yogen | lower

How despairing.

( he huffs, a bit of annoyance trapped inside his tone as stands in the science room, which happens to be the warmest place within the cold of the building. there's one hand on his hip as the other dangles by his side, and eyes attach to the cat bed that has two bowls by its side, one filled with water, and the other a sole treat accordingly. what's gotten under komaeda's skin, probably the recent developments, or maybe the broken pda, or the fact that clues are scarce, but this place seems almost like the foundation for the school as they know it.

anyway, it's the fact he can't ping them like normal, so komaeda had to send a quick text to amami, and then ask dynamo for assistance who would go and locate ranger, and there'd be a note attached to the ai that gives a meeting location. )

How stupid of me, we should have covered the container, but then again it would have soaked through no matter what...

( too many missteps that bother him, too many problems that were right before his eyes as he sighs, talking to himself of all things. there's no need to think back on the past (future) now, but maybe leaving a note to make sure the container never breaks would be a good idea; history normally repeats. )

[ The void, at least, prevents Ranger from practicing his usual habit of seeming to appear and disappear with no warning or explanation. The floorboards creak under him as he walks, stopping next to Komaeda and turning to look at his set up. They probably should have given up on it when it didn't immediately lure any cats in. It's kind of sad to look at now.

Either way, he doesn't say anything, but he does turn his head and offers what might pass for a questioning look behind the open-mouthed grin expression card. What now? ]

( amami is almost a little late despite the text message — the type who doesn't check his phone as often as he should, it seems. he does make it there though. takes him a minute, but he manages to catch the last of ranger disappearing into the room as he rounds the corner, heading in himself shortly after. a of green hair pops in through the doorway, peeking inside before the rest of him follows.

those two seem a bit occupied as he makes his way over, but his line of sight is cut off from whatever it is they seem to be looking at now. tilting his head a little, he tries to get a glance at whatever it is. might end up interrupting the vibe a little when he speaks up: )

What's up, did you find something?

Sigh. ( ... ) I find myself hopelessly disappointed in the situation we've found ourselves in.

( anyone would be, but it's only been a full day, and a second day with half already eaten away. the sun is slowly setting, and there's no light here, and so he understands that the conversation here can't be lengthy. he looks down towards ranger, before his eyes flit towards amami, and komaeda pulls himself up on the desk as he crosses his legs. )

You two... might want to take a seat for this one.

( there's a complimentary desk surrounding the cat bed close by, and it's ... like a summoning circle, komaeda put a lot of thought into this one. )

[ It's nostalgic to be called in like this. The number of people present varied, ranging from three to all five of the Floormasters, but it wasn't all that uncommon to come together about some problem or another. Maybe that's why he's quieter than usual, fixing Komaeda with an expectant look. He doesn't think he needs to do so, but Ranger will shrug and follow his lead. He sits on the desk, resting his free hand on it as he looks between the two of them.

Well, at least they'd gotten an answer to what would happen if the beaker popped, or at least that's what he assumes this is related to that. ]

Yep, it sucks, so what?

[ He doesn't doubt that it's important enough, but might as well get it over with. He has floorboards to tear up, amongst other things. ]

( wow... he really just said sigh out loud...

well, seeing the cat bed though, it kind of makes more sense. komaeda really was fond of that white cat in particular, so it's no wonder he'd be frustrated at a scene like this one. makes amami feel a little bad, actually — even a matter-of-fact comment on how they'll get back to it wouldn't be much condolence for something like this, now would it?

for now he'll shut his mouth and sit himself up on a desk to join them, just one leg pulled up and tucked under him. it looks like ranger's got the "get to the point" part covered in any case. )

( it takes a few tries. running up and down stairs, scaling the side of the school, checking into empty club rooms and classrooms; no clue where he'll actually end up finding ranger, but he's certainly searching his hardest. he'd been thinking this over for a while, putting it off and reconsidering and second-guessing, but the end of the year is getting closer. with things being as they are in this place, he doesn't want to have this left unresolved at the start of the next, so his eyes light up when they finally land on komaeda's partner. )

Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you.

