The Mole: Anime Edition 2.0
By: Gomamon

The Recap:

Twelve strangers met for the first time, and learned that the Mole was not chosen yet. They randomly drew envelopes to determine their roles in the competition, which later led to a heated debate on the authenticity of the draw. In the first mission, each player had to jump out of a plane at over twelve thousand feet above the ground. Marcus refused to skydive naked, whereas Kaname threw all inhibitions in the air and added $10,000 to the pot. Meanwhile, Conway conquered his fear of heights, but Chiyo and Ogiue failed to make the plunge. The current pot stands at $18,000 out of a possible $30,000.

- - -

EPISODE ONE: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
(Part 2 of 3)

* * *

Day 1 – 1:30PM

* * *

After a relatively successful first mission, in which nine out of twelve people completed the skydiving, the contestants enjoyed a long, relaxing lunch at the airport restaurant. The group would have liked to travel to another destination, preferably a fancy hotel, but they still had not retrieved their luggage due to a delay between flights. Chiyo was particularly concerned with the whereabouts of her suitcase. It already felt distressing enough to be in a foreign land with a group of strangers, while separated from her friends and family miles away. That suitcase was supposed to embody the connection between Chiyo and her loved ones. That suitcase was supposed to offer her consolation and reassurance. That suitcase was supposed to resemble a piece of home. As such, its current absence caused her a lot of anxiety.

"It's not like I've anything valuable inside my suitcase, but I feel kind of…empty without it." Chiyo admitted sheepishly to a cameraperson. Her lips quivered a little while she spoke. "When you're traveling to an unknown destination, the last thing you want is to lose all of your belongings. It's like losing your identity. And it makes you feel so far away from home. It's a really, really scary thought."

This was not her first time traveling abroad. Chiyo was probably more familiar with airport procedures than anyone else here. She came from a wealthy family that took her on many vacations around the world, so she was used to the occasional mishap with luggage or whatnot. Yet, she never traveled on her own before, and never without the company of somebody she knew and trusted. At the moment, Chiyo felt a little lost, somewhat afraid, and very alone.

"I think I'm experiencing what they call 'culture shock' or something to that effect." Chiyo looked even more flustered than before. "Right now, I'd like to be reunited with my suitcase, check into the hotel, and call it a day."

Chiyo had found it difficult to relax since the game began, and the outrageous first mission didn't help matters either. There was simply too much excitement for this twelve-year-old girl to handle. She may be twelve going on thirteen, and thus approaching her teenage years, but this child prodigy did not feel ready to grow up. Despite her overwhelming maturity and accomplishments, she still thought of herself as a kid. This was evident during the mission today, in which Chiyo's participation was virtually nonexistent. She just stood there, dumbstruck, fussing over a half-naked man in front of her. Everybody else worked hard to earn the money, and there she was, doing nothing.

She felt so young, so foolish, and so incompetent. She felt so out of depth among these adults. She felt like a child playing dress-up in her mommy's clothes. It was the first time Chiyo realized that she wasn't surrounded by strangers. Because she was the stranger herself.

Who was she? What was she doing here? Why did she want to play the game? What did she hope to accomplish? Sadly, Chiyo didn't know the answers to any of these questions, and she was starting to believe that she never will.

"Signing up for this game might have been a mistake. I wish I was back at home and…oh! Oh, there it is!" Chiyo exclaimed, perkily, when she spotted her bright red suitcase on the conveyor belt.

Excusing herself from the video confessional, the young girl ran over to retrieve her suitcase. Unfortunately, the conveyor belt was not designed for a child, nor somebody as vertically challenged as her. She was a little too short, and her suitcase was a little too bulky. As a result, Chiyo struggled to grab onto her luggage until a kind-hearted man nearby gave her a helping hand.

"Here you go." Keiichi smiled as he brought the red suitcase down from the conveyor belt. He seemed surprised at how heavy it was. "Chiyo, do you want me to carry this for you?"

"Nope, it's alright. Thank you, Mr. Keiichi!" Chiyo returned the polite smile.

"Are you feeling okay?" Keiichi didn't know why he asked this question, though he felt an uncanny obligation to do so.

"Yep, everything…is better now." Chiyo nodded.

Nothing was said between them for a while, but their silence felt congenial rather than uncomfortable. He continued smiling at her, while she continued to smile back too.

And in that instant, as if they had reached an unspoken agreement, the two of them understood they were going to become friends.

* * *

1:32PM

* * *

If there was one person who can help Chiyo ease into her foreign surroundings, it was Keiichi Morisato.

He was better known as that guy. That nice guy, that smiling guy, that forgettable guy who didn't stand out in a crowd. On first glance, he seemed to be a simple college student who was a bit clumsy, a bit forgetful, and a bit scatterbrained at times. He was not particularly handsome, nor was he particularly intelligent. In fact, compared to everybody else, Keiichi was an unremarkably ordinary person. He was not a child genius, not a talented artist, not an accomplished musician, perhaps a bit of a motorcycle enthusiast, but otherwise, he was just an average, everyday guy. Chiyo liked him simply because he was nice.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Keiichi asked again. He watched the young girl struggle to even drag her suitcase across the floor. Yikes. That thing was almost as big as she was. "What did you bring in your suitcase anyway?"

"I need to keep up my grades, so I brought some textbooks from school. You know, for studying when I have free time. My parents wouldn't let me participate in this competition unless I promise them I'll ace my exams," said Chiyo. As a child prodigy, she didn't get into university at the age of twelve based on sheer genius alone. She also put forth a lot of hard work into her studies, which was evident through her stellar grades and numerous scholarships.

"Oh man, now I feel like a bad student." Keiichi chuckled. He, of course, did not bring any of his study materials, even though he was also attending university himself.

"No, you're fine! I'm just a little different, that's all." Chiyo laughed in a self-deprecating manner. "Who wants to study in Cerulean City anyway? This is meant to be a fun experience! We're supposed to enjoy ourselves here!"

May be it was the troubled laugh that tipped him off. Or maybe it was the way she spoke her sentences with such a strained tone in her voice. In either case, Keiichi could sense that the young girl had been under a lot of stress. He did not know what life she led beforehand, nor did he want to pass any unnecessary judgments. Yet, he completely empathized with the child prodigy, who was supposed to spend the best years of her life in an enjoyable fashion, rather than losing herself in between the pages of a textbook. Poor Chiyo. She must feel such a heavy burden on her shoulders. Keiichi could understand her pain, considering that he lived with a young genius himself.

