yogen | (mingle) cat herding, round two

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(mingle) cat herding, round two

( on february 2, transfer students will find that there are notes hung up around the dormitory with doctor's scrawl handwriting that a few people might recognize scribbled across it. it reads: )

TRANSFER MEETING
february 2, 5:00 p.m.
dorm common room

( the early-arrivers will find that amami is already set up in the common room, making himself comfortable on the far side of one of the couches with a sketchbook, but beyond a wave and a smile he won't offer much to speak of. it's only once it looks like there's a good handful of people that he'll glance around, grimace a bit, and speak up. )

So... I'm sure you guys already know why we're here, right?

( rest in piss, hiro. legend almost took two transfer students with him on his way. )

I know I might not be the person anyone wants to hear this from, but I figure everyone's had some time to gather evidence and any witnesses we might've had by now. I don't like the idea of this continuing more than anyone else, and if we want to keep it from happening again, it's probably best if we compile what we know.

( and unfortunately what he knows is nothing, because he was busy getting stabbed, so the floor is officially open. )

(ICly, this meeting begins on February 1. However, to keep us from trapping ourselves in another time cube, when things start to slow down, Amami will pitch that they regroup in a couple days. The details don't matter so much, but you can assume they'll come back for more discussion intermittently if anything new comes to light before Disney. This doesn't all have to be in one day! Feel free to PM/ping me anywhere if you'd like me to add any other helpful links. )

IC Recap - Maya & VP's deaths

IC Recap - Hiro Arisu's death

OOC Recaps - Miro board & Google doc

Meeting Recap - What's been covered

Per mod guidance, the murder methods abide by Knox's commandments

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[...???]

Is it... the person who's been handling evidence this whole time?

Either you see it, or you don't. So how will you...?

( please... his riddles 3. )

You can get personal with the evidence, that wouldn't hurt.

[stop... he woulda failed out your class fr]

I'd happily get personal with it, but I dunno if I'm allowed.

Why wouldn't they let you? Your answer is there, I'm sure it'll stand out to you.

( if what hinata says is true, then it's something big. or small, but definitely a game changer. )

[... ... ...]

'Kay~. I'll take a looksie then.

[let him... carefully move up to hinata then, so no one thinks he's gonna shank the poor guy.]

Hina-chan~, do you mind if I take a look? Just a little closer. I don't have to hold it if you don't trust me, but if they're apparently my fingerprints anyway, is there an issue?

[he needs to confirm to himself one way or another, really.]

( going to stand danganronpa-ly................

looking around for someone to see if they understand his hints. )

[The way he moves makes Hinata's chest ache.]

Don't be scared, Akehoshi. [It'll probably seem backwards to everyone else at this point, but it's perfectly clear to Hinata why he reaches out and places a hand on Akehoshi's shoulder.] I'm sorry I put you in this situation. I knew if I said anything, it would wind up like this.

[But he couldn't hold it in, either. Not when this has gone unsolved for long enough, and every effort he'd made had made the path more unclear.]

But you can figure this out, if you try really hard. I think you may be the only one that can. [Something pained flickers across his face.] You... may have to think things or say things that you don't want to, or that may be painful.

[Hinata knows. Those are the shoes he's worn since he started participating in this meeting.]

But I know you can. Because you're the Akehoshi that helped make Hinata Hajime feel glad he was born, and I haven't stopped believing in you yet.

[He lets that sit, for just a moment, before he offers the box containing the letter.]

...It's very fragile from being burned, so be careful with it, okay? I trust you.

[there's so much sentiment in those words that subaru's heart aches something fierce, and before he can let any tears prick in his own eyes he squeezes them shut and blows out. calm, calm... if nothing else, he has people who believe in him here, who want him to be innocent as much as he knows he is -- so he just needs to prove that, and somehow be the one person who can.

what's that even mean...

okay. eyes open, he'll carefully take the letter and peer it over. think things, or say things, that he doesn't want to, that'd be painful... so someone he knows, someone he cares about, someone he at least considers a friend and would never want to think anything of-- who'd use him as an easy scapegoat. would he be able to look at them the same ever again? would he be able to be friends, or even be able to say it aloud...?

... for maya and hiro, he'd have to. for their sakes.]

I wanna live up to your expectations, Hina-chan, but I'll warn you now -- I pretty much stumble into stuff, or guess with my gut. I'm really no better than anyone else here~.

[he's an idol, for goodness sake...]

