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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

npc contact page

✽ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⋯ I. LOCKERS

A.

[ It isn't long after 6 AM on a school day, while everyone's still groggy from being woken inevitably by the resounding tolls of the clock in the tower, that Saihara can be seen fiddling with something inside the space of his locker. Something that requires him to be half-stuffed inside apparently, his shoulders barely visible as they move from time to time with.. whatever he's doing in there. It's difficult to tell, since he's keeping an eye behind him now and then, and as soon as someone approaches he pulls himself up.

Though maybe, just maybe, right before he closes the door back up, the corners of a few slips of paper of various colors and sizes can be glimpsed, taped to the inner walls of the locker. He tucks something away in his pocket, before turning to whoever's approached if they're looking, and the dark circles under his eyes make it plenty apparent he's had no sleep last night. ]

Ah... good morning.

[ It's a little hesitant... and it seems there's a pause that looks almost guilty before he can glance at whoever the person is. Why is he being like this? Who knows? Maybe if it's someone trustworthy enough, he might tell. ]

B.

[ On another morning, however, it might be him who spots somebody else while he's walking away, a thoughtful frown on his face as the school-issued notebook from his locker is tucked against his chest. He holds it with fingers that dig just a little too heavily against the cover, almost denting it around the edge. Pale as a sheet, it's like he's seen a ghost, though he somewhat fixes that part as soon as he isn't alone.

After a moment of hesitation, he walks closer with careful steps, studying whoever's there before he talks. ]

Sorry, this question might end up sounding a little weird, but... There was one of these notebooks in your locker too, right? If you're okay with that... there's something I kind of want to compare.

⋯ II. MUSIC ROOM

A.

[ It's usually in the evenings after the regular students go home, but Saihara has made it a habit of sorts, almost like an involuntary trip he ends up making on occasion, to visit the music room and spend a little time in there. He doesn't do much; he usually just stands in one place with his gaze trained on the piano found inside, or sometimes he might be seen lightly tracing the keys with his fingers, or checking out the lock in the seat (which, of course, can't be opened).

If someone walks in, they might catch him with the tiniest start of surprise, before he turns with a soft move. His gaze seems to linger for only a second over his shoulder, for just one last look at the piano before he turns to whoever it is. ]

...Sorry. Do you need to use the room? I'm not... really doing anything, I can go if I'm getting in the way.

B.

[ Or alternately... maybe somebody's playing the piano?

In which case, Saihara will drop everything he's doing if he happens to be close enough to hear it, including maybe a conversation with other people. The way he runs towards the sound seems nothing sort of frantic, uncontrolled, almost as if he's desperately hoping to see something he's been looking for. So it's not really a surprise if the door opens loudly, the handle slipping from his shaky hands with a clatter.

Short of breath from the sudden sprint, he just stands there at the door, half-clinging to the frame as he peers inside. ]

Aka--

[ It's the only syllable that escapes his lips, before he cuts himself off abruptly because, yeah. Whoever's inside is clearly not who he's looking for. ]

⋯ III. AUCTION DISPLAY CASES

[ "You've been reading way too many mysteries, man."

"Yeah, calm down. Aren't you just tired? You should get some rest in the nurse's office."

An exchange between a couple of students who happen to be from 2-C, which is taking place... after Saihara's unfortunate choice to argue about the large display case. There's no way that's a doll!? Damn it. Why doesn't anyone else seem to acknowledge it's a real person? The more the rest of the students from his class, whom he'd kind of... just followed here without expecting this, seem intent on not believing him, the more he doubts himself.

Is there something wrong with him? ]

Dammit...! I messed up, I shouldn't have said that.

[ He lets that out on a frustrated breath, as soon as he's grasped the situation enough to realize he's been led away by a couple of his classmates, concerned for his well-being. They leave him alone somewhere close to the exit, not without a few last words of concern about how he ought to step out for a bit... Now he can't go back, or they'll probably just chase him away again.

