[OPEN] we're running in circles again

[youraffection]

Who: Yosuke Hanamura youraffection & YOU!
When: IC: 7/16-7/23
Where: All around, including the Residential District, the Shopping District, & others
What: June event! Yosuke's seeing dead people, but it's not Bruce Willis. Good thing is little lame-winged bird is there to help him share memories and bond with people.
Rating/Warning: Talks of Death and murder, but that's about it for now

---

01. So Long, Senpai

[ The past few days...completely changed everything he'd imagined about Cerealia. Waking up in that sewer with a group of strangers, watching someone die mysteriously and nearly dying himself before a narrow escape thanks to someone's world-bendy powers was and is a lot to process. The fact that Yu hasn't show up yet really doesn't sit well with him either. He's been assured that Yu hasn't left the colony, but it still scares him. Scares him a whole lot.

But he tries. He accepted some jobs, so might as well work them, right? It's a distraction half the time, leaving him with his thoughts during the rest of the day. He could definitely use a friendly face right about now... ]

A: Stereotypical Anime BS

[ It's on one of these days that Yosuke realizes he's late. Yep. Late for that school thing he's agreed to because he's still under the impression that it's required for anyone of that school age. There might even be a piece of toast in his mouth because this is some anime bullshit. He's rushing, cursing himself for being late.

That's when he sees her.

It stops Yosuke in his tracks. Saki Konishi.

Or at least he thinks he sees her. It's in the corner of his eye, a silhouette that he won't ever forget. That same, wispy hair, the black and grey Yasogami High uniform. He turns towards her image, just enough to catch her expression. Shit. ]

Senpai!?

[ Yet as he reaches out, her image fades into something else entirely. Or rather, someone else.

He grabs your shoulder. ]

B: Can't Let This Shit Go

[ He's seen her a few times since then. Each time, she disappears out of his sight just when he thinks he can reach her. It's getting a little crazy, a little troubling, and a lot depressing. There's a part of him that knows she's not there. No way she'd escape his notice for this long, right? But...

The more he sees her, the more he really wants to believe. People can come back from the dead here, can't they? Doesn't she deserve a second chance, even if it's on some weird backwards alien planet? Or is that just selfish of him to want to see her again? After all, he's learned this isn't the best place for everyone.

He still wants it, though.

He sees he disappear around a corner as he leaves the Thrift Store he (apparently) "models" for. Without waiting to confirm whether he'd just been going crazy again, Yosuke breaks out into a sprint and rounds the corner, but doesn't find her. He should give up hope, but... ]

--Hey.

[ There's someone else there walking where she should be. ]

Did a girl just walk by here? She's about this tall-- [ He holds his hand a couple of inches above his shoulder. ] --wavy light brown hair? She was wearing an apron and jeans...

[ Please say yes, please say yes. ]

02. Memory Trip

[ A lot has been happening so much. SO MUCH. Seeing his dead senpai around is confusing enough as it is, but now Yosuke has an ephemeral visage of a dove flying out in front of him most of the time. He thought it was pretty strange, but no one else seems to notice it. Is he seeing things again? At least this time it's not someone he actually knows, but the more it makes its presence known, the more it weirds him out. The fact that one of it's wings appears to be broken doesn't help much. It tries to take flight, but ends up mostly trotting around on the ground, making sad noises after each attempt. He's tried to catch it to no avail.

Weird.

Yosuke is around. He's most often seen in the Residenial District on the Sky Bridges, at the Academy, or at the Station. He's also frequenting the Entertainment District at the Game Center or in the Shopping District as he's getting off work. Wherever he ends up being, he's trying to keep eye on his new winged friend. Unfortunately, said dove has other plans.

He sees it start to wander off. Quickly changing direction, his eyes widen a bit as the dove find a pleasing pair of shoes to perch on. He doesn't think you'll notice, because it's your shoes, naturally. And maybe they're pretty awesome shoes and he's a big fan of fashion. But when you look like you're spacing out, Yosuke trots over. He speaks, but you hear nothing. You don't feel anything at first, but a rush of cool, gentle air sweeps around you and transports you into something else entirely... ]

A: This-Is-Good-Shit Memory

[ If you'd like a Good/Happy/Light-hearted memory to experience, pick this option! Due to his limited time in Cerealia (that he remembers), memories can only be from his home/canon and will be randomly picked unless you have any requests! Each memory will be different for every character. ]

B: Give-Me-Pain Memory

[ If you'd like a Sad/Depressing/Shit getting real memory to experience, pick this option! Though his time is limited in Cerealia, he does have some less than peasant memories due to the Interlude. So memories can either be from Cerealia's Interlude or his home/canon and will be randomly picked unless you have any requests! Each memory will be different for every character. ]

03. Wildcard

[ I've we've plotted something beforehand we've got an option! Or if you have any ideas or requests, feel free to hit me up at doggystyle. Thanks everyone! ]

Comments

1 - A

[meowbel]

[During these past couple of days, Mabel was starting to act rather weirdly. Or rather, weirder than the usual norm for the girl. While she was pretty sure that Cerealia was messing around again, she couldn't help but feel like she was missing something.

