Eri Watanabe (RMIN Record Transcript): Yuri, we don't have a lot of time so I'm making this short. Naomi stole a crimson core from the Den. It was late at night, cameras picked her up. I don't have any evidence as to why but with the rumors circulating around her I couldn't confront her without drawing attention till now. She's been staying in the piano room all week. I have no doubt she's there now. I already alerted Abe-san, keep her there and wait for us. I'll explain the situation more then.
Coins and Crows
Keep the coin, goodness flows
Drop the coin, a demon grows
Where'd it go, does anyone know?
I took it myself, said the Crow
Hold the coin atop your temple
Pigeons circle, led by example
Crows will hide in this circle
And turn your hide red and purple
A simple thwack and a peck
Is all they need to cause a wreck
They take coins easily, it's a cinch
You'll drop the coin if you flinch
Keep the coin half an hour
And your luck will not sour
With this luck you will have power
And the heart of your wallflower
Kokoro Culture Festival Day 3: Evening
"Well he's not going to die, you can stop the dramatics about that," An elderly gentleman in an indigo yukata with blue flower print inspected the immigrants head with his bony fingers. The boy started fidgeting angrily in his sleep to the touching of his face. "And he seems to be responding well to touch and sound."
"Don't touch my face!" The boy yelled his eyes shooting open. The old man recoiled his hand in reaction. "And if you are going to, warm your hands first Old Man! It felt like I was being probed by a corpse!"
"Well this was a pointless exercise. I was just about to teach our audience about the Glasgow Coma Scale," The old man cackled holding out his hand to the door. His voice was light and feathery. His necklace of pale glass beads jingled as he grabbed his left side and rose from Eddy's resting position. The man's rose tinted sunglasses gleamed from the light as he started walking out the door. From the sliding door behind them Eddy could see that the man had pale skin and a long pointy face partially obscured by shoulder-length black hair. He walked out the door giving hitched breathing as he went. Two shadows parted in the door to let the paper thin man through. "Ladies, his soul belongs to you now." the man waved, turned down the hallway, and left Eddy to his fate.
Eddy glanced to the windows and found them covered in dark construction paper. A glossy banner flew proudly over the back wall of the classroom. The dampened light of the classroom was a haven compared to the hell Eddy's mind forced him through.
Then Like a a starting bell was rung, Eddy was immediately assaulted on both sides into a hug by a red bowed attacker and a pink menace.
"Eddy you finally made it!" Sayori yelled relieved at the turn of events as she hugged Eddy's right. She turned to the door. "Thanks Abe-ji!"
"Nice to have you back in the world of the living Rookie," added a short girl with pink hair, pink eyes and a smile showing a small fang superceding the rest of her teeth on the left side of her mouth. She was hugging Eddy's left but retreated a few seconds later. "Not that I was concerned about you or anything!" The walls are up at Fort Nejima. Eddy thought.
Eddy eyed the retreat and tried a quote from his "homework". He grinned and saluted. "Sorry I didn't get bells, so I got my bell rung instead. Hope that's enough." A few moments passed and a small giggle slipped out of the Tsundere fortress that is Eddy's impromptu superior officer.
"I heard that," Sayori spied with a mischievous grin as she let the first year free. "Is Natsuki letting something be known?"
"J-just a cough," Natsuki relented a small blush appearing on her cheeks. "It's allergy season you know." She started to shake. A button is being pressed on its own. Her eyes started to water as she looked away.
"Boss, I'm- sorry about missing work today," Eddy spoke guiltily scratching the back of his head. He was afraid she wasn't going to believe him if he told the truth. "I will make it up to you."
Natsuki crossed her arms and looked to the ground. She was trying to stifle something. "D-don't worry about that Rookie," She breathed deeply and looked at Eddy with a sorrowful expression. "I'm- I'm not angry at you."
"Natsuki," Sayori reflexively touched her scarf as she felt a pang of sympathy watching the girl fight her tears.
