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rp blog for atsuko ainara, shsl barista. associated with rewound circuit.

[rewoundcircuit]

Depresso Espresso | Takaku | Chapter 4 | 🎉Atsuko

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting for the most opportune moment to pop back over to the VR world and play around in someone else’s skin. Not that there was anyone they would rather be than Takaku Kurukuru, but it was awful fun to pretend sometimes! Waiting, waiting, waiting, oh look! Atsuko appears nonetheless, presumably returning for some genuine shenanigans after the meeting. Takaku bounds over to her enthusiastically, with a certain determination. They greet her with a wave, and then stare fixatedly for a slightly uncomfortable moment, before nodding and smiling.

“… You, me, Edler-kun, and Ueno-chan!”

Well, that was out of nowhere, but they seem pleased by this revelation. Whatever it is.

“It’s really sad that she’s not going to be around to see her research lab thing. But I’m really excited to see what they do with ours! A lot of these are all connected now, and I bet it’s going to be a lot of fun to check those out together!

There’s a good chance that any of them could die before then. A possibility that all but one would. Predicting the future is exclusive to the mime family of the clown species - it’s a trade-off since their verbal joke capacity is practically nonexistent. The jester tree, inversely, loses out on a lot of the stronger Imagination skills that mimes possess so they have more offensive power with the exclusive lampooning skill.

“… So what do you think yours is going to be like? I hope there’s all kinds of coffee beans. I’ve always wanted to see what would happen if I ate a handful of ‘em!”

[fxrmal]

It takes a moment for Atsuko to realize what Takaku’s talking about, but as they continue their spiel, she nods along.

“Yes, it’s curious that we of all people have yet to have our talent labs revealed, isn’t it? I do hope I remain alive long enough to see my own talent lab, if nothing else. The curiosity nags at you, doesn’t it?”

“...that being said, there would have to be another murder to reveal said talent lab, wouldn’t there? If we go by the pattern of ‘someone dies, and as a so-called reward the area opens up a little more.’ I can’t say that seeing my talent lab is worth any human life.”

She laughs a little after realizing the dark turn her talk took in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Nonetheless, you’re right. There’s nothing wrong with simply coming up with theories as to what our talent labs could potentially be, right? So long as our motivation doesn’t compel us too much. Well then, let’s see...”

Atsuko places a hand on her chin.

“I don’t believe mine would be all that interesting, no. Probably just a coffee shop. Maybe I’d be lucky and it would mimic my own cafe? I do think it’s a rather nice place, though I do come from a bit of a biased perspective. I did pour a lot of work into making it look nice.”

She puffs her chest out a little at this.

“What about you, Kurukuru-san? Perhaps you would have a proper stage, so as to deliver comedy bits? That does excite me.”

[rewoundcircuit]

atsuko | monothea ii | re: mayura | attn: ikuko

Atsuko’s input her vote for Ikuko even before the crack in defenses, before she’s stuttered out an ‘It wasn’t supposed to–’. Wasn’t supposed to turn out like this, Atsuko can only imagine, and she sets her mouth into a thin line as Monokuma calls a halt to their proceedings.

“But hey, maybe it’s just easier for people to do bad things if you’ve seen someone else do it before you?” Atsuko can’t fault the logic in that statement. If anything, she almost finds herself agreeing. It’s only natural for people to do bad things, and even more so when you see other people doing it. Rationalize, justify your own actions. That makes enough sense to her, she thinks.

Of course, it’s a grim thought to have when in a killing game, considering the fact that two people had already off and murdered, directly or not. Atsuko sighs and taps the side of her face with her fingers as the results roll around and around and land on the girl besides her, in all her trembling, firm resolution.

And that resolution only continues as Monokuma announces that Ikuko only has thirty minutes left to live, the secret spilling out of her as if someone had ripped into a sandbag and let the contents pour out with nary a care for the mess it would leave afterwards. And what a mess it was, a grungy one that screamed unfairness, because indirect murder is still murder, isn’t it? At the end of the day, there’s still a body on the floor, same as there had been with Hideyoshi and Zenzen.

Atsuko closes her eyes for a moment. Redirect the tensions inside her for a moment, shall we.

“Umenoyakakutani-san, I do understand your distress at the moment, but please, do not pin this whole thing onto Monokuma-san and Monomi-san’s heads. It is irrational to believe that two individuals and their robot friend are the sole cause of our problems. They’re simply rule enforcers, in the same vein as Kurusu-san. Regardless of what they thought or think of the matter, the proceedings of this trial would likely remain the same.”

“Besides, Monokuma-san made a lovely cup of coffee. Thank you, once again.”

Atsuko does a little bow in his direction. Despite her attempt to redirect her anxieties, however, they’re still bubbling in her stomach, an awful pit that culminates in the form of the girl to her side. 

She can’t ignore this. It’s cruel.

“…Ueno-san.”

Alright, a rational approach.

“I believe I could explain once again the selfishness of your actions. How overestimating your abilities might have cost us a potential lead in our investigation out of here, and worse - a human life. But I’m sure that’s been weighing on you and will until your own life comes to an end within the next hour, so I’ll end those words there.”

Gently, gracefully, she places her left arm across her chest and bows.

“But in the same vein, you took a risk in an attempt to save us. Or maybe it was only to save yourself - Lord only knows. How selfish you actually are, how selfless you actually are… I’m sure you know yourself. And so I won’t try to pry that answer out of you for my sake, but rather let you turn that over.”

“I’ll say that I believe that you were selfless, for kindness’ sake. As with Zenzen-san, I’ll tell you this: that I hope you receive exactly what you deserve, nothing more, nothing less.”

And with that, she folds her hands in front of her.

[rewoundcircuit]

"Ah, Monomi-san and Monokuma-san, if it isn't too much trouble. Concerning A-30N-san's build, how much force would it require to dent him? Would only a strong person be able to, or could a weaker person as well, provided they have the will and all that?"

“Er… Ainara-san, I’m not really…”

“Eh. I’ll answer as best as I can. I don’t think he’s made of like… SUPER tough diamond-grade metal or anything like that. I just think if you have the force, you could probably deal him a dent so long as you’re not attacking him with a feather-duster or something.”