She wasn't exactly sure what it might be but she didn't think about it for too long. Instead, with her new small fox spirit by her side, she wasn't going let the what happened get to her!

Although, when she felt someone touching her shoulder, she immediately jumped straight up the air and gave out a loud scream!]

W-Whoa!! Who's there!? I got a pig with me and I'm not afraid to use him!

[youraffection]

[ You'd think that living with her, even for a few short days would give him some insight on this, but she already came off as a little odd to begin with. And for as perceptive as he could be, Yosuke had been noticeably preoccupied with Yu's lack of reappearance. He knows that her brother is gone too, though. Everyone's lost something.

But it's not Mabel he's going for, so when it's her face he sees and not Saki, he's...well, he's surprised. ]

Huh?

[ He nearly jumps in return, taking a step back and nearly stumbling. ]

Mabel? Wh--you don't have a pig! ...Do you have a pig?

2 - B, Sky Bridges

[powertotearer]

[Eiji's been having trouble with his own little critter lately, and he totes home a half-eaten lunch, wondering why.

And of course, he can't very well see the dove right next to his feet, but he does see Yosuke looking in his direction, eyes wide.

A quick look around proves there's nobody else he could be looking at, so that's even more confusing.]

Huh? Is something wrong?

[It will be in a second, since the ghostly bird lands on his foot, and he's suddenly dealing with memories that aren't his.]

[youraffection]

...The assembly hall is about as exciting as always. Wooden planks line the floor to match the same wood of the stage. Red drapes frame a podium in the center. In front of the stage, the student body has assembled, some whispering and some speaking a little too loudly to be ignored. From your field of vision, there are two girls to your right.

"Hey, did you see it yesterday?"

"Of course not... What, is that rumor for real?"

"I dunno, but it seems like a lot of people have seen it."

You guess what they're talking about. The Midnight Channel. You've been watching it religiously on every rainy night after that first a few days prior, but after what you saw the night before, you feel unsettled. Queasy, even. Something...something isn't right. There'd been a girl on the screen, a girl in pain. It's not surprising people don't believe it and you're not even sure what to make of it himself. But...really, what can you say?

The girls keep talking. A short-haired girl in a green sweater tucks her phone away in annoyance. You pay half attention as she turns around, concern tinged in her voice as she wonders the whereabouts of a mutual friend. When she turns around, she addresses you and the taller boy standing next to you.

"I wonder why they're holding a school assembly all of a sudden?"

You don't look up, keeping your arms crossed.

"...Hey, what's wrong, Yosuke?"

Gah, is it that obvious? You look up then as both her eyes and the grey-haired boy beside you turn their gaze on yours.

"Oh, it's nothing..."

Yeah, that didn't sound convincing even to yourself. But you don't bother to try again. Thankfully, the faculty finally take the stage. Man, who would've thought that you'd actually want to see that? Your history teacher with an overabundance of love for Egypt takes the podium and demands attention, before turning it over to the principal. He's an old man in traditional clothing, slow moving and bearded. His manner of speech is just as creaky and slow as one might expect.

"I...regret to say that I have a terrible announcement for all of you."

A true hush settles over the crowd. But you're anxious. You consider checking your phone again, but how many times do you need to text her before it gets weird?

"One of our third-year students, Ms. Saki Konishi of Class 3..."

Her name. Why does he say her name? Your mouth feels dry, as if anticipating what's about to come next. But, really, what are the odds? You're just letting your mind get ahead of you. Of all the rumors, you'd originally wanted to see her on that TV. Soulmates, right? It's supposed to show soulmates and she's great. She's always been nice to you even when no one else was. She's...she's been...absent, but your imagination, with the recent murder just jumps to conclusions. That's all.

Right?

"...has passed away."

You expected it. A part of you did.

But you weren't ready for it at all.

An immediate sense of shock travels throughout the crowd. But not you.

No, you cringe. You inhale a breath sharply through your teeth and grip your upper-arms just a little bit tighter.

"Ms. Konishi was found deceased early this morning..."

It was her, wasn't it? It had been her on that TV, being pushed around, trying to call out for something or someone. You didn't want to believe it, why would you? No one would want to see her in pain. But she's been in pain and no one knew.

"The reasons behind her passing are currently under investigation by the police..."

The principal continues, but you tune him out unintentionally. There's a whirlwind in your mind and you feel the air getting sucked out of you at once. You almost feel guilty that you're not surprised, that it's not a shock. It's just the worst, it's what you feared. It's April and somehow you feel cold, a chill that creeps under your fingernails and grips hold of your heart for just a minute.

Saki.

