yogen | MISSION 2.B

[The "act first, question later" party gets moving, and Shuichi's quick to chase after them, so of course Kokichi's whining voice immediately follows.]

Ehh?? W-wait, don't leave me behind!

[Like he's totally scared of being left alone here or something. Which is obviously a lie. Definitely.

He does give chase, gripping at the back of Shuichi's shirt as he falls into step with them. It's actually less about clinginess than it is about keeping track of them as he keeps an eye on the stairwell behind and below them as they move. Last thing they need is one of those crazies coming at them from the back.]

[ Oh that's a good idea. As Kokichi brings up the rear, he can hear the door opening from the ground below, the subsequent wave of heat that rises past them with black smoke and the stench of burned flesh. One... two... no more than three sets of footsteps can be heard down there, though they're stumbling and punctuated with growls and gasps of pain and a bloodcurdling scream that masks the sound of something wet.

At the forefront, Akira reaches the top of the landing just in time to see the door to the third floor click shut, but by the time he opens the door, there is nobody in sight. Piano music can be heard from the music room, and the door to the student council room is left slightly ajar. Muffled sobbing can be heard from behind the art room door, weak cries for help, a hoarse voice, like they've been calling for so long already. The doors to the science room are closed. ]

[ The scream they can hear from below feels chilling somehow, despite the heat, like it permeates right through the bones. But unfortunately... we all knew this was gonna happen let's be real, the moment he hears the piano, Shuichi freezes for a second, then rushes up past both Rika and Akira with everything else forgotten, like on impulse. He'll pull himself free of Kokichi if he must, but if not he just takes him along, not really composed enough to be mindful in that moment. ]

...

[ Akamatsu-san. The name sits on the tip of his tongue, builds up fearfully in the back of his throat, but never makes it out as actual words. Because the rational part of him knows... it can't be her. It's quite a while since she's gone missing by now, and while it's true she might play the piano even in a crisis like this... isn't that a little too convenient? The only other person he can think of is Maya, and he does take note of the open student council room door at the end of the hallway, but...

Maya wouldn't. There's no way she'd be here, playing songs while the school runs in this state. If nobody stops him, Shuichi will push the door open to the music room since it's right there, across the hall from the stairs. He's close enough by now to hear the person from the art room next door though, so that gives him a moment of distracted pause, enough that he stops in the doorway without going in. ]

[ Akira's lips part enough for a breath to escape, but the call towards Shuichi he intended to make doesn't pass - for one, he's the co-founder of the "act first, question later" party so he doesn't really have a leg to stand on, despite that Shuichi's outburst seems more... emotionally charged than his and Rika's dash up the stairs. But for two... he doesn't understand why the music room is so important compared to the rest of this; to him, it doesn't feel any different than the sound of the sewing machine or the saw from the previous floor. It seems to affect Shuichi enough that Akira gives a side glance to Rika first, a silent question of 'do you get what's going on here' - but it's not like they have the liberty to stop, so it's only a moment before he's pushing himself through to the third floor to chase after Saihara on urgent steps. ]

Saihara--

[ And then he stops mid-way, because unlike the music that catches Shuichi it's the sobbing that draws him; he'll stop his feet in the middle of the hall, near the art room but not yet going for the door handle. His shoulder press against the wood of the door, testing for heat - rising on his toes, his gaze darts between glimpsing at Shuichi's state in front of the room beside him and trying to peer through the window on the door to get a preview of... whatever's in the art room, it's hard for him to ignore the cries even if everything here seems like it could turn against them. ]

... What's that song from?

