I'll Get There, One Day!

Masumi Hirai/♀/♋ Come one, come all! Step right up and meet the Super High School Level Contortionist! Status: Alive Affiliated with Academy of Fools

[trustingthorns-blog]

Task 2 ✿ Tis now the summer of your youth [ Open ]

Yua had been expecting several possibilities. None of them had been pleasant. A few had even been downright gruesome. But this? This was sadistic. The torture room had unnerved her enough. Those implements looked real and, even worse, as though they might still work. Her first thought was that they were to be used on her and her classmates, which made her shiver. 

However, then she heard that speech, and then it all seemed even worse than before. This was ridiculous. This must be a dream, or a joke, or something, anything but real. 

But she would get nowhere by denying reality, so, at the bear’s request, she entered the second room, her calm demeanour betrayed as a lie only because her hands continued to shake. Those coffins. One coffin for each of them. She did not know if it was symbolic or if they were actually to be used, but both thoughts filled her with equal measures of dread and nausea.

She picked up her book, although her hands were shaking almost too much for her to turn the pages, but she managed it, barely, her face getting paler and paler with each one. 

After a few seconds, she snapped the book shut, doing her best to appear calm, and leant on a table for support for a few seconds, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.

'I am Kaneshiro Yua. I'm a star. I'm a medial idol, I am famous and I am loved, and I am better than this, better than this fucking bear.’ Yua thought to herself, keeping the mantra going before realizing that she’d said that last part aloud, She clapped a hand over her mouth, looking around, and breathed a sigh of relief when realizing nobody had heard her. 

Even in an environment like this, public image mattered. She couldn’t be seen to swear, no matter how much she wanted to. So instead she just stayed in the same position, leaning on the table and trying to appear nonchalant. 

"This is all a load of nonsense. There’s no way anybody here would be dumb enough to fall for this. Like, the police should be here for us any minute now, right?" she spoke to nobody in particular, but the person who the words were really comforting was of course Yua herself. 

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Seeing the other students in such a distressed state was one thing; seeing a national, well-loved starlet whispering to herself in the corner was another thing entirely.  After watching her show on TV, Masumi felt as though she knew Yua- this is figurative, of course, since they had never actually met before arriving here- which only made the image more upsetting.  The redhead willed herself to walk over to where the girl was leaning, hoisting herself up and sitting on the table next to her, legs dangling off the sides.  She sat for a moment, simply listening to her talk before she realized sitting in silence and staring at the blonde was probably incredibly unsettling.  “Yeah, I agree.  No one is dumb enough to kill over these books!  Especially since the police will be here soon.  Don’t worry, things will be fine,” she waved her hand as nonchalantly as possible, “These books are bad, but no one here would kill over it.  You wouldn’t wanna be caught with a dead body when the cops are here; you’d go straight to jail!  And that would be bad news.”

This conversation isn’t making anyone feel better.  “What I mean is don’t worry.  We’ll be fine.  We just have to forget about these stupid books!”  Masumi awkwardly reached out a hand and pat the blonde on her shoulder, trying her best to be comforting but probably coming off more stiff and ridiculous than anything.  The redhead realized somewhere in the back of her mind that she had just touched a celebrity, but of course it was no time to fawn over that now.  Besides, she was a celebrity too, technically.  So then why is it a big deal that she touched someone who happened to be on a famous talk show?  Masumi.  Stop.  Focus.  You came over here for a reason- you have one job.

“So… Do you wanna get out of here?  This room isn’t really the best place to be right now,” she muttered, staring at the rough stone walls and the light that flickered and danced off of them from the torches, “Just… Out of this room.  It’s giving me the creeps!”

[shsldomesticanimaltrainer]

Task 2 || Sit and Stay... Forever (Open)

Just when anything could not get any worse, ear-ringing bells chimed from who knows where. His younger self would for sure cover his ears from how unbearably loud it was. Everyone else seemed to be drawn to the direction of the unwelcome noise, so he shuffled there too. Then, the—bear. From what he could make out, he looked like a stuffed bear with a talking device implanted in. It was intriguing, although the overall get-up was unnerving. A humble, sweet-looking “normal” side and one that resided in evil… I’ve watched too many cartoons, he mused, pushing away the thoughts about the bear as he continued to take in every word he said. What stuck out most was the “you can get out of here if you kill a classmate” bit. Easy enough, ri—

Wait.

No.

No no no. Nao shook his head and the hat’s ears flopped with his motions. His face began to lose it’s color—but the bear wasn’t done. There were “presents” to be received.  An I.D. with his name and other miscellaneous information, and.. what’s this? He tucked the I.D. away safely then went over to the books. His gaze fixated on the one that had his name on it and he plucked it from its resting spot, thumbed through it, and clenched his teeth. His whole calm demeanor blossomed into a giant fear. Not that. Not again. No.. no.. no! 

His hands held the side of his temples as his gaze met the floor. The book had captivated him in the worst way possible that he almost did not notice the coffins.  His vision became misty as he blinked back a couple of small tears as he scanned each one of them. With a shattered heart, he slunk over to an unused wall and leaned against it on the cold floor. He closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths before re-opening them once more. Just breathing already made him feel a little bit better.. "This is fine." He murmured under his breath, "I’m alright. No one’s really going to kill one another.. at least I won’t." The floor was his conversation partner until he decided to pull Em-li out of his pocket. He let the rat crawl around on his hands. "You believe in me, don’t you? Just make sure I don’t kill anyone, alright?" The rat’s only response was a sniff of Nao’s hand. At least it was better than the floor. As he observed the rat, his worried scowl slowly transformed into a small smile. Just for these few treasured moments, he felt at home. Holding an animal made him feel safer. Securer. As if their souls were simply intertwined.. Then another announcement. Luckily it was not as loud as the first, but it still made him jump. Em-li’s claws dug into him slightly from the change, but it was not too serious of a scratch. “S-Sorry..” He whispered to the rodent as he opened up his ears once more. What was it this time? The others were ripping up their books? You know, it did make sense. If someone else found out his secrets… he didn’t know. Monobear knew.. but.. it was different if a classmate found out. It would be very different. His family? What did he do to his family? No way! No.. way.. not them too. They didn’t deserve to be dragged into this ridiculousness. Not them. Sure Nao was not too tight-knit to them, but it still gave him a feeling of unease. This unease could be cured if he killed. The one issue with that is that he did not want to kill, despite these motives. As long as his book was with him.. as long as his rat friend was with him, everything would be alright. His train of thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps. Please don’t bother me, not like this..