"I'm going to get the holders," Natsuki forced out before she ran out of the classroom.
"Natsuki wai- Oh!" Sayori rose from her spot accidentally bumping into someone behind her. "Sorry Yuri, I didn't see you there."
"N-no it was my fault," A soft hesitant voice emanated from over Sayori's shoulder. Eddy looked to the source and found a tall girl with waist length purple hair and purple eyes kneeling nearby. She was needling a strand of her hair with her hands. "I-I got- caught up in the moment."
"Eddy, this is Yuri Matsumoto. She's the smartest member of our club," Sayori introduced as she moved out of the way. "Yuri, this is Eddy McGee. He's the one I was talking about earlier."
"Nice to meet you," Eddy and Yuri spoke simultaneously. Eddy rose to a sitting position. He and Yuri gave a small bow to each other. Double d did say people in Japan like it when you bow when introducing yourself. Maybe it works when someone else is introducing you too.
"I'm going to tend to Natsuki," Sayori walked near the door. "If you guys need anything don't be afraid to call all right?" With nods of confirmation Sayori went into the hallway and closed the door behind her.
A deep rooted nervousness filled the two as they avoided the gaze of the other. Eddy eventually broke out in a cold sweat as he remembered the coin. It was bound in a square bandage on his forehead. The awkward situation around the coin further increased his nervousness. He couldn't help but give a peek at the bandages hidden under the tall woman's sleeves. From a glance he could tell she wanted to disappear as well. Dammit why did that happen at a time like this? She probably thinks I'm a nutbar now. Th-that may be true for all I know, but I caught her at a bad time. I have to salvage this situation.
"How- long have you been- trying to become a good person?" Eddy was pulled out of his thoughts when the girl spoke. Her voice was elegant and flowed like a finely tuned instrument.
Eddy panicked and bowed down so far his forehead tapped the floor. "I'm sorry for calling you a crow! I-I wasn't myself! I'm in Ref-. I mean I just got crazy! I-"
"I know- you were a s-scammer," Yuri's voice wasn't accusatory but rather just a soft observation. Eddy froze up anyway. She glanced away anxiously as Eddy reoriented himself. Then with a look of resolve she sighed, and rolled up a sleeve a little bit for emphasis. "I'm in- Reformation too, and when you caught me I s-saw you as a crow as well."
"That- all that was part of Reformation?" Eddy's sweating increased.
"They never told you?" Yuri asked before turning her voice down to a whisper. "The doctors?"
Eddy huffed. "Would of been nice of those price-gouging hacks to mention it? They just gave me a stupid brochure when the topic came up."
Yuri nodded knowingly.
A blush threatening to appear on Eddy's face when he finally took in Yuri's appearance. Good god the club is nothing but knockout women! No wonder Sado joined!
Then he looked at Yuri's nervousness and he refocused his thoughts. "How long have you been in the process?" He asked.
Yuri placed a closed hand to her chest. "I'm at my 6th month, and the nightmare is just as strong as when I began."
I guess the "pecking" was "urge management" then. Eddy thought, being reminded of that particular part of the brochure. He breathed out a tired sigh. "I'm in my 2nd week."
"Wh- what?! Why would they let you be in large crowds so soon?!" Yuri exclaimed. She immediately froze and spent the next few moments stumbling over herself to calm down. "S-sorry, I- I didn't say that to discourage you."
"Eh, don't worry about it. I'm more embarrassed than anything," Eddy scratched the back of his head. "Just wished there was more- I don't know- better warnings to this stupid thing."
"I know," Yuri looked down sadly. "Reformation is such an arduous process and it's- always hard to manage urges and the mania when you first start."
She then looked up again and gave a soft smile. "I'm just glad your urge management isn't as-." She looked down at her arms. "d-drastic like mine is."
"What brought you into the field in the first place?" Eddy asked giving a smile of his own.