[rewoundcircuit]

late with the starbucks | atsuko | trial ii.i | re: ikuko, alibis | attn: 🌠

“Oh, the person that Ishii-san would be meeting with would be me. We simply wished to have another sleepover. Nothing significant - the two of us can account for each other throughout the night. Or, well.”

Atsuko’s brow furrows and she sighs.

“Until the morning, at least. I left Ishii-san’s dorm at roughly 7:40 am, where I then agreed to acquire some breakfast with some of you.” She nods at the body discovery crew. “…but you already knew all that.”

“I’ll cover some of the other things that occurred leading up to that point, however. I’m not sure how relevant it’ll be at this point, but…well, better to be safe than sorry.”

“I spoke with Kurukuru-san from midnight to 2:00 am in my dorm room. They left, and I busied myself in my own room until 2:45 am. Actually, I saw you bustling about, 🌠-san." Atsuko pauses to look at them. "Yes, you bounded off with something in your hands roughly around that time. If you don’t mind my asking, what was it? …ah, and then moments later, your secret was played over the intercom.” She bows. “My sympathies.”

“At 2:50 am, I saw Saito-san leave his room and run towards the Food Court with nary a word. I didn’t call out to him or anything, but it at least confirms where he was only 17…? Yes, 17 minutes before he passed.”

“I find it worth mentioning, before he went and died - not last night, during the day, I should note - Saito-san seemed incredibly remorseful. Maybe it was just towards me as, you know, he threatened to kill me in front of you all, but, well.”

Atsuko sighs and taps her fingers alongside her cheek.

“Perhaps him attacking A-30N-san was an attempt to try and free us all from here…? Or, who knows, really.”

Atsuko sighs. 

“I spoke with Takeru-san at roughly 3:05 am, when he had the sword. I find it unlikely that he had anything to do with the murder, since, well, he wouldn’t have had enough time to run to the food court and do the deed. Oh, and Higashiyama-san was there as well.”

“We talked, Ishii-san came, I fell asleep, and that’s all.”

Atsuko finishes her words with a smile, giving a little bow to her classmates.

“Anyhow, let us backtrack a step, here– Monomi-san gave us a hint, hadn’t she? A-30N-san would only resort to lethal action if it was the only option, or if there was a malfunction or tampering of some sort. So, let’s see…who here is capable of messing up our dear robot friend?”

She pulls out her monopad.

“Saito-san’s bashing of him over the head might have counted as a malfunction, but it’s worth it to look through it all anyhow, don’t you agree?” She begins to scroll through the student roster. “I wouldn’t peg Ueno-san immediately, but she does have a slight of hand skill. Endo-san is quite good at putting objects together efficiently, as if a puzzle, so what’s to say she can’t take them apart? Bit of a stretch, but Kuromaru-san can figure out how things work, at the very least.”

She puts the monopad away.

“I’m not sure if that all accounts for anything, but there it is.”

[rewoundcircuit]

aight lets eat a chill pill | atsuko | trial i.iii | re: harada, aki, zenzen

Despite herself, Atsuko winces at her classmates fiery remarks. Less so at Harada’s and more at Ryuu’s, at Kimiko’s at Takeru’s and Ikuko’s and Orpheus’s and Yvon’s.

It’s a little silly, she thinks, about how quick they are to defend something like this. It’s so much easier to defend the cruel actions of another when it wasn’t you they hurt, when they were begging for their life.

…and still. The pang of empathy gnawed through her nonetheless.

How many of them hit that ‘kill’ button? Eight, regardless of the motivations behind it.

She reminds herself of this and pulls her shoulders back.

“…Harada.”

“I do think you need to calm down. I don’t say this as an enemy of yours, as you seem to think I am, but rather as someone who, like you, has been stuck in a killing game against their will. Your attitude is sure to get you in trouble, here.”

“Pardon my french, but I do not always have ‘a stick up my ass’. I feel as if though the issues I have addressed have been perfectly valid, for the most part. 'Being disappointed at my classmates for murdering others’ and 'being upset at the attitude of someone who so abrasively falsely accuses others of murder when they themself have committed murder’…yes, pardon me, but I do think that constitutes for a bit of a sharper tongue than the one I normally possess.”

At the talk of his boyfriend, that she doesn’t know anything about what he’s been through, Atsuko has to close her eyes and steel herself for a moment. 

( how dare he. )

( that time. )

( that one time, by the side of a hospital bed, news blaring in the background, a liminal space, nothing else can be hurt. )

( “this sort of thing…you can’t ever be not safe, right? as royalty, i can keep you safe, if nothing else. my influence has to reach that far, at the very least.” )

“…”

Oh, dammit.

“Harada, I am going to try very hard to treat you with civility, if only because I recognize that I have not yet gotten a good grasp of my emotions and that I have contributed to the distress of my already high-strung and emotional classmates, when I should be aiming for nothing but your comfort.”

“You may wish for my death, but that’s quite alright!”

“Or, perhaps it isn’t. If you truly believe that I am deserving of death simply due to a critique of your character, then I believe that says far more about you than it does me. I”

“…ara, oh dear. The way that you speak so certainly about there be 'another’ victim does make me concerned, however. I really was hoping that the last deaths would be Kishi-san and Zenzen-san, but the way you speak seems to imply that you think otherwise. I do hope that this ends here, with this trial!”

The last bit is something she addresses to the entire class, a quick glance around and a 'hey, no more murder pwease’ sort of a nod. 

…and then Zenzen talks.

She really, really can’t do well with self-deprecating language. She smiles gently as Zenzen talks, but it really can’t be anything more than that. She doesn’t trust herself to speak, not when he’s already received enough of it, it being her classmates both pitying him and damning him.

“…it’s unfair,” she mumbles.

As she noted before, she doesn’t have anything else to say to a dead man slash bear walking. Maybe she’ll try to close her eyes during his punishment.

Then–

That’s unexpected.

“Ishii-san…”

She shakes her head and smiles sweetly at the girl, giving her a little bow. 

