PREVIOUSLY ON DR ROGUE:
Ashita frowns. "It wasn't your responsibility—"
"Forgive me for being frank, but it is. I've witnessed panic, misery and anger develop into despair… I shouldn't have let my disgruntlement affect my duty. Perhaps Akito would still be alive." Takako sighs.
Jao nods. "Right! We only need to doubt that one person!"
Ashita blinks. "Who?"
"The only one we need to be suspicious about. The mastermind amongst us… bu~ut, that's a one in fifteen chance, so there's no need to distrust everyone! Let's hang out, relax, and forget about yesterday's woes."
Sinerra bites her lip. "I don't want him to hurt anyone, for my sake… It is bad enough that I cannot do much on my own…"
"What? That's not true!" Their previous conversation flashes in Ashita's mind, and she says, "I told you, Sinerra. You're more than a poet. I bet that, if not for you, Saturn would've been really unfriendly to everyone.
Kyou shakes his head. "No; the manner in which others see me is more in line with their attitude towards weapons, violence, murder."
"Do you not want to be associated with that?" Thinking on it, Kyou really only got mad when Saturn and Kimi accused him of controlling the dogs through Litnnect…
"There are things you have to handle by yourself. People can encourage you, but in the end, it's your feet you have to stand on. In saying that… You didn't talk much at the session, either."
Ashita blinks, then blinks again. "Haruko, have you met me?"
"People can talk but not say anything at all," the Mountaineer teases.
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She's entering a building. Excitement frazzles her. She can't stay still.
The elevator dings open, and a skull greets her.
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Morning comes and Ashita feels lighter than ever. Considering the can of worms opened yesterday, she considers that a real oddity.
Maybe it's the knowledge that others are asking, too. Maybe it's knowing that she's not alone.
—Why 'maybe'? It's definitely the case!
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Her deep sleep means she missed the morning announcement. Probably missed breakfast with others. Regardless, Ashita slips on a new green-gray plaid coat (from a rack of six, somehow freshly laundered every morning…). Smiling at the doll on her bedside table, she leaves.
And bumps straight into Kimi.
"M-Morning!"
"Same. You got up late." Kimi's not wearing her sunglasses anymore. "Had a good sleep?"
"Not as good as yours," Ashita guesses.
"Pft, who do you think I am? I do more than sleep. Finished that trilogy by the way, so you can 'spoil' me all you want. Reminds me, I have to bug Fuku later; he's got that other novel I want to read…"
Ashita seizes the chance. "What'd you think of that plot twist with Kieran Maxworth?"
"Took me by surprise. Maxworthless got what he deserved."
"What's your favorite part in the whole series?"
"When Layla kicked his ass. She's great. So glad she's now the head of the agency, girl deserves it. And I'm glad the author didn't make Maxworthless weak; made the final fight so satisfying…"
They small talk on the way to the Kitchen. It's nice, really nice. Kimi cares enough to make the effort, even though she doesn't care about their totally tense situation.
Even though the Despair Legacy is out there. Abducting people. Starting Killing Games. Headed by a super mastermind who's apparently breathing the same air as her—
Takako and Kyou are at the dining table.
Huh. They're not the only ones there—Sinerra and Chikao chat animatedly, a plate of cookies shared between them...
… Ashita hovers over their shoulders. "Can I have one?" she asks, though she's snatched two before they can reply. And another. The cookies are small but delicious, and now that she thinks about it, there's a heavenly scent wafting from the Kitchen.
"Naohiro is baking," Chikao says. "At first it was quiches for breakfast, then Fuku insisted they make something more sweeter. Then it devolved into… experiments."
"I liked the goji berry and cheese cookies," Sinerra says defensively, and what now?
The scent lures Ashita to a complete mess of baking paper, trays and cookie piles. "Hello Ashita," Naohiro greets. His apron hasn't defended him well from flour; even his glasses are speckled with white. Nearby, Fuku absently scoops batter on a tray.
"What about special commands?" he says.
Naohiro sighs. "Wouldn't they have ordered the dogs to attack Akito, instead of making him break the rules?"
Ashita glances between them. "What? What're you talking about?"
"Whoops, didn't hear you there Ashita." Fuku smiles. "I'm just wondering about the mastermind's actions. I'm hoping to narrow down who it could be."
Ashita tries humoring him. "Any suspects?"
"Not yet. I only started brainstorming this morning!"
"It's all you've talked about." Opening the oven door, Naohiro politely smiles at Ashita. "Here; I kept two quiches warm for you and Kimi. Do you want hot chocolate too?"
"Y-Yes please!" And speaking of the Air Traffic Controller, "Fuku, Kimi wants to borrow some novel you have." A moment's pause, "She uh, wants it now. In fact, why don't you get that and give this quiche to her?"
"Er, sure! She'll like 'Abura Went Missing'. Great protagonist and based on a true story," Fuku says. Upon his departure, the scent of cookies becomes stifling.
"So," Ashita says to the busy-bee Street Vendor, "do you usually bake a lot of cookies?"
That earns her a chuckle. "No, but I do experiment. Everyone has different tastes, after all, especially foreign customers."
"That sounds taxing."
"Accommodating them is no problem. The ones who stick around when business is slow always have interesting stories."
Ashita nibbles on her quiche. "Like that Indian guy who talked about Buddhism?"
Naohiro hums. "You remember that?"
"Yep. At least, compared to my missing memories of the Tragedy…"
"That may be… but those memories can come back with time. Just this morning, I remembered looking into the eyes of a Remnant of Despair." Naohiro smiles at her shock. "She'd demanded takoyaki and green tea. I was so stricken by her eyes, I nearly dropped her order.
"Her eyes?"