[shslcontortionism-blog]

"Nao-chan, are you alright?"  The rat was the first thing that registered to Masumi, and she cringed a little bit, stopping at a safe distance from the rodent and the boy, as much as she wanted to get closer.  The damned rats.  They’d done nothing but cause trouble for her, and she wasn’t going to risk another mess.  “I… Just wanted to see if you were okay.  You’re… talking to a rat, I see,” she began, carefully making her way over and sitting on the wall a few feet from him, still keeping her distance.  It was dangerous to approach anyone right now- not that she didn’t trust everyone, but… Well, that was exactly the reason.  Though the redhead told herself again and again that people wouldn’t kill for these stupid books, the crushed, mortified, and sometimes ominous looks on the faces of her peers made her unsure.  “I don’t like them much myself.  But, he seems to really like you.”

The girl didn’t dare mention the book- the look on the silver-haired boy’s face was enough to show he didn’t like what he saw.  The questions were nagging her, wondering if he would be the one to kill for this book.  No, of course he wouldn’t!  Nao wouldn’t kill anyone.  No one is going to be killing anyone!  And yet, the thoughts ran like a river through her head.  

Masumi scooted a little closer- they were separated by about three feet now, and that’s when she could see the scratch, just barely illuminated in the dim light.  Masumi felt alarmed at this, doing her best not to make it known.  He was hurt, and that couldn’t be good.  “How did you get that?  I… We should probably look for something to clean it.  I know there’s probably not much, but there’s got to be germs and stuff everywhere here.  I- You wouldn’t want it to get infected.”  It was a feeble attempt at hiding her concern, but at least she was able to get her thoughts across.  

[jinseiyuuhara-blog]

[TASK 2] Level B1: MINI BOSS! [Jinsei&Masumi]

[jinseiyuuhara-blog]

The gentle and familiar voice of his unfortunate victim drags Jinsei’s hands away from his face so fast, he doesn’t even have the foresight to worry if the speed of his reaction will alarm her. There stands Masumi, her hand half-extended as if she meant to touch him and then changed her mind – it vaguely registers that this is a pity, and possibly the worst thing that’s ever happened in the history of the world. Missing her really quite lovely smile from before, her face is instead contorted with fear and worry. Did he do that? A surge of regret seizes his body for a split second before –

No, wait, hang on. Bear, murder game, right. He would posit a hypothetical what the fuck is wrong with you in his own direction, if the answer was not completely obvious.

The sweet untruths spilling from her mouth would be so easy to believe, such a perfect invitation to pretend the last hour or so has just been a terrible nightmare from which he will soon awake… but her little red book is right there in her hand, and the weight of his own is heavy in his pocket. Some things are not so easily forgotten. Still, Jinsei can’t hold it against her. “… thank you.”

He musters a weak smile, one which has barely established itself when it dies spectacularly on his lips. What’s in your book? she asks, peering into his eyes in a way that would normally make him squirm, but right now just makes him want to shiver. Almost immediately she must see his malaise, and apologises, but he waves it off, looking aside.

“No, it’s okay. I mean, it’s a natural question. Askin’ it is pretty much as inevitable as not wantin’ to answer it, y’know? All that aside, I’d really prefer not to discuss it.” He reaches with a free hand to scratch the back of his neck. Might be a good time to turn on the charm. As Jinsei glances back to her, he’s smiling again, warmer than before. So what if it’s fake? No one can tell the difference. “Sorry, Masumi-chan.”

As much as the idea of classmates murdering each other over the content of books is disturbing, her next question is so alarmingly direct he can do nothing but laugh. “Quick and to the point, I see.” It’s a gentle jibe, but a jibe all the same. “Honestly, I don’t know. No offence, but… I hardly know these guys. What they’re capable of is a mystery to me.” Jinsei shrugs.

“But if you’re askin’ if I intend to kill over it – which is fair, ‘course – the answer to that one would be a resoundin’ ‘no’. I up and disappeared mine, and so long as it stays disappeared and nobody else reads it then you got nothin’ to worry about.” Lifting his empty hands palm up, Jinsei shows that he has, in truth, disappeared his book. “See? Magic.” He’s pretty sure he knows what it is about Masumi that makes him want to do dumb tricks, and maybe impress her, but he doesn’t feel like giving voice to the thought.

“Why? You contemplatin’ murder most foul already?” He gives a low whistle, grins, starting to warm up to it now. “You really don’t waste time.” 

[shslcontortionism-blog]

There's something about Jinsei's grin that throws Masumi off-guard.  Just a moment ago he seemed so distressed, but the sudden change of face definitely seemed more than a little strange.  Irregardless, Masumi would be lying if she said she loved his frown more than his smile.  "There's no point in being sorry.  I wouldn't want to discuss my book either," she flashed a faux grin at him, trying to shrug off the feeling of dread weighing heavily on her back.  He laughs and the redhead's heart skips a beat in her chest- whether it was from adoration or surprise, she couldn't tell.  Laughing was a strange reaction, but not one she discouraged.  You're in too deep.  

It's a relief that Jinsei says he's not contemplating taking action.  It was strange, but when she thought of him harming someone, an ache blossomed in her chest.  That ache only worsened when she thought of someone hurting him.  Now is really not the time for thinking about that.  She had been saying that to herself a lot lately, she realized-  especially while she was in his presence.  She watched him lift up his palms, no book in sight- the contortionist couldn't help but genuinely laugh a bit.  Maybe I should hide my own book...  She stuffed her own tiny book in her coat pocket, hoping the whole, "Out of sight, out of mind," thing would play into effect.

This was for naught, because the question he posed made her stiffen, the article in her pocket suddenly feeling a lot heavier.  "N-No!  Of course not!  That's silly!  I still think somebody's going to rescue us, of course.  There's no way no one's recognized we're gone by now,"  she flinched a bit at the last bit of her statement, the urge to look over her shoulder astoundingly strong, "There'll be someone here for us, soon.  I don't even think I could murder somebody, honestly," she shivered; the image of one of her fellow students being able to take a life made her nauseous.  She was sure she was paling, and she found herself being desperate to change the subject.  The room suddenly felt stifling- it was dim, and she was incredibly aware of the tight quarters- it felt as though the walls were closing in.  She needed to leave, right now.

"I don't want to stay here anymore," she muttered, looking around at their dark, unwelcoming surroundings.  "Can we go somewhere else?” she asked sheepishly, wanting desperately to cling to him.  Her hands were growing restless, fingers curling and uncurling, wanting someone, something, to hold on to- something to anchor her down, keep her steady.  