"It's a family profession. My parents run a bazaar and curio shop near the Eastern Strand, I probably don't need to tell you the connotation those two entail," Yuri answered. Eddy felt an increased confidence in her tone. "Also I had my own side projects of course. Mostly small cash grabs, and seasonal ventures. Nothing really extravagant, just enough to purchase books."
A family business. That makes a lot of sense. Eddy thought as his eyes twinkled. Eastern Strand is one of the best beaches in the region as well. A great location for mystery guided tourists.
"And what made you want to reform?" Eddy asked as he started to become more himself again in the sweetened air of the classroom. "You wanted to go legitimate?"
"It would be a fallacy if I said that was true at first," Yuri explained as it looked like the gears were rapidly spinning in her head. "Truth be told, I only started Reformation because Abe-san asked me too."
"That old man?" Eddy turned his head to the door.
"He's my Mentor, and I owe so much to him and Sayori's father that it was an easy decision to make," Yuri answered in reverence. "What made you want to undergo the process?"
"It's- complicated," Eddy looked down. "I don't really feel comfortable explaining it."
"I- I understand," There was a bit of hesitation before she offered her next response. "I just- want you to know. You're in a good place ok? This club doesn't have a lot of members, and the members we do have tend to respect personal space and individual preferences."
"You don't need to recruit me, Sayori already did that," Eddy grinned.
"O-oh you- already joined," Yuri said surprised. She then smiled nervously. "Th-that's great! Welcome to the Literature Club!"
She then began to shake with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks. "S-sorry I didn't mean to t-turn that into a pitch."
"Old habits?" Eddy asked in amusement.
Yuri slumped and squeaked out a "yes".
The sound of ringing broke the conversation. Yuri gave an excuse and tended to it.
Yeah, she was definitely the Brain of her trifecta. Eddy thought as he watched the lady scammer stumble through a conversation on her phone.
"That was Sayori, the group needs help with the doors," Yuri said as she walked to the door. She paused then turned to Eddy with a look of worry. "H-hey y-you wouldn't happen to know where Monika is do you?"
"No why?" Eddy rose and followed the upperclassman to the door.
"She's been acting strange lately," Yuri pondered.
Strange is one word for it. Eddy looked down then shook his head. "Sayori said she said she was going to help you with decorations this morning. That's all I know," He replied.
"N-natsuki and I did the decorations yesterday, Monika wasn't here then either," Yuri recalled as she lightly shook the chills in her spine. "Eri and I really need to talk to her about something in private. I was wondering if something happened."
Sayori didn't say anything? Eddy thought as sweat appeared. "Let's- just deal with the cupcakes for now. For all we know she's probably with the group now," Eddy resolved.
Yuri gave a light nod and the two wandered out of the club room into the hallway. Eddy had to resort to looking at Yuri's hidden gauze as they walked through the gray crowd out to the courtyard.
"Yuri! Rookie!" Natsuki yelled out over the conversations happening in the yard. "Mind helping us with the doors?" The two teens looked and saw the rest of the club with clear plastic boxes with handles on top. One of them was strapped to Sado's head like a hat. Yuri covered her mouth and turned away stifling a laugh. Eddy had no intention of stifling anything.
"Great fashion statement Denski!" Eddy laughed.
"Shut up," Sado fumed. His face was blushed in embarrassment.
"That's what happens when you pull the short straw in the club Rookie," Natsuki teased. "Hope you're taking notes."
"Always give Sado the short straw," Eddy parroted then gave a thumbs up. "You got it Boss!"
"Asaki-san set me up and you were in on it," Sado pouted at the baker who in turn gave him a mischievous smile. He then spotted Sayori nudge her nose against her box. "And it's going to tip if you keep doing that, you big dummy!"
"I can't help it," Sayori whined then started to drool as she rubbed her cheek against her box. Inside laid white-cake cups iced in buttercream that matched in color with the club's banner. "Natsuki really outdid herself on these, I can smell the frosting right through the case~"
"You did say you wanted to work on your posture Takeshi," Monika chirped happily as the gang entered the building. Alerting Yuri with her nonchalant demeanor.
