Star of the Sea @shsl-stellamaris - Tumblr Blog

Dedblerg Revealed!

Since you’ve all dying to know.

So! We’re sure you’re very curious about the upcoming sequel. While we plan on making a full post tomorrow with all the relevant information, including app start and close dates, but since we made you wait so long, here’s a little teaser…

The sky above, the earth below. And you stand where the two meet. Welcome to Meridian, the city in the cliff. Watch your step, it’s a long way down…

SOD2: Meridian coming soon!

Closing Mod Remarks

Moo here! WE DID IT, FOLKS! It was a very long endgame pause and the game itself was kinda rocky, but... holy moly we did it! And I couldn’t have been more proud! Thank you all for sticking with us and being patient and just. Yeah. Zoo Wee Mama.

It was definitely an experience, lemme tell you. Not a bad one, but DR RP and modding and just managing a group in general is rough (especially since it was our first time), but man was it a pleasure to be with you all and see your characters in action. Still, I’ll apologize for things being so rough around the edges and kind of disorganized throughout the game, but… if there’s one thing I can tell you about SOD2, is that it’ll definitely be smoother. We’ve learned a lot from this! We’ve leveled up our modding stat and are working on making an even better experience for SOD2! Taking lil suggestions we’ve seen and building upon those kinda shaky areas that we ran into. (RIP Monocoins.)

But in any case, thank you guys for making this rp a total dreamboat , and we hope the next one will rock ( ;) ) your socks off! Huhuhuhu.

… that was probably a bad pun, but whatever. HERE’S TO SOD2 AND STUFF, FULL SPEED AHEAD!!

Yuro here-- I’m a little choked up, so I don’t know what to say. I remember talking about SOD in its earliest concepts with Sediea at the beginning of last year. I didn’t know if it’d go anywhere, and seeing it develop into the community it did is one of the most humbling things that’s happened to me. I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with us, even through the rough spots. As an incumbent mod, I hope I can continue to provide that environment, and take everything I’ve learned from this and make our second game even better.

I’ll try to keep this brief so I don’t dominate this post, but I don’t think it’s any secret to those who know me well enough that mid-last-year going into this year has been one of the worst times of my life, and that was severely affecting my ability to be a mod and deal with the planning necessary to endgame. I won’t talk about my personal issues much but I’d like to personally thank Mai for coming onboard with us to help write endgame posts, and extend a thanks to all of you because the friendships I’ve made and strengthened throughout the game have made coping with everything that happened that much easier. I’m looking forward to continuing my position soon, and I hope you’re as excited as I am!

We’ll see you on our next voyage!

Sediea here! I don’t know what else to say that Yuro and Moo haven’t already covered, but I’d like to say that moding this game and meeting all of you has been both a joy and a privilege. If anyone had told me that my 3am thought that night early last year would lead up to where we are today, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I still can’t believe this happened and how far this has come and how much joy this has brought to players and observers alike.

I couldn’t be more proud yet humbled. Thank you all for you hard work and participation and for introducing us to your amazing characters. ;;;

Here’s to SoD2! I can’t wait to see what the next voyage will bring! <3

Fin

It’s sunrise when you hit port. The experience of awakening is more difficult for some of you still shackled to a flesh-and-blood form. But for the first time in months, you awaken to a still sky and the sight of land-- real land, not some artificial version thereof. For some of you, that alone might be enough to make you cry.

“We’we hewe…! Come on, evewyone!”

If you weren’t awake before, Monomi tearing through the place shouting certainly fixed that. Sleeping in doesn’t seem to be an option. Best to gather your things and get ready.

You all begin to file out into the briny sea air, feeling the sun on your face-- for a few of you, the first time in a very long time you’ve had that experience. You look around your classmates, perhaps talking to some, perhaps making plans. Some of you might simply leave. But either way, you all made it here together.

Nagoya. Everything started here, didn’t it? It’s almost poetic, in a way-- everything’s come full circle. And for many of you, this is a new beginning, a chance almost nobody can claim to have. It’s, quite literally, a new life. What you’ve gone through will never leave you.