“I’m quite touched that you don’t mind spending time with me, Ishii-san. I did quite enjoy our marathon of–” she catches herself, “our movie marathon together, and I would enjoy holding another sleepover with you whenever you find it convenient.”

“Please don’t apologize. Many people are at fault, and there’s no use in procuring a scapegoat simply for the sake of making things simple enough to wrap your head around.”

And she ends on that awkward note.

[rewoundcircuit]

aggressive aggressive uwu | atsuko | trial i.i | re: murder confession, hideyoshi attacking talk, harada

( tw suicide mention )

She’s ticked off, honestly.

Maybe that isn’t apparent to everyone in the trial, at first. Really, it shouldn’t be apparent to anyone besides Yoko and Ikuku to her sides, and then only if they wanted to take the time to pay attention to the white knuckles hidden behind her trial stand.

“You didn’t listen to me.”

“When I say Kishi-san would never hurt anyone, I meant it, you know? He wanted to save everyone. The only…the only way that I can picture him having any sort of hand in initiating this murder is if he wanted to take out.” A little inhale. “Just him.”

“But he liked himself too much for that, and we’ve cleared up the train of thought that it was his fault that he died, so what does it matter.”

A little bow in Misaki’s direction.

“Wei-san, I want to apologize for my harsh tone earlier. I hope you can understand why I was on edge and was sharp with my words. If after this mess you would enjoy sitting down with me for a cup of coffee or some other gesture of apology, I think it would ease my heart a touch.”

“Also, might I just say, Saito-san.”

“Could you, perhaps, hold your tongue for a bit? Your forward attitude is starting to rub me the wrong way. You declare things that have even the slightest inkling of evidence on them as fact when that isn’t necessarily the case, and you seem to hold yourself at a higher intellectual standing than your other classmates. ‘Misaki-san you’re the only one here with orange hair so there’s no way it isn’t you. Sorry not sorry but consider my vote ensured.’ That sort of talk, when well,” Atsuko scoffs, “you didn’t even consider the multiple other classmates of ours that it could very well be…get a hold of yourself. Your combined lack of foresight and empathy holds the same amount of dangerous foolishness as someone smoking a cigarette in a room full of gunpowder.”

“Don’t think I didn’t see you, slamming your hand on the half of the handbook that contained the ‘kill’ button even after Kishi-san had gone and killed Nikolaievich-san for us. Without a second thought, you went and took an innocent human life. That makes you worse than both Kishi-san and Zenzen-san, you know? You’re so selfish it honestly makes me want to puke. Don’t go around thinking you’re any better than anyone else when you killed someone before Zenzen-san, you know.”

Atsuko exhales after that and pats her apron down, evidently calming down after that outburst.

“And as for the man of the hour. Or do you prefer bear?”

“I think you’re aware enough of how selfish your actions were. I’m not going to ‘go off’, as people say, on your level of moral standing, et cetera et cetera. You’re already going to die, so there isn’t much of worth that I can say to a dead man walking, not when there isn’t anything my words could have impact on in the future, but I suppose I’ll say these things nonetheless.”

“I am not happy that you have to die. I am not happy that Kishi-san had to die. This entire situation is cruel and unusual punishment for being alive, as it so seems.”

“I doubt that you would have killed someone in a situation that didn’t force your hand, but the fact of the matter is, you did, didn’t you? And that’s…well. You know how it is.”

She gives him a short bow.

“I hope that you get exactly what you deserve. Nothing more, and nothing less.”

[rewoundcircuit]

* you are filled with disappointment | atsuko | trial i | re: everything honestly

Atsuko’s silent as the trial starts, not due to any lack of things to say or an attempt to hide anything but rather because everyone else simply has a great deal of things to say. She bites her lip as Yoko primly states the fact that a great deal of them are already criminals, a little bit of…not guilt, is it? But sadness is a bit too dramatic of a term to use to describe that, so let’s not dwell too deeply on Atsuko’s eyes. We’ve got greater issues, here.

“Oh, right into the swing of things, are we now? That’s good, I suppose. Better to make full use of our time rather than to sit here wallowing in the tragedy of it all.”

“As they say, first things first, yes? To those of you who are not yet acquainted with me, I'm Atsuko Ainara, the Super High-School Level Barista. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Atsuko accompanies her statement with a deep bow.

“I’m…aware that some of your first impressions of me was my disgraceful reaction to Kishi-san’s…misclick. I want to apologize for my inability to keep my emotions in check on that occasion, but also to clear something else up.”

“It’s plain to see that something like that would give me a motive for killing Kishi-san. I may not consider myself a particularly bright individual, but I was painfully aware of the fact that I could be considered a suspect upon discovering Kishi-san’s body. And so, though word alone doesn’t account for much of anything, I did not kill Kishi-san.”

“I…immediately after the motive, I encountered Kishi-san and we discussed things. He apologized, and I forgave him. He is–” a little pause, and Atsuko covers her mouth, “was a good person, if painfully naive.”

“Which brings me to my second point.” Atsuko breathes in. “I realize I have nothing save for my own words, once more, to back me up, but I do not believe Kishi-san would have initiated a murder attempt. When speaking to me, he expressed he wanted to save everyone left - absolutely everyone.”

Though the words are spoken in Atsuko’s soft tilting voice and nothing like the energetic Hanafuda player that you all once knew, his sentiment still makes itself known past the grave. Atsuko pointedly avoids everyone else’s gaze and stares at Hideyoshi’s greyed out portrait before breathing.

“Speaking of the motive itself, actually!”

“Wei-san, for your own sake, I really hope that you didn’t kill Kishi-san. After all, he’s the reason that your brother is alive, you know?”

“I offered the choice of whether to spare or kill your brother to him, and without hesitation, he chose spare. Must have been the guilt of killing a duchess and all. If you were indeed his doom, well…”

“…that’s a certain level of irony.”

“And I’ll continue on that train of thought for another not-so-important thing, but something I’d like to say anyway.”

Atsuko clears her voice and speaks in the way that only someone with the infinite patience of declaring orders out to a bustling cafe full of unpleasant customers can.

“I hope the killer is awfully proud of themself, whoever they are. And I hope all of you who pressed ‘kill’ are proud, too. One way or another, ten people are going to die. This is the same outcome as if we had sat down and decided not to kill anyone till the deadline passed.”