"When I said that, I didn't expect to look like an idiot when I do it," Sado grumbled.
"Think of it as Ino's way of helping you become a better person Sado-kun," Natsuki replied as the group reached floor 2.
"How do you figure that?"
"Level-headiness is important." Natsuki made a cheeky smirk.
"You and Eddy need to stop working together so much," Sado fumed as the group giggled. They reached the club room and unloaded their cargo.
"Rocks?!" Sado roared kicking the box that was on his head. Instead of cupcakes, the box was filled with cupcake shaped stones with goofy faces drawn on them. Eddy fell onto his back in laughter. "That skeleton's going down!"
"Ok ok in my defense," Natsuki nearly lost it as well. "I didn't know he did that either."
"This practical joke war is getting too elaborate," Yuri commented as she went into the walk-in closet in the back of the room. "Maybe it's time to start peace talks."
"I'm going to have to agree on that Takeshi," Sayori added a little worried about Sado's commitment to his campaign. "You know he's just doing it knowing you will react like this."
"Does Ino even sleep?" Eddy asked as he fiddled with one of the rocks and a discarded cup wrapper. He gave out a little sweat when the rock was a perfect fit for the wrapper. He then noticed Monika staring wide eyed at a spot near the front of the room. She started trembling.
"Y-yuri, Abe-san is still in here," Monika stammered as everyone looked at where she was looking. "He's doing that pose again."
The old man was whispering nonsense to himself as he laid in the middle of one of the aisles. His head was propped against one of the desk chairs and his arms were sprawled out in 45 degree angles out from his center. The angle of his head made his sunglasses shine in the muted sunlight. He had a vacant expression on his face.
"I keep forgetting how creepy that looks," Natsuki shivered as Yuri reappeared with a traditional Japanese tea set.
"That has to be a reference I want no part of," Eddy spoke as fear tried griping his tongue. Monika looked at him but kept her tongue.
Yuri looked at the man and sighed in disappointment. "Monika, there are salts in my bag can you get them please?"
"Er- ok," Monika tepidly as she searched Yuri's bag. With some fidgeting she procured a familiar orange envelope. "Sayori can you do it? He looks like he's going to jump at me."
"Oh Monika, he wouldn't do anything of the sort," Sayori consoled as Yuri went to her place in the room and placed the set on the desk. "Besides, he said before jump scares were beneath him. He's more of a psychological horror kind of guy."
"Yeah I can see it," Natsuki commented.
"I don't need the salts dear," spoke the laying man. Abe-san smiled and turned to the club. Everyone except Yuri and Sayori were on pins and needles as they watched the man rise to his feet. "I just wanted to tell you that if you want to test the smoldering crimson core, we have to do it at the airstrip. There is too much prying eyes here to do it on the roof."
"Airstrip?" Sayori asked. "I didn't know this town has plane travel."
"The town council in their infinite wisdom destroyed it years ago. What a waste," the man grumbled and started counting fingers. "You need loose fitting clothes, 3 more people, and when you get to the place you need to remove the rest of your bandages. Doggie will handle the rest."
"Why 3 more people?" Sado stammered finally having the courage to speak.
"We need to prove that the testing we're conducting follows the rules," Abe-san started walking toward the group. Monika tensed up as the man's glasses reflected near purple light at the group. "Besides it's good emotional support to have three people the test subject trusts with them. Isn't that right Miss President?"
"R-right," Monika forced a smile and a laugh. She spoke like she was being interrogated. Abe-san smirked then turned to Natsuki.
"You my dear pup is tending to the bird tomorrow," Abe-san could practically feel the groan coming from her.
"Can't you get someone else to do it?" Natsuki whined crossing her arms.
"The schedule is already in the toilet, and we don't have the holes filled yet. It's out of my hands," The researcher pushed up his lenses. "C'mon, it'll get you out of the house earlier. If it's any conciliation."
