Entry tags:
two fragments ❖ open march catch-all.
Who: Rika Furude and you.
What: Catch-all log for March.
When: Throughout March.
Where: This is primarily dreamscape stuff in the forest--although I am open to prompts elsewhere via wildcarding.
Warnings: Rika's usual content warnings, which include, but are not limited to: child death, sororicide, murder, torture, underage drinking. Feel free to opt out of anything here.
❖ OPTION ONE. ( dreamscape #001 / OPTION: light )
❖ OPTION TWO. ( dreamscape #02 / OPTION: MEDIUM / cw: underage drinking + murder mentions / full higurashi spoilers )
❖ OPTION THREE. ( dreamscape #03 / OPTION: DARK / cw: child murder + torture mentions + explicit gore description / full higurashi spoilers )
❖ OPTION WILDCARD.
What: Catch-all log for March.
When: Throughout March.
Where: This is primarily dreamscape stuff in the forest--although I am open to prompts elsewhere via wildcarding.
Warnings: Rika's usual content warnings, which include, but are not limited to: child death, sororicide, murder, torture, underage drinking. Feel free to opt out of anything here.
❖ OPTION ONE. ( dreamscape #001 / OPTION: light )
- [You step into the forest--
Into the dream--
And where you awaken is in the outside area of what seems to be a school.
There seems to be quite a bit of children playing a lot of games, but you find yourself with a mixed group of students--a young spirited girl who seems to be at the center of attention, a bright young girl who seems to be looking a little shy, but excited, a mischevious sharp toothed girl, the only boy in the group, and Rika herself.
Unlike the age that she's come to be in the last couple of days, she's back to being small. Eleven.
She wears a bright innocent smile as she tries to usher you into the group.
The one that speaks is the green-haired girl in a ponytail, her voice full of all of the qualities you'd expect from a charismatic leader.]
"Alright, everyone! It's not every day that you get to see another transfer student join our ranks..."
[And she places her hand on the boy's shoulder, before continuing-]
"...but since our last city boy showed some promise, I suppose that maybe perhaps you might as well."
[It's clear that she's talking about you.]
"Of course, you're free to back out now," [Her grin remains sharp, her voice full of mischief.] "but that will only bring much consequences. All of Hinamizawa will know that you're a coward. But I bet you're wondering, then: 'Mion-sama, what kind of club am I about to join?' Well, I'm glad you asked!
What our club does, you see... In order to cope with our complicated society, we perform various activities under different sets of rules. ...Sometimes they are in your favor. And sometimes they work against you...!!"
...To sum it up, [Rika butts in, her voice innocent and charming as always.] it's a club where we play games together.
[But then the the boy chimes in, his lips curving into a mischievous grin as he wags his index finger, going tsk, tsk, tsk.]
"You may be right, Rika-chan, but we're not any ordinary game club... this is a matter of life or DEATH!"
[It's an overexaggeration, naturally, but people may potentially not take it as such.]
"One misstep and you will find yourself into the abyss, never to return... it's a horrible, cruel landmine for those who participate. But! For the victor, you will enter a sweet paradise -- it's basically heaven!"
[Over the top laughter can be heard from the small blonde girl who seems to be sticking to Rika rather closely, her hands on the other girl's shoulders.]
"Ohohoho! Basically, all you have to do is win, naturally, but I'm sure as everyone is aware, none of us will make that easy."
"Club rule number one! You must aim only for first place! Going at it half-assed just simply because 'it's a game' is not allowed!
And for that reason-- club rule number two! You are obligated to make all possible efforts!"
[Which means cheating is absolutely allowed.]
"And of course, if you plan on joining our club, you will have to also follow club rule number three! You must partake in the game, enjoying it without question!!!"
[Other rules may follow.]
"And while we have all come to an agreement to invite you into our club, you still have to pass the test. Do you think you can do it?"
[The answer... is left entirely up to your hands.]
❖ OPTION TWO. ( dreamscape #02 / OPTION: MEDIUM / cw: underage drinking + murder mentions / full higurashi spoilers )
- [In this dreamscape--
You find yourself in a state that is somewhat incorporeal. Nobody hears what you say. Nobody can see you.