“Actually, I don’t hope you’re proud. I hope you’ll take the time to reflect on your actions. I don’t know if it means anything, but…”

“..I’m incredibly disappointed in all of you, the so-called 'hopes for the future’ that Hope’s Peak Academy handpicked.”

[rewoundcircuit]

everyone's the same when you peel off their skin | atsuko | ch1 motive reaction

Atsuko’s a calm person. It’s even listed right there in their handbooks: years of working in customer service and becoming what others considered the ‘best of the best’ did that to you.

Those handbooks that just so happened to have been given out since they were part of a killing game.

And so, those few hours between receiving the news and waking up for A-30N to announce a motive had passed in something of a blur, Atsuko sitting and contemplating the validity of the situation.

Things had escalated, as they seemed to do in these past…forty eight hours?

( was it even that long )

There was a little ball of panic in her throat, then, as A-30N had so plainly announced . It was plain as to who her hostage would be, after all. She didn’t need to think twice about who would be on the chopping block for her.

And then–

Then a little gambling boy had decided to go and press a little button because he thought that it was just a prank, bro~!

“…”

Huh.

“You…”

“Who the hell do you think you are, actually?”

Atsuko’s hands ball into fists and for a moment, she breathes. 

“Really, Hideyoshi. I didn’t even know who you were when we first met, and you think that your life is worth more than that of a Great Duchess of Russia’s? You really think that your life has more worth? You think your fiance’s life has more worth? I have to laugh.”

“…I mean, not like you’re even here to hear me talk anymore. God.”

There’s a little inhale of breath, here, a little stutter as Atsuko tries to let the world stop rocking around her. 

She–

Nikolaievich–

She was dead..?

…no, it couldn’t be. Doctored footage, obviously. Plain as day to see it was fraud. 

“It…it plainly isn’t fair.”

“How come you want to just do this to all of us? What purpose does it achieve to kill so blindly? This– This is all so cruel. How can you choose to not only make us kill each other, but make us choose between which loved ones to kill and which to spare.”

“If you wanted us all dead, if you wanted all our loved ones dead, why didn’t you just choose to up and execute us right now? You want nothing other than to see us suffer, don’t you?”

“How selfish. How despicable.”

“…s-sorry, everyone, I– I’m sorry for acting like this, I…I’m sorry.”

And with a swish of her skirt, Atsuko leaves the room.

[rewoundcircuit]

Chillax || Takeru || Chapter 2 || Closed: Atsuko

[fxrmal]

takerunokubo‌:

While she introduces herself, Takeru closes the distance between them until they were within normal conversation boundaries. Along the way he had waved his arms in front of him to try and clear any residual steam from view.

“Yep!” He smiles. “It’s now more than ever that we should be surrounded by friends! So you don’t have to be so formal with me, just Takeru is fine. And you don’t have to be at my service! Just have fun!” He chuckles a note.

Takeru then lets his gaze go over his shoulder and towards the back of the room. He squints for moment before shaking his head and letting Atsuko have his full attention again.

“Have you checked this place out? It looks like a fun place! Mmmmmm! We could splash around in the water! Or see who can hold their breath the longest! Haha!”

“Just Takeru, then?” Atsuko does another little bow. “Well, then. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind!”

She does a little awkward glance at whatever Takeru was looking at at the back of the room, but when not noticing anything, she turns back with a bit of a strained smile.

“I’ve given it a bit of a look-see, yes.” She nods. “Whoever organized this seems to have spared no expense, as the facilities that we’ve been provided with are of the highest quality, don’t you agree?”

She gives herself another nod before her brows furrow.

“I…do suppose those are fun activities we could partake in if we wish, but with all due respect, the fact that we are in a killing game throws me off from wanting to be a part of activities where, say, electrocuting me since I’d be doused in water wouldn’t be all that hard of a feat. No offense,” she adds a bit hastily on.

[rewoundcircuit]

Chillax || Takeru || Chapter 2 || Closed: Atsuko

“Whoah-oh!” Because he had to open a garage door, he wasn’t expecting anything this research lab had in store for him. Needless to say, he’s surprised! “Is that…?”

Takeru approaches the large jacuzzi in the center to confirm what he thought he saw. Knowing what this room is now, he can’t help but explore it with a smile.

As he investigates the moisturisers, candles, among the other assorted items along the bamboo and wooden shelves, he couldn’t help but pick up each one and give it a good sniff. After he’s about halfway through the shelves, he hears the door open.

The linguist tries to see who it is, but he doesn’t seem to recognise who’s standing there.

“Hello?”

[fxrmal]

She had wanted to receive a massage, ever since she had seen Sandwich on the roster. Selfish of her? Were her priorities a bit out of order...? Perhaps, but it didn’t change the plain fact that Atsuko was a person who felt stressed, just like practically every other person on the planet, arguably more so as a worker of customer service.

And, well, when you were in a killing game, one could argue that the stress got even worse. 

The title of SHSL Massage Expert belonged quite plainly to Sandwich, not her, but she still found herself exploring his talent lab. Curiosity? Wondering if she could operate any of these on her own, even as a novice? Perhaps. It’s not as if she had a lack of time on her hands or anything of the sort.

She still jumps when some addresses her, though. ( why? it’s not as if she’s doing anything wrong. she isn’t a murderer, unlike...a scarily large fraction of the class, apparently. )

“Oh, hello! Nokubo-san...was it? The linguist.”

A careful hand on her chin before she nods to herself.

“Yes, I do believe that’s your name. We didn’t have a chance to formally get to speak among all the...mayhem that happened thus far, though, have we. In that case, let me introduce myself honorably.”

She bows. Thank you, Atsuko.

“Atsuko Ainara, the Super High-School Level Barista, at your service. Amidst such a dismal situation, it’s still nice to try and make friends, is it not?”

[rewoundcircuit]

Guest Relations || Chapter One || Nezumi || Attn: Atsuko

[fxrmal]

magic-mouseketeer‌:

…Well this immediately serene behavior reeked of serious emotional repression. Something Nezumi learned to be pretty good at spotting thanks to watching her super old twenty-something co-workers on the job long enough. But that’s something to be addressed at a  much later date!