[ I mean yeah it's a piano, but more rather... is it significant, do they have time to stop for it? And maybe... who ~~or what~~ is playing it, that might help at least know what they're dealing with. ]

( she shoots akira a look, too, a little concerned, but understanding. yeah, she remembers who played piano — kaede — and she knows shuichi and her were friends, so maybe that... still, there's no time to convey all of this to the other, because saihara pushes forward, and rika chases after, running into the hallway and glancing around. there's the music room, which saihara opens, and the art room, which akira takes interest in, and she —

her eyes dart towards the open student council room, curious. )

Sai-kyun, don't just open doors all willy-nilly, idiot! ( but she scolds saihara first, eventually glancing towards the music room, and peering inside.

the cries are distracting, but it's hard to split attention, and since saihara already opened the door... she figures they might as well just start there and move onto the art room. or maybe akira can check that one out. )

[Kokichi anticipates some questionable choices as soon as he hears the distant piano. And he's quickly proven right as Shuichi books it toward the sound. There's a soft curse from Kokichi and then he's hurrying after, keeping his grip on Shuichi's shirt in case he's gotta be the sane one here and pull the detective away from something deadly. Akira breaks off towards the art room before Kokichi can get a grip on him too, but hopefully he and Rika have the reflexes to avoid any surprises.

(Why is Kokichi the one trying to keep everyone from walking into the path of an axe murderer??? This is terrible.)

He doesn't bother voicing his concerns, though. He certainly knows better than any of them how strong a grip Kaede's memory has on Shuichi.]

[ "she might play the piano even in a crisis like this" crying that this is Kaede's memory

But it isn't Kaede that sits on the piano bench. It isn't Maya either. In fact, there is nobody sitting on top of the bench— although, it rattles, there's the sound of pounding from inside, muffled shouting drowned out by the music played by no one, the piano keys that press up and down seemingly on their own. It starts off slow, enough to draw attention, but it isn't until the music really gets going when those standing at the doorway feels the impulse to go inside. Come in, take a seat. Close your eyes and enjoy the music. Isn't this what Kaede would have wanted? For everybody to calm down even when the world is burning all around you...

...

Meanwhile, Akira presses his shoulder against the door, feels no heat, and it's too dark to see inside. He can hear, though, that voice: "...out there? Please... ...hear me... can't... ...move, I can't see, I... ...help me... ... ... ..." ]

[ It's the distinct lack of heat that pauses Akira in his tracks; at least he could have attributed the darkness in the room to smoke had there been warmth. If it was fire, he thinks he might have chanced it (stupid, I know). At least fire and smoke is tangible; the ominous darkness... he doesn't know what he's in for, nor if he's strong enough to overcome it. Teeth grind in frustration in his silence; loathe to admit it, he's powerless in his current state to help that person. He can't go at it alone... not if he's going to break out of here with everyone. That single concept tethers him to the situation, instead of bursting forward recklessly. He has to break out of here with everyone, no matter what. But he'd like that to include the person crying in the art room - so he bangs his fist on the closed door twice, not yet trusting to open it. ]

I'm coming for you. Just hold out a bit more. [ His calls are firm from the other side of the door, trying to sound like he has control of things no matter how urgently the words spill out. ] Tell me your name. Anything you remember about your situation. I need to know how to help you.

[ His gaze whips around desperately, seeking anything he could use as a weapon; his eyes lock on the partially ajar student council room, thinks that might be his best bet once he knows what he's dealing with. His fists are still planted firmly against the door when his eyes find their final destination - the crowd of his companions in front of the music room, and his brow dips sharply before he shouts out to grab their attention. ]

Is there something we can use in there?! Otherwise, we don't have time to take in the show! [ Just grab the pianist and get going... is what he thinks anyway, since he hasn't seen in the room yet. ]

[ There's silence that follows Akira's request, voice straining when there finally is a response: "Sora... ...name... Sora... fire... it burns... hurts so much... give... your hand... don't leave me... ... ..."

But Akira's voice is enough to cut through the music, momentarily breaking the spell that has a hold on the three crowded around the door, reality settling in again. There is nobody at the piano that plays by itself, nothing else in the room except that piano bench that rattles like a Persona treasure chest that maybe holds treasure, maybe holds rancid gravy, maybe holds the Reaper waiting to pop out and kick everybody's asses, they would have to decide on their own whether it's worth the risk.

Whether that person in the art room is worth the risk.

