Salute! @shslboyscouts - Tumblr Blog

Task 4 ✿ It's the fresh air that does it {OPEN}

Yua turned quickly when she heard a voice behind her. A calculated sort of quickly, not slowly enough to seem like she didn’t care, but not so fast that she seemed anything other than calm and ordinary. She smiled at the boy scout and nodded. her face becoming slightly contemplative as she took in what he was saying.

She turned rather slower on her heel as he moved around her, making sure to keep facing him, her posture relaxed and friendly. “Oh my god, you work with plants? That’s, like, pretty cool. Orchards are really pretty, especially apple orchards! I like to garden myself in my free time, you know, tee-hee! I just love seeing things grow, especially flowers! Gosh, if you ever want to talk to someone about gardening, I’m your girl, Rokuda-chan!”

When she was asked for her opinion, however, her smile was quickly replaced by a more serious expression as she raised a hand to her chi thoughtfully. “Well, like, ever since we got out of the cells, it’s been pretty obvious that this has been planned for a while. Like, I don’t exactly think that this castle came with sixteen coffins, a robot bear, and that execution machine that killed Tsukuda-chan.”

Yua seemed to stare into the sky as she twirled her hair around her finger, seemingly lost in deep thought. “Really, this whole things feels as if someone is going out of their way to put on a show. I’m willing to bet that the grime and cobwebs and all that were put there on purpose too. The atmosphere of “creepy abandoned castle” is just too perfect. Naturally, that begs the question, why? If I had to guess, I’d say we’re being held for someone’s sick entertainment. But there’s still a lot of problems with that theory… I guess, like, I don’t really know! Tee-hee~!”

And with that, the cheerful bubbly attitude remained as she smiled genially at Ryozo, a carefree smile almost entirely at odds with the seriousness of the thoughts she’d just voiced.

shslboyscouts

Ryozo wasn't necessarily expecting anything specific from the young woman before him, but if he had said that she was expecting such a cheery disposition it would have been a lie. How so very strange, there was something off-putting about her, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It was as if her attitude was designed for reception of others, to bounce off of other people's words and reinforce a sort of brightness onto them. He didn't quite get her, and it was this that annoyed him to no end. He usually got everything-- every problem, every equation, every mission, every job. But this girl? She was a mystery.

What she said, however, definitely had some sense behind it. To be frank, she was making the most logical connections than anyone else he had spoken to so far, which also confused him. At first glance, this was just some ditsy girl with a pretty smile, but then she goes and says things like that. Ryozo had to stop himself from demanding she explain her behavior. He knew all too well his grandmother wouldn't approve.

"Yes, I agree. This location does seem to be designed to put on a show, from the execution we witnessed to this perfectly maintained garden. Your insight is appreciated."

He paused once more, returning his glance to the flowers in front of him. A silence fell as he contemplated, seemingly running her words through his mind over and over again.

"I... I would like to speak to you about gardening in the future. Thank you for the offer. I didn't take you as someone who enjoyed the hobby. Is that why you're here, to view the flowers?"

#trustingthorns

theshslvolleyballplayer

[Rally 4: START!] Of Guarded Secrets and Stone Labyrinths [OPEN]

Adaptation is key in many sports. In any one game, many things you didn’t plan for can and most likely will happen; a sudden gust of wind can angle your ball from the edge of the court straight into an opponent’s arms, or a difficult save can sprain your teammate’s ankle. This is why despite the differences in sports, the one universal lesson (besides “do not get hit by the ball”) was “learn how to adapt to always-changing situations”. So it would only make sense that a Super High School Level such as herself would be exceptionally skilled at adapting to situations both on and off the court-and she was indeed very skilled at adaptation; it had served her well and saved her from many a tough situations.

However, it seemed it had failed her this time. Try as she might-and she wasn’t trying very hard anyway-she couldn’t get used to the fact that Kaho was dead.

Kaho had killed Shizue. She’d done it because she wanted to leave, and she couldn’t-or wouldn’t-wait until help arrived. She hadn’t spoken to Shizue very much but she had spoken and interacted a great deal with Kaho; they’d explored the guard room together and discussed the book, the Iron Maiden and...lambchops. She had been so confident, so confident that she’d tossed her book into the contraption without a second thought. She was-had been- a good person…

She’d called Yui an okay person, not half-bad. Her last words to her had been complimentary, giving her a “murderer’s stamp of approval”. While she accepted it, and appreciated that Kaho had just been trying to make her feel better, it still weighed heavily on her. She hadn’t actually done anything to earn it; all she’d done is state the obvious; that Kaho didn’t deserve to die for her crime. Unfortunately, Monobear just hadn’t seen it that way and so she was executed. She’d rather not think on that any more.

She’d grabbed one of the many monokeys laying on the floor, but she turned away from the gate and instead made her way to the dungeons-and more importantly, to the cell holding a placard with Kaho and Chiyoko’s images on them. She entered the cell and wasted no time in tearing the place apart. Hay flew everywhere, and she hit her head on the bed more than once before she found what she was looking for. She sat up with a bump on her head and several pages in her hand. The front page held only a single name; Kaho Tsukuda.

She carefully opened up her book and put the pages in between its pages before closing it firmly. She hugged the book to her chest with a sorrowful but determined expression and spoke to the empty cell, as if someone was actually there.

"I said I gotcha back Tsu-chan an’ I’m not about to break my word just ‘cos you’re dead. I’m gonna make sure nobody sees whatever you had to hide-or even why you were scared ‘a snakes. I’d do th’ same with Shi-chan’s book but I think it was on her when she, ah…when she died. I promise I won’t look though, honest!"

With that little speech given, she tucked her book back into her pocket, left the cell-not before hastily cleaning up the place so it didn’t look like she’d torn it apart-, and went to her own cell, picked up the sword she’d left there-she’d thought it better not to have a sword at the trial- and made her way back up to the ground floor.

Upon reaching it, she discovered that the gates had been opened and a new floor was available to them. Eagerly, she ran up the stairs…only to find herself in a huge, stone maze. Instantly, her face lit up in excitement. She hadn’t done a maze in such a long time-and even if she was completely terrible at it, it was still loads of fun!

So into the maze she went…and went…and went…

It was only after perhaps the tenth left that it occurred to her that she might actually be lost. Her ID Card read that it had been an hour since she entered the maze, and while that wasn’t even close to the longest time she’d been stuck in a maze before, she really wanted to see what else this floor had to offer.

Finally, she managed to see another human being in sight and immediately ran up to them.

"Hey there! Are ya lost in here as well? This is one helluva maze, huh? I mean, I heard that any maze can be solved it ya put ya left hand on the left wall and kept goin’ so I tried that but I think I’ve gotten myself lost. An’ I hit like three dead ends too, so maybe that’s not right. Maybe it’s the right hand side I was ‘pposed to be doin’."

She scratched her head in confusion. Boy, mazes were really difficult.

shslboyscouts

"One... Two... Three..."