He thinks quickly, approaching the first familiar figure he remembers from among those trapped during spring break, who seems close enough to have witnessed what happened. He doesn't know if they've seen the case yet, or even... how they see it... But this is the only chance he's got. ]

Ah, do you think... you could distract my classmates for a minute? Sorry, there's just... something I have to look at, no matter what. I promise I'll let you know what I find.

[ Sure, he could wait until later, but... There's a possibility someone might mess with it first. Or actually change it for a doll. Hopefully the other "transfer student" he's speaking to can infer the urgency without him saying it, because he doesn't explain but he complements it with a serious, pleading look. This is important. ]

⋯ IV. WILDCARD

[ i mean it when i say this, but genuinely, feel free to hit me up with anything else you can think of! if it works for you, you're welcome to nab any detail or idea from my plotting comment, or contact me on plurk at garlemald to hash something out. i'm also willing to write a closed starter for you if there's something you'd like to do! ]

[cocks her head to the side]

The diary? [because that's what it is, but old people do get weird about that word. she has hers out anyway; she pretty much brings it everywhere at this point.] Sure, I guess, but... Is there something wrong with yours?

Huh? I-Is it a diary...?

[ Newspaper headline: teenage detective solves murder cases committed by adults and government-chosen prodigies, only to be stumped by statement from ten-year-old. Hold on, just... give him a second to process that. ]

It's just... I found something in mine. But we all seem to have the same notebook, so I was wondering...

[ah see here's an old person getting weird about the word.]

Well, that's what I'm using it for. I wouldn't want to speak for anybody else... Mine was empty, as far as I could tell. But, you can give it a look, if you'd like! Maybe you'll see something I missed.

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[Due entirely to the fact that Shuichi's locker is one digit above Noah's, the latter is used to the tired appearance of his locker-buddy and the way they've sort of simply brushed shoulders in the past. Noah has never offered more than nods or short good mornings. Honestly, he isn't a sociable person anyway. It's easier to just coexist silently rather than try to bumble his way through a conversation.

Which is to say, he's being spoken to today, in a way that requires him to speak back. Oh, how his years of not ever socializing have ill-prepared him for this moment.]

U-um.

[Yes, there was, and instead of answering the question Noah simply opts to reach into his bag and pull the notebook out to hand it over.]

Compare what...? Notes? [A beat.] I haven't been taking them, if that's what you're after.

[Most of the pages of Noah's notebook are filled with various drawings instead, mostly of whatever comes to mind throughout the days.]

[ Ah... right. He knows this person from vague interactions, since they've both happened to come to their lockers around the same time on quite a few occasions. And it's not like Shuichi himself is a stranger to being guarded around others, or just not knowing what to say. He does feel a little bad for bothering him, but if anything, the hesitation only gives him time to collect his thoughts. ]

No... that's alright. I'm not looking for notes.

[ He remembers to give a quick, grateful smile while he reaches out, taking the notebook with one hand since Noah's already offered it. For a second, he checks it against the one under his arm as if in reference, running his fingers along the spine and covers. ]

Just like I thought... we all seem to have the exact same type. I suppose it might be that they were only distributed from a single batch, or the school might use the same supplier every time, but-- Ah...? A drawing...?

[ The last part is given as he ends up opening it at last, and it flips by inertia to a couple of pages that have seen use before, so the bindings have grown more loose and accustomed to settling like that. He wasn't expecting anything to be there, so of course it catches his attention for a second, and he lifts a quizzical gaze towards Noah. Was it there before or did he draw it himself...?

~~you need to tell me how good they are bc shuichi would tell him~~ ]

[Noah gets the meaning of that stare pretty much instantly. There must be a reason to compare notebooks if not for class notes, obviously. He shoves his hands into his pockets to avoid openly fidgeting.]

I— uh... I draw sometimes. It just helps me get through the day, th-that's all.