( with a small wave, he doesn't waste any time in trotting over, easy smile on his face as he closes the distance. )

You're not busy, are you? I had a favour to ask — nothing big.

Hopeless scenarios doesn't raise cause for alarm, because...

( he places his hands on his lap as he looks between them, a little judgemental, before that gloomy expression shifts into a more natural one. the same smile komaeda normally gives when he talks to someone, and he seems excited as he continues. )

Something lucky has happened, so being thrusted into here wasn't as bad as it seems.

( he lifts his hands, emphasizing to the entire room despite there not being much left to search. he digs into his pocket afterward, tossing amami a striker for a science burner. )

I left something for both of you... individually in this room.

( oh, he seems to have that sort of attitude. )

[ Ranger blinks a couple times, the cheerful grin being replaced by the ice cream cone, but he takes this to mean that he'd found something of value and is now being cagey about it. If it's here, it's not by accident. The ribbon tied around the doorknob in the store had turned out to be important to somebody after all.

He looks around the room, then back to Komaeda with that blank stare of his, one that is partner is well acquainted with by now. ]

[ He'll find Ranger in the faculty office, diligently rummaging through empty cabinets. He'll push the one he was checking on shut when he hears somebody entering the room. He raises one hand in greeting, then blinks as he mentions looking for him. There's no reason that he can think of for Amami to approach him, but it's not a bad distraction after dedicating so much time to banging his head against the wall. ]

Not really.

[ He shakes his head with a little sigh, though it's directed more at the present situation than Amami, tilting it to one side at the mention of a favor. The card switches from the grin to the cat card. ]

Whatchya need?

( oh, a striker, okay. amami catches that, looking at it with a curious expression before lifting his eyes back to glance at ranger, and then returning his attention to komaeda again.

... )

Is there a reason you didn't just give it to us?

( why are they having to work for it. there are more important things for them to be using this time to investigate? actually, amami looks pretty unimpressed with this, but he'll huff a sigh with his hands on his hips and take a glance around. he can be a brat about searching if this is what komaeda's gonna do though. )

...? It's all about strengthening your skills, and you have poor investigation technique, Amami-kun. Riokun will break up the floors in search for what bothers him.

( yeah, komaeda's talking big for a sick person, but he continues as he points to one side of the room with the void. )

You're always in a hurry, and even though you see with your eyes... you move too fast, you'll blink, and then miss it, Amami-kun.

( this is where komaeda turns, looking at the ice cream cone with a smile, ah, he knows, and he nods, confirming. ) Yep, I can count on you two, if you can't find it, then I chose wrong.

[ Well, Ranger can't deny that. He's the type to fixate on any little thing, and the warmth in the void was bothering him. Still, he nods. It can't be a very big item, given that he doesn't see it scanning the room from here.

He nods in return before he hops off the desk. He flips to the cat card. ]

Sounds like he just wants a third person to check our work. Not a bad idea.

[ Ranger shrugs, then switches back to the grin. He doesn't doubt that Komaeda is being honest, not when this is a room was warm and of interest to both of them, but there is that added benefit. ]

I don't mind, since there's a few things I wanna double check anyway.

[ Starting with the incubator and the area surrounding it. It's weird that there was a cat bed in it, and it's bothering him. Priorities. ]

( oh! good card! amami's smile brightens into a grin. )

Perfect. It's about Komaeda-kun — I have something of his, see, and I was wondering if you'd return it to me.

( there's a pause, and y'know, he already kind of sees the gap here. don't worry. looking a bit sheepish, he lifts his hands in front of him in a kind of "hold on a minute" gesture. let him explain himself here! )

I know, I know, I could return it myself, right? But it's not actually something that's coming from me, and I don't want him to try and pin all the credit for it on me just because of my talent, since that'd defeat the point. I thought if it came from his partner, he might actually listen to what you had to say about it.

[ 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.

