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04/04, 23:56

M.Arisu

hey... anybody who's awake to see this. hope you're not having too much trouble sleeping.
get rest when you can. work together when you can.
all we can do is keep trying, but i'm hopeful for this year.
feels weird to say... but it's all going to be gone soon, so...
anyways.
see you at school tomorrow.

Any replies on the forum go unresponded, and at the stroke of midnight, the past year's worth of messages are completely gone from the PDA forum, including any sent over spring break. Hope you have a good memory if you were in the middle of a conversation! Though you should really be in ...whatever you've managed to make your bed... because tomorrow is a big day.

04/05, 06:00

The silence continues until six in the morning with the toll of the clock tower bells, and anybody near the locker area will hear two women in mid-conversation as they phase through the front doors, heels clicking on the ground: "-—didn't even have the decency to finish the job! And now I have to— oh, stop crying, for goodness' sake! I swear—" It's a one sided conversation, mostly, and one that stops short the moment the women spot the students lingering around. While the younger woman, recognizable as the assistant principal, hurriedly scrubs at her face with her sleeves, the unfamiliar older woman with the oddly dissonant voice scowls intensely. "I don't need this on the first day of school! Students trespassing over break! I can't believe it! I don't have time for this—" she huffs, shaking her head and stomping down the hall towards the faculty office. "Miss Nene, I expected better of you! And you! Miss Ritsuka— the two of you shall report to the faculty office after the entrance ceremony. I expect a full report of everybody involved. Now behave yourselves and go to the auditorium."

Goodbye...

The assistant principal is left behind and looks confused and distraught. She sniffles and ducks her head a little, draws a shaking breath and stands a little taller. "I'm so sorry. I'll hear you all out after- after this is done. Alright?" She too heads towards the faculty office, trying her best to smile at those she passes by. While they may be followed, they seem to phase through the faculty office doors which remain closed and locked, and cannot be interacted with until after the ceremony.

Until then, other students start to filter through the front door, seeking out friends and chatting about their breaks, remembering about homework and asking if anybody actually did it so they can copy off them before classes start, laughing at any mention of being locked inside the school all break because what?? that's silly. A handful of students wear yellow armbands on the left sleeve of their uniform, marking them as members of the student council, and these student council members go around finally removing the gorinto from the window sills, tossing the rocks into a bag without any apparent ill effects, and collecting the snacks in a separate bag— though they'll offer the food to anybody they pass who looks hungry enough. Which is a lot of you. One or two might give a short lecture about the importance of eating breakfast to start the day off right. Other student council members busy themselves in the locker area, posting the new homeroom assignments and updating the school calendar to reflect exam dates and breaks for the coming year, or help setting chairs out in neat rows in the auditorium in preparation for the entrance ceremony.

04/05, 08:00

The opening ceremony starts at 8, with students and staff moving to the auditorium to sit with their homeroom class, calling characters out by name and dragging them over to their seat— physically if need be, and they're much stronger than they look. Unlike the graduation ceremony, characters are not forced to come to the entrance ceremony, but the moment they take a seat, they find that they can neither speak nor get up again until the ceremony is over.

The assistant principal stands behind the podium on stage, looking rather nervous as she glances down at the watch on her wrist for it to be time, and clears her throat before addressing the room. "Yogen High welcomes you, all our new students," she pauses, beaming at the row of first year classes before her gaze sweeps over the rest of the student body, "our transfer students, our returning students, our... repeat students..." Looking at you, Norton, Gawain, Abel... "I, um. You may have noticed that I am standing in for our principal today, who is currently... unavailable... and didn't exactly leave any notes to go off of..." She wilts a little, but trucks on nonetheless and continues the address, promising that the teachers will pass along any important announcements, expressing her belief in the potential of young minds, and wishing everybody a fulfilling school year. The ceremony concludes in a little under an hour, and the spell binding the students to their seats is broken, allowing everybody to rise and leave.

School lets out for the rest of the day with classes starting the next morning, and while many students take the opportunity to leave, some linger around the school. Gossip is flying already with news of the transfer students caught breaking into the school over break and what punishments they might get, rumors of what happened to the principal ranging from a family emergency to hospitalization to death, complaints about the water pipes not getting fixed over break, and general excitement over upcoming events listed on the bulletin board by the lockers, in particular new club advertisements, fortune telling ads, and a Charity Auction to be hosted the Monday after Golden Week next month.

