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Autumn Semester

✽ School starts up again on August 30, and club supplies resume being replenished at the start of each week.
✽ All character run clubs survive the vetting process. Maya gives the jar of dragonflies to Hiro, who hot potatoes it to Nao, who opens the jar and sets them free outside. Maya will also tell Add that if his club damages any more of the school, she will shut down the Robotics & Programming Club. The cultists are delighted with their gifts and play rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets to keep what.
✽ The science club is shut down and disbanded due to their club project being interrupted and therefore incomplete, and the door to the lab will not open to any student. The club may be reinstated in the winter semester, and will be open to all students regardless of grade level.
✽ Posted all around the school are colorful posters painted by somebody who has no sense of color theory nor any idea what racoons, manta rays, or zebras look like. They advertise the student store, and its newest attraction:
✽ There is now a gacha machine set up outside the student store, which only takes tokens provided by the shopkeeper. Tokens are 1000 yen or 10 merit points each, and 99.99999% of the prizes are normal boring rocks, but there is a miniscule chance of winning rare gemstones. If you return 100 empty gacha capsules back to the shopkeeper for recycling, they will give you one free token.

Setting Updates

✽ The right fourth floor hallway will be cleaned up during the first few days of school, with the gorinto rocks lined up against the walls on either side, and enough structural support is done so the hallway is in no danger of collapsing.
✽ The rooftop on the right side of the school can be accessed via the stair up from the end of the fourth floor hallway. The rooftop on the left side of the school can be accessed via the windows on the fourth floor, where you have to lean out the window and pull yourself up somehow. The two halves of the roof are separated by the clock tower, and there is no railing. There are concrete dividers sectioning out part of the right side into what may have once been a rooftop garden.
✽ Touching the track for more than 2 seconds results in permadeath. If you're able to jump over the track to the field, the grass is lush and green, although it gives more than expected, like a lawn after rain.
✽ There are six ball courts with height-adjustable poles for tennis and volleyball. Very old, falling apart equipment can be found in storage in the auditorium, while brand new ones can be purchased from the student store. The courts are surrounded by 10-foot fall chain link electric fence both between and around them, with a voltage high enough to cause severe burns to death, depending on the duration of contact. Electricity flows through all parts of the fencing except the door handle on the side of each court to enter.
✽ The indoor swimming pool contains separate girls and boys changing rooms, each consisting of 5 changing stalls, 2 showers, a bathroom, and 20 small lockers that do not come with their own locks but you can purchase one from the student store. Swimsuits, floaties, and towels can also be purchased from the student store. The pool is 25 meters by 25 meters, with a shallow end of 3 ft which then drops precipitously towards the deep end, where a flimsy diving board is set up. The deep end seems to continue down for thousands of meters, with light quickly disappearing and pressure becoming immense, and there is no bottom. The water is held at a constant lukewarm, and is very very slightly tinged pink. It tastes strongly of saltwater. The only windows are located on the ceiling like a skylight rather than on the walls, and lights shut off at 6pm, so it is pitch black after sundown. The pool is always open.
✽ The dormitory is open to be moved into, with rooms assignments being ICly first come first served. There is no Resident Assistant in charge. It's a lawless land. Please use the toplevel below for sign-ups.

Autumnal Equinox

✽ September 23 marks the autumnal equinox. Like during the Vernal Equinox, students spend the week cleaning the school and gorintos are set upon the windowsills. Touching a gorinto causes the character to fall into a trance and experience the moments prior to death of the person being honored, up to and including the death, with all the physical and emotional pain that comes with it.
✽ On the morning of the equinox, red spider lilies bloom all across the courtyard and deep into the forest seemingly overnight. From the clock tower or rooftop, characters are able to see the forest surrounding them on all sides is entirely covered in the red flowers up to the crest, as if the entire land were awash with blood.
✽ The wisteria tree starts to shed petals, only a handful a day and impossible to notice compared to the hundreds upon thousands of petals held aloft by the tree, if it weren't for the fact that wherever a petal drops and touches the ground, the grass and flowers in the immediate vicinity are all dried up and dead.
✽ The void continues to grow, expanding outward and reaching up into the floor above.

OOC

✽ Characters in classes 1-B, 1-D, 1-E, 2-C, and 3-E (classes who rose at least one rank in August) find that in the void school, they can start to see the void students' faces instead of them being completely shadow. They look scared, angry, resigned, anything but happy.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( nene watches his reaction carefully, holding her hands together- it's... something of a gamble, doing something for komaeda. if he likes it, he still might say something backhanded- and if he loves it, he could still take it as an ill omen. ... but even then, she really does hope he likes it. )

I did. And yes, for you- you've been so taken with the cats, and I've. Realized you don't like sweets, so I thought this would be nice for you instead.