I am kinda curious why they've got two different notes, with two different meetings places and both me and Kou-chan's handwriting. Like, did they think there was a fifty-fifty chance of one of 'em working, and the other was just a back-up? A sure-fire one would've been Natsume or Steph, so I don't think... that I'm much of a coincidence anymore.

[He smiles, something softer, when Akehoshi rubs at his eyes. A tight pressure that had been on his chest eases, ever so slightly. The thought that he can't say, that would take something away from Subaru and everyone else working hard to figure this out without letting emotion get in the way, rings loudly in his head.

I believe in you, because you're my friend.

However, when he speaks, the smile leaves his eyes. They're tired, like there's an old pain resting in them rather than a new.]

You don't have to figure it all out at once. Sometimes the right kind of case is even won with luck.

[But we're solving this case and not talking about Hinata's demons today, so.]

The likelihood of a coincidence is very low though, yes. As a recipient of the note, it makes you targeted as much as the Arisus were. The fingerprints are a harder thing to figure out, though. Do you have ideas why yours might be on there?

[we can talk about his demons later!!! at disney,]

I know it's not helpful at all, but mm-mm. [with a shake of his head to boot. the hair, the fingerprints -- he can't explain forensics away at all.] Though...

[... a little look at ranger, then back to hinata. he didn't think of it until he talked to the other ginger, after all.]

It's sorta messed up that any fingerprints were found now. Macchi's case was wiped clean, but her brother dies and all of a sudden it starts coming up Subaru? Being called an easy target's sorta pissing me off~.

[fight him like a man]

[Talking about Hinata's demons is just pretending they don't exist for the entire talk.]

And stranger still that anyone found it at all, isn't it? It's not unheard of for a burned note to be that legible, but there were plenty of other efficient ways to destroy that evidence. And better places to burn it even, if it really felt necessary to use that method, rather than leaving it in the one place where we all congregate.

[The different faces he's worn for this meeting would've given him whiplash before... but before, Hinata would not have had the skill or the need to go about this in such a roundabout way.

But there's only one role he needs to play right now, and that's why his gaze is unflinchingly on Akehoshi, no matter what else might be going on around them.]

It may be less that you're "easy" than that... someone chose you for a specific reason. Something they hold against you personally, maybe. Or perhaps even because they felt close enough to you that it seemed like they could get away with it.

[His tone doesn't change, but the words still leave his mouth feeling sour.]

[even if subaru figured the ending would be that, that it could be someone close to him that would get away with it (whether because they can get the evidence no problem or because he'd never, ever suspect his own friends, would first defend them against any accusation even if it were true) it still takes him aback, and

...

he's hurt, but--]

Then let's just drop the case, Hina-chan. [quiet, just for him] I want the twins to rest in peace, but I don't want to accuse any of my friends.

[but he's someone who'd rather cut things short than do that, who'd take the fall for them, than ever begin to think his friends would do something like this. most of them don't know. actually, only one does know the full of it, and natsume would be livid if he heard subaru right now.]

Sasara and Yori-chan are so brave for pointing fingers and trying, even if they know it'll put 'em in a bad spot, but I... I don't want to think of anyone I know going this far.

I'm sorry... but that's something I can't do.

[For this, just for this, he'll let his walls down for a little bit - and the moment he does, sadness floods every inch of his expression. A deep sadness like grieving.]

I won't force you to do this. It's a very painful thing, having to accuse your friends, and I wouldn't wish anyone in this position. I've had to do it five times before being in this place, and the consequences of accusing my friends were far worse there than doing so here.

[Even after the way it turned out in the end... Their faces still flash in his mind's eye regardless.]

But if they've gone to these lengths to kill and manipulate, it's dangerous to let that go unchecked. And for putting you in this position... that's something I can't let go that easily either.

[He wants to say that he wouldn't forgive them. Almost does.

But he knows there are people close to Subaru who he would forgive. Even if doing so made him feel guilty. Even if it pained him that they'd do it at all.]

The rest of us deserve to know why... and you deserve to know why they did this to you. Even so... [He breathes in. Comes back to himself a little, calm again.] Hiyori and I may have been trying to flush information out earlier, but what I said then was true. "Believing in the friends you know to survive..." It seems like something backwards in a situation like this, right? But it's not about doubting in your relationships with others. Having to accuse someone doesn't have to take away the trust you've put in your friends up until now.