April

School is school... The first thing teachers ask at homeroom Tuesday morning is for students to hand in their spring break homework. Didn't do it? You're on their shit list now. Characters are not forced to attend class, but patrolling faculty and student council members will heckle any truant students into going and can be a pain to deal with. Classes aren't taught terribly, though. The second year math teacher has a knack for easily digestible explanations, even if she writes and erases the board a bit too quickly to copy. The third year literature teacher combines weekly analytical essays with film studies, and is showing Child's Play, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Silence of the Lambs, and Where the Red Fern Grows this month. The first year biology teacher brings eyeballs and frogs and rats for dissection during anatomy lessons, and if you have a special request for a specific eye color, give him a day or two and he can deliver. 2-A's homeroom teacher can be seen stealing chalk from each of the second year classroom she rotates through and is offering extra credit to any students who sneak her chalk without asking questions.

New students will quickly learn that merit points are awarded for a full day's attendance, turning in homework, participating in class and clubs, scoring 80% or higher on quizzes and exams, etc. Less predictably, the PDA may sometimes ping for a single merit point when hanging out with a friend or arguing with a classmate, with stronger emotions (positive or negative) when interacting with somebody else more likely to trigger a point, and if students are abusing this system, it's kept out of the faculty's eyes. As the month goes on, sometimes a student comes to class with a cut eyelid, or a busted lip, or bandages wrapped thick around a wrist, but they always deny anything more than clumsiness or an accident or having pets who very aggressively show their love. Sometimes it's harder to hide, when a bloody nose drips onto the ground or bleeding knuckles brush against the wall, and those near enough to see blood touch the building will find that everything sort of... shifts... Just for a second. The feeling of vertigo that stops almost as soon as it begins, the world tilting without slotting back into alignment. You feel a bit nauseous. Just a little.

You go to the bathroom to splash water on your face and the pink looks a little darker, a little more solid. On the fourth floor, the water has stopped running in the bathroom sinks altogether, and students are told to go downstairs to do their business so that they may wash up after. With more students milling around the bathrooms, it's much easier to notice that people's reflections in the mirrors are just a bit off, lagging that split second long enough to be impossible to ignore once aware.

Every day you have homework. A new essay for something or other is assigned each week. Nobody wants to do group projects with a slacker who can't promise to meet up after school to get it done. Like clockwork, the school empties out at 6 PM each school day, leaving those behind to their own devices. There is no school on Sundays. Golden Week marks the end of the month, and guess who's going to be stuck at school for an entire week with only vending machine junk food to live off of if they aren't able to make progress concerning their living situation? Yeah.

Charity Auction

At least students have the charity auction to look forward to and work towards. Information about the auction set on May 10 can be found on the bulletin board, and appears to be put together by the student council as an annual event and an incentive for students to start the year off strong in earning merit points. Both students and staff are encouraged to donate to the auction, with the items collected and put on display in the auditorium behind locked glass cases. On May 10, students will be able to bid on items using their merit points, those who donate will receive 10% of the winning bid towards their item, and the school will match donations 100 to 1 point with proceeds going towards the "Save A Brain Foundation."

Throughout the month, glass cases lining the walls of the auditorium start to fill up with donations. The most popular donations seem to be physical items: possessions such as jewelry or gaming consoles, or artistic creations such as hand sewn clothing or paintings. There are placeholders for things that can't be put on display all month, such as placards with a picture or description of homemade food that won't be prepared until the auction date, or the promise of fishing lessons with the guidance counselor or a dinner date with the school principal (pending availability). At the back of the room stands the largest case, with the skinny black cat often found lying on top of it as if guarding it, although it will run away when approached.

Inside the case is a body.

OOC

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✽ The plot will only move forward as things are discussed and acted upon, and clues distributed during app acceptances are meant to be shared and connected, so don't be afraid to ask questions and dig into things! I am here to enable.

