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wake up

You open your eyes. And then immediately squeeze them shut as a cloud of chalk dust gets clapped in your face, the student next to you looking surprised— but the sort of surprised as if they're faking it, barely suppressing a laugh. "What're you dozing off for, transfer student?" they ask, going back to wiping clean the chalkboard you two are standing in front of. "The sooner we get everything cleaned up, the sooner we can go home!" Another classmate tosses a wet rag at the side of your face, laughing as if a joke— if it weren't strangely warm to the touch, with dark red stains smelling strongly of iron.

All characters open their eyes and wake up in one of the classrooms around school. Whatever they remember last, it's lost in a thick, sleepy fog, the drowsiness still wearing off and making it difficult to reconcile the fact that they've never seen this classroom or these people in their lives, but somehow, it feels like they've been here forever. The other students all act familiar towards you, calling you by name and encouraging you to help clean the classrooms as part of observing the Vernal Equinox. Buckets of soapy water are set on the desks around the classrooms, light pink suds spilling over the sides, and both students and faculty can be seen hard of work scrubbing dark, stubborn stains out of the walls and floors. "It must be absolutely spotless," they murmur under their breaths. "All evidence must be erased."

You don't have to stay and clean. You could throw the rag back into a bucket and flip these strangers the bird and exit the classroom. But those who don't help clean even a little will find that they leave sticky red footprints wherever they walk, creating more work for everybody else and becoming very easy to track down and """accidentally""" knock over the backside of the head with a mop handle. Besides, it's not like you can walk out of the school and get back to whatever you were doing before. Your feet may bring you to the front door on autopilot, but the doors do not open for you, and neither do any of the windows no matter how hard you try to pry them open or kick them in.

Careful, though. On some windowsills, particularly on the third and fourth floors, rests a stack of five flat stones one on top of another: a gorinto to those who recognize such a thing, a pile of rocks to those who do not. The stones are all damp with water, topped with a scattering of wisteria flowers, and flanked by cheap packaged snacks. Whether on accident or on purpose, the moment you touch any of it—-

wake up

You open your eyes. The last thing you remember is touching a wet stone or trying to swipe the rice cracker beside it, and in the next moment, you're somewhere else inside the school. Characters who touch the gorinto or its offerings will find themselves pulled into a memory of high school life, one that feels like theirs, although they recognize that that's impossible. There's the feeling of being classmates with the other characters- perhaps two characters are seat partners, or best friends, or rivals, or club members- but despite the familiarity, do not know each other's names or recall ever seeing their faces before. Essentially, live your pre-established cr high school au dreams.

The memories fade in and out of different scenarios, but they all start off the same: You open your eyes.

You open your eyes and the inside of your left wrist is stinging; you stop scratching, pulling your other hand away before the angry red lines on your skin splits and bleeds. Somebody calls your name, just as you see a pan slide off the stovetop out of the corner of your eye, and the stinging on your wrist flares to a searing burn, hot oil splattering you and the person next to you.

You open your eyes. You're flat on your back in a room that smells of paint thinner, your chest is heavy, and it's so hard to breathe. Something is crushing your throat- a fluffy white cat with golden eyes, purring and kneading away, but then somebody calls your name and its fluff puffs twice its size in surprise, claws sinking into your throat, hooking and tearing as the cat scampers away.

You open your eyes. A kendo shinai comes down hard on your head, the one in your hand failing to come up quick enough to guard, your classmates groaning in sympathy all around you. Your head is spinning, you feel sick.

You open your eyes. You and a friend are seated side by side in the clock tower, back to the walls and feeling the resounding toll of the bell fill your entire being as the count reaches ten, eleven, twelve. The world turns to silence. Your friend opens their mouth to speak, but you cannot hear them. You cannot hear anything.

(tw: implied suicide) You open your eyes. Your classmate sits on the other side of your desk, a spread of sandwiches and juice boxes between you and the window to your side providing a clear view of the upper branches of the wisteria tree in full bloom. And the strangled look on an upperclassman's face as they fall headfirst from the sky on the other side of the glass, hurtling towards the pavement of the courtyard below.