You liked her. You like her. You really did. You still do.

You'd heard sirens on the way to school. You'd ignored them. Stupidly. Not enough happens in this small town for sirens to be just for nothing. You'd feared, but you hadn't wanted to know.

She was only seventeen.

How can she be dead...?

No...how could she be murdered?

1-B

[aslyfox]

A girl wearing an apron and jeans? [ Kogitsunemaru takes a moment, idly rubbing his chin as he thinks about the people he's passed by on his way toward the very same Thrift Store that Yosuke left. ] Wavy light brown hair...

[ Nah, he's stumped. ]

... I apologize. [ His little fox-like hairears twitch weakly. ] Has she been here before? The colony, I mean. Perhaps someone else has seen her.

[youraffection]

[ If this wasn't an alien planet, the ears would have been twice as distracting as they already are. He's more worried about finding Saki. He knows he'd just seen her. That had to be her!

When he gets a negative, though, Yosuke feels his heart sink. She'd...been right there... ]

Ah...

[ Trying not to sound disappointed really isn't working for him. He sighs and musses the hair on the back of his head a bit. He'll regret that later when he has to restyle it. ]

No. I mean, I don't think so. No one's mentioned her before, but I figured if she'd just shown up she'd...probably like to see a familiar face. You know?

1-A

[niceguypose]

[Rock Lee feels that hand on his shoulder, he knows that voice, and that title! Senpai...

Rock Lee looks at Yosuke with stars and tears in his eyes.]

Yosuke-kun!!

[Then he claps both of his hands on Yosuke's shoulders.]

Never have I felt so honored! I accept this title gracefully! And I will never let you down...!!

[youraffection]

[ This--

This isn't at all what he wanted.

This definitely isn't Saki-senpai. There's such a huge difference between what he remembers of seeing her face close up and...Rock Lee--is he...is he crying?? ]

Uh--

[ WOW, WHAT A MIX-UP! Was he hallucinating?? Saki was just there! ]

Wh--no! I thought I saw--

2-A, the Game Center

[testoffayth]

[Yuna is just getting off work tonight, walking out of ViViD with her staff in hand and her sandals flipping and flopping. The little goat that'd appeared the previous day trails along beside her. It's well trained, when Yuna has concentration.

But right now? She does not. The dove touches her sandal and she stops, staring down at herself, confusion registering on her face. What's...huh...?]

[youraffection]

...Everything is white. The sky, the ground, and even the small white pieces floating throughout he air. There are evergreen trees dotting the slopes behind you, also dusted with a batch of freshly fallen snow. Your heart is still racing in a good way, the kind that comes from physical activity, though there's a smile stretched out on your face. As you shift your weight, the snow crunches beneath your snowboard.

You'd been invited by your best friend to join him and the other guys up for a few more rounds before heading back into the lodge for the night. Everyone's been so worried about getting some time to spent with him before he leaves, it's nice to have your piece, even if you trusted him enough to make time for everyone. He's just always been that kind of person. You're about to say something when you hear the soft scratching of felt against snow.

Yes, yes apparently that has a sound. You're already exhaling in slight annoyance as you turn your gaze to the fourth member of your party, dressed in a mascot suit that's supposed to resemble a bear. Who goes skiing in a mascot suit? This guy. He slides right on over to you guys on his tummy, before popping up and looking quite proud of himself.

You immediately shift your attention to your best friend.

"Considering that we've been hitting these sloops for two days straight, I think I've gotten a lot better," you say, giving a wink. But your expression falters pretty quickly. "Of course, just when I get the hang of things in the moment we have to leave...Happens every time."

The mascot speaks up with a dramatic sigh. "What should I do...? I'm going to be head-hunted by the pros... I already have an exclusive contract with Junes!"

You're not at all surprised by this. "Dude, there are no competitions where you slide downhill on your stomach."

And your mascot friend is completely unmoved. He looks up towards the sky as a few snowflakes fall onto his faux fur. "Snow is weeeeeeird. I've never seen it before. How does this stuff get in the sky in the first place?"

Your anger from the moment before dissipates almost instantly. For as much as he gets on your nerves, you do care about him and the world around him is a very difference place than the world he's used to. You've gotten into the habit of explaining things when he makes comments like that, so what you say next comes naturally. "It's the same as rain. But when it's too cold, it just freezes and falls as snow."

"Wouldn't that make it like, little lumpy ice balls that bonk you on the head and stuff? Ouch!" And then he ruins it...

"Why're you being so nitpicky?"

"It is kind of mysterious, though," says your taller friend, standing on his own skis and with a black cap on his head. Despite his rough voice, he sounds reverent. "How these little white water flowers just tumble delicately through the sky...When you look up, you usually don't notice it, but I can understand how deep the sky is...I feel like I'm falling in."

You're actually impressed, raising your brows. "Wow. I always had a feeling you were one of those "warrior poet" types, but I didn't see that coming."