[It helps to keep his hands occupied. There are quite a few doodles of moon phases, more of an odd-looking sickle next to a small cartoonish doodle of some cats, some half-sketched portraits of random people including their fellow classmate Clamor and some teachers, some more abstract designs that he seems to have just improvised, and finally one of a girl sketched in black and white. He's no prodigy or anything, but the drawings are reasonably skilled for someone of Noah's age. A little above what can be found in a standard art class.

...he's also red currently, looking the least bit embarrassed. He hadn't forgotten those were in there or anything, but he's still a little shy about the whole thing.]

There's not much else in there, um... j-just... that.

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( it's early, way too early, but that doesn't stop komaeda from moving around the school in search of something — someone specific. every time he's passed them, that feeling has always moved komaeda to look their direction, but every time they had disappeared into the crowd. he could have chased after him, but there was always something in the way of that — it's why this morning, he's unable push away that feeling he has every time he's around that person. it's not as strong as izuru kamukura (no one's able to match what he has), but as long as it's talent, the ultimate has always been capable of sniffing them out.

it doesn't take long for him to stumble (locate) upon the person who's had his attention for quite some while — pale green eyes watch as the other is digging within his locker for something, but he doesn't say a thing. he's too busy looking over his attire, making sure to remember how the other dresses along with glancing up at the number above his locker. as perceptive as he can be, he doesn't make it noticeable that he's seen anything, especially when some people would be so curious about what's been taped on the inner walls of his locker, along with what's been slipped in his pocket. whatever all this entails is a mystery to him, but when saihara finally comes out his locker to close it — )

Hey. I've been searching for you.

( probably something the other has heard before in his life, but his eyes notice the tire and wear beneath the male's eyes, and komaeda crosses his arms with a thoughtful expression. he focuses on an entirely different matter: )

Are you okay... Did I scare you? ( he chuckles, glancing to the side. ) I know my appearance is kind of...

H-Huh...?

[ He's been searching... for him? As groggy as he felt just a minute ago, only drawing himself from that state for the sake of properly greeting the person in front of him, it's still obvious that this catches Saihara by surprise. It has the power to actually wake him for a second, even with the all-nighter he just pulled, and he pauses to look more carefully at the stranger.

Just like he thought... this is one of the people whose names don't just come to mind on their own. ]

No... sorry. You didn't do anything, it's just... I suppose it was a little unexpected when we don't know each other, that's all.

[ It's like having something to actually focus on brings back some measure of clarity, no matter the exhaustion, and he explains himself and his startled state as best he can. There's more to it to be honest, mostly that if possible he doesn't want too many people to see he's been taking notes, but for now he only casts careful looks down the rest of the corridor, to make sure no one's listening before he asks. ]

You were looking for me...? What for?

( he enjoys meeting different people, that's the type of person he is especially when it comes to making conversation with an ultimate. he can tell off the bat without him even having to say so, and that's exactly what's brought him here. as mundane as it must seem, komaeda's eyes remain glancing off to the side as he still feels his appearance may have something to due with the other's reserved nature. with the way he came up on him, who wouldn't be bothered, especially when they're as cheerful as he is. that said, he thought this one would be a little more gungho, or standing his ground, but he comes off a little... maybe he's tired? )

Do we have to? ( that reasoning is lost upon him, the fact that they don't know each other. finally lifting his head to meet his eyes with the other's own, komaeda settles a hand on his own hip as he waves without hesitation trying to keep the air friendly between them. ) We're all stuck here together, so it's best to be on friendly terms at the start!

( even though he doesn't know anything about the youth before him, komaeda does his best to act like they've known each other forever. to be honest, they have, if it's hope, there's this bond between them that's stronger than anything else. he doesn't need any other reason than that to act the way he does, but he finally drops his hands down by his side as he looks the male over, eyes shaping up his body from top to bottom.

of course, komaeda skips the important question of why he was searching for him and instead voices his thoughts with a concerned tone: )

Hey... are you okay? It looks like you've seen a dead body.