But there is one person that can hear and see.
And in the late hours of the night, you might see someone sitting at the windowsill of a small house. That someone is the small, eleven year old Rika Furude, holding a cup of what seems to be wine.
The small blonde girl seems to be sleeping next to her.
But there's someone else here, too. Just as incorporeal as you, a small girl in a shrine maiden uniform--and are those horns?
If you listen in closely, you might just hear the conversation, too.]
...do you really think that I'll be able to escape, Hanyuu?
[The girl, referred to as Hanyuu frowns, her expression tight.]
"It's already been a hundred years, Rika. My power... it's been dwindling with each loop we go through."
[Rika chuckles darkly, spinning the liquid in her hand with amusement as her gaze flits out the window.]
I know that. We probably only have a few tries left. But... it looks like we have someone watching us. Hee hee. I wonder if they were interested in that conversation?
❖ OPTION THREE. ( dreamscape #03 / OPTION: DARK / cw: child murder + torture mentions + explicit gore description / full higurashi spoilers )
- [This dreamscape...
...is a nightmare.
It's like opening a gruesome photo album, and all the photos inside of it are of Rika's corpse.
Many images are her laying at the shrine, her insides ripped open, the crows just coming in as if to feast on it.
But before people are able to linger too much on those images, there's a sound of a book closing, the sight of the images disappearing from your retinas.
And you find yourself in another place.
A world full of glistening fragments, and at the center of it all is Rika.
Furude Rika, as she is now--
As well as another self, wearing a cruel smile. It isn't Rika that speaks, but this other self, here.]
"Did you come to look at the Fragments as well? I understand if you're interested in seeing all the possibilities. They're all quite fun to me. Hee hee hee hee."
❖ OPTION WILDCARD.
- [Want to play something that isn't dreamscape related? Or a dreamscape that isn't one of the above listed? Feel free to hit me up at
one as a start
As she sat, she listened and kept that trademark smile of hers plastered on her face as she followed what the other club members said. The boy's comments were interesting in itself-- life or death, huh?
Well, with a description like that, and rules provided indicating that she just has to give her all... what's wrong with a little fun? ]
Gosh, I don't know... it sounds tricky. I'll do my best, though! Just go a little easy on me, okay?
[ False modesty, maybe it'll win her some points. If not, then that'll just make it that much more fun to crush them at whatever they're planning. ]
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[The boy overexaggerates when he refers to the ponytailed girl as captain, even as he stands to attention, turning on his heel.]
"I can't just go bending over backwards just because someone said so, you know? I mean, everyone's doing their best! Me, Rena, Satoko, Rika-chan... and even you too, Kei-chan, and you're almost as new as this new recruit!"
[Next, the shy girl finally speaks.]
"Ehehe. It's okay, Mii-chan... just this once is okay. Okay? I'm sure she'll be trying her very best. I'm not too good at these kinds of activities either..."
"Well, we'll just have to see how she'll fare, alright? Now for today's game... Rika-chan, how about you decide?"
Mii? [Rika speaks up in a bit of a stumbled surprise. Mion's usually the one who comes up with the games; it makes it more interesting that way. But perhaps Mion's caught onto something - that's why she asked.] Hmm. What about a simple game this time?
"A simple game, huh? Well, normally I'd say we'd do something like Cluedo or Old Geezer in that case, but we can't just waste the great outdoors when the weather's looking this nice...!" [The green haired leader rests a hand under her chin, humming in thought.] "Zombie tag, then. We'll choose lots to see who ends up being 'it'. It's a pretty simple game."
"Ah, yes, I remember that game quite well... Keiichi-san was rather crafty in his tricks. Don't get fooled by him, even if he does end up being the human."
"Hey!" [The male interjects--presumably the one the small blonde had named Keiichi.] "I'm not the one who pretended to be a zombie during that whole match!!!! And Rena, she...! Gyaaaaaaahhhhh!!"
"Ahahaha! Now, now, it was all fair... Anyway, Bonnie-chan, we probably should explain the rules of the game. It's like normal tag, but whoever is 'it' is the zombie. And if they tag someone else, they are also 'it'. Whoever isn't 'it' by the end of the time period wins. But if the 'it' manages to catch everyone before then... only they win."