( it took her a stupid long time to realize he didn't actually eat the cakes she's made for birthdays. )

( he's looking the treats over, having yet touched one since h's trying to figure out how to approach this. nene's right, his mind swings good luck and bad luck, and to him he believes there's an equivalent hidden within the dish she's made. especially with how sheepish the laugh is that leaves from past his lips, and how his eyes close before turning towards her. )

You did the best thing that you could.

( despite being dressed as cats, he claps his hands together as he points out what it is. )

The rice is what makes it, that's what I believe.

( getting to his feet, he picks up the plate as he brings it over to nene, standing right in front of her, but lowering it down perfectly so she can reach. )

Which do you want to have?

( like he's willing to share. )

( .... what? komaeda... what does that mean... nene almost frowns, but instead looks up at komaeda with those big doe eyes, almost pouting. it's not intentional she promises. )

Do you not like it? Or is this something else...?

( he acted pretty oddly about the blanket and cake, a few months back- and not just in the sense that he didn't like sweets and as such the cake was a well-intended misfire. but also none of that makes sense to her- maybe if she were more... together at the moment, it would? ugh. note to self: drink coffee before you interact with your komaeda. )

I don't like rice with my meals.

( he's honest, but before she can come to her conclusion. )

But I never had rice made into a cat... so I'm torn.

( it's a feeling that he usually doesn't have, one where he's at conflict for himself because with him it's always one way or another. it's easy to tell how he keeps a smile, laughing softly. )

I like them so much, that I think I'll be sad if I ate them... teach me, too.

( WHAT-- nooooooo she thought she had the perfect idea... but he. also doesn't seem to dislike it? or at least... it's novel enough that he thinks it's charming. and then he asks to learn how to make them- )

Ah- there's still some left over rice, so I can do that...

... Tell me what you do like, though. Since my guesswork's not been too great. Okay? And I'll make it sometime.

I'm aware of all sorts of dishes, I just never had the taste hold for rice... but for how it's made, it makes me think differently.

( has she ever had that problem? especially with how he holds the plate, shaking it to see if anything bad will happen to them. despite his displeasure with what was used, he does reach down to break off one of the feline's heads — not on purpose, but he wants a... tiny taste, as he sticks it in his mouth.

he chews slow, trying his best to enjoy the flavor, and with a swallow. )

Can you make bread? ...I like that the best, and maybe an egg on top.

( simple, and that's why he's dying. )

( sir you are so very just skin and bones and now she finally understands why. eat your fruits and vegetables, komaeda-san!! )

I can- do you just like it plain...? ( cause her cinnamon bread is pretty good honestly... ohhh that'd be perfect for later fall. ) I think I'll have to ask the store to get some bread pans- this place is super bare, but it makes sense since it was just built.

( still, he asked her something, so. she'll do it. nene pulls the rice cooker close again and moves to wash her hands. there's still the strip of nori that she'd carefully cut for the cats' features, and a small tasting dish of soy sauce and a clean brush. )

Yep, you won't dislike me for that, will you?

( yes, he needs to eat more, but an egg and bread is what makes his meal, and if he could eat it for dinner... that would work too, if he remembers. )

Hm... Was it just built? There's a lot of ghosts hidden around, so I wonder how long they've walked these halls —

( well, this place is the old school, so he shouldn't be surprised, it's not like the deceased needed to eat bread like he does. he looks at the tasting dish, picking it up without using the brush, and he drizzles the soy all over the cats, imagining that this is what it'd look like if it rained. a downpour, suffocating, until the black liquid drips slowly onto the plate. )

For what, having a food preference? Of course not. That'd be silly.

Eh... I don't think so? I'm not sure what needed renovating, but we really only have the bare basics. So no bread pans.... ( wait. ) Have you been seeing ghosts, Komaeda-san?

( BECAUSE IF HE HAS BUT SHE HASN'T, SHE'D LIKE TO TALK TO A MANAGER.

okay. okay! he's probably just saying weird cryptic shit again. something that only makes sense with a full picture, when he prefers to give you a corner piece and say 'good luck!' as he walks away wait komaeda what are you doing-

nene grabs his arm, trying to get the dish back- )

Stop that, we're going to be using that for something else! Jeeze, if you're going to ask someone to teach you something, you can at least wait for instructions...

Something like that, yeah. This whole place is haunted, so it's to be expected... but if you mean here, I've only seen the paintings. Did you want to see?

( he speaks, watching nene for her reaction, and not because he's curious about what she must have seen, but the fact she's not turned off by the idea — who would, like he said, this whole place is cursed. )

Ah — ( he stops when she pulls at him, and he looks down almost confused. between her, and then how he looks at the plate with wide eyes, he lifts it properly so that it's right-side up, and he's no longer pouring the liquid over the kittens. ) ...I didn't think this would be used, ahaha... I'm pretty stupid, I'm sorry.