( it's not that weird when he knows that an ultimate is speaking to him, and that's more than enough for komaeda to offer a smile — he can't really do anything else, now can he? most times, he'd just so as they say, offer his item over because he sees himself beneath them along with his lowly talent. it's not useful to anything that another ultimate can do, so why not just hand it over? well, he doesn't really have it on him at the moment, but that's not anything he wants to say just yet — he's curious as to how important this specific item is! especially from the appearance the other has, he looks like he could drop dead anytime soon, and when komaeda thought that was his schtick. )

If you drop down on your knees and say please, I'll be more willing.

( with a serious tone, he looks down on the other as if expecting him to do as told, but then his personality becomes softer as he starts laughing softly. )

Just kidding.. You don't have to do that when you're too important compared to trash like me...

[ If he... does what? ]

...

[ Komaeda can look at him all he likes, but Saihara's just gonna stand there and hope that maybe if he's quiet for long enough they can both pretend he didn't hear that and it was never said -- and thankfully, that's exactly what happens. Well, he knows from their previous meeting already that Komaeda can be... a bit weird, to say the least. But he wasn't exactly uncooperative, right...?

What in the world is up with him now? ]

I don't think... that's something people would normally do for a notebook in the first place.

Ah, I get it... I was out of place talking an Ultimate like that... ( sighs, but he's smiling. ) ... if you want to put me in my place, that's fine.

( there's a tinge of disappointment in his voice, a sigh follows after as he makes a mental note to try again for something that isn't a notebook. honestly, komaeda would do it if it was to gain a book from someone else, but not everyone lives a shameless life like he does. )

Mmm... ( aside from normalcy, he can't just ask, so instead he'll go for another approach that's on brand for him. he points at the notebook held tightly against saihara's chest, and he states the obvious considering... he already has his own, so why? his eyes focus on the book now, eyes now raising to stare at saihara in his face as if waiting for an explanation. )

Haha, sorry about that Saihara-kun, it's probably really me getting in your way...

( how unfortunate for him to appear here when saihara was minding his business, probably enjoying his time until komaeda managed to mess that up. he's a little disappointed in himself for doing so, bothering an ultimate who didn't even need to be pestered. it's because of his luck, why else would he do something so damning as to make the other feel unwanted? if anything, he's the opposite, an important figure that should stay where he chooses to because without him, there would be no hope, and without hope.. that's a world komaeda's unable to live in. )

I'd like it if you stayed.. but you don't have to do that for something as insolent as me.. I'm the worst.. so stupid, I can't do anything right..

( with that said, he's taking a few steps towards the piano, but then he stops a little by saihara's side. )

But.. I need you.

You need me...?

[ This is... probably going to be something weird again, isn't it? He's kind of grown used to it with Komaeda by now -- no matter how things start, the conversation gets redirected eventually to the same exact topic of talents and hope. Saihara feels a little bad for thinking that, but it isn't exactly... wrong of him if that's just how the pattern of past experience has formed.

So instead of asking why, like he might have with someone else, he hums for a second as he pulls himself from his absent scrutiny of the piano, going mentally over what he remembers of Komaeda's entrance. He hadn't seemed like... he even expected to find someone in the room in the first place, much less that he'd come with a specific person in mind. ]

Ah, well... I don't mind, but... it isn't really me you had business with, right? You looked more like... it's the room.

[ That part's a deduction from what happened, spoken more plainly than the rest of his hesitant words -- he's a little curious, he'll admit at least that to himself. Does that mean anyone would be fine for whatever the other is trying...? ]

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( this isn't his forte, and he could say that with his whole chest, but there's a reason he's walked himself over to the piano. the idea that maybe the locked compartment will open if he plays the right keys do come to mind.. because maybe that actual key could be a front, and it doesn't exist. it's really the only thing he has to do as regular students make their way home and leave them behind, and komaeda can't cause too much of a problem between him and the others considering he's curious of their hope. hope.. when he thought he had found it, it's once again been taken away from him. that special person who was his everything, the hope that he's always looked up to that he met for only a few moments before being pulled into the waking world. even then, once he woke up, that same person had been on his mind — it's unfair, almost. yet, komaeda keeps a smile on his face as he thinks about that one person, his unhealthy fixation that makes his heart skip a beat. with his memories, he can think back to when they first met on that fateful night, and despite the circumstances.. that was.. the beginning for him.