"And don't forget! All losers are committing to a punishment game from the winner! Anyway..." [The ponytailed girl pulls out a bunch of sticks from her pocket.] "Time to choose. Our new potential recruit can have the advantage of picking their lot first. Red means zombie!"
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[ Basically, infect the others immediately. Although, given that it's such a simple children's game, it'd be more fun to let them roam around a bit, provided she's the one that's it.
Heck, it may even be better to give them some time to chase her if needed. Don't throw it, but make it interesting and fun for all. That's how it has to work! ]
Oh gosh, oh gosh, which one should I pick?
[ Well... she'll just pick one and hope for something good! Alrighty, Games Club. You're on. ]
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[Mion seems to take her games rather seriously, even though it may seem to be just "a simple children's game".
Nevertheless, the stick that Bonnie pulls is one with a red stick.]
Mii. Try your best to eat everyone's organs.
"But instead of counting down...
How about a riddle? Once you can answer it, you can start going after everyone."
[He takes a deep breath, and then speaks up hurriedly:]
"There is a fifth of a cake, a sixth of a cake, and a seventh of a cake on a plate! Now, we have Satoko here who can eat an entire cake in 60 seconds. If she ate every piece, how much of the cake would remain on the plate?"
"--and go!"
[Time for everyone to scatter around the school grounds.]
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[ A nice little zombie roar, with her fingers as claws as she prepares to count. Then she's stopped by a riddle! Once everyone starts on running, she's stuck there thinking.
Caught, momentarily. Fifth of a cake, sixth of a cake... fractions? Satoko can eat an entire cake... ]
Fifth, sixth, seventh... hmmm...
[ ...Hey, wait a second! ]
You sly kids...! Ready or not!
[ There IS no cake. Welp! Time to head out and track down where any of them could've gone. Out of the club room, down the hall, here she comes! ]
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But as she runs, Bonnie will feel slightly disoriented, almost as if there was an earthquake.
All sound cuts.
And then - suddenly, there's one thing that can be heard.
The snapping of fingers.
There's something that seems to shift, but after a few seconds it all seems to settle.
Sound comes back to life.
She'll notice from the windows that time has shifted in that short time, from a bright sunny day to a deep sunset.
Sounds of something clashing can be heard coming from outside.]
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And then, she loses her balance, eyes continuously blinking to try to regain her equilibrium... with no use, as she slams her body against a wall, trying to pull herself together.
Then, her eyes close shut. She doesn't like this, oh, does she not like this--
Then, there's that snap.
Momentarily, she peeks an eye open, hoping that her damn head stops spinning. Once she sees the passage of time, she bolts right back up. ]
Wh...what the hell?!
[ A new sound fills her ears, replacing the children laughing. Something's going on out there, and after a few steps on wobbly legs, she's able to pull herself together and get herself started on heading outside to investigate. ]
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There are a bunch of police officers outside with their cars, and many children huddled around the area as well.
Rika is nowhere to be seen.
The clashing seems to be coming from above, the sound of steel hitting another object.
If she bothers to follow the sound she'll notice that the boy from earlier and the girl with the short, orange hair are fighting--the boy with a bat, the girl with a nata.
They seem to be speaking, but their words are indecipherable. It's like hearing static.]
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So she loudly clears her throat, getting their attention on her. ]
Found you~! ♥ [ A beat. ] Now now, no need to fight, we'll all be on the same side in a second!
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But she's still nowhere to be seen, and it doesn't seem that the voice is coming from any particular direction.]
... I've already given up on 'this' Hinamizawa.
[A snap of fingers, and there's the second abrupt shift.
Sunset turns to day and the figures fighting on the rooftop are no longer anywhere to be seen.
Nor is anyone else.
The outside of the school is just completely bare of human life.
At least for the first three seconds. Then another voice chimes in, lighter. It's not Rika's voice, but it isn't any of the voices that were heard earlier, either.]
"Auau... where did they all go..."
[The voice is close-- sounding like it's coming from behind the school building.]