[jinseiyuuhara-blog]

[TASK 2] Level B1: MINI BOSS! [OPEN]

It’s like being punched really hard in the stomach, he figures.  Like being ejected out of an airlock into the cold crush of space.  Struggling to suck in a breath, grasping for air, only to find yourself choking on it -

Like what drowning must feel like.  That’s probably how Jinsei would try to describe it, were he so inclined.

What went before is secondary, and something he can put aside to process later.  The bear, the knife, even the coffins and the awful stench… there’s nothing in this world that’s hard to fake, and talk is cheap.  No one knows better than he does.  He can remain calm through all that.  Logic can still win the day here: even if it is legit (and as much as he was staunchly for this theory before, he’s beginning to doubt it, what with the cheesy black comedy presentation), what good reason is there to kill them?  If some sick fuck wants their murder game, all they have to do is capture a bunch of nobodies.  Why risk their own neck by kidnapping the country’s best and brightest? They’re worth far more as ransoms, he keeps reminding himself. We’re worth far more alive.

What hits him like a train to the goddamn gut, unsurprisingly, seems to have elicited roughly the same reaction from almost everybody – but Jinsei doesn’t take any notice of that. This book… he fights to wrap his head around its very existence. It’s one thing to know the official version of his life story – anybody with an internet connection could dig up that one – but between the crimson covers of this pathetically small book lies something quite different. Unabridged, and merciless. It’s enough to make his skin crawl just to read it.

But worst is the realisation of what it means. He can’t have made this himself, and yet it contains information privy to only his family or, in some cases, restrained to the confines of his own mind.

Things he has never told another living soul.

His instinct is to destroy it, and he almost does. Instead something compels Jinsei to slam the book shut – insofar as you can slam something so tiny – and he clutches it so tight his knuckles turn white. He tries for a shaky breath. Use your brain, idiot. Very quickly, and without the further examination he’s going to need to give the situation later on, he joins up the dots. Headmaster. Vacation. ID cards.

One hand releases the book, slides down to his pocket to retrieve the card. This much is probably real – he feels safe in that assertion. The hologram looks pretty convincing. It’s definitely his face, though a photo he doesn’t remember having taken. He grits his teeth.

A small voice in his head asks: why, then, couldn’t it all be just as real?

Oh, a thousand reasons, the rest of him screams. A thousand reasons.

But probably safest to act as if it is.

He swallows thickly, his desire for a drink redoubling. Be calm. Would you kill for this book? Jinsei cringes. Wait, don’t answer that, just ask yourself: would anybody else? He glances around the room, the stricken and horrified faces of his classmates meeting his eyes. How can you know? These people are strangers to you. The last thing you want is to give them an easy target.

So for fuck’s sake, play it cool.

Slowly, he returns his ID to his jeans pocket. The book gets slightly better treatment, slipping into an inside pocket of his jacket – with any luck, no one saw. Jinsei takes the deepest breath he can manage, and turns on his heel - almost walking straight into somebody. He reels backwards, blinking.

“Shit. Sorry. I sidn’t dee… I mean, I wasn’t lookin’ where I was g-g– augh, fuck!”  His hands shoot to his face, digging the heels of his palms into his sockets again – an old trick. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi let out a startled gasp, nearly falling backwards as a result of the collision, but easily managing to regain her balance- strong balance was a blessing.  The redhead's first instinct was to bring her book close to her, snapping it shut and gripping it to her until her fingers were taut with strain, refusing to let anyone else touch it.  Her demeanor instantly softened the moment she realized who it was, the distress so clear on his face- it would be heartbreaking, if she wasn't feeling the exact same thing.  

"I-It's okay," she stammered out, reaching out a hand to touch him, but pulling back at the last moment, reluctant to offer physical contact, "Don't worry.  I know this is kind of... overwhelming, but things will be okay."  Lies.  You're lying to him.  You're lying to yourself.  Clearly things weren't going to be okay in any sense- they were trapped in some stupid castle for God knows what reason, pitted against each other like wolves and sheep.  But she couldn't think about that now, not now, when things were already becoming so dire.  

"What's in your book?" she blurted out, unable to retain the question any longer, eyes scanning his face for a reaction.  She shouldn't have asked- she knew she shouldn't have asked.  Who would want to tell, right?  If all of them had secrets to hide that were so terrible they were being used as a motive for homicide, it couldn't be spoken of so easily.  "You don't have to answer.  I'm sorry, that was a stupid questoin.  I wouldn't want to talk about mine, either." she muttered, finger idly fiddling with one of the corners of a page in her book.

"Do you think that anyone would kill for this book?"  The question was heavy, almost weighing up the person before her.  Masumi tried to sound nonchalant, but when dealing with a subject as heavy as murdr, it came out sounding more strained than anything.  Would Jinsei kill for this book?  That was the real question on her mind, the one she wouldn't voice out loud.  He seemed like a wonderful person, from what she had gotten to know about him, but things like this change people.  Will it change him?  Will it change me?  

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Task 2: Leather Bound Albatross || OPEN

Masumi had always enjoyed books.  Books full of fairy tales and old legends and myths, stories that made you think and daydream.  She had always loved books, up until this very moment.  Once realization dawned on the redhead, her blood seemed to freeze in her veins and she felt like she was going to be sick.  What... What is this?  What the hell is this!?  She flipped through the pages, trying to find something, anything, to disprove her theory.  She was met with disappointment when she realized thatthis book was, indeed, just what she had feared.  My entire life.  But... How is it in this book!?  How did that bear find all of this!?  No one knows about any of this!  It took everything the contortionist had not to drop her face, to show the earth-shattering terror that she was feeling bubbling up inside her chest at that very moment.  

Gripping her own biography tightly to her chest, she managed to keep her composure as she made her way out of the room, though she was sure that she was shaking.  Finally out of the sight of the other students, the girl dashed off, as fast as her heels would allow her, needing to find a place to cool down, let this out while she could without being interrupted.  Deciding finally on the confessionals.  Masumi tore into the open booth, shutting the entrance and plopping down on the seat, letting out shaky breaths and clamping her eyes shut, trying vainly to steady her breathing.  Hands heavy with reluctance, she opened up the book again, staring intently at the crayon drawings, trying to take them all in, examine every detail.  As much as it hurt to see, it felt necessary.  

The emotions that hit were strong- more abrupt and hard-hitting than anything she had ever witnessed.  Strong enough to make guilt boil inside her, to make tears fall down her cheeks and stain the pages of the novel.  This was a testimony- a testimony to her flaws, her mistakes.  Things she tried so hard to forget, admittedly delude herself into into invalidating- they were being thrown back in her face, and it felt like a slap to the face.  No, nonono you can't do this now.  What's over is over.  Get yourself together, put on a smile, and figure something out.  "You can do this," she muttered, "You can get out.  You've been in bad situations before, and things have always turned out okay.  You can do this."  She whispered it to herself over and over, hoping, praying  that things would be alright in the end.  Gently placing the book on the floor, unable to stomach even touching it anymore, the girl rested her head in her hands, idly wondering where she could go from here- if she even wanted to leave the confessional, for the fear of being brutally murdered while she slept or walked the halls was mortifying, to say the least.  