In spite of it all, at least you have a new beginning.

THE END

A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again

True to Monomi’s word, it isn’t long before you sight land far on the horizon and you take your first shaky steps off the ship and onto the lifeboat she promised you (actually, it was more like a small yacht). Finally, it was time to return to the outside world. The adjustment from two months on a desolate ship in the ocean to solid ground among civilization would an uncomfortable, if not a surreal change. After all, your time here felt more like eternity.

Before you can reflect too much on that matter, you hear a soft sniffling from behind you.

Monomi’s crying again. Some things never change.

“P-pwease be safe. I'ww nevew fowget you...”

Poor little thing. You realize it must break her heart to see you go, but it’s for the best. This wasn't were you belonged and deep down in her heart she probably knew that. Perhaps you give her a heartfelt wave goodbye, or a hug, or maybe you just stepped onto the lifeboat without another word.

Either way, it was time to leave.

Goodbye, Stella Maris.

Despite the ocean winds being the same as ever, something about it now felt lighter. Maybe even a little sweeter. Perhaps it was freedom?

As land draws near, you take one last look back at the Stella Maris as it floats unassumingly on the horizon. From here, it looked like any ordinary luxury liner, but of course you knew better. At least that chapter of your life is over now, and you’ll never have to look at it again. The rest of your classmates will be fine. You’ve got enough to worry about with just yourselves.

Sea You Later

It seems like everyone has said their words. Maybe it's time to go your separate ways for now. Some of you leave, but...

"Shuichi-kun? You wanted to speak with me?"

...Others not so much. Either way, things will soon be over.

Naoise’s Choice

Naoise Oe… or rather Kieran Whelan had seen a lot of things in their time. They had seen bloodshed and people dying right in front of their eyes. They had also seen their robotic rabbit custodian revive and somehow manage to connect them to the living students. So when the choices were given by her once again, they nodded firmly.

They would get their life back. They would get to see their sheep again, which was admittedly something they’d be able to do either way. They could even see that kraken again. And they could do whatever they wanted, except for the small issue of charging themself up again whenever they ran out of battery.

While Naoise didn’t exactly have many physical ailments, they would definitely enjoy having a new body, and another chance to start anew. They wondered if the bodies were customizable, even, they’d like a change of pace from their naturally-blond hair. And even if they weren’t the richest person on the ship, they might find a way to make money to fund the cost of an AI body. Perhaps they could ask some of their classmates, even if they knew they weren’t particularly close to any of them.

And as for the cord at the back of their head? Well, that was a minor inconvenience, but then again they were wearing a wig before anyways. The only issue was the cord potentially becoming greasy, but they would cross that bridge when they arrived at it. And having a long USB cord attached to the back of their head would make a spectacular costume… right? They could get into another industry, such as special effects. Flawless plan, there.

And the fact that they couldn’t reproduce? Well, Naoise shrugged and muttered “It’s not like I had a romantic life in the first place…” under their breath, before considering the last point in favour of the body.

They wouldn’t age. They would stay as Naoise Oe for as long as their body came up, and unless they wore another wig or something along those lines, they would continue staying as Naoise. Though, remaining at 5’3” wasn’t ideal, but they would take what they would get. Consequences were the result of actions, and as far as they knew it was their own fault for choosing to make themself a target. Perhaps that’s what they would work more on from here on out. Besides, staying on the boat any longer than was necessary would only serve to bring up bad memories, and…

And they had a debt to collect from a certain mahjong player. Or so they thought, at least. Turning to Monomi, they rested their hand on the podium and drawled out their answer.

“Well, sign me the fuck up. I want a robotic body, Usami-chan. Eheheh, I just have too many things left to do to stay behind! Either way, I…”

Shrugging, Naoise turned around to stare at the others.

“Thanks for not being completely hopeless at investigating. I suppose I’ll be around if you ever want to keep in contact, because really, I dunno who else would want to see my face around.”