Sado glanced at Eddy with a raised eyebrow. He just got a shrug in response.
Natsuki shuddered, "A- alright fine, but if it does that gullet thing I'm leaving immediately."
"Gullet thing?" Sayori asked.
"Less is said about it, the better," Natsuki grumbled. "I hate birds."
"And with that mental image I'm off for real," Abe-san started for the door.
"You're not going to stay for our presentation?" Yuri asked.
"You know I would," Abe said in good-nature. "However, ruffians have been sighted near the testing site. It wouldn't be safe if I didn't clear them out first. Besides I probably would just start meditating and scare off all your potential members. Ta-ta, have fun with your poetry."
Abe-san left and the club went about the rest of their preparations. After 10 minutes the tea was brewed, the pamphlets were distributed and the sides of the holders were collapsed showing the cupcakes in a tray tree formation. Sayori took the first one as soon as the gate released. She tore into it, and nearly gagged about half way into the confection. Sado noticed and quickly gave her the first tea cup.
"Hey Boss, isn't that the beginning of the gullet thing?" Eddy pointed out with a grin making Natsuki looked away in disgust.
"Shut up Rookie," Natsuki mumbled pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Don't mind me asking, but why do you call each other by those nicknames only?" Sado asked the two scouts. They looked at each other and Eddy gave "Boss" the floor.
"It's from a manga, After You! Izumi-San! It's a comedy about two bumbling detectives solving crimes in their small fishing town. The titular character is never given a first name so everyone just calls her Boss Izumi and she plays the straight man to her partner, Rookie Otaka who is quite simply the worst detective ever. The structure of every chapter is that a crime happens, Rookie makes things worse by jumping the gun, then both of them have to fix the screw up which somehow leads them to actually solving the case. It's a good series to kill an afternoon." Natsuki grinned as she finished her spiel. "It was the first one Rookie and I read when he became coherent."
"Artwork is good too," Eddy added. "Made by the same guy that made Iron-house."
Sado perked up from his tea. "I like Iron-house. The anime series wasn't much to be desired. But the OVA is easily my favorite from that year."
"That's what happens when you have a budget of 600 yen and shoe strings," Eddy mused. "We were lucky we had the episodes we got."
"Yeah no kidding," Sado huffed.
"Aw~ Takeshi is making his first boyfriend," Sayori cooed. She then made suspicious movements toward the cupcakes.
"Don't say it like that," Sado whined. Eddy just laughed.
"Hey! That's your third one Bun!" Natsuki sounded the alarm at Sayori who cheekily pilfered another cake from the tray. "Do it again and I'll start switching the cakes with the stones!" A giggle in defiance was made by the perpetrator as she took her spot next to Sado.
"Hey, did- anyone notice no one has come in yet?" Monika asked wiping icing off her face with a napkin.
"I did," Yuri nodded. "I hope this isn't an omen."
"I don't think so, it's only been 10 minutes," Sado said as he finally bit into his cake.
"That's a lot of time Denski," Eddy replied. He then sipped his tea and was pleasantly shocked. "Whoa, this is great." I'm not blowing smoke either, I hate tea.
"Thank you," Yuri lightly smiled. "It's a blend of leaves I stumbled upon while browsing in the Veil Market."
"Isn't that place dangerous?" Sayori piped up with a little worry. "I've heard rumors that Violets like to congregate there."
"I usually go during the day and there's always security present," Yuri defended. "It- may be different at night though."
"Knowing my luck, I probably will be scheduled Security," Natsuki pouted. She then decided to enter the closet to find something to read from her stash of books. "Hey Sado, where are you in Parfait?"
"I'm still at the Entrance Trials Arc, Minty vs. Hasakabe makes me feel nostalgic," Sado smiled.
"I'm guessing it's the bazaar that happens during the weekend." Eddy asked, interest marked his voice. "The one with the purple flags?"