"They were filled with despair… I'd rather not think about it."
"Course! Uhm… How was it dealing with foreigners? I imagine the language barrier made it tough."
"Oof, heads up—" Ashita ducks out of the way as Naohiro puts down a hot tray. "It's actually not so bad," he says. "I've picked up a lot over the years. Chinese, Spanish, Korean, English, French… They're only basic things like 'hellos' and 'goodbyes' and 'What's on the menu?, but it's interesting all the same. Chikao even helps me practice… though I think it's an excuse for him to tell me that tale of Hou Yi and Chang'e in Chinese…"
Ashita laughs. She and Naohiro chat about the people they've met, customers and suspects alike. She's surprised how comfortable she is, surrounded by cosy aroma and good company. Comfortable and unbothered.
Naohiro asks her for a favour, and Ashita finds herself balancing her chocolate drink and a platter of Batch #12 in her hands. Walking to the Dining Hall, her Pad rings, and Takako, Kyou and Kimi perk up at her.
Takako draws herself up as Ashita places the platter before them. "Those smell divine. What do they have in them?"
"Pumpkin and blueberry. It's really nice, but I guess you're the judges now. As they eat, she asks, "So, what's up? Everything alright…?"
Takako nods. "Kyou and I are discussing activities for today's bonding session."
Considering what happened in yesterday's one, Ashita finds that mildly fantastical. But hey, she won't complain! "So you're going to come today?" she asks Kyou.
He considers it, and might actually be pretending to. "Only if Kimi does."
Kimi bites her cookie. "Bastard. But sure, I'll go. As long as we don't talk about escaping or masterminds."
Kyou scrunches his nose, as Takako says, "It's not a topic I have laid out, but I can't stop others if they want to pursue that train of thought."
"What the hell?!"
"That was Sora," Kimi says, already out of her seat. Exchanging glances, Ashita and the rest rush to the source of the sound, cookies and hot chocolate forgotten.
There's a crowd around the Storage Room. "So much for being calm," Hibiki says, as Ashita weaves to the front.
"What's wrong?" she asks.
Unblinking, Mayu replies, "I wanted to look for wood blocks and found this."
Red. Red glitter, flooding every inch of the Storage Room. And on the wall, bracketed by messed up shelves and under the harsh flickering light, is a message.
11037 sparkles in that damning red.
Familiarity burns deep in Ashita's heart. She backpedals as Sora strides forward, jabbing a finger at the numbers; "Okay, who did this? Was this you, Jao?!"
"No way would I make this mess!"
"I find that hard to believe, puppetmaster," Saturn harrumphs.
Sora growls, "Whoever did this, 'fess up now! This is a sick joke!"
"Or a message," Fuku mumbles.
"From You-Know-Who?" Hibiki nods. "Makes sense…"
"Th-The mastermind?" Sinerra stammers, red eyes growing wide.
"Here we go again," Kimi grouses. "Look, obviously someone here has a sick sense of humour. Hell, how do we know Shufukuma didn't do this?"
"Scare tactic!" Jao exclaims, wagging a finger. "I agree with Kimi. After yesterday's History Lesson, of course Shufukuma would trick us like this."
"Have you no faith in me, Puppet Boy?!" Suddenly a glob of black and white descends from the ceiling—wh-what a change of pace! Crossing his arms, Shufukuma harrumphs, "I didn't do this! Scout's honor!"
"So one of us did do this," Chikao hums. "Hn, if that is the case, then will you punish them? Graffiti is against the rules…"
Ashita jolts. He's right—but then—!
"Nope, I'll let this slide." Shufukuma cackles. "Have a nice rest of the day! Oh, and clean that up will you?!" With that he disappears, tile beneath him flipping… like a middle finger… Ashita frowns.
"Wait, so, nobody will be punished?" Haruko sighs, "That's a relief…!"
"No, it isn't. Instead of punishing the perpetrator for vandalising the wall, Shufukuma let them go scot-free." Fuku hums. "Whoever did this is in cahoots with him."
"Gluing glitter on the wall doesn't count as graffiti," Hibiki says, shaking his head.
"Shufukuma thought otherwise," Fuku retorts.
"Regardless," Takako says firmly, "we cannot let this get to our heads. This is a practical joke in poor taste, nothing more."
"Yeah, Shufukuma's just an attention seeker." Jao tugs on Mayu's arm. "Come on Maymay, we can get your wood blocks later."
"Hold up, aren't you going to—" Before Sora can finish, the pair leave, "—help clean up… Jeez. Alright, anybody else wanna be a jerk and run off?"
Kimi does, with the excuse of reading her borrowed novel. Naohiro still has an oven to tend to, and along with Fuku, wants to prepare lunch. Those remaining busy themselves with the absolute mess of glitter. Hooking up a vacuum cleaner does the trick, even if makes an ungodly amount of noise.
"I'm getting a change of clothes," Kasumi huffs, stalking out despite the glitter making no difference on her red dress. Which poses a thought—
"How do you think Shufukuma launders our clothes?" Ashita asks.
The discussion lasts for ten minutes. Lunch beckons and Ashita, still feeling full, volunteers to stay behind.
Surprisingly, Kyou does too.
They work in silence. Ashita is scraping the rest of the glittery graffiti, steel sponge chafing her palm. Up close, the numbers don't look so daunting.
"Do you believe they exist? Within our ranks?"
Calmly, Ashita keeps cleaning. "I don't know. This graffiti doesn't prove anything."
Kyou scoffs. "For someone who asks so many questions, you do not do much to pursue answers."
"Shufukuma will give them eventually."
"Would you have someone die for another History Lesson?" Ashita falters. Kyou says, "I thought not. Waiting for that is defeatist… so is underestimating ourselves."