The shepherd turned back to Monomi, grinning as widely as they could. The reality was still too harsh for them to contemplate. Yes, they were being given another chance, but chaos could easily start up once more. The deceased had died, and having a new body didn’t change that fact. And what could one artificial shepherd do, even? Try living their own life peacefully, perhaps, but they’d miss out on the action, and their realizations about… well, whatever they thought about people before, as much as they felt annoyed or downright hatred towards certain people. And even if there wasn’t anyone waiting for them back home, they’d be able to get a new start, and forge a better path for themself.

And above all, they’d be free.

Malachi’s Choice

The lady or the tiger?

Well, alright, not exactly. It was more like the tiger or the tiger -- neither option was ideal, at least, for him... but at least he wasn't being torn to shreds metaphorically or literally depending on the choice he made, right? If he was, for once in his life, to be honest, however, he'd much rather have that than the realization of his greatest fear: total boredom.

Don't get him wrong - the whole robot body deal - it sounded good. It sounded interesting. It sounded like it'd get old pretty fast -- but that was his nature. He got tired of everything quicker than he cared to admit. He was a difficult kid to please on Christmas morning, believe him. ...But was it better than the other option?

He'd already said it: that he was sick of the boat, that he wanted out or so help him -- ...so the choice should be clear to him. It was already a given that the survivors would also be abandoning ship and hadn't he said that he'd take any chance he could to de-boat as well? But it was the means that was holding him back. He wanted the result, he wanted to get out, but existing within an artificial body...? Did he really want that?

"Hmmmm..." he opens his mouth without having anything to say, really. He's still thinking, thinking that either way he's going to hate the outcome but which outcome will he hate less? Which outcome would allow for him to lead the lifestyle he'd previously led - the one where he could be anything, anyone -- where no one knew him well enough to stop him on the street and say, 'Hey, don't I know you?'

Both options screamed stagnant -- and he was always on the move, always changing, always shifting, the him that existed at the beginning of his life vastly different than the person he was at the present. Aging allowed for him to grow, allowed for him to abandoned past self after past self. As good as people cracked eternal youth up to be he didn't want to live forever, didn’t want to be young forever. It hadn't happened yet but he was sure life would eventually grow tired, grow boring -- he'd see all that it had to offer, then throw it away as he did everything else. But if he was going to live he wanted to live normally, he wanted to grow naturally in a way where he could see the finish line -- and neither option was going to give him that, neither option was going to grant him a natural death... but then, that was ripped away from him the minute he'd died, wasn't it?

So he sighs, he says, "I guess.. the artificial body's the way I'm leanin', too" -- even though that's false.

He says, "May as well... show up one of the youngest lookin' people at our ten year reunion, yeah? Bet Juliet'll be super jealous aha ha!"

When the corners of his mouth fall, he looks tired. He looks as defeated as he feels ... But at least it's better than stayin' on this god damn boat for who knows how long. He's cheated death twice now, technically -- and even though, at the back of his mind, he's thinking 'been there, done that' at least if he gets out, he can see his mother again. He can see his father again, his uncle. And then he'll apologize, come home the prodigal son who was tired of stirring up trouble. And when that got boring -- and to be sure he could foresee this lifestyle getting boring very quickly very fast -- well... at least this option guaranteed him a lot more time to figure out what he really wanted to make of himself.

Kiyoko’s Choice

tw: suicidal themes??? i’m not one-hundred percent sure on this,

Having been handed a choice, Kiyoko couldn’t say she definitively knew which one she would have wanted to go with. After all, this was a matter of life and death, albeit one dealing with artificial life via robotic bodies. Each one of them were being given a very heavy choice, probably one of the biggest ones in their lives, she could bet.

After some delay, she thought silently to herself and listened to everyone say their own decisions. They all seemed to be on board with a second chance of life without being attached to this boat, and she could not blame them. It sounded a little appealing if she was weighing the pros and cons of each side.

Still, there was a part of her that felt like that was cheating death and the guilt of that option felt like a plague all throughout her very being. Many of these people had their life cut short without much of a choice unlike herself, and she had no right to choose for them or preach to them, but she herself felt wrong asking for the same end result as them. She had no part with the living, and she never would after her death. She had to move on.

