yogen | npc contact.2

I don't think so. Why?

[ Being up four stories doesn't register as scary, nor does stepping on Komaeda's hand and boosting themselves up. Things like darkness and deep water and being touched on top of the head are scary because it's what they know. There are no negative associations with the roof itself; it reminds them of stars and song ]

Then you'll do good scaring them, from here, and I'll stand by the edge of the roof... if we're going to scare them, we have to scare them properly.

( which calls for npckun being missing, which is amami's already known fear because of what happened, and then there's... nothing really scares rokkun, and komaeda just likes the adrenaline rush he gets from the chance of plunging to his death. he takes a few steps back as he looks up towards the other, making sure they're steady where they are, and he smiles softly. )

When the door opens, you just down... and make the scariest sound you can imagine! Like... "GRRRR!", "boo" also suffices.

Huh...

[ ... ]

Okay!

[ They really don't want Komaeda to be at the edge of the roof, but he's right: if they're going to scare them, they have to scare them properly. So when Amami and Rokuro come upstairs, they're not going to jump down at all. They're going to lie flat on their stomach, hands clamped over their mouth, and hide. ]

( is that the game they're playing at, so insane, okay but komaeda will dig in his pocket to look for his ol' faithful atropine that's already been used. 1/3rd already used from when he drugged subaru, it's nothing too bad, hallucinations, racing heartrate, and blurring vision. since it's not the whole bottle, there's no death involved, and he contemplates drinking some of it as he holds it up in the light while making his way over on the rooftop — which he kicks a small pebble, tripping, and then falling to the ground (luckily the bottle is fine), but he's not as close to the edge as he wants to be...

it's fine.

it doesn't hide the bruise on his face though, and he guesses he can use that as prop to his devious little plan... no one knows what he used the first part of the poison for, so he can act like he drunk it.

he's going to lay on the ground? with the atropine in hand, and i guess act like he's dead. it's the closest thing — let the boys get scolded for ruining npckun and komaeda's plans today! )

[ The door opens and the first thing Rokkun sees is Komaeda lying on the ground, making a beeline towards him before realizing something halfway there and he looks around instead, finding an empty rooftop.

Where is...?

He stops briefly at Komaeda's side, but from the looks of things there's nothing he can do for him right now and so he runs up to the edge, dropping to his knees and gripping the edge of the building as he looks down at the ground, tense and prepared to jump as if that would help anything, Komaeda you have better not have dropped my brother—- ]

( oh, yeah, it's amami. unfortunately that means it's always going to have the meaning that rokkun likes the least when it comes to these things, y'know? so he steps onto the roof alone, but amami isn't far behind as he follows. kind of wishes they could have been quicker about their little chat though, once he sees the scene waiting for them out here.

already, rokkun looks like he's got the edge of the building covered. and unfortunately, komaeda has earned some degree of trust from amami when it comes to kamo-kun. he is... the person who first asked for amami to keep them safe, after all. hence why they're the priority as he scans the area with a sigh, a little bit tense, but first trying to see if he can catch sight of them before he lets any real panic set in. there's still... the other side being their little roof-stair-covering-house-thing to check, right? they could be behind it, maybe...

komaeda can just lay there, it's probably fine. )

( the ground is cold, and his vitals are low, and he looks dead, and that's all there is to it! he can hear them shuffling about though, already aware of how this works, so he remains laying on the ground because they worry too much, and that's on them.

he is part of the asshole duo, apparently, so he can't get up until npckun is found, or jumps out. )

[ npckun lifts their head just slightly, trying to listen to what's going on more than to see— from all the running around they can hear, they're not going to sit up and risk being spotted.

So it's those footsteps they pay attention to, trying to figure out whose is whose— the one going towards Komaeda should be Tarou-nii, right? they're friends, and heading towards the edge of the roof with little care for his own safety to check just in case sounds like something he would do. ]

Kogamo!

[ The voice that calls out— sort of like how you would call for a lost pet when you don't know where they are— is decidedly not Amami's, though, and they freeze, breath held.

Lowering his hands from his mouth, Rokuro looks to Amami with a nod of his chin as if asking him to go look around while he returns to Komaeda's side so he can shake his shoulder to see if he's awake so he can demand where Komaeda dropped his brother. ]

( oh, yeah, amami kinda bristles at that — that's top secret info, not even he'd been given it freely, so he's kind of visibly grimacing. and considering the fact that they charge for the name they do give? he's looking at rokkun like, not super reciprocative of that nod, but whatever. there's a short pause, and in a voice that should be just audible to them at the edge of the roof: )

Not so loud!