Ashita thinks of everything they've achieved—keeping their cool, staying together, reaching out, even with Shufukuma's motives, his incriminating words…
"You gotta think big, Ash!"
Could they do more—?
A click snaps her out of her reverie. Ashita briefly sees Kyou checking his gold pocket watch before he heads for the door. "Wh-Where are you going?" she stammers.
"I have work to do," he says, and doesn't let her protest. Frowning, Ashita figures it must be for the bonding session. Which, wait. When is that?
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2 PM, apparently. "Takako says everyone should come, so you and Sora might have to round up those people," Haruko cheekily adds.
Munching on her sandwich, Ashita nods. "Kimi says she'll come. Kasumi too."
"Sweet, 'bout time those lovely ladies joined us," Sora lilts. He perks up then, orange juice forgotten. "Hey, Hibi!"
"Oh no," a passing Hibiki says.
Sora leaps towards him anyway. "Listen, we gotta talk about that keycard. I was thinking, if we get Kyou in on this, he can hack the code in it or something."
"Yeah, uh, I don't think that's how it works, Sora. Besides," Hibiki rubs the back of his neck, "I don't think Kyou would help."
"I wouldn't say that. He's already helping Takako," Ashita interjects. She notices Fuku and Kasumi close by. "Eh? Are you three going to the Casino Floor?"
Kasumi shrugs. "These knuckleheads insisted." At a knucklehead's pleading look, she adds, "Sora, kindly stop harassing Hibiki. If you want to discuss plans so much, beat me in a game of blackjack."
"Oh, hell no."
"Good to hear. Can we go now?"
"Can I come too?" Ashita asks, and wonders why everyone looks confused. "What? I miss the Casino. Plus, I want to beat Kasumi in a game!"
"It's always good to hope, Ash," Sora says.
"I believe you can do it!" Haruko adds, "eventually."
"Eventually," Fuku nods to himself.
"Wh-Why does it sound like I'm already losing…?"
Kasumi gives a long-suffering sigh. "Can we please go?" Tearing open her purse, she pulls out the elevator keycard. "And Ashita, you already lost just by inviting yourself."
In short, the ride there is filled with snarking knuckleheads and Kasumi's I'm-resisting-the-urge-to-sigh stoicism. Ashita's attempts at mashing the elevator buttons have no effect—like Kyou said, the Casino really is the only place the keycard will take them. (Unless he can hotwire it—)
The A.V. Room is dark as ever. Ashita purges any thought of pink silhouettes and blue-spattered flags, and watches Hibiki and Kasumi disappear into the Casino.
"You're not going to follow them?"
Ashita turns to Fuku, who's tightening the red wraps on his hand. "I'll go later. I'm realising that, even though we talked about it, I've never seen you in action."
Fuku smiles. "Nao's seen me practice… And Hibiki, but only cuz he comes out once in a while and mocks me. But, erhm! I'm happy to demonstrate!"
He pulls back the curtain—or curtains, rather. Ashita didn't even realise there were two sets, like in a theatre stage.
Fascinated, she watches Fuku clamber up the curtains with ease. He twirls gracefully like a flying ballerina in ribbons—then untangles himself so suddenly Ashita thinks he'll hit the ground—
But the curtain around his ankles catches him. Upside down, Fuku gives a lopsided thumbs up. "Like it?"
"You had me worried!" Ashita exclaims. "But yeah, I liked it!"
The Acrobat beams.
"Where'd you learn to do that, anyway?" Ashita asks, once Fuku is back on the ground. "I mean, you told me you climbed drapes as a kid. But those are," she gestures to the ten foot high curtains, "really, really different. Unless you lived in a cinema."
"No, my house was small. Well, my father's house." Fuku shrugs. "I trained at Kisamura's clinic. He taught me everything there is to acrobatics. He also told me not to use my skills for parkour, but, when a gang of thugs is chasing you, you really have no choice."
"Eh, you did say you came from a dangerous area. Still, it can't be all bad."
Fuku hums. He's gazing at the screen, in all its grayed out glory.
"It's funny. I dreamt last night that I was back in my district. Running away… being chased. Looking for someone." He grips his arm—grips a tubed bracelet. "Actually, now that I think about it, that did happen…
"Well!" he abruptly says, "for what it's worth, thank you, Ashita. If it weren't for your idea, I'd have lost my sanity jumping through those shelves!"
Ashita smiles. "No problem! I'm glad you can do what you're passionate about…"
A door opens; footsteps padding. Fuku instantly straightens and, uh oh.
"Everything alright here?"
"Peachy," Fuku says curtly. Hibiki approaches with a ready retort and, right, Ashita's not staying for this. Her Pad insistently rings as she escapes to the Casino's warm, jazzy embrace.
It's like returning to a forgotten arcade. Except the machines are slots—repaired slots, too. Ashita stares at the scrolling images. Swords, guns, bombs, coins; prizes Akito couldn't handle the mere thought of…
"I recommend not destroying them," calls out a voice, tinged with a slight English accent. "As much as your friend would've loved that."
"No, I…" Ashita furrows her brows. "Where are you?"
A tanned hand sticks out from a round table. "I'm searching for that damn roulette ball," Kasumi explains. "So I can't play right now, sorry."
"It's fine. I just came here so I didn't have to listen to Hibiki and Fuku."
"Pft, that's fair. I got so tired of those two fighting over the keycard, I took custody of it. Never thought I'd be their mediator, but, it's nothing I'm not trained in."
Ashita sees her crawl to another table. "Kasumi? Do you, uh, want some help…?"
"So," the Interrogator continues, peering under a slot machine, "do you play much roulette? Or is this some OCD thing, where everything has to be in place, at all times, or—?"