Whether getting the four of them out alive is the topmost priority, everything else be damned, because the floor heats up beneath their feet, they can hear screams for help echoing in the stairwell to the floor below them as the flames overtake whoever is inside, eating away at the walls and collapsing the stairs themselves. They can't save everybody. Especially not if they don't save themselves. ]

( it's a trick, because of course it is. the moment the enchanting music stop, akira's voice cutting through the illusion, she grabs shuichi by his collar unceremoniously and drags him back into the corridor proper. the door might close, it might not, either way — she doesn't want to go in there. )

It's some damn ghost, we don't have time for this!! Kirarin, you, too! ( the begging?

probably fake.

as much as she'd love to save everyone and check it out... they have to prioritize themselves. the alive. )

It might be a trick to lure you in, y'know? We gotta get out of here. This place'll swallow you if you let it; it's full of ghosts and shit.

[ The music stops the moment it has no audience, and the voice behind the art room door too falls silent, as if taking in Rika's words.

"... ... ...fuck you." The voice returns, bitter and thick with tears. "Leave us to die... You can close your eyes... as long as it's not you..."

The door will no longer open, the voice no longer speaks. In the silence that follows, they can hear the sound of a door open slow and click shut, calm footsteps overhead. ]

Huuuh? What'd you say, you little shit?!

( OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW AND FIGHT HER!!! )

Come on out so I can exorcise your ass!! ( ... probably not the best time for this, but listen.

she's on edge. )

[ ...no, never mind the silent treatment.

"I said you're selfish and a coward! Fuck off!"

Not coming out, though, and the door's not opening. ]

( she heard the footsteps, and they're ominous, and should probably be a priority, but you know what...

she's banging on the doors instead!! OPEN THEM!! )

Oh yeah?! Come out and say it to my face, coward!!

[ What Kaede would have wanted...

It's true that he's thought so himself. If she thought it would calm him -- help everyone else -- she'd be here even now, sitting on the bench before the keys and playing a song that he's certain could do it. So for a moment it works, and Shuichi almost takes a step inside the room; but just for the initial one second, that is. There are the interruptions too, like Akira's voice which breaks through the melody and jars him, or the person from the art room, yes. But more importantly than that...

Kaede would want him to use his talent. To solve the mystery of this place; he's certain even now, that's what she'd encourage him to do over anything else. She'd never want him to stop here and get engulfed by the flames. He snaps out of it just a second before Rika grabs him, stumbling into the corridor behind her and trying to process what's being said. Her fighting with the ghost or whatever's going on there. But that sound from above them distracts him, drawing his gaze to the ceiling. There's nothing else above them they could be hearing except... ]

...I knew it. The door we went through, on the fourth floor -- I'm sure it still opens.

[ He says that with urgency to the others, but he himself still hesitates. Honestly, there was more he'd have wanted to say -- maybe Kokichi could unlock the piano seat, maybe the name of the person from the art room was relevant (although Rika maybe has that ??? covered). Otherwise... why were they transported back when they opened the door? Why did they start at the ground floor and not up there? There... has to have been something they were supposed to see.

hate that shuichi doesn't know about the paper with the names but anyway ]

...

[ Rika's distracted now and can't stop him, so instead of making a run for it to the stairs the way he should, Shuichi ignores the heat that begins to build up in the floor and he walks the opposite way, past Akira and to the student council room door. ]

Arisu-san...!?

[ He calls before he even reaches it, although it occurs to him for some reason as he places his hand on the handle and pushes, that may not be right. Honestly, the fact that he even knows the names of three presidents is concerning but: ]

...Okane-san? Tomori-san?

[ It's fine, this is okay. The student council room door swings open, but nobody answers his call. Instead, there's a crack, and another, louder and traveling down the length of the room as the entire floor gives out and is devoured by the flames reaching up from the auditorium below, flames that almost seem to reach out towards Shuichi, to touch him, to drag him in and below.

Meanwhile, the art room door swings inward mid-bang so that Rika stumbles forward; the art room is dark, smells more like blood and rot than clay and ink, floorboards split open with the burning fire below that glows just enough to illuminate the dozens of hands that reach through the cracks and wrap around Rika's shoes, her ankles, scratching and pulling and trying to drag her further within.

Inside, a girl stands, quiet, hands behind her back. Yellow eyes meet Rika's as the student steps forward, blood soaked through on her hands and her shirt, but they're strong when they reach for Rika's hand, holding fast with the intent of pulling her in.