yoru no kousha no mannaka de kokoro odorase
machitsudzuketeta
"kimi to deaeta sono tame ni umaretekita" to
omoeru sono toki wo

it sounds like part of a song that he starts with, and as he gets towards the end he plays the final words on three random key, just a few lucky guesses that are enough to draw shuichi into the music room. it's the moment he rushes in with a name already on the tip of his tongue.. that of course, he'd be disappointed soon once the notes become painful to the ears. or, that's what komaeda thinks, the fact of the matter is... he can't play this at all. he doesn't turn his head towards the sound where the door had slammed open, and instead he's focused on his own investigation. )

That didn't work either.. how unlucky.

( ding dong bing bong, a body has been discovered! that's the tune that rings in his head upon the site of what's trapped within the glass cage — this brings back a sense of familiarity to him. everyone around the room are different in their reactions, and that's something komaeda wants to make a mental note — who seems weaker because of the reveal, which person seems like they're willing to act out to save everyone else. there's a criteria to be met for komaeda to even give them a piece of acknowledgement, and first and foremost he has to gauge their worth. despite how he stands completely still, inside his mind and soul are equally shaking with excitement on what the future holds for him — for them rather. perhaps now he's interested in what this school has to offer in terms of hurdles for them to get over, the way it'll shape their friendship with one another and bring them together.. having such trust among one another will strengthen them and their hope.

hope is important, hope is everything to komaeda that he's unable to think of a world without it — hope is...

"i promise i'll let you know what i find."

hope is shuichi saihara as well, to have the ultimate detective come up to him in need of help, komaeda's heart skips a beat (unfortunately), and his gaze drops down to see the detective speaking to him. their first meeting was unfortunate, but up until now they've met many times — though, if they never met at all, komaeda would still do as the other says because he's an ultimate. )

Asking trash like me for help... I'd do anything to see how this molds your hope, Saihara-kun! Please...even if it meant dying right now just for everyone to notice me, I would.. It's a shame I'm not noticeable at all.

( he's not, he's literally trash, but that doesn't stop him from walking towards the glass case, pressing his body against it — his cheek squishing against the surface. he's not horny for the body, i promise you, instead he's trying to figure out what hope or despair comes off of it — though... odd, he's unable to sense anything. now, people around them aren't too proud of the spectacle, and the few students left inside are going over to reprimand komaeda off the case. now here's where they start chiding him, a twenty-two year old, in the corner of the room, but at least everyone's focused on him. )

Edited (I FORGOT THE BUT IT WOULDNT HAVE LOOKED RIGHT W/O IT) 2021-04-08 01:06 (UTC)

Depends on what exactly you're looking for.

[Curiousity settles in her tone as she looks at him, while she does have hers out with her, she's holding it a bit close to her chest, almost a little protective of the item.]

Edited (forgot the header) 2021-04-08 10:37 (UTC)

Th-That's...

[ Right. She can't trust him if she doesn't know what he's up to at least a little; given the situation they've all been in, the fact that she's wary is... reasonable, to say the least.

If he wants to break through this, it looks like he'll have to just take the chance. ]

These notebooks were issued to us as part of our school supplies, right? But... there are patches in mine where it looks like it might have been used before.

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dereban - 2021-04-08 13:26 (UTC) - Expand

Oh- go ahead.

[ He might in fact find that she'd been trying to fill in the scratch marks with pencil, actually- though how successful she is may vary. It may match what others' books contain.

Other pages contain scattered notes, both for classes and things Nene's observed, like what time the silence smothers the school, the coin and where she found it, the off reflections, how discolored the water is... And a page titled "Don't Forget!!!!" with a school name, her own name, and small list of names (Aoi Akane, Akane Aoi. Yamabuki Lemon. Mitsuba. Kou. Minamoto-senpai. Tsuchigomori-sensei. Yako. Shijima. Hanako.). Desperate attempts to not lose herself to this strange school, all around.

