"And I'm murdering 'em, murdering 'em, just for fun,
Murdering 'em, murdering 'em, one by one,
It's either live or die, boy, it's either live or die"
Panic! At the Disco - Miss Jackson
"You put a sour little flavor in my mouth now
You move in circles hoping no one's gonna find out
But we're so lucky,
Kiss the ring and let 'em bow down
Looking for the time of your life"
Zombie Girl - Gonna Getcha
"Together we are one
Like thousand kids of sun
But deep inside, I know you hate me
Well, I hate you too, you irritate me"
The Strike Boys - Chemical Princess
"Take your fix
My chemical princess
You are the violent beauty I will worship"
The Pierces - Boring
"Sexy boy
Girl on girl
Menage a trois
Boring
Marijuana
Cocaine
Heroin
Boring"
Teen Suicide - Haunt Me (x 3)
"I wanna be haunted
I wanna be loved
I want a lot of friends and
A lot of drugs "
Brendan Benson - Pretty Baby
"Got a hole in my head pretty baby
Got a hole in my head 'cause of you
Got a hole in my head
And the blood is running red 'cause of you"
Lana Del Rey - Kinda Outta Luck
"Wrong, I know, killing someone
It gets a little easier when you've done it once
You know that I'm fun, you know that I'm young
So tell me your mind, let's get it on."
Porcelain and the Black - Who's Next?
"I'm not a bad girl, you're just a prude
you're a little bitch, and I'm straight-up rude
I keep it blunt while you beat around the bush
you like to hug and baby boy I like to push"
The Dear Hunter - Girl
"Every single heart would be for you alone if you would let it.
Starving eyes led by subtle lies.
No one knows the way you are when you're alone 'cus you wont let 'em.
Cut 'em off before they get too close to you!"
Poe - Hey Pretty
"Hey pretty
Don't you want to take a ride with me?
Through my world
Hey pretty
Don't you want to kick and slide with me
Through my world"
Fanatic Waltz - King of Fighters OST
[Instrumental]
Chicago - Cell Block Tango
"He had it coming, he had it coming
He only had himself to blame
If you'd have been there, if you'd have heard it
I betcha you would have done the same"
"And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark and right at my throat"
Miike Snow - Cult Logic
"All my life I've been the slave of consequence
wondering how this life could be so intricate
I wanna rewrite my heart and let the future in
I wanna open it up and let somebody in"
AlunaGeorge - Analyser
"Be still
So I focus on your heartbeat
But there is no space for us to meet
While you fill it with your brain"
Regina Spektor - The Calculation
"So we made the hard decision
And we each made an incision
Past our muscles and our bones
Our hearts were little stones"
The Boy Least Likely To - I Keep Myself to Myself
"I am afraid of things that can hurt
So I keep myself to myself
I feel completely alone in the world
And I keep myself to myself, to myself"
Cosmo Jarvis - Crazy Screwed Up Lady
"So she shows him all the bruises
And the scars across her body, they're on purpose.
She still stands
Still the old man sits
And checks and prays for her but she ain't nervous,
Holds her hand"
Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
"You're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
All that's left is a ghost of you
Now we're torn, torn, torn apart
There's nothing we can do
Just let me go, we'll meet again soon"
Halou - Honeythief
"When I'm at my wit’s end
And I'm losing my head
You remind me of just how lucky I am"
HURTS - Somebody to Die For
"When I'm staring in the fire
I will look him in the eye
And I will let the devil know that
I was brave enough to die
And there's no hell that he can show me
Deeper than my pride"
Poets of the Fall - Roses
"And so I came across the medicine man
And he showed me what I'd forlorn
For if I'm stayed it happens by my own hand
And my own voice full of scorn"
Jason Walker - Echo
"Cause my echo, echo
Is the only voice coming back
My shadow, shadow
Is the only friend that I have"
Patrick Wolf - Oblivion
"Show your face, face to me
Be you my friend or enemy
Show your face, face to me
I do not fear oblivion
I do not fear oblivion
Said I do not fear oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion"
The Neighbourhood - Afraid
"When I wake up I’m afraid, somebody else might take my place
When I wake up I’m afraid, somebody else might take my place
When I wake up I’m afraid, somebody else might take my place
When I wake up I’m afraid, somebody else might end up being me"
Blue Stahli - Corner (Ever Styler Remix)
"I am the one inside you
And I am the one
(Inside your veins)
I am the one inside you
Over and over I'm here again"
[A look in the library may yield something quite interesting. For one, there appears to be a small book in plain sight that wasn't there before. Picking it up, you realize there is half a green tablet in between a couple of the pages - the only pages with writing. Insightful sorts may have noticed this tablet was once a part of Keiko's hairtie. If you flick it open you'll come to a page filled with Keiko's elegant handwriting.]
If you are reading this, I have most likely passed on.
And given our current predicament I would imagine this happening was far from being due to natural causes.
Logically speaking... there was a good chance of this happening. I am fairly proficient in investigations but I am not reliable enough to be respected nor trusted. This would probably... if I estimate it, there was probably a 77% that I would die. Therefore this is far from abnormal. I am fine with it, really.