"That's right." The tea maker nibbled on her cupcake. "Are you interested in going?"
"I have no plans on Saturday, and my friends back in the States did say I need to immerse myself in more culture," Eddy contemplated. "And with the name as cool as Veil Market, I have to know what I can find there."
Monika looked at the clock. It was 4:25. 20 minutes have passed and not so much a peep came from outside the classroom. She rose from her seating position and went to the door. She looked out and was met with an empty hallway. Suddenly she felt kind of faint as a familiar prickling cold shot through her limbs. With a slight panic she looked back to Sado, the grey thing was present. She turned back wide eyed as a sound filled her head in a sharp staccato.
A whip crack.
She gripped the side of the door in a panic. She felt a constriction around her neck as her breathing became labored. A small whisper filled her head as her vision darkened. She tried to ignore it but the sound of rain and a loud pattern-less screeching had already overridden the rest of her hearing.
DENIAL
No one is coming.
No one ever does.
No one ever will.
No one will come
No one will leave
You know this but yet you have a solution.
Just remove your friends.
After what they been through.
Find the one who you did it for.
Be surprised when they remove you too.
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"Monika?" Sayori's voice was soft as she neared her president. "Are you Ok?" A burn mark started to appear on Monika's neck. Sayori eyes started to water as the smell of burning wood returned in full force. The burn grew darker creating a sickly black ring. The atmosphere is shifting.
Oh no, Eddy thought as a familiar fear rose in his gut. Not again.
"W-what's happening?" Monika asked softly. She tried to walk back into the room she made it about 2 aisles in when she doubled over in searing pain.
"Monika," Natsuki stammered in anger. "What did you do?"
"I-i don't know! Th-this never happened before!" Monika cried out as she placed her hands against her neck. With another cry she fell to her knees. "It hurts!"
"Monika!" Sayori ran over to her ailing president.
"Sayori stay back!" Natsuki yelled. The command fell on deaf ears as the president's left eye flashed bright red and a cloud of black soot blasted out from her being. The force caused the nearby desks to go flying. One of them banged Sado in the head and the force caused him to topple backwards into the waiting arms of the cupcake holders and the window sill. The back of his head careened off the sill and he flopped down like a ragdoll.
"S-sado-kun!" Yuri cried out as she ran to aid the boy. He was out cold.
Sayori was pushed back by this force but because of her positioning she was pressed against the wall to the left of the door. The wind was knocked out of her but she was still able to stand. Natsuki and Eddy were pushed against the cupboards along the back wall. Natsuki was back on her feet in no time.
Eddy however had a whole new set of problems as he wavered trying to get up. His head felt like it was on fire as the box in his mind started spitting out intangible images.
-Welcome to my closet of dreams heheh-
-static-
-HE'S NOT MOVING EDDY!-
-static-
-oisy neighbor? An angry boyfriend? I'll never know. I wasn't home-
-static-
- Hey! Quit playing with my wall hole!-
-static-
-when you stub your toe, and it hurts you know, friends are there to help you-
-static-
-don't go please! You don't have to do this alone!-
-static-
-You deserve more than this Sarah-
A song with whistling appeared in the noise.
The box did not like that Eddy could hear it.
"Rookie quit playing around we need to get help," Natsuki barked angrily as she pulled on Eddy's collar. She stopped shouting when she noticed fine trickles of blood dripping out of Eddy's nostrils.
"Mr. Hero isn't going anywhere," A sinister voice came out of Monika. It sounded like her voice and a sound of a turntable playing a scratched vinyl was spliced together and forced out of her throat.
Natsuki wanted to react but she was quickly silenced by Eddy yelling in agony as deep red gashes started ripping apart the skin on his legs and arms. blood quickly started seeping out. Sayori covered her mouth in horror.
"Rookie!" Natsuki yelled out as Eddy fell forward onto his face. Eddy tried to move but was stopped. "Don't force it! Don't be a hero!"
The Ed-boy's screaming increased as the cuts tore into his back, spraying red into his clothes.