[...

he supposes his water under the bridge philosophy works well now, even if that water is murky or poisoned. accusing someone doesn't take away that trust, but it does put it on hold -- he thinks of sara and her desire to believe in him, throwing her hat in the ring. he thinks of her wanting to get to the truth that she'd accuse her own friends, just to clear them of suspicion and trusting that they can for everyone else to see.

subaru guesses it's like that, and isn't jealous one bit at the experienced they've had getting this far.]

Okay. Haha, you know, I was thinking you've been a little different lately... but you're still the same Hina-chan through 'n through. [he'll rub his face, focus focus] You can cry after we're done here.

[maybe he will, too. if they'll come. they never do, frustration swirling in their place, but maybe.]

The one person who I know would never do this is Natsume though, because Macchi and Hiroppi were important to him. So that's the one person I believe in without a single doubt, and... because he wouldn't do this to me, knowing what he does.

[something that no one else does, in full. some have the first half of the story, though he doesn't know that, but not the second -- natsume can snap and claw and bite into all he wants, his heart is far too understanding to put subaru through what happened with his father a third time.]

I promise that, Hina-chan, and I'll explain better why if you want, but not in front of everyone. It's unrelated, and not their business. Okay?

[It's such a blow to his heart that if Hinata really were the same person, he would've swayed right there on his feet. He almost doesn't stop himself from reacting outwardly, and that's perhaps the most jarring thing of all.

Akehoshi probably has no idea, really. How much devastation is in those words, just as much as they are salvation.]

Do you... really think so? [Quietly, quietly.] Do I really seem like that to you?

[The words are halting. Fragile as they hang there.

He almost wants to laugh. Tell Akehoshi he doesn't think he can anymore, because Nanami had been a special case that will probably never happen again, and even that was such a challenge because he has to fight to even feel right anymore.

But he doesn't. Because if Akehoshi can find Hinata in the labyrinth of his own tarnished mind, then maybe there's some truth to what he's saying. He can be entrusted with this as well.]

...It's getting a little stuffy in here, don't you think? [Hinata tilts his head and shuts his eyes, breathes out a sigh as if bored. The only thing that gives him away is the way that even with his loosely folded arms, his feet are positioned like he's ready to take off at any second.] Let's get some air outside the dorms, Akehoshi. [And to the others who might be listening in:] If anyone is still concerned about him being the suspect, someone can come check on us if we haven't returned in half an hour.

[He hates putting a time limit on it; he doesn't know how long or how deep this conversation may go. But he's also very aware that in bringing out this evidence for everyone to see, the spotlight is on Akehoshi in the worst possible way.]

[it's a strange question, strange reaction he almost starts at before hinata moves on, casual and giving a good excuse for momentary leave; subaru tilts his head a moment before he nods, sticking his hands in his pockets and playing with the rounded quartz there as he intends to follow the other where he should go -- outside the dorms or just outside the door, it doesn't matter, as long as he can stop feeling the varying gazes burning against his skin.

he's always been aware of other people's eyes. it's a blessing and a curse, and right now it's somewhat suffocating. subaru gives a reassuring smile to anyone concerned, because it's hina-chan? there's nothing to worry about, he'll be fine.

... ... ...

once they're away, the smile drops into something more subdued, eyes unable to stay on hinata and focusing on the snow-patched ground of february. subaru shifts on his feet, looking out at the school and breathing out the white smoke that comes from the cold, as if just taking a drag from a much needed cigarette. he can't have them as an idol, but he's thought of it before -- it's hard not to, when one of his teachers does it every so often.]

Natsume and I have been friends for three years, [he starts out,] but that's just a small part for why I trust him.

[...]

The reason he wouldn't do this to me is 'cause I've already dealt with it twice before -- it's not that long of a story, but it's kinda hard to talk about 'cause... no one here knows, Hina-chan. For the first time in my life, my name really doesn't matter.

[it's nice. people like hanging out with him for him. there's no first impressions marred or overly glamorized by being the son of akehoshi, or being subaru akehoshi of trickstar, he feels like a normal high school boy and as weird as it was at first -- it's without a doubt an experience he finds a breath of fresh air, though it wasn't like he was suffocating badly home. expectations are something he lives to exceed, and he thrives beneath the spotlight...

... but he can't exactly deny that this isn't nice, too. years of school lost to a tremendous tragedy now regained. yumenosaki is precious to him and he loved every bit of what happened there, but yogen's gained a space in his heart too.]

I hope that doesn't change.

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(mingle) cat herding, round two

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