"Kanji's got the heart of a dreamy little girl," says the mascot, somehow making this eyes turn upwards in a smile.

"Shut the hell up! You started this stupid conversation in the first place!"

"I just asked where snow comes from. I didn't start writing bear-y tales about white flowers and falling into the sky and stuff."

"Y-You pickin' a fight with me, Ted!?"

You tune them both out, letting the two bicker as your attention goes back to your partner. He's a quiet guy by nature, but it doesn't bother you. He just observes and absorbs a lot and you've learned to read a lot more of the subtle physical cues he gives. He's amused, you can tell, but you do have more practical worries.

"It's gonna get dark soon. It's starting to snow too, so we should be getting back. I think today's dinner had some actual meat. If we get there too late, that carnivore's gonna get it all." You remember how upset she'd been the day before when the menu had only served fish. You don't want to repeat that.

It breaks the Bickersons out of their loop. The taller boy pips in.

"Considerin' how active we've been today, it'll really suck if we don't get some dinner tonight." He pauses. "So, which way do we go to get back to the lodge?"

Your look down, brows turning upwards in guilt as your head hangs forward. "I wasn't really paying attention...I wasn't expecting it to start snowing this much, and I thought we'd be able to see it from up here..."

"How about you, Senpai? Do you remember the way?"

You perk your head up. Your partner always has an answer, and if he doesn't, he makes a decision for the betterment of the group. You trust his judgment more than anyone's. So, when he finally speaks...

"I think it's left..."

...You actually don't believe him at all.

"Dude, are you sure? This might be a ski area, but one wrong turn and we'll end up in the mountains."

"A-At least if worse comes to worst, I can just go into hi-bear-nation! I read about that in a book!" The mascot shivers for effect.

"Don't even think about it! You'll wake up in the afterlife!" You can be hard on him sometimes, but that's...actually fairly accurate. He's not an actual bear, he shouldn't start just believing things he reads apply to him.

The taller boy grubs. "In any case, let's get goin'. We can't dally around with it snowing this much."

You sigh, nodding in agreement. "You're right. All right then, let's go."

Your partner takes the lead, pushing off on his skis down the slope to the left. You pause, looking up towards the sky. The snow seems to be gaining momentum and the flakes are getting larger. It is really pretty, you think, but it's about time to enjoy it from the comfort and warmth of the lodge...

1-A

[hoasen]

[BECAUSE WE WERE GONNA DO THIS ANYWAY.

So as soon as Yosuke reaches out, the one who turns around is not his senpai, but rather a very confused country who blinks at the much taller boy with the toast in his mouth.]

S-senpai?

[youraffection]

[ This is how all great animu romances start out, right?

No, that's definitely not his senpai. He blinks, dumbfounded. The face isn't one he recognizes at all and--and he's totally just grabbed his random girl's shoulder. ]

Oh--shit, so--

[ And he let's go and steps back, his toast woefully falls to the ground. Butter side down. That's how good his luck is. ]

--rry...

1 - A

[mieldelimon]

[Honey was on her way to work (with her little fox flanking her) when she felt someone grab her shoulder. She turns around, about to correct whoever this person was when it happened again. The moment she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, Honey Lemon started to witness in her mind one of her old memories from back home.

What she was seeing was the time when they first docked to Akuma island, fully decked out in the gear Hiro designed for them, in hopes of catching Yokai for once and for all. All of them were nervous and the slightest movement from anything can provoke an all-out attack from all of them.

Which did happen when a poor seagull flapped into their direction. The bird was fine, don't worry.

But to Yosuke, all he can see is strange blonde girl spacing out, her eyes wide behind her pink glasses and her lips parted. He should be able to snap her out of it once the memory was done playing.]

[youraffection]

[ The first thing he realizes once he grabs her should is that she is definitely not Saki-senpai. Although, for a moment, the hair--no, it's too long, not wavy enough. He swears, though, she'd just been there. His stomach lurches again, this time with feeling let down. Of course, now he's just grabbed a stranger out of no where. ]

S-Sorry--

[ Yet, as he pulls back, she...

...just doesn't do anything? She just stands there, staring like she's getting commands from the mothership. Yosuke hesitates, looking around to see if Saki was walking somewhere else, but...no dice. Damn. He turns his attention back to the girl. Did he really freak her out somehow? ]

Hey, are you okay?

[ He waves his hand in front of her face, cringing a little. He didn't do this, did he? ]

1-a

[fittedgloves]

[ Kyouko turns at the hand on her shoulder, perplexed. She wasn't anyone's senpai, not here at least, and so she ignored the voice calling out in her direction, assuming it wasn't directed towards her. ]

...I'm afraid you have the wrong person.