You open your eyes—-

You're standing in front of a window, cold fingers wrapped around your wrist and pulling it away from the pile of stones. Perhaps another character has come to your rescue, or else one student in particular who shakes his head, whispers "don't," and walks away.

wake up

You open your eyes and wipe a bit of drool off the corner of your mouth. There's really no shame, when half the students sitting around you in the auditorium are half asleep as well. As if coming out of a dream, the characters don't remember getting here, just that they are now- sitting in uncomfortably hard plastic chairs in the back rows in the auditorium, the school principal's flat, droning voice reverberating oddly off the walls of the large room. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get up out of your seat.

"...and now, let us congratulate the graduating class," the principal says, stepping back from the podium. A single student rises to her feet and meets the principal at the center of the stage, her long dark hair falling across her face as she bows and receives her diploma. "Congratulations, graduate. May your life be full and prosperous. Please, if you would say a few words..."

The girl straightens and pushes her hair out of her face with one hand— she has no other hand, the entire sleeve of her right rolled all the way up to the shoulder and pinned flat. She forgoes the podium and the microphone, but somehow, her voice rings out clearly and reaches all the way to the back of the room: "Keep your eyes open."

With that parting message, she steps off the stage, disappearing into the mass of students who stand and fill the room with applause, drawing the graduation ceremony to a close. Characters find that they can now get up and move, which is a good thing because the other students are all pushing and shoving to get out of the auditorium and out the front doors, phasing right through the closed doors. Like a sieve, the school empties out, leaving behind the dregs.

wake up

Your eyes are open and the school is quiet. None of the students or faculty remain in the school, and all the staff— the principal, faculty, nurse, and counselor's— offices are locked. A skinny black cat flicks its tail from where it sits on top one of the lockers, where characters can find a copy of the school calendar showing the next two weeks to be spring vacation, with the school being closed for the holiday.

At least, with school vacated, it's clear from those left who's in the same boat and allows the chance for exploration away from prying eyes of the other students and staff. Introductions are probably in order, a discussion of what the fuck is going on, maybe also a plan of attack— or a plan for survival, at the very least, because there is no way out of this school. What ingredients are left in the home economics kitchen is going to have to last everybody the next two weeks. The student store is already empty. The water runs pink. The vending machines don't respond to jostling or being kicked over and brought to the ground, only the last dozen "merit points" on your PDA that you can't earn any more of, with class out of session. The snack you've been hiding in your locker should probably be saved as a last resort. The cats are starting to look tasty.

Hang in there. School will be starting again real soon.

OOC

✽ Characters experience the recurring feeling of drifting in (school life) and out (canon life) of sleep up until the graduation ceremony, after which they will have full awareness and come to their senses. Pre-established cr is possible to some extent, as a varying degree of familiarity may remain, but all characters will be strangers to one another unless they know each other in canon. All npcs will know the characters' names, but characters will not know each other's names until introduced.

✽ The second prompt occurs upon a character touching a gorinto or any of the offerings surrounding it. While touching it, characters fall into a trance and experience different scenes of high school life, with examples given in the prompt but players are free to play out any aspect of normal school life taking place at any time during the school year.

✽ stopit is an npc and will be available for threading in his toplevel during the vernal equinox and graduation day, but not during spring break. After the game opens, he will be available as a student for threading on the npc contact page. The graduating student will not be available for threading in this TDM.

✽ During spring break, all npc students and faculty will be absent from the school, with exception of one white cat and one black cat. For this TDM, in addition to the areas greyed out and inaccessible on the locations page, the faculty office and nurse's office are locked and unavailable, as there is no staff. The library and club rooms remain open, but supplies will not replenish themselves.

✽ As a reminder, all doors and windows leading outside are locked and cannot be broken. From midnight until 6AM, all sound disappears from the world. Characters are free to use their PDA as a network, but it is text (and shitty touchpad art) only and all threads are public.

✽ TDM threads may be used for bonus activity after April AC is submitted.

Comments

hajime hinata | super dangan ronpa 2

[futurebullets]

i. cleaning

[Hinata can feel his stomach clench up into a tight knot as the laughter bounces around in his head, unnervingly familiar in a way he can't put his finger on. As the smell floods his nose, too much like the blood at the crime scenes of his dead classmates that he's become so terribly accustomed to-

...What the hell? His classmates aren't dead? They're fine, right besides him and being pieces of work as usual. He must not be getting enough sleep or something.