  “Okay so like, Nezumi’s been around Main Street enough times to know the sort of stuff that goes into animatronics, right? It’s in that  profile thingy,  and  we already know we have robots going on with Yoko-chan and that Aeon guy  and maybe those  mono people? Can mono turn you into a robot?  Maybes Nezumi should get checked  out or- Oh!”

She seemed to realize she was getting off track, as she suddenly snapped to attention and looked Atsuko in the eyes- and even held her pointer finger close by her cheek for emphasis.

“An~y~ways~! What Nezumi has been seeing in these videos is totes the Moon Landing 2.0! And like those tourist-dollar stealing nerds at NASA  they totes weren’t planning on someone with a keen eye like Nezumi’s to see through their really cheap automaton routine! They’re just trying to set us up to do something crazy!”

Nezumi’s body relaxed a bit after that sudden declaration, as she sheepishly rubbed the side of her arm.

“…Nezumi’s gonna try and go around to  tell everybodys,  but she thought Atsuko-chan deserved to know first because….yeah.

“Doctored footage, huh...O-or, as you put it, automatons? Like that one horror game.”

Atsuko raises a hand to her chin before contemplating the statement. It’s possible, sure, and perhaps even wishful thinking, but...

The chance that Nikolaievich could still be alive...?

...

Perhaps thinking that was a little too dangerous, wasn’t it?

“Thank you, dear Kuromaru-san. I apologize for that display I put up there earlier, however. I do pride myself on keeping myself calm and collected, but...”

“...needless to say, I haven’t exactly found myself in a killing game, you know? New experiences do tend to throw one off their ‘groove’, as it were.”

“But nonetheless, the fact that you wanted to come and comfort me means an awful lot. I appreciate it incredibly. Thank you.”

“...out of curiosity, Kuromaru-san...did you kill the loved one you were assigned? Or automaton. Or have you not made a decision yet?”

[rewoundcircuit]

CH1 POST-MOTIVE| ” can i offer you an egg in these trying times ” | AKI | 🐯 | ATTN: ATSUKO

….

The dust has settled a little. …. Well, not really.

But Aki’s had time to rest up, finish her sleep, and pick at the same four chords for the past hour or so. Not really focused on anything, just the feeling of string against pick and how it presses a bit too hard into her callused fingers.

It was… difficult to know… how to react to… any of this…. Staying inside wouldn’t help, but getting too involved with everyone and making a nuisance of herself wouldn’t do too much, either…. …. And really, she’d never been very good at comforting people. It was something that just wasn’t too often done in her small town – with her pack of roving children, who broke alliances, betrayed, skinned knees, and made up all in a matter of hours on a regular basis. They were more the type to laugh at each other’s small misfortunes – to threaten to escalate and earn a snide chuckle from a spectator. Aki was, by all margins, a bit of an anomaly – just compassionate enough to help someone get to a nurse, if needed. And there was really no crying in baseball – or anything else in her life, for that matter – comforts were found in solitude and pensive actions, not in the arms of other people who smoothed your hair as you were sniveling. …As… nice as that would have been.

….

But there’s a few things that stick out to her, even now. …And everything here was just so… cruel…. Savage, even. Desperate to prove itself and torturous and– Hellish. it was hellish.

…. And she hadn’t made any friends here, not really. But she hadn’t made any enemies, and so many people just seemed…. (….)

Comfort. She would try. Comfort.

…. Try was the operative word. …. Aki stands up in her room and quickly places an additional hat on her head and scooping up something from her closet before heading out the door.

—

It doesn’t take… too long to find the first person on her list. There was a little bit of searching, but eventually she finds Atsuko wandering – almost aimlessly – around the station. Her face set in something that looked close to…. …Something she recognized well. The pensive look.

…. Normally, she wouldn’t disturb someone like this, but….

…. It takes a bit of a swallow – and a lot of forcing herself – but Aki finds it within herself to approach the other girl. Slowly. ….

It looks a little embarrassing, actually. She kind of sucks at this.

…. But she does eventually get close enough to the other girl to raise her hand in greeting.

“…Ah…. Ainara-chan. Hello….”

…Bad start, but at least she wouldn’t feel threatened…!

…Aki looks a bit at a loss for a second before she sighs and just ends up. Reaching up. And taking one hat off to reveal another hat.

…And wraps a blue Powerade in the hat in her hand.

“I um, would toss this to you… but… that just seems a little excessive, right…? Haha….”

She offers out the tiny package to the other girl.

“…Um… I hope you like it…. I didn’t have any that weren’t sort of embarrassing… but tell me what you think…!”

….

“The drink is more to balance out your salts, um…. I thought… it might not be a bad idea…. I’m sorry if it’s not a flavor you like, though….”

Come on, Aki.

Time to… really… try….

“…Do you want to sit down somewhere…? You… slept last night, right…? I thought it was… really just awful… them waking us up seven hours after leaving… with that…..”

…Didn’t really. Stick the landing there. But okay, Aki. Good enough.

[fxrmal]

“O-oh...Ishii-san!”

At least that’s a friendly, kind face. Atsuko gathers herself up and folds her hands neatly in front of her, all accompanied with another one of her neat bows.

“I apologize for my behavior earlier. I suppose I could excuse it all with something like, ‘I was so overwhelmed with my emotions that I didn’t think before I spoke,’ but that still means I said cruel things like-- o-oh?”

She pauses in her hurried apology as Aki hands her the hat. Sure, she had asked for one in their earlier conversation, and it’s not as if she had been lying about wanting one, but she had figured that what with the killing game starting and loved ones getting killed and whatnot that something like a hat would have slipped her mind.

And the gatorade as well...it was all so terribly thoughtful (and selfless?) that Atsuko found herself, for once, taken a bit aback.

She swallows a little to drown any other cry-hiccups that threatened to spill out of her before looking back up at Aki and nodding firmly.

“Of course I like it! Oh, I’m so excited to try it on-- Ah, what am I waiting for, right?”