Ryozo had positioned himself outside of the maze exit, counting students as they came out. It was his duty to make sure his troop came through alright, and for the most part, it seemed as if everyone had found the exit. Tired and weary from spending so much time in the dungeon, his classmates went to explore the other areas of their new location, save for a few. Of course, Shizue and Kaho didn't emerge from the depths of the labyrinth, no matter how much the scout had willed them to do so. But, another was missing, and his heart leaped in his chest. Someone needed his help.

And so, that's why Ryozo hurried back into the maze, jogging lightly and exploring every twist and turn the walls had to offer. It would have been a perfect place to kill, two students lost and away from the others, no one able to find them-- if someone was frightened into a panic and resorted to violence, then, what if--

Oh.

It wasn't long until he came across Yui, who seemed all too happy that there was another person in the maze with them. For a few long moments, he stared at her, as if trying to comprehend, before finally letting out a small sigh and fully approaching her.

"Do not worry, I will help you out. I solved the maze a while ago, but I came back for you, as I noticed you hadn't made it out. You were close, the exit is a fifteen minute walk from here. Follow me, Narita-kun."

With that, he turned, and began briskly forward, expecting her to follow along. For a few long minutes, the two walked in silence, until he finally spoke again.

"If you wish to speak to someone about the events that transpired earlier, please confide in me. I'll do my best to assist. I understand that the passing of someone we knew is troubling for everyone involved. If I can assist, please tell me."

#theshslvolleyballplayer

shsldomesticanimaltrainer

TASK 4 || Roll-over! (Open)

Shizue was gone. Kaho was gone. People were actually adding fuel to the fire and initiating the killing and the only thing Nao felt right now was pure fear. He kept it down, swallowed it down and relaxed, but he was utterly frightened.

First things first he was already slower than the others and often preferred to stay in the very back rather than take the lead, so that could make him an easy target. Uh-oh. He closed his eyes and shook his head with a quiet sigh to himself before calming down again. Thinking negatively would only increase the possibility of him dying a reality, and he for one, was not ready to let that happen.

In a better standpoint the gate to the second floor was opening, meaning he and Em-li could finally move on to a (hopefully) better place. (Not that the current situation would be any better, but at least a nicer environment made it tolerable). As soon as most of the group started to disperse into the maze, he reached for the remaining Monokey and headed off behind them. He even waited until most were far away from him to casually lean against one of the stone walls, arms folded and staring up in thought. Usually, when he was this absent-minded, his puppet would often do things for him—like now. ”Hey, you! Yeah, you! Wanna help me get through here? I’ll pay ya’, even—when we get out of this castle! Nyahahahahahaha!!! It’s all coming out of Nao-kun’s savi—”

Suddenly, a hand pushed the puppet downwards from which he came. “Q-Quit it! I don’t have those sorts of funds..!”

It was an odd scene, for sure, but Nao casually looked at the person as if nothing strange happened. “U-Uh—Nyanraku’s right, though. I would like your help, if that’s okay..?”

shslboyscouts

"Of course, let's get through this together."

Without further ado, Ryozo turned on his heel and began to lead the way, brisk and as determined as ever. However, even if Nao lagged behind, he would stop and wait for the other to catch up before he turned in corners, so the two wouldn't become separated.

Mazes, as Ryozo found, had always been simple for him to solve. A keen sense of direction and a broad understanding of navigation was something he had to learn to easily travel through his family's large orchard, and also on hikes with tenderfoots that he hosted through the mountainside. It helped that parts of the maze had plants growing over them, grass scattered about and ivy draping itself over the stone walls, making it easier to see which paths were more traveled than others.

The two would be out of there soon, he figured, and he was able to put his body on auto-pilot, letting it figure out the maze without thinking too hard on it. Despite himself, his contemplation fell into other topics, and his pace slowed, enabling Nao to fully catch up with him.

Once the two were walking side by side, Ryozo glanced over to him, frowning ever-so-slightly.

"How are you doing? You can talk to me, you know. I'm trained in counseling, somewhat, as it's needed to become a troop leader. Please speak to me freely, Sadao-kun."

A pause, and then he quickly added; "And you can speak to me as well, Mr. Puppet Cat." He nodded to the piece of cloth over Nao's hand, regarding it as if it were a real person. No one would be left behind.

#shsldomesticanimaltrainer

trustingthorns-blog

Task 4 ✿ It's the fresh air that does it {OPEN}

Yua had surveyed the new level of the castle for quite a while, and all in all it was a lot nicer than those grimy, horrible dungeons. The rooms were still far worse than what she was accustomed to, if only there were some way to redecorate, but she supposed she’d make do with it if it meant getting out of those horrible dungeons and finally being able to wash, even if she couldn’t do it properly.

The jousting area smelt of manure, and was quite frankly almost as dirty and horrible as the dungeons. At least there weren’t any horses there. Despite both her parents offering to buy her one, Yua had never seen the appeal of horses. She’d always found them smelly and annoying, not to mention pointless. Why ride a horse when, you know, cars exist and it’s not, like, the eighteen-hundreds, was what she thought.

The courtyard was very pleasant, reminding her of home if only a little, the foyer was pretty nice, but there was one room that Yua loved above all else, and that was the tea room. The delightful fountain, the cozy atmosphere and, of course, the beautifully maintained roses. It was by these where she presently stood with her hands behind her back, admiring the flowers with a small, wistful smile on her face, seeming to drink in the scent more than sniff it. It wasn’t enough to make her forget the situation, not by a long shot. But it was something, at least.

shslboyscouts

"Something is amiss here, don't you agree?"

She was an odd girl, Ryozo had gathered, from her very pink appearance and her long, flowy hair. At least she had dressed herself fine enough, wearing trousers instead of a skirt and a hat to keep her warm. He had always disliked skirts and dresses, as they impaired a lady's movement so and made her less reliable on a job. It was true, Ryozo also remembered, that the pinker you were the more steady, as proved in the trial earlier. Meaning... She must be very steady, as well. Interesting.

"I was discussing it earlier with Himeko-kun. It's strange how the gardens have been maintained so, don't you agree? Meaning, this location hasn't been abandoned. Everything seems to be up to speed, and so... That means people have been preparing this location for our presence."

He paused to cross his arms, and look over to her finally. He had wandered to her side, a discontent expression upon his features and a briskness to him that made almost everything seem a little more urgent.

"I work with plants for a living, as I live on an orchard with my grandparents. It's easy to tell that these plants have been pruned and watered and cared for. See? The roses have nary a mark upon them."

Casually, he moved his crossed arms to instead place one hand in his pocket, and the other lifting up to twirl the opal he kept around his neck in between two fingers.

"What are your thoughts?"

#trustingthorns

shslboyscouts

✪ [ O P E N ] ▪ Scouting Badge #3 ▪ Remain Composed.

shslblogprincess-blog

It had been like a movie sequence, really — the very thing that the villain of the story was using turning against her, brought down by her own short-sightedness. It’s easier to think of Kaho that way — as a villain, irredeemable and evil in soul — than the girl who teased her about her makeup, about her name. As the girl who had been human, not a villain. As a dead girl, not a defeated enemy.