The other option was remaining on the boat as mere data, which also made her purse her lips in pensive thought. That would still mean she'd still be somewhat living, wouldn't it be? This was implying that this wasn't the appropriate afterlife, and that too did not settle well with her even if that had its own luxuries.

But then again, death was not about luxuries; it was about coming to terms and allowing what may happen to occur without trying to go against it. Whatever fate had in store, she would become its slave for now. This was her opinion, and if it was her opinion alone, so be it.

"...This is the end of the road for me, Usami-dono. I'll be staying behind, but... please erase my data! I am confident in my choice, so… yeah! Thanks again! I won’t regret it, I swear…!”

She bowed her head deeply, not raising it after she was done her piece, simply standing still with her hands folded in front of her.

Renjiro’s Choice

Junichi’s Choice

With their arguing long-past, Junichi stood quietly on the sidelines with Najwa as Monomi told them the deal. They could stay there, stuck on the ship for the rest of eternity, trapped with a group of people that the majority didn’t even like each other, where they could hardly put up with being in the same damn room for more than 20 minutes without a fight breaking out - essentially, they could be condemned to living in a fighting ring for the rest of their lives, or they could, y’know, just go home. As robots at that. That was the coolest shit, why would he ever say no? And on top of that, he was never going to age again. He’d be stuck like this, a handsome rad dude, for eternity. Holy shit was that the ideal. Sure, there were some hitches to overcome there, but since when was anything easy?

The troubles that came with being a robot were worth humoring for a moment though. She was saying things could get expensive. If you asked him any other time, he wouldn’t have worried a second about it, but things had changed. Going to his parents? Fuck that. Fuck them. As soon as he got off that ship he was going to find Daisuke and crash with him. If his parents thought he was dead, it was for the best to just let them keep thinking that. The only thing they would have to offer him is the same shit they’d been dealing him before he got on the ship; the only thing that made contacting them even enter his mind was the fact that his dad may actually be able to be of help with his whole being a robot thing.

Besides, he didn’t need them for money. Maybe making music wasn’t the plan anymore, but his time doing that had made him a pretty penny - and even though that’d eventually run out, he could just get a job or something. He’d figure it out.

For the moment, it didn’t matter.

He reached for Najwa’s hand, quirking an eyebrow at her as if to ask where she stood on the offer, but he felt like it was fair to guess her thoughts. Hadn’t she just been arguing that all of them deserved to go back now, that not even - ugh, he still couldn’t understand how they became friends - Morinaga deserved to be abandoned? There was no way she was going to say no.

He gave her hand a squeeze and offered her a smile of sorts before turning back to Monomi, ready to give his answer-

But for once in his life, Junichi Kita actually managed to acknowledge the consequences of his actions in a semi-realistic way. Getting off the boat alive was the goal. Getting off the boat alive was always the goal. He wanted to leave that fucking ship in just the same condition he’d gotten on - but a robot body didn’t promise that. He looked to his fingers, plastic and metal that flexed, and remembered how once upon a time they had been flesh. He’d be getting that back now, right? No more plastic, no more metal, or at least none that showed on the surface. His scars would be smoothed over, his limbs replaced, and that accident would be nothing more than a far off memory rather than something he had to physically carry every day of his life.

It was a little funny, really. If you had asked him those days, that year after the crash if he’d want to say goodbye to those physical memories, he would have accepted in a heartbeat.

Now? Now it was strangely bittersweet - but he was out of options.

He gave his fingers one last flex, curling them into the palm of his hand before letting them stretch open for what could be the last time. With a smirk he carried on, turning to the rabbit with a question rather than an answer.

“Gotta question. You said we can’t reproduce with these bodies, but can we like, still do shit, or we all gonna look like fucking Barbie dolls after this?”

That was clearly a priority at the current moment. He finished his remark off with a wink before actually getting to the point.

“Doesn’t matter much either fucking way. Staying on this ship isn’t an option, and being a robot sounds like the tightest shit, so sign me up.”