But why would anyone want to kill me?

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[ultimatepushover-blog]

"Oh!"

Akira wasn’t used to someone just walking up to him and grabbing his hand; usually he was the one who was doing that. Not that it wasn’t a pleasant surprise… despite the seemingly dark circumstances. He clasped his other hand over Masumi’s and joined in her vigorous shaking before he had to gently disengage himself.

"Nice to meet you, Hirai-chan… I’m Akira Sakai. Um… I’m afraid I don’t! I’ve been asking others, and I think they’re just as stumped, ya know. My partner especially wasn’t of much help. Full of snark. You be careful around Hagane-kun."

After a moment of mulling it over, Akira gestured to his own glasses and adjusted them in as douchebaggy a way as he could manage.

"Katsuie Hagane. The magazine man. Sunglasses… definitely a partier. A dangerous one, but I will keep him under my watchful eye. …digressing!"

Placing his hands on his hips, Akira took on his best presidential stance.

"I’m sorry I don’t know why we’re here, but if you need help with anything else, I’d be happy to oblige."

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Finally, another person who wasn't totally down about their whole situation.  Yui had been the only other person that Masumi had met with an optimistic view on the matter, so far.  The redhead instantly felt at ease around the newcomer- he seemed incredibly welcoming, despite the fact that they were currently in a dark dungeon and this person was practically a stranger.  

"It's nice to meet you!  I'm sorry about your 'roommate', so to speak.  I haven't actually met him, myself; he didn't really seem to be in the mood to meet anyone.  Then again, that could just be because of the sunglasses...  I don't really know much about the other people here, and everyone else at least seems to know the other's talents, she sighed, trying her best to be nonchalant about observing Akira.

He had nice glasses- it reminded Masumi of something that a business owner would wear.  In fact, his pose seemed to be a strange attempt at looking authoritative, reminding the redhead a bit of her old boss.  He seemed too nice to be someone like a business owner, however- his tone was far too lax.  Direct, maybe, but not quite as commanding.  It occurred to her that she had been staring for quite a while.  Come on, cover it up.  You were interested in his shirt or something.  Just say something!

"I like your glasses."

Smooth.

[shslboyscouts]

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

[shslboyscouts]

Ah. 

He stopped in his tracks when confronted with the young woman before him, not quite out of commitment to adhere to social demands, but rather for the reason that she was simply in his way. He watched her a few long, hollow moments, unblinking and focused on her gaze, one eyebrow quirked. 

He stepped forward then, so the two were only a few feet apart, and cleared his throat. Then, without warning, Ryozo straightened his already-pristine posture, and doubled over into a low bow. 

"I apologize." To be honest, he wasn’t sure if he meant it— but he could see the old man’s face now if he knew that his grandson made a girl upset and didn’t take responsibility for it. Obviously, she wasn’t going to be any help, for she had prioritized her own well-being over the good of the troop— he meant, er, his classmates. The smartest move he could make now would be to rid himself of this dead weight and continue forward. 

And so, with this in mind, Ryozo straightened himself again, continuing to look her straight in the eye as he had done so before. 

"I’ll continue on from here. So, please excuse me… Miss."

Easily, almost passively, he rested his hands in his shorts pockets, and waited for her to move out of his way. There as no way he was going to grab her hand again— or for that matter, try and get her to help again. She’d be better off doing things like being loud and fixing her hair, he mused.

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi's anger dissipated immediately at the boy's apology.  She had expected nothing more than a sorry, but he had seemed... strangely formal.  Not that that was a bad thing, by any means.  It was just... strange.  The redhead instantly felt guilty for going off on him- she didn't lose her cool all that often with strangers, but whether it was the irritation of being in a musty dungeon or the aching in her head, she had freaked out on someone who didn't deserve it.  Or, at least, mostly didn't deserve it.  

"Er... Thanks for your apology," she said awkwardly, staring into his piercing eyes.  She realized his intention of trying to make her move, and, hesitantly, she stepped to the side so that he could pass.  He wasn't forceful in any sort of physical sense, but she could tell that he was there to do business, and holding him here any longer certainly wouldn't do much good for their possible future relationship- after all, they are stuck in a basement, and it's better to have more friends than enemies.

"I'm sorry, too.  I kinda overreacted.." she began, fiddling with a stray lock of hair, "Y-You don't have to go!  I mean... You said that you found some kind of rat hole, right?  That it was the way out?  That's a big discovery!  I'm sure it could help us all out of here, so... I can help out, if you want!  I swear I won't yell again!"  

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[shsldomesticanimaltrainer]

Nao had eagerly observed the event, until he realized that she was having a rough time. I guess being able to bend your body to its limits excludes the tongue. He frowned slightly, not dissapointed in the other, per-say, but how her smile quivered as she straightened herself from the failure.

I shouldn’tve asked, He thought, right before the contortionist asked him if he could do it. His eyes widened slightly and he seemed to freeze up. Now he was in the same predicament: Does he attempt it anyway and fail, or just honestly say no without trying? Without saying a word, his eyebrows furrow and he marches in place a couple of times, looking straight ahead at the wall. The tongue slowly glides from his mouth and curls upward in an attempt to reach his nose. Almost, almost.. a head tilt back as he tried a little more, and— Crash. It looks like when he leaned his head backwards, his entire body went with him, and his arms flailed wildly but it was no use this time. He fell right on his bottom. He stared at the floor in shock, shaking his head and slowly directing his gaze up to Masumi.

"I can’t."

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi's sense of disappointment quickly faded away once her companion began to attempt the same action she just had.  She had to stifle a giggle at the boy's expression, realizing how silly she must have looked while she was trying to touch her nose, herself.  He was very close to reaching his nose, and the contortionist was impressed; he was certainly closer than she was.

Suddenly, Nao had fallen, causing the redhead to jump and instantly rush to his aid, kneeling down next to him to make sure he hadn't cracked his head open or anything; the floor was damp, but it was certainly still incredibly dangerous.  However, at the boy's simple response of, "I can't", Masumi broke into a fit of laughter, falling backwards off hr knees and onto her butt, both hands covering her face to try and suppress the loud snort that she knew would follow if she laughed too hard (which ended up slipping out, nevertheless).

