adsum | npc contact.1

[ THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON HERE

Hiro sets the paper on his desk and just stares blankly at it for the most part, trying to make sense of how so much happened and how concerning all of it is and why Stephanie looks so excited about it. ...Well, some of it is understandable, like the newborn baby sister and getting a pet.

But he doesn't spend the time reading every header and looking at every drawing, and instead taps a finger to his chest and cups a hand next to his ear. He'd much rather hear Stephanie talk. It would be so much less awkward that way. ]

( Ori: Hiro is here for murder, but he can have friends as a treat
Hiro: (is like this) )

You're going to be disappoinTED. ( A friendly warning because he knows exactly what Hiro is expecting and he isn't getting it. Not yet, he'll ask Clamor how to summon candy next lesson.

But he'll focus again, and the tips of his fingers glow slightly; it's difficult to see given the school's lighting, and Natsume moves closer so their bodies make an adequate amount of shadow.

The Sagittarius constellation appears first, then Aquarius. They fizzle out after a few moments, but his hands stay lit and a little warm. )

...I'm currently learning celestial maGIC. Due to my affinity for divinaTION, Master thought I'd be suited for IT... It's a difficult craft THOUGH. I can heal with it TOO, as the moon is often called upon for such duTIES. ( ... ) I always imagined I'd be throwing fireBALLS, but this isn't bad eiTHER.

Would you like to see mine, I've looked at yours time and time again... ah wait, here.

( he pauses, because his own arm is still tender from the new set he acquired from rokkun's memory, a twisted reminder of what the other has left on him. as rokkun let's go of his wrist, komaeda's slowly digging in his pocket as he they converse, watching as the other keeps his eyes closed. good boy! he pulls out the wishing rock that he obtained, and he sets it down into the male's hand. cold fingers push against rokkun's own, hoping it's enough to make him hold the item tight in his grasp. )

We may not be able to wish on any stars, but if we use this... we can give you sweet dreams, at least for once.

( the stars are as much as they can see, and he wants to comment about his own concerns while going, but... maybe they'll be lucky, and none of them will shift through the sky. it makes his stomach turn uncomfortably despite the fact he suggested it, and he chuckles softly because if he has someone else to focus on, it shouldn't be that bad. )

If not, stabbing myself can work, too.

[ Empathy is a normal human emotion, stop it

It's easier to shove it aside, though, as he keeps talking and the frown on Maya's face deepens. ]

Why share that secret with me?

[ Knowing that she's Nao's friend, regardless of her ability to keep secrets. ]

She won't be happy if she ever finds out you sacrificed your sight for her sake.

[ It's enough to make him stop, not wanting to stretch out his shirt and— against all better judgement— he looks back over his shoulder when he could have safely ignored those puppy dog eyes. ]

I'm not upset with you.

[ Yeah he is. But he won't act on those feelings, and he'll still be as polite as he can muster, so Komaeda shouldn't worry about that. Why would he, in the first place? ]

I just... find it difficult to deal with you.

( Because he knows she won't tell Nao, because that'd make her upset, and the likelihood of Maya wanting to upset her friend she's just starting to make up with again is pretty low.

Which is true, but he doesn't want to say it. )

Because trust is gained through an exchange of seCRETS. ( Which is also true, but a little less sincere. Sorry, Nao... He can't put your tips to good use right now. ) And I trust YOU, Little Wolf.

And calling somebody "Little Wolf" is supposed to encourage familiarity?

[ She knows. At least mice are cute; wolves, on the other hand... ]

[ hopeful eyes at Clamor...

Huddled close to Natsume, Hiro stares intently at his hands once more, eyes widening when he sees Natsume's fingertips glow, and even more when the little sparks of light start to appear. He doesn't recognize the constellations for what they are, but seeing the orbs of light is more than enough.

...Oh, that's right. He'll stop gaping and look back up at Natsume, softly clapping his hands together twice, in applause. ]

( emotional manipulation working... it's fine, he didn't mean it... what he wants is for akira to talk, and since he's talking that's fine with him. )

You're not the only person who thinks that, so don't feel bad.

( is there anyone who can actually deal with komaeda? those people must have a strong will to handle everything he does, and to be honest... stephanie does a really good job. )

Does this mean that Rokkun is easier to deal with, even though you lit him on fire before?

Do girls not like WOLVES?

( Hello? Also, he hasn't used that nickname around her... has he.....? he has not. Maya.......... He crinkles his nose slightly; she probably just complained about him. How nice that she's wasting her breath on him, though. )

I think it suits HER. She's a serious young woman who's protective of her OWN... and I get the feeling if you cut her head OFF, she'd still BITE. MetaphoricalLY. ( ... ) She's also never mentioned if she dislikes it or NOT. If she had a problem with IT, I would've just called her "Maya-chan," like I do around you and Hiro-kun.

( probably. )

[ He doesn't particularly care to see, but he doesn't get the chance to say so before the stone is set in his hand, and he immediately recognizes the shape and the heft for what it is, for how long he had held onto his.