But, like when a villain’s vaniquished, the heroes are rewarded… in this case, with keys, and, even better, freedom. The key she had received had been one of the only pretty things in the darkness of the dungeon, and now she has two, and everyone else has one… it doesn’t really seem special, any more. But it pales in comparison to the prospect of sunlight, of warmth, and even though it’s hemmed in by cold, concrete walls at the top of the stairs, it’s still the greatest gift she’s ever been given.

She finds herself sticking by Ryozo Rokuda, the boy scout that she had been with during the investigation. He seems like a kind, dependable person, who helped her when she was crying and helped to find the killer in the trial… Himeko had compared him to a knight, with his serious demeanour and chivalrous ways, and now she can’t see him any other way. He seems to know where he’s going, too, and that’s comforting — and, in less than an hour, they’re out, and…

The area they exit into has hedges on all sides, with paths leading all over the place and a pond in the middle. Compared to the dungeon, it’s breathtaking — but when she spots flowers down one path, her heart soars, the violence and the terrible fate of the little moth-loving friend down below utterly forgotten. It was all a bad dream, a horrible incident where the perpetator was brought to justice, and now… now things are beautiful again.

"Oh— Rokuda-kun, it’s so lovely up here.” she gasps, new life in her voice and her eyes shining. Turning to him, she takes him by the arm. Dirty and grimy and hungry as both of them are… out here, in the fresh air with a knight offering her protection, she feels like a princess again.

"If I may," she asks, with none of the usual hesitance in her voice, “could I ask you to accompany me to the flowers over there? It looks so beautiful, and… and I want to see something nice again after spending so long in that dreadful place. Would that be alright?”

shslboyscouts

Ryozo did a double-take when Himeko spoke, not sure if he heard correctly the first time. Did she just call their now somewhat-larger cage lovely? He stared at her, not blinking, a neutral expression on his face. It wasn't until she grabbed his arm did he react, and when he did, it was with a tilt of the head, a purse of the lips. People, he pondered, all mourned differently. The loss of a classmate wasn't something to put your nose up about, after all. Perhaps Himeko was just trying to push her feelings downward, replace the bad with the good. Maybe she was a lot braver than she let on. It was this thought that interested him, and without thinking, began accompanying her to the gardens.

"That's probably for the best. If there are some plants over there that could serve as a remedy or even food, it would be wise so discover them as soon as possible. Fine thinking, Himeko-kun."

He hadn't questioned why she denied anyone her last name before, but assumed it was probably the wisest thing to do. In a castle full of potential murderers and victims, hiding things away about yourself could work in your favor. He had also learned, through the grapevine of students and gab when they were all trapped below in the dungeon, that her talent was blogging, something relating to writing about a person's life and interest as he learned upon inquiries later. It was an odd talent, certainly not something that could assist her in this mutual killing situation-- therefore it made sense to disguise facts about herself behind a veil of false identities and the shine of a sparkling tiara.

We all mourn in different ways, he reminded himself.

Upon entering the tea garden, the two were met with a rather magnificent sight-- blooming, beautiful flowers and a large, intricate fountain in the middle. All of the flowers seemed to have some sort of color to them, save for a vine of roses that trailed around the structure of the fountain-- they were pure white. And, more suspiciously, meticulously maintained.

"Someone has been here recently." He scanned the flower beds around them, a soft frown on his face. "I take care of plants for a living. These are being maintenance daily. See? Those roses are freshly pruned."

He pointed to the white ones, and then looked back to her.

"There are multiple forces working against us. Either we are in a situation where someone is in control of many different fellows, or a group of individuals is working together behind this. Good job, Himeko-kun. We wouldn't have discovered this without you."

#shslblogprincess

shslmikoism-blog

✖ task four - ignorance [closed]

You could say she had a dirty smirk on her face as she watched Kaho die. Mika was using her hand to cover her giggles, but her joy was clear on her face. It wasn’t like she had some creepy kink for executions and deaths, like a certain someone, but she enjoyed the pure fact Kaho had been caught red handed. She was never fond of the sarcastic girl, and now that her life was coming to an end because of a stupid mistake, Mika couldn’t help but laugh at her. Of course, she got looks for doing so, but she couldn’t give a flying fuck about how the others felt.

She kept behind the others as they exited the trial room, she never liked to walk in groups, so she fell a few steps behind everyone else. By this time, her grin was gone, but often small chuckles would escape from her mouth. Mika watched as everyone stopped in front of the stair case that lead up to the armory room. Raising an eyebrow, she walked a little faster to see what everyone was looking at. She paid no attention to the bear, watching him ramble on and on until something caught her eye. Presented in front of her was a pile of keys, that had a bear symbol on each one..except the one on the top. She pushed past people, grabbing the gate key, smiling at it. Priceless.

Taking one monokey from the stack, she walked up the steps. Going past the swords, she made her way to the top of the staircase, where the gate was. “Haha..!” She laughed again, spinning the keys on her finger before taking the gate key and unlocking it. Mika listened for the satisfying click of the gate, kicking them open. “..That’s better.” With no hesitation, she tossed the gate key on the floor, letting it clink into the floor and slide over to hit the wall. Walking past, she made her way to the room with her nameplate without a single word to anyone else.

shslboyscouts

"Let's talk."

Ryozo had beat her through the maze, using his expertise at navigation and natural superb instincts regarding direction. He had watched how she behaved, how her behavior had changed ever since Kaho's passing, how cruel her demeanor was during the trial and from then on. And that, Ryozo Rokuda knew, was not the behavior that any team player should display.

When Mika turned the hall towards the bedrooms, Ryozo stood at her door, leaning against it and staring down the end of the corridor, obviously awaiting her arrival. Now that she was there, he adjusted his stance to a more professional position, his somewhat laid-back demeanor now missing and replaced with his usual military posture.

"I have a few words I want to share with you. Don't worry too much about your time wasted, for the time being, we have nothing but time. Simply you and myself, here in this hallway, prepared to have a discussion. Thank you for coming to this meeting. Our conference begins now."

He tilted his head up, looking down his nose at her, eyebrow raised and voice steady.

"Your behavior after the trial was, and still is, troubling. I understand people cope in many different ways. Loss is a tricky thing to understand, especially for troop members this young. I am here for you. Want a hug?"

With that, he opened his arms wide, staring unblinkingly at her.

"Hug me, Tsukiko-kun, and wipe that smirk off your face."

#shslmikoism

shslchainsawicesculptor-blog

Moving on up | Task 4 | Open

Chiyoko Murakami was not happy.

Kaho Tsukuda was – had been – her roommate. She’d thought that she was okay enough, honestly. She might have even been able to forgive her for killing Ariga, had she not tried to push the blame onto her. But… it hardly mattered now. Ariga was dead. Tsukuda was dead. She was still alive, and so were thirteen others. The living take precedence over the dead, no matter the circumstance.