"I-I'm so sorry," she managed to get out, "That was soooooo damn funny!  You just collapsed and it scared the living daylights out of me, but you didn't even care it was just-" she broke off, her fit of giggles reclaiming her again for a good few moments before she finally calmed down, struggling to catch her rbeath before continuing.  "It's okay, Nao.  I guess we have something in common, huh?"

[trustingthorns-blog]

Task 1 ✿ A Single Rose Can Be My Garden [ Masumi]

[trustingthorns-blog]

Yua raised a perfectly manicured hand to her mouth to cover a soft giggle at the other girl’s awkwardness, although not an unkind laugh. She always loved meeting fans of her show and being reminded of her fame, after all. She winked, shaking the contortionist’s hand, her grip, like her voice, gentle yet confident. 

"It’s nice to see you’re a fan, tee-hee! No need to worry, I promise I won’t bite or anything. But anyway, it’s really lovely to meet you. Hirai-chan! I hope we can become good friends." 

She listened to the other girl talk about their situation, feeling slightly apprehensive, although she didn’t show it. The prospect of being unable to escape this place worried her, especially as she was sure whoever kidnapped them would certainly not have anything pleasant in store for them. Most people would not kidnap a class of high school children for the purpose of throwing them a party with cake and flowers. 

Yua shook her head, becoming slightly worried as she realized that she had very little idea of what had happened directly before she’d woken up. “No, it’s all kind of … fuzzy, I’m afraid. We must have been knocked out with some pretty strong stuff, huh?”

She paused, her expression briefly pensive before returning to a wide smile, her voice filled once more with an energetic cheerfulness. “So, you work in the circus, Hirai-chan? I hope it’s not rude to ask about it, I just think that sounds really cool!” 

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi felt her ears heat up at the hostess' greeting- hearing somebody that she had been a fan of say that she wanted to be friends was enough to make her want to dance; one of those dances you did where you hopped up and down and tried to release as much happy energy as possible.

After telling her story to Yua, she could feel a deep-seeded feeling of dread.  "So it's all fuzzy for you, too, huh... Strange.  I... I'm sure there's a good reason, though.  There's no way we were actually drugged!  We probably went to some crazy party last night and we all passed out from too much booze... simultaneously... and all ended up in the same place," She ended with a chuckle that betrayed her true feelings as though she were transparent.

A moment of her silence broke between them- it was as if it was a time to recollect themselves, even if it only lasted a few moments, after which they returned to themselves before the discussion of their current predicament.  "Yes, I did!  I was one of the main acts in the Kinoshita Circus!  One of the biggest circuses in all of Japan.  We traveled all over the place- up the coasts, to the giant cities with tall buildings and thousands and thousands of people.  It was a nice life," she hesitated for a moment, her voice catching, "for the most part, at least... But enough about me!  I could probably write you a book, but that would be unnecessary.  I want to know more about you.  I know that you host Table of Roses, but I'm sure you've got a got more to tell!  I can see it in your face!"

[shslboyscouts]

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

[shslboyscouts]

It was with a slow, steady movement that his gaze fell upon the newcomer, the only sign of movement to the otherwise still individual. The rat before him looked at her as well, cocking its tiny head in a way that a confused hound would do so for a strange sound. The young woman was welcome in the dreary place, bright hair contrasting against dark prison walls and pale skin seemingly glowing in the darkened room. Finally, he turned the rest of his frame towards her, greeting her properly. 

"I reside under the assumption that you and I are classmates, meaning, also, that we share the possession of a talent that would allow us to enroll into such a pretigious academy. My name is Ryozo Rokuda, Super High School Level— Oh no you don’t!” It was with a sudden movement that he grabbed her hand and began sprinting off after the creature that had taken the oppertunity to run away from him while he was distracted. Ryozo was all but practically dragging the poor girl behind him as he exited the cell, running after the rat. "You will not break rank until after you have been properly dismissed! Who do you think you are? Fall back in line!” They chased after the rat until it disappeared into a small hole in the wall, and finally, he released her hand to stare down at the mouse hole with detestment. He simply stood there, still again, until finally he broke the silence and turned to her once more. "Good job. We found a way out. If the rats are coming in and out of this area, then that must mean there are other areas of entry that they can slide through. If these areas are weakened by time, perhaps we can deconstruct them further with brute force as to enable our exit. We’ll have to act quickly, however; who knows when our captor will finally reveal themselves." With that, he turned on his heel and started walking down the hall, towards the other end of the cells. "Come along!"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi let out a little screech as her arm was tugged, trying her best to run and keep pace with the boy- which was hard considering he was legitimately sprinting down the hallway after a rodent he had tried to instill obedience in during his time in an underground jail cell.  

"W-Where are we going!?  Let go-!"  They had come to a stop at a wall- Masumi was breathing heavily and trying to return her heartbeat to a normal rate.  She was sure one of her heels was starting to tear loose and her hair had fallen in front of her face, the curls getting caught in her lipstick and irritation turning her mood sour.

Pushing her hair out of her face, the contortionist huffed and crossed her arms, stomping her boot down and looking at Ryozo with an, "If you ever do that again I will kick you straight in the teeth," glare.  His words fell upon deaf ears-  she could care less about some stupid rat!  

The boy turned and began pacing away from her after he finished his analysis that Masumi had not cared to pay attention to, ordering her to follow.  This struck a chord in her, and instantly she was bubbling with anger and annoyance.  She didn't know what that cause, but she knew that she was either going to get an apology or raise absolute Hell.

"Excuse me... Hey, excuse me!?  I could forget about the whole, 'Dragging me along and giving me a heart attack,' thing, but then you just turn and walk away from me!?  Rude!," The girl ran up past him standing in front of his path in the corridor and spreading out her arms, trying to stop him in his path, "The least you could do is apologize for making me chase after some rat!  So, go ahead!  Apologize!"  

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[shsldomesticanimaltrainer]

“N’aw, you didn’t retaliate at all—you’re sweet. That’s kind of dissapointing; I can’t be mean to someone who doesn’t react angrily.. shucks.”

The pupped suddenly slunk down back to the male’s side. Nao blinked, his eyes and expression seeming to come back down to reality. He was— staring straight at her. “U-Uhm! Sorry.. was I staring too hard.. sometimes I do that—forgive me! I’m sorry—” The words rolled out of his mouth as he fumbled. "N-Nao.. Nao Sadao is my name.. I think I heard yours— Masumi, right? Nice to meet you.." He gave the free hand a good shake.  "I-I have an important question for you.. you’re the contortionist, correct? Can you touch your tongue to your nose?"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi cocked an eyebrow as the puppet lowered itself, sinking down to the boy's side and going limp.  She noticed the sudden look of life that seemed to return to the stranger's face- it was strange and abrupt, and left inquiries that might be rude to ask about without even knowing his name, first.