( and he'll hand her the plate that he had... here you go. )

I've already seen them.

( which is either entirely dismissive, or more telling than she intended- either way, nene doesn't actually notice. she's still a bit pouty at him just... acting rashly. shaking her head, nene slowly lets go, but she takes the dish back and sets it down... further away from komaeda this time, just for now. )

It's how we're going to get the colorations on the kitties- see the brown patches on these ones? ( and nene gestures to one of the nekonigiri that was free from the soy sauce rain, white with brown patches of soy sauce and black patches of nori or another topping, making it a calico. ) And we can use furikake or nori to make the other decorations. Now go wash your hands so we can begin, okay?

Am I not supposed to eat?

( taken aback, he allows the plate to be easily taken from him because he doesn't put up much of a fight, even if he steps back slightly offended. it's only for a moment until he gathers himself, and he laughs it off with a shake of his head — sorry for that, his expression now neutral as he looks at the plate covered in kittens, the soy sauce that's gliding around on the surface of the plate between the cat's paws. )

...Hm. ( now as he looks at the patches between the kittens and the sauce, it checks out. ) I see... Their fur changed with a little help, I only took it a step further.

( he's setting the plate with the cats down, and he'll walk over to the sink so that he can use it properly — he lathers his hands with soap, scrubbing thoroughly, and he's counting the seconds in the back of his head until he can rinse them off with water, until... he lathers them with soap again... second time is the charm. )

E-eh? no, I was just moving this so it couldn't be spilled again-

( SIR- why is he so komaeda... nene just stares up, wide eyed and a little confused, because what? what. whaaat... the kitties she's already made are still there, waiting for him... e-even if she's not sure he actually will eat them. ... she doesn't get him. she really doesn't. )

Yeah- though, if you use too much soy sauce, the rice won't stick together as well. Those kitties might be really delicate now. So be careful with how much you use, okay?

( while he washes his hands, nene tends to the rice. there's enough left to give him a couple of tries... she'll scoop out enough for a first attempt for him, waiting on an empty plate for when he's done. )

Are you ready?

Yes, I'm ready to take part.

( he turns off the faucet with one hand, and he grabs a cloth to dry them both — must be weird to see a mechanical hand be submerged under water, but it holds up great. he walks over to here nene is standing, and he looks around for what he needs to tend to first —

the rice. )

We should make it for the group, hm... or for the school rather, remember when those chosen for Student Council had to do something to be noticed... this would have been great! Do you think trash like me could have won?

( then there'd be a murder every week if it was up to komaeda, but he'll look at her with a small smile like he's thought about this. )

I hope not, I'm glad Ishimaru-kun did... now he can figure out what Arisu-san has in store for us.

( a mechanical hand still carries germs, and she's just hoping that it won't end up rusting. but they have senku and add... so. maybe it won't be so bad? nene smiles up at him before dishing out some rice for him. quietly, nene shows him how to shape the rice slowly, carefully pressing it into the right shape with soft instructions between conversing. )

It'd be nice to share a treat with everyone- it's why I like to make cookies for everyone, but... I still don't know everyone's tastes.

( and then, while she's musing on treats for the school- that'd be a lot of supplies, gosh- komaeda blindsides her with the elections and all her stomach flips. )

... I am too. ( because it means he survived. ) ... Have you joined any clubs, Komaeda-san?

( it's fine, hinata worked on this hand in his older days, he would never let it rust to something like water. he watches her hands first and foremost, and he mirrors her actions — he actually does it flawlessly without even trying, his head turned towards her as they speak. )

Is that what you're worried about, Yashiro-san? Just make them, isn't that what matters... any kinds, whatever flavors come to you, and set them out for everyone. You'll find out what they like just by observing, and not having to ask them straight out.

( the moral of this advice? watch people better, understand them through a silent understanding, and keep in mind of what it is they'd like next time. ) I could help you, I've watched a few people so far... if you hang around Lucifer-kun, I'm sure he knows roughly everyone's here.

( oh, clubs, clubs... he pats down on the body of the cat as he looks down, thinking about it. )

Almost every one that we have, I stray from the others since I don't believe I'm wanted there, but it's fine. I'm glad to see most of these clubs prosper... right now, I'm working on helping Stephanie. There's a few people I want to ask who may join...

( work, work, work. )

Well, I wanted to surprise you with something, but I've given you things you don't like. It felt kinda bad, and I don't want to experience that on a larger scale...

( because she didn't know him. ... still doesn't, truthfully. and does she really want to? ... she doesn't know. the idea of getting this sort of information from others...