She didn’t even want to get started on that execution. Chased down by a beast that wasn’t a beast, only to fall into a knife – if Tsukuda had been just a tad more convincing, it would have been her, alone in the forest, running to her death. She’d managed to keep a cool enough head during the trial, but now that it was over, she wanted to scream. It was times like these that she’d grab her chainsaw and vent it out on an enormous chunk of ice. Lacking both tool and material, she could do nothing more than bottle it up and attempt to maintain her composure until she had an opportunity to let it out in private.

The prospect of leaving the dungeon was the best thing she’d heard of all day. She’d long since tired of the disgusting air, confined spaces, terrible foor, lack of anything hygienic - she could go on forever. Even if the next area lacked an escape route – which she suspected it would; the bear wouldn’t let them go that easily – she wasn’t planning to return anywhere near here anytime soon.

Gritting her teeth, Chiyoko snatched a monokey from the table and strode to the blocked stairs – only to realize that she hadn’t taken the iron key necessary to unlock the gate, damn it. Accused of murder, and now this – the world seemed eager to push her limits today. She hoped the next floor would have somewhere decent to sleep, feeling drained after the day’s events.

The current situation, at the very least, appealed to her dramatic side. She kicked the bars in frustration, then sat down on the steps and buried her face in her hands. She let out a sigh as she heard approaching footsteps, not looking up to see who it was.

shslboyscouts

"Are you giving up, Murakami-kun?"

It was with a certain briskness that Ryozo sat down beside her, staring straight ahead, back down towards the exit that they had just gone through. Slowly, his gaze fell onto her, taking in her exhausted demeanor and defeated attitude, before averting his gaze back in the same brisk manner that he practiced so often.

"It's alright, I'll carry the weight for both of us. Please trust in my abilities."

The two sat there a while, waiting for the other students to assemble to the locked area, until finally, Mika came with the key to unlock the gate. The classmates began filtering through, but he stayed beside her side, still. It wasn't a secret that the two didn't care for one another-- the way they behaved during the investigation period was enough to convince him. Chiyoko wasn't a team player, and Ryozo could expect that. He didn't like it, of course, but he knew that not everyone was cut out to be part of a troop. Which was why he had to convince her otherwise.

Sure, she may not want to be a part of his constructive vision of teamwork, but in time, hopefully she will. He'd make it his business to ensure that she got out of there with the rest of them-- if he didn't then what type of scout would he be?

"The gates are opened. I'll accompany you to the next area, if you wish it." And even if you don't wish it, he added mentally.

#shslchainsawicesculptor

✪ [ O P E N ] ▪ Scouting Badge #3 ▪ Remain Composed.

Hell, Ryozo mused, was much different than he'd expect. He often imagined it to be a fiery pit where the lost and fallen would spend the rest of their infinite days doing hard labor and serving a giant, horned beast-- one that resembled one of the windows in the long hall that ultimately led to the disposal of Kaho Tsukuda. He didn't necessarily mind that version of hell, as he was fond with working with his hands in a team where they all had to achieve a goal of some sort. Even if his bones broke and his limbs stopped moving and time continued on, he'd still prefer that daydream to this nightmare. Alas, not everyone was so lucky. Instead of toiling his days away in the ranks of nameless demons, he walked silently in this formidable maze until an exit was found. It wasn't too hard to get out, mazes had always been easy for him to solve, whether it was the mess of his family's orchard that he had to navigate or interesting school games where you had to lead a crayon in a straight line through a tiny maze until a clear path was found. Despite his strange ability to navigate them, he never enjoyed them; they were a waste of time. A waste, a waste, a waste. Most students went in different directions when they were released into the maze from the dungeon-- what kind of dungeon lets out in the middle of a maze, anyways? --but someone had accompanied him to what they both hoped to be the exit. After a mere 41 minutes precisely, the two found themselves in a courtyard. There was an array of options to go next, most paths leading to more outdoor areas to enjoy and one leading to the inside of the castle once more. It was nice being outside, for though he never exactly gave up hope of escape, remaining in those cramped halls that smelled of decay and sleeping in filth wasn't something he enjoyed for the time being. But a pattern had been revealed; whenever someone kills and they pass the trial, a new part of the location opened up. It was now obvious that this location was two things; decidedly, a castle, and also really fucking large. Hopefully, he could avoid the eye of the bear in such a vast cage. Hopefully. "Which area do you want to go to?" Ryozo turned to the student that had accompanied him on his journey out, placing his hands in his pockets casually. "I'll accompany you, as it is my duty to protect in such circumstances. Please accept my assistance."

#ic #chapter 2 #open

shslblogprincess-blog

[Task 3] "...And, sprouting tiny white wings, she became the flower queen." [Chiyoko/Ryozo/Himeko]

shslblogprincess-blog

Ryozo doesn’t reply to her when he helps her to her feet — his eyes are locked on Chiyoko as she walks briskly away from the two of them, back to the torture chamber — to Shizue. Barely noticing she’s still holding Ryozo’s hand until he lets her go, Himeko watches the ice sculptor as she works. Like herself, like everyone else, she’s dirty and tired and starving, but… even with all of that, dressed like that and taking the situation in hand so readily—

She’s like a queen, Himeko thinks, a brave queen stepping up to the plate to find the truth so she can deliver justice, Shizue the member of her populace that Chiyoko’s honor-bound to protect. It’s a shielding thought from the horror of the situation, one she clings to and holds on to as she tries to wipe the tears from her face with shaking hands.

If Chiyoko’s a queen, and Ryozo’s— a knight, yes, that’ll do — then… what would a good princess do? She would have to support them— yes? Be strong and kind and courteous in the face of adversity — and help make sure that Shizue… that Shizue’s killer (one of them, one of them, don’t think about it) is brought to justice, because good princesses are just.

"I… I thank you for your worry, Murakami-chan, but… I’ll be fine now, I think. I wish— I want to help, so, please… please don’t worry about me—!"

Easier said than done… but Ryozo’s already heading towards the secret passage, so she follows him down it. It’s dark in here, dirty and cramped and claustrophobic, but she tries her best to keep a cool head, squeezing her eyes shut as they walk down, brushing her hands along the walls as she goes and seeing if she hits anything with her feet on the way down, before they exit into the confessional in the chapel.

shslchainsawicesculptor-blog

Chiyoko was slightly irked that Ryozo had gone and decided to take charge – scratch the ‘slightly,’ she had half a mind to yank him by that stupid collar of his and shove him in a coffin and the only thing stopping her was how incredibly murderer-ey that would look. Alas, the threat of this execution thing had her slightly concerned.

She watched Ryozo and Himeko head down the secret passageway, one after another. She’d had some idea of checking for evidence there, yes, but it seemed like it would be difficult when it was so dark in there. Taking a torch from the wall of the torture chamber, she lit her way through the secret passage, keeping an eye out for signs of recent use. When she reached the chapel, she abandoned the torch, tossing it on the floor of the passage. She didn’t want to deal with a flammable object, and it wasn’t like anything in there was going to catch fire. Probably.

Arriving last, she announced her presence with, “Ah, the chapel. Good times. You two ever think about confessing your sins? I’d be willing to lend an ear, anytime.”