... That one might not be meant for others' eyes, actually. But oh well! ]

I hope it can help.

Edited 2021-04-13 07:00 (UTC)

...Thank you.

[ The ease with which she hands it over helps his thoughts settle down just a little, even if he receives the notebook with still shaky fingers he does his best not to let her see. Unfortunately though, the list of names does catch his eye as he flips through the pages, considering that's what he'd been looking for in the first place -- sorry, Nene. But it's easy to identify it as her own handwriting when he checks it against the notes, and as soon as he realizes that he moves away in a hurry.

He didn't mean to pry... But he kind of gets it, though. He might not have written those down in his own, since it's not really like him, but... he's no stranger to the feeling of names that he'd never forget. There are faces he's burned into memory, too. ]

Ah... Here. Just like I thought... There were some in yours, too.

[ He's talking about the scratches filled in with pencil, turning the notebook around so she can see what he means as he reaches them. They're only really readable on the very first page, and seem to have only bled down as faint scratches into the surface of the next couple -- and the same as his own, it's a series of unfamiliar names. ]

/)////(\

mermaidcursed - 2021-04-26 17:41 (UTC) - Expand

[There's still a lingering bit of that instinct to flee whenever he spots Shuichi around the school. Or maybe Kokichi's just embarrassed about how their last meeting went and trying to convince himself the avoidance is more about caution. Either way, Kokichi's been making himself scarce, for better or worse.

But however their late night encounter ended, Shuichi's still at least a familiar element here. That's slightly comforting on its own. And he's sure Shuichi's working to figure things out here, too...

The first time he got a brief glimpse of Shuichi opening his locker – halted at the corner of the row of lockers the moment he saw his old classmate – Kokichi spotted the mess decorating the inside of it. And he'd broken into Shuichi's room back at the Ultimate Academy. Aside from a shelf of weird figures, Shuichi wasn't really one for decorating. Kokichi can put together some pieces from there.

So the next time he spots Shuichi moving to open his locker, Kokichi sidles up close behind him. Obnoxious as he usually is, Kokichi can be quiet when he wants to be. He hovers just behind Shuichi, trying to get a peek as the combination is dialed in.]

[ It's been about an hour since the lights began to dim after 6, and the regular students have long since filtered out of the school one by one. It leaves everything with an air of eerie loneliness, the same sort it had during the couple of weeks of spring break when they'd first become trapped inside. And the homeroom for class 1-A, where Shuichi finds himself at the moment, feels no different as it sinks into utter silence, only interrupted here and there by the sound of his knees and hands scraping across the wooden flooring while he searches beneath the desks.

He can't decide if it's comforting or oppressive; maybe both, in some strange sort of blend of two things that would normally have to negate each other.

There's an ink stain here and there there, a scratch of some sort in a different place, a few spots where the wood feels coarse and rough to the touch, like it's about to begin to splinter. But he can see no sign of the dark red stains he remembers from the first time he woke in this school; they've all been cleaned, like by magic almost, with no trace like they'd never existed. And of course, no luck with what he's actually looking for either, which is a certain item he's been tasked to find for a first-year.

He's almost finished with all three columns of seats, coming up at the front of the one by the wall, when the door seems to open before him unexpectedly. And as his gaze travels upwards to try and make sense of who's there, the only thing he can see... is a pair of bare legs. ]

Wh-Waaugh!

[ It's not what he expected, okay! There's nothing graceful about the sound he lets out in surprise, scrambling backwards all at once almost as soon as he recognizes what he just did. He wasn't trying to look!? He needs to say something, he has to--

Thwack!

The top of his head bonks hard against the bottom of the desk he was under, which he'd forgotten completely, and he crashes right back to his elbows on the floor. Ow... With shaky fingers, a hand comes up to try and rub at the spot he just hit, while he really... kind of has no choice but to try to look up again, and face... whoever this is... Why is nothing about this working out? Good job, Shuichi. ]

...I-I'm sorry... Just... give me a minute...