Noelle’s Choice

In all honestly, this was one of the least difficult decisions she had to make.

If she got the robotic body, she gained back her hearing and the leg she lost. It wouldn’t erase the fact that the accident had occurred, or the guilt she still put on herself for it, but… She’d never enjoyed being deaf or an amputee. It had only brought her misery and discomfort, in her opinion.

Cost wasn’t an issue. She intended to return straight to working under Madame. Then again, she knew she’d then feel guilty over the battery costs… but she could work extra for that. She’d be a bit more durable, too; perhaps she could do even more than she could before? Though she’d need to be careful too, to not damage this new body, but that was fine. The cord… mm… she could find a way to make it less visible. Maybe disguise it as a hair tie, or within her clothes, though the latter would be uncomfortable.

Not to mention, she could finally do something again. She wouldn’t just be a piece of data that could only watch events in front of her. She could be proactive again. And that was probably what she wanted most.

(Though, that she would not age, and could not reproduce… that was a bit saddening, honestly. Even if she chose otherwise, she was going to remain the same.)

(... She figured that was just a consequence of her poor decisions while on this ship. Of course. No way she could get out of this without some form of punishment.)

With a few sniffles, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, taking a small glance around the room, at the fellow dead, before she spoke up again.

“I… I’d like to… t-the, um… robot, t-the A.I. body… I’d rather that…”

(... Why were they so happy?)

(Perhaps just her own bitterness, but she wanted them to look more miserable, she hated seeing them so happy.)

(She hated how, just like always, she felt the universe had to punish her, while those who didn’t deserve it got happiness.)

What a negative thought, and she realized it, but as self-depreciating as she was, surely even she had to remember this wasn’t all her fault.

Or maybe it was her own fault for always focusing on the negative, instead of seeing the positive. She was getting her hearing and left leg back, wasn’t she? Her appearance surely wouldn’t have changed so drastically over the years, and she could still change some aspects to try and look older. And if anything… even if she couldn’t carry, there was probably some options to reproduce, because if science can make goddamn organic robots, who’s to say it was impossible with just some DNA? Her real body was still rotting on this boat, she may as well use it for something. And if that didn’t work out, adoption was always viable.

(The back of her mind couldn’t stop nagging, though, nagging to tell her it’s still not fair.)

(But she wanted to at least try to be a little happier. Bitterness got her nowhere here in this pseudo-afterlife, except repeating to herself how lonely and unwanted she was.)

Itsuki’s Choice

As soon as the options were presented to them, Itsuki knew exactly which one they would choose.

Of course, they kept their mouth shut, listening to the ups and downs of each choice respectfully. It was only polite, and, besides, it was wisest to know what they’d be ending up with afterwards the best they could. However, it was obvious to them what their most optimal decision would be.

Getting to leave the boat -- Usami being able to change the environment regardless, the boat was still the same damn boat that they loathed the idea of being on a second longer than necessary -- and move on with their life would have been more than good enough for them, but, really, they were getting more positives out of that than negatives, considering the information they had now.

Not aging physically? Their rebellious streak was much better suited for one who resembled a young adult anyway.

Erasing the physical imperfections they weren’t born with? They would have never dreamed of a future where their neck wouldn’t be covered in scars, where they didn’t have to wear hearing aids. They’d freed themself of their main regret resulting from their past misdeeds, and now they would be able to be freed from the constant physical reminders of what they’d done too? Miracles weren’t something Itsuki believed in, but this might as well be one.

The entire situation was a win-win, to them, everything had fallen into their favor from start to finish. Sure, getting executed was a bit of a downer, but seeing as it would lead to this conclusion, Itsuki really couldn’t find it in them to even look at it that negatively anymore.

As for the costs? Their parents were surely still around to support them if need be -- they weren’t rich, but… they were sure there were some funds to spare -- and they could get a job. They could go back to photography and do some freelancing as well for cash.

They didn’t have to ruminate on their decision for long, but they did take a moment to weigh all of it, to let the reality of just how lucky they’d struck out sink in. It brought a sense of pride blooming in their chest, but soon enough, they drew the pink rabbit’s attention to speak up, and it was something of a challenge to not sound too smug about the situation.

