[Here is Shin, local loner, nosing late through the door to the common room and already looking like he's planning to just stand in the corner drinking something and watching the goings on until it's been the requisite amount of socially acceptable time before leaving.
He is doomed, though. Socialisation and mingling is the dread fate hanging upon him. It Approaches.]
( he sure is doomed. there's really no better occasion for amami to introduce kaede around and get her started off on the right foot, and he's got a couple people at the top of his list that he'd like most to introduce her to. of that list, "sou hiyori" is pretty high up there. if shin meets amami's eyes for so much as a moment, he can see the way they brighten. turning to kaede, he'll gesture for her to follow before making a direct bee-line towards shin. )
Hey Hiyori-kun, you have a minute? There's someone I wanted to introduce you to.
[kaede's going to be wheeled around so much meeting all of amami's friends, but she doesn't seem to mind at all as she follows the other. shin looks like he'd rather be standing by the wall than be introduced to someone new though, and while she feels a little bad about it...]
Hi there! I'm Akamatsu Kaede, a friend of Amami-kun's. It's nice to meet you, Hiyori-kun.
[she doesn't feel bad enough to not make conversation or dissuade amami from this one.]
[It's like a pokemon battle... they lock eyes and there's the music and it's all over. It's still a bit weird for Shin, that brightening on seeing him, but he's had at least a little time to get used to it, hand lifting and fingers curling in in an uncertain half-wave as they come over.]
Ah, I'm not busy... N-nice to meet you too, Miss Kaede.
[His smile's friendly enough, even as the eyes above it aren't directly meeting hers.]
Ahaha, Rantaro's told me about you... the ultimate pianist, right?
[He's heard Komaeda go on about ultimate this and that before, although like 'hope' this and that it's something he's used to tuning out. Rantaro was really excited to learn he was the ultimate adventurer though so... it's something fairly important he guesses?]
[oh, she knows this type... she was just besties with one... shy, passive, and lack self-confidence in themselves. shin's made himself a target.]
That's me, though... I honestly wouldn't call it an "ultimate" anything. I just like playing piano a little too much, that's all -- I'm your ordinary, every day girl otherwise.
[despite how amami hypes her up it's honestly a little embarrassing]
kaede in every thread like thanks for the intro ami you can go now
Haha, well, even if the "ultimate" part isn't so important, it'd be hard to introduce you without mentioning that you're a pianist.
( you should hear her, hiyori-kun, she says "oh my chopin" or whatever instead of oh my god. it's a lot, but amami looks fondly amused even as he agrees. )
Akamatsu-san, this is Hiyori Sou-kun. I told you about him earlier, but he's the reason I was able to remember my talent. He can be pretty sharp, too.
[Honestly it says a lot that this protest is actually being said out loud and not staying safe and sound in the brackets text to only manifest as a tiny minus above Shin's head. He's trying to play it off at least... same with the reminder that people can and do talk about him when he's not around. Rantaro and Kaede apparently being from the same 'ultimates' world... he wonders if she's heard of the things he's told Shin about.]
Well, don't sell yourself short... If you like something enough to do it that much, you're gonna get good at it, right?
[Which is one of those things unknowingly clicking into place below the surface as he says it. He's not sure what to say about the piano thing in specific because most of the music he listened to was either video game music or the entire subset of electronica with various suffixes. It's unfamiliar.]
Ahaha, I'm starting to think there's no such thing as an ordinary every day person...
Thank you for helping Amami-kun out so much. [it was a real thorn in his side, he seems happier with himself now.] He can be a little bit of a puzzle, but he really is a good guy despite the way he talks -- I'm glad there's been so many people who can see that.
[it's something she grew to know too, even if that time had been shorter than she'd wanted. even if she'll still end up poking fun at him about his playboy looks and vague way of speaking.]
( yeah that happens when you remember your talent and forget your failures. anyway, once he's offered a teasing smile to shin, now it's his turn to be faux-offended. )
Wait, what's wrong with the way I talk?
( he talks perfectly normal? totally normal and chill, regular guy? not that he's much more confident in what he's supposed to do with the praise that comes along with her comment either, laughing a bit as he runs his fingers through his hair. )
Haha, feels like I'm introducing Hiyori-kun to my parents or something, it's kind of embarrassing.
( "thank you for looking after my son" and all that. )
[He doesn't want to say it was mostly by accident... but it was mostly by accident. He offered the lantern's use, but it's not like he knew in advance which memory would be uncovered, or that it would be that important to Rantaro.