Wishing his nightmares away would be a waste, but he can't help but feel comforted by the fact that Komaeda would waste a wish on him. ]

How would stabbing yourself work? [ He wants to open his eyes SO BAD so he can squint at Komaeda for this stupid idea ] As if watching you hurt yourself doesn't give me nightmares as it is.

[BEAMS well she definitely won't say no to talking.]

Are you sure? A lot happened. [perches on her chair] What do you wanna hear about?

[ Hiro looks back down at the paper like he's perusing a menu at a fancy restaurant with extensive options. People losing arms is kind of horrific, but nothing new. Maybe Steph's new sister, which makes him think of Maya, which makes him think of ...

He points to "I learned to punch people and I almost did it" because who did Stephanie get mad enough about to want to punch somebody, give him a name and he'll try to dislike them too. ]

Add. [immediately] He's a little jerk. Literally. He thinks he's some crazy super-genius that's above everyone else, but if he's so smart, why is he stuck here? He'd just be ridiculous and weird if I wasn't also sure he's one of the people that likes killing.

[thinks] You should come to one of our family meetings one day. You count, right? And you can watch everybody fight over stupid stuff.

...It shouldn't hurt you, Rokkun.

( can he say that when he saw rokkun hurt not once, but twice... how it felt like nails and wires dug into his heart, an uncomfortable feeling that he tries to forget. he could wonder if the other gets those, or if komaeda's breaking a little... not too sure how to parse such an itch in his chest. probably not, he suffers from the same arrangement of simple troubles that happen to be nightmares. )

I can guarantee you something at the cost of my life, or just inflicting pain on myself. It'll hurt, but if it's to help your hope, to give you at least one night without those terrors. Wouldn't that grow our bond, give you strength for another day?

( he has the rock, and still didn't even open his eyes... he has dog energy. )

I can even do it while your eyes are shut, then you'd never know!

[ She's quiet at that, a silent debate with herself over the belief that trust needs to be earned and not given freely, and the ...something... that Natsume does trust her despite how she is to him. She's a serious person. She's never lied to him. There are plenty of justifications.

What is this secret but a burden to her, though? What is she supposed to do with this knowledge... ]

Thanks. But I have no secrets to give you in return.

[ There are plenty of secrets. But none she's willing to share with him. ]

[ Akki looks away at the mention of lighting Rokkun on fire. It was ONE time. ]

Rokuro... is difficult in his own way. But he doesn't hound me or trip me or slap me. He'll play games with me sometimes, but for the most part, he keeps his distance.

[ This is what sets Komaeda and Rokkun apart, in Akki's mind. Although there's no escape from either when they're hell bent on talking to him about something ]

Not all of them. Some girls like horses, some girls like dragons...

[ some girls like wolves, but for the most part, that sort of thing is a middle school phase. ]

I'm surprised she hasn't told you to cut it out already, though. [ ... ] Don't call me Little Mouse anymore.

[ Does she get the same perk, will Natsume stick with her name instead, she's so tired of nicknames after months of being called "doll-chan" ]

[ Oh good, somebody easy to dislike and also easy to avoid if he doesn't draw attention to himself.

He stares at her when she asks if he counts, though. As what? family? Invitation aside, he looks a little unsure. He can imagine it'd be noisy and crowded and he'd end up sticking to Steph's side the entire time. ]

Does he keep his distance, or do you keep yours? You have trouble being around others too.

( the cracked glass going after the pot calling the kettle black, they all have a few problems here when it comes to dealing with people. )

It's hard to understand you and his affair, but... ( long distance relationships are a thing. )

Just be careful around him, okay? And anybody else like him. They barely see us as people; when it comes to... [she sighs, shaking her head.] Which is dumb. We're all on the same team... It's time we start acting like it.

[for a brief moment, she glances at the other students. at the teacher. her voice lowers, just a bit.]

You know we're gonna get everybody out of this awful place. That means you guys, too.

[ The temptation to open his eyes so he can throw the rock at Komaeda's face—- ]

It does, though. Whether you go through with the act, or just talk about, or even think about throwing away what's left of your life or hurting yourself on purpose. I'd rather have the nightmares... because when I wake up, things are still okay.

( HE BRUISES EASILY, why does rokkun want to hurt komaeda so bad... isn't saying this enough.

...

at least rokkun can wake up and things are okay, at least he has that. komaeda's different, he doesn't have that luxury, and nor is his life worth anything. that's why it's so easy to throw away. )

...Do you wish you never met me?

( that way he wouldn't have to hurt, or have to say the things he says now, he could block out everything like komaeda does.

he takes a step forward, getting in his personal space to lean closer. without warning, komaeda places his head against rokkun's chest to try and listen to his heartbeat. )

[ ...HE'S NOT WRONG and Akki can't say anything against this, because yes, it's both, BUT ]

It's not an—- You don't have to understand it! Just leave it alone.

[ It's easy to nod his agreement, seeing as he tends to keep his distance from everybody else in the school besides maybe three or four people. It was just easier that way, to keep his head down and be unassuming until there's something he needs to do. None of that speaks of great teamwork, but...

He looks at Stephanie and gives her a small smile; it's a brief one, and is more out of appreciation of the sentiment rather than believing it'll happen. ]

npc contact.1

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