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Were you close by? [ ...well, so much for that idea. either someone had been incredibly stealthy, or there were underhanded methods used to prevent anyone from noticing what was happening. ]

...Ah. I'm sorry-- we've been talking all this time and I haven't even given you my name, have I? I'm a bit out of sorts, so-- please forgive me.

[ Abel gently offers his hand toward Ain, his smile a bit mild considering the circumstance, but no less warm. ]

I'm Abel - Father Abel Nightroad. It's good to meet you, despite... um. Well, I'm sure you feel the same, hm?

Ain.

[ He looks at Abel's outstretched hand, but doesn't take it. He raises his own hand, so that Abel can see the blackened skin and bright blue markings. ]

I'm cursed. It could taint you if you touch me. [ So there's no handshake. Sorry. ]

[ 'cursed,' 'not human.' Abel looks at Ain's offered hand, letting his own lift to nudge at his glasses instead. ]

Mr. Ain? [ well, at least he's got a name now. ] 'Cursed?' You mean the markings?

[ a gentle probe; he can elaborate if it's not uncomfortable. Abel will drop it if Ain finds it a sensitive subject. ]

Yes.

[ The void's taint drives humans mad, warps their forms. But for angels, the corruption goes deeper than that; it colours their very soul, their magic, their purpose. ]

You could die. So please don't.

[ w-well. he's not over-eager to invite further disaster, so he will politely keep his distance with an awkward shift of his weight on his feet. ]

N-no, no, that's alright. Message received...! Thank you for the, ah. Warning.

[ ... ]

But, what about you? Is it... um. I guess what I mean to ask, is... are you alright? [ being 'cursed' doesn't exactly sound conducive to... you know. a nice happy and peaceful existence. generally speaking. ]

I'll die soon.

[ This is said with a level of lightness that suggests Ain has already made peace with it. He doesn't see a need to mention what it does to him on the inside. It's gruesome and not exactly conversational material. ]

...You'll--

[ needless to say, the non-chalant delivery is enough to raise eyebrows even if the message itself wasn't as concerning as it is. Abel is more than a little taken aback. ]

That's... Mr. Ain, I'm... I'm sorry.

[ ... ]

There's no way to help...? A way to lift the curse, or...?

No.

[ He seems almost... embarrassed? at Abel's concern, looking down and fiddling with his hands. ]

It's fine. I'm fine with it. Don't... look so worried.

[ so, he's resigned himself to dying. and... given up on saving himself, if that dead-eyed expression has anything to say about it.

Abel feels something tight pang in his chest. that's... just cruel. it's cruel. 'human' or not, one doesn't learn to keep such a look in their eyes without having gone through a rough life. to be cursed, and know he was going to die - to accept it like this, then surely that means...

... ]

...I know we've just met, and-- maybe this will be a little strange coming from someone who might as well be a stranger. But... I really want you to live.

[ ...his voice is soft, but sincere. ]

You deserve to go home and be with the people that love you. So... if there's anything we can do while we're here, anything to help you until then - please just say the word, alright...?

[ Abel's comment makes no sense to him. He was already destined to die, there's nothing that hoping and wanting would change. So why ask? Why bother? But he's not so cruel as to rebuff Abel's kindness, not when he's expressing this much emotion. The man's words feel so strange to Ain - feels wasted. ]

................. okay.

[ He doesn't want to see Abel distressed either. ]

I'll help you too.

[ Abel can see there's some measure of reluctance in Ain's reply - it's surely hard to accept, probably more than a little nonsensical, these kind of sentiments in his eyes. but the priest is grateful for the acquiescence, nonetheless. ]

...Then, I'll be counting on you too, okay?

[ though he certainly hopes they won't be here long enough to matter, Abel can be patient. if given the chance, he has every intention of proving these aren't merely pretty words. ]

Okay.

[ Ain nods. It's hard for him to say no when someone's offering to care for him, even if it seems ridiculous. At heart, he had been made with a human's form and human intent. He wanted a place to be accepted. ]

Then what do we do now?

[ He glances at the case again. If he couldn't break it, then he'll have to focus his time on something else. ]

[ there's something very gentle about Ain, isn't there? Abel's gaze lingers on him for a moment before it returns to the body behind the glass. ]

...We might not be able to get her out, but we can try. Do you see any hinges or anything that might open...?