... huh. is this what that boy meant? )

... You know, before this- before I even met Hanako-kun. There was a boy I'd liked- so I asked people about him and what he liked, observed how he did things when i saw him, to plan the perfect confession. But in the end, he told me something, and he was right: I talked to everyone but him. In the end, despite everything, I didn't know him. And I thought I knew better now, but all this time, I've been doing the same thing to you, haven't I? Trying to do something to make you happy without knowing you.

( ... the moral of her story? observation is fine, but connection is important too. )

I'm sorry. I'll do better from now on.

( as she builds a couple more rice cats, she sighs before shaking her head. she really thought she had gotten better. )

... I suppose some simple onigiri will still be fine, though- regardless of the shape. But on individual levels... I want to be better than that.

( still, the mention that he's part of almost every club gets her to look over at him in surprise, almost like she's been pushed-- )

Eh? Really? I had no idea! Ah... Stephanie-chan's trying to make a sports club, right? I worry about those courts...

That makes sense, to learn about someone is to ask them directly... ah, but it's nice to understand that Hanako-kun is your romantic interest, and here I thought you were interested in Ebalon-kun!

( he stands right next to her properly, and he'll reach out for the rice as well as he begins to follow her hands to mold the food properly. he wonders if he should give these to people he likes, too, is a way that's romantic since he's guessing this is the moral of her story. if there's someone he likes in that way, he should figure out what they like — then again, just feeding these to someone could be nice, and they look super cute too. )

Hm... I'll do better from now on too, if you need to know something, just ask.

( he can't guarantee there's answers she'd like to know, though. he turns to her with a small smile, nodding to confirm that yes he's joined every club. ) I want to see each club prosper, even if it doesn't need me... I'll throw my name in to make sure it's established! Yes... Actually, I want to ask Amami-kun and Akehoshi-kun if they'd join... I think it'd make her happy.

( nene recoils, eyes wide and cheeks flushed, raising her arms as if she's trying to physically defend herself from his words. )

What- no, that's not what I- I didn't mean it like that! I meant, it was before I met- I was still in middle school is what I meant!!

( not that either thought is... incorrect. she's fond of them both. she gave up a paradise both because she wanted to live her life as best she could without stagnation, and because hanako wouldn't be there. but noah's been so kind and sweet. it's...

she's selfish. she knows this. but she didn't think she was this bad. what a rotten girl, honestly...

the only thing keeping her from hiding her face in her hands is the fact that there's grains of rice stuck to her palms and fingers, honestly. unfortunately, she's been thoroughly distracted from the conversation at hand, however. )

Why are you taking it so hard, Yashiro-san? You did say there was a boy you liked before you met Hanako-kun, so this is the state of our conversation for now... ahaha.

( from her flushes cheeks to the way she stutters, komaeda does feel like he stepped on a landmine, but it's none of his business, really. watching her get up in arms over the subject, and from what he's seen, the fact that she stays around either two and places herself in a position of romance makes komaeda notice. he is a romantic, himself, and so it comes naturally to him to understand... being with someone else. )

...I get it, I get it... so you're only interested in Hanako-kun, and not Ebalon-kun... or maybe you're interested in both...

( he turns back to the rice before him, following procedure to keep them shaped properly. )

( the second one is what makes nene squeak in mild horror at being seen so easily- it's right on the money and she has no idea how to handle it, truthfully. )

I-I only said that because of how it drove my actions at the time- I! I didn't- ( smite her oh mighty smiter, let the ground swallow her whole because komaeda has realized she's in love with two people and this is the worst because of many reasons, but including the fact that she was in denial and now he's just saying shit, honestly-- THIS IS WHAT SHE GETS FOR TRYING TO BE SINCERE AND EARNEST WITH NAGITO KOMAEDA. )

You drive off love, it... stands out.

( what a theme to have, and while she's freaking out, he manages to grab some nori so he can make it the cat's little beady eyes, like he's doing a great job. )

What's it like to have your heart split into so many shapes, do you give out equal amounts?

... I don't know! I've never- not like this, and it's- it's weird and confusing-

( even despite this though, she at least makes a point to look at what he's doing. when she speaks, she's equal parts sincere and mumbling. )

You're doing really good with that.

...Is it wrong to love more than one person? Do you find that... unappealing?

( as someone who loves more than one person, he stops pressing against the rice kittens, and he looks at his work as if he doesn't see anything good about them. )

...You don't have to say that, you know.

I'm not just saying that. ... I'm not that type of person, I thought you knew that by now...

( but nene sighs, taking a deep breath. there's so much racing through her mind, how does she parse it? )

I- I've never... loved more than one person at the same time, before. It's overwhelming, and- and I don't want to hurt either of them. I don't know if anyone could... accept that sort of love, either.

( it's not half-hearted love- but while she loves them both, she cannot promise them her entire heart, either. and isn't that important...? )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

September Event

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Autumn Semester

Setting Updates

Autumnal Equinox

OOC

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cw internalized polyam-shaming?

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