Of course, that had been under completely different circumstances. Chiyoko doubted that even she might be able to get any enjoyment out of it at the moment, with a dead body just a short walk’s away, but it couldn’t hurt to put the offer out there. While it was on her mind, she checked both confessional booths for anything unusual.

shslboyscouts

"What--" Of course, he mused, that taking charge would often lead to different repercussions. Being the leader had its ups and down, definite aspects of it that would lead to an undesired outcome. So, it made sense that the leader would have to deal with this situation first-- but in all honesty, he wasn't sure how to exactly go about handling this situation. This was so much different than any task he's been handed before in pursuit of a badge to prove his commitment; helping , public duties, craftsmanship, motivation, survival-- he's been through it all before, and on his decorated sash that he kept neatly hung up in his room at his grandparents' proved it. But... Dealing with corpses, promising things he was no longer sure he could keep good on, and this absolute mess of sickening scents and sloppy, kindergartner's writing on a wall made out of-- god, who knows? Involuntarily, Ryozo took a step back, towards the cross, and lifted a hand to cover the opal around his neck, seeking comfort. Crimson writing was met with his own crimson gaze, and before he could stop himself, he let out a small gasp of breath. No no, that won't do. He had to compose himself, be the leader, be the strong one. With that in mind, the boy scout straightened up and cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from the wall in front of him, and over to the confessional booth that Chiyoko began investigating, a red path marking the way, quite like a carpet that the movie star-looking young woman walked across. Mind racing, he averted his gaze from her, and moved over to the wall again, cautiously. "It... It's made out of blood, I think." The words left him in a soft, somewhat dazed voice that didn't sound like him at all. "We need to get to the bottom of this. The... The witch hunt is on? What does..." he trailed off, lost.

#shslchainsawicesculptor #shslblogprincess

(( Thank you Mei for the art commission!!)

#art #me

shslblogprincess-blog

[Task 3] "...And, sprouting tiny white wings, she became the flower queen." [Chiyoko/Ryozo/Himeko]

shslblogprincess-blog

The preferable thing would have been for the ground to swallow her up; then she would be gone, out of this situation and away from Shizue and away from everyone else because one of them is a murderer, and she wouldn’t have to face up to anybody for crying, or falling, or anything.

As it is, not one but two kind hearted souls, wretchedly, happen to try to lend her an ear.

The first is Chiyoko Murakami… the chainsaw ice sculptor. She hasn’t spoken to her, really, since the start of their confinement; she’s a veritable Snow Queen, cold as ice… afraid of messing up again after some of her earlier encounters, Himeko’s been keeping her distance. So, when she walks over, expressing concern… it takes the blogger by surprise, staring up at Chiyoko sharply with wide, terrified green eyes. And then comes Ryozo Rokuda — the boy scout. She’s sure he’s said something to her in passing, at some point, but what, she can’t remember — either way, there are two options here.

Take his hand, or refuse it, and run, and hide until this is all over. The latter option is infinitely appealing — but a sudden, dark thought seizes Himeko, and causes her to reconsider;

What if that looks suspicious? What if they think it’s her?

No, it won’t do. A good princess should be kind, and brave, and strong in the face of adversity. And while she might not be able to measure up to that, yet, she can at least somewhat-haphazardly stuff her tiara back on her head, and murmur a tearful apology as she takes Ryozo’s hand in her own, wiping hard at her face with the back of her other hand as she tries to find her wobbling feet again.

"Is she-" she asks in barely more than a whisper, as if worried she’ll shatter if she speaks too loudly, "Are they— Ariga-san, is… R-Rokuda-san, forgive me, but… but, I— I, I, Ariga-san, are they really…?"

shslchainsawicesculptor-blog

Chiyoko watched Ryozo help up Himeko with a trace of animosity towards the former. Come on. The girl could stand on her own; it’s not like she went and broke her leg in the fall.

She tapped her foot on the ground. Aww, would you look at those two lovebirds. Adorable. It was like a storybook, some kind of twisted boy-knight helping up the wanna-be princess. Absolutely puke-worthy, this disgustingly sweet little – this was going to take a while, wasn’t it.

“You two do that. I’ll be right back.”

Chiyoko was going to walk away now. Yeah. Just to get a little bit of air that wasn’t infested with Ryozo’s creepy stares and weird helpfulness and Himeko’s flowery tears. There was a corpse over there, and from what she’d seen, the death might have involved sharp objects.

Giving the other two a bit of space so they could make out or gaze into each other’s’ eyes or whatever they were doing over there, she walked over to the body for a moment. From there, the corpse actually seemed… less real. From the other side of the room, she could imagine it being Shizue Ariga. Up close, it was much easier to imagine everything being a movie, and herself a sort of fashionable detective. A high-budget movie with… really, really good special effects.

She gave the corpse a quick once-over, paying special attention to where her limbs were tied to the rack. Being careful not to get any blood on her gloves, she even searched their pockets. Respect for the dead be damned, this was a murder investigation.

Eh. If she looked much more thoroughly, she’d get blood on something, and she wasn’t going to have any of that. Discarding the illusion, she returned to the two that she’d left, giving a small wave as she approached. She’d only been gone for a minute or so.

“So, Rokuda, I would guess that you’ve already answered her question by now, but I checked. They’re dead, all right.” She shifted her attention to Himeko. “You don’t look well. I think we can agree that it’d be best if you sat down, no? Somewhere else, of course, it would be absurd to linger here much longer. Let’s go to the chapel. The confessional booths are surprisingly comfortable, and we can take a look at the secret passage along the way.”

shslboyscouts

Ryozo opened his mouth to speak in response to the teary-eyed beauty-- he means, classmate, in front of him, when Chiyoko announces her intent to wander off. With a long, careful gaze, he regarded her retreating form as she neared the corpse left to decay on the table, as if the small, seemingly defenseless green-haired individual was but an experiment for dissection. This was his class, he mused, and perhaps this segment was science; they were to observe the body, learn the anatomy in time for his next class-- government, where they would hold a trial. All at once, the ridiculousness of his thoughts overwhelmed him, how trivial he was making this seem within the confines of his mind, and he silenced the pondering, letting it slip away into the folds of memories that he would choose to forget.

With a surprising slowness, he lets go of the girl's hand, his eyes still fixated upon Chiyoko as she dug around in the person's pockets, until he finally met her gaze. All he could do was offer a light frown before the sound of high heels approached them, and their third member returned from her rushed investigation.

He fell silent as Chiyoko spoke, and merely nodded at her words. Two fingers, an index and a thumb, raised to pinch wearily at his bangs in weariness, gaze fallen to the floor in thought. This was something else, alright. What would his grandparents do? What would his father do?

"We'll go to the chapel, then. But please, make sure to notice anything unnatural along the way. Any clue, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can bring honor back to... Ariga-kun, was it?" He glances at Himeko then, remembering her mentioning the victim's name in her earlier inquiry.

"I'll lead the way."