"I hope you don't mind me asking this." Keiichi paused. He was careful about how he phrased the next part of his question. "Chiyo, are you having a good time here? You seem very tense right now."

"Um…"

No.

Not anymore.

Chiyo couldn't put on that brave smile and pretend everything was just peachy. But who can blame her? She was still a child, after all.

The young girl ended up pouring her heart and soul to Keiichi. She talked about how out-of-place she felt during the first mission, about how intimidated she was by the other players, and about how her home seemed so far away when she travelled by herself. These all felt like childish concerns, but Keiichi still listened attentively, nodded his head at times, and interjected several reassuring words during the right moments. He was, if nothing else, a good listener. Sometimes, the best way to console a person was not to offer them meaningless advice, but to simply listen, understand their perspective, and show that you genuinely care about them.

Once she was finished with her confession, Keiichi took some time to collect his thoughts. He said, "I think you're a brave girl for sharing your anxieties with me, which I know is not an easy thing to do. I also think that you should have more confidence in yourself, because you've accomplished so much at your age. You seem really responsible and really focused about your life. Chiyo, believe me, you've nothing to be ashamed of. The best advice I can give you is that I never once saw you as an inferior. You were always an equal in my eyes."

"Th…thank you, Mr. Keiichi." Chiyo nodded her head, smiling.

"No problem. If you need anybody to talk to in the future, just remember that I'm always happy to listen." Keiichi smiled back.

Chiyo found herself blushing, unconsciously. Oh gosh. She never responded well to compliments. Plus, Keiichi had a way of speaking that made her feel so special, as if she was the only girl in the room. She meant this in the most platonic manner possible, and Conway could testify, because the college student was simply a likable guy. Best of all, his affable charm and unintentional charisma came straight from his sincere personality. He would never flatter anybody just to win favour win them. That was one of the best qualities about Keiichi Morisato – there were no pretences with him.

"What did you bring in your suitcase, Mr. Keiichi?" Chiyo changed the subject afterwards, because she wasn't comfortable talking about herself any longer.

"Nothing special. Just clothes and some snacks. My girlfriend did most of the packing for me." Keiichi chuckled. He paused for a moment, and then unzipped the first bag on the front of his suitcase. "Here, I brought a few pictures of Belldandy. She means the world to me."

The woman in the photos was a beautiful brunette with dreamy blue eyes and a gentle expression. Her name was Belldandy, and she was Keiichi's girlfriend for who knows how many years. They seemed inseparable as a couple nowadays. Surprisingly, she was doing the most mundane activities in these photos, such as cooking dinner, folding the laundry, or simply smiling at the camera. Belldandy appeared very ordinary, yet she looked so special at the same time. In any case, she certainly seemed to be a happy woman. She also smiled a lot, just like Keiichi himself.

"Wow, you two look so cute together!" Chiyo gushed.

"Indeed. Your girlfriend is a true beauty. She reminds me of an angelic goddess sent from the heavens." Conway added. The young boy showed up out of nowhere and was currently peering over Chiyo's shoulders. He had a knack for appearing behind people's backs when they least expected him, no matter how creepy that may seem. "No offence, Keiichi, but you're kinda out of her league. Big time. What's she doing with a guy like you?"

"Oh my goodness, she's gorgeous!" Kaname chimed in. She was also looking at the pictures over Chiyo's shoulder. "No offence, Keiichi, but Conway is kinda right."

"What are you girls looking at?" Nodame asked. After noticing all the fuss, she tried to wedge herself in between Conway and Kaname so that she can have a better view. "I wanna see! I wanna see!"

The crowd surrounding Keiichi grew larger and larger. He became so embarrassed with the uninvited attention that he put the photos back into his suitcase again. This was never intended to be a show-and-tell. Besides, he didn't feel comfortable sharing his girlfriend with so many prying eyes. As he put away the pictures, the crowd interest also simmered down. Soon, Chiyo and Keiichi were able to resume their conversation again.

"How do you cope being away from home?" Chiyo asked all of a sudden. It wasn't in her nature to be so direct, but there was something very warm and relaxing about Keiichi's presence. She felt so at ease around him. She could talk to him about anything.

"Well, it's not like I won't have any contact with Belldandy here." Keiichi rubbed his chin. "I can still talk to her over the phone, or we can write letters to each other. There's also a little gadget called computers nowadays. But of course I'll miss her, that's why I brought these photos with me!"

"If your girlfriend means so much to you, why are you here? Why are you playing this game?" Chiyo asked.

There was no malicious intent behind her question. Chiyo did not have the capacity to offend anybody with her words. On one hand, she simply asked Keiichi a legitimate and thought-provoking question, which suited her curious personality. On the other hand, she phrased it in such an awkward manner that it could be easily interpreted in the wrong way. So, why did he leave behind his girlfriend anyway? Perhaps he didn't love her that much after all?

To be fair, that question probably sounded better in her head. Chiyo didn't realize how rude it came across until she spoke those words out loud. "I'm sorry, that was incredibly inappropriate of me! Please forget that I asked the question!"

"No, it's fine. I understand what your point." Keiichi was caught off guard for a moment, but he quickly recovered. A gentle smile appeared on his face. "I don't think the notion of home should be represented by a photo, or a suitcase, or any material possessions. Home should be something that's constantly in your heart and in your memories. That's why I'm okay with traveling abroad for a few weeks, because Belldandy will always be on my mind. I think about her even in my sleep." He laughed a little. "Heck, I'm thinking about her right now!"

It was a beautiful answer, or at least Chiyo thought so anyway. For a soon-to-be teenager, she may be slightly more susceptible to cheesy love stories than the average person. Nonetheless, Keiichi addressed one of her main concerns about the game. All along, she saw home as the physical distance between her different locations, but that was a flawed interpretation. Home was not an abstract concept. Home was not a distant concept. Home was not a concept, period. Home was actually what she made of it, what she fondly remembered in her head, and what motivated her to do well in the game. Home was a representation of the love, memories, and emotional bonds deeply rooted inside Chiyo's heart. Thus, home was carried within Chiyo, forever and always.

"Oh puh-leeease! C'mon, you two schmucks! You can't be homesick already. The first day isn't even over yet." Kaname sneered. She playfully punched Keiichi on the shoulder. "Well, if there's any consolation, think of us as your substitute family for the time being."