"No, don't apologize!  It's fine, I'm used to people looking at me," she grinned.  Perhaps that sounded a tad bit conceded, but it wasn't a lie.  "And yes, Masumi is my name.  Masumi Hirai."  She returned the handshake firmly, eyes still not moving its gaze from the puppet at Nao's side.

The boy's question had taken her aback, a genuine inquiry that she now faced herself- she had never actually tried to do it.  So, the ultimate question she was asking herself was, "Should I try this and run the risk that I fail and look like an idiot, or should I just admit that I had never done it?"  

"Yeah, yeah of course I can!"  Stupid.  She reached her tongue out of her mouth, trying to angle it up towards her nose, only to barely make it halfway to her nose.  Stupid, stupid, stupid!  Why would you do that!?  She tried to reach further, her head tilting up and her eyes narrowing with effort, fighting an impossible battle that she knew she most certainly wouldn't win despite the fact that she was trying so hard to succeed.  "I..." she put her tongue back in her mouth, the embarrassment of her failure hitting her in a wave, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can."  The girl's smile quivered, but was steadied within a moment and reverted back to her usual, if slightly forced after the circumstances, smile.  "Why? Can you?"

[jinseiyuuhara-blog]

[Task 1] LEVEL B1: START! [Jinsei&Masumi]

[jinseiyuuhara-blog]

He’s hardly even aware of his eyelids slipping shut again, slowly retreating from the world of sensation as he waits for someone, anybody, to answer his call.  The cold bar feels so good against his forehead he could just pass out again right here, standing up.  That’d be okay, right?  Just for a little while, until the worst of it passes.  It isn’t like anybody’s paying a huge amount of attention to him anyway…

Or so he thinks, until the clicking of high heels swiftly approaching startles him awake again.  The sound is powerfully familiar to Jinsei; his head snaps back, and he’s already blurting something out before he’s even laid eyes on his visitor.

“Em - ?”

The name dies on his lips.  The girl who stands before him… athletic; red-headed; very cute (he’s not so out of it that he wouldn’t notice something as important as that).  With an outfit his friend no doubt would have approved of, perhaps she would’ve even passed for a magician - but obviously she isn’t who he’d assumed.  As she metes out her long pre-amble, Jinsei stands staring dumbly, his mouth hanging slightly open.  Idiot, he thinks.  Not like she’s the only girl in the world who owns a pair of heels.

Luckily, her name is just about the only part he does catch - and something about that is familiar too.  He’s almost certain the name Hirai had cropped up on the Hope’s Peak roster… which, to Jinsei’s mind, moreorless seals it.  One hand goes to his forehead; he rubs his eyes and pushes back his fringe, making a weak attempt to compose himself.  When the hand comes away, gone is the dumbstruck expression, a warm (if a little shaky) smile in its place.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Masumi-chan.  I’m sorry, I thought… you might’ve been somebody else.  Call me Jinsei.”

He steps around the bars to take her hand in his and shake it.  Lovely smile, he notes, approving.  Jinsei takes the opportunity of now being in the corridor proper to look left, then right, to what looks like more sets of bars - down both sides and at both ends.

“… Looks like we’re really trapped, huh?  Like you said,” he continues.  It’s little more than a murmur, directed as much to himself as to her.  “I’d guess somebody’s already tried to get through those gates, and to no avail…”  

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Someone else? She furrowed her brow, a tad bit concerned with Jinsei's comment.  He had seemed a little out of it when she had first arrived- perhaps he wasn't feeling well?  The expression was gone in a few seconds, but she had certainly taken notice.  She shook off her concern when he grabbed her hand- it was a warm, welcoming handshake that she knew she would hold onto while she was stuck in this prison block.

Masumi could already feel herself sweating; being nervous around people wasn't something she was unfamiliar with, but it was so seldom that she had nearly mistaken the churning in her stomach for genuine sickness.  She almost pulled away from his handshake at the last moment, fearing clammy hands, but let out a sigh of relieve when he didn't comment on it. 

"Jinsei," she took a liking to his name, right away, "It's a pleasure to meet you."  Turning her gaze to look at the gates herself, she could feel her nerves on end- as much as she wanted to believe this was all a joke, her patience and optimism was already beginning to wear thin.  "I think so... I saw some of the others poking at them a while back.  I haven't tried to myself.  I mean, someone will come to get us out when this whole joke is over, right?" She laughed nervously, smile beginning to falter, if only a little bit.  

"But, anyways, let's not talk about that.  I... don't really want to think about it now.  People will be here soon, but until then," she leaned against the cell bars, absentmindedly drawing figure-eights on the floor with her pointed right food- a habit she had developed a long time ago when her coach used to make her practice her point, "It couldn't hurt to make some casual conversation.  I have to admit, your name sounded familiar to me.  I mean, really familiar.  Then again, I figured it would since we're all Hope's Peak Students.  Everyone here is kinda famous, I guess.  Though, I haven't really heard of a lot of them.  You, though, I'm sure I've heard of somewhere.  Something having to do with television, or the internet, or something of that nature... What exactly is your talent?"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[theshslvolleyballplayer]

A contortionist…Yui had heard of those; being involved in the world of sports since she was young guaranteed that you knew at least the names of famous athletes no matter the profession; baseball, diving, hockey, archery…if it was a sport, then she knew of at least two major names from a certain profession. Contortionism, however…it wasn’t exactly a sport, falling under the gymnastics or acrobatic section, of which Yui knew little about. And from she knew of actual contortionists, they were either in that category or they were in carnivals and circuses, traveling around a lot. Yui herself had only been to a few of those, so hre knowledge where they were concerned was almost nonexistant. 

What she did know was that they were very flexible and could do incredible feats with only their body. It only made sense then, that Masumi could do some really neat stuff-since she was the Super High School Level Contortionist, after all.

"A circus school? That’s a thing? Oh man, sounds fun! I know every kid dreams at least once in their life of joinin’ the circus and doin’ all sorts of things-like juggling on a unicycle or puttin’ their head in a lion’s mouth or somethin’! I wanted to join just to chill with the cute animals like the elephant n’ the lion but I didn’t know how to get into the circus…but man if I’d of known about circus school, I woulda gone as soon as I could! …Not that I woulda been able to actually learn anything but it still sounds like a ton of fun!"