Kasumi cuts in. "It's nothing. A distraction. Something to fill the time."
Ashita moves to the next machine. "I get that." Thinks on it and adds, "Though I distract myself with people. I don't think you share that sentiment."
"Considering the type of scumbag customers we normally get, that'd be the right assumption."
"We?"
A pause. "Me and Hana. She was my mother. Adoptive, but, the only one I'll accept. She showed me the ropes when it came to casino management. Surveillance, catering… How to handle drunk old men and cocky women."
Ashita snorts. "Handle them, or swindle them?"
"Anything to make a living."
"Sounds rough," Ashita says. Kasumi doesn't respond but, she's never been the talkative type.
They do play a round of President, one that Ashita (barely) manages to lose.
"Go easy on me," she whines.
"You took this risk," Kasumi snorts, fire in her eyes. "Now you're paying for it."
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Spent time (1035) with Naohiro Miya, Ultimate Street Vendor
(1) Experiments a lot for his business and for fun. Accommodates a lot of foreign customers at his stall, and the experience has made him somewhat-but-actually-not proficient in a few languages. Chinese, Spanish, Korean, English, and French to name a few! Where's Bearanese?! That's discriminatory!
Spent time (1315) with Fukuya Onsuki, Ultimate Acrobat
(2) Showed off his aerial silk moves. (Those curtains were not intended for that!) His dead mentor taught him everything to know about acrobatics. Fukuya even used his skills to run away from bad guys. Seriously, why not move to a good suburb?!
Spent time (1324) with Kasumi Miura, Ultimate Casino Host
(2) You two spent a laughably long time trying to find a dumb roulette ball. Barely talked, too! Whatever; she was taught by her adoptive mother how to run a casino, and handle the kinds of customers it attracts. She also beat you for the nth time in the decade!
Ashita tucks away her Pad as she reaches the Meditation Space. The others are already there—even Kyou, who's surrounded with cardboard boxes of… cars?
"Thank you for coming, " Takako says. She stands nearest to the wall screen, calming images of nature crossfading behind her. The rest settle on mats facing towards her, Ashita herself sitting next to Haruko. "I'm glad to see everyone here despite a certain robot's antics… I know entertainment can be lacking in this compound. While I originally planned for us to bond in the Casino, I thought this would be more refreshing."
"Actually doing yoga?" Saturn asks, head tilted.
"That… is a legitimate guess. But no." Takako gestures to them. "Kyou will teach us how to build and operate RC cars, and Jao and Mayu will help us decorate them."
"Arts and crafts? Sweet; I'm gonna make a flying car!"
Haruko sweatdrops. "I think that's too ambitious, Sora!"
"What a-are RC cars?" Sinerra asks, as Kyou and Takako start distributing parts and tools.
Ashita holds up a rubber wheel. "Remote-controlled, right?"
"Yes, although for specific's sake, we are constructing radio-controlled cars. As one should assume, they require radio wave signals to operate." Handing Naohiro a screwdriver, Kyou adds, "RC technology underpins many of the devices I work with on a daily basis… Gun drones, turret systems, missiles…"
"At least you're using your powers for good," Kimi snarks, cross-legged on the mat. "I'm surprised you came up with this idea. Looks like that talk did you good."
"I myself am surprised you came, Kimi," Chikao says, cupping his chin. "I was so sure you'd hide in your room, weak from sleep… It reminds me of Aurora; have you heard of her? She who couldn't leave her home for fear of familiarity, of the Evil Queen discovering her—"
"I will be demonstrating now," Kyou cuts in.
He works steadily but confidently, pausing to answer questions and making sure everyone is following along. Ashita wonders how he came to be like this: hasn't he avoided them the past few days? She glances at Kimi, slouched but content; at Kasumi, silent but attentive. Even Hibiki looks super attentive. Warmth pools in Ashita's chest.
Soon they're left to build their own cars. It's surprisingly unchallenging, even fun given the customisation options. Though the same can't be said for some people…
"Sattie, you have to slot this in," Sinerra says. "Without the battery, there is no power source. Y-Your car will not move otherwise!"
"I know that… I was merely enchaunting the parts…!"
A ways away, "Hm, so the circuit board goes here..."
"Maymay, you have to be gentle. Don't follow Ashita's example! Look at her, torturing her poor car."
Ashita protests, "No I'm not!" She totally isn't wrestling a wheel on an axle. Screw it on, she remembers Kyou's instruction. "What about you, Jao? You're not even trying to make one!"
Jao exaggeratedly crosses his arms. "Mastermind or not, you can't tell me what to do!"
"Jao, can you pass me that purple body shell?"
"Sure, Maymay." Handing it to her, Jao clears his throat. "So, Ashita. How's your search for the mastermind going? Haha, don't look at me like that! That list Akito made is like a dying wish, y'know? 'Find the mastermind'. So, any ideas?"
The fanged smile on his bandanna-mask widens, inexplicably, reminding her of a skull jaw and—an elevator?—
"I don't know. There's nobody I can think of." Nobody she wants to think of… Ashita shakes her head. "Either way, I thought you didn't believe in a mastermind. Scare tactic, right?"
"What matters is what you think, Ashita." Jao mimes a finger-gun, but before he can presumably shoot her, Kyou gets in the way.
"Surely there are better things to obsess about than who the mastermind is," the Weapon Designer scoffs.
Jao laughs. "What, like when we'll be rescued? Are you still expecting your super rich family to save you?"
"I do not need them. I am confident with myself. And since you are busy being useless, go distribute the painting supplies."
Jao does, which, considering his previous statement… Well, Ashita can understand Saturn's hangups with the Puppeteer.