And with that, Ryozo briskly marched forward over to the secret passage, a hand raising to fiddle with the pendant wound about his neck. He had never done anything like this before, really, but he did receive a badge for assisting ten people find something they had previously lost. If it was clues they were searching for, then it would be clues he would find.

#shslblogprincess #shslchainsawicesculptor

shslblogprincess-blog

[Task 3] "...And, sprouting tiny white wings, she became the flower queen." [Chiyoko/Ryozo/Himeko]

Which is when, dizzy and cloudy-headed and terrified and feeling the need to escape, escape, go home, she turns to run to nowhere, makes it a few steps… and promptly stumbles, leading to a trip, leading to a fall on the cold, hard stones and a few moments of blackness. When she awakens a few seconds later, her stockings are torn at the knees, with one knee bloody, and her tiara’s tumbled off onto the floor.

Snatching it up as soon as she can think, she tries to will her legs to move as she clutches the crown to her chest, but she can’t — not alone, not alone, not alone. Tears track down her dust-stained cheeks, and her breath comes out in ragged sobs.

She should never have left. They’re all going to die.

Alone, she can’t do anything. Not now. Not here.

shslchainsawicesculptor-blog

Such a commotion, so damn early in the morning. Honestly, the shit she had to deal with is this damn stupid dungeon with these damn stupid peop – wait. Chiyoko stood on her tiptoes, peeking over the tops of the heads of the crowded doorway to the torture room.

That was… green-hair. That one. On the rack? Huh. Pink stuff, too. Blood?

…Dead?

She barely had time to process the scene. How could she even react to such an atrocious act? Crying might be appropriate, yes – but it seemed like the little ‘princess’ beat her to it. Chiyoko took a step back as she fell, making no attempt to catch her or even help her up, but the girl had caught her attention.

She regarded the sniveling, bloody mess of a girl in front of her for a moment. She could probably just leave well enough alone, but…

“Oh, now look what you’ve done to your stockings.” She tutted, then continued on, quietly, “You don’t seem like you can handle being here right now. Let’s go find something to clean up that knee of yours, shall we?”

With that, she turned around and - of course. That asshole.

shslboyscouts

It was that asshole, indeed.

Those moments fell by in a swirl of confusion, as he marched into the chamber, closely behind the others, eyes bright and wide, searching for the source of the discontent. Those past few days, the Super High School Level Boy Scout had devoted himself to figuring a way out of there. Well, one besides the obvious option that the bear had proposed, of course. Hours went by as he tried pushing down doors that were three times his weight and struggling against stone walls that didn't seem to want to move. It was his duty, his privilege, his way of life to help when help was needed, and these people, though reluctant to assist as they were, were his classmates. His troop, if you will. He would save them, no matter what.

And so, of course he was perplexed when the corpse was found.

Around him, what seemed to be chaos ensued, what with people fluttering around in panic, voices raised, answers being searched for. Normally, he would step in and control the situation, try and get everyone to calm down, try and... Well, be the leader of his troop. But he faltered in his aspirations, fixated on the small, lifeless body tethered to the table.

The two hadn't spoken, as Ryozo had spent so much time alone and away from the others, attempting to solve this mess. However... All his effort had gone to waste. He wasn't quick enough to rescue them, for one of his classmates had resorted to doing the unthinkable. It made him sick.

Slowly, his gaze dropped from the fallen, and it fell to the floor, attempting to understand. He wasn't fast enough, he didn't lead them well enough. What kind of Troop Leader was he? He had let everyone down, this was his doing, his problem, and now... His responsibility.

Swiftly, hands raised up to greet one another, and he cracked his knuckles, mouth set in a thin line. With as much confidence and drive as he could muster, Ryozo stalked forward, approaching the table, and abruptly, bowed deeply.

"I apologize. This shall not go unpunished."

With that, he turned on his heel, and regarded the room at large. For now, he had to organize the situation, keep everyone calm, bring order to those he was responsible for. He would do right by this person, or his name wasn't Ryozo Rokuda, Super High School Level Boy Scout. And that was that.

His search for good to carry out ended with another young woman whom he had not met yet, fallen to the ground, looking rather miserable and distraught. She was already being spoken to by the other young woman he had spoken to earlier, who had refused to help him. Perhaps she would now, now that she saw what had occurred due to their lack of effort.

Without hesitation, Ryozo stepped over to them, standing tall and unblinking. The lady with the pink hair and fancy clothes turned, and their eyes met briefly before he nodded to her, almost curtly so, before stepping around her and over to the young woman on the ground. Clearing his throat, he extended a perfectly poised hand, staring down at her.

"Please take my hand and stand up. I'm nice, I promise. Really."

#shslblogprincess #shslchainsawicesculptor

✪ [ O P E N ] ▪ Scouting Badge #2 ▪ Trust me.

"You... You!"

Ryozo slammed his respective storybook shut, whipping his head around to face the bear-- God, that was a bear, right? --only to find that the toy simply wasn't present. How annoying.

A pause fell where the he simply stood in this hellish place, among the filth and grime, surrounded by coffins and the musk of decay and in the other room, torture devices, of all things. It wasn't... Something he expected, that much could be said.

He had been startled upon finding the objects, for the idea of torture hadn't occurred to him. Rather, it didn't make sense-- Why would their captors torture their objects of ransom? For what purpose could that serve? To make them tell them their secrets, perhaps, to make the students explain how they achieved their accomplishments to some sort of diabolical mastermind.

But it was soon discovered, through the assistance of this fairy tale story book, that they already knew that information. Inside lied everything Ryozo had kept a secret for so long, and yet, there it was as plain as day and, most importantly; known. He forced down a swallow, eyes searching the floor below, as he repeated the bear's words in his mind over and over. This was no ransom heist. This was a murder game.

Swiftly, his gaze darted around to the students around them-- some he had already been acquainted with and others he had not. If he was going to ensure their safety, not only from outside forces but also... From each other, then he would have to act quickly. And so, tucking his book under his arm and slipping his ID card into his pocket, Ryozo went over to the nearest person.

"Please don't feel singled out, as I plan on telling everyone this. But... Try to remain calm. I'm going to make sure we get out of this alive, one way or another. So, whatever you do, just... Just trust me, alright?"

He tilted his head slightly at the person, taking them in with a piercing, crimson gaze that, no matter how much he tried, couldn't contort into something more sympathetic.

#aofopen

shslfurrier

task 1 : maitake

shslfurrier

At first, Kaho had wanted nothing more than scoff at the stranger, turn around, and be on her merry way. He was rather unsuspecting, if you could call it that, and had initially appeared to Kaho as sort of… Shrimpy. She raised an eyebrow and peered at him inquisitively, watching as he pressed his hands against the clammy stone walls. Either he was doing something respectably intuitive, or he was a real weirdo. She took another step forward, almost cautious, as though she was approaching something remarkably unstable.

When he spoke, she nearly snickered. But, no — that would be quite rude; not even giving the boy a shadow of a chance. Instead of chuckling at his bluntness, she narrowed her eyes a bit, staring the stranger down.