Similarly, it's why he saw the side of Rantaro that he absolutely didn't expect either, that he's also being congratulated for... It's hard not to feel just kind of swept along by events, up to and including being Formally Introduced.]
( oof, called out. he'll weigh the words in his mind for a moment, but decides to build on her other answer instead. )
Akamatsu-san and I were kind of like classmates. We didn't really get the chance to get to know each other too well though, before I came here.
( died, he means, but this is a nicer sounding way to say it. in fact, the whole thing sounds a lot nicer than the reality of their circumstances, but if you ignore that slight stiffness to the smile he's got plastered on, he'd like to think he's found a way to make it sound pretty normal. either way, he shrugs for now. )
Actually, I can't think of anyone I've spent quite as much time with as I have with you guys.
( almost a full school year now, huh? under normal circumstances he'd have long since dipped by now but, hey, shin can take this as amami's way of telling him not to sell himself short on the friendship level he's managed hit. )
[It's one of Shin's curses to assume that in any given group, he's the most socially awkward there; it's borne itself true just often enough to stick, then been rubbed in like salt. So it's a surprise initially, given that statement's true for him as well, save for his parents and, well.]
Guess that happens with a life on the road. Not visiting the same place twice...
[This makes more sense. There's only so long you can travel with someone as well. He's a little envious sometimes, hearing Rantaro's tales... he didn't really leave his apartment outside of work, but maybe one day he could have traveled, saved up enough... maybe. Possibly. It's the tempting daydream of breaking out of a stagnating life like oxygen. He won't get the chance now unless they crack open the school, so he'll settle for vicarious experience.]
Ah, sorry to hear that...
[Two in the same class... rough for them, and rough for the other students probably. He's not sure what to say, reaching for what is said. It really is awkward they're all dead here, in some unexpected ways. The concept of it being a death game isn't on his radar; Nene passed in her hospital bed, so it's not the commonality between all of them. Although...]
Kind of... Did you share an elective or something? Or I guess if Amami was traveling that much...
[... they're alike in that way, she guess; amami's travels, her own devotion to playing piano. it's a. pleasantly normal way to put it though, and if he's going to try for that then she'll naturally follow suit -- there's no way anyone wants to hear about a school that pits its students against each other, after all.
what would amami be like as a fellow student in a normal school...? this place is probably going to be as close as that gets.]
Something like that.
[by bach she isn't sure how else to put it. they didn't even start in the same locker area.]
Anyway, what do you like to do for fun, Hiyori-kun? Maybe the three of us could hang out for a little while!
( hey— that was supposed to be a casual, offhand comment, how dare shin call him out by repeating no one and making him sound lonely as hell. this is why sara thinks he's a friendless loser, isn't it?
actually, amami is about to open his mouth and say something suitably ominous and vague to correct shin's best guess at what classmates was supposed to mean, but luckily for everyone involved, kaede beats him to the punch. he shuts his mouth as she agrees, glancing at her, but guesses that's as good a direction to go in as any. that easy smile is quick to come back through the momentary confusion, and he'll twirl a bit of his hair in thought. )
That's not a bad idea. I'm up for pretty much anything as long as Hiyori-kun doesn't mind.
[Well, that's a subject change if Shin ever heard one... but he isn't going to pry. Just file it away.
...Of course, that means he has to come up with a hobby that won't fall apart as a lie the moment they try it, because most of his hobbies are the kind of low key things you do alone, indoors... playing video games, reading light novels, getting into internet arguments... programming itself is fun if he's just messing around and not trying to meet a deadline, but it's not exactly a pick up and play team sport. He doesn't want to give off a gloomy first impression... unaware that he kind of already has.]
Well... I go swimming often but it's way too cold for that right now.
[Stalling for time. He doesn't know about the void worms, nobody tell him.]
There's the gaming club... Most of the actual games will probably have been taken home, though.
[Leaving the board games and puzzles that Komaeda seems to have settled on as the weekly torture device.]
Ahaha, there really isn't a lot to do here, is there? I-I guess if either of you have anything you want to do...
[Smooth. Nailed it. This is now not about Shin at all.]
[they can think of a cover story later... kind of classmates, but it'd be easy to say that amami was away a lot so they didn't get to know each other... yeah... it's not a whole lie, just most of it is... she can probably handle that without messing it up if they're really gonna go this way with people who aren't like them...]
I've never gone swimming before, so I don't think I'd be a lot of fun there anyway...
[she'd have to learn to swim, and they'd have to babysit and make sure she didn't drown... yeah no. games would be nice, but it sounds like there's not a lot of fun choices left.