"Yeah, I can be the crazy aunt, and Conway is the annoying little brother!" Nodame added.

"Hey, I'm not annoying!" Conway exclaimed.

Chiyo laughed, out of both joy and relief. She had felt so distressed a few moments ago, but now her worries were quickly fading away. Perhaps her age clouded her initial judgment, because this was the first time she realized that she was surrounded by so many friendly and loving peers. How could she have felt alienated when these people all welcomed her with open arms? Contrary to her earlier assumptions, these people were not strangers, or at least not anymore. She was among players like Keiichi, who would bend over backwards to make her feel at ease. And although it will take Chiyo some more time to readjust to her new surroundings, she started to see a cautiously bright future for herself. She was feeling more and more comfortable in this game.

She felt as if she was jolted awake from a bad dream, and she was meeting these beautiful people for the first time. This was a new beginning for her. This was her true introduction to The Mole.

Welcome to Cerulean City. Welcome to her new friends and family. Welcome to her new home.

* * *

1:54PM

* * *

Still inside the airport, the contestants were growing restless. They all wanted a change of scenery after a long and exhausting day. At least the skydivers experienced a thrilling adventure, whereas those who didn't participate in the first mission spent a majority of their time at the same location. Poor Marcus had been pacing back and forth, while mumbling to himself in discontent. His journey so far was a total dud. Unlike the others, he did not get that rush of adrenaline from jumping out the plane, which meant he still had a lot of pent-up energy seeking for an outlet. Marcus would like to leave the airport as soon as possible, so that his personal adventure can finally begin.

He wanted another mission. He wanted to travel to another destination. And more than anything, he wanted another chance at redemption.

Fortunately, his opportunity came soon afterwards.

"Good news. There's a shuttle bus waiting outside. We're ready to leave the airport." Misty announced, to which the players gave a collective cheer. "But first, we must address some bad news. Discuss among yourselves and choose two people who will receive severe punishments throughout the day. By punishments, I mean that the luxuries you take for granted will be stripped away from these two players." A devious smile crossed her face. "We may not leave this airport until the group agrees to a unanimous decision."

"What kind of…uh, punishments are we talking about here?" Harima raised an eyebrow.

"For starters, those two players can say goodbye to their suitcases, which will be mailed back to their respective residences." Misty explained, "In other words, they won't have any personal belongings for the rest of this competition."

"WHAT THE FU-"

"Y…you can't take away our suitcases!"

"What the hell are we gonna do without any clothes!?"

Misty predicted there would be some outrage when she made the announcement, but she never expected this level of backlash. The contestants just started talking at once, and their loud voices drowned out each other's protests. These punishments were obviously an unpopular idea, which meant the producers did their jobs right. Even on the first day, they wanted to put the players out of their comfort zones, so that the game's atmosphere would always seem stressful and intense.

"Excuse me, but what exactly are the other punishments?" Amy asked. She had to raise her voice in order to be heard over the group.

"You'll find out over the course of the day. Let's just say we prepared some nasty surprises." Misty winked, but none of the players found the current situation too amusing. "Just to clarify, the punishments will only affect the two chosen candidates. So, only they will lose their suitcases…"

It was around this time when Nami began to panic. She brought not one, not two, but three suitcases in total. Her shoe collection alone made up half of the contents, while her stylish wardrobe occupied the other half. She would have brought even more clothes if she didn't plan on a shopping spree during her time here. She envisioned herself going home with at least six suitcases, and possibly sixty more once she won the moolah. Yes, Nami was a self-professed shopaholic fully immersed into the commodity culture, and she was damn proud of it!

As such, this punishment was her worst nightmare. She couldn't bear the thought of competing without her fabulous clothes, designer shoes, fancy hair products, along with those expensive make-up and accessories. Worst of all, Nami was a likely candidate to be chosen, since she wasn't too popular with the other players. Some of them, like Marcus, still fostered animosity towards her.

At times like these, the quick-witted Nami knew she must act fast and strike the first blow. It was a dog-eat-dog world out there. She had to save her own hide by pinning the target onto somebody else.

"Well, the fairest way is to do a random draw…" Amy began, but she was promptly interrupted.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Nami raised her arm in the air. She did not wait for permission before continuing. "I'm not going to mention any names, you know who you are, but a few people didn't contribute in the mission today. And in my humble opinion, they deserve to be punished more than the rest of us."

"It's not really fair to hold that against them…" Amy argued, but she was cut off once again.

"Nami makes a good point." Marcus, unsurprisingly, spoke over the high school student without any consideration for her feelings. "Real men own up to their failures. I feel pretty crappy for not stepping up to the plate earlier. So, give me the chance to redeem myself. I'm willing to take all punishments thrown my way!"

That seemed like a noble gesture, but it did not go without suspicion. While Marcus volunteered so he could right his past wrongs, some players were hesitant to elect him as a representative again. They trusted the guy once and he failed them miserably. Could the group rely on him once more? Could they afford to make the same mistake twice?

"In this game, everything happens for a reason." Satoshi stated this in a matter-of-fact manner. "I believe there's another layer to this task. Why else would they suddenly punish us if there isn't an ulterior motive involved somehow? We have to look at the big picture. We can't make this decision too hastily."

"Uh, I don't get it." Conway lifted his glasses, confused.

"There's more to this task than meets the eye." Satoshi elaborated on his theory, "What if not all the punishments are bad? What if these punishments turn into rewards somewhere along the way? What if there's a connection between the punishments and the money in our pot?"

"But that's all speculation though…" Conway didn't sound convinced.

Satoshi, always the analytical thinker, presented some legitimate concerns. Yet, given the lack of information, nobody knew whether he was right or wrong. May be this was just a silly stunt meant to manufacture conflict within the group, which was commonly done in reality television programs. Or perhaps the producers wanted to mess with their heads early, simply because they could. Thus, under these circumstances, the group caved in to Marcus' offer. He was a willing volunteer, whereas nobody else wanted to lose their suitcases on the first day. So, the general consensus was – why not? Why not give the guy a chance to redeem himself? Why not let him take the fall instead?

"So, it's decided then! I won't disappoint you guys!" Marcus clapped his hands together.

"If you want to play the hero, who are we to stop you?" Nami paused for a moment before adding, "If only some people would follow your lead."