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That disorienting feeling came right back, and suddenly the entire place was empty. The two kids had gone, the crowd had disappeared... all that was left was B.B., standing around puzzled. ]
What is wrong with this place?
[ Makai, she could deal with. Pulled into a new world with monsters to slaughter, that's easy. This constant shifting and turning of worlds on the other hand was starting to get annoying--
Oh, and then there's a new voice! Causing her to turn on her heel, towards it. ]
Hello? Hi! I'm still right here?
[ Whoever it is, yet again it was time to investigate. Hopefully this person has some answers, or she'll flip something. ]
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When she's noticed, she can't help but feel embarrassed.]
"You can see me...?"
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[ A ghost was a bit surprising to see, but given where she is, expecting anything was foolish in the first place. ]
Were you there this whole time?
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[Her voice is timid, but then she nods.]
"I've been watching this whole time. For a very long time."
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Rika Furude, yes?
[ Seriously, mysteries upon mysteries with this girl. ]
Well then... you can tell me where she went. She mentioned something about 'This Hinamizawa' and then everyone disappeared. Something weird's going on!
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I don't know where she is, though. I've been looking for her. She's the only family I have left, after all. We're both looking for something...but I don't know if we can find it."
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[ She's a bit flippant about it! ]
Well, if I'm stuck here, I can give you a hand. I'm pretty good at tracking things down, you know.
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But I would appreciate it. It would be bad if something happened to Rika, again... auau."
[She looks and sounds awfully concerned, to the point where it almost feels overdramatic.]
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Again? What happened, did she piss off one of those fighting kids and wind up running away?
[ Did she get slashed by that nata? ]
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"No.
Someone else killed her again...au."
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That girl must have nine lives, like a kitty or something. Well, if I find her this time that's fine, but if she's dead, there isn't much I can do about it.
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Although nine lives wasn't enough. And it isn't as if she's brought back through her own power, either."
[...]
"But let's find her, and quickly."
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[ She turns on a dime, clearing her throat and walking a few steps. ]
Olly olly oxen free, Furude! You can't run from me forever!
[ With no one else around, it might be a good idea then to check out the school again. Maybe she's hiding away inside. ]
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"Rika, Rikaaaaa... are you really not here? Auauau...
Maybe she's not in the school?"
three
He'd noticed she was older now. Ranger had paid attention to the odd behavior of her youth, and it's beginning to snap into place now. There's still pieces missing though, and so he tries to pay even closer attention now. ]
Hm? Do I get a choice?
[ He's not objecting. ]
Seems like a lot to go through.
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"You can choose not to do anything at all, certainly...
But that won't let you leave this plane of existence.
However, if you wish to choose any of the Fragments here, I won't stop you."
...
"Oh, but do avoid that one--" [She points out, gesturing at a specific shard.] "It makes her quite upset."
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[ But telling a person not to do something is the fastest way to make them want to. Ranger won't touch the fragment noted, but he will peer a little closer at it to see if there's any hint of what could be contained within it. He'll do the same for the ones surrounding it. Is there anything reflected in the shards? ]
cw vague child abuse mentions
The Fragments can be seen through -
They are of various worlds.
The one that she specifically gestured at is one where a small blonde girl looks rather pale. There's no light in her eyes as she enters the classroom--various students seem to start to crowd around her, looking rather worried and concerned. Their mouths seem to open, but they don't seem to be audible. The scene continues to play out.
The other shards also depict other worlds.
A tragedy where a young man beats his two best friends over and over with a bat.
A tragedy where a girl in a ponytail fights the smaller Furude Rika with a taser.
A tragedy where a young orange haired girl covered in all black attire faces her friends, speaking a tale that cannot be heard.
A tragedy where a woman shoots every one of the people above in the head.
So on and so forth.]
"There's a lot of interesting ones... hee hee."
cw vague child abuse mentions
Then again, perhaps it was just trauma. There are certain things that children aren't meant to see. But he supposes it best not to burn his bridges by selecting it, despite his curiosity.
After some deliberation, he reaches a hand out - ]
What about this one?
