way here and now we must find an exit of some sort. Whether it's 'graduating' or...some other method of leaving.

( the smile continues through meng yao's offer, but it's probably already more than enough for him to have mentioned the fact alone; there's no need for amami to make it his problem too. it's appreciated, but honestly it's the details about the conversation with the nurse he appreciates the most — more than enough to make up for it, actually, and amami looks to be turning the words over in his mind as he replies. )

Even if you put it like that it's kind of hard to wrap your head around. It sounds like something out of a manga or something, not real life.

( between the killing game and this, if he wasn't experiencing it himself, he probably wouldn't believe it at all. )

If it was up to someone else then I guess I can understand why I'm here, it still doesn't make sense for some of the others though. Who would wish this upon someone like Yashiro-san, or Stephanie?

I'm sorry...I'm afraid I've no idea what a Manga is.

Is it a piece of fiction?

[ Meng Yao has at least heard of the term by now. Probably?

He's never spoke about it with anyone, honestly. That aside, though... ]

I believe whomever that would wish these sort of conditions on either of them or us is a rather sadistic person. At least, those are my initial thoughts.

[ And he does plan to eliminate that person but one thing at a time. They'd need to figure out a way to get back home. Even the ones who died from their world should return so they can properly pass on or get a second chance. ]

I guess I'm trying to say that there has to be more to it than that... Some kind of reason.

( — a motive. amami looks to him as if to ask, doesn't meng yao think so? like, who's got beef this bad with the 10-year old and the fish, c'mon now. )

Oh, but a manga is... ( he gestures absently, as if trying to show the general size of one. )

It's a book. Like a comic book, uh — illustrated, y'know? Sorry, guess the places we come from must be pretty different.

( and it's not like he's never met someone who hasn't heard of manga before, but seeing some of the colourful claims that people here have made, and some of the things that people here can do? this might run a little deeper than meng yao just happening to be from the sticks. )

My apologies, I am not saying that there isn't...I do think you're right in assuming there is a reason. One that is in disfavor to us all. It would be wise that we uncover the reason as soon as possible, since it's already clear they are benefitting from our suffering.

[ He just let his bitterness take over in that statement, he realizes. He admonishes himself for that, even if it's such a small thing. ]

No, it's fine. I don't believe a comic book exists in my homeland, to be frank.

The world I come from has already such a large difference in respect to the technology and items that have been found here. I anticipate this won't be the last time I'll encounter terms or things that are foreign to me.

To give you a better idea, you can say it's less...technologically developed. Adjusting has been an experience.

( meanwhile, amami only nods along with the words. he doesn't feel the apology is necessary, really, and almost wants to offer one up in return, but ultimately gives something like a half-smile instead. it's a dry expression, with little to be happy about in this kind of topic, but one that's sympathetic nonetheless. an agreement. it's a frustrating situation, knowing that you're just a pawn in someone else's game, but he breathes out a long sigh to dismiss the thoughts. )

Yeah, I get what you mean — I've been to a couple of places like that too. Adjusting might be tricky at first, but it isn't a bad thing to have different perspectives on what's going on here, and you can let me know if you ever want a hand with something.

( meng yao seems to be doing pretty well for himself, but a safety net offer like that to fall back on couldn't hurt. amami's smile becomes more genuine the more he talks. )

It's too bad the library here doesn't have much in the way of comics though. I'd show you one of my faves. They can actually be pretty fun.

( when you're not, like, living in a horror one anyway. )

[ It's normal, for people to want to extend their hands to others when they're in the same situation. It's normal...and yet, it's always rare for someone to do that even for such a simple thing. It shouldn't be a big deal because it is a small matter.

Though even if no one even knows his background here, he can't help but think about how not many would voluntarily extend their hand towards him or even want to touch what he touches, back in his own 'world'. ]

This one will let you know if there's ever a need for your assistance. Of course, I will naturally extend the same to you, even if I doubt I can be of any assistance where technology is concerned.

[ Maybe he can be useful elsewhere, though...like protecting him or something like that if it comes to it. He can do that for one of the people who treat him with basic human decency. ]

That said, I will take your word for it regarding comics. Perhaps if we get lucky, there may be more variety at some point. Though, it does make me curious about what kind of comics or stories you do enjoy.

rainbows

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