She can't help her dumb smile towards Kyou. "Don't," he says, looking fed up even as he screws her wheel in place for her. "I suffer enough of those glances from Takako."
Ashita puts two and two together. "So the both of you talked yesterday… productively?"
He hands her back her car. "Give this a test run. Make sure it works properly."
It works wondrously. Sloshing silver-green acrylic paint on a paper plate, surrounded by hubbub and sounds of nature, Ashita paints snake scales on her car. She smiles when Haruko shows off her own sky cloud design, a stark contrast to Sora's energetic racing stripes and scarlet wings… or what's supposed to look like wings.
Soft, pastel colours adorn Takako's car; a warm amber for Naohiro; a red-blue spectacle for Fuku; the night sky on Chikao's, a full moon on the hood; a simple pink for Kimi; an orange fox on Hibiki's; a messy deck of cards for Kasumi; intricate purple swirls on Mayu's; a mess of smiley faces on Jao's; a field of strawberries on Sinerra's…
… and nothing on Saturn's.
"Let's have a race," Takako announces. Everyone eagerly rises from their mats, cars and remote controllers in hand. Except for Ashita, who catches Takako's stray gaze and Sinerra's very worried gaze regarding a certain Occultist.
"Hey, Saturn," Ashita intercepts. He all but glares at her. "O-kay, what's the problem here? Do you need help—?"
"No," he says petulantly.
Ashita pointedly eyes his skeleton of a car.
"... Pah. I hate mechanics."
"Hey, you said that right!"
"Are you mocking me?!" he half-shouts, drowned out by Sora's cheer.
"N-No! I just want to help!" Watching him push his car away, Ashita adds, "Saturn… it's okay to admit you're struggling. Everyone has their weaknesses. Yours certainly isn't magick!"
"Magick cannot help me build a tiny vehickle…" Saturn stares at the race happening across the room, before he finally sighs, "In truth, I feel… helpless. Sin offers her compassion, but I do not want to hold her back…"
Ashita almost wants to laugh. "Saturn," she shakes his shoulder. "You think you're hopeless, don't you? B-But, you're not!" she quickly adds. "Believe me, Sinerra has the same worry. You two are more alike than you think. So… talk it out with her. For now, I'll help you. Is that okay?"
Red eyes appraise her. Then, "Okay."
He still enchants it anyway, which might be why his bejeweled rainbow of a car takes fourth place the first time he races.
Everyone has their weaknesses. Everyone has their strengths.
As they wrap up for dinner, RC cars and paint in boxes, Ashita wonders about her own efforts. After all, didn't she want to figure this place out before dying? Not that she expects to die…!
There's something she can do. Something she's good at.
It's about time for another visit...
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"Do you really think he'll cooperate?"
"No," Ashita answers honestly. "But I've had lots of experience talking to uncooperative people."
She and Haruko crowd around the inconspicuous 'i', the Lobby empty and quiet. Behind them, Takako and Kimi chat idly in the Dining Hall, the faint clink of dishes being washed in the Kitchen. Ashita goes to poke the 'i'.
She's a breadth away when Kasumi appears, woah!
"What're you doing?" the Casino Host asks accusingly.
"Ashita wants to interrogate Shufukuma," Haruko explains. "Want to join in, Kasumi?"
"I'm busy—"
"No, it'd be great!" Ashita blocks her path. "You know how to handle scumbags, right? You can help us get answers from Shufukuma! It worked last time! We can all gang up on him!"
Kasumi actually looks pensive. "Alright… Let's see how this goes."
Excited, Ashita taps the 'i'. Immediately the tile under her heel flips—yelping, Ashita backpedals and nearly collides into Haruko, who nearly collides into Kasumi, whoops.
"You again!" Shufukuma hisses up at them. "And you brought friends! You're going to do what I think you're going to do, aren't you? I've heard about this on the news; you're gonna cyberbully me!"
"What, no! You're going to answer our questions, even if I have to spam the 'i'!"
"Grrgh, fine! I was so generous with yesterday's Lesson, too…!"
Kasumi lets out an explosive breath. "Stop being a shithead. Tell us what your agenda is."
"Exactly—why abduct people for Killing Games?" Haruko chimes in.
"I was talking about our situation," Kasumi says, thin-lipped. "Why is some mastermind interested in watching us kill each other? Don't tell me it's for the 'despair lulz'. There has to be a better reason."
"Why, because everything has to be a conspiracy?" Shufukuma mocks.
Ashita frowns. "There is a reason—you said so yourself, when we first met you. To regain someone's trust."
"Oops, I did say that. I guess it still applies!"
Ashita tries not to pout. "Okay—group huddle! So," she says, blocking a seething Shufukuma from view, "how do we want to approach this?"
Kasumi raises a brow. "Shouldn't we have planned that before summoning him? Tch, either way, this is a lost cause. Whatever we do, he'll just weasel out of it."
Haruko says, "Maybe we can pick him up. Make him feel like he has no choice!"
"Do you wanna feel what Mukuro Ikusaba felt?" the bear threatens. Haruko pales. "I thought so! Now, if you're going to be dithering, I might as well go!"
Now, Ashita's in an interrogating mood. She can be very dedicated in getting someone to talk. Case in point: taking Haruko's suggestion and picking Shufukuma up.
"You're. Not. Going. Anywhere!" She faces him outwards and hugs him close. "Wow, you're weirdly soft."
"This is violence—!"
"Technically it's extreme affection," Haruko points out. She bends slightly to look the bear in the eye. "Okay, question time. I want to know why the Legacy is operating Killing Games. Not just Ultimates, but civilians too…?!"