But... But the smell. That Godawful smell sets off both familiarity and panic in his brain, for some reason. It's enough to make his hands shake, and Hinata's overcome with the desperate need to get out.

He can't do this, he can't do this, he's going to go insane if he has to do this-

He has to. Hinata doesn't know why that feeling pings through him so strongly, but he can feel the back of his neck prickle with sweat as he picks up the sound of the students murmuring to themselves. There's a finality to their words, how they "must" clean up the classroom, and he doesn't want to find out what the alternative is. So he grits his teeth, hard enough to make his jaw ache, and gets back to work.]

I hear you. You don't have to tell me twice.

[That only coaxes out giggles from a girl at the other end of the board. Hinata does his best to stay calm.

In his haste to be done, there's a good chance he'll bump into another student who happens to be in his situation, but if not he definitely will once he's finished. The moment that the room is deemed clean enough, Hinata throws himself to his feet to get away from the class and the smell that haunted him even on Jabberwock-

Where... where is Jabberwock again-?

-and in the middle of that momentary confusion, he crashes shoulder-first into someone the moment he's out in the hall.]

S-sorry, I- [His face burns with embarrassment; whether it's from the collision or the stutter, he can't really say.] I just... needed to get some air.

[He feels a little lame for saying it, but it's the most genuine thought he could have right now.]

ii. dreams of a daily life

[He wakes up, indeed.

At first he's aware of touching the gorinto the moment he does so, fingers tracing the smoothness of the stone-

But that very quickly slides from his mind as easily as water.

There's someone he gets into fights with.]

If you're going to come in here with an attitude like that, I don't have to give you the time of day. [Hinata leans all the way back in his chair, looking at the person standing over him with the sharpest glare he can manage.] Things are hard enough without you acting like you're better than everyone.

[There's someone he always helps.]

No, no, not like that- [Hinata reaches over both his own desk and one beside him to point at a particular line of numbers.] Here, let's just. Try and go through it together this time, okay? Sorry, I know I suck at explaining this, but... We'll go slow and keep trying til you get it.

[And there's someone who always makes him feel safe.]

Hey, sorry I'm late. [Hinata offers a sheepish grin as he sits, gently bumping shoulders with the person already seated at the clock tower. It's only been a moment, but the tension begins to leave his shoulders. Sometimes he really doesn't know how stressed he is until he gets here.] But! I have the last thing we need for our midterm celebration. [A bag full of melon pan and other sweets is gently set between them, smile shifting into something more fond and soft.] I made sure to get a lot of your favorite, too.

[Hinata wakes up... but is he really waking up at all?]

iii. after graduation

[Even though he can already surmise the result, Hinata tries to open the front door again.]

...Still locked, huh? [He notes it with a grimace.] I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Disappointed, but not surprised. The fog that's seemed to hang around in his brain is dissipating, and with it comes the realization that something is terribly wrong - both with him, and with this school.

"Keep your eyes open." That's what his upperclassmen had said. He remembers it clearly, as clearly as he remembers the shock he'd felt at the sight of her arm.

I'm trying.

It won't do anything to mope at the entrance, though, so Hinata ventures back into the rest of the school in the hopes of possibly finding some sort of clue. It's out in the halls that he'll run into someone, or maybe a few someones, and speaks after a thoughtful pause.]

Hey... You're stuck here the same as me, aren't you? Otherwise you would've left with the others, right?

[He's apprehensive... but perhaps just a little bit hopeful, too. If he doesn't have to figure things out alone, maybe it'll be okay somehow.]

iv. wildcard

((got something else in mind? you're welcome to throw it at me here! c: i'm totally down for any pre-established cr via the second prompt, including any scenarios i didn't write out. if you need me for plotting or otherwise, feel free to shoot me a pm or hit me up at Yamadori!))

wildcard, somewhere after graduation! hinata kun.. i have found u

[commences]

( komaeda figures that this is just another stroke of bad luck — not for the obvious reasons of he doesn't belong here or that he has no recollection of it, but more that he finds the situation repetitive and boring. he sighs from his disappointment, tired of the same old scenery of just being trapped in something related to a school. it's not exactly the same as what he's been through, but the concept is way too familiar — all he needs is a monochrome bear and pastel bunny to show themselves and it'll really be like before.