"Is that how things are? Fine, okay. I’ll bite. A, We’re in a cave. B, It reeks of mildew, and the walls are slimy as hell, so there’s probably some water source not to far from here — either that, or the air’s just really humid. C, the rats are thriving, I’m talking William Taft on his deathbed. We… Don’t have too much to worry about,” Kaho offered, straightforward as possible, deciding that if he was going to get smart with her, she’d throw the bait right back.

The furrier wondered why she was humoring this boy, rather than just scoffing at his disrespect and being on her merry way. Perhaps it was something about the way he had been inspecting the wall — it had seemed almost scientific. The girl was impressed, to put it quite plainly. While the other students had primarily taken to frantically roaming around and engaging in other pointless activities, he had behaved like a proper analyst.

…A boyscout? Kaho’s eyes lit up for just a moment. How cool. She crossed her arms, not wanting to seem to overzealous in response to his introduction. She had to play it cool.

"Kidnapped? Jump right to the worst case scenario, why don’t you. Sure, alright. Rokuda-san. If you give me ample reason to trust you, I won’t protest, but… It’s stupid to be undoubting right off the bat. And I’m not stupid.”

"Tsukuda is my name. Call me whatever," she informed him shortly.

shslboyscouts

"I understand, Tsukada-kun."

He tilted his head at her in thought-- she had said something he had not previously considered. The thought of anyone simply not trusting him was strange, for his entire existence was spent having people rely and believe in his ability. It seemed natural, then, to merely tell these people to trust him blindly and that he would lead them out. But she had brought up a good point; undoubting someone right off the bat was, he admitted, foolish. It was something new he had to consider down here, and that he would. In the meantime, however, he would work on proving his ability to his new classmates; something he had planned to do before this ordeal, in their normal school environment. Walk in, show them who he was and what he could do, and get out of there. He'd stick around for a bit to build up his academic resume, of course, but after it was completed his disappear back to his troop and the orchard. Stay long enough to be revered and then disappear again, that had always been the agenda. Things had now, regrettably, changed. He had to play a new game-- a game where he wasn't entirely in control of his destiny and those around him didn't trust him.

Fine, fine. He'd prove himself.

"Kidnapping seems like the most suitable conclusion-- after all, we awoke in cells. Bars, piles of hay to rest in, filth... These conditions are all signs that would point me to that belief. However, I am pleased to hear about your ability of deduction. Between the two of us, I'm sure we'll figure something out. That being said, I hope we can work well together. I will remain by your side on the condition that you remain by my own. Let's be teammates and save our classmates, alright?"

With this, he extended a hand to shake, staring her down and not moving a muscle. What a team they would be, he mused.

#shslfurrier

shsl-kunoichi

TASK 1 || A Wise Wolf Hides Her Fangs [Ryozo]

shsl-kunoichi

His way of speaking is very to the point. Doesn’t seem like he enjoys his small talk… unsurprisingly. Small talk is difficult anyway so that suits her fine. A boy scout huh? She scans him from head to toe as if looking for something in particular before just grinning again. Somehow out of all the talents in the world, boy scout, that one, that suited him the most, really.

Her eyebrows furrow at a lightning speed. The leader? Him? Ahaha. No. No way that’s happening. First of all, she’s the leader. And second of all, she doesn’t work well in these cute group activities. “Are you seriously trying to free a spirit?” she can’t help but ask. That might ruin her ‘pretending to be a spirit for no real reason’ game but she’s in such a state of disbelief she has to ask. “… Anyway, I’m not sure I intend to follow any leader. It’s a drag. No need to worry, I can handle the big bad world quite fine by myself. We won’t be here long enough to need a leader anyway, Rokuda-shi.” her tone is confident as always.

"Ransomers don’t traditionally harm their goods unless the stakes are raised. Of course, I wouldn’t know how long we’ve been here but cutting off a finger or a head seems foolhardy this early on." the words spoken are uttered so casually it makes the subject matter seem like a joke. "Apparently I’m a ghost anyway so they can’t hurt me." she frowns after that, not a frown of anger but more a thoughtful one. "At least you have a point there. Answers and supplies are both worth looking for. And our captors…" a smile creeps back onto her face but it seems more on the dangerous side. "I look forward to our eventual meeting. Enemies without a face are so bothersome after all."

Rinko barely hid a snicker behind one hand. He was so earnest it was painful. ‘You can trust me. I promise’ he said… yeah, he seemed trustworthy alright. And way too trusting. “Oh I bet.” she murmurs to his comment of trust.

"You must come from the sticks, huh? I wonder if you ever heard about the ‘Sunday’ thing…" her eyes wander to the side as if she’s spotted something before returning to the boy scout. It wasn’t like there was much else to see… both because of that thick blanket of darkness and because it really was just a pretty plain location. "Well Kemurizome-shi once said: ‘if a man gives you an apple he deserves an orange in turn’ so I’ll play nice today. My name is Kirigakure Rinko. Of the Kirigakure descent." she stresses the word ‘the’ in particular. It’s not like that means anything to anybody else but she still wants to stress it - it’s a big deal even if people don’t get it’s a big deal. "I’m pretty talented… especially when it comes to getting away with stuff. That would explain why it’s a stupid move. Satisfied, Little Leader-shi?" so what if he was taller? She could still be patronizing if she wanted. And she did. Nobody bossed her around anyway.

shslboyscouts

Hmm. Perhaps it had been a mistake partaking in any form of communication with this one-- her strange attire should have been enough to tip him off. But not only did she reject the idea of him leading them out of here safely, but regarded the prospect as foolish in its own regard; comical, even. It was enough to make Ryozo pause in his ponderings and attach his gaze directly against her own-- unmoving and unblinking as he watched her speak. When she finished, another pause ensued. Not only had she treated this dilemma so casually, but she had called him a 'Little Leader.' Well, that was more than enough to tell Ryozo his time was being wasted. Girls were strange in general, he mused, but this one took the cake. "I was raised in Honshu, in the Chūbu reason, yes. How you figured that from what I've stated so far is commendable, but also very suspicious. Do you know more about our present situation than you're letting on? Secrecy is not tolerated in a troop." At this, he raised an index finger and tilted it side to side, wagging it at her in a scolding manner before dropping his arm once more. This one just screamed suspicious, to her weird clothes and her strange phrases and that sentence she trailed off on-- the ability to get away with things comment. At this, Ryozo crossed his arms and tilted his head. He'd have to keep a close eye on her, that much was certain. "It's good to be acquainted with you, Kirigakure-kun. Let's work together well." For a moment, however, his piercing gaze ceased and his eyes were brought downwards, almost in thought. It was a strange thing for him to do-- take his eyes off of the person in question for an extended period of time. A silence fell between them, and it lasted for a few long beats before he finally looked back up to her, keeping his chin close to his chest and just gazing at her with his eyes, almost like a puppy dog who was watching someone while laying down. "Am I still able to protect a ghost? If you're already one, then I'm too late to protect you, right? I apologize. I should have been here sooner."