No names were mentioned yet again, but the implicit message was loud and clear. Because from the moment Nami opened her mouth to speak, Ogiue and Chiyo were involuntarily thrown into the hot seat. All eyes were, suddenly, and perhaps unconsciously, turned towards the two girls who did not participate in the first mission. They didn't earn any money this morning, and by that logic, they deserved to be punished more than the rest of the group.

Ogiue knew she was never going to volunteer. She won't give up the large collection of manga inside her suitcase no matter what. So, she simply kept her head down during the group discussion, hoping that nobody would notice the quiet, inconspicuous girl in the background. It didn't work so far, but Ogiue had a stubborn streak. She will not easily compromise her beliefs.

On the other hand, Chiyo was almost on the verge of tears. Deep down, she and her guilty conscience could understand the opposing argument. She even supported it from a certain moral perspective. After all, her parents had raised their daughter to be an altruistic young lady who put others' self-interests ahead of their own. By all means, Chiyo should have followed Marcus' example by taking the dignified high road. She should have accepted responsibility over her earlier actions. She should have surrendered her luggage, and she almost did so too.

Yet, the young girl felt reluctant to part with her beloved suitcase. This item meant so much to her, physically, emotionally, and symbolically. She needed to carry these precious mementos from home so that she can feel comfortable in the competition. And as much as Chiyo wanted to do the right thing, she wasn't ready to play the role of a selfless martyr.

"I…um, I…" Chiyo stammered. The words rested on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't say them out loud.

"I'll volunteer," said a soft-spoken voice from behind.

Ogiue turned around in surprise, while Chiyo simply closed her eyes and sighed. It was a sigh of relief, but also a sigh of immense devastation. She recognized that voice – that masculine and comforting, that gentle yet reassuring, that voice which radiated so much kindness, more kindness than she was capable of accepting. It was truly the voice of an angel, a saint, and a saviour.

For the second time today, Keiichi Morisato had come to her rescue.

"Are you sure?" Harima asked, uncertainly.

"Yeah, it's a really simple decision. Let's not drag it out any longer." Keiichi laughed.

That might have been the diplomatic answer, but the real explanation lied within the fact that he was a nice guy. Keiichi saw the insecurity in Chiyo's teary eyes, and felt obliged to protect her in a brotherly way. Besides, how could he have forced a twelve-year-old girl to subject herself to these punishments? He just didn't have it in him to act so heartlessly. He also didn't have the heart to watch the other players turn against the innocent child. They were like a pack of vultures, ready to attack her in the worst way possible. So, Keiichi would rather sacrifice his own comforts in order to restore the peace and equilibrium among the group. It was for the best, he assumed.

"Thank you, Mr. Keiichi." Chiyo mumbled, gratefully, as she tried to fight back tears.

"You can thank me too, ya know!" Marcus thumped his chest, looking rather insulted. "He isn't the only do-gooder around here!"

Thus, the two brave volunteers (or 'scapegoats', as Nami would like to call them) were finally chosen. First of all, they needed to hand over their luggage to Misty. Then, Keiichi asked if he could take out the family photos from his suitcase, but he wasn't given the permission to do so. Even when the other players began to protest on his behalf, Misty would not change her stance. And if this was an early indicator of the punishments in store, then neither Keiichi nor Marcus looked forward to the rest of today.

"Now that everything is settled, we can leave the airport at last!" Misty announced.

"Is that all? No more punishments?" Keiichi asked with a hopeful smile.

"Just you wait." Misty shook her head. "I almost feel sorry for you. Boy oh boy, you guys don't realize yet that you've signed up for one hell of a day!"

* * *

4:43PM

* * *

During an excruciatingly long bus ride from the airport to their next destination, some contestants became curious about their living quarters for the next several weeks. Will they be living in a fancy hotel, or perhaps a lovely seaside villa? Will their new residence be as mysterious and exotic as Cerulean City itself? Harima, though very imaginative by his own merits, did not get caught up with these outlandish fantasies. He was a simple guy with simple tastes who preferred to live a simple lifestyle. Just give him a bed, and he could make himself comfortable anywhere at his new home.

That was anywhere except for the building currently in front of him.

"Holy smokes."

Harima let out a small whistle when he stepped out of the shuttle bus. It was a surreal sight, to say the least. What he saw was not just any ordinary house, but a massive three-storey mansion surrounded by tall palm trees, a beautiful landscaped garden, and breathtaking view of the ocean. Once an ancient fishing village, this was now the location to a charming summer resort.

A quick tour around the house revealed there were eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, four living rooms, two kitchens, one dining room, one entertainment room, one exercise room, one study room, one swimming pool, and even one massive tennis court outside. And that was just the summary of the first floor. In short, it was the perfect vacation home for an exceptionally affluent family. In this case, it was an extravagant residence for a very fortunate group of contestants. Or in Harima's case, it was an atrocious waste of money and space.

"Holy smokes." Harima repeated again. He flashed a wry grin to the cameras. "Welcome to the life of the rich and famous, where they spend money on crap like…glass chandeliers."

He pointed his finger upwards, prompting a few players to 'ooh' and 'aah' as they marvelled at the ceiling.

"Seriously, this place is ridiculous. We're the only people living here, even though it could hold the population of a small country." Harima was exaggerating of course, but this house was pretty much an exaggeration in itself. "Do those stinkin' rich people spend their money like this?" His mind suddenly strayed towards a certain blonde girl in his memories, but he rid himself of that troublesome imagery. "Damned if I'll ever know."

"Dude, I know what you mean." Marcus was also thinking about a certain blonde from his past. On an unrelated note, he noticed that if he spoke too loudly inside the mansion, he could hear his own echo bounce off the walls. "If I win the money, I'd never spend it so excessively. May be I'll buy myself a nice red sports car, but I won't waste it on this materialistic stuff."

"Whatever. You two just don't know how to enjoy money." Nami scoffed.

"How can this be considered enjoyment?" Harima raised an eyebrow.

Nami took a few quick glances of her new surroundings, while smiling admirably. She replied, "I appreciate some glitter and glamour in my life, that's all."

Despite their differing perspective towards the lap of luxury, almost every player was excited about their new living quarters. They had fun exploring the different rooms and passages, while examining any peculiar items that caught their interest. Amy, for example, was captivated by a spectacular glass aquarium, whereas Nodame almost knocked over poor Chiyo when she spotted a piano in one of the living rooms. It was such a fascinating house, but also a very inconvenient one. Some people had already voiced their concerns about living inside this enormous yet lonely mansion.