to add a little flavor to his already disappointing life, he finds himself crawling through the ceiling in search for answers. yes, he should not be doing that, but komaeda's reasoning hasn't always been perfectly solid when he puts his mind to it. he's mindful of every movements forward, making sure his knees doesn't move any of the tiles beneath him to cause him to slip. it's one arm forward, then a knee, then his metal arm and then his other knee in this rotation to keep him balanced.

of course, he sees a light at the end of his dark tunnel — maybe it's a classroom he hasn't seen before with information he hasn't seen yet (hell, he hasn't seen anything so far) so when he decides to move closer to his destination, the tiles under him cave in from the weight.

it's like this school has no remorse for the sick, because komaeda is falling out of the ceiling with both tiles and drywall and crashing right down onto his unsuspecting victim. whoever it is did a great job in comforting komaeda's fall because he doesn't feel to be in that much pain. )

That wasn't so bad, but how unlucky.. how am I going to get up there now?

( is he acknowledging who he's sitting on? no. )

Komaeda!!!! it is he... i'm so sorry for Hinata's canon point, lol

[futurebullets]

[Hinata is so distracted by somebody crashing down on him with a bunch of debris areyouserious that he doesn't quite realize who it is right away, flailing his arms out from underneath himself to weakly smack at Komaeda.]

What the hell are you- Don't you realize you're on top of someone, you-

[He's been shaking his head while talking to rid it of dust - but he breaks off as soon as he opens his eyes and sees just who's above him, whatever else he was about to say quickly forgotten.]

You... Komaeda?!

[There's a flicker of- relief, which Hinata hates and refuses to acknowledge, but the more dominant emotion is that his aggravation has tripled. Hinata scowls at him.]

Get off. Get off of me right now.

[Well. At least he hasn't noticed the arm yet???]

don't apologize at all.. it's ok, because you can look up to your elders

[commences]

( komaeda's more focused on getting back into the hole he had been crawling in, but that voice.. that voice pulls him from his own thoughts and brings a hand to his chin in thought. it means something, it has a prickling sensation that's welcomed unlike everything else komaeda blocks out in his life. )

It's almost like I can hear him..

( what's that supposed to mean? well, komaeda really is blocking out whoever he's sitting on. he thinks this school is playing tricks on him, and while all he has to do is peek at who he's sitting in — he's against it. well, for however long that happened to be because with the constant touching, komaeda's quick to look towards the person with his brows knit together and a familiar disdain on his features until —

his expression quickly changes, a little shocked by the chance encounter this has brought him. )

Hinata-kun?

( wait, let him get a closer look which is komaeda straddling himself properly on the other as he leans forward, pulling at hinata's cheeks for good measure. )

Are you the real Hinata-kun?

asdfghjkl; i'mcrying, he Already had to look up

[futurebullets]

[oh my God this bastard]

I told you to get off of me!

[This is what Hinata intends to say, but it comes out far more garbled since Komaeda is??? pulling on his face??? That just ticks him off even more, so he'll latch onto Komaeda's wrists so he can pull them back enough to talk normally.]

Of course I'm real, you absolute moron-

[It has, once again, taken a bit for his brain to catch up. He's distracted, so maybe that's a little understandable. But now he can't help but feel it.

Cold. Komaeda's left hand is so much colder than his right, and it's a strange enough detail that it distracts him from whatever else he'd been about to yell.]

...Eh? Huh? [Hinata's looking. His eyes see it, but he can't process it.] Komaeda, you... Your hand-

[It's... It's metal, isn't it? Has Hinata actually gone crazy?]

iii

[nortonnnn]

( for norton, the overlap and blending between the memories of his life before and the "memories" of his life at the school only serves to highlight the stark contradictions between them. while being trapped isn't necessarily anything new, being trapped in a school certainly is. in fact, being in a school at all is. that's beside the point though—the point is that norton looks just about as out of place here as he feels.

so it shouldn't really surprise him when eventually another student notices the way he stands out. or at least, that's his assumption as to why he's the one who's been noticed all of a sudden.

that said, for another "trapped" person, norton doesn't seem so bothered. with a calm demanour about him, his expression reflects a rather benign curiosity. )

Yeah. ( gives it a moment's pause, considering it, and continues: ) Do you need something?