"Gggrh, didn't you listen to my History Lesson? We do it because it's our Junko's will! How we ensure her legacy! It's a trend that's shaken the whole world, and we're very proud of spreading it! Hell, we even have people volunteering to be in Games! That's how cool it's become!"
"You're sick. There's no way that's happening," Kasumi snaps, but the shudder to her voice is palpable.
"You sure? You were there during the Tragedy. People are capable of unfathomable things…! Murder, deceit, corruption—!"
"Ashita, shake him," Kasumi hisses.
"Uh," Ashita says, because even she has some shred of self-preservation. "How about another question? Like, why only make the Warden's Room inaccessible now…?"
"Forget that," Kasumi says. "I understand a mastermind within us, but I want to know why your leader is a part of our Game. What does that make us?"
Shufukuma's pause sends chills down her… chest. Ashita can practically feel his circuitry humming in her arms.
"Sorry, lady," the bear drawls. "That's a spoiler question. One I'll happily answer, ergh… sometime in the future."
Kasumi throws her hands up in frustration. Even Haruko looks at a loss for words. Sensing a dead end, Ashita quickly turns him around.
"Look," she starts, "you've been very generous with your… context. But… we want to know why you're doing this. All of this—the Killing Games, the abducting people business. Despair can't be the only reason. If it is… then why? Why continue Junko Enoshima's legacy? What makes you want to rely on despair so much…?"
"You're asking the wrong questions," Kasumi huffs, as Shufukuma's eye blazes.
It's a piercing blue; a pattern of pixels brought to life by someone...
"Personally, I've always considered despair and hope to be two sides of the same coin…" Shufukuma suddenly claps his mouth. "I've said too much! This is your fault! I'm outta here! You all better savour your happiness, because I'll dish out the motive tomorrow! It's a ripper, upupupu!"
Wrestling from her grip, Shufukuma disappears into the floor…
"That was a waste of time," Kasumi grumbles.
"We'll get him next time," Haruko reassures, holding her arms up like a strongman. "Every mountain seems daunting at first, but you just need to approach it step by step!" Step by step… "Ashita?"
I've always considered despair and hope to be two sides of the same coin.
"I think," Ashita says, "I need to change tack."
"What?"
"Bugging Shufukuma like this isn't enough. I need to form a rapport with him. If he opens up, he's bound to be more cooperative."
"Tch. It's always cooperation with you…" Kasumi shakes her head. "I'm sorry Ashita, but you can't charm everybody. Sometimes you need to take what you want."
Ashita considers this. "You were asking all the right questions, Kasumi. You too, Haruko! But… it takes a lot more to get the right answers. I'm willing to endure Shufukuma's mocking to get them."
Despair has a source. If she can't talk to their supposed mastermind… she can inquire the next best thing. Even if he is a (surprisingly soft) four-inch animatronic bear.
For now, she waves Haruko and Kasumi goodnight.
The nighttime announcement blares even as her room silently greets her. Ashita takes off her coat, tosses it on her chair and goes to shower. Dries off, thinks of today and plops on her bed.
Akito's lacquered gaze chides her.
"I think you had it wrong," Ashita says. "We don't need to 'find the mastermind'. We need to understand them.
"I know you wouldn't have agreed. You might've even called me a retard…
"But you always assumed the worst about people. I'm different. It's my job to hear them out. Lend an ear, and get answers. No matter what."
What kind of question is that?
The Interrogator bolts up.
That memory—
Ashita yelps. Someone's rang her intercom. Opening her door, she blinks at her visitor.
"Sinerra? Is everything alright?"
The Poet straightens. "Y-Yes! I hope I did not disturb you…"
"N-Not at all... What's up?"
"I… merely want to invite you to Sattie's seance." What the what now? "Sattie and I talked… and we came up with this idea together. He and Chikao are already at the Meditation Space making preparations. W-We wanted you to be there before we started."
"Oh! That's pretty cool!" Ashita hums, "I once heard that the more people you have in a seance, the better the reception."
"It isn't only that… This seance will be to communicate w-with Akito's spirit."
"... Come again?"
Sinerra fidgets. "We know how c-close you and Akito were… and you spoke of interrogation with Haruko in the Dining Hall. Th-This would be a good chance to ask Akito who he s-saw that night…"
The mastermind…
Ashita remembers to breathe. Looks at Sinerra's expectant gaze and says, "Alright."
Following Sinerra, she can't help but feel frazzled…
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"So," Ashita says as they go downstairs, "why the Meditation Space? Do you need a big space? Is it cuz it's quiet? Wait, it's not actually quiet. Can it be?"
"I-It is the only place we can have the seance…! Th-This specific ritual is actually practiced by our tribe, the Illuminatius. Sattie and I had to adapt it…"
Ashita beams. "I'm glad you two talked things out!"
Sinerra blushes, and Ashita tries not to tease her for it.
The Meditation Space is dark when they enter. While functioning, the wall screen is dimmed, pictures of the forest and bees, waterfalls and shadowy valleys fading into each other. "Welcome, Dike," Chikao greets, seemingly chuckling at his inside joke.
Ashita blinks at the sight before her; Saturn tending to a candle, one of many lit with dancing orange flames inside the points of what looks like a giant, shiny sand-drawn star. All the yoga mats are to one side, as the whole drawing occupies a good chunk of the floor. "This is… a very elaborate looking ritual!"
Saturn scoffs. "It is medyo-ker. I had to make do with what was available. Our tribal seances are typickally performed outdoors, but since we are trapped, this mimicry," he gestures to background noise of nature, "has to suffice. We at least have a dark space and candles, but no sand…"
"Huh? Then what's all this… stuff…"
"W-We did what we c-could to substitute," Sinerra says quietly. She kneels in the middle of the star… made of multicolored glitter.