“Usami-san, I’ll -- I’ll be going with an A.I. body. The… robot one, I mean. I’m not staying here any longer than I need to.”

Keeping their own tone in mind, even Itsuki couldn’t deny the traces of enthusiasm leaking into their voice. One of their hands had its fingers curled around their scarf while the fingertips of the other were tapping noiselessly against their podium. Despite the fact that their expression was as unseeable as ever, the photographer actually seemed… legitimately excited?

To bystanders who hadn’t seen any signs of real positive emotion from them prior, it’s probably… a little strange, to say the least.

Monomi Gives “The Talk” pt 2

Following the speech about the AI bodies that were one of the options available, Monomi tapped a paw against her staff, clearly thinking. She then looked up again, and turned once more to the empty podiums, her voice picking up.

“So… that is one option avaiwabwe to all of you. The othew option is to pwolong your stay on the Stella Mawis, in the same viwtual weality you all awe in wight now. That also has some points to considew, uwaa…”

Gesturing to the trial room around them, Monomi continued.

“Even if you’we all data, youw bodies awe all still human. You’d be the same as before, with all of the memowies and feelings you had. This does mean you need to take cawe of youweselves, and you still need to eat and sleep. All physical injuries and modifications will still be there, howevew they will not get bettew ow wowse.”

Monomi now puffed her chest out, and a smile was on her features.

“I wiww live with all of you! You’ll wemain buwden-fwee, and I pwomise to safeguawd you and catew to youw evewy need. I can change the place to whatevew you want me to, be it an island, a city, or a countwyside.”

Striking her wand on her other paw, she sighed.

“Howevew… you will not be able to see youw fwiends and family evew again. I can twy making AIs, but they will not be able to fully weplicate the complexity of humans. I’m vewy sowwy…”

Bowing her head, she continued tapping her paw with the wand.

“You also won’t evew be able to leave the digital wowld. I’m going to dwop the suwvivows at the powt, and then I’m going to sail away, cutting off all contact. You won’t be able to wetuwn with the othews ow go back on your choice.”

Looking back up again, she perked up slightly.

“Howevew, you cannot get sick… Youw mental state is an exception, so any conditions you have wemain, and you can’t die fwom natuwal causes. Howevew… if you weally want to, you awe able to die in a sense. I can ewase youw data, and this will effectively kill you. You have to be suwe if this is what you want because thewe isn’t any way I can bwing you back again.”

Perking up, the rabbit-girl placed her staff on the ground. She seemed to be nearing the conclusion of her speech, and she spoke, this time with confidence.

“You cannot age-”

Blushing abruptly, she covered her face with her ears, though even they had turned bright pink. Through them came a muffled voice.

“-ow wepwoduce… So again, no kids.”

A long pause ensued, during which Usami seemed to be trying to collect herself again. She eventually managed to do so and looked back up, her voice slightly less certain but still filled with assertiveness.

“So. Think cawefully about what you want, and I will do my best to make it happen. I bewieve in you, whatevew you end up choosing.”

And Monomi grinned at the students assembled, both living and dead, as she awaited their responses.

Monomi Gives “The Talk” pt 1

Wiping her eyes once more despite managing not to cry, she nodded at the students again. Waving her staff, the cheerfully-smiling rabbit continued on, her attention seemingly turned towards the empty podiums once again.

“Uhh…. I have to explain what the bodies entail!”

For a moment she was looking incredibly awkward and bashful. Inhaling as much as her small body could take, she began to explain about the bodies.

“You know they’re all awtificial, and that they were collected fwom the data you gave duwing the expewiment. Extending fwom the back of your head is a USB cable similar to Aichi-kun’s, and it hooks uo to youw bwain… uhh, which is a CPU of sowts. Infowmation is stored there, and it functions to keep the data you gained.”

Tapping her wand against her head, she nodded, ears flopping.

