adsum | npc contact.1

( we learned from the best!!! also, i don't like komaeda's whether the pikmin live or die, no... did you see the rock pikmin? why would we kill the chubby impmin off... i'm so sad.

excuse me? )

...

( ... )

If you tried before, my condolences, he's a pretty powerful character then...

( what does that mean? anyway, he's going to turn around to pick up one of the jars. sighs, how clumsy are you akira? )

Then who is it for, if not him?

[ He is very powerful and Akira bites at his bottom lip to keep from saying anything else about that guy, watching Komaeda pick up the jar for a moment before seeming to snap out of it and crouching down to help too. None of the jars have broken when Akira dropped them, but he sort of handhovers nervously when Komaeda reaches for one or another, as if expecting the glass to shatter the moment he places a finger on them. ]

It's not... [ no, he can't say that ] I'm collecting this for some of my kohai who believe Ouma-san is possessed.

( there's a brief moment where komaeda's eyes widen, and then they drop back to regular size as he stares at akira in shock. ouma-san!? this is the first time he's heard this, and while the idea of it sounds actually hilarious, komaeda starts thinking about all the things he's seen the other do so far. how he managed to bring back the deceased, how he's been starving himself (but mooching off others for his survival), that's pretty possessed-people things that he's doing. )

Ah... I get it! You're enabling the cultists?

( or are you part of the cultists? whatever the answer is, komaeda raises a hand to wave as if dismissing the idea. which means his hand is away from the glass, and akira can pick it up instead without it shattering. )

Ouma-kun's a pretty big deal, he can't be defeated if you don't have the necessary tools...

[ He blinks in surprise. Do cultists call themselves cultists? ...he doesn't answer, instead biting at his lower lip in contemplation of what it would take to exorcise Kokichi. ]

... We'll figure something out. They're working with an expert, after all, and failed attempts are good for learning.

[ like how Rokkun isn't flammable ]

Do you think your meddling will help his hope grow brighter.

( alright, fertilizer, komaeda has a job for you. )

His is pretty strong, and I doubt anything you can do will really get rid of him.

( even if that expert knows some things about the demon realm, and is literally letting these students summon evil. but who is komaeda to deny the chance to see one's hope grow. ) It's bad to mess with an Ultimate, rather, you should ask for him to be on your side, but I doubt... ( an ultimate would join ants like them... smh. )

No, I don't really want to get involved with him...

[ Like he really doesn't want to get involved with Komaeda, cleaning up his jars and tightening his bag and holding it close to his chest. ]

Are you two friends?

As trash beneath his feet... literal scum... ( he sighs deeply, discouraged as it leaves from his mouth as if he's really hurt — he's not, he's just doing this for attention. )

I'm just a stepping stone compared to an insect like you.

( that frown he had is replaced with a smile, and he waves it off with one hand. ) That's why I want to help your endeavors!

[ To be fair, he can't tell which is better to be a rock or a bug. Rokkun likes rocks? He eats bugs. ]

Is he... being mean to you...?

[ Are you being BULLIED Komaeda?? ]

( this is why they're all friends... it's starting to make sense.

is he asking if ouma is bullying??? komaeda??? oh i'm sick. )

...? He's treating me the way he believes I should be treated...

( which komaeda also believes he should be treated this way. )

A worthless human like me can't expect kindness from him...

[ All this sounds like something a bullying victim would say??? please ]

That says more about him than about you, you know... People aren't... there's no measure of worth for a person. They just are, and...

[ Words are hardly his strong suit. This isn't a conversation he can navigate. He swallows and looks like he'd rather be anywhere else talking to anybody else, but, ]

Komaeda-san, are you okay?

( is akira the vp's lost son? starting to make connections here.

akira's concerns are a hard pill for komaeda to swallow, he almost seems uncomfortable about it as he glances off to the side. the only people who have worth is those with hope, and even komaeda doesn't have that so he knows his place. his entire person is for others to use, to strengthen their hope, and he'll do it any way possible, so the problem presented here isn't visible to him. that's how it is, and how it will always be, so he manages to look towards akira once more like he's finally decided — )

I'm perfectly normal... It's fine if Ouma-kun treats me like waste...