"All I wanted was for somebody to give me a hand..."

The glow from the fire gets stronger, heat sweltering inside the room, and in the corners Rika can see other students, piles of bodies face down and unmoving— many of them missing arms, others a leg, a head, ribs, hunks of flesh littering the ground amongst piles of limbs stripped of skin and muscle by the carving knife that glints red on the floor.

In the back of the room is an art project. An angel in the making, to come deliver everybody from this hell. All it needs is one more set of bones from a forearm to be complete.

"You'll give me yours, won't you?" ]

Kawai!!

[ Well... thanks Rika for saving his ass from that trap... but it doesn't help that if it's not Akira charging head first, it's her instead. At least it's not just one of them alone; there's strength in numbers, and his shout is loud enough to attempt to attract Shuichi and Kokichi's attention.

No time to wait for them though, gotta get Rika the hell out of there; his first instinct is to wedge one of his feet against the doorframe, gaining some leverage since y'know, it's his two hands against... unfortunately more than he cares to count. But he'll make the best use of the two that he has, so the first reaches out reflexively, grabbing a fistful of fabric - the back of Rika's clothes - in the tightest grip he can mystery, like a cat's claws clinging to a ledge for dear life. But fabric doesn't feel like enough, so the second one snakes forward, past Rika's shoulder to grab her wrist - the one the ghost is targeting- forcefully yanking in back towards him if he can. He won't let go of that, either; it feels like her life might depend on it. ]

Sorry, Sora-chan! This hand's already taken!

[ She's their friend so uh... find another one, okay? For good measure, the last limb he's got free - his spare foot - is going to stomp on the hands that are grasping at her ankles. As many times as it takes to get her free. ]

[ Meanwhile, Shuichi recoils from the fire that overtakes the student council room -- or, what used to be that -- as the heat seizes breath from his lungs, and for a second his impulse is only to run. But they're in a dire enough situation as is, he can't afford to make it worse... so, with vague memories of what fire drill training he's gone through before at the back of his mind, he at least closes the door in a hurry, to put it between the burning room and the hallway. It'll only buy a few minutes at most (and only from that direction) but it's something.

Coughing, he clings to the handle a second longer... too long apparently, as the heat must have melted something inside. It breaks off from that side, warm to the touch against his skin, and he stumbles backwards a few steps towards Akira and Rika. By the time the former shouts for him, Shuichi's pretty much made his way back to them, staring with what he even has left of his ability to process anything at the horror show of hands and blood-covered ghost(?) before him. ]

Th... The fourth floor... we have to hurry!

[ A direction, since he doubts Akira's had time to think of one in his frantic efforts. And... as the other pulls Rika free, Shuichi's going to very politely...

...place the door knob in the ghost's expectant, open palm.

It's a hand...le? Listen, close enough, there are ways to get creative with your art without killing people!? There's a reason Captain Hook is popular, etc. Okay, goodbye, he's out of there right behind the other two!!! ]

[ The ghost lets go of Rika and Akira to softball pitch the doorknob at the back of Shuichi's head. ]

[ Can't believe the ghost doesn't take criticism on their art...... or suggestions...... actually nvm nobody in this club or school ever does. Anyway the handle can hit Shuichi in the head and he gets a concussion.

GAME OVER......

This mission is never getting done.

JK because of the distance, it hits him in the shoulder and he yelps in pain but it only makes him run faster. ]

[ Maybe if Shuichi gave her... a hand...

But it's fine, it doesn't look like the student gives chase, and they're able to make it up the stairs and to the fourth floor landing where the door opens for them to find themselves face to face with a wall of fire. If they don't immediately close the door and walk away, they'll realize that they feel no heat from the fire, and Shuichi in particular will feel a sense of deja vu, like he knows exactly what's on the other end of the hall and how to get there. ]

[ it was two letters off?? so picky.....

Anyway... Shuichi slouches forward as they all stare at the open door and flames, hands on his knees for support while he's catching his breath. That was (insert number of stairs there actually are) steps too many to be running from fire and blood-thirsty ghosts. And his shoulder still hurts.

