yogen | npc contact.2

8PM.

( he repeats it. why do children seem so against sleeping early, well, komaeda knows they don't want to. it's why he chooses a random bedtime, wanting to rike the other up just a little to see their reaction. he's doing his best not to chuckle as he remains swadloon'd in the blanket, and then he rolls closer to the wall side. )

...Adults can stay up as long as they like, it's the rule of life.

( don't forget the powers adults have before the children, they're giving extra awake time to get their work down. as for what he was doing at the sleepover... he was trying to get lily may, and then they got in his way. )

Did you enjoy yourself with them, that group?

[ Maybe... they're an adult... nobody knows their age, nobody can prove it if they lie. And even in September they're still working on Komaeda's stupid math problems, they have plenty of work to fill the evening hours.

... ]

Yeah, I did! People keep asking me that, though... Did I not look happy?

( child labor laws, komaeda is already aware! they're not even his stupid math, that's the rich math's school stupid math! has npckun looked at the suncatchers yet... the answer... the answers... )

It's because you stay within your shop, so people are curious to figure out what you enjoy, and what you don't.

( they did enjoy themselves, that was obvious, and they managed to get a lot of money from their rock scam. )

But... you fit right in with them, that's what I think.

[ Opens up the bonus page to see if anybody's bought suncatchers lately... Subaru did... Maybe they were too busy deciding on a suncatcher just for him and missed the answers, they'll get it the next time somebody buys a suncatcher, contingent on if I remember.

also don't call it a scam ]

Hehe... everybody's so noisy and funny. I'd like to go again if there's one in a couple months.

( sighs, thinking how their suncatchers are so cute... please they need to sell more, i just like to click them and think how cute they are. i'm crying. next time... they'll get their answers, and then they can show sara how smart they are. )

They are noisy... but they work well together, and it makes every horrible moment worth it, but they wouldn't understand...

( to see them hang with each other and have fun, play like nothing in the world is wrong... before it all comes crashing down — he loves to see it, because then they'll make it over the hill placed before them. )

Amami-kun will invite you, I'm sure... so you won't miss one at all, oh.. and Akehoshi-kun, he seems to really like you.

[ oh? oh?? ]

Did he say something?!

[ Tell them...!! this is peak high school experience "I think he likes you" "really? what did he say!!" or however it goes ]

...Hm?

( not the teenage romance, but it's a shame, komaeda doesn't have anything that was said directly, it's just from what he's seen. )

He's affection starved, and you happen to feed into everything that he likes... If only I had my PDA, I could show you.

[ oh...

subaru only likes them for the attention... oh...

... ): ]

Where's your PDA?

( why are they frowning? is that a bad thing... komaeda's affection starved too. it's why he kills people. )

You can find it in my jacket pocket.

( ... )

Did Akehoshi-kun make you sad... do you like him?

[ Maybe Komaeda should be less murderous and more sad

They're going to unwrap Komaeda just enough to reach for his jacket pockets, they need to know.

... ]

He makes me happy. I like him a lot.

Do you love him?

( ...they'll be able to find his pda after uncurling him from the burrito, and it's not like it's something they spoke about recently. )

I can find it, it was awhile back when I noticed he came by your shop... he was kind of a creep.

( ... )

Yes.

[ It's an easy yes, one without much thought behind it because yes? Yeah. There's a happy little grin on their face when they finally find the pda and hands it over to Komaeda, but ]

Hm? What do you mean? He liked my rocks.

[ Like he was maybe the only person who wasn't fake excited about them. ]

( with the pda in hand, komaeda will lean up properly, and his hand settles on his stomach, so maybe he should be glad that he didn't remove his arm at all. he turns it on, flipping through the network until he can find a certain conversation, and if he recalls correctly... that was on helena's post when looking for people to share rooms with. )

That's when he was affection starved... watching you from afar, if you want someone... don't you stand in their view, making sure they see you and no one else?

( that's how it seemed at first, but he's seen how the other engages now, how he actually comes to the shop and speaks with npckun like someone. to be honest, komaeda doesn't see people at all, but others can see each other which opens his eyes that this person talks to that person. ) Together, you can make a lot of hope... do you like his company?

Oh. Yeah, if I want somebody's attention I get in their face and hold them there so they can't leave. That's why I'm such a good salesperson.

[ Sometimes they close the door and if you want to leave you have to buy something from them. It's all the same, closed doors, a hug, a trap. ]

And yeah, I do. [ Like they enjoy Komaeda's company, leaning up against him so they can look at the screen too. Where are the deets... ]

...Runs in the family, doesn't it?

( thinking about how someone is left in the shop, what if they steal? what if all their bones are gone. )

I'd make them worry about me to have their attention, if I wanted it... I'd just stab myself, bleed out, and see what they'd do.

( he says this like it's an obvious thing, it's hard to ask for attention and affection straight out — so he forces it, he uses the means that he knows will pull at someone's heart strings. he shouldn't tell this to npckun considering how much they want to be loved by others, but they're different; he doubts the youth will hurt themselves for love and affection.

komaeda looks at the screen with a soft "mn" like... damn, he did mention saihara in the same text. mm.. he looks up at npckun in the kigu, and he reaches for the tail rather than give away his pda. )

[ Can't steal if they can't leave the room. And, admittedly, npckun does briefly consider stabbing themselves and seeing what somebody would do, but it's only a fleeting thought and one they toss out because if somebody stands there and lets them bleed and doesn't care? can't handle that. At least when they're holding someone there it gives them no choice. ]

-—hey!