Honestly, I really was born a failure. Both to the Hinasaki name and to this world. I do not say this as some desperate grab for sympathy nor is it hyperbolic. It is the simple truth. I have never seen the allure in lying to maintain some sort of image. It is strange, is it not? When you write you tend to be more honest - perhaps it is the act of moving the hand... it gives you less time to ruminate when you move physically. But I do not suppose that matters. I was never smart enough, never strong enough... never capable enough. It is amusing to think I came here because of a talent I did not even accept... nor want to believe in. I was no scientist nor librarian. A medium... I should have used my talent better. To help. But I did not. I can still hardly even believe I have such a gift despite the proof. I have probably contributed more problems then I ever did solve them... and for that I am sorry. Truly. I have been prideful at times, obstinate and callous... and the other side of me that exists... has caused much pain. I wish I could change that... I should have controlled myself better. Forgive me. All I can do is take responsibility. While I did not mean for things to happen as they have she is a part of me and I must be responsible for what she does. Therefore I shall take those feelings of bitterness and hatred as best as I can.
I have many apologies but few regrets, oddly... and I can really only apologize so many times. I am thankful in a way however... my death is an irrelevant one and it will not cause more strife. Really, in this sense I am the perfect person to die. I am not afraid of death and I will not be mourned. This is the reality. I am thankful it was me.
I will do my best, should I see them, to relay your feelings to the others. Sasaki-san. Arisu-san. Amedama-san. Honzaka-san. It is the least I can do.
Confucius one said "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall"... I think there is merit to those words. You must all do your best to stand up even when it seems impossible.
You read so much of this... thank you.
[Here her writing gets a little messier and frantic]
I don't know what to write anymore... usually I am so punctual... I really actually don't know what to write... I was happy here... in a way... I was more at home here than I ever was elsewhere. I doubt I showed it but I was grateful... being here. The best thing I probably did, ironically, was die. At least my death will be an irrelevant one. At least someone else did not have to die. I at least fulfilled that purpose... is it okay to be a little happy about that?
If I could be selfish for one minute and just ask one thing of you... please... please don't remember me as a spirit medium or anything like that. I don't mind if you dislike me, think me stupid even hate me but please at least remember me as Hinasaki Keiko... nothing more, nothing less... just another person. My entire life I have been sought after for my powers, my last name, my sisters... please, just this once, remember me as me, no matter how awful I was.
I hope don't think too poorly of me...
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
I'm so sorry.
Hinasaki Keiko
Deficit omne quod nascitur
PERSONAL NOTES
Hayashi-san,
I always made it worse, did I not? I just wanted to give you some advice but all I ever did was make you upset. I apologize for that, Hayashi-san. I had always wanted to try getting along with you because well... perhaps if we had been better acquainted during that first trial in the blue house we could have solved it sooner. We did not mix well. I doubt we ever would have. But I still have my regrets.
Kouyuu-san,
I cannot reassure you that you are a victim, not after what you did to Kimura-san. But I also have no intention of scolding you. I am tired and you have beat yourself mentally black and blue without my help already. You are human, Kouyuu-san and although it is ugly, it is human to err. Perhaps if you work hard you may find yourself in their good graces once more... at the very least perhaps your steadfast optimism has become slightly more realistic. Kouyuu-san... I always recall one moment. You told me to 'shut up' during Honzaka-san's trial... I was always surprised by that. I guess I was too callous... even though I considered him... well, I had wanted to consider him a friend. I merely wanted to apologize for that. It seems I always say the wrong thing.
Renji-san,
I caused you much pain. You say I am not to be blamed but as long as that thing inhabits my body... it is my responsibility. And I was not able to control it. Because of this, you have suffered and I am sorry about that. I only hope that you may keep strong in the following days.
Kimura-san,
I heard about what happened with Kouyuu-san... that... that must have been rough. You are a good person for not returning fire. Thank you for teaching me self-defense... thank you for being concerned. I meant to bring you more gifts but I suppose I will not have that chance. I was not sure we were going to get along but I was surprised when you treated me so kindly even if the way you speak is a little... rough. I will never forget the way you looked out for me, even if it was not your intention.
Miyamoto-san,
Perhaps my death will have caused something in you to change... even in my last and perhaps most open moments I find it hard to move past all you have done. All I can say is that my absence will hopefully make you less troublesome for the others... I do not even know why I write this note, really... you and I have never met eye to eye and likely if I am dead you are mourning Kiku-nee and not myself. In that case I suppose you would be happy. If you find a medium perhaps you can meet her again. As for me... well, I told you before she is toxic but I imagine you are too far gone to listen... they always are.
Fritz-san,
I am deeply sorry, I guess I will never learn to master a dungeon. It is a shame... I wanted to talk to you so much more than I did. We could have played together... that really is... I am disappointed. I am sure Taka-san will take care of you, however... have courage in that.