( he's serious about this as he laughs sheepishly, raising up his hands so he can diffuse the situation between him and akira. ) ...he did say I was a presumptuous worm who only lives to serve him... so I have that happy memory.

( hm. does this make ouma look worse :) )

[ WHY ARE NICE PEOPLE THE OUTLIER something is wrong

Something is especially wrong with Kokichi and he must be exorcised right away, Akira can't— actually he can imagine those words coming out of Kokichi's mouth, said in a bright happy voice and wide smile on his face, in that way that sounds almost like a joke but you can't quite tell. Schrödinger's joke, and only he gets to decide based off your reaction. ]

I...

[ honestly he has no idea what to say about all of that, despite the urge to argue and take Komaeda by the shoulders and talk some sense into him, if only he had the eloquence and impact. ]

Are you okay, though?

[ Thinking you're normal and feeling okay are different things. ]

( chiaki just asked someone for their heart, i don't think nice, sane people exist. i'm waiting for akira to turncoat actually. )

...That's how life is for me.

( "are you okay?" he thought answering that he was normal would be more than enough, but that doesn't seem to be right. his life is nothing but him being beneath his beloved ultimates, but if akira wants to read that as komaeda has a horrible life with ouma, and is getting bullied? then so be it. his hand tightens against the napkins, and they burn along the cuts which causes him to flinch just a little bit from the pain. )

My hand hurts, but that was my fault... I really am unlucky.

( is that also victim behavior? avoiding the question? well, we all know komaeda doesn't stay on topics properly, so it almost seems like he's hiding something. )

[ Akira stuffs souls into things, but he can be nice while doing so.

Anyways, he sighs and loosens his grip on his bag before glancing over at Komaeda's hand— glancing quickly away like the sight of blood makes him sick, contemplates helping to bandage his hand up but he doesn't own anything to do so that isn't napkins in the kitchen. ]

Life isn't static. ...You should go see the nurse. She'll be able to help you.

( is ouma going to wake up with his soul stuffed into a gorinto, i'm worried for him. )

Ahahaha! You're right, that's for people like Ouma-kun who have a life... a useless being like me doesn't... he'd agree.

( the tone he keeps is pretty light, not too worried about about the consequences of saying that? ah, if something does happen to ouma, he should be able to take care of himself as an ultimate. though, it's not like komaeda's lying, he is a useless being with no life since he's nothing compared to the ultimates around him. sighs, ever say something so honest and get your fellow classmate into trouble? )

...That expression you made, it's pretty sickening to look at someone like me... I understand. ( but he ignores the help, his eyes locked onto akira's own, and they're gentle. there's not any hint of crazy or malice in them, but pure, genuine curiosity. )

Is it so bad I want to come with you?

You're... you're putting words in my mouth... I'm not saying that at all.

[ He looks at Akira but Akira looks away, finding a pure, genuinely curious Komaeda just as unnerving as honor student Kokichi. Lord. He can feel a shiver creep up the back of his spine. Forget Kokichi, maybe they should be exorcising Komaeda first. ]

You can't come. You should... stay away from me.

I only guessed from the way you looked at me...

( he pauses, finally picking up the information he's learned from their interaction which he isn't sure he processed correctly, but it might be useful. he waits to see if akira will turn back to face him, but if he doesn't then komaeda leans towards, canting his head to the side as he tries to find the other's face. he's pretty shy, isn't he? well, it's unfortunate that komaeda's the type to get into someone's personal space. )

... ( what is his last name, komaeda will not be caught on a first name basis with a man! ) Are you okay?

( he falls silent, thinking... )

I'm not scared of you, if that's what you're worried about.

What?

[ He skitters back when Komaeda tries to get into his personal space, but makes the mistake of looking up when asked if he's okay, with something that's almost gratitude in his expression at somebody taking the time to ask, before he remembers who he's dealing with and maybe Komaeda is only flipping Akira's previous question onto himself.