[youraffection]

[ That's--that's not Saki. No, it's a girl he doesn't recognize at all, but how is that even possible? He'd just seen her, she'd been right there. Had he just been seeing things? Yosuke pulls back awkwardly. ]

S-Sorry. I thought...well, it's pretty obvious I thought you were someone else.

[ He let's go of her shoulder, glancing to the left and right like he's expecting to see Saki waiting. ]

2-B GIMME SAD SAKI-SENPAI THINGS if you are inclined

[pseudonyms]

[Things were better. Yu and Dipper were back, much to the relief of both Yosuke and Rise and Mabel as well. Things had settled in the colony temporarily and Rise thought maybe they could readjust again and slow down. Of course, that was before she woke up and found a goat at the end of her bed, but okay.

The goat's limping along behind Rise who's dressed in her work uniform (and one that Yosuke might even recognize as her Marukyu uniform.) Looks like she and Yosuke were leaving their jobs at about the same time. The bird's in luck, too. Rise had stopped to attend to her goat, making sure the little thing wasn't limping too badly and she's not wearing heels for once. Kitchens are a pretty bad place for heels. It's for that reason the bird has a nice pair of loafers to perch on, but the problem is that if Yosuke's not careful he's going to run right through Rise's goat, too.]

1/2 I AM SO INCLINED

[youraffection]

[ Things are better, definitely. Yosuke doesn't know Dipper or Mabel all that well, but it's hard losing someone, and it's good to see her smile. Of course, he's most relieved that Yu is back and in one piece, at least physically. As long as he's there they can work through whatever happened as a team. That's what friends are for.

Consequently, he's spent the last few days with Rise when he's in the apartment. They've both been juggling a few jobs and Yosuke kind of wonders why he accepted all of them in the first place. But, oh well. Too late for that. Yosuke is actually on his way to work on a commercial jingle for the first time. He's got no clue what that's going to entail, so he figures maybe he can ask her and they can walk together before they have to split up to go to their perspective jobs. ]

Hey, Rise-san--

[ Of course, his dove is wonderfully uncoordinated and also an opportunist. He sees it just as it's about to happen, the bird making itself comfortable on Rise's shoes. ]

Oh, shit--!

[ He reaches out, not knowing where he's stepping at all if there are any wayward farm animals in the apartment. (Except for Mabel's pig? Sorry Wiggles.) ]

it became more bittersweet i guess...

[youraffection]

...It's 2/14/2009. As per usual, you've only received the dreaded "Obligation Chocolate" that all girls feel they have to give out to their male classmates. Of course you knew it was kind of a pipe dream and you're used to being let down. Being out in the country isn't what you'd imagined, but it's not what you'd hoped for, either. Figures. At least you have work to distract you.

As you lament to yourself stocking shelves, wishing that someday someone might give you an honest to god homemade batch of chocolates, you notice someone that you've been finding yourself looking out for more and more often. A girl with wavy, dirty brown hair rearranges the boxed lunches in the deli, her stare a little blank. You can't help the way your heart skips a beat when you see her. She's quiet, but she's nice, a lot nicer than other people have been to you thus far. You also can't help the grin that spreads across your face as you start to shout out to her,

"Senpa--!"

But you're cut off when you hear the hushed voices of customers nearby. Your gaze shifts to a pair of middle-aged women, wrapped up in snow jackets.

"Shopping district...the family..."

"Oh my...!"

Ah...you're not really that surprised. Heh. Gossiping about you again, huh? In some ways it's kind of amusing since you've always wanted to be noticed, but this isn't quite what you expected. Everyone in town seems to know you as that Junes kid. You know, the place that's ruining the Shopping District for everyone else. Some people avoid you entirely, but you can't find it in yourself to really blame them. People will talk. You've learned to shrug it off.

You start to push your cart when you're thrown for a loop.

"Look, there she is!"

...Huh? She?

"She's got some nerve, doesn't she?"

"Isn't she Konishi-san's only daughter? Kid these days..."

Saki packs away the overstock into a cardboard box as the chattering continues. Your eyes widen. Could it be that they're not actually talking about you...but actually Saki-senpai?

Somethings stirs in your stomach. You're used to the rumors, the talk, but--don't they know that Saki's...that she's a good person? She's a hard worker?

You move before you really think about it, marching over and grabbing her forearm. She gasps in surprise, turning to face you.

"Hana-chan??"

And then you run. Like any other good decision you've made.

"Hana-chan!"

What the hell is with those people? Targeting him makes sense, you're an outsider, you're not from Inaba. But one of the locals? What kind of nerve do they have?

"Could you let go of me!?"

What's she ever done to them? You can't imagine anything that would warrant that kind of talk. She's too nice, she's--

"HANA-CHAN!!"

You gasp and stop immediately.

"Ah...sorry!"

You're towards the back of the store, one of the hallways that would lead back to staff only area. It seems like your instinct to get her away wasn't totally misguided.

Saki looks a little uncertain as she glances up at you. "Whats with you all of a sudden?"