( hm... maybe this is why they're partners. it feels effortless to have ranger translate those supposed intentions for komaeda, and on amami's end, all he really gets is a pang of frustration at being insulted in such a way. "i can count on you two," but really, with the way he's speaking, it sounds like there's only one of them that can be counted on.

amami doesn't particularly enjoy being mocked for his shortcomings, but maybe he's just in a bad mood. the timing was bad on coming here, after all, and he breathes a heavy sigh. )

Right... I get it.

( in any case, it looks like ranger seems to have that side of the room covered. as for amami, he'll head in the other direction, absently peering into any drawers or cabinets that may have survived the voidening. )

( komaeda says nothing more as his eyes state towards the warm void across from them. their narrations are their own, and komaeda won't take away from them. whatever they choose to believe, but his reasons aren't wrong. it's odd to see those items back so soon, as many hands as they had passed in.

why? )

...

( starting with the incubator, there's a few leftover strands of cat hair attached to it. opening the door will show what's normally inside — lined with three.... two trays. ranger will remember that there was three to begin with, and must gave been tampered between their last visit til now.

not only that, the incubator is pushed back, and not sitting up front like normal. ranger can see the clean impression left, and the dust that surrounds it to make the outline.

...

komaeda's eyes close, he doesn't really need to see when he can tell where hope is located, so in the darkness of his mind he can see a glow on the other side of the room which happens to be amami.

the first drawer he opens has nothing in it aside from broken piece of flint, and he can tell that's where komaeda got their items. the second drawer is stuffed full of paper, and there's a miniature tripod sticking out, but also out of place. )

[ Ranger does blow out a small sigh. He'd advertised it one way, but he wonders if it isn't just a little bonding exercise. That was what the third floor was about, and he thinks that perhaps a bit too much time and care was placed into this if such a thing were the case. He notes the missing tray, finishes his inspection, and moves it back into its proper place.

... ]

You shouldn't be messing with stuff like that.

[ He doesn't like things being out of place, but also, it's just going to make it confusing for the next person who comes digging around in here. Naturally, he expects Komaeda to not care, but that's never stopped him from voicing his opinions before.

But Ranger does take a quick glance around the immediate area, though, matching it up to his memory to see if there's anything else that's not the way that he left it. ]

[ 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?

Ah, careful, Ranger-kun. I think he might be the type that, the more you tell him not to do something, the more he wants to do it.

( at least, when it comes to what he "should" and "shouldn't" do, he's pretty difficult to convince of anything other than what he thinks is the case. especially if this is something that komaeda set up for them on purpose, rather than anything else. either way, he continues on his own search through the desks and drawers.

what's out of place about it? if amami digs through the one filled with paper, will he uncover anything? if not, he's just going to crouch down and move on to the cabinets, opening them up and sorting through any contents before he shuts them again. )

( there, a soft yawn as komaeda stretches much like a cat who's enjoying a lazy day to himself. he doesn't come off the table, instead he looks towards the door while biding his time now. just a little more, between listening to ranger pull back the incubator, and amami ruffling through the paper.

there's a small, folded note that ranger will find once he pulls the incubator back in place that wasn't there before. it's dirty, but seemingly out of place from what he recalls when they first came here.

upon inspection, it's not a paper he needs to touch to unfold, but rather it's in the shape of an arrow that's pointing towards the incubator with the words "kcabtitup" written at the bottom.

for amami, as he moves through the drawers to the cabinet, he'll find an arrow drawn on a dirty slip of paper pointing back towards the drawers he just looked through.

if he refers back to the drawers, one had loose leaf paper that were ripped, and another drawer is filled with shredded paper.

... )

Ahaha, well, you're right about that.

[ He is like that. Komaeda is the type to do as he pleases, and the best one can do by ordering him around is encourage him to do more of the same to prove a point. Ranger can be the same way, though, and so he doesn't really mind that part of him.

Ranger picks up the paper. It's easy enough to discern the meaning - "put it back." That's fairly straightforward, and he thinks this means of hiding his item is fairly fitting for his partner. He walks back over to Komaeda's set up for the cats, who have yet to attack it, bending down on one knee to lift up the cat bed to grab what's hiding beneath it. ]

Edited 2022-01-11 02:39 (UTC)

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1/2(.5) — amami, ranger

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01/03 — ranger

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