[ - and touches the fragment with the green haired girl. Perhaps it's the resemblance to his colleagues, but he's intrigued by the violent display. ]
cw torture mentions, drug abuse
No longer is he in the world surrounded by fragments, but instead in a room full of wooden flooring.
He can see the small Rika Furude facing off against a young teenage girl with a ponytail.
Rika sprays the green haired girl in the face, who seems to be surprised--she tries to fight back, but is soon knocked down onto the ground by Rika herself, who tries to restrain her.
Eventually, what can be seen is that Rika is holding the spray bottle in one hand...but in the other hand, she holds a syringe.
Then, Rika makes a mistake.
She tries to spray the green haired girl at too close of a distance to the point where she sneezes--this is when the tables are proverbially turned and Rika is hit a few times.
And then, the other girl prepares her stun gun.]
"What the heck are you doing, huh? Do you want to see what I've got?
Hey, what do you thing you're doing at my house, huh? If you aren't moving, then I'll come to you!!!"
[And then, the green haired girl throws a pile of newspapers and jumps onto Rika, putting the stun gun on her body. It makes her body jerk and fall onto the floor. The spray bottle rolls.
The girl grabs the syringe and injects her.]
"Ha, ha! Look at you!! Did you really think you could defeat me? Think again!!!"
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Whatever the reason might be, she's not the role she plays, and she's likely older than her appearance suggests.
What is the purpose of this? Ranger watches on impassively. At a glance, he'd say they were trying to kill each other. But there's always a reason that humans act as they do, and there's motivations even behind murder. There is, however, no reason for a child year old to think that they can win against a teenager with just a bottle of pepper spray and a syringe. ]
Ahh, who knew kids today were so violent?
[ He sneers, wondering if he should intervene. It seems obvious what the outcome will be if he doesn't, but a part of him thinks there's more to be gained from following this to his natural conclusion than attempting to act. Still, that might cause problems for him later on. He'll take a couple experimental steps forward, bending over to see if he can pick up the bottle first - can he interfere with this scene, or is it going to play out regardless of his will? ]
cw suicide
The Rika on the scene manages to stand up, although she seems to be pale and sweating. She's wobbly and groans in obvious pain.
And then, she calls out a name:]
... Hanyuuuu... Hanyuuu...
[She coughs several times, and in the midst of this, in the background finally appears the wisp of a person, clearly translucent.]
"I'm sorry, Rika... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
[And even in the midst of this, the girl speaks, walking up towards Rika with that stun gun of hers, making popping sounds.]
"Aha ha ha ha ha! This is funny, so funny. But please don't throw up here, go to the bathroom, okay? Hee hee hee! I'm going to enjoy how long it'll take for you to die. Oh, but that means I can't torture you later, huh? I've been planning to use that nail table on you. So either you choke on your own vomit and die, or I pound nails on your ten fingers. Hmm, I wonder which it will be... Okay, I know. Let's move to the underground shrine storage. I'll put you to sleep so I can move you, okay? Hee hee hee!!"
[But when Rika sees and hears this, she moves--slowly, but manages to grab onto a large knife.]
"Oh, are you still trying to fight? Hee hee hee! That makes things more fun. I have so much I want to ask you. I would suggest you don't fight. Well, actually, even if you don't fight back, you'll go through the same torture anyway, hee hee hee!"
Sorry, but I refuse your invitation, you torture maniac.
"Compared to what the three families have done, this is nothing. Thank you for acknowledging me though. I should be proud of myself, huh? So? Are you seriously thinking about fighting back with a knife in that condition? You can't even stand straight..."
You're right. This is all I can do. Before you catch me and torture me, I'm going to take care of myself.
"Take care of yourself? Huh, go right ahead!"
[Rika gets the knife ready.
And then - she places it on the wall, holding it in place.]
Good bye, torture maniac. I won't give you the satisfaction of killing me.
[Then the Rika throws herself onto the knife on the wall. Not just once, but twice, several times. While the green haired girl seems to watch this in awe, the purple haired girl seems to be sobbing immensely, continuing her near-drowning apologies.
And then the scene cuts into static and they're back in the Sea of Fragments.
Rika and the girl who looks similarly to her is still here, and the latter speaks up, amused.]
"Well? Did you enjoy the short glimpse into that Fragment? I call it 'Meakashi-hen'--the Eye Opening Chapter."
cw suicide mentions
How should he feel about that...? If a person extends their life as long as possible, then there's always a chance that they'll be able to escape their situation. Even so, there's too many things that don't quite fit together - the way she'd fought before suddenly giving up, the translucent figure apologizing (perhaps the Hanyuu she was calling for,) each and every word spoken by the green haired girl. ]
Hm... Enjoy is a strong word, but it sure seems aptly named.
[ He looks between the two once more. Shouldn't the older off the two say something? It can't be pleasant to have her memories on display like this. If he had to guess, the green-haired girl had a grudge against the other - perhaps she's related to the three families mentioned then? ]
What a scary kid... Ahaha, I'd hate to be caught alone with her.
[ Well, if he were her, anyway. He'd have no issue. ]
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[Rika's voice is small, but she somehow manages to speak up. It's true that having her memories on display like this is unpleasant, but--
The idea of other people watching, it's something she's used to.]
"Hmm? Well, I suppose that's true. That Fragment was an exception. Although it's one of the more... frequent appearances, due to that girl's circumstances. Ahahaha."
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[ That tracks. The way the girl had spoken, it sounded as though there was more to it than one would be able to grasp in a brief few minutes. No, that was just a memory of death. He frowns a little. It's one of the more common ones...? ]
Well, anyone can wind up the same way. Just need a little push.
[ More importantly... He looks back to the girl with a humorless laugh. ]
Ahaha, you sure seem to be enjoying yourself!
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[Rika herself doesn't say anything.
While it's true that she's seen others winding up the same way, it wasn't...normal. It was all the fault of the Hinamizawa syndrome.]
"Hm? Well, it cures my boredom. Although... I want to see something new. 'What ifs' that I haven't read yet."
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... Well, can't blame you on that one. I don't like seeing the same thing over and over again either. Sure wish I could help you with that, but I'm not much of a writer myself.
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After all, this child just simply likes to see anything that is new to her. Anything that she can see outside of her small little miniature garden."
[The girl then reaches out to another Fragment holding it in her hands.]
"You haven't spoken up much, Furude Rika."
What is there to say, really? [Her voice is dark, annoyed and tired.] My input isn't going to change much of anything, here. Although I apologize that you had to be here -- that you had to see all of this annoying, tedious stuff.
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[ It's a sentiment he can understand, having been lived in a facility for his entire life. The outside world only existed for him on screens and on paper. ]
Well, it doesn't really bother me. I've seen the same story play out plenty of times before, and it had about the same outcome.
[ Just a lot of death. ]
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[To someone who has lived a hundred years feeling stuck in Hinamizawa, it's a cage.
She supposes that in a way, Yogen is just yet another cage. But even then, there's something fresh and new about the school compared to Hinamizawa. New faces, new things to learn.]
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[ Couples, friends, whatever it might be. Ranger doesn't have that problem, or maybe it's because those around him tend to be so proactive. But it's a little different to repeat the same stories over and over. It's knowing the same characters, the same plotline and endings, the dialogue and actions by heart.
If the fragments scattered about are any indication, she was a bird with its wings clipped, forced to sing the same song on an endless loop despite the pain each note caused. But one could get lucky, and the door would jam or break in just the right way that it could creak copen. ]
So, did you manage to get out?
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[She specifically uses that word. 'Recall'. After all, she's somehow physically older now and she doesn't understand or comprehend why. It's like there are missing puzzle pieces...
...she wishes she understood what those pieces were, however.]
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[ That's odd to say the very least. Even if a person doesn't recall the exact circumstances, they should have a general idea of what happened. She was a lot younger before, so that would be no small amount of memories. ]
one!
U-uh... um.
[His cheeks turn red and he shakes his head as if to rid himself of it. It doesn't work, but it's the effort that counts, right?]
Y-yeah, I'll do my best.
Re: one!
[Rika pumps her fist in the air, cheering him on.]
Since you're new, you have to choose the game, sir.