"You both did a splendid job. I myself have never seen a pentacle this elaborate since I went traveling to Timbuktu," Chikao says.
Saturn goes red at that, but Ashita definitely won't point that out. Steeling herself, she kneels beside Sinerra. "Okay," she says, "how do we do this?
Saturn clears his throat. "We will need to join hands. I will recite an inc'ntation during which nobody is to interrupt." His look towards Ashita does not go unnoticed, ehe… "Once I have anchored the firefighter's spirit, we will talk to him. However, he will only be able to write his answers."
He gestures to the thin spread of glitter between them. "Because this seance is rude—rudidmen—basic," Saturn growls, "he may not answer in the best way… Any questions?"
Ashita bites her lip. "What do we do once he… tells us who he saw that night?"
Chikao fills the silence. "Let us cross that bridge when we get there."
Saturn starts chanting in a different language, and Ashita tries not to worry. What if what if what if creeps up on her—but she silences those nagging words… by wondering instead if this seance will actually work. Not that she doubts Saturn, patented Ultimate Occultist! But, it's just… seances.
"Akito Yoichi," Saturn almost whispers. "You are held fast in our earthly embrace. I know because I can sense your otherworldly anger… at our blatant use of open flames, pah… Can you communicate with us?"
There's a long, long pause in which they sit, hands joined, staring at Saturn's reddening face.
Then a line is drawn and Ashita forgets to breathe.
Chikao leans forward. Saturn looks chuffed, and Sinerra… looks very worried for Ashita's sanity.
"Are you alright?" she whispers.
With Akito's spirit suddenly occupying the same space as her? No. Yes. Maybe.
"Sorry. I'm just new to this…!" Without thinking, Ashita asks, "So—Akito… H-How are you?"
From the look on Saturn's face, she might as well have asked 'how was dying?' "Do not answer that," he says firmly. "Firefighter, did you meet the mastermind?"
Ashita's mouth suddenly goes dry. Something—Akito starts writing, the glitter parting right in front of her eyes. He draws… a squiggly line.
"That was underwhelming," Chikao remarks, only to get a whiff of glitter blown his way.
"A-Akito is merely confused," Sinerra mumbles.
Chikao hums. "Then let us be more direct. Akito, who did you see last before you were murdered?"
"Maybe he's traumatised? Answering questions like that would be tough." Ashita has a growing feeling that joining this seance might've been a bad idea. Or purely hypocritical on her part.
Anyhow, a traced 'H' proves her wrong.
"Say the name," Saturn grits out.
Seeing no response, Ashita asks, "What do you mean by 'H', Akito?"
'U' he draws, and just as quickly, 'NOT U'.
'NO'.
He starts drawing a spiral.
"He is confused again," Sinerra says. The spiral keeps growing.
"He died a violent death. That tends to affect a spirit's recollecktion." Saturn grouses, "If only I had access to a forest and sand…!"
"Uh, guys," Ashita says. The drawn spiral is reaching the edge of the glitter spread. "Akito's still confused and he's run out of space."
"He hasn't," Chikao mutters.
A terrible sound pierces the air—like claws scraping concrete. Ashita watches, horrified, as Akito scratches the wooden floor, spiral unbroken—
The candles go out. The screen of nature powers down.
Darkness.
Total darkness, except for twin red dots.
"Okay," Ashita says in the strangled silence.
There's a wheeze—Sinerra surges forward, hand leaving Ashita's.
"Sattie," she says hurriedly. Glitter crunches. Red dots blink. What—?
"Hey," Ashita says, voice weak, dread settling in. Sinerra starts whispering, ("It's okay, it's okay—")
Ashita tries, "What's going on—is everything alright?"
"Sattie doesn't like the dark," is Sinerra's quick reply. More whispering. More crunching glitter.
Ashita thinks someone's in front of her.
"It's me," Chikao says, deathly calm.
"It's too dark; I can't see your worried face," Ashita says half-jokingly. Her mind screams a million questions—focus. "What happened? Everything suddenly turned off."
She hears Saturn grumble. Chikao says, "Shufukuma's doing, I presume. This seance was risky to begin with."
"Then—we should find the exit, get some light!" Standing up, Ashita marches to where she's sure the door is… and if she has to feel her way up a wall then there's nobody who can see it.
"Don't worry Saturn," she says. "We'll get out of here; my eyes are even getting used to the, uh, lightlessness…" She hears something. "Then your red lights will stop flashing. I think those are yours, I'm sure Sinerra told me about them before—"
Shouting.
Why does she hear—?
Thud thud thud
"Do you hear that?" Chikao asks.
"Sin… I… too much energy…" Thud thud thud. "Had not… enough for dinner…"
"Rest, Sattie," Sinerra mumbles.
Ashita leans closer to the wall. "Hey," she says—is that—?
Bang—
—a deafening roar—
—she's thrown off her feet—
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She's entering a building. Excitement frazzles her. The elevator dings open, and a skull greets her.
"Hello," she says.
His eyes narrow.
"... Tch."
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Consciousness comes knocking and Ashita groans awake. Squinting does nothing; it's still dark, a high-pitched wail in her ears…
"Ashita," says a familiar voice. Hands gently help her sit; she thinks she hears yelling. "Ashita, can you hear me? Are you alright?"
"Chikao?... Yeah, just rattled." Tucking strands behind her ears, Ashita furrows her brows. Looks behind her. "Is Sinerra—?"
"Shouting for help? Most definitely." Chikao's silhouette gestures somewhere. "Saturn is currently unconscious. He is fine," he emphasises, "merely drained. The seance exhausted much of his energy."
Help, rings in the background. "Before—what happened?"