"Well, it's just...those customers seemed like they were talking about you, so..." When her expression softens, you feel your heart skip again. "Didn't you say that your family helps run your store anyway? It probably had to do something with that. Geez...it makes me sick when people think they can just say whatever they want."

Ah, now you're ranting. That happens, sometimes. She just listens quietly, her lips hanging open slightly.

"It's not like kids don't have their own problems!"

Her silence is broken by a soft giggle. "...Yeah."

That urges you on as you place your hands on your hips. "Right! You think so too, senpai?"

"You caught me off guard, though. Grabbing my arm like that while I was in the middle of working."

Oops? You laugh awkwardly and rub the back of your neck.

"My bad..."

"It does save me the trouble of finding you though, so its' fine."

You stop immediately. IS that...apprenhension or hope in your gut?

"What?"

She pulls a small red box out of her pocket and holds it out to him. It's wrapped with a simple yellow ribbon.

"Here. I'd originally planned on giving this to you once work was over."

You take it. Knowing that she got you something...it does warm your heart. Of course, you're not too surprised because she's given some to all the guys, right? You laugh it off, trying not to look too excited.

"...Obligation chocolate? Or a display of your true feelings? Ha ha...!"

Er, that was a bad joke. You regret making that joke.

As always, Saki takes it in stride and taps her chin. "Hm...sympathy, maybe? From a like-minded comrade?" She smiles as little knowingly.

Like-minded, huh? Is she referring to both being hard-working teenagers, or...is it the rumors? She knows what people say about you. And now you know that people are talking about her. Yet, as with everything, she shrugs it off with a comment and a small smile.

"It's fine, so just take it. Especially since I worked so hard to make it."

You huff, almost choking on a laugh. "That's how you're presenting it to me?"

She laughs for real.

That...that feels nice. That's the senpai you know. She's an example to all the other employees, really, and you'd be lying to yourself if you didn't admit that she's been one of the reasons you've been able to manage this far yourself.

As she turns to go, she waves. You stop her for a second,

"Ah, senpai!" She pauses, looking at you quizzically. "I know it's better to just ignore it, but...if it ever gets bad enough that you can't handle it, come let me know. I can try to arrange for you to work in the back."

It feels like the least you can do. Even if she can take it with a smile and let it roll of her back, no one should have to hear that, especially not her. Besides, maybe if customers see her less, they'll talk less. And he doesn't want her to be miserable at work.

You don't get a response right away. She's still smiling, but something...feels off? You can't place it. Looking at her looking at you makes you excited and a little nervous at the same time. Her reply finally comes, and it's quiet.

"... Got it."

And she's gone.

You're left standing in the hallway with a box of chocolates from Saki Konishi. To be fair, if there was anyone that you were going to get chocolates from today--obligatory or otherwise--hers would be the ones you'd choose. You don't even have to eat them to know that.

Maybe...maybe one of these days you'll get up the courage to see if she wants to hang out after school or after work. You know, if your schedules line up. The thought makes you smile as you turn the box around in your hands.

Yeah...this place can't be so bad. There are a few good things about it.

You're glad you have Saki-senpai. You're really glad.

WILDCARD KINDA let's mix these up

[covenantal]

[ Things have been ... strange ever since he got back. Not easy. They're all working on it. One of the biggest reasons he can't forgive himself for the sin of his own death is the way his friends look at him right now. With this light in their eyes, a sort of relieved gratitude that tells him they're happy he's still there. That they remember that under different circumstances he might not be.

There's nothing he can do about it except remind them he's still there.

It's why he's waiting for Yosuke one day not far into this weird week when his friend is getting off work. Yu has been calling out of his workplace since all this business started with memories every time he touches someone, though since it hasn't let up, he knows he'll have to return soon. He isn't the type to skip work, though he knows he won't be able to perform his job well if each time a customer touches him (and it's boxing; they will) he ends up drifting off into space. Worse, if the memory is a bad one and it shakes him. Still, for now he's got the free time available to him to be waiting near the entrance right around the time Yosuke should be finishing his shift.

His fox is, as usual, skulking somewhere nearby. It never likes to be in his line of sight, it seems, but as long as it keeps from being underfoot of other people, he doesn't much seem to mind. He's done what he can to make it feel comfortable, but even so, it doesn't want to come near him...

Yu doesn't know just yet about what his friend's been seeing. He can tell something is off with Yosuke, though, and it's one of the reasons he's here. Maybe there's something he can do to set his friend's mind at ease, whatever it might be. And hope that Yosuke won't ... hold back, just because...

Well.

Dying has a way of making people want to be a little gentler with you, he'd discovered.