"Yuri! Help me!" Natsuki stammered as she started bawling. Yuri hurried over but there wasn't much she could do about this situation. She had bandages but not nearly enough to cover the rate the open wounds were being created. She started to get too overwhelmed by the situation, and soon enough she started breaking down into a sobbing fit as well. Sayori was about to help as well but-
"I missed you last night," Monika spoke out, her gaze froze the bun in place. "Replacement."
"R-replacement?" Sayori shook in fear. "M-monika i-it's us. Y-your friends."
"Sorry, there is no one named Monika on the line Bun-nii," Monika giggled. Despite the merriment in the girl's voice, tears fell down her cheeks and rings of sleep deprivation wrapped around her eyes like war paint. She started to shiver which gained the possessor's chagrin. "Oh, don't like it when you're the one being controlled huh?! Doesn't feel too nice does it?!"
"Sayori! Rookie not gonna make it! Do something!" Natsuki cried out.
"Angry spirit!" Sayori called out, pulling her possessed president attention back. "I-I know you're suffering! But please, Monika and Eddy did nothing to deserve this! Please! Please let them go!"
"EHEHE! That's very rich coming from you," The puppet master behind the president's eyes guffawed as a metallic object started forming in her hand. "She did the exact same things she always did. You know why you're alive, you know why I couldn't have my reunion with Hideki, you also know in your heart it wasn't because of her good graces. I am proof of that."
Sayori couldn't do anything but watch the club explode into pandemonium. Storm clouds formed at her gates. She wanted to cry but nothing came out. She clutched her hands to her chest and grit her teeth. No! No more death! I won't allow it! Not when I've been given my life back! Not when everyone has their festival!
"Silence says a lot too you know," The possessed Monika smirked, the desert eagle finished materializing and she turned to face the rest of her audience.
It was 4:32 in the afternoon. It's a minute till showtime and the actress was ready for the big finish.
"Okay Everyone~" Monika spoke happily in her leader voice. The last of her free will dripping out of her eyes as the gun barrel met her temple. "Cover your ears. Can't have you going deaf before the fireworks."
A determined rally roared through Sayori's mind. A hiss of steam burned the clouds into vapor. She realized talking was not going to work.
She had to handle it like her Dad would of done.
"Monika," Sayori spoke quietly. Steeling herself for what came next. "I'm sorry. Please don't think less of me after this."
With a lunge the VP closed the gap between herself and Monika. Then with a yell Sayori jammed her thumbs into her best friend's spine just above the hip bones. Monika yelped in surprise as she lost all feeling in her legs and fell backwards. The VP caught her by the waist but however she wasn't done. With all the strength the Vice President had in her disposal lifted her president up and backwards, sending the back of Monika's head bashing hard against the tile floor.
At 4:33 the gun went off on it's own.
Sending the bullet upwards, busting apart the middle of a ceiling fan.
The overpowering aura of the Crimson halted. Almost like a flip of a switch.
Eddy fell limp as the wounds finally stopped trying to burn through the bandages. However by that time a big puddle had already formed around him. He didn't seem to move for a few moments.
"Rookie?" Natsuki whimpered, lightly tapping his cheek. Yuri lightly shook as sorrow filled her heart.
After a few more moments Eddy's eye opened slightly. "B-boss?" He asked weakly. "W-where are you?"
"Oh thank God," Yuri whispered in relief. She then started wiping her tears away.
Natsuki scrambled to where Eddy was looking and immediately began caressing his cheek. "I'm here Rookie, I'm here."
Sayori untangled herself from the suplex and was trying her best to align Monika's spine when she noticed something off.
"McGee-san, c-can you tell us what happened?" Yuri asked softly.
"A crimson got into Sayori's house this morning," Eddy murmured through shallow breaths. "It- attacked Monika while we were sleeping. I had- to make- a call."
"Sayori, is this true?" Natsuki asked. Her eyes then widened.