[ Defeat. ]

( truth be told, she still can't get used to the sight of school after dark. it's... strange — fills her with an eerie uneasiness, one she can't quite shake off by sitting in one spot, so — she wanders, trying to familiarize herself with the environment, at least enough that it doesn't creep her out once the sun sets. her own classroom seems to be an understandable destination; she plans on sitting at her desk and maybe calm down the rapid beating of her heart, like a game of chicken you'd play with yourself.

well... there's no one else to play it with. or so she thinks, as she enters the room and promptly gets SCARED SHITLESS by a loud THUD coming from beneath her, somehwere. )

UWAAAH! ( is a completely normal, teenage girl reaction when she thinks she's about to get killed by a monster who'll drag her under the desk by her ankle, before actually... standing still and looking at where the noise came from.

not a monster. a twink, though you could argue that's sometimes even worse — )

... what the hell!? ( is a completely normal question to ask in this situation, too. what is he doing... under there? and... how much did he see? honestly, she doesn't care much about the latter, but acting embarrassed is funny sometimes. ... maybe not now, though, when she's too distracted. ) You almost gave me a heart attack, y'know?! At 15!

( her youthful death would be on shuichi...

... that said: )

Um... you hit your head pretty hard though, huh? That was loud as hell. ( "you okay?", she means to say, extending her arm towards him reluctantly to help him stand up. what if he's got a concussion... )

(no subject)

unsurely - 2021-05-01 20:49 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

contrarily - 2021-05-05 18:11 (UTC) - Expand

[Hinata doesn't know why he comes here so often. He's never played piano in his life, or had strong associations with music, but... It's soothing, somehow, to be near the piano, when so little else in this school actually is.

A certain person would probably attribute it to good or bad luck, depending on how you look at it, but he's never crossed paths with anyone since he started coming here. He'd been a little bit later finishing an assignment today, so maybe it's just as simple as that.

But today is different. There's a quiet voice that tells him they can leave if he needs them to.]

O-oh no, it's fine! I was just in here for a bit of quiet, I don't need it or... anything...

[He trails off, feeling all the blood drain from his face.

That face. That voice, that he'd known in his heart but didn't want to admit it.]

You... You're...

[The face that was such a comfort. The voice that was so soothing. The feelings in his heart from that memory, which he hadn't been sure if it were real-

The grief and mourning that have plagued his mind for days and days and days.]

I... know you...

["Today's special, so we get to hang out first for a bit."

"I guess I might only be imagining it, but... it almost feels like you've been working even harder this year."

I'm sorry I never got to tell you the most important things.

I killed him.]

...don't I?

, [At some point, Hinata's hand had reached out to the other boy. He realizes it only because he notices the image of it, along with everything else, has suddenly become blurred.

It's strange, that he can't see well all of a sudden, as well as the fact that his face is cold and wet. And when he lifts his other hand to touch-]

Eh?

[It isn't until that moment that Hinata realizes he's crying. In another life, maybe he felt surprise at his tears like this before.

But this is not that life, so Hinata quickly scrubs at his face and starts apologizing.]

S-sorry, sorry sorry! I... don't know what came over me, I don't usually cry in front of people like this...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

04/04, 23:56

04/05, 06:00

04/05, 08:00

April

Charity Auction

OOC

shuichi saihara | danganronpa

I.B.

no subject

no subject

Lockers Part B (hello locker buddy)

time to upgrade from neighbors to Friends

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ia. but not the vocaloid

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no subject

ib. but not from the horror pixel game

no subject

no subject

iia.

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iib. (terra voice) they need to be drunk first (beyonce voice) druuuunnkk in loooove

iii. but not the ygo zexal

ii-b

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1-B, babey

that i love u

semi-wildcard, i do what i want

closed to rika (@contrarily)

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II.A because I hate myself