Yu puts that out of his mind when he sees a familiar face coming his way. He'll straighten up, his expression relaxing into a smile as he lifts a hand. He hadn't told Yosuke he was coming, so hopefully this is a good surprise. ]

Yosuke, over here!

of course you'd be the WILDCARD

[youraffection]

[ Yosuke accepted three different jobs. Part of the time he wishes he didn't, but a least most of them are more on an on-call basis, so it's not like he has regular hours. He does try to let his friends know when he will be out, though, since it is random. But just because he shoots them a text or lets them know on the way out doesn't mean he expects them to really keep up with his schedule.

So he is surprised as he's stepping out of the thrift store that he finds Yu waiting for him. He pauses, a few feet out onto the sidewalk as he starts putting his headphones up onto his ears. Brows raised, he lowers them again and looks around. When he sees Yu, though, his expression melts seamlessly from curious to happy. ]

Hey!

[ A wide grin spreading across his face, Yosuke let's go of his headphones entirely and let's them sit in their usual place around his neck. He waves as he trots over, bright-eyed and pleased. ]

What're you doing here? Last minute shopping?

2-b let me s-link up :T

[sortileges]

[ It might not seem like it, but Merlin is actually a frequent ViViD user. It gives him a place to practice new spells without potentially harming others if something goes wrong, and it also means that even if he dies there, it doesn't take him 3 days to come back. (Granted, that hasn't happened yet but still. The possibility is there)

It means that today he's just gone through a fairly decent level when he ends up back in the game centre and sadly falls prey to Yosuke's dove being a dummy. At first he thinks that he's just gotten stuck in the exit or something, but that's when the memory starts flooding in.

His poor fox dives behind some out of date PacMan machine and peeks around the corner, not entirely sure of who this new person is or whether to follow anymore now that Merlin has stopped. Has it just been following through ViViD? Did it just wait here? Who knows. It's not the one being a pain in the butt anyway. (yet.) ]

BABY WE'RE DOING THIS 1/2

[youraffection]

[ His damn dove has been getting around a lot, recently. Yosuke wishes he could keep a lid on it, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it? And he recognizes Merlin, too. So Merlin might get an-- ]

Aw, crap-- [ Before the scene changes... ]

[youraffection]

...It's been a hell of a week. That much is evident in the way your feet just feel heavy with each step. The snow crushes underneath your sneakers. It's dark, streetlights illuminating your way every few feet, but with each step you take, you find yourself slowing down.

This isn't right.

It had been tough, but you'd made it. Your whole team and made it inside the TV World--a name that you don't need to say explicitly in your thoughts, but the concept is familiar enough--to chase down and save your best friend's six year-old cousin, the most recent kidnapping victim in a long string of murders you and your friends have been investigating. It hits close to home, too close. Each victim hadn't deserved it, thoughts of the second--your senpai--still bring a tinge of pain to your heart. But this, but Nanako...

She's just a child. Who does that to a child?

You turn around and look back towards the hospital just around the corner. Inside is Nanako, barely clinging to life in the ICU. Her father, the town's main detective, is also in the hospital, having crashed his car in a bad search to find her. That leaves your best friend, your partner--the only family member not holed up in that place--to be haunted by the what ifs of his actions.

It doesn't feel right. Not at all.

You're normally a fairly gregarious person, but you don't even bother talking to yourself. Slowly, your feet turn back, back towards the hospital. The rest of your group had all be waiting there to see how Nanako would pull through, but with visiting hours over, you'd all been forced to leave. Your best friend reassured everyone that it was okay, he was fine, and that everyone should go home. You have that bear to look after too.

But...but...

He's your partner.

All you think about with each step is him slowly making his way back to his uncle's house, sliding open the door and finding it empty. You know that his uncle isn't around most of the time, but Nanako is always there to greet him. A house can feel so much bigger when it's empty, and while you appreciates the alone you get, it's not the same when you've nearly lost someone. Your partner is a quiet person, withdrawn at times, but not a loner.

You round the corner and see him there silhouetted against the main doors to the hospital. He hasn't moved at all.

He's looking up to the sky and you hear him breath out her name,

Nanako...

His voice is shaky in a way that you're not used to hearing.

Despite all this? You're...you're remarkably calm. Your limbs move without thinking as you carry yourself over to him. He notices your presence as you stop a few feet away. He gasps, his breath visible in the cold air. His grey eyes are a little clouded, a little shimmery. You just...watch, your brows feeling heavy and your throat a little clenched. He's your leader, he's the one everyone relies on. But who can he rely on?

He looks up towards the sky again and speaks louder this time. To you.

"Please tell me...when I put a stop to things in his room...Did I make the right call?"

Namatame...the suspect, the one who brought Nanako into the TV. The one who--...you don't want to complete the thought. Everyone loves Nanako. The other people who were murdered didn't deserve it either. They could have ended it all and Yosuke originally supported the idea of leaving him to fend for himself against the shadows, but...

To kill a killer didn't stop the killings. That was the conclusion the group came to.

You continue to watch. Your partner clenches his fists, biting down on her name again.

