like a bitter stranger

[samuraiwomen]

Who: Everyone
What: Our monthly family meeting.
When: March 5th, 2000.
Where: Yogen dorms common room.
Warnings: Discussions of murder, suicide, child death...more?



[ A message goes up on the forums late Friday evening.

S.chidouin: Group meeting in the dorms Saturday. 12:00. No punching. No stabbing. I'll bring stickers.

If your character would not find a post from Sara worth listening too, Bonnie is wandering around, vaguely noting how important this meeting is, and how very much you should attend. No further details are forthcoming.

The meeting itself is a quiet affair. The fireplace is not lit, there are no snacks. Sara waits in the corner for everyone to arrive and get settled and then she clears her throat to speak. ]

As most of you know... [ It's hard to start, but her voice gets firmer as she goes on. ] We spent the last two months investigating Maya Arisu's murder. That case is solved. A few weeks ago, Bonnie-chan and I found the culprit.

Rantaro Amami killed Maya Arisu, Hiro Arisu, the vice principal and is presumably responsible for the scene with Keigo Arata. He is also dead. I just figured...everyone should know. To many people got hurt the last few months. I'm sorry.

[ She fiddles with her hair. That's all...she really has to say. There's not much more then that as the gist of it. ]

Comments

[commences]

Why is it murder that turns people away from others? Amami-kun at the start didn't know anything, he was lost, but as time went on... he learned he was the Ultimate Survivor, and then learned he was the Ultimate Adventurer. He learned there was people he wanted to protect, and that there are things that must happen in order to do that... does it make him a bad person because of his actions?

( who wouldn't kill to make something happen, to komaeda, it feels obvious considering the time limit that hovered overtop keigo's head. he is someone who would do something drastic for an outcome that no one else would take, and that's what makes him endearing. )

What could anyone else do if they never opened their eyes to the true problem?

[waitingforplayer2]

What problem, Komaeda-kun?

[ She just wants to know. Keigo died in their sleep, and it looked like they had an inkling they might be going.

She's missing something here, not that it's necessarily her business. But everybody else seems to know something she doesn't? ]

[commences]

The problem... that no one is working together, and that they're becoming selfish.

( sighs... )

[waitingforplayer2]

....

[ Well that's a confusing and slightly upsetting answer. She frowns. ]

You think he did all of this... to bring everybody together?

[commences]

Yeah. Because that would be the best outcome, wouldn't it?

( to be together. )

[waitingforplayer2]

But it's without the people he killed. And also, himself.

... Do you remember when we all played games together?

[commences]

Why do you say it like that, Nanami-san? ...Why does that matter when you came back?

( she died, she was killed, but she came back... it's not the proper way of coming back, but she did. she appeared, and also nanami who was on jabberwock with him.

she came back. )

...Bits and pieces.

( he's older now, his memory isn't the best. )

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Did she come back? She's so stunned by that assertion that she doesn't know what to say to it. ]

Wh-why... can't we just do something like that again? To bring everybody together... that'd be better, wouldn't it?

[ But his first words are haunting her. She came back. Did she? ]

[commences]

It wouldn't be enough. For something like this.

( she sounds shaken by his words, but they're here, in a way... they came back. even though he'd rather be dead himself, but here they are. )

...When he comes back, I think that would be nice. No one will hear him out, because they're upset, but if you're willing. I will too.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She's already gotten the sense that the rules have been changed and she hasn't grasped entirely why. Killing for the sake of bringing people together sounds awful... but death has a different meaning here, one she's still working out.

She nods slowly. ] Mm... of course.

... I'm not mad at him. [ It's the truth. ] Or upset. I... want to know why, but it might not be my business. [ She looks away. ] I just miss them. [ All of them. ]

[commences]

It'll make sense all in time.

( komaeda laughs softly, but he's never been one to look down on his ultimates when they went out of their way to do something. it's better than just sitting around, it's better than what komaeda could do that was just advice. )

If this was the choice that was made, then I'll support him. It'll brew hope... so many people have learned new techniques, they've learned their feelings with one another. Some have realized what they have and don't have...

[subtract]

Seriously? You're going with that again?

[sorry komaeda but as much as he (unfortunately) likes you... he is rolling his eyes. he is sighing loudly. he's calling amami on his shit for making noah and sara upset.]

He acted on his own and distracted everyone for multiple months with his stupid antics... Rantarou Amami was the only one acting selfishly. He prioritized his personal goals and comfort above all else, the facts speak for themselves.