[futurebullets]

Answers about what's going on here, but I'm guessing we're both all out of those. [The corner of Hinata's mouth twitches up into a joking half-smile.] Something's really weird at this school, though, and I want to get to the bottom of it if I can. If we can figure out what's happening, maybe we can figure out a way to get out of here.

[The other man seems so calm, though... Hinata's a little envious, but there's a big part of him that admires it too. He feels like he's been freaking out since the moment he started remembering things.

Although... I guess I'm acting calmer than I feel.]

What's your name?

[nortonnnn]

( oh, jeez, he had an answer all prepared and everything. kinda catches norton off-guard to be honest, but he only raises a brow in response.

he doesn't waste any time in outlining their bizarre situation and what he wants to do about it, but there's a strong sense of purpose behind his words. norton can respect that. )

Straight to the point, huh. Well I'm not against it.

( was already a part of his plan, really—but the other is proactive about it. to the point of skipping a couple steps, it would almost seem; he's pretty sure that you're actually supposed to introduce yourself before asking for another's name. that said, this guy clearly has bigger things to worry about on his mind, so norton'll offer a pass this time. instead, he offers a faint smile. )

It's Norton—Norton Campbell. Yours?

[futurebullets]

[He rubs the back of his neck, having the grace to be a bit sheepish.]

...Sorry. I've heard I'm a little blunt sometimes.

[A """little""".]

I'm Hinata, though- Hinata Hajime. I wish it was under better circumstances, but... It's good meeting you, Norton.

[One day he's going to meet people under normal, non-life threatening circumstances, but it's not today.]

It's... weird, though, isn't it? [The half-smile on Hinata's face gives way to a more pensive look.] All of the staff is gone, but some of us were still left here.

i

[compendiem]

[ Minato blinks in surprise at being run into, but what slips out of his mouth is an apology rather than accepting one, because he'd been carrying a bucket of water back to class to help with the cleaning and while he's still carrying the bucket, the contents of it is currently pooling around their feet.

At least the bucket was only half full to begin with, as that was all Minato thought he'd be able to carry down the hall from where he'd filled it up at the bathroom. ]

...you're not allowed to go outside for air, though. They're taking this cleaning thing pretty seriously.

[ As if the doors and windows are all locked because they haven't finished spring cleaning yet. ]

[futurebullets]

Oh, damn it- Here, hold on a sec.

[Hinata's so sick of the cloth he's still holding in his hand, the last thing he wants to do is clean anything. But he still crouches down to try and mop some of the water up, since it's his fault it spilled anyway. He only flinches a little bit at the pinkness of a water, which is... probably an improvement over the last however-many-minutes he's been stuck in that room.]

But... Forcing us to clean and they won't let us outside. They really like making life hard, don't they?

[He sighs as he says it. Just the thought of going back in there is... exhausting.]

Even getting into the hall for a bit feels a little better, though. The smell in the classroom is... [Hinata swallows, hard, shoulders getting a little tenser.] ...awful.

[compendiem]

Oh.

[ And here Minato was, contemplating the pros and cons of tracking water everywhere versus standing here forever until it all dries- laziness like this is probably why all the stains have settled in the first place, to get to the point where everybody's got to scrub instead of simply sweeping. ]

It's... yeah. Blood. [ Rust, maybe, for the optimistic, but Minato has enough experience with blood to make the connection. It's familiar, in a weird way... blood dripping off the walls of his school building... the nostalgia places a weird, heavy feeling in his gut.

He crouches in place, like he's going to help Hinata wipe up the water, but he doesn't have any cloth in his hand so this is just solidarity or something. ]

At least it can be cleaned up. That's better than the school just being this way, right?

[futurebullets]

[Minato no...

Those words make Hinata freeze. The cloth squelches in his grip when his hand reflexively clenches.]

Oh, so that... It really was blood, then, huh? Haha...

[His voice is unsteady. God. He really doesn't want to go back in there anymore.]

I guess it is better, but... Why us? How did so much of it even get there in the first place?