Maddox-san,
I worked very hard to write your name correctly... it is a benefit to have time and little to do, one supposes... I do not think I ever got the chance to apologize to you, did I? But I was sorry... when... Amedama-san died I talked of probability and well... I do not know, I am just, sorry I did. I would not take it back but... I regret it all the same, I suppose. It was never meant to be callous but I have always been poor at expressing things. The others are in good hands with you around, Maddox-san... I cannot understand your thought process but... to be optimistic and to trust... it is... amazing, really.
Usokami-san,
Thankfully you will not have to blame yourself for my death, Usokami-san. It is in small moments like these we are able to find positives... I have never been much of an optimist but I feel like in one's final moments it does not hurt to hope a little... besides, logically speaking, giving someone so tormented a little positive simply makes sense. You would do well to take better care of yourself, Usokami-san. You will worry people otherwise. I believe in you to make the right decision so keep your head... and do not be alienate the others like I did. Try to open yourself up... I think... if it is you, it will do you well.
Wakahisa-san,
I always wanted to figure you out but I suppose I will never have that chance. It is a shame... you were such an interesting puzzle to me. Does it sound strange to view a person as a puzzle? ... Perhaps I am then quite strange. In any case... I ought to thank you for giving me that place to stay... our time was brief but I had always wanted it to be longer. You seemed so wise, I always imagined we would have had much to discuss. But that is in the past. Perhaps the future will treat you kindly. Somehow I trust you will be able to look over the others...
Taka-san,
Thank you.
At times I don't know why you ever took a chance on me but... I'm happy you did. Truly. I enjoyed our time together. Every moment of it. I think... even my worst moments spent with you were better than anything else. You were my best friend - my only friend and I doubt I will ever be able to tell you how much it means to me. I'm writing this now and I still can't. Maybe there is no word for it. I wonder if I were still there whether I could deduce your reaction or not... we were very in sync, weren't we? As if we had ESP... ha... I would have liked that. Telepathy with you. A strangely supernatural thought - perhaps my mind is more open to them now. If it is, that is also most likely because of you.
Do you remember what you told me? You said neither of us was alone. You also said you would always bring me back when she was around... and that I could be myself around you. Thank you for that. Those words most likely saved me when I was at my worst. There were many times in that library I did not want to let go of you. Perhaps that was childish of me but I truly felt that. Perhaps I lied when I said I had no regrets. I regret not being able to be more useful to you. I believe in you, no matter what. Make sure you survive. My hand is shaking now. I think I'm a little overwhelmed by emotion... how curious... this has never happened to me before. But... I am not scared. I keep saying that. I know I am not scared but... maybe I just have more regrets than I know. Friend... I am not even sure if friend covers my feelings really, but... I am running out of time and words. I would not be able to pinpoint what the feeling is anyway... I have always been poor with those. You probably already know that. You always do. Maybe if you were here you would know. Hopefully years later when you do get here... we can discuss it. I would like that very much. Everything I got from that machine should go to you, Taka-san, it is worth little but this much... this I can do. I pray that you do not hurt yourself, that you do not blame yourself - and that you stay healthy and safe. When I go out I am sure my last thoughts will be of the library, all the time we spent together and of you. And I hope the future treats you kindly and that fortune may shine on you...
I apologize, I did lie to you about something. You were not a nine in my book.
((I want to draw more subterronpa things but I need more ideas so here's something for y'all to help me with! Send me your:
Favourite characters:
Favourite brotps and friendships:
Favourite ships:
And I can get some ideas on what to draw! If it embarrasses you or anything you can even go on anon!~ But yeah, this'll be fun. It'll be good to see who and what bonds are well-liked too! Maybe I'll also write a few drabbles based on them? I don't know, just something to do when I'm bored and up when no one else is because of my stupid timezone and sleep schedule!
This is just mainly for the inspiration so yeah, I would appreciate it!))
A young in-uniform Keiko, SHSL itisamystery Toshiro, a young Kiku and Kana with a little ghosty only Keiko can see behind 'em, Kiku and Masaru, Maddox and Kimura the dream team on patrol and Iriye.
Sad nerds being sad about the death of a sad nerd (Keiko, Fritz, Iriye), Hayashi (and Thomas), sad Mimi after the trial, Kimura, Kisuke and Hana at the trial and Sato and Keiko speaking before the inevitable.
"You need to back off and kindly relocate yourself." Keiko warned in a tone that seemed composed but clearly had the flavour of something less pleasant. A warning.
Iriye had told her to stay back, to stay out of sight, true. But she’d already told herself she’d intervene if she saw the need. She’d told him that too - in a rather upfront fashion. And well, right now she did in fact see a need to intervene.
It had seemed like a rather ordinary situation - or at least, ordinary these days. Masaru was banging on the door, harassing those of them inside and generally being loud and annoying. She could see Iriye’s face twinge with irritation at certain moments. The banging was getting to him. Not the sound, that she realized. But the damage to the library. Or potential damage to the library. "I must excuse myself momentarily, Hinasaki-san. I recommend you go to the back of the library in the mean time. Focus on something else. Perhaps the notebook." he mentioned, getting to his feet. Keiko frowned. Somehow he seemed to know what she was thinking. Just what she’d expect, really. They had a similar mindset. "Do not worry. I do not intend to cause Miyamatu any harm." he added. "I am in control of my obsession. Furthermore I am fortunate to have Fritzi-san’s sharp objects nearby should I have a need for them."