...
don't default to piano don't default to piano don't default to pia]
Amami-kun, you're our only hope.
[please think of something she's new she doesn't know.]
( amami wasn't trying to lie... were they not classmates in killing school? insane. )
I don't think there's anything wrong with your guys' suggestions... and I'll admit, mine aren't much more interesting.
( board games and swimming seem perfectly fine to him. what's he got... painting? the library maybe? uhh, bro he spends time trying to meditate without falling asleep and taking care of 29843 plants... unless you want to be recruited to change the water on jars of pothos, there's very little amami has to offer to this conversation. )
Movies, maybe? Kamo-kun picked up a few of them for us before, so we've got some variety now.
( not super, like, interactive... but the silence wouldn't be awkward if there was something to focus on, and it'd give them something to talk about after they watched them. )
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Rantaro + Kaede, Xmas Party
He is doomed, though. Socialisation and mingling is the dread fate hanging upon him. It Approaches.]
i love the icon wtf
Hey Hiyori-kun, you have a minute? There's someone I wanted to introduce you to.
sou cute...
Hi there! I'm Akamatsu Kaede, a friend of Amami-kun's. It's nice to meet you, Hiyori-kun.
[she doesn't feel bad enough to not make conversation or dissuade amami from this one.]
sou cute oh my god
Ah, I'm not busy... N-nice to meet you too, Miss Kaede.
[His smile's friendly enough, even as the eyes above it aren't directly meeting hers.]
Ahaha, Rantaro's told me about you... the ultimate pianist, right?
[He's heard Komaeda go on about ultimate this and that before, although like 'hope' this and that it's something he's used to tuning out. Rantaro was really excited to learn he was the ultimate adventurer though so... it's something fairly important he guesses?]
thought ud like it (butts enh out the way)
That's me, though... I honestly wouldn't call it an "ultimate" anything. I just like playing piano a little too much, that's all -- I'm your ordinary, every day girl otherwise.
[despite how amami hypes her up it's honestly a little embarrassing]
kaede in every thread like thanks for the intro ami you can go now
( you should hear her, hiyori-kun, she says "oh my chopin" or whatever instead of oh my god. it's a lot, but amami looks fondly amused even as he agrees. )
Akamatsu-san, this is Hiyori Sou-kun. I told you about him earlier, but he's the reason I was able to remember my talent. He can be pretty sharp, too.
( the keyword here being "can". )
no subject
H-hey, what do you mean, 'can'?
[Honestly it says a lot that this protest is actually being said out loud and not staying safe and sound in the brackets text to only manifest as a tiny minus above Shin's head. He's trying to play it off at least... same with the reminder that people can and do talk about him when he's not around. Rantaro and Kaede apparently being from the same 'ultimates' world... he wonders if she's heard of the things he's told Shin about.]
Well, don't sell yourself short... If you like something enough to do it that much, you're gonna get good at it, right?
[Which is one of those things unknowingly clicking into place below the surface as he says it. He's not sure what to say about the piano thing in specific because most of the music he listened to was either video game music or the entire subset of electronica with various suffixes. It's unfamiliar.]
Ahaha, I'm starting to think there's no such thing as an ordinary every day person...
[Exhibit A, all of Yogen. Yes, even the NPCs.]
no subject
[to who? yes. to what? yes. both of you.]
Thank you for helping Amami-kun out so much. [it was a real thorn in his side, he seems happier with himself now.] He can be a little bit of a puzzle, but he really is a good guy despite the way he talks -- I'm glad there's been so many people who can see that.
[it's something she grew to know too, even if that time had been shorter than she'd wanted. even if she'll still end up poking fun at him about his playboy looks and vague way of speaking.]
no subject
Wait, what's wrong with the way I talk?
( he talks perfectly normal? totally normal and chill, regular guy? not that he's much more confident in what he's supposed to do with the praise that comes along with her comment either, laughing a bit as he runs his fingers through his hair. )
Haha, feels like I'm introducing Hiyori-kun to my parents or something, it's kind of embarrassing.
( "thank you for looking after my son" and all that. )
no subject
[He doesn't want to say it was mostly by accident... but it was mostly by accident. He offered the lantern's use, but it's not like he knew in advance which memory would be uncovered, or that it would be that important to Rantaro.
Similarly, it's why he saw the side of Rantaro that he absolutely didn't expect either, that he's also being congratulated for... It's hard not to feel just kind of swept along by events, up to and including being Formally Introduced.]
You two know each other pretty well then, huh.
no subject
You have a roundabout way of speaking sometimes, Amami-kun -- it's hard to know what you're thinking.