[Hinata regrets saying it the second it leaves his mouth. Even if the other boy did have the answer... Would he really want to know?]

ii. version 3 of it because... 2 and v3 (i'm sorry)

[unsurely]

...Ah!

[ He's caught up in the scenery outside, watching it by himself, so the sudden contact and someone's arrival has the power to startle a strangled noise out of him near instantly. Though as soon as he sees them, even someone as nervous as Saihara feels soothed as if by miracle, answering with a tiny trace of smile of his own before he knows it. It's shy and almost uncertain, but it's there. If the familiarity weren't clouding his mind as it is, he might have worried about it quicker -- might have wondered why, even though just being with this person makes him feel like he belongs right here and nowhere else, he can't recall his name.

But for now, he's just relieved to see him, and so he answers with a soft shake of his head. ]

No... it's alright. I wasn't waiting for long.

[ He gives the bag a cursory, searching look, observant as always. He's thankful the other remembered his favorite, of course, but he can't help but notice something else as well -- which brings a pang of guilt that he can't feel fully happy for some reason. Or, that's not it; he really does appreciate it, he's honest about that, it's just. ]

But this looks like too much for us to eat on our own... We're going to invite everyone too, right?

[ We, not you. Because his best friend's decision is his own as well, no matter if it's not the idea Saihara got at first. ]

NO pls don't apologize... this watered my crops

[futurebullets]

Sorry, did I startle you? [He feels a little bad, but Hinata's still laughing. This is just like him, isn't it?] I'm glad I didn't keep you waiting, though. I think some of the other classes had the same idea, so I had to fight through the crowd a bit.

[Fortunately he's been planning ahead for this, or else today could've been pretty disappointing.

As he talks, Hinata reaches for one of those melon pan and shakes the bag open a bit afterwards so Saihara can reach more easily.]

We can get the others afterwards, yeah. But... [He shrugs his shoulders, a little embarrassed but still smiling.] Today's special, so we get to hang out first for a bit.

[Because it's been hard on both of them, trying to get to this point... but they made it. And Saihara deserves the world, but especially a bit of quiet before they meet up with everybody else.

If Hinata wants his best friend to himself for a bit, too... Well. Nobody needs to know that part.]

OK SAME i love... dangan protags so much, this is dream cr

[unsurely]

[ Oh... so it wasn't just him after all. In a very different way, it's actually a little more difficult to process that as confirmed rather than when he was just wondering about it on his own. ]

R-Right.

[ His face is starting to feel warm from embarrassment... Thankfully, the bag of snacks provides just the distraction Saihara needs -- though it also means he notices the consideration he's being shown. It feels so nice and welcoming that... before he knows it, he's giving up on the slice of matcha pound cake he'd chosen at first, digging out something different instead. It's the same melon pan as his companion's pick, but please don't call him out. He just... kind of felt like sharing the same thing, for no reason. Just this once. ]

I guess I might only be imagining it, but... it almost feels like you've been working even harder this year. I mean, you're always doing that, ▓▒▓▒▓▒-kun--

[ Damn it. What is this...? In an instant, the snack slips out of his hands, its plastic wrapper crinkling loudly where it lands against the floor. Instead, Saihara's hand shoots up to his temple, body tense as if a sudden pang of something had set him on edge. It's not like his head is hurting but... what's with the dread building up in his chest out of nowhere? What was he trying to say in that sentence? ]

III

[moraloutrage]

[This other boy stands as rigidly as possible and is attempting to keep as neutral a face as possible. It's not perfect, however, as his mouth starts to curl into an anxious frown, and there are some beads of sweat on his forehead. He really does not want to face the idea of being trapped here. But at least there's another, agreeable-seeming youth to meet.]

That - yes, that would be quite correct of you to say! I was unable to leave with the mass of the student body, and I have had trouble locating a working exit from this place for the time being... So you could say that we are currently 'stuck' here. For the time being!

Gore!!!!!!

[futurebullets]

Yeah, that happened to me too... I tried to leave but no matter where I went, everything was just. Locked.

[He still tries not to think about it - the way the students and faculty had just phased through the doors like spirits. The more his rational brain tries to logic it out, the less sense it makes. And the more he can feel fear hanging on him like a heavy coat.]

I guess we're not in this alone at least, but...