It was hard to concentrate on the notebook when she heard Masaru’s strained tone. So desperate. Almost animalistic. This motive truly was twisted. She couldn’t help herself. She gripped the the notebook and glanced around the bookshelf at the source of the confrontation. Her eyes widened… a crowbar? How did Masaru get that? Had he wrestled it off Kisuke? He was wailing, raving and crazed with obsession as always but he did seem friskier than usual. Keiko was half worried Iriye would just stab him. She wanted to step in but no - she needed composure. What would Iriye do? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… yes… surely that would’ve been it. Very good. Clarity.
All of a sudden however things went from rough to worse when Masaru actually began to use some violence. He was in a damaged state, sure, but, the caver was still fairly strong. She could wait no longer. Keiko dashed to the door to try and cease this. She seemed to good timing - Masaru seemed like he was about to swing his crowbar at the mathematician. Perhaps Iriye would expect such a blow. Perhaps he would counter it with ease. But Keiko couldn’t take that chance. No, rather, she refused to. And without warning she jumped in between.
A stinging pain.
And the sound of the weapon dropping.
It hit her arm as predicted but she hadn’t envisioned it would actually hurt as much as it did. "Satisfied, Miyamoto-san? You came to exact violence and you have succeeded." She raised her arm to show him as if he needed the proof. To be fair, Masaru just looked shell-shocked at this point. Perhaps he was regaining his sound mind and guilt was seeping in - or perhaps he simply hadn’t expected her to take the blow. She had to confess, she was somewhat surprised she’d managed to block in time herself. But well, people were capable of great things when they were forced to, weren’t they?
"Hamasako— Keiko— uh, I didn’t mean…" the blonde began but she shook her head. With great effort, she managed to raise her hand in a gesture that called for his silence.
Surprisingly he seemed to heed the gesture. He still looked rather shocked, really. "No. No more excuses. I, nor Iriye-san, has any patience for them." Every time she moved her arm, a gesture she did more than realized it appeared, it twinged with pain. Yet it had protected Iriye, hadn’t it? If that was the case, it was worth it. She folded her arms with obvious effort but delivering the caver a glare. "You have broken the peace of this place yet again, invaded Iriye-san’s library and object affinity and have even resorted to violence." a slight toss of her head to shake her ponytail back. And to glance back at Iriye. Her hair was in the way and it had only been brief look so she couldn’t quite tell his reaction. Probably some measure of surprise. Or perhaps he had expected such an action. Really, people were the hardest puzzles to solve. You might expect one thing and get another. It may even be random. Mood swings were like that. "I shall repeat myself only once: You need to back off and kindly relocate yourself."
Masaru seemed so surprised that it was easy enough to just, lead him out and close the door. She sighed deeply. Well that was that over thing but… well, the entire affair was still quite the weight.
"Iriye-san, could you get that back into place? Or at least help me with it, I do not think I will be able to push it on my own." Hopefully that would be that. She would just use her scarf to bandage over her arm, no big deal. If it even needed that. It hurt quite a bit but it was just a bruise. But if it gave the book storage silence again, it was worth it. And well worth it, considering Iriye could’ve been hurt.
She was standing at the cusp of something abnormal. Something out of this world, out of her mind even. Was it possible? Could someone truly be resurrected?
She had read about it.
Of course, at the time Keiko had dismissed it all as plain fantasy. If it had no proof then it had no weight. Why would it? There was absolutely no reason to put any degree of faith in something that could pretty much be summed up as plain old magic. But a lot had been happening lately… and she was tired. Tired of trying to make sense of a world that did not. She was probably cracking at this point. Just how much sleep had she gotten? These days Keiko more just lied down and counted the books in their shelves. And when there were books in shelves she would count the rocks or the holes. Anything to keep her awake.
That was probably when the idea had entered her mind, too. The idea of revival. When had it happened? When had she begun missing the farmer so much? They hadn’t talked much but she’s appreciated what she’d known of him. And then there was the funeral… with so many people who missed him, Who had more of a reason to miss him than she did. Kimura’s silence. Hana’s raw emotion. Masami’s tears. They would… surely be happier if he could somehow return right? And… if this medium thing of hers was real… if Kiku-nee was real enough for others to speak to… didn’t that mean she could do the same for someone else who had passed on? Granted, she hadn’t brought Kiku-nee herself back but… with a little practice… surely it was a possibility, right?
Keiko waited.
Waited until she heard nothing and began to move. She’d made some preparations the day prior. Candles and some markers… people would’ve surely questioned her for the odd ferreting of objects so she’d done her best to hide it. She’d whipped off her scarf to cover her face in a stupidly over-the-top fashion to pretend she had been “possessed” again, as it were. That meant showing off the horrible scar on her neck, true, but it was worth it. All worth it for this. If it worked, then… then nothing Monorat could do would affect them. She would have saved everyone. Anyone who died she’d simply bring back. And imagine what she could do when she exited the cave. Talk to the world’s most fascinating figures, bring them back to spread their genius with their modern counterparts. Sun Tzu. Yukio Mishima. Mozart. The list went on and on.