There's that automatic retort of "but you should be" that is very elementary school and he does not say it. ]

That's not it. It's not fear you should hold for me. More like... indifference.

( don't worry, komaeda has that for him too, actually. he has that for almost everyone that he knows, there are some others who are above him, but everyone else around is disposable. so is akira. it's probably wrong to think that way, but as a fellow stepping stone, that's the type of role they play. he leans back, lifting his wounded hand to dismiss his words. )

I asked if you were okay, you're really skittish...

( that's what he's noticed about him, and it makes komaeda curious about what he has to offer in regards to his hope. what keeps him living, why is he here now clutching a bag of jars filled with mysterious herbs for? actually, the latter isn't anything komaeda really cares for, instead, he guesses this is akira's way to put him at a distance. sadly for him, it's komaeda that he's dealing with. )

You can tell me on our way.

[ Oh. This isn't something he can walk away from, physically or figuratively, so he just... sort of... backs himself into a wall and clutches his mysterious herbs close to his chest and tries to drum up the courage to tell Komaeda to fuck off. ]

What do you want?

[ Is what comes out instead, because people don't approach people without want in their hearts. ]

If it's nothing but curiosity, I'm not going to— I'm not your toy.

Ah... I'm sorry, was I supposed to want something?

( what does he want? is there anything that akira's able to offer him? komaeda doesn't ask for much outside of hope, and he seems to actually be thinking about it. luckily for his attitude, he laughs with a shake of his head. )

Hm... I wanted to help...

( is that so wrong? to help untalented people where they struggle? he seems a bit thrown off as he looks towards the walls as if there's an answer. as much as he stares, there isn't one, and he finds himself remaining silent like he's actually been hurt... which is more emotional manipulation than really being hurt. )

[ He nods a little like yes? humans are selfish by nature and a give-take is what makes sense— or a force-take or something along those lines. But a free offer of help... well. He's suspicious, and he feels bad about being suspicious, and he wants to give Komaeda the benefit of the doubt but at the same time... ]

I'm- I'm sorry... I'm not used to somebody wanting to help, not without ulterior motives. Thank you for your help with the jars.

[ He thinks? Anyways, against better judgement, he pushes away from the wall and steps towards the door. ]

I'm supposed to bring these to the rooftop, so they can be burned without setting off the fire alarms.

( is he letting komaeda come with? did he tell a location for real? instantly, komaeda appears to be better now. it's the insanity akira, don't mind him. he plays it off like he was never upset in the first place, and that's because he wasn't, but his feelings are kind of skewed anyway — he knows he shouldn't be around people, but is it bad he had that itch... he's annoying, he wants company! )

You don't have to thank trash like me!

( besides, it does nothing for komaeda, now if akira was an ultimate... but it does feel nice sometimes to be able to help others. he does his part, using his mechanical hand to push open the door so that akira can walk through easily. )

Will you be alright on the rooftop by yourself? ( they can't go there yet, the transfers right? so at least he seems nice about it as he follows the other's lead. )

[ He's letting Komaeda come with, but when the cultists don't have a set club room and aren't even officially a club, it might not mean very much.

Despite what Komaeda says about thinking trash, Akira dips his head a little anyways when he gets the door, because sometimes politeness is ingrained and you don't think about it. ]

I'll be okay... I think. I'll just drop this stuff off and leave. I won't go anywhere near the edge or anything.

( you know, when he says that, and komaeda stops in place as he thinks about the location, and knowing he can't go there. that does sound like a fortunate spot for things to go wrong, and with it in mind, he looks at akira almost curious. he doesn't really care that much for talentless people, but he knows that each and every one can benefit something by creating their own hope. he doesn't know what akira can do yet, or what sort of hope he has, but komaeda shouldn't cut him off so soon. )

Then I'll stay right here...

( look, he thought about it, and doesn't want his bad luck to curse him. ) And wait for you.

npc contact.1

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