She stopped as soon as Masumi mentioned her fear of public schools-more specifically, the bulllying. What Masumi was saying was true; people did dunk your head in a toilet if they hated you; sometimes they kept their foot on your head in the process. That was mostly the boys who did that; the female bullies tended to go for more emotional, behind-your-back tactics as opposed to physical ones.

She hated both tactics. She hated bullies in general; to pick on someone for no other reason than for some cruel form of fun or to release your own anger…it was unforgivable, really. But she couldn’t tell Masumi all that-she’d scare the poor girl. Instead, she took a small breath and when she began to speak, her tone, thought lighthearted was firm.

"Yeah, they do do things like that. All schools do, really. But that’s wrong and stupid and if anyone does that to you, you tell me an’ I’ll beat them up and tell ‘em to apologize. Of course, I ‘aint gonna let anyone do any bullying at all! Bullying is wrong and bad for everyone involved so I’m gonna make sure everyone’s happy n’ healthy. So…yeah! Don’t ya worry none about things like that! I’m here for ya!"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

The contortionist let out a little sigh of relief at Yui's reassurance, grateful that she had the athlete's support.  Yui could probably beat someone up- she was tall, muscular, physically fit- and having someone close for defense was never a bad idea.  Worries about bullying aside, Masumi couldn't help but feel enthralled by the other girl's enthusiasm.  Contortionism wasn't exactly, "cool" to everyone, and finding someone who showed interest made joy bubble up in her chest.  

"Well, I was taught at home by my parents for actual schooling so I could focus on my circus training.  There aren't many schools like it in the country, and I was just lucky that there was one near our home."

The mention of the animals turned her attitude sour; most people want to get close to the damn animals.  Masumi, personally, could go without seeing those animals again for the rest of her life.  Elephants and lions certainly were not cute, if you actually get to see them on a daily basis.  They're terrifyingly large, smelly, and- seeing as many "accidents" as she has involving lion taming- she wouldn't get near a lion for any reason besides being forced to during shows.

"Let me tell you, I absolutely hate the animals.  The giraffes, the elephants, the lions... They're all terrifying.  Have you ever seen a man lose a hand to a lion?  Because, trust me, it is not pretty.  Elephants... they could stomp on you and you'd have your skull crushed with no hope of recovery."  

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[shslmikoism-blog]

She felt gross. The racket that was going on in her head, the cold wind that blew through the cell and grasped her ankles and bare arms as she shivered in fear. The ground felt slimy and damp, if she even placed her hand down onto the floor, traces of grimy dirt would stick to her palms. Wiping off her arms onto her skirt, she sat there for a while, her body feeling too heavy for her to move.

For a while, she slept there, completely unaware of the world around her. The fact that she wouldn’t wake up in home in her futon with the sun shining through the sliding doors hadn’t occurred to yet, well it wouldn’t really occur to anyone they would wake up in a hallway full of cell rooms. 

When she finally woke up, she sat up from her deep sleep, holding her head with her hands. She glanced around her, her vision blurring as she got used to the dim lighting of the room. Mika rubbed her forehead, groaning in pain as she looked around her one more time. Now, she would consider the possibilities of kidnapping. But at this moment, she was more angry at the person who put her in here.

Whoever decided to trap her in here with fifteen other idiots was going to pay, plus this shitty job of a shrine maiden robe? A mockery towards her and the holy shrine. Rolling her eyes, she viewed the cell across from her, switching her gaze over to the torches that lit up the place. “..Some BDSM castle..?” She murmured, getting up on her feet, using the wall to stable herself once she was up. Finding the gate unlocked in front of her, she pushed it open after messing it around with the locks, swinging it open. 

Turning around to see someone approach her, she took a step back. Mika’s eyes narrowed at the person in front of her, flinching once the person grabbed her hand. “D-Don’t touch me!" Screaming, she snatched her own hand back, clutching her hand to her body. Mika coughed awkwardly, still keeping to herself. "Mika Tsukiko is the name. I have no idea why we are here."

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi jumped at the girl's outburst, withdrawing her hand just as quickly as Mika.  The red-head felt tense, unsure how to feel about the girl in front of her.  She was pretty- long braids and an elegant robe that sparked familiarity in the contortionist's mind.  Regardless of her looks, she seemed to be afraid of human contact.  Masumi marked it down as a mental note and tried her best to eliminate the awkwardness in the air.

"It's nice to meet you, Mika," she grinned, "And, unfortunately, I don't know why we're here, either.  At first I thought maybe I had actually been taken to prison and we were all convicts, but it's pretty obvious now that that's not the case.  I'm too young to go to prison, anyways.  And I haven't done anything illegal!  At least... I don' think I have.  My memory's a little fuzzy, so who knows?  I could have robbed a bank or stole a car or... Maybe I killed a man!?  I'm feeling a little nervous, now!"  The girl gave a nervous laugh, diverting her eyes to the floor.

"That was a joke, by the way!" she cut in quickly, "I'm not actually a criminal, I swear!  You can look at my records when we get out of here."  Deciding to steer the conversation away from herself, the girl let out a little hum under her breath.  "So, you're a Hope's Peak attendee, I'm guessing?  What's your talent?"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[shsldomesticanimaltrainer]

"Why isn’t this a basement?"

"Where are we?"

"Where’s the bacon?"

OK, maybe he was starting to get a little hungry. But his trusty supply of bacon was gone! Gone. No where to be found. Just thinking about it made his stomach rumble even more, so he decided to think about the first two questions.

This could be a roleplay club of some sort. But why would a professional school start the club without any rules? And.. it’s so realistic. There are real rats. Those are real bars. There are real people down here. Whoa.

No no no, it can’t be a roleplay club. It’s a professional school.. so—why—?

His thoughts were interrupted when someone grabbed the hand puppet’s face. An attacker? Oh wait, they’re speaking. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face the perpetrator.

 Oh, no. Guess who’s awake! The hand rises sharply out of hers and the little puppet arms flail. Nao’s face is almost expressionless as the puppet proceeds to speak his mind.

 ”Hey hey hey! Don’t get so personal! I dunno who you are exactly, but we can do the touching thing later alright? Thanks for waking me up, by the way! I mean no sarcasm. I probably would’ve slept all the way through this guy’s conversations." The puppets small arms direct themselves to Nao and then back to Masumi’s.

“The good news is, my ears are always awake. By the looks of things, I have no idea! We’re like mice trapped in a cage! Nyahahahaha!

..Too soon?”

 The puppet’s voice sounded nothing like Nao’s. It could almost match a certain bears, except a tad bit higher—almost high enough to be irritating.