She’d crept to the site of the funeral and set up the supplies. Candles would be set up in the area. Ha. If Kisuke could see her doing this he would surely disapprove. He may even hate her for it. But well… perhaps he’d understand. Yes, surely, if she scientifically proved revival could be counted on then he would certainly understand, would he not?
On that note, she had to get back to her mission at hand. And finish quickly, before someone who could not comprehend her goal attempted to stop her. The sign. That was next. Usually one would use dirt but dirt was uncommon. The marker would have to do. She drew out the crest of her family - the long ornate strokes all over the rocky ground, spreading out like a spiderweb of strange patterns, ones that she’d seen here entire life emblazoned on omamori bags and the like at the shrine yet… seemed so alien to her now. She was breathing a little heavily now. It was almost complete. Now… the character for resurrection. That should do it.
Fu
kka
tsu
Two characters.
Just two characters.
"In the name of the Hinasaki clan…" she began. The words were so unfamiliar to her. She’d avoided this sort of supernatural nonsense her entire life. "I demand in Izanami’s name that you release the soul you have taken unjustly and return it to this world at once!"
And there was a pause. She didn’t dare open her eyes.
"Why you be pushin’ yourself so brutal like? Ain’t your fault. Ain’t gotta be so fretting n’ regretful, Keiko ma’am. Just be acceptin’ of higher will n’ all. Can’t be helped, sometime a fella dies ain’t nothing you can be doin’ part from acceptin’."
Ah, Sasaki’s voice.
It was close. Perhaps she’d succeeded after all… more likely she had finally cracked for good. Mentally broken and deluded into thoughts of grandeur.
Keiko blinked. She had been called after before, true, but usually it wasn’t in such a frantic fashion. Even stranger was the voice. It sounded like Satoshi and honestly he didn’t really strike her as the panicked type. She tilted her head back to look at the caller and confirmed it was indeed the calligrapher. "Hinasaki-san!"
"Honzaka-san, pace yourself!" she replied, a little taken aback. He had caught up by this point though he seemed thoroughly tired out by this point. Had he been running all this time? Judging by his ragged breathing it seemed so.
"Fritz… it’s Fritzi." Satoshi paused to take a moment and catch his breath. This was actually beginning to make her feel nervous now too. "She’s gone missing."
What? She shook her head; had she seriously heard that right? Fritzi had gone missing? How… was that even possible? Well, true, normally someone going missing was explainable but in this strange cave set-up it was certainly less likely. There were probably places to hide and such but well… it didn’t add up. She didn’t seem the type to run off for no reason. If she were to hide it was probably because… and there it was, thaat horrible alerting feeling surging back up, she was being chased… by somebody else. Given the dangerous game they were in right now that was the furthest thing from good.
No wonder he’d looked so panicked before - if Iriye’s notebook was anything to go from Satoshi had quite the soft spot for Fritzi. They hadn’t talked much but Keiko found she liked the smaller girl too. She seemed smart and pleasant.. and wholly undeserving of anything as vile as this. As long as she was just missing there was a chance she could be found. And a chance things might be alright. It was a strange thing, what her heart at that point. It was almost like a nervous somersault. What would that be? Hope? Anxiety? Perhaps it had been a mixture of both at the same time. Regardless, it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - she had to focus now. Focus and find Fritzi,
"We will… we will find her then, Honzaka-san." Keiko nods. As soon as she says the words her mind begins something of a search itself. Checking details, cross-referencing and generally crunching information in the hopes of pinpointing a location the dungeon master would be. "When did you last see her?"
"I guess the library?" he replied. He seemed unsure. Honestly he seemed a little all over the place. She couldn’t blame him but the lack of a definitive answer was still a little bothersome.
"You do not remember?" Keiko attempted to clarify. She was walking now - they both were. It was a probably a faster pace than either was used to. Satoshi seemed to be a bird of the same feather, a literary sort as it were, which meant he probably had little stamina to work with also. Pacing oneself was usually important but in a situation like this, speed was most certainly of essence. “Have you not asked Iriye-san? He is often with Fritzi-san. And you can often find him in the library area, also.”
He shook his head. Satoshi ran one hand through his jet black hair as he composed himself. "No such luck, Hinasaki-san… she must have slipped away unnoticed somehow…"
Of course. If it’d been such a simple thing then Satoshi wouldn’t have approached her in the first place. Her worry was increasing. “Slipped out”? Was it really in the girl’s nature to do such a thing? It felt like somehow… something was going on. Something they didn’t have all the pieces to. If she was worried, then how worried did that make Satoshi? Or Iriye, even?
"Honzaka-san, we should split up. We can cover more ground that way." she tapped at her chin in thought. Usually she’d give a time on when to meet back but that probably wouldn’t be helpful to anyone right now unless they counted every second or something. "Let us reconvene at the fountain."