“Eithew way, you have to wechawge your bodies. They wun off of a battewy of sowts, and a lot of powew is needed. Consuming food and sleeping is still wequiwed because they awe modeled aftew youw weal bodies being in that they would slow battewy stwain, howevew the battewy is vewy efficient, and you don’t need to wechawge it often depending on what you to. Mowe physical activity would wesult in it being depleted mowe, if you wewe an athletic student, then you’d be having to wechawge mowe often.”

Pausing, she took in another breath before continuing to explain.

“Depleting your battewy completely wesults in a coma-like situation. It may lead to pewmanent death or damage if left alone, and you’d need to monitow that, but youw bodies awe a lot mowe duwable. Hoooowevew, you cannot heal like normal bodies, and your phsycal featuwes such as nails and haiw gwow at a much slowew wate.”

Monomi now seemed to be blushing even pinker than her normal hue, and she covered her face with her paws as she arrived at the next topic on her explanations.

“Anyways…. You cannot wepwoduce. You do not have the capabilities to do that any longew, and you cannot… pwoduce offspwing. Basically, no kids.”

Shaking her head from side to side, she continued on, seemingly glad to be past that particular drawback or advantage, depending on one’s perspective.

“Eithew way, youw physical featuws that you weren’t bown with are gone. That means that anything you might have sustained duwing youw time since you wewe bown is no longer in effect, such as peiwcings, tattoos, and injuwies… You'we just ageless though, and you’ll bweak down slowly but suwely. Thewe's no infowmation on how wong you'ww wast, but if that’s a wisk you’we willing to take, then… well, thewe’s one mowe thing.”

Dropping her tone again, she stared down at her own body.

“Being an AI is vewy compwicated, and thewe awe sevewal social issues you might have to deal with. Pwease, I uwge you to keep the natuwe of youw bodies a secwet, I don’t want anything wike what happened with Aichi-kun to evew happen again… So it isn’t as gwamewous as it might seem, but if this appeaws to you, then I wiww twy my best.”

And she nodded confidently.

... But wait, There’s More!

When the survivors each finished giving their speeches and answers, Monomi looked positively ecstatic. In fact, she almost looked ready to cry again.

"Ohhhh, I'm so happy... Thank you aww so much!"

Of course not all the answers were the ones she wanted to hear, but regardless she did offer and you had little doubt she'd honor them. She was the honest type, unlike her Monobear brothers.

"Ah… thewe's one more thing…"

Koharu’s Decision

So that was it. That was fucking it. It was all over now, right? All of it. No more getting attacked by crazy fishborgs, no more murdering. Dead kids are gonna come back, right? It’s a happy ending for everyone, right?

Tch. How anticlimactic.

She listened to the dead kids. She heard the as they gave their messages to the living. Not even referencing her once. Not even a side-eyed comment from Ms. Rie Kano. Remember that time they almost killed her? Yeah. That was a thing. Imagine if they had killed her, where would they all be now?

After all the work she had done to help all of them, No praise. No disdain… It hurt just a little bit. But whatever, she didn’t need their attention. There were more important matters to attend to, such as digging her girlfriend out of the hole she was making for herself after Damodara’s comment.

“Julia, just. Be quiet for a moment. I’ll handle this.”

Koharu let out a sigh. Taking a pained step forward.

“If anybody wants to say anything about it, let me make one thing clear.”

She glared over in Yuu’s direction. If anyone wanted to say anything, it would be him. There was no way in hell he would, of course, but she wanted to make sure that would stand to be the case.

“I killed the TV head. The ‘she’ he was referring to was me. If you want to hate me for it, that’s fine. You won’t have to deal with me, I don’t plan on being involved with any of you after this. Once we hit shore, you’ll never have to see me again.”

One last lie to finish it all off. Did she kill Damodara? No. Obviously not. But they didn’t know that. In fact, all the evidence, the meddling she did in the trial, getting Itsuki executed… Everything would line up perfectly, because sometimes, a lie just makes a little more sense than the truth. And that’s all it takes. #TacticalAdvantage

“Oh yeah, and to answer your question- if you couldn’t figure it out, I’ll be staying on the ship.”

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Star of the Sea