[ if they can't get her out, then... what could they do for this girl? he doesn't know, but at the very least - he wants to make sure this fate doesn't befall anyone else. ]

[ Ain squints at the case, looking it over. It seems like the case is very well sealed... ]

No.

[ Which meant that these must have been magically placed too. Being without his own abilities is incredibly frustrating. ]

Someone here... has magic. That we don't have.

[ after giving the case a thorough examination without risking aggravating certain skinny black cats, Abel is exhaling a soft noise of regret. well, that was a bust... ]

Magic, hm. [ well, that's... an issue, isn't it? ] I'm sorry... I wish I had some suggestion, but - I'm afraid this is far outside of my realm of knowledge. If we can't get her out, then... maybe the best thing we can do is try and find out who did this to her and protect the other students.

[ and figure out why in the world they're here. what purpose does all this serve...? now more than ever, that seems terribly important. ]

[ Ain has the briefest feeling of wanting to roundhouse kick the black cat if it came too close, but it's probably not the best idea. As for what could have caused these murders - it's possible to kill just by mundane means, but his thoughts fall too closely to concluding on magic. ]

Okay.

[ He curls his hands into loose fists, feeling once again his powerlessness. ]

I want my magic back....

[ AIN?? please don't roundhouse kick the cat??? AIN,

ah. the priest can see the tension building in Ain's figure, and... he inches a little closer, though he doesn't reach out to touch him. the 'curse,' right... he remembers. ]

It'll be alright. We'll find a way to get out of here, and people can be surprisingly strong together - magic or not. So... please don't look so glum, alright?

[ Abel gets the feeling Ain will simmer in this if left to his own devices. he needs something to do to feel useful, right? ]

...She looks like she was a student. Maybe someone knows who she is. Do you want to ask around with me, Mr. Ain?

[ It's fair game if it's self defense!!! ]

I guess...

[ After all, angels need orders to function. It's a core part of their life and work. Having a goal to focus on instead of mindlessly wandering does wonders for his mental state. ]

Where to?

[ SELF DEFENSE FROM CATS?? nO,

...oh, he's glad Ain agrees (even if it seems a little reluctant), and Abel offers a smile before gesturing back in the direction of the corridor. ]

How about we start with the areas closest to the auditorium? We can work our way outward from there... maybe someone saw something, or heard something, or... w-well, anything out of the ordinary might help us figure out what happened, right?

[ If it's a threat, it must be eliminated. That's just how angels operate. ]

I guess...

[ Coming from Ain, it's as much of an affirmative as Abel will get. The youth will now follow him around now like a ghost. ]

You can talk to them first. I'll see how you do it.

[ smh Ain tries to roundhouse kick a cat and Abel drags him away by the ear smh smh smh,

o-oh, does he now have a shadow? Abel is perfectly okay with this arrangement. ]

Following my lead...? Alright, that sounds fine to me! I don't mind. [ he offers Ain a little encouraging smile... he's so serious, this boy... ]

...Ah, Mr. Ain - do you mind if I ask you a question?

[ Luckily for both of them, this is a timeline where animal abuse does not happen. ]

Just Ain is fine. [ He doesn't feel appropriate to be called 'Mr'. ] You can ask.

[ He'll answer... probably? Unless it's a very personal question. ]

[ Ain's ears are safe... for now!! ]

[ oh, permission to drop formalities... he won't complain! a small smile and nod, before he moves on to The Question. ]

What do you do, back in your world...? [ he seems young, despite the age his face might suggest; Abel isn't quite sure how to get a read on him. ]

[ This is, unfortunately, a personal question. His cover story had been being a priest, and while he knew how to perform the rites, they held no meaning for him after the Goddess went silent. ]

What do I do...?

[ He echoes Abel's words partly to buy himself some time. The man has been kind to him so far, maybe he could be honest? It's not like keeping his identity a secret matters here, right? ]

... I was an angel.

An angel...?

[ 'a priest and an angel walk into a cursed high school one day,' wow this is the start of an amazing joke, ]

You mean, as in... [ ... ] ...i-is that a title? Or... surely you don't mean, as in a celestial being...?

[ LISTEN, JUST SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE, ]

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