"It reminds me of those haunted houses you see in the movies, heheheh. Everything is so big and distanced apart, so you kinda feel alienated from each other." Conway grinned. "I'm expecting a ghost to jump out at us any moment now."

"Ghosts!? What ghosts?" Chiyo asked with bewildered eyes.

"I'm just afraid that I'll get lost finding my way to the restroom," said Kyon.

"We could play a kickass game of hide and seek in here though." Harima added, thoughtfully.

After their arrival, Misty laid out several house rules for the contestants. They were told to stay on the ground floor, because the other two storeys (reserved for the production crew and other guests) were off-limits. As such, some of the players will have to become roommates, with two or three people sharing a communal bedroom and bathroom. They were also instructed to avoid contact with the outside world unless given permission. Telephone calls were limited to five minutes per day, and only possible when monitored by a producer. Internet access was even stricter, since all computers in the study room cannot be touched outside of a mission. Finally, leaving the mansion, alone and unsupervised, was out of the question.

"It's like house imprisonment pretty much," Harima recapped.

"Hey, you signed up for this. Don't complain about it." Misty scolded him. She later added, "In order to reinforce these policies, any contestant that breaks a rule will incur a significant penalty towards the pot. So, watch your actions and obey the rules!"

The players were given some liberties though, such as the freedom to choose their own rooms and roommates. Amy paired up with Kaname, as did Nami and Nodame, while the other players were fortunate enough to occupy their own rooms. Marcus and Keiichi, however, soon learned that they will lose their rooming privileges as part of their second punishment. Instead, they were instructed to camp outside with sleeping bags until the end of the first execution. They were allowed to use the other facilities inside the mansion, but sleeping or even relaxing indoors was considered a rule violation.

"I prefer to sleep on a bed if there's a choice, but camping outside isn't so bad." Keiichi remained optimistic despite the unfavourable circumstances. He looked up at the sky, which was beginning to darken. "I hope it doesn't rain though."

"The sleeping bags look cozy." Amy offered politely. She was trying to be supportive.

"Somebody sounds like she wanna join us and sleep out here tonight." Marcus said with a cheeky grin. "Ya know, there's enough room in this garden for the three of us!"

"Hmm, your proposition is lovely, but no thank you." Amy giggled.

Neither man seemed too concerned with the second punishment, but Chiyo certainly was. She still felt guilty about what happened this afternoon, when she willingly let another person suffer the punishments in her place. Keiichi had done nothing wrong today. He shouldn't have to lose his suitcase or sleep outside, whereas Chiyo got to rest on a comfy bed without care or worry. Except she did care and she was worried, perhaps too much so, because Chiyo was starting to feel depressed again. Just when she was finding her footing in this competition, the harsh reality struck back at her, and she realized she was still a lost little girl completely out of her element.

Not only did she back out of the first mission, but she also backed out of these punishments that she rightfully deserved. Worst of all, she caused misfortunes to an innocent man who had been nothing but compassionate towards her. If only there was a way she can trade places with Mr. Keiichi. If only there was a way to repay his kindness. If only there was a way to make his life a little easier.

Chiyo would indeed find a solution later tonight, but not without some severe consequences.

* * *

5:21PM

* * *

"Hello? It's me."

A bright smile immediately spread across Keiichi's face when he heard his girlfriend's voice over the phone receiver. For a few seconds, he just sat there with his eyes closed as he formed a mental picture of Belldandy. Gosh, she looked radiant even in his vivid imagination.

"No, no, no, no, I'm still here! I can hear you just fine! I dozed off for a bit, you know me." Keiichi chuckled. When she didn't hear her boyfriend's response after a while, Belldandy worried there might be something wrong with the phone signal over a long-distance call. He reassured her that everything was going to be alright, as long as they had each other for company. "So, how are you? Your sisters aren't giving you a tough time, right? I know, I miss you too…"

The two of them spent the next few minutes chatting about anything that came to mind. Keiichi described to her about his initial anxieties on the airplane, because he was admittedly a worrywart who wasn't as well travelled as the other players. And gosh, knock on wood, what if the airplane malfunctioned or something? It was the type of intimate detail he only felt comfortable sharing with his girlfriend. Belldandy knew all of his skeletons, from his deepest fears to his prospective dreams and aspirations. There were no secrets between the couple. They told each other everything. In return, she inquired about his emotional state, his health, if he was experiencing jet lag, what did the meals taste like, and how were the other contestants anyway? And, oh, by the way, what about the…

"Time's up!" Keiichi's accompanying producer motioned towards her watch.

The rules stated that no player was allowed to make a phone call longer than five minutes. Plus, the entire conversation must be monitored throughout. Although it felt awkward talking with a third party nearby, Keiichi understood their strict measures were to prevent a breach of security as well as costly telephone expenses.

"Oh gosh, they're cutting me off in a few moments. I'll call you back tomorrow morning. Take care of yourself, okay? Yep, you too. Hahahaha, I know. I'll remember!" Keiichi thought he wouldn't have the heart to hang up on his girlfriend, but the producer apparently did not share the same problem. "I really need to go now. I love you. Bye."

Keiichi sighed as he put down the telephone receiver. Those five minutes passed a little more quickly than he imagined, and way too quickly for his liking. How could he condense his thoughts and emotions into a conversation that will only last for a short fraction of time? Then again, Keiichi could always call her again tomorrow, and he shouldn't hog the telephone to himself anyway. Chiyo had been waiting patiently beside him, so that she could make a quick phone call to her parents. He wasn't the only person with concerned loved ones.

As he excused himself to another room, Keiichi replayed the phone conversation in his head. There were so many things he couldn't tell Belldandy due to the time restriction, such as the whole suitcase epiphany, although she'll find out in a few days when his belongings were mailed back to their residence. Speaking of which, Keiichi wished he still had his precious family photos in his possession. He forgot to take them out during the moment, and he had been kicking himself for the mistake ever since. He wondered how Belldandy would react if she found out what happened, but of course she'd forgive him, because she loved her boyfriend unconditionally. The real question was could Keiichi forgive himself?

"I miss her so much…" Keiichi would later tell the camera in a video confessional. "Just hearing her voice over the phone receiver isn't enough. It feels so…distant. I can't tell if she's happy or sad. And even if she's sad, there is little I can do to cheer her up. I can't hold her hand, I can't see her smile, I can't do anything to make her feel better. That's the biggest problem. I feel like I'm not physically or emotionally available for Belldandy."