"An explosion, from what I can surmise. I was willing to venture outside but Sinerra didn't want that. She thought it too dangerous…" Chikao hums. "I trust her intuition, and her bracelet."
Her Fates Bracelet! Ashita remembers now; the Demona siblings' bracelets that tells them they're in danger. Even now, she sees the red of Saturn's blink faintly. Danger… she doesn't need a bracelet to tell her that. She can feel it in her gut—something is wrong. An explosion—?
Ashita fumbles to her feet.
"Easy now," Chikao says, steadying her.
Sinerra's voice trembles, "I-I think someone is c-coming—"
A loud thud! cuts her off, eliciting a scream. Ashita rushes to her—blindly anyway, but her eyes are adjusting—
"Hello?!"
"Haruko—?!" Ashita finds the door; light peers from the panels. "Hey, we're here!"
"Help us out!" Sinerra yells with her.
Muffled voices erupt outside—there's the sound of stone grinding against the floor, the wooden door groaning against the grooves. Suddenly, it slides open—
Haruko greets them, disheveled with stone dust and small cuts. She shines a candle on them and Ashita has never felt more relieved.
"Haruko," she nearly wails, hugging the Mountaineer a bit too strongly. Least she didn't let go of their only light source—!
Scratch that. "You guys," she hears Sora shout, "are you alright?! To hell with this, I'm coming down!"
"Watch your step!" Haruko shouts back. She then turns back to them. "What were you two doing in the Meditation Space anyway!?"
"S-Sattie and Chikao a-are inside too," Sinerra sniffles. "W-We were performing a s-seance—the lights w-went out all of a s-s-sudden and—"
"Easy, easy," Haruko assures, pulling her close. "You're okay now. You're okay…"
Ashita wants to believe that. But Sinerra's bracelet still glows, and the weight in her gut hasn't eased.
"Haruko. Good evening," Chikao says, carrying Saturn by the arms as if he were a heavy cape. Rocks rumble; landing loudly, Sora flashes them a relieved sigh.
They carefully make their way up. Jao waits for them on the second floor junction, candle in hand. "I know you told me to wait upstairs but I sorta maybe tripped on a step. Pretty sure Fuku's mad at me. Oh, he also said more of the ceiling could crumble."
Sora's probably rolling his eyes. "Geez... Okay, let's be careful going up."
Ashita would follow—except something's caught her eye.
"Can you…" she guides Haruko's candle to a clump of rocks. "Hold it there," Ashita says, squinting at the thing buried in the clump… Metal… wires… a broken, blue light…? Reaching a hand, she feels the jagged tip of a metallic canine...—!
The floor crumbles under her. Ashita yelps as hands yank her away—rocks tumbling where she was, a landslide that could've easily swept her away.
Sora lets go of her with a harsh, "Dammit, Ashita, what the hell were you doing?!"
"I'm sorry," Ashita babbles, "I saw something—I think it might've been—"
"You can tell us later. We need to leave." Haruko exhales, "If only we had belay lines…! Is there any chance Saturn can wake up?"
"I can shout in his ear," Jao offers.
"Please don't," Chikao says. Sora looks ready to punch something.
"C-Can't we carry Sattie as is…? I don't want to s-stay here…" Sinerra shudders. "I feel a bad aura e-emanating from the C-Casino…"
"I'm sure it's nothing," Ashita reassures, and resists the temptation to prove so.
She certainly doesn't expect Jao do it for her. "Ashita's right, you shouldn't worry," he says, shining light on what looks like an unstable platform of loose rocks and the crushed remains of a shelf… Sora makes a grab for him, but Jao dodges, deftly opening the Casino door. "See? Nothing but darkness."
Ashita's skin prickles.
"Th-That smell!" Sinerra covers her nose. "I-I-It's blood… I hate b-blood…!"
Jao's face falls. "Huh?"
Ashita hops over to him. Hands clammy, she steps into the dark. Steps on something that feels flat yet round.
She bends down—holds it up to Jao's candlelight.
… A pocket watch?
The lights turn on.
Sinerra screams. Ashita chokes out a breath. Before them is a prone body, the black suit crumpled as a single wound bleeds from his chest.
This—
—this can't be real.
Eyes fluttered open, Kyou Shinoha, Ultimate Weapon Designer, lays dead on the carpeted floor.
"Oh God," Haruko breaths out as the body discovery announcement plays.
Ashita turns to look at her—but sees the top of the doorway, at the words undoubtedly carved above it—
'NOT H'
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"Do you think despair will always exist?"
"Yes, I am quite convinced it will."
"Then… do you believe in hope for humanity?"
"... If I had to give a yes or no answer, then I would say no. No, I don't."
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— CHAPTER TWO —
Opportune Heroes
Daily Life
— END —
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Deadly Life
— START —
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Ack *sweats*
Yes, another death. I'm really sad about it too, since this is the first official not-my-OC death. All will be explained in due time, but I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on why poor Kyou died :S
I'll also put up a poll on my profile for who you think the culprit is. Until then, and thank you all for reading QuQ;
—Jeptwin: I don't really know what you mean? Though I can agree that Ashita's prone to letting people off the hook, though that's what makes her, yeah her.
—Rose: Yup, no motive but definite motivation. Which is part of the mystery here, though it might be pretty obvious, uh. I wish you all the best and all the sleep *sweatdrops*
—Abi: Don't worry about the missed review, aha. I'm always surprised whenever you do review cuz they tend to be long! I... don't think anyone had the right guess for the culprit, which is understandable, ack. Good luck with life too :3
—Nem: I'm sorry Kyou's dead, the plot called for it *sweats* There are subtle flags and not-so subtle flags, and well stuff just plain offscreen. Team K is one man down :S