Atsuko hurriedly puts on the hat before sticking her hands on her hips to show off the hat and her mun’s subpar editing skills.

“Ta-daa! Ara, oh...this is so incredibly nice of you, Ishii-san! And it’s blue, too-- It fits with my uniform! ...Sort of? Different shades and all, but, oh...”

She inhales before motioning at the gatorade in her hands.

“And this! It’s blue too, right? All color coordinated. Your foresight really is something else! And in a situation like this...”

“...I’m really glad your loved one was spared, Ishii-san. I presume it was one of your friends that we spoke of earlier, correct? Or maybe not, but nonetheless, you’re a person who deserves good things in their life.”

She inhales and, for a moment, looks a bit downcast.

“I’m...truly sorry that a person as selfless as you had the misfortune of being stuck in a situation such as this one.”

“...but we have to get out! I’m certain of it.”

“We need to go shopping for shoes together, don’t we?”

[rewoundcircuit]

Guest Relations || Chapter One || Nezumi || Attn: Atsuko

[magic-mouseketeer]

rewoundcircuit‌:

All righty!  Though took a teensy  weensy little bit of getting herself fixed up in the bathroom, but Nezumi was ready to go steppin out in style and feelin’ high! What had just happened in the last hour waaaaaaas…a lot to take in!  But it sure did give the actress a whoppin’ to-do list for the rest of the day,  so she for sure couldn’t stand around contemplating….certain things when she had work on her hands!

”Atsuko-chan, Atsuko-chan~?”

And first on that list was locating a certain girl who just had the fate of a loved one decided by sheer curiosity! Sure, Atsuko was like a good three inches taller than Nezumi, but something about the atmosphere around her made it reallyhard not to imagine the barista  as some kind of small animal. So when it comes to seeing said small animal actually apologize for actually feeling mad about what Hideyoshi had done…Yeah, Nezumi  really needed to talk to her about this first. Thankfully, the first place Nezumi guessed she would be is also the place the actress finds her, hanging around the chain coffee shop in the food court.  The actress is quick to approach once she catches first glimpse of Atsuko,  dramatically plopping both of her hands on a close-by table to catch her attention.

“Atsuko-chan, there you are! Nezumi knows that you must be feeling supers bummed out right now, but she knows that this is something really suuuuper important that she needs to tell you like, right the Disney-dang now!”

[fxrmal]

It takes embarrassingly long for Atsuko to get herself collected but, at the very least ( reasons to herself ), she isn’t wearing an incredibly amount of mascara that could trail down her face like a certain someone. Instead, she simply finds herself with some puffy eyes that she dabs away with a wet napkin.

So although she’s still a bit flushed by the time she encounters Nezumi, she still finds herself able to hold the conversation without any of those embarrassing hiccup-gasps that come after a good cry.

“Oh? Something important?”

She hasn’t had a chance to talk to the girl beforehand, but it’s not as if she hadn’t noticed her. Sure, it was a bit hard to stand out in a class that was already composed of Super High-School Levels, but wearing little devil horns would certainly do the trick.

Atsuko quickly swipes her nose and stands a little straighter.

“Well, if it’s ‘Disney-dang’ important, it really must be crucial information you wish to impart onto me, mustn’t it?”

“In that case, please do not delay, Kuromaru-san!”

[rewoundcircuit]

State of Trance | Orpheus | Chapter 1 | ATTN: Atsuko

[fxrmal]

shslorpheus‌:

At any other given point, he would’ve paid more attention to Atsuko’s work. After all, she was in her element and when did you have the chance to see someone so talented do their job right in front of you? Granted, to a degree, he did observe her for a bit - but it was also obvious that his thoughts often drifted to another place, making him lose focus time and time again.

He only managed to somewhat get his bearings together again when Atsuko was finished with brewing and placed the cup in front of him. A small, appreciative smile crossed his feature as he bowed his head.

“Thank you very much, Ainara-san. Although I… do not think I will be able to sleep anytime soon, your consideration for my well-being is still appreciated.”

Taking the warm cup into his hands, he blew on the liquid lingering inside of it, before taking a careful sip. It was still rather hot, so he decided to let it cool for a few minutes before drinking it properly.

“It’s good - though I shouldn’t be surprised, given that it was made by you.”

“…”

It seemed as if he hesitated for a moment. It became clear once his face took a more solemn and melancholic note.

“… I know words do not mean much right now, but you have my sincerest condolences for your loss, Ainara-san. It… simply is a tragedy what occured. I still cannot believe that so many would–”

At that point, he decided to cut himself off before his voice would crack again, staring down at his cup that he was holding onto more tightly than he’d like to admit.

“… My apologies.”

Atsuko bites her lip.

“Mm...yes, it is hard to believe. Needless to say, I’m quite disappointed by the actions of our classmates.”

“Perhaps one person, maybe two...I’d expect some to hit the button, be a little ‘tap-happy’, as it were. But we’ve nearly reached the quota of dead...in fact, if we go a bit overkill, I honestly would not be that surprised.”

“Could others not even wait the time needed..? It’s incredibly disheartening to think of how we’re supposed to be the ‘hope for the future’ and all that and yet, we seem to be amongst a great deal of incredibly selfish people, aren’t we?”

“...apologies, Edler-san. I’m really not helping with this, am I? Just pointing out cruel facts we already were aware of isn’t that great of me, is it? Besides, despite everything, we should try to be kind about our classmates actions.”

“Perhaps the purpose of the motive is to get upset at one another, you know? Give us reason to...ah, well, murder.”

Atsuko folds her hands in front of her and does a little laugh-sigh. 

[rewoundcircuit]

State of Trance | Orpheus | Chapter 1 | ATTN: Atsuko

[fxrmal]

shslorpheus‌:

Upon hearing someone addressing him, Orpheus was able to snap out of his self-induced(?) trance. As he blinked a few times to refocus, he turned his head to his side, so he could face whoever was talking to him. After another moment, he put his glasses back on - maybe to hide the fact that he got misty-eyed again? Or well, what was more likely is that he simply needed it to actually see who it was.

Of course, he immediately knew who it was - how could he not, after her beloved person got murdered simply because the one deciding her fate thought that this was the best time to prove that he didn’t fear anything?