He was a devoted boyfriend full and thorough. As cheesy as it may sound, Keiichi wanted to spend every waking moment with the love of his life. He had no desire to leave her behind, but Belldandy was the one who encouraged him to participate in this competition. Not only would The Mole be a wonderful life experience for him, but it could also test the strength of their romantic relationship. Absence made the heart fonder, so the prolonged separation should make them grow stronger as a couple. Belldandy had reassured him that they will move on to the next level in their relationship if they overcome this challenge together.

Yet, the couple had been separated for a little less than twenty four hours, and this was already one of the most difficult challenges in Keiichi's life.

He sighed again. Keiichi felt a little awkward revealing so much raw emotions with the cameras rolling and the producers smiling sympathetically at him. Almost pitying him. Feeling uncomfortable, the college student decided it was time to move on. It was time to change the subject.

"Yeah, as you can tell, losing the suitcase hit me where it hurts the most." Keiichi forced a weak smile onto his face. "But as for sleeping outside, it's not a big deal. If those people can do it on Survivor, I don't think camping at a fancy garden is that bad in comparison." He should have stopped speaking then, but the producers baited him to elaborate on the subject. He added, "And to be honest, these punishments aren't really all that impressive."

If this confessional was a cartoon, now would be the moment when the record player that was playing the upbeat tempo song comes to an immediate screeching halt. Say whaaaaat?

"Really? You think that little of the game, huh?" One of the producers joked, trying to conceal her surprise behind a thinly veiled smile.

"No, don't get me wrong. This experience has been terrific so far other than a few minor inconveniences. Everything is just great. Great house, great people, great first mission, and overall a great day!" Keiichi laughed. He didn't notice the subtle change in the atmosphere, nor the fact that he was unintentionally digging himself a deeper hole. "I'm having a lot of fun right now!"

And now would be the moment when the record player breaks apart completely.

Behind the cameras, the production crew wasn't paying attention to him anymore. They had stopped listening in order to start plotting. Poor naïve Keiichi Morisato, he was such a straight shooter. What did he hope to accomplish when he said the punishments seemed generally unimpressive? Or that he was having a lot of fun in the midst of his imposed suffering?

Didn't this guy understand the basic rules of reality television?

* * *

8:02PM

* * *

Nothing could have prepared Keiichi for his third and final punishment. It happened during the evening, when all twelve contestants were gathered around the dining table for a specially cooked dinner. A professional chef was hired for this occasion in order to celebrate their first meal together as a group. They would each enjoy a standard five-course gourmet meal, with soups, salads, breads, desserts, and of course a nice roasted steak. It would have been one of the most luxurious meals that Keiichi had eaten in his lifetime. But instead, the plate in front of him remained empty throughout the meal.

At first, he thought it was a mistake when he and Marcus did not receive their mushroom soups like everybody else. Then, Misty confirmed the next obvious thought that sprang to mind: they will be receiving no dinner tonight. As what was easily the most sadistic punishment to date, both men were forbidden from eating dinner tonight. Worst of all, they must stay in the dining room until the meal was over, while watching (and smelling) all the delicious food that they were not allowed to eat.

For the most part, the group was respectful enough to consume the meal as quietly and politely as possible. Nami, however, shared a different perspective. She thought the situation was downright hilarious, which was why she teased the men about their misfortunes, such as mentioning how delicious the steak was – a little too loudly perhaps; or asking Marcus if he felt hungry at the moment – a question to which she got no response. Her provocative behaviour eventually offended enough people, and somebody told her to be quiet for the rest of the meal.

"Ohmygod, this baked potato is the best thing I've eaten in my whole life!" Nami exclaimed. Like the rebel that she was, the defiant redhead could never be silenced. The more she was told not to do something, the more likely she would repeat the same offence over and over again. "Ohmygod, the taste is melting in my mouth!"

"I wish that gob of yours would melt off for good." Marcus muttered under his breath.

"Nami, please stop. That's enough." Amy warned.

"What? What did I do?" Nami shrugged her shoulders, feigning innocence.

"You know exactly what you're doing. Can't you be a little more considerate? Don't you think the guys are suffering enough as it is?" Amy was speaking in an uncharacteristically stern voice. She didn't lose her temper often, but she had no patience for people with no manners. "Think about how Keiichi and Marcus must feel right now. Put yourself in their shoes. Is it necessary to rub salt in their wounds?"

"Oh, get off my case!" Nami rolled her eyes. "I was just having a little fun."

"I don't appreciate it when you derive pleasure from other people's misery." Amy frowned.

Nami anticipated some playful and harmless banter across the dining table. What she didn't expect was that she'd be on the receiving end of a lecture, as if she was a naughty, disobedient child who deserved a slap on the wrist. She had not gotten along with Amy since the first mission, when it became obvious that the two girls had polar opposite personalities. One was a natural role model, whereas the other was a born troublemaker. This was a classic battle between the good girl and the bad girl, so it was only a matter of time before they clashed over their different perspectives. However, nobody guessed there'd be a confrontation as early as their first supper together.

"Whoever is offended obviously needs to grow a thicker skin." Nami sneered. The redhead wore an aggravated expression on her face, and she made no attempts to hide it.

"I don't understand your rationale for saying all these terrible things. What exactly are you trying to accomplish with those hurtful words!?" Amy noticed that she had raised her voice, so she paused for a moment in order to calm down. "If you don't have anything nice to say, then please don't say anything."

"It was a joke, Amy! I can't believe you're getting upset over a stupid joke!"

"I don't find your jokes very funny."

"Well, I'm sorry that you have no sense of humour."

"Nami, I'm upset because the guys haven't eaten anything tonight, and you're rubbing it in their faces." Amy narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "That's not very funny to me."

"Look, it's not my problem. I'm not the one responsible for their losses!" Nami scoffed. She almost slammed her fist onto the table, but refrained herself at the last second. "Blame the evil producers. They came up with the idea, not me! As for how I behave, I'm an adult with impeccable judgment about life. So, I don't need anyone to tell me the way I should behave."