But... ]

...It really is just like that time. Kawai-san, you remember it too, right?

[ Because it was Rika with him that time, and in fact she jumped through the flames and gave him the scare of his life before he could even process the lack of heat or the fact it was safe. He almost wants to smile at the memory, in a sort of resigned way that says both "please don't do that again" and "I'm glad you're here" at the same time, but they don't have the time or the luxury. Instead, it's his turn to lead the way for the others this time. ]

I-It's alright. These flames aren't spreading... see? There's no heat to them, either. Kawai-san and I saw this before, but it was... ah, in the other school.

[ Does that mean they're in there somehow...? Did they see blood in some way when they opened the fourth floor door, and would breaking a mirror bring them back? Given the situation, that would help a lot, but there are inconsistencies too so they can't just bank on it. Either way, he steps forward and through the flames, making good on his own words that it doesn't pose danger. If he remembers from last time... it was an empty corridor, with two gorintos at the end.

Is that what's here too? ]

( everything happens so fast. one second, she's stumbling through the door, into a room straight from a nightmare, a ghastly hand holding onto hers, tight and unrelenting. the next, akira's grabbing her by the literal scruff of her neck to drag her right out of there, with shuichi following, and stuffing the ghost's hand with... something. either way, rika's stumped the whole way through, and... maybe a little zoned out, because helping dead girls is kind of her modus operandi, y'know?

if akira didn't drag her out, she might've just given the ghost her hand for real.

but, well. she doesn't get a chance to pull any self-sacrificial stunts; instead, she follows after them, up to the fourth floor, where the flames stop emanating heat. she holds onto akira's sleeve the whole way there, because he's kinda saved her, and now she'll cling to him, no escape. )

Oh... yeah. ( she remembers it pretty well, including jumping straight into the fire and screaming bloody murder, and watching shuichi almost die from the sheer shock. good times —

that said, if this is a hint, then maybe it's worth investigating it further. )

There was someone up there, too, right? Uh, when I spoke to the ghost, I heard footsteps... don't go too far ahead, 'kay? It's better not to separate, or we might actually lose our hands. ( says the one who started a screaming match with a ghost and got dragged into the horror room, but, listen — )

[ Don't worry Rika, he's not going far. You saved him, he saved you, and it all just goes to show you're probably best off sticking close together so you can have his sleeve - Akira won't pull away. Getting her back is relieving enough to return his focus on what's important - getting out of here - so he dutifully follows Shuichi's lead when he herds them all out of here. He's happy to follow someone with the guts to pull that handle trick. If they had more time he'd pat you on the shoulder for that, Shuichi.

-- Anyway, I guess it's Akira who's got the most surprise when they meet with the wall of flames, since he sure... hasn't experienced anything like this before, and it's hard not to have his heart jump into his throat when Shuichi moves forward through them. But true to his words the flames seem harmless here. As if to test it, Akira raises the arm not being claimed by Rika to wave it through the fire first. He's silent at first beyond a low hum of recognition; a glance to Kokichi, a glance to Rika - before he quietly follows suit after Shuichi, through the wall of flames and to the other side. He can't help but reach up and touch his eyebrows once they've made it across - just making sure they're still there and not burned off. Looks like it's fine in the end. ]

Hopefully Saihara has a few more to spare.

[ Tricks, or hands... well, who knows.

Anyway, he's taking Rika's warning seriously; he's not as familiar with the area so he'll let the repeat visitors here do the leading, and Akira keeps his eyes and ears open especially for any other people. After the ghost run in, it's probably best to be on guard. ]

[ They walk through the fire without any problems, down the hallway with its burnt down doors and skeleton of what might have once been club rooms. At the very end of the hall is the door up to the stairs, and a window. Upon the sill are two stacks of stones, the gorintos Shuichi was expecting.

Instead of a coin atop of each one, however, a thin gold chain is draped around the both of them, and at the end of the chain is a pendant: third of a heart with a tiny blue gem, the center of the metal scratched and filed down so that all that is left are the letters "B FO" inscribed upon it. ]

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me praying this doesn't snipe ori

I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT SNIPED crying

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