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[ Amami makes the correct choice as Ranger starts to open his mouth to question that very thing before closing it. It starts to make more sense as he goes on. He's not entirely unclear as to why he has this ring if it 's not coming from his, but he figures the context will be given if he listens. Ranger nods. ]

Yeah, he'll make it weird if you do.

[ It's said in a matter-of-fact tone, as though this were perfectly normal. He's fond of Komaeda, but it's not like he's blind or deaf. ]

Sure, I can give it a shot. I can usually get him to at least hear me out. So, what's the deal with this thing you got for him?

Thanks, I knew you'd be the right person for this.

( someone komaeda actually seems to get along with, but also somebody who doesn't hate his guts for reasons he doesn't quite understand. he's pretty sure ranger doesn't hate him, at least. in any case, he'll reach into his pocket, pulling out a silver ring adorned with what looks like a school crest, holding it out for ranger to take, or at least look at once he does. )

It's something that was his to begin with, I'm pretty sure. Hinata-kun gave it to me, and said that Komaeda-kun threw it away on purpose, but... I have reason to think that might not be the case.

( based on the timeframes, that's one thing his memory can assure him of. )

I think it might mean a lot to both of them if it was back with him.

[ Ranger takes the ring, pinching it between his index finger and thumb. He inclines his head, holding the ring up and turning it this way and that as he examines it. It's a nice ring, and it seems to be well cared for, and it does seem strange to him that a person would just throw it away. ]

Ahaha, it sounds like you guys have been playing hot potato with it. Seems like a pretty nice ring to just throw away. This a school ring or something?

[ Jewelry is easily lost and stolen, though, so he wonders if maybe it was one of those two. He lowers the ring, letting it drop into his palm before curling his fingers around it. ]

Anyway, sure, I don't mind giving it back from him.

I appreciate it.

( he'll pocket his hand, smiling easily as he nods along with ranger's observation. )

But yeah, it is. Hinata-kun and Komaeda-kun, apparently they went to the same school. I thought it was strange too, that he would throw away something like that, so that's why I think it's worth trying to give back.

( also why amami thinks he didn't, especially with what hinata had mentioned about that school being somewhere... something important to both of them. there's a small huff, a sigh of relief, and he looks pleased enough with this outcome. seriously, it'd felt like the thing was burning a hole in his pocket from all the pressure it held with it, so that it can go back to its rightful owner is a relief to him. )

[ Ranger does briefly consider the possibility that he might have chosen to discard it, if only because it doesn't seem that he's made any effort to look for it. If that were the case, it might just discomfit him to be given it back. But then he's already done so multiple times in recent memory, so what would one more incident be? Either way, he's already committed now, and Ranger is true to his word.

Besides, something about the idea of throwing away an object that was once important unsettles him. He doesn't like it. With that in mind, he continues, ]

Hmm, I see... Well, happy to be of service and all that. How long have you been hanging onto this thing for anyway?

Longer than I'd have liked, to be honest with you.

( god, it was summer when hinata passed it on to him, wasn't it? when they were setting up the tent that one time for club activities. but then, when he'd connected the pieces and decided to give it back, things felt like they happened one after another — missions, disappearances, murders — the timing... never quite felt right. ranger? he doesn't seem like the time who'd stress so much over such a thing.

either way, he appreciates that it'll finally be going back to its rightful owner. )

It's from some time before Hinata-kun lost his memories, ( is how he decides to elaborate. ) The time with the elevator.

( was ranger here for that? maybe not, but anyway, now he knows something about hinata if not. )

[ He lost his memory? That's interesting. Ranger supposes these things do happen, though, and amnesia isn't so uncommon of a phenomena. He files the information away for future use. stares for a moment, puzzled by the mention of the elevator. That's pretty vague, so he assumes that something important must have happened for it to be mentioned. ]

Well, better late than never. I'll letchya know how it goes.

[ It won't take long. Ranger doesn't like having tasks unfinished. He tilts his head to one side. Might as well ask. ]

So, what's this thing with the elevator? Dunno that I was around for that one.

Right, sorry. Wasn't sure about that. ( doesn't keep quite so much track of komaeda that he could tell you when, off the top of his head, he started hanging out with ranger, so... )

I wasn't exactly around for it. A bit preoccupied, y'know? But Komaeda-kun was there — apparently Hinata-kun went down the elevator for some reason and came out of it pretty roughed up. He had to spend some time in the nurse's office recovering from it all.