The other players sat uncomfortably around the table, observing the fight in progress. Nobody knew if they should interfere or not. Kyon may have made some subtle cat noises to signify the obvious tension in the room, and Conway may have found this argument oddly riveting (perhaps even erotic in his perverted mind), but some people were disturbed by the disharmony within the group. This was their first dinner together, so it didn't seem like an appropriate setting to bicker and forth.

Chiyo, for one, was getting a big headache as she listened to these two women. She was fed up with their petty quarrel. Since the child prodigy was usually the peacekeeper in her circle of friends back at home, she was not afraid to play the same role in this situation either.

"Please, everyone!" Chiyo pleaded. "Please stop arguing! Please don't make this night any worse than it already is!"

She surprised herself with the volume of her voice, and also the fact that she suddenly leapt out from her chair. Chiyo had a tendency to act very intense during the heat of the moment. Nonetheless, her message came across loud and clear. Everybody saw that puppy face, those teary eyes, the quivering lips, and their rage faded away immediately. They were reminded there was a young child in the room. Besides, that girl was too adorable for her own good. How can anyone remain furious after staring at such a cute expression? She looked like a cuddly doll.

"I'm sorry for yelling, but let's…let's just try to get along, okay? Let bygones be bygones." Chiyo said in a much quieter voice this time. She sighed, sounding defeated. "It has been a long day."

"Indeed." Satoshi smirked.

On that note, the argument ceased shortly afterwards. Dinner resumed without much fanfare, other than a few icy glares between Amy and Nami, but poor Chiyo still felt upset about what had happened. Not just the bickering, but everything that had transpired on this nightmarish day. She was abhorred that it was only the first day. If she felt so distraught already, what will be her emotional state a few weeks from now?

Her headache was growing worse. And Chiyo lost her appetite completely. She didn't touch a lot of the food on her plate, which made her feel guilty because some people could not enjoy this luxury. What a detestable and ungrateful little girl she was. If she was just going to sulk throughout the meal, she should have volunteered for the punishments instead of making Mr. Keiichi and Mr. Marcus suffer on her behalf. Chiyo hated herself for being so weak. Oh, how this awful headache was killing her!

"Hey…"

All of a sudden, there was a light tap on her shoulder.

"Chiyo, what's wrong?" Nodame asked quietly. She sat beside the young girl and had just noticed her strange behaviour. "You haven't eaten anything in a while."

"I am not hungry," Chiyo mumbled.

"Darn it, I'm jealous of your small stomach." Nodame grinned. She paused for a moment, analyzed her companion's face, and continued speaking. "I think I know what the problem is. You're still upset because the boys don't get to eat anything, right? C'mon, don't feel bad! It's not your fault!" She paused for a second time. "Gosh, you're a stubborn one. What can I do to cheer you up?"

"It's okay, Miss Nodame, I don't want to trouble you." Chiyo shook her head.

"No trouble at all. I have an idea that will make everything better." Nodame said, but not in the comforting or maternal tone that Chiyo was used to hearing from the other players. No, this voice almost sounded seductive. The pianist seemed a little dangerous, somewhat sneaky, and definitely spontaneous. "If you aren't going to eat your dinner, then those leftovers can serve another purpose. You know what I mean?"

She then whispered something into Chiyo's ears. That seemed to seal the deal. In a matter of seconds, the young girl changed her expression almost instantly. Once sulky and depressed, she was now beaming with joy.

The rest, as they would say, was history.

* * *

8:58PM

* * *

After dinner, Keiichi and Marcus retired to their outdoor sleeping quarters. Both of them were starving, but the best way to get over this hunger was to simply sleep it off and wake up to a big breakfast on the next morning. Thus, the two men quickly wished each other goodnight as they tucked themselves into their sleeping bags. Tomorrow will hopefully be a less demanding day.

"Hey, do you smell it?"

"Smell what?"

"Man, I don't know if I'm hallucinating, but there's this weird aroma in the air."

"Now that you mention it, it does kinda smell like steak…"

"No, boys, you're not hallucinating and you're not dreaming either. This steak is not a figment of your imagination." Misty suddenly interrupted their conversation. Both men were startled at the host's presence, but even more surprised that she carried a plate of food in each hand. "Good evening, gentlemen. I understand that you had a pretty rough day. How do you feel right now?"

"I'd feel a lot better if we can eat whatever you're holding!" Marcus chuckled.

"You brought those servings for us, right?" Keiichi asked with a hopeful smile. "Please say yes. Please don't be this cruel to us."

Unfortunately, the producers were capable of such cruelness, or at least they knew how to make exciting reality television programs. They didn't want to give away the food for free, not when there was a far more enticing way to present the offer. Indeed, the word 'offer' described this situation the best, as in Misty was about to make a tempting offer that the men cannot refuse.

"Gentlemen, you now have the opportunity to reverse the punishments, meaning that your suitcases will be returned, you will be permitted to sleep inside the mansion, and dinner will be served." Misty explained. There was a suspenseful pause in between her sentences. "Or for the alternative option, if you turn down my offer, I'll add $10,000 into the pot."

The men groaned in unison. Now, it became clear why the producers inflicted these punishments throughout the day, which were intended to lead up to this ultimate finale, ultimate sacrifice, and ultimate choice. It had been part of an overarching scheme all along. Keiichi and Marcus will now be forced to choose between the money and their creature comforts. Should they sacrifice their own interests in favour of the group? Or should they take back the privileges that were rightfully theirs in the first place?

Marcus was particularly distracted by the food right in front of him, which was clouding his concentration and judgment abilities. Meanwhile, all Keiichi could think about were the missing photos in his suitcase. Those precious family photos. Photos of Belldandy. Belldandy, his girlfriend. The girlfriend that he missed so much. The girlfriend that gave him so much motivation in the game. And those photos could belong to him again, at the price of ten thousand dollars.

Keiichi closed his eyes and shook his head. He must not think about Belldandy right now. He must not feel tempted. This game was cruel. Too sickeningly cruel.

"We made it through the entire day without our suitcases, bedrooms, or dinners." Keiichi said, combating his emotional desires with reason and logic. "If we can survive without these comfort items for so long already, I don't believe this offer will make a difference to our circumstances."

"Yeah, why change our minds now?" Marcus nodded his head.

"On the other hand, I'd really appreciate it if we can get our suitcases back. I want my pictures, and it'd be nice to wear my clothes again. Plus, that steak looks delicious." Keiichi sighed a little. "But I know that's selfish of me. We should do the right thing and add money into the pot."