(Well, there was one thing that they had in common now, huh?)

It was obvious that Orpheus forced himself to smile - and even then, it was strained at best.

“Ah, pardon me, I seem to have forgotten myself– Wait, coffee?”

For a moment, he looked confused, before he glanced down to the table - and as he saw the cup of coffee there, he immediately recalled having somehow retrieved it prior to… well, simply existing?

“… Oh. That’s right, I have… Hm. If it wouldn’t trouble you too much, I would… very much appreciate your kindness and company. Please, do have a seat.”

Atsuko can feel the tension she hadn’t even realized was in her shoulders releasing at Orpheus’s request. She smiles and bows slightly before picking up the cup and moving behind the counter, rinsing its contents out before moving to prepare something new.

She realizes partway through grinding up some beans that she hadn’t asked Orpheus what he would like, had she? She sighs and shrugs. Some sort of milk coffee would be nice, wouldn’t it? Warm and plain and calming. That was good enough for the situation they found themselves in.

It takes a few moments to brew, but the motions in and of themselves are ones that Atsuko is thankfully familiar enough with that they’re calming more than anything strenuous. If, you know, her most important person in the world hadn’t just been shot and killed, she might hum something along to the faint bubbling of the brewer.

But her person was, and so she didn’t, instead pouring the coffee into Orpheus’s cup. This and that, a few stirs of a spoon, and then--

“Voila. Café au lait, for you!”

“...that’s just a fancy way of saying ‘I put warm milk into your coffee.’”

She laughs lightly and pulls out the chair next to Orpheus and smooths her skirt down as she sits.

“I do hope you enjoy, however. It’s decaffeinated, so if you want to sleep soon, it won’t hinder you in your efforts to do so.”

[rewoundcircuit]

State of Trance | Orpheus | Chapter 1 | ATTN: Atsuko

Orpheus was in a daze.

Ever since his sister was killed in cold blood, his own actions had been a blur to him. He knew that he’d remained where he collapsed for quite some time, before somehow finding the strength to get up and… go somewhere. Where? He wouldn’t be able to tell you. Orpheus simply knew that his body moved on its own, as if to guide him to anywhere that wasn’t near the board.

Once he was able to sort of snap out of his deep-seated depression for a few moments, Orpheus looked around. It appeared as if his auto-pilot mode brought him to the food court - to be more precise, to Dippin’ Pastries. Somehow, he ended up with a cup of coffee in front of him as he remained seated on one of the tables that this place offered.

After his mind registered where he was, it immediately went out again. Apparently, the fantasy novelist didn’t want to think whatsoever right now, because if he did–

Orpheus’ sigh was shaky as he took his glasses off and leaned his face into his other hand, which was propped against the table. He remained in this position for god knows long - which turned out to be quite awhile, given that his cup of coffee had since long turned cold when someone decided to enter this place as well.

Not that Orpheus would take note of such an instance. Seems like as if he needed to be talked to in order to grow aware of his surroundings anew.

[fxrmal]

What would a duchess do, in this situation? 

Atsuko Ainara certainly didn’t know. It’s something she could - and has - asked herself dozens of times before. Sure, her handbook listed her as being ‘calm’ and ‘poised’, but that didn’t really compare to the poise of a duchess, didn’t?

She never had Nikolaievich’s stiff upper lip, never had her ability to calmly pass the news of some tragedy or other over the news. She was just a barista, and sure, she could deal with a customer yelling bloody murder in her face, but actual murder...

...not so much.

And so it’s perhaps due to her barista ‘instincts’ kicking in that she finds herself wandering over to the food court, to ‘Dippin Pastries’. She was definitely one to drown her sorrows in cups of coffee, when a test score had turned itself up far lower than she had hoped.

( of course, those cups of coffee had been shared alongside nikolaievich, hadn’t they? )

Forcing nausea down her throat, Atsuko pulls herself up to her full height and walks through the door with small click, clicks of her shoes. She’s not the first to arrive, however, and a quick look over the shop results in her catching sight of one of her classmates - the novelist, wasn’t it? - sitting with his head in his hands.

...he had lost someone too, hadn’t he? God, people were selfish.

Atsuko takes a few tentative steps in his direction anyway. 

“...Edler-san, right? Do you, ah...do you mind my sitting next to you? Or, perhaps, I could whip up a cup of coffee for you? Since yours seems to have gotten cold, and all.”

[rewoundcircuit]

PROLOGUE RXN | ” SLIDE HOME, YOU SCORE. ” | AKI | 🐯 | ATTN: ATSUKO.

[fxrmal]

shslkingcougar‌:

“Oh… you’re not coming off as ignorant at all…!  Or at least… not any more than anyone else does… I really wouldn’t expect someone who wasn’t… um… jockish… to really care too much about sports… they’re kind of boring unless you’re playing….”

She looks a little sheepish, almost embarrassed. (But… it was true!  Sports were fun when you were in the fray and getting dirty – and to think a cute, femme barista would have any interest in that sort of thing–!) (Aki knew better than that).

… That, however, wasn’t the strangest thing the other girl said to her – and there’s a genuine pause as Aki looks at Atsuko… mildly, but with a sense of curiosity.

(…Unfortunate…?  Her friends…?) (She’d never heard anything like that before… but… then again….) (She lived in a really small town… and didn’t really know anyone else….)

(….)

(She knew most of her friends were selfish people – but she didn’t think that made them bad….) (Different than how she would act, maybe – okay, definitely – and certainly louder than she’d ever be – but–)

(…But the girl had said specifically… those who take advantage of each other…!  And she was sure that didn’t apply–)

…. Still, she looks a little at a loss for words for a second.

“But… um….”

….

“I… it’s not as bad as it sounds… but you might be right in saying that my friends are selfish… or, um… most of them are….”

“…the only exception… I think… oh, my friend Ji-chan has a funny way of putting it… I don’t really understand, but maybe you will… she says she ‘weaponizes altruism…?’  Which, um… take that as you will….”

“…But they’re still kind people, I think.  And they don’t really take advantage of anyone… it’s more of an… out for themselves… selfishness… thing….”