#shsl-kunoichi

shslboyscouts

✪ [ O P E N ] ▪ Scouting Badge #1 ▪ Let's Talk.

jinseiyuuhara-blog

He stands at the bars for a while, chattering, before the presence of another person inside the room even dawns on him. The prickling in his spine is like a premonition, and so he doesn’t jump six feet in the air when that somebody speaks; the voice catches his attention at first because it comes from behind him, and secondly because it appears to be directed at him. Slowly, very slowly, Jinsei turns his head, and sure enough some kid is standing there, arms folded, eyes to the ground. What the hell?

“… Excuse me?” he replies, the combination of his own folly - in somehow totally missing this kid the first time - and the really rather rude proclamation catching him off guard. “Are you talkin’ to me?”

He can’t say he’s overly impressed with the sight that meets his eyes. This guy is probably a good half foot shorter than him, and weedy-looking, not that Jinsei can talk. Still, that drawn-in posture, those downcast eyes - and that’s how he chooses to greet somebody for the first time? Calling them a rat? And no fashion sense, as if to top it all off. The cherry on the cake. Shorts? A particular NPC in a particular monster battling game springs to mind.

Jinsei releases the bar and swings round to face Ryozo, puffing out his cheeks, pointedly stuffing his hands in the pockets of his trousers. As his eyes readjust to the gloom, he notices the hard, straw-covered bed behind Shorty, the very twin of his own. Ominous.

“That’s pretty rude, you know,” he continues. “Tellin’ somebody you just met to take a hike. Not like I got much of anywhere to go.” He strongly considers taking the advice all the same, and going to speak to somebody else. Still, he can behave like a grown-up, even if his new friend apparently can’t. Reluctantly, he extracts one hand from his pocket and offers it to Ryozo.

“I’m Jinsei. Nice to meet you, roomie.”

He doesn’t really sound like he means it.

shslboyscouts

A few beats passed, a long moment in which neither spoke. The rat had went from scrutinizing the young man before him to look at the feet of the person who belonged to the voice, instead, while Ryozo merely continued to look down at the creature. Arms crossed, mouth set in a thin line, and eyebrow quirked, he finally lifted his gaze from the beast and turned his head, in an almost owl-like manner, to view the source of the interruption.

There stood a... a person. That was it, nothing more, nothing less. Ryozo realized, in a sort of slow, lackadaisical way that it was the person who had previously been passed out beside him in their captivity. He mulled the other's words over, tasted the meaning on his tongue, turned them about in his head, when finally, he understood. It wasn't by chance the two had ended up in the same cell, but rather they were assigned roommates. Meaning... This guy and himself were going to be stuck with each other.

The other looked as excited as he was by the prospect-- an offended tone and a grimace to boot. But that wasn't entirely Ryozo's concern, at least not for the moment-- he had bigger fish to fry. Or rats, as it were.

And so, in one swift, exact movement, Ryozo turned his body around, now standing next to the rodent as opposed as in front of it. He then stretched out an arm, fingers straight and rigid, and gestured to their guest, who remained stubbornly seated beside the frustrated gent.

"This is a rat." He says it in a very matter-of-fact way, as if speaking to a child who didn't fully comprehend what the meaning of a rat was. "I was having a discussion with him. You are more than welcome to join in; he's not listening to me."

The rat turned up its nose at Ryozo, who sucked in the inside of his cheek in return.

With that, Ryozo finally takes the hand offered to him, and gives it a firm shake-- twice up, once down, brisk release-- before setting his hands in his shorts' pockets. He watched the other with an air of scrutiny, now matching the rat's expression. Of course, the rat wasn't making any of these expressions, or probably not thinking what Ryozo suspected him of thinking; but the kid wasn't fooled. This rat wouldn't pull a fast one on him, he was sure of it.

"My name is Ryozo Rokuda, and my title that enabled me to attend Hope's Peak Academy is Super High School Level Boy Scout. I hope we can work together well."

#shslseiyuu

shslboyscouts

✪ [Mika] ▪ Scouting Badge #1 ▪ Let's Talk.

shslmikoism-blog

When it almost seemed like her prayers helped her out for once, she heard alarming footsteps that trailed behind her, a voice calling out to her. Swallowing hard, she tried to ignore the person behind her, trying to contact her. Mika guessed for it to be the owl-like boy whom she talked to earlier, who else would chase after her? Seeing the dead end lit up in front of her eyes, she tried slowing down in the hopes of turning into a cell and hiding but the boy was quicker than she thought.

So she walked faster, speeding up as she heard his voice travel down the hall and echo. She was absolutely correct on her analysis on him, he was exactly like the old men whose only hobby was to bother the shit out of her. Gazing at the wall that she would soon stop at, she didn’t know what to do know. Stop? The boy would stop her anyway at the dead end, there was no point stopping now. Mika bit her lower lip, her footsteps getting faster and faster until—

Dead end.

Turning around in panic and some fear in her eyes, she gazed at him with a slight attitude in her voice. “Help what exactly?” Mika tried backstepping, maybe the gate that was holding her in here with the rest would magically unlock or let her pass. But once she took a slight step, all that greeted her was a door that stopped her footsteps from continuing. “..Mika.” She repeated again for him, “Mika Tsukiko. I’m a shrine maiden and second of all, who in the holy heck are you?”

She was clearly uncomfortable by his eyes, especially since he stared with such force and concentration, it honestly freaked her out. Not only that, it sure was obvious he was trying to talk to the rat earlier, what kind of crazy kids even tried doing that? “Can you just, blink?!” It sounded more of a demand than a question, but this was enough already.

shslboyscouts

"It would help to better understand your potential to assist our group."

Ryozo cocked his head to the side, watching her intently, as if even sizing her up. Help down here seemed few and far between, and she may be one of his few hopes to formulate some sort of plan that would enable their escape. Never judge a book by its cover; it was in the handbook, page 76 paragraph 4, sentence 7. 'Be kind to everyone and give everyone an opportunity to contribute, as help may arrive in places that wouldn't be expected.'

He was caught slightly off-guard, however, when she spat out that question-- though it sounded more like a demand. For a few long moments, he continued to watch her, expression on his features going from neutral to speculating, before very, very slowly, he closed his eyes.

For a solid three seconds, he just stood there, eyes closed, before finally snapping them open once more. He nodded in her direction, as if acknowledging his own success and inclining that she should acknowledge it as well-- before carrying on as if never interrupted.

"My name is Ryozo Rokuda, and my title that enabled me to attend Hope's Peak Academy is Super High School Level Boy Scout. I believe we are intended to be classmates, so the forming of bonds between those that attend school with one another on a regular basis begins now. I would like your input in our current situation-- I've been collecting that from a few people down here, some proving more helpful than others. I should hope you fall into that category, as well."

With that, Ryozo idly picked up the stone that hung around his neck between an index finger and a thumb, as if contemplating something while speaking to her.

"Do you believe it wiser to attempt and escape, or to wait for help? Please state the pros and cons of each option."

#shslmikoism

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