( it's going to echo through the whole campus like that? plus it's only like, 6-something right now, have some mercy on everyone, rokkun. komaeda wouldn't let anything happen to them... probably.

the sigh he gives is probably audible even from where they're hiding after that though, hands on his hips like he's kind of exhausted that he has to say it. komaeda didn't explain anything, did he? anyway, it's probably not that big of a deal. more importantly: he does need to find them, so he'll circle around the structure to get a look at the other side of the roof. seeing that there's nothing there, though... maybe he'd get a better view from on top of it? thought it's strange — he's pretty sure the two of them would have seen, if kamo-kun had snuck back inside or something. give him a minute, he'll see if he can manage to grab or jump up to grab that ledge so he can pull himself up for the vantage point. hopefully it goes better than the tree did for him. )

( honestly... komaeda gave rokkun rules, and someone just didn't follow them. how hard is it to act like a stranger? strangers obviously don't say names like that or show any worry, and maybe that's what makes komaeda just lay there perfectly still, holding in his breath, and he seems like... he's peaceful. maybe he's passed on, because due to rokkun's persistence, and komaeda's disbelief of his...

...

stupidity, his mouth slightly parts, and there's a small trickle of blood that seems from the corner of his mouth, and yeah it'll get on rokkun's clothes. are you ever so sick that you just want to throw up blood? no? it's komaeda's life.

anyway, a small bottle rolls from underneath his hand...

...

...

he's just laying. )

[ Komaeda might have thrown the shopkeeper off the roof and Rokkun's supposed to stand there in silence and pretend to be strangers? It's hard. Komaeda doesn't know because he doesn't have siblings. Amami doesn't know because that's not his sibling, anger and defiance flashing across Rokuro's face when he's scolded for raising his voice.

A more conflicted expression when he looks down and sees blood on his sleeve, at the decision of whether to prioritize somebody he cares more about, or somebody who is here, who— he picks up the bottle, and it doesn't take a genius to connect two and two. Yeah. He going to go toss this off the roof.

In the meanwhile... When Amami pulls himself up, he does see the little shopkeeper lying flat on their stomach, hands clamped over their mouth, tears rolling down their face and landing on the concrete when they lift their eyes to look at Amami. ]

( yeah rokkun can be as mad as he wants amami's walking away, bye. he has more important things to worry about, like kamo-kun and the requests they made of him.

speaking of which, it looks like he has found their missing person of concern. )

Ah, there you are...

( the worry painted across his features quickly gives way to visible relief — only to return to a gentler concern when he sees the soft sheen of wet mochi cheeks to greet him. give him a minute, and he'll pull himself the rest of the way up so he's sitting up there too, letting himself settle in to sit next to them with a tentatively reach to press his hand against their back. he'll lean down a little too, a bit to the side so that he can get closer to their level. )

What's wrong, Kamo-kun? Are you okay?

( he's giving them a quick once over to make sure they aren't hurt, but then he wonders if this is about komaeda... amami shoots a worried glance in the direction of the other two — seriously, how much trouble could they have made in the, like, five or ten minutes they'd spent talking inside? )

( playing dead lasts for so long when he feels the other take something and leave, and then he leans up to see him pitching his bottle OVER THE ROOF. oh, what the FUCK! honestly, komaeda's mouth parts, almost like he can't believe him, but then he closes... and knowing his luck, it's probably fine at the bottom...

grass is soft.

he went through too much to get that. so he's going to get up like he hasn't done anything wrong in his life at all — )

...

( he's going to walk towards the exit where the stairs are, and he speaks up: ) Be good, P-kun! I'm sorry for interrupting, Amami-kun, I'll be on my way now!

( is he just leaving rokkun up there? yes. he has to go get his poison so he's going down the steps, he'll be back later. )

[ Komaeda will find the bottle caught on the branches of a bush, thin and springy enough that it had slowed and stopped the fall without any damage. Rokkun has half a mind to follow Komaeda and ask what the hell that was, but when Komaeda speaks up, Rokkun glances up as well, at Amami who is sitting instead of lying down, who looks like he's talking to somebody Rokkun can't hear for the wind.

And maybe that's just as well, so he can't hear the shopkeeper muffling a sob with their hands, who leans against Amami with shoulders shaking under his touch. ]

It's Aniki... What- what do I do...?

( "interrupting" you're ditching him! you're abandoning him on a 2-person plan here! komaeda's dumb ass cares more about his stupid bottle than kamo-kun, and amami's shooting a very unhappy look in the direction of that voice for a moment. not... that he can actually focus on it for long though, as the sound of a soft, muffled sob brings his attention back to what's really important here.

his voice is soft and gentle, actions following suit as he rubs slow circles on their back in an effort to reassure them of his presence. )

Hey, it's alright... Take some deep breaths, I'm here with you.

( a pause, and sorry rokkun, you're gonna need to wait a minute. amami needs to check something. )

What are you afraid will happen?

( STOPPPP KOMAEDA CAN LITERALLY FEEL ULTIMATES, okay so he stops like at the start of the steps, and he quickly turns around to come back. )

Just kidding...

( ugh he's sorry amami-kun, he just doesn't want anyone touching the poison, you know how stupid people are here. aside from that, he's going to look towards where rokkun stands, but he can also go up there to check on npckun himself.

... decisions, decisions. )

Rokkun, I promised something a long time ago. I need you to make it happen...

( he says very softly, and he makes a hand motion for the other to come closer. )

...that he'll look at me like I'm a stranger.

[ Because he's somebody they've idolized nearly their entire life, that even if they don't remember his face as clearly as they're like, he still feels so familiar, no matter how his face had matured or voice had deepened between middle school and high school.