Sayori was trembling and pale white with her hands covering her mouth.
Yuri rose to her feet and walked slowly over to the downed Monika. What she saw filled her soul with ice. "Oh, oh no."
Monika's eyes were pitch black.
The final throes of a person plagued with Epiphany.
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...
A pale inert marble danced in Abe-san's fingers as Ino-hene sighed. "so much for that," Ino grumbled. His eyes glowing with pink light. "after we went all this way, the girl ends up summoning the damn thing."
"I'm just upset she felt she had to do that," Abe-san mused crushing the marble under his sole. His glowing violet eyes watching the fragments scatter down the abandoned runway. "Kids shouldn't have to deal with the baggage of past iterations."
"i don't like it either but there wasn't much we could of done to prevent it," Ino scratched his chin. "just kind of anti-climatic for Sayori though, she seemed passionate about changing herself."
"There will be other chances," Abe-san cracked his hands. A motor sound echoed off the rusted hanger to the left of the men. "In the meantime we should probably enjoy the time we are given now. You never know when the next cycle will come around."
"yeah, don't remind me," Ino grumbled, scratching the back of his head with a sneer.
The lights then disappeared from the men's eyes causing them to look away from each other for a few minutes. Conversations between hosts is always awkward.
"That better not be more of my old friends," Ino growled after the two pulled themselves together.
"They would of already started throwing bottle rockets if they were," Abe shrugged as the two turned to the sound. A lone motorcycle was traversing the path up to what used to be Palisade Airstrip. Commandeering it was a women who appeared to be in her late 20's. She had a normal build although a little shorter than average. Flowing red hair bellowed out from under her helmet. She wore a gray and pink hooded jacket, black cargo shorts and running shoes. The chopper stopped at the wooden gate that surrounded the airfield.
"This is private property!" Ino yelled. He was immediately reprimanded.
"Calm down Doggie!" Abe-san lightly hit Ino in the chest with the back of his hand. "We need to be good hosts. She obviously came here for a reason."
"Great, I'll say how great a host I was on my Final Transcript," Ino frowned.
"Oh quit being so dramatic," Abe replied as they started making their way closer. "We killed tougher things before."
They reached the woman as she was removing her helmet. Forest green eyes met the two. She looked like she was crying but had calmed down a half hour ago. "Hello, forgive my associate he's not very comfortable around strangers. Just pat his snout and he will be your best friend forever."
Ino ignored both the jab and the snickering. "State your business."
"I'm looking for Yoshitake Abe," the woman spoke. There was a softness in her tone.
"That would be me," Abe-san replied giving his hand out. "This is my associate, Doggie."
"Don't introduce me with that!" Ino barked. Causing the woman to laugh a little. Ino sighed and with his head down low held out his hand as well. "Ino Asaki-Nejima."
"Nice to meet you," The woman shook both their hands. "My name is Sarah Winters-"
Abe perked up in attention, and Ino shot up to attention.
"-I'm looking for someone. And the Matsumoto guards told me you might be able to help."
"W- we may be of service," Abe responded with a well rehearsed smile. Ino started to sweat. "Who are you looking for?"
Sarah pulled out her phone and showed it to the old man. "Sorry, it's an old photo. He didn't like having his picture taken after middle school. "
The men stared at the phone, then to each other, then back to the phone.
"Not really much to go on," Ino lied. "Can we have a name?"
"Ah, yes sorry," The woman looked down a little embarrassed. "His name is Eddy McGee."
Ino couldn't stop himself. "Why are you looking for this man?"
"He's my fiancee," Sarah spoke somberly, the men noticed her hands were white knuckled from over-clenching her fists. "I thought he- killed himself. But knowing about all this now, that may not have been the case."
"We know where he is," The men spoke in unison. Now both of them were sweating nervously. "You won't like what you'll find though."
KOKORO CULTURE FESTIVAL SEQUENCE END
BLACK BOX SOCIETY SEQUENCE BEGIN