WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK ZERO: MINGLE (43 remain) Rise and shine, gremlins. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's the start of a new week. Speaking of new, if participants turn on their PHS, they'll notice another section available. There's also an alert for a new message, titled TEAM ASSIGNMENT. Opening it will reveal which Leader they have been assigned to. Furthermore, at the corner of the PHS screen is an icon of an animal, depending on who their Leader is. It is visible only to them and no one else. That's not the only change, though. Participants may not notice at first—or perhaps they will?—but sooner or later, they may realize that they're... missing something? Strange. Three Leaders can be found around the area, open (?) to approach. If participants want to speak to them more privately, or to an absent Leader, it looks like they'll have to go through another channel. Which is to say, the Planetarium is now open! Finally, for the rest of the week, the participants will inexplicably have the urge to be physically affectionate. That person you just met days ago? Time to cuddle! This complete stranger you ran into? It sure is tempting to hold their hand. This urge can range anywhere from minor to impossible to ignore, depending on the situation. Enjoy your bonding!

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

[heartablaze]

[wow what is wrong with this boy

There's a flare of temper, but mostly she just feels a flash of something odd, something almost pitiful.]

You're right. Nobody owes me anything.

But that doesn't mean I can't ask, or try to understand. Even if people just do what they want, because they don't think anyone else but themselves will do it... that's still a reason. Sometimes it's a really good reason that no one bothers to listen to.

But that doesn't change that something this important can't be done by one person. And if you're gonna act like this to people... don't you know it'll make things harder for whatever it is you want?

[suddenlybees]

[ idk, what is wrong with this boy ]

Ha, good luck trying to understand... 'course I know what I'm doing. Do you think I don't? That I'm too stupid and thoughtless... yeah.

[ Yeah, yeah. He should've chosen to stay face down so he can drag himself towards the river and not have to look at Hikaru's face. ]

Hey, I'm gonna ask you, okay? Let me do what I'm doing.

[heartablaze]

[kagepro.gif]

...Who's putting words into people's mouths now, huh?

[It's a quiet response.]

I never said I thought you were stupid, or thoughtless. The fact that you can tell a good lie means that you're not either of those things... if anything, I think it maybe means you're hurting. People lie when the truth won't be nice to them, you know?

I wasn't planning on stopping you unless I had a good reason. I don't even know why you chose to do what you did. All I know is that what you did choose to do hurt people, even if just a little bit... and that wasn't okay. That's the part that was thoughtless.

...

My name is Hikaru. Shidou Hikaru. Can you at least tell me your name?

[suddenlybees]

[ What part of the lie hurt, besides making somebody feel stupid, even if they claim otherwise? Flying fish got made, Hikaru gets to play in the emporium guilt free for a little while, these end goals were achieved so it shouldn't have been a big deal.

He opens his mouth. Closes it. Neither "Baron von Sossenheimer" nor "Kano. Just Kano." leave his mouth, though both simultaneously struggle to blurt themselves out and shove themselves down his throat. ]

...You can read, can't you?

[heartablaze]

Uh-huh.

But if you think Wolf-san is lying, or wanted me to believe Wolf-san was lying... you could claim the PHS is all lying, too, if I look at that.

So I wanna hear it from you, if that's okay.

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano could also be lying? He should just lie, stare her directly in the eyes and lie to her face.

... ]

I'll tell you my name if you do something for me first. It's only fair I get something outta this in exchange, right?

[heartablaze]

Do something...?

[...

Even for Hikaru, trusting and idealistic Hikaru, several red flags still go up. But she blatantly ignores them, choosing stubborn belief over common sense.]

Like what?

[suddenlybees]

[ Hikaru, your flags ]

The worm.

[heartablaze]

The... what?

[suddenlybees]

The worm. Hajime can show you- she does a great worm.

[heartablaze]

...

Oh... Ohhhhhh, do you mean the dance?

I've heard about it a little - boys from America like it, right?

[suddenlybees]

Yeah, yeah, that's the one! So you do know it! Show me a good worm and I'll give you my name!

[heartablaze]

[i now have "the worm dance in 90s japan" in my google search history and i hate you]

...You promise?

[suddenlybees]

[ Hikaru's flags could've saved us but no... ]

Cross my heart and hope to die twice~

[ If his word isn't enough, then, what about a pinky promise? Sacred binding contract. ]

[heartablaze]

[Ah.

There's a fire behind her eyes as he holds up his pinky. She nods firmly before holding out her own and hooking it against his.]

Don't die until I earn your name.

I can't do a good worm - I don't think I know how to do it at all - but I'm gonna learn it. And I'm gonna show you when I do. I'll show you that you can trust me.

Okay?

[suddenlybees]

Haha, you guys are all piling pressure on me not to die, huh?

[ In that case, she should just spare herself the embarrassment and never learn his name. But their fingers are hooked and there's no backing out of it now. ]

But alright, okay. I have high hopes for you, Hikaru~

[heartablaze]

You too.

Until I learn your real name... can I call you Nico-kun?

[Is this the equivalent of calling him smiley boy? Yeah, what of it?]

[suddenlybees]

[ No... he doesn't want another name. He's barely keeping track of his Baron von something alias. ]

What a choice... Sure, whatever, do what you want.

[ Guess he is Nico-kun forever now. ]

[heartablaze]

Well, you smile a lot, you know??? Even if it isn't always a nice smile, I think it's a good nickname. But I'm gonna get your real one someday, so don't worry!

[rip Kano

There's a pause, before she finally gets off of him, dusting her skirt off.]

So, Nico-kun -- do you wanna go take a look at the planetarium with me?

You can say no if you want!

[suddenlybees]

Nope!

[ But he gets up too, patting off the back of his pants and shaking off his hoodie and looking at her expectantly. No he does not want to go to the planetarium but he will go with her. ]

[heartablaze]

[Hikaru, unfortunately, doesn't understand these mixed messages because Kano is a mystery. She accepts the no as a no, a little disappointed but shaking it off rather quickly.]

Okay... That's fine, I can go find somebody else. I'll come find you when I can show you that dance, though, okay?

[anyway is. he still following her. because she is 100% whipping around to go find someone else.......]

[suddenlybees]

Yeah, alright!

[ I mean, yeah. He is still following her. She can go find somebody else and also he can follow her around like a duckling. ]

[heartablaze]

[Congrats, we can do the hand-wavery whatever dance as she finds... throws dart... Sharon and makes their way over to the Planetarium, totally oblivious to the fact that he's trailing behind her like a weirdo. She's completely entranced in the building itself before she event notices that Kano is even there with them.

This is probably how she's gonna die lbr.]

Oh... Nico-kun! [She happily crosses the room over to him.]

Hey, when did you even get here? I thought you said you didn't wanna come to the Planetarium today?

[suddenlybees]

Um, hm. You said "with me"?

[ But he will go by himself... rude. ]

[heartablaze]

[rude]

You just wanted to go by yourself then, huh? That's okay.

Do you want me to leave you alone? Sharon-san is with me, so I can stay with her if I'm bugging you too much!