Satoshi gave a weak sort of nod and turned - it was his easy to sense his worry. "Honzaka-san. Do not worry. We will find her." she called before he left a gesture which caused him to turn his head slightly in her direction. Blue eyes were full of anxiety. He gave her a look that seemed to say “I hope so” before heading off in another direction.
Focusing one’s mind when things preoccupied it was a rather tough ask but it was one she was hoping to achieve.
Honzaka Satoshi was dead.
And that horrible feeling was creeping back, coursing through her veins. Another student she’d known. Another body. Another victim of Monorat’s awful game. And another day of paranoia. Suspecting everyone and everything, searching every nook and cranny for something, anything to overthink. Well, in her case most of the time anyway.
Yet as she explored the underground she felt… odd… almost as if she were being watched. And by a familiar presence, too. Somehow she felt as if he were… well, still here somehow. Honzaka Satoshi… impossible. Obviously impossible. She’d see his last moments - they all had. The nature of ghosts had been discussed intensively by experts and while many had good point there had never been any concrete evidence that they did, in fact, exist. And even if they did… it was surreal that one would be so clear. And one would be so familiar to her. Perhaps they hadn’t been friends. To be labeled a friend was quite the honour and title, after all. But she had liked him. If she’d spoken to him more… they probably would’ve been. Satoshi had been bright and full of a kind of sophistication not often found in others his age. He’d mastered calligraphy, that most fascinating and impeccable of arts not to mention his attention to detail and love of quality books, both fiction and otherwise. The more she thought about it, the more of a shame it was. They took the good early, didn’t they?
Keiko sighed, taking a break from it all and collapsing into a seated mass. She kicked at some random lumpy pebble in a kind of rebellious gesture to Monorat. Or to the higher power that had taken Arisu, Shakuin and Satoshi away from them. Whoever. The rock ricocheted like a game of prehistoric pinball, bashing off one little rock peak to another and eventually landing further away with an echoed thump. The sound caused her head to rise - which is when she saw “it”. Or rather, him. But, that couldn’t be right.
"Ah, I knew it. Your medium-like power extends to seeing the deceased, doesn’t it Hinasaki-san? It is quite fortunate."
Satoshi’s voice. No, no, no. This was a dream. She was probably losing oxygen. Who knows, perhaps Monorat had decided to end them all by closing off all forms of air or something.
"Hinasaki-san?" came the voice again. "You do hear me, don’t you?"
"No I do not." Keiko replied before realizing it. After she had she clamped a hand over her mouth as if she’d just cursed. Keiko blinked rapidly for a good few seconds before scanning the area. Oh goodness, he really was there. He was all… floaty… and silver-y… but there it was. "I mean, I do hear you, yes, but, this is absurd and I am talking to a rock. You clearly… left this world. We all saw it you pass on, Honzaka-san."
Satoshi’s figure vanished for a brief moment before fading back into sight. How did this even work? She had no idea. Was it like Peter Pan - the more one believed the more it worked? She would feel pity on any ghost that approached her if that were the case. "Yes… I remember it well." his tone was a mixture of wistfulness and sadness. Almost bitter. Not that she could blame him, considering circumstances. "I certainly did die, Hinasaki-san. But… how do I explain it? It appears I am still here."
"You seem rather calm." she couldn’t help but reply. Her tone was controlled but her heart was thumping like mad. How was this possible? This was lunacy. She was losing her mind. And yet he seemed like, well, just as he had in living. Rational and eloquent. Part of her was bursting with gratefulness. If it was a dying dream she was having it was a nice one at the very least. To hear the boy and see him again… that could be considered a miracle, right?
Satoshi seemed to give a small laugh in turn. “Why not? It’s somewhat of a stretch of the imagination, but… I don’t see a reason to overreact over it. Not really. It is a curious thing, really. Interesting to know that the afterlife is, indeed, a thing.” he seemed to shrug. If ghosts could even do that.
Keiko just stared into space. "I must be crazy." she said more to herself than anyone else. She actually did feel rather light-headed.
As she tried to walk away, Keiko found her feet rather hard to move and kept stumbling over every little crag and jagged stone. She did her best to navigate the rough area but was thrown off-guard nonetheless by a particularly jutting edge of a nearby rock that caused her to topple right over. Ugh, now her head hurt… and suddenly… what? What was happening?
Just as Keiko had zoned out, somehow Satoshi had found himself… well, zoned in, one supposes. He had approached Keiko to see if she was alright after her little tumble and suddenly… he appeared to be her. He blinked. Wiggled his (or rather) her fingers. As he did he couldn’t help but notice her long sleeves. He blinked again - half in awe, half in plain disbelief.
She was sure people would understand why she’d done it.
Yes, people just needed a little perspective. Hinasaki Keiko was not the killing type but if it the greater good called for it, she felt she had no choice. To be a villain. To do something so cruel and inhumane as to murder… it wasn’t something many had in them. Thankfully the logical side of her was still able to see the value in such a sacrifice of morals. Sometimes what needed to be done needed to be done.