"Nanako..."

He's crying.

You've never seen him cry before.

Your heart is squeezed by invisible, chilly fingers as you watch the tears stream freely down his face. Of course he's crying, who wouldn't in this situation? Because your partner--because Yu assumes responsibility for everything, for the people he cares about. It's one of the many things you admire about him, but in a situation like this, it's crushing. The weight of it, you feel on your own heart, too, because as his partner, it's your job not to let him shoulder the burden alone.

You still don't speak. Instead, you simply close the distance between the two of you and take a stance at his shoulder, turning your head up towards the falling snow. In some ways, the two of you look like you might face on the world together. And that's exactly what you plan to do.

He takes the opening as you hoped he would.

Yu stumbles to the side, reaching out for you with one hand on you shoulder. You turn immediately, first placing a hand at his back, then on his opposite shoulder. It's reminiscent of when he let you cry it all out on the riverbank. The least you can do is return the favor.

So you stand there, refusing to let the cold bother you as Yu makes your shoulder warm and wet with his tears. You'll stand there until he can't cry anymore and then some.

And then you'll walk him home, because he shouldn't have stay at an empty house when he's also feeling so empty inside.

2B, game center

[babermetrics]

[He's been hovering around the DDR-esque dance machines today, playing rounds himself and leaning up nearby to watch other people do so when he needs a break. Right now is one of those breaks; he's chilling up against the wall near the pads, drinking a soda from concessions and watching the game going on now. He doesn't even notice Yosuke, much less the dove, which he can't see anyway, of course.

But when he's touched by it, that sure gets his attention.]

[youraffection]

...You really don't like this town. You already know that.

It has a different smell than the city and you never realized how much comfort you'd found in exhaust. It smells like earth and sun and something you can't name. Even when you're walking along the paved streets after school, it doesn't feel the same. It's not that manufactured, constantly maintained piece of concrete that you're used to it. You just...

You don't like it.

Your parents know it. You don't even need to say it.

But it's hard to like a place when it doesn't like you back. A part of you knows you haven't even tried, but does it matter? There had been whispers since day one. Just like what you're hearing now.

You're not part of any clubs, so you're walking your bike along the sidewalk down a gentle slope. The visage of the newly built department store looming over the neighboring rooftops. Your house isn't far away, your dad had made sure of that. Everyone knows which house is yours and it's not just because of the funky roof. But it isn't your house that people are looking at. It's you.

"That's him, that's the one I was talking about."

"Who?"

"That Hanamura kid. He's the manager's son, you know."

Your shoulders stiffen at the sound of your family name, but you keep walking. You try to concentrate on the sound of the spokes of your bike wheels clicking.

"Ohh, that guy. You know that liquor sales have gone down ever since Junes opened up."

"Not just liquor sales! They're already talking about closing down the vegetable stand."

"What? You mean that I won't be able to get Soma's cabbage anymore?"

"No, it's all pre-packaged and delivered."

"It just doesn't taste the same that way."

Their voices quiet down as you draw close by. You think, this time, should you acknowledge it? Is it even worth it? You've only been in town for about a month, but people can already pick you out of a crowd. You decide that, yeah, you'll offer them a smile in acknowledgement. It's not the type of thing you'd do in the city, but a part of you wants them to know that you know...

...well.

Maybe not this time.

You're still new, right? The store is still new. The talk will go down. Yeah, it's got to. If you don't call attention to it, it'll probably go away further. Besides, no one likes someone that argues all the time, right? And your dad has a reputation to keep up. You should put on a good face for him, even if you're not too into the area.

You keep your gaze straight ahead, feeling your heart race increase as you pass by the small group on the other side of the street. However, once they think you're out of earshot, they start speaking again.

"Things are sure changing around here."

"We never would have let something like that in our town when I was younger."

"They're having a sale this weekend, too. On clothing. They even have clothing!"

Sure, Junes has everything. It's a one-stop, superstore. You spent time at the old one your father used to work in, but when he's in charge of this one, your knowledge of the environment, products, and policies has increased exponentially. You do want to be a good employee, even if most people might assume nepotism.

"The Shopping District has seen less customers in this past month than we've had in years."

"It's popular with the high school kids too. They're hiring a lot of part-timers, I hear."

"Probably because of him."

Yeah. Because of you. Your shoulders sink a bit. Their voices begin to dwindle as the glass doors of the department store come into view.

"Do you think he recruits there?"

You scoff at that as you set your bike up outside. Recruit? What do they think, you're a spy sent to high school?

"I'm sure it makes him really popular with the girls."

Yeah, right. If only.

"My daughter is in the class next to his. They're calling him the 'Prince of Junes'."

Your hand pauses on the handle, holding the door open partway as the familiar jingle of the Junes Theme song plays in the background. Prince? That doesn't sound too bad, really.

But something about it doesn't make you feel like royalty...