( STILL don't know what the hell happened to him down there, but whatever it was, amami doesn't really appreciate it. even if hinata was looking pretty miserable in the time leading up to the incident, a situation like that is... small huff, not the point. )

Next time I saw him, I had to introduce myself all over again.

Oh. So he himself amnesia? Well, that's not uncommon with severe trauma.

[ Ranger files the information away for future use. He isn't inclined to involve himself in the affairs of others, but such information is useful to have on hand. He wonders if it doesn't have to something to do with him disposing of the ring in the first place. Well, no matter.

He considers asking more, but Ranger suspects that elsewhere in the void, Komaeda's ears are burning and so he refrains. ]

Hm... Come to think of it, I heard if you press the red button in the elevator, you get thrown into the worst version of your world or something like that. Any idea if that's true?

[ He hasn't experimented with it himself... Well, not yet anyway. It's on the to-do list. ]

Edited 2022-01-16 06:43 (UTC)

Yeah, something like that.

( to hinata or the elevator? that's another yes. )

I checked it out once before, but when you know what to expect, it's hard to be too shaken by it... I mean, it's not real, right? But I guess Hinata-kun must've gone to somewhere more dangerous than me, coming back like that.

( whether it's the reality of their worlds or not, if you die in a dream you die in real life and all that. amami's dumb ass would know. )

[ Ranger nods. ]

Well, some people are more fragile than others.

[ It could have been worse, too, or more likely some combination of the two. Humans can carry different amounts of weight on them and some are always closer to snapping than others. ]

What'd you see when you went there?

[ Should he be asking this kind of personal question? Probably not. Does he care? Also probably not. ]

( it's fair, and amami considers that — hinata had been fracturing to begin with at that time. healing, sure, but the cracks seemed to run through the very foundation of what he'd believed in. maybe it was a trauma more psychological than physical. either way, he shrugs. )

Nothing much to speak of, felt more like ruins than a city. The sky was red. ( so that was probably bad.

while it's true that most people wouldn't pry on what might've been seen down there, for his part, someone else might not have been as calm about this as amami is. it just feels... like too much. his whole situation that brought him here might have been unbelievable, but there's still a point at which the suspension of disbelief on what's really truly possible begins to give in under the weight.

and even if it was real, there's little he can do about that until he solves what's happening here. )

[ It's an interesting response, and Ranger isn't disappointed by it. The way people cope when faced with what should be a traumatic occurrence says something about them. Amami is reactive enough that it's out of step with his normal behavior. ]

... Ahahha, sounds to me like you could've done worse.

[ He stares for a couple seconds, trying to discern something, before shrugging. ]

Think there's a point to it aside from trying to spook anyone stupid enough to push the button? Seems weird to go through all that effort for a whole lotta nothing.

[ Then again, maybe it wasn't much effort? Who knows. Either way, it seems like a waste of space.

He shakes his head. ]

... Hm, guess this isn't really the time to speculate about stuff like that, huh?

( it's a good question, and not one amami had been able to consider for too long before more pressing matters stole his attention away. it's hard to find a logical reason why the school would manifest something like that, especially when amami knows that it's capable of not being quite so cruel, but...

it really isn't the time now, is it? a smile spreads across amami's face, and he'll offer up a shrug. )

It might be better to spend our time speculating about how we'll get back to the school with the elevator. We can work out anything else from there.

( one step at a time. )

[ He nods in agreement. There's more important things to focus on, and Ranger supposes they should both resume focusing on that. ]

Right. Have you been able to figure anything out?

No, not yet... If this place is some kind of puzzle, it's a tough one. ( and amami's never been good at escape rooms. )

I'm starting to run out of places to look, to be honest with you. I know there has to be some way out, but knowing where to start looking is...

( hm. trailing off with a sigh, amami glances to ranger, expectant. )

How about you? Anything new turn up?

[ Ranger shakes his head. ]

Nope. I've found a couple things, but nothing related to getting out of here. I don't think there's anything in this room either... Honestly, I think we're just missing something in one of the spots we've already been to.

[ The science room comes to mind. There's just too many oddities. He shakes his head. ]

Well, I guess we're not gonna find the answer standing around talking about it though. I cn let you know if I think of anywhere else to check.

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my paid died hold on this is ur icon now

NOT UR PAID DIED always happens to me mid tag

EVERY TIME...

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