She’d hidden herself in a small corner, unseen and in the dark her knife occasionally glinting when the odd beam of light hit it. All she needed was a random target. It could’ve been anyone. All it needed to be… was a sacrifice. For the sake of everyone else. Honestly, she was a sacrifice here too. There was no way she’d get away with something like this, after all. For one, there was Iriye-san. Ha. He would catch her in an instant - he was too intelligent not to. Kimura-san might even help him. She was good in the last trial. Somehow, they’d put aside their differences and figure it out - she was sure of it. She was content with death. A morbid conclusion, but her life had surrounded around the idea of death anyway. Why be afraid of the inevitable outcome? It was perhaps, when facing death, the most important time to be brave in the first place.
Foot steps. Somehow her skin jolted to life in a strange way. It was almost as if her body itself knew she was about to do something bad - something awful. Something she shouldn’t. She had no idea who it was from the sound - nor really did she have any desire to. The less she knew about who it was, the better. Nobody deserved to die. They were a sacrifice. Nothing more.
And they were close enough. Keiko burst out of her hiding place and charged. It was like being blinded - everything was suddenly moving too fast. There was a sound, the sound of a soft sort impact. The knife had hit. She felt a gush of blood and when it touched her skin - she shivered. Again and again she threw the knife in and out. Everything was still going so fast. Colours blurring, vague sounds ringing in her ears, the blood spurting… and a fall. Keiko blinked. It was… over… they were dead. She was shaking now. She’d actually done it - taken another person’s life. For the greater good, she had to remind herself. For the greater good. With great effort she moved one shaking hand to her scarf and just gripped on it. With everything she had. Deep breath. Methodical thinking. Concentrate. You have to be in control. Another deep breath.
Keiko’s eyes flicked open and for the first time she took a look at the scene. Her very own crime scene… and the body. A… familiar body. Dark hair… grey-ish clothing… it was… so…familiar. It clicked in an instant. She was struck with a deep primitive terror and grief - the shivers were coming back. It was going so fast again - just like a lightning bolt.
No… it wasn’t… why…
Her eyes widened.
"Ir…i…ye…san…" she barely mustered the words. "No…"
Suddenly she was struck by an unfamiliar sensation. Tears. Warm tears. Ah… so this is what crying was like. Funny, how they wouldn’t stop. Tear after tear rolled down her face and it got so uncontrollable in the end that she felt her head dip down in a kind of weakness. As if her operating systems were shutting off without permission.
Why was it him? Anyone but him. Anyone.
He was her only… and best… friend.
She would… cover it up… yes… she had to at least make an effort to shift the blame or it wouldn’t make any sense. Yes… that’s what Iriye would have done after all… he would have. Her head was going fuzzy again. She almost laughed. He was gone. She’d done… that thing. How did it happen like this? Why had it been him? Out of everyone in this stupid horrible underground labyrinth of hell, why…
Unable to contain it any longer, Keiko took a deep breath and let out a scream tinged with pain. She would die. She deserved to die. But even more than that, he didn’t deserve to die.
"Kill Me" o v o (OHOHOHOOO what about like.. Kiku doing it?)
Oh, poor poor Sob-kun.
First his girlfriend, now him.
He had no idea, did he?
Kiku was getting better at this possession thing. Oh Iriye had tried, hadn’t he? Tried to keep her away, tried to keep Keiko in charge but well, he couldn’t be there all the time now, could he? And the unconscious mind was only too susceptible when asleep. It was easy, really, laughably so. Kiku had simply waited until Keiko was close to going to sleep and had swooped in before she slipped into a deep slumber. It was alright. She’d just… wake up a little later, that’s all.
Then it was just a matter of the victim. She’d spent long enough in this underground dumping hell - and it was time to get out. Simple as that. Kiku entered the kitchen area and her eyes lit up. Ah. She hadn’t really been targeting the guy personally, it was, well, just his rotten luck, really. Bad chance. Could’ve been anyone. "Usokami-san?" Kiku called in a voice she faked to be more similar to her sister’s. The funeral director turned to face her. Or at least, face in her direction. She was still fairly hidden by the wall. Why ruin the surprise so early?
"What is it… Hinasaki-sama…?" he mentioned.
Heh. Hehe. Hahahaha. Oh god, he had no idea. She could honestly laugh. The poor guy was being led to his doom right now and he didn’t have a single clue.
"Hinasaki-sama. Huh. Sama. I like that," Kiku replied now stepping into the light. He looked alarmed. Well of course he did. Her voice had defaulted for one - and she had those bright red eyes now. Just. Staring. "makes me feel all regal. Y’know?"
"Kiku-sama." he hissed back. Huh. Seemed like he caught on pretty fast. All that blathering Masaru had done had probably given him a whole lotta good information about her. But it was tooo late.
She nodded and smiled, coming closer. Something he did not look like he appreciated. “You knooow, you’re a poor lil soul, Usomimi-kun,” Kiku began. “you could get her back y’know - your Arisu. Arisu and the White Rabbit, right? How cute would that be? But you won’t. People like you never do - they got this martyr thing going on… think they’re saving the world by shutting ‘emselves down - boop, look at you, the beautiful sacrificing robot who would deny pleasure for duty. You’re a bit of a stereotype, if you ask me.” she began pacing back and forth. Would she go right or left? Up or down? Would she just leave? Who knew? She liked that aspect of it. It kept people guessing and that was always pretty fun.