Complications like these… were things she preferred not to think about, really.  It tended to just make the world a little uglier.

…That aside, her own feelings on 'moralities’ and 'grey and grey’ thinking didn’t discredit the fact that the girl’s comment had come from a really genuine place…! …. And there was a real pang to her.

“…But that’s besides the point…!  Your concern is really kind….  I don’t think you’re being rude by stating an opinion… especially when it comes from a nice place….”

She listens for a little while longer before– Oh. Huh.

“…Oh, um… that just sounds… kind of cruel.  As if a barista should be expected to deal with whatever it is someone flings at them… but I guess you must be a really resolute, determined person to put up with it…!  I don’t know what I would do if people started – um – putting me through the wringer… because of my talent….”

Thoughtfully, now – as if something clicks:

“…I guess it’s just in the nature of some people to want to feel superior or like they have something on someone who’s recognized as being talented… or um… something.  But I guess that goes back to the other point….”

…. But all that passes out the window as… the conversation continues. And Atsuko just looks– So genuinely– …eager…? …To–

Um….

“….”

There’s a long pause there.   (Such an immediate– This was….)

(…straight girls did this thing all the time, she was pretty sure). (Nice compliments to girls who were dismissive of themselves – as a way of making them feel more attractive – it was actually very common…!)

She knows this.

She.  Knows.  This.

…. But she can’t keep herself from burning up a little bit, and her voice is soft.

“O-oh, um….”

“You’re really very kind… I mean that….”

…. And, of course. In her typical fashion:

“…I… guess I shouldn’t make a judgement until seeing them in person, though.  Maybe I can look at them… once we get out of here…?  But if they don’t fit me, don’t say I didn’t warn you, haha….”

(Come on, Aki – you could do this–)

“But, um…!  I think– well, you’re probably right about not being allowed to wear it in uniform… but here… I think anything goes, right…?  And… I did bring spares… or at least, I think I did – I own a lot of baseball caps….”

“And if we’re going to be exchanging clothes… it sounds like it’s only fair for me to offer you something as well…!  Even if I don’t think you really want to look like a cootie, haha….”

(Somehow, talking about it like this is a little more calming….) And she’s able to relax slightly as she continues, half-lidded eyes settling back into a more mild expression.

“…But I think you might be right in that… a hat on top of regular wear gives a cool edge…!  Or at least… a sporty one…?  Sportscute?  Sportacute?  Oh… I might be worse at this than you are, haha….”

But she softens a little bit more.

“Still… thank you.  I don’t put half the effort into my look that… um… it looks like  the rest of us do… unless you count working out in a hat as effort… but you’re really very sweet.”

Shaking her head lightly, now:

“…But I don’t think you’re making a bad impression…!  Not any worse than mine, anyway… I think you have some really cool viewpoints….”

“Besides… given we just woke up… and I accosted you out of nowhere… I guess it’d only be fair for us to give each other some slack, right…?  Haha….”

Finally, though, they seem to be winding down a little– and– Oh, that was a cute introduction. (And… it seemed like she was going to have a genuinely interested companion–!)

(Well…) (Or at least one that was very, very good at being polite… which was also commendable in its own right…!)

So a little bit of a bow, looking back up at the girl for a second before straightening out and making a few powerful strides away from the railway – deeper into the concourse.

“…It’s really, really nice to meet you, Ainara-chan. But, um…!  Let’s take a look….”

It’s not a very long walk to the food area from here – though Aki is… immediately surprised…. …By the selection…. …Among other things….

And looks at her companion a little…. Witheringly….

“Oh, um… huh….”

“…There’s… a lot more options… here than I thought there’d be… do you have any preference…?”

A pang. And she really, really. Can’t ignore this one.

“…Also… what’s with the robot….”

“You might be right in saying that all my friends are selfish,” hm? Well that...wasn’t great. But Atsuko wasn’t here to have that sort of a conversation, and from the way she carried herself, Aki probably wouldn’t either, would she?

“’Weaponizes altruism’...well, I’m not going to act like I really understand entirely what that means, but I think it’s a sentiment I agree with..? Very likely so, at least. Anyhow...”

Atsuko’s hands tighten a bit.

“I suppose it could be interpreted as cruel, but it’s probably the simple fact of people being naturally interested. After all, I know I’d certainly be intrigued if I could out that I had a Super High-School Level in my no-name town. So perhaps it was nothing more than morbid curiosity...? Anyhow, I appreciate the concern, but I doubt it was anything ill spirited, nor was it anything I couldn’t handle just fine.”

‘To feel superior than’, huh? Atsuko rests her hand on her chin for a moment, as if letting the thought bounce around for a bit, before shaking her head and letting her smile widen.

As if.

“If they don’t fit...well, then we have no other choice but to find a pair of shoes that do!”

Atsuko’s nostrils flare as she nods firmly.

“Yes, we’ve talked about it too much for it to be something we end up just throwing under the rug, Ishii-san. If the shoe doesn’t fit, well, then, we simply have to go shoe shopping to find one that does. Clearly, the only solution.”

“...of course, only if you’re comfortable, ara.”

“But as for the baseball hat...oh, if you’re comfortable with that as well, I’d absolutely love to own one of those.”

“And if anyone asked where I got it from, I could say I got it from the Super High-School Level Youth Baseball Coach. Not everyone can have such bragging rights about their own plain old baseball caps, can they?”

Atsuko has to stifle a chuckle at that, clearly more amused and smug about the topic than she perhaps should be.

“And though you claim you don’t put any effort into your look, you easily could’ve fooled me otherwise. Have more faith in yourself, Ishii-san.”

But back to the topic at hand; introductions: given. A quest for food: set out on. 

It’s not as if she dislikes robots or anything, but...she certainly doesn’t expect to see one so plainly placed in front of them like that, or really, ever. She bites back the pang that finds itself growing in her stomach.

“I...I don’t know?”

“Perhaps...it’s something to do with Hope’s Peak? After all, the school is full of students above and out of this world and all that...perhaps this robot is something that’s come to fruition thanks to the efforts of some Super High-School Roboticist or something or other. Or...I honestly cannot fathom an idea.”