[shslcontortionism-blog]

Masumi gasped at the feeling of something that wasn't flesh in her hand.  It was soft and... fuzzy?  Hands weren't normally soft and fuzzy.  The stranger was wearing some kind of glove.  No, not a glove.  She realized very quickly that it was, indeed, not a glove nor a human hand.  It was a small puppet.  The thing thrashed and flailed, ripping out of her hand- the owner simply stared at the contortionist, his eyes boring into her own.  

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your puppet," she stared at the little hand puppet, watching its arms gesture madly, and leaned over closer to the thing, as if trying to make eye contact, "I'm sorry, little guy."  She felt a little silly talking to a puppet, but she knew how people could be when it came to their puppets.  Puppeteers back home were incredibly protective over them- using protective casing, talking through them... The circus was a strange place.

She regained her posture and reached out to shake the stranger's other hand, determined to fix the introduction.  He hadn't said a word yet.  "So... What's your name?"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[theshslvolleyballplayer]

It was a relief to finally find someone else who didn’t think too seriously of a situation that was so ludicrous that it couldn’t possibly be real. Everyone was just waaaay too serious. Thank god for Masu-chan, though.

"Yeah, right? I mean come on…why ELSE would we be locked up here in cells n’ everything…oops, don’t answer that; don’t wanna jinx anythin’! Still, it’s nice to meet you too, Masu-chan! Once we finish this weird orientation thing, then let’s have ourselves a nice school year, yeah?"

She grinned, her grin only growing wider at Masumi’s guess as to her talent. It’s true that she looked like she could be a basketball player, and she definitely had considered joining the team way back when she was still trying to find a niche to settle in in the world of sports. But it proved to be far too demanding where physical terms were concerned-honestly who wants to run back and forth dribbling a ball for hours on end? No way, volleyball was the perfect balance-and eventually, she had settled for volleyball and proceeded to have the time of her life.

"Oooh, close! I did play basketball for a bit-not professionally or nothin’ but I did play back when I was little! And yeah, I’m supposed to attend Hope’s Peak Academy startin’ today! Which is why I’m dealin’ with this whole whack orientation prank,haha. But yeah, I’m the Super High School Level Volleyball Player, ready for a match or two!"

She struck a pose, hoping to look cool. Which she most likely did NOT, but that wasn’t really her concern at the moment.

"What’s your talent, then? You look slender so maybe like…one a those gymnasts? Like the ones who do the Balance Beams an’ the Parallel Poles?"

She did look slender enough to be a gymnast, but if Yui had to assume, she was slender enough to do other things than simple gymnastics.

[shslcontortionism-blog]

The red-head giggled at the girl's pose- she certainly was the epitome of cool.  The companionship of someone so similar to herself made her feel a lot more comfortable in this new environment; it was almost like he wasn't there at all.  Except you are.  You're stuck in this strange place and you don't know why.  Ignoring the rotten thought dwelling in the back of her mind, the contortionist focused back on the girl in front of her, smile still plastered on her face.

A volleyball player... It certainly fit.  Her tall stature and calloused hands screamed, "athletic"- not to mention the ponytail she wore.  Masumi vaguely remembered reading something about a volleyball star attending Hope's Peak, and felt stupid for not piecing it together at the start.  

"A volleyball player... huh... Well, I'm a contortionist, myself.  Though I did have experience in gymnastics, of course.  And juggling, and Spanish web," she continued, counting off on her fingers, "Elephant riding, trapeze, tightrope, lion taming, rodeo clowning, balloon animals...  You name it, I've tried it.  I attended a school focused on circus training- I tried my hand at just about everything involved in a circus, but nothing was right for me except contortionism.  I'm glad it's what I chose, though.  I like being flexible.  It really weirds people out , though."

She had never felt any kind of shame or embarrassment about her talent, by any means- people just called it, "gross" and "unnatural" because they were jealous.  That's what she had been told, anyways.  

"It makes me a little nervous to attend a public school.  Well, technically Hope's Peak is a private school, but it's, like, a real school.  Not some school focused on teaching you how to put both your legs behind your head.  I just hope that the cliche stories aren't true... Is it true that people dunk your head in a toilet if they don't like you?"  Masumi's voiced dropped to a whisper, her right hand idly twirling a fiery lock between her fingers, "I really don't want to get my head dunked in a toilet..."

[shslcontortionism-blog]

[Task 1] Far From Opulent || OPEN

[theshslvolleyballplayer]

To say there was quite a variety of students gathered here was an understatement. There were those like herself who were friendly and took well to interaction. There were some who skipped the friendly chat going straight to the “why are we here do you know anything” business. Still more common were those who were rightfully paranoid and unwilling to speak unless they needed to.

And then there was this girl. She’d come up to her suddenly, smiled at her, and then suddenly started shaking her hand, pouring out a greeting all the while. While it was certainly friendly, it was also something that she never really experienced; most of the time it was her doing the coming up, smiling and shaking of hands routine. She could already tell  that she was going to end up good friends with this girl, if introductions were anything to go by. She smiled back at her.

"Woah, hi there! Man, I don’t usually get greeted so friendly-like; usually that’s my job! Oh well! I’m Yui Narita! It’s nice to meet ya, Masa-chan. And to answer ya question, I have absolutely no idea at all! Far as I know, we’re all stuck here in this cell room until they decide to unlock that door over there-" She nodded to the direction of the still locked door "-but until then , we jus’ gotta sit tight. I’m sure we’re get outta here once the upperclassmen are done laughin’ at us being confused as hell. Either that, or they have more pranks for us, but they ‘aint ready yet so they’re keepin’ us here until they’re good and ready. Either way, we aren’t getting out for a while but we’re also safe so don’t worry!"

[shslcontortionism-blog]

It was refreshing to meet somebody who was as optimistic as she was.  In times like this, it was always better to hold out hope than give up- she had learned that a long time ago.  "Yeah, I'm sure this is just some kind of prank...  Whatever is going on here, it's nice to meet you, Yui-san!"  

The girl was incredibly tall- she was at least a head's height taller than Masumi, and while that would normally intimidate her, there was something about Yui that took that feeling away.  Maybe it was the smile that she put on or the casual tone of her voice- but it was most likely the nickname.  It made tiny butterflies flutter in her stomach despite the fact that a nickname was something so minuscule and so unimportant in the current situation- but it kept her from feeling any more uneasy than she already was, and she was greatful for that.

"I'm guessing you're a Hope's Peak attendee, too, right?  Otherwise you wouldn't be here.  What talent were you accepted for?  You're tall... so I'm guessing it was something like basketball, right?"  There was no doubt that Yui was an athlete; her stature combined with the muscles that she knew she possessed- which the contortionist had discovered during their handshake- was a clear giveaway.