"I think you ought to leave now." he said in a strained voice. Ah, would you look at that? His fist was balled. White knuckles. He was actually getting angry. "You are using Keiko-sama’s body without her permission. Go back where you came from."
She laughed at that. Well, come on, it was pretty funny. "Don’t wanna. It’s boring. ‘Sides, I like it here. And I like you, too. Surprisingly. Don’t you like me? I hear you go for the crazy type." she noticed him tense - haha, this was way too much fun. But all games had to come to an end. Without warning, she slipped off the loosened scarf and dashed towards the unsuspecting director. He looked shocked. Ah, that was good - a look of sheer surprise. She wrapped it around his throat, tight, tight, tighter than ever and just kept holding it. He’d somehow gotten to his pocket and… what was that…? A knife? Oho, someone was a tricky bastard after all. But it was but a minor setback. Kiku released the scarf and collided into him with a shoulder barge - now she was going for the knife instead. It’d be easier this was anyway. Weakened by the partial strangulation his grip wasn’t nearly as strong as it might’ve been. And now she held his knife. She struggled against him - she had some cuts on her fingers now, damn it. But he had some too - all along the chest and shoulders. He was losing a lot of blood now - quite the mess, actually. Kisuke began to slip down until he was just kneeling on the floor, leaned up against the cupboards. Kiku knelt beside him herself, knife still in hand smiling once more. "Hey I gotta question for you, Funeral-sama. If you die here, who’s gonna do your funeral?" she could see his normally pale face get whiter. "Bye-bye, Usokami Kisuke-chan." there it was - the final blow.
Keiko awoke. Head buzzing. Ugh…
And how did she get here, anyway…? As she pushed her arms onto the floor to lift herself she felt something a little off… something… damp? She rubbed at her bleary eyes and then looked all around her, aghast. Her blood went icy. What was… no… how did this… Usokami-san… who could’ve… and why was she here?
There was blood everywhere. All down her dress. All over the floor. On her hands. And of course… surrounding Usokami-san himself.
From out of seemingly nowhere, Keiko Hinasaki had ambushed Rhythm. Trotting from behind him, hand in the air to get his attention, the DJ slowly turned around and gave her a small wave in greeting. She seemed to be holding something in the other hand. Something he couldn’t quite tell from the distance.
"Rhythm-san!" Keiko called, now close enough to speak without raising her voice. "Have you noticed? I believe I have gotten rather good at pronouncing your name lately."
"Ahhh, Hinasaki-chan, yeah." The DJ supplied her a wave. "Good job with that. Though you know you could always just call me Rhy—" and he was cut off. There must be as little dallying as possible - Keiko had come here with a purpose - she was a girl on a mission.
"Rhythm-san, I procured this earlier and thought of you." and without warning, she shoved a pair of gloves into his hands. Keiko drew back and then placed her hands together looking so delighted with herself that it was hard to imagine all she’d done was shove a pair of gloves at someone. His visor seemed to show his confusion as it flickered slightly before showing a seemingly open-mouthed emoticon. "Uh, well… thank you?" Rhythm replied back, his tone casual but still clearly a little nonplussed.
Keiko nodded. She placed her hands on her hips - there was a look in her eye… somehow you could just tell by looking at her she was about to launch right into an explanation of some kind. "Yes." she nodded, beginning her little speech. "I could not help but notice you only seem to have one glove on you at most times, Rhythm-san. I have contemplated it for a while and come away with the notion you must have lost the other and yet still have cold hands. Therefore I took it upon myself to find you another pair."
There was a pause. One couldn’t tell whether it was an awkward one or just, a conversation breather - not an onlooker anyway. It went on for seconds that felt longer as Keiko stared at his visor in the hopes of understanding his expression from the thing. Honestly not being able to look him in the eye still bothered her but she was past that now. She supposed. Well it couldn’t be helped in any case.
The silence broke when the taller DJ couldn’t help but laugh. Keiko was taken aback. What? What had she missed? Had someone fallen over in an over-the-top comedic fashion known in circles as a pratfall? Had she said something that meant something else in another language? Keiko blinked and watched as his visor flashed a laughing sort of emoji.
"Well uh, wow, thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you, Hinasaki-chan." he replied, a smile on his face though the visor had defaulted. "But this is kinda… more of a fashion thing, you know?"
She did not know. Bother. Had she messed it up?
"Yes, I knew that…" she lied in a way that did not convince anyone. Looking away from the DJ probably did not help her case. "It was… well, just in case your hands got cold. You know. Winter is a rather harsh season and people can catch pneumonia should they not take care of themselves. You know for that matter hands can be very sensitive— um. Yes, well anyway. You have a gift - I gifted… the gloves so… I shall… see you around. Elsewhere. Farewell, Rhythm-san."
Rhythm blinked an unseen blink before smiling again. "I’ll keep that in mind. See you around, Hinasaki-chan."