"Good. 'Cos I don't want to be responsible for losing twenty grand in one day. I'd feel like a big tool." Marcus folded his arms across his chest.

"I won't have a problem either way." Keiichi shrugged his shoulders, "It's your call."

Marcus contemplated about this decision for a while. Should he accept this offer? His stomach said yes, but both his heart and brain were leaning towards no. In a close two-to-one vote, he ended up following his trusty gut instinct. "I volunteered in the first place because I was willing to make personal sacrifices. So, if everything is cool with Keiichi…" He turned towards the hostess with a final answer. "I'd like to confirm that we're turning down the offer."

Keiichi closed his eyes again, but this time he was trying to fight back tears. He felt like a disloyal boyfriend, choosing a small sum of cash over the pictures of Belldandy. How can he stare at her straight in the eyes and tell her that she was forever invaluable to him? Because this was apparently not the case. Keiichi had just attached a price tag to Belldandy, and she came at a cheap price of ten thousand dollars.

He knew he shouldn't think so literally and cynically, but having skipped dinner, even a nice guy like him found it difficult to stay positive. Keiichi was tired, hungry, and more than a little pissed off.

Meanwhile, Misty pursed her lips, looking somewhat disappointed with the decision made. What could have been a very controversial choice ended without much drama, or at least none that was taped on the cameras. The men, to their credit, rationalized their thought processes and picked the altruistic choice. As a result, they successfully added $10,000 into the pot, but their punishments will remain as they were now – no suitcases, no beds, and no food.

"Congratulations," Misty said with a faint smile. She bid the men farewell and goodnight.

After her departure, the delicious aroma of steak still lingered in the air for some inexplicable reason. At first, both men thought it must have been their imaginations, or at least they were being delusional due to a lack of sleep and food. But then, another unexpected visitor showed up. But then, everything was explained. But then, the night will never remain the same again.

"Hey," Chiyo whispered as she discreetly approached the men. They were about to tell her about the good news, but she held up an index finger over her lips. As soon as Keiichi and Marcus identified what she held in her hands, they understood the reason behind this visit, because Chiyo had brought them a full plate of food that she smuggled from dinner earlier. "Promise me this will remain a secret between us…"

It took three seconds for Keiichi and Marcus to thank the generous young girl, three minutes for them to wolf down the food as quickly as possible, and approximately three hours before the so-called secret was exposed by the producers.

* * *

11:45PM

* * *

Misty called for an emergency meeting near midnight, which was not received well by the contestants. As they entered the living room in various degrees of grogginess, with some of them dressed in their pyjamas or otherwise, nobody understood why the hostess summoned them at such a late hour. All will be explained in a few minutes, but for now, the players were mostly itching to go back to bed.

Chiyo had a bad feeling in her gut right away, but she ignored it for the time being. Surely this was a coincidence. Surely this meeting was not related to her actions a few hours ago.

"Good evening. I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour, but we've an urgent matter on our hands." Misty spoke in her schoolmistress voice, sounding as if she was about to give a stern lecture. "Let's start from the beginning. Earlier tonight, I gave Keiichi and Marcus the opportunity to reverse their punishments, or they could add $10,000 into the pot. They chose the money, which means you're all a little richer now."

The players gave a jubilant round of applause for the good news. Misty waited patiently until the noise died down before she spoke again.

"However…"

Uh oh.

Chiyo let out a tiny gasp. She knew she was in trouble from that moment onwards.

"We just discovered that something else took place tonight." Misty folded her arms across her chest. She may have even made a soft 'task, tsk' sound under her breath. "Our hidden cameras captured footage of somebody sneaking in food for Keiichi and Marcus. As you know, this is against the rules, because I clearly indicated that they were forbidden from eating dinner tonight." She turned her head towards a certain twelve-years-old girl, whose eyes sank to the ground. "Chiyo, would you like to confess your crime, or do you want me to show the video clip instead?"

Chiyo squirmed. She felt too petrified to speak. Earlier tonight, she had saved a large portion of her dinner and smuggled these leftovers to the men. At the time, the young girl thought she was doing the right thing. She never expected her act of kindness would be interpreted as a violation of the rules.

"I'm really sorry, you guys." Chiyo muttered in a very meek voice. She refused to make eye contact with anyone. "I didn't know it would turn out like this."

"In her defence, she was concerned about our well-beings," Keiichi added.

"Anyway, I must issue a penalty to the group." Misty frowned, "Since this is your first warning, I'll only deduct $5000 from the pot. Every additional penalty from now on will rise in increments of five thousand dollars, which means your second violation will cost you $10,000. But hopefully, this won't happen again." She paused for a contemplated moment. "Your kitty now stands at $23,000, which is slightly less than what it could have been."

There was an awkward silence afterwards.

"Meeting adjourned. Have a good night," said Misty.

The notion of a 'good night' was quite laughable, considering that tonight was ruined for nearly all the contestants. Nobody was laughing though, and certainly not the guilty parties involved. Just when they thought some money could be added into the pot, half of it was taken away due to a silly human error. Both Keiichi and Marcus looked shaken up about what just happened, while Chiyo appeared downright miserable. She was so tired, so weak, so drained. She wondered if this emotional rollercoaster of a day will ever end. The young girl soon excused herself from the group, but not without a chorus of overly supportive words from her fellow competitors, which somehow made her feel even worse.

"Oh, you poor thing…"

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault…"

"Just remember that we still support you no matter what…"

To her credit, she maintained a strong façade until she was a fair distance away from everybody else. Then, the young girl began to run like no tomorrow. Run, run, run like the wind, run like she didn't have a care in the world, run straight into her bedroom where she locked herself inside. She closed the door, pressed her back against the wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

And then, only then, in the solitude of her private haven, Chiyo Mihama finally began to cry.

* * *

END OF PART 2

* * *

Author's Note:

Part 2 is the first of several character-centric chapters in the story. You may have noticed that Chiyo and Keiichi were the main focus for almost every section, which hopefully enriched their characterizations. This is a new writing style for me, because I'm used to dividing the spotlight as evenly as possible. Anyway, there will be more balance in Part 3, so that you have a better understanding of each character.

Thank you to everyone who read the story so far. Your input has been very motivating, whether they come in the form of reviews, private messages, guestbook comments, or even adding this story to your favourites list. I will probably repeat this every chapter, but I appreciate your support tremendously and I look forward to hearing even more from everyone!