[I'm so tired of being trapped. He never thought he'd ever think something like this, but it's even worse than Jabberwock now that he can remember it - at least then they hadn't been confined to a building, unable to even open a window for air.

None of those thoughts will help them get out, though.]

...No, never mind. If we're not alone, we can work together to get out of here. [A little bit of the anxiety leaves his face at the thought. They'll just have to keep looking.] The results might be the same, but... I'm going to look around a bit more, if you want to come with.

Yamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru listens attentively to the other boy, nodding along and making affirmative noises. It is true that at least they have each other! There is that comfort for them in this dire situation. He's also relieved to be in a school that seems to be free of Monokuma. And at least the windows aren't blocked, so he can see the outside world... It's just a shame that this school seems to lack the dorms and cafeteria that he took for granted at Hope's Peak.

But at the same time, Ishimaru is determined to believing that they won't be staying here for long. This time, he won't stay trapped! And so, Ishimaru answers the boy almost immediately.]

I will gladly accompany you! There's still a chance that there is some stone that has been left unturned, some secret waiting to be discovered! [Some miracle that can get them out of here.] The most effective way to find such things is by working together and doing our best. So let's do just that!

My name is Kiyotaka Ishimaru. It will be a pleasure to work with you!

i - grips ur hands. thank you for this blessed hinata..............

[optimistical]

[ Naegi got kicked out of his class only minutes earlier, making the mistake of slipping and drenching himself in soapy water. It's absolutely gross and he doesn't know what to do when he doesn't have a change of clothes, but his classmates don't want him standing around and dripping all over their clean floor, so... he doesn't have much to do, but stand helpless in the middle of the hallway. ]

[ It's at this point that a fellow protag bumps into him. ]

Ah-- sorry, that's also my fault. I shouldn't be standing in the middle of the hall.

[ Taking a step to the side to give the other student more space, he looks up at him and... ]

... have we met?

OMG KOUHAI... no I am the one that is blessed thank you ;A;

[futurebullets]

[Hinata waves his hands in front of him, just a little bit sheepish. It feels like something bad that had been wound up tight in his stomach is unraveling a little.]

No, no, it's not your fault at all! I wasn't watching where I was going, so...

[His eyes widen at the question, and his brain wracks through possibilities, trying to think if they share any classes...

The only thing he can come away with is the vague feeling that he's forgotten important things in the past before, so maybe there's a chance he just can't remember?]

I... I don't think we have, but... [He laughs at himself a little.] Sorry, I tend to be a little forgetful sometimes. Maybe it just slipped my mind?

°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

[optimistical]

[ Unlike his run-in with Komaeda, everything comes back to Naegi much faster. Why? Because Hinata isn't a goddamn disaster that everyone wants to forget and leave at the gas station like Komaeda. ]

But...

[ He bows his head as he tries to remember. It's right at the tip of his tongue. He knows this person. ]

You're... Hinata-kun... right?

ii: someone he always helps

[mermaidcursed]

I'm sorry! It's normally easy for me to pick up on things... but math seems to not like me today.

[ Division is the absolute worst, truly. Still, she can't help but frown at the paper between them. She wasn't the absolute best student, but she always studied as hard as she could. why didn't she understand? ]

You don't suck, I just... don't always get it.

omg I'm so glad it's this one... thank you...

[futurebullets]

[He smiles at her, just a little bit lop-sided.] Math never gets along with me, I just convince it to agree for a little bit.

[Hinata can't help but feel a little bad though, seeing the way she frowns at the page. He hesitates for the briefest moment- then gives her shoulder a pat, brief but warm.]

I know you're trying you're best, though... And sometimes it's hard to do your best, but that hard work will pay off in the end. [He pauses for just moment, thinking.] What would you say is the hardest part of solving this?

it felt Right (tm)

[mermaidcursed]

Really? It just kicks me in the shin and runs. [ Still, she laughs a bit at her own bad joke, so she's in good spirits despite everything!

As Hinata speaks, Nene gives him an appreciative smile. Studying doesn't always come to her so well, and she's generally good at everything but the core classes. ... Needless to say, her teachers always seem a little disappointed in her. ]

Um... to be honest, I just. Don't get division in general. Like in theory it makes sense, but...