But it's not the same the other way around. And nothing shatters the heart more thoroughly like a cherished person not knowing who you are. ]

[ In the meanwhile, Rokkun's just sort of ??? because how is he supposed to know what Komaeda promised somebody else a long time ago. It's not quite trust, but he trusts Komaeda always has his reasons, and that's what brings him forward, a glance at Komaeda, and goes to pull himself up above the stairs. ]

( something in his expression, it softens immediately hearing a fear like that. something so simple, but also, something honest and meaningful in its own way. there's a sound behind him, and with a glance over his shoulder, amami sees some hands on the edge of their little structure like someone else is about to make their way up... hm. )

Sorry, can you give us another minute?

( it's temporary, but... hopefully it should be fine. it's for both of their sakes after all, so he lifts his voice to make sure it reaches over there, shifting some so that he's blocking the line of sight between rokkun and kamo-kun. returning his attention to kamo-kun, he reaches down to try and brush away a few of those tears staining their soft mochi cheeks, tries to offer a smile, something warm and genuine and maybe a little bit relieved too — an attempt to encourage them to feel the same. after all... )

Do you think that's how he looked at you earlier...?

( it's asked in a gentle voice, even though he's pretty sure he already knows the answer. but even if they weren't looking at rokkun themselves, he'll tilt his head a little, meet their eyes with that same smile. )

That's not the impression that I got.

( if rokkun isn't listening, komaeda sure is when he hears amami's words, and why are ultimates like him so kind? of course, he's going to add to that, hooking his fingers to the male's jeans, pulling him down (and he better come down if he doesn't want to be pants'd) because that's what's going to happen.

he'll keep his voice low though as he tries to bring rokkun back. )

It wasn't too long ago... they told me the first thing they wanted to do once we found you...

( and komaeda's going to crawl like a beetle on rokkun's back so he can also be carried up top, you think his weak ass wants to do all of this? no. but that doesn't stop him from wrapping his arms around the male's waist and settling his chin on his shoulder so he can whisper in his ear. )

A group hug... I believe that was part of their hope... And I'm a firm believer... so make it happen, okay?

( NOW carry him up, it's what he promised! )

[ Another minute is asking a lot of Rokkun, who might have ignored that request if Komaeda didn't try to pants him and then added extra weight on his back. A group hug... that's going to include Amami and he looks Unsure about that.

Because a group hug isn't the first thing he wants to do. He doesn't want to share.

The hesitation is on the shopkeeper's side too, because they don't know what to think, because earlier, when they had run into each other in the elevator... They were too scared to look at Rokuro at all, smiling, talking, looking at everybody else but him— that must have hurt, they think, when somebody you recognize won't even look at you, but...

They worry at their bottom lip, trying to draw confidence from Amami's smile, his voice, his touch.

...

Their hands clench into fists, nails dragging on the concrete. and then they suddenly bolt upright, scrambling to their feet. ]

The sun's rising! You guys hurry up!

( oh, good. it looks like that helped, if only a little, and he grins big as kamo-kun gathers up their courage and calls the others over. let him move over some too make some room for everyone up here, did they bring the inarizushi with them? he glances around, looking for it while the others make their way. )

( he'll climb up with or without rokkun's crippled ass, but he makes it up there to sit next to amami (which makes him uncomfortable because he shouldn't be this close to an ultimate), which puts rokkun on a side between him and npckun, and npckun between rokkun and amami — seems perfect that way, actually.

i was about to write komaeda scratches at his neck a little nervous, but then i remembered what's there, so instead he'll scratch through his hair. he doesn't say anything, but he crosses his legs with a smile as he looks at the concrete. gang is all here! )

Can we really be invited? You're so kind to us, P-kun!

[ It's still hard to look at any of them, and they worry at their bottom lip as they sit down, the sunrise a perfect excuse for them to watch Aniki haul himself up in their periphery, gaze darting straight forward again when they hear him sit, feel his warmth against their arm, and make the mistake of looking back over at him.

Because Aniki is looking back, ignoring the sunrise to look at this one instead: bright, warm, full of color. Because he smiles at them, slightly disbelieving but fond, and they don't understand why it hurts, how it can feel like breaking and becoming whole at the same time, why they feel like crying when he breaks Komaeda's promise, their wish, and wraps his arms around them instead.

It's the sort of hug that starts with a squeeze before relaxing to something more comfortable. It's one with a hand behind their head, holding them close enough to hear his heart beat. It's one with no intention of ever letting go, and their hands find the back of his shirt, fingers curling and holding tight, because they won't either. ]

( honestly, maybe they shouldn't be here for this kind of moment, but... amami's kind of glad that they are. not only so that he could help kamo-kun gather that courage they needed to face him, but because that warmth in rokkun's eyes — the affection, and the way kamo-kun clings to him like a lifeline. there's something that catches in his heart, too.

looking to komaeda, there's a broad smile stretched across his features, a little bittersweet but warm all the same as he gives a sigh. )

Ah, I'm kind of jealous.

( but it's fine, they deserve their moment. amami's gonna point at the box of inarizushi he made instead, since he's probably located it by now. )

You want some breakfast?

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