Not that I particularly care... if he wants to be selfish, fine, he got what he wanted in the end. But don't try to spin it like he was doing everyone some grand favour.

[commences]

( add... not how he wants to battle with komaeda, but to anyone else, it would look like that. )

Did you know him, Add-kun?

( does he know him like he knows sara, like he knows noah, just like he knows komaeda, did he know anything about him? )

He can't even think about himself, but everything does look selfish from your point of view, doesn't it? It's not a grand favor for everyone, but there are some that can appreciate it, and others— ( he looks at add, smiling softly. ) who can't. That's why this is so difficult for you.

[subtract]

[no but amami put fish in his room and he'll never forgive

but also... he understands his position. even without knowing him, he knows he'd have done the same.]

Sacrificing one life for another, many lives for another, stepping on a mountain of corpses just to save one precious person... kukuku, only a moron would call that a selfless act. Who is it really for? Amami's selfishness, or Keigo's? Either way, the answer is the same.

Pinning your own agenda onto someone else's actions... it's distasteful. Pathetic. Accept his choice for what it was or shut up.

[commences]

Are you trying to protect the type of agenda that it is, then? Are my views too horrible for you to understand?

( he doesn't understand it — being selfish — komaeda has always lived selfless, he's done everything for others, and not for himself. the way amami lived his life, he never thought about himself, because he had no identity, and he found one through a certain person. )

You'd do the same thing, I know, but you're selfish, you'd do it for yourself and them. Amami-kun would do it for them, and not care the outcome that happens for him. You two are different, but you can't speak for him when you didn't know him.

[subtract]

Oh, is that how it is? Only Amami-kun is the one who's selfless?

[he was trying to stay composed before, but now there's venom in his words. so you're saying he's better than me, is that it?]

It's wrong for people to be selfish, so it must have been another reason, is that right? It's impossible for someone you like to have done anything wrong, but everyone else can be the villains? Is that what you're trying to say to me?

[shimashima]

So he wished to protect someone...?

[ Is it possible that the murder victims were the villains all along? That many, collaborating...? Not to speak ill of the dead, especially people completely unknown to Alice. ]

[commences]

Would you kill someone to protect another?

( it's just a question, and he doesn't know if alice will answer properly. but it makes him curious. )

[shimashima]

[ An honest answer probably isn't the best idea right now, with such a crowd gathered. Hesitating, Alice looks away, shifting to touch his wrist. ]

I... wouldn't think to do anything so elaborate... But that motive is understandable, isn't it, if someone important is in danger?

[commences]

( there's something about alice looking away, and it makes komaeda curious if he's being honest. it isn't just them, but given komaeda's willingness to accept murder, whatever alice says... it won't look as bad as komaeda. )

It is, it's one that make people act... if it's someone they can save, they'll do it. I can't hate him, because no one will understand... but it's meant to bring hope, it'll be worth it.

( he smiles, leaning to the side where alice looked away so he can see him better. )

Being elaborate means nothing, it's what comes out of it!

[shimashima]

Hope...

[ Glancing around, everyone is upset and angry, arguing. Rantarou Amami himself is gone, and many hearts are wounded. And if it was all for Keigo Arata's sake, did that go as far as— ]

I don't hate Rantarou Amami, and I shall continue to visit the fish, but did he succeed...?

[commences]

( he doesn't hate him, he'll still visit.

...

...

komaeda accepts that with ease as he thinks on how to answer his question. how does he explain, because komaeda can no longer feel his aura, it's gone... so whether he succeeded or not... )

...I can't tell you now, but when he returns. At that very moment, I can give you an answer. Are you willing to wait?

( personally komaeda believes that it worked, but no one is as hopeful as him because his views hardly make sense. )

[shimashima]

[ Alice turns back to Komaeda now, pensive. True, death isn't final... It doesn't really soften the impact, but anyone can return, right?

Finally, he nods. ]

Well... It's his business. I merely hope that his important person will be safe. That was his goal, yes?

[commences]

That person will be, it was his goal. Hey... it's because someone was going to die.

( his voice lowers, and he looks to the side. )

No... die is too kind, we were going to lose them forever.

[shimashima]

[ Outside of this place, someone dying is the same as losing that person forever, but here... Following Komaeda's gaze this time, Alice cocks his head. ]

They would have been erased from existence altogether, you mean? With no way to return?

[ No wonder Rantarou Amami may have grown desperate... ]