[that's all. adding credence to hiyori's words, but-- kaede'll shake her head, laughing a little. they might act like it, but,]
Oh-- No, definitely not. But I'm hoping to change that now.
no subject
Akamatsu-san and I were kind of like classmates. We didn't really get the chance to get to know each other too well though, before I came here.
( died, he means, but this is a nicer sounding way to say it. in fact, the whole thing sounds a lot nicer than the reality of their circumstances, but if you ignore that slight stiffness to the smile he's got plastered on, he'd like to think he's found a way to make it sound pretty normal. either way, he shrugs for now. )
Actually, I can't think of anyone I've spent quite as much time with as I have with you guys.
( almost a full school year now, huh? under normal circumstances he'd have long since dipped by now but, hey, shin can take this as amami's way of telling him not to sell himself short on the friendship level he's managed hit. )
no subject
[It's one of Shin's curses to assume that in any given group, he's the most socially awkward there; it's borne itself true just often enough to stick, then been rubbed in like salt. So it's a surprise initially, given that statement's true for him as well, save for his parents and, well.]
Guess that happens with a life on the road. Not visiting the same place twice...
[This makes more sense. There's only so long you can travel with someone as well. He's a little envious sometimes, hearing Rantaro's tales... he didn't really leave his apartment outside of work, but maybe one day he could have traveled, saved up enough... maybe. Possibly. It's the tempting daydream of breaking out of a stagnating life like oxygen. He won't get the chance now unless they crack open the school, so he'll settle for vicarious experience.]
Ah, sorry to hear that...
[Two in the same class... rough for them, and rough for the other students probably. He's not sure what to say, reaching for what is said. It really is awkward they're all dead here, in some unexpected ways. The concept of it being a death game isn't on his radar; Nene passed in her hospital bed, so it's not the commonality between all of them. Although...]
Kind of... Did you share an elective or something? Or I guess if Amami was traveling that much...
no subject
what would amami be like as a fellow student in a normal school...? this place is probably going to be as close as that gets.]
Something like that.
[by bach she isn't sure how else to put it. they didn't even start in the same locker area.]
Anyway, what do you like to do for fun, Hiyori-kun? Maybe the three of us could hang out for a little while!
no subject
actually, amami is about to open his mouth and say something suitably ominous and vague to correct shin's best guess at what classmates was supposed to mean, but luckily for everyone involved, kaede beats him to the punch. he shuts his mouth as she agrees, glancing at her, but guesses that's as good a direction to go in as any. that easy smile is quick to come back through the momentary confusion, and he'll twirl a bit of his hair in thought. )
That's not a bad idea. I'm up for pretty much anything as long as Hiyori-kun doesn't mind.
no subject
...Of course, that means he has to come up with a hobby that won't fall apart as a lie the moment they try it, because most of his hobbies are the kind of low key things you do alone, indoors... playing video games, reading light novels, getting into internet arguments... programming itself is fun if he's just messing around and not trying to meet a deadline, but it's not exactly a pick up and play team sport. He doesn't want to give off a gloomy first impression... unaware that he kind of already has.]
Well... I go swimming often but it's way too cold for that right now.
[Stalling for time. He doesn't know about the void worms, nobody tell him.]
There's the gaming club... Most of the actual games will probably have been taken home, though.
[Leaving the board games and puzzles that Komaeda seems to have settled on as the weekly torture device.]
Ahaha, there really isn't a lot to do here, is there? I-I guess if either of you have anything you want to do...
[Smooth. Nailed it. This is now not about Shin at all.]
no subject
I've never gone swimming before, so I don't think I'd be a lot of fun there anyway...
[she'd have to learn to swim, and they'd have to babysit and make sure she didn't drown... yeah no. games would be nice, but it sounds like there's not a lot of fun choices left.
...
don't default to piano don't default to piano don't default to pia]
Amami-kun, you're our only hope.
[please think of something she's new she doesn't know.]
no subject
I don't think there's anything wrong with your guys' suggestions... and I'll admit, mine aren't much more interesting.
( board games and swimming seem perfectly fine to him. what's he got... painting? the library maybe? uhh, bro he spends time trying to meditate without falling asleep and taking care of 29843 plants... unless you want to be recruited to change the water on jars of pothos, there's very little amami has to offer to this conversation. )
Movies, maybe? Kamo-kun picked up a few of them for us before, so we've got some variety now.
( not super, like, interactive... but the silence wouldn't be awkward if there was something to focus on, and it'd give them something to talk about after they watched them. )