[ They tear their eyes away from the screen (why does it have to be so small? it only shows a few lines at a time and all they were able to read is ???Subaru spending 20 days watching them or something) to twist around and try to pull their tail back, stop that ]

"i dont mind if ppl know i have a thing for them!! theyre cute and friendly if u buy something and their rocks are cool (so everyone should buy them)"

( he quotes after clicking off his pda, the screen no longer bright for them to read at all. if npckun read the rest where subaru would take the time out of their moments to go on a date with saihara, he isn't sure how they would look. honestly, npckun would have every right to feel offended... and as komaeda thinks about it...

...
...

ultimates shouldn't date people who lack talents! )

Did you hear me? I won't repeat again, so I hope you did a bit of multitasking.

...Yeah, I heard you.

[ makes mental notes to themselves: 1) Subaru likes them giving him attention, 2) Subaru likes their salesperson personality, 3) Subaru thinks rocks are cool
They're things they can maybe work with... Gotta practice more. ]

Is that all he said?

[ peers sadly at the blank screen, because they recall bright orange text and maybe it could have burned into the screen, but no luck ]

He said a lot of things, but that doesn't matter... does it? What does is what he says to you.

( because all of it was mocking komaeda for his own feelings and everything that he does, don't worry, he ignored it. he watches npckun for a moment, and he's quiet. )

What are you thinking?

( because when they look up at komaeda with innocent eyes, it doesn't normally bode well, and he feels like it should be nipped in the bud. his pda sits into his lap, face down do they don't have to search anymore. )

[ ...

... ]

I'm thinking that...

[ a lot of things, really, not and everything they want to voice aloud

... ]

...You said it's important to make friends. So I'm going to try really really hard to be friends.

( did he say that? yeah, that's how hope works, friendships and the memories they make with people is what makes up hope as a whole — without it, doing anything alone will be tedious. that's why they need people around them to share their light with others, to move forward is to have people by your side, and the path is wide enough for others to follow suit. if only komaeda could take his own advice, but he does manage a smile —

...
...
...

he laughs sheepishly, and then his lips turn up in the corner to a warmer smile. )

That way it won't be lonely, and you'll also have people to confide in... you have to take good care of them, okay?

( he hums, lifting a hand to tap his chin... ) Tell me about all the friends you made so far, and why you like them... I think it'd be nice.

( since npckun is going to sleep over. )

I will.

[ That's what their shop is for, in the end. To help everybody out and keep them safe and happy, also to line their pockets. npckun tucks themselves beside Komaeda, thinking of all the people they've met so far, what they mean to them, how they can admit it's been really nice getting to play with other people and a lot of their fears have been unfounded so far but they're also not holding their breath—-

anyways, friendship. ]

Mm... There's one person who's very easy to talk to and get along with, so I like spending time with him. He's encouraging and tries to make me better, and he doesn't just go along with everything I say, so it's like he's paying attention. Playing games together is fun... just sitting around and talking about nothing is also fun... I like him a lot, so I try to show him every time so he knows.

Someone who pays attention to what you say... and also is fun to be around... hm...

( they can lay down now, yay... he places the pda on his chest, looking up at the ceiling where the rules are taped up —

- NO FLIRTING WITH MY ULTIMATE CLASSMATES IN THE DORMS. THEY'RE ALL MINE.
- DON'T TELL THEM ANYTHING FUNNY. I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO MAKE THE ULTIMATES LAUGH IN THIS SCHOOL.
- NO FLEXING. DON'T TRY AND IMPRESS MY ULTIMATE CLASSMATES.
- MUST SAY "WHAT DA CAT DOING" EVERY TIME YOU SEE LILY MAY AND BEV DO SOMETHING RATHER MUNDANE.

this should have been hikaru's blood, but they've dodged a bullet... he closes his eyes as he listens to npckun describe the first person. he tries to imagine who that is at first, some guy, he thinks... his fingers drum against the screen of his pda, that's quite positive, and kind of them to say. it sounds obvious who it has to be though, because who else would be that engaging and thoughtful? not only that... playing games? is that not part of what this person is really good at? he speaks, proudly: )

What is Amami-kun!?

( he lifts a brow, looking over to npckun to see if he's right or not like this is a guessing game. )

[ HIKARU'S BLOOD can you imagine having to break mirrors to get out of the void dorms for every letter he writes on the glass ceiling. does blood stick on glass? maybe it drips down on someone's face in the middle of the night. ]

...What do you mean "what"? Why are you talking about Tarou-nii? You're supposed to be listening to me.

( I MEANT BED? OH MY GOD NOT HOW I WROTE BLOOD god 2am nms is on something else... i'm tearing up, maybe that's what we do for hikaru as initiation since they're a demon anyway?? no wonder they like lucifer so much! )

Have you ever watched those guessing shows? When you say an answer, you say "what is x"! So I thought you were talking about Amami-kun!

( was he WRONG? )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject