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Entry tags:
cmo/open post
【the ❝CALL ME OUT❞ meme】
a roleplay meme to inspire muses.
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【the ❝CALL ME OUT❞ meme】
a roleplay meme to inspire muses.
[It wouldn't have been a surprise to her, not in the least, have more insults and taunts thrown at her back as she retreated to the other side of the room, and she had been prepared to bare the brunt of their harsh sting. As such, the silence was unexpected, although tolerable. Rarely if ever did Ruruka forsake an opportunity to use her as a verbal punching bag, so why so silent now? Before she might have assumed it was down to uncertainty without Izayoi at her side. After all it was very easy to throw abuse when you had a boyfriend who protected you from any and all consequences for your actions, but without her bodyguard, maybe she was being wiser and not pushing her luck, considering she now knew that Seiko did have a breaking point, and she could actually fight back. But really, that didn't make much sense in this place. They couldn't kill each other now, there was no danger now they were dead.]
[Maybe she was getting too hung up on it, overthinking the issue when it could just be that her former friend was also too drained and exhausted to really start a bickering match. Still, focusing on someone else, asking all these pointless questions at least provided a good distraction. It was better than the alternative, having to deal with her own turbulent thoughts regarding the situation. She didn't want to face that, not again. The promise of those last few moments, yes it had all been a horrible trick to force her down the path to despair, but really, was it so wrong she wanted to let it all go? Why couldn't she they just end the pain and let her wither into nothing in peace?]
[It was a nightmare made real, so vivid and clear that all of her senses had been fooled into believing it, to the point where she could still feel her skin crawl in revulsion from the sensation of the blood...their blood, the blood of all those people, her colleagues, her subordinates, those she had failed to save, those who might very well now be dead because she wasn't there to do something. It had oozed and bubbled, painting her hands red, pooling at her feet until it lapped at her legs like a sea of decay she had to wade through, trying to avoid the floating corpses of those she had let down and praying she wouldn't drown as it rose higher and higher.]
[But then...she saw them, and herself. Pure, innocent, blissfully unaware of what was to follow because of that fateful encounter on a rainy day. Was it just there to taunt her, was she seeing her life flash before her eyes? Maybe, but...then she turned. The little Ruruka looked at her, and smiled.]
["How come you're letting all that icky stuff drag you down?" the sugary voice had chirped, stretching out a hand and offering her that same wrapped candy she still carried, young Izayoi watching silently as the little girl had giggled. "You should just come and play with us instead!"
[Somewhere in the real world she had heard the metal clang on the knife being dropped, body collecting it without pause, memorized and simply going through the motions. Her guilt of course had to be unleashed, leading to her bashing herself over and over into the cold wall until it bend and buckled around her body shape, her senses just barely picking up a dampness creeping into her clothes and skin, the latter now shredded and tattered due to repeated impact. Had she caused a water pipe to burst? Oh well, it didn't matter anymore. What was important now was...]
["Go for it Seiko-chan!"]
["You don't have to deal with that stuff anymore."]
["We can go back to having fun again, like it was before."]
["And you'll be able to eat my candy too! Isn't that great?"]
["You're my friend Seiko-chan...I believe in you!"]
[Then...the knife had...]
[She was a coward. She had wanted the pain to end so badly she had allowed herself to fall into delirium, and it affected her even now, somewhat dazed as she finally realized Ruruka was back to sniping at her, apparently having missed the mask failing for that brief second earlier. It should have been fine, she was used to the harsh words by now. And yet...it still hurt. Why did it still hurt?]
That's not true! I just-... [There was no screaming, no rage this time. They had both worn themselves out on that before. No, this was a much rawer, heartbroken denial. Thinking on what she did, even with her conviction that she had been treated unfairly, Seiko was repulsed by what she had allowed herself to turn into by downing all those pills. She could have killed them, she wanted to at the time, but now...]
I was angry...because you wouldn't stop saying those things...blaming me for everything...
[It wasn't an excuse, she wasn't asking to be forgiven. More than that, she just wanted to come to terms with it herself, fingers clutching her sleeve in a tight grip to stop her hands shaking as she stared back at the other young woman. Now they were like it, it seemed to prove they were both wrong in their suspicions during the game.]
Well, if I was the traitor, I wouldn't be here, would I?
[Why was she still trying to justify herself? What did she care what Ruruka thought of her now? It wasn't as if they were going to magically make up and float up to heaven together, the confectioner wouldn't listen, she never listened. She'd used her, that was the only reason she pretended to care, the reason she led the pharmacist on, making her think they were friends, but never really trusting or believing in her. They hadn't even really been friends in first place! If they were, she would have listened instead of immediately assuming the worst in her when something went wrong at the exam.]
[Why did she care enough to invest any of her remaining feelings in this girl who clearly would always despise her? Seiko didn't know, and hated herself all the more for her weakness.]
[Maybe she was getting too hung up on it, overthinking the issue when it could just be that her former friend was also too drained and exhausted to really start a bickering match. Still, focusing on someone else, asking all these pointless questions at least provided a good distraction. It was better than the alternative, having to deal with her own turbulent thoughts regarding the situation. She didn't want to face that, not again. The promise of those last few moments, yes it had all been a horrible trick to force her down the path to despair, but really, was it so wrong she wanted to let it all go? Why couldn't she they just end the pain and let her wither into nothing in peace?]
[It was a nightmare made real, so vivid and clear that all of her senses had been fooled into believing it, to the point where she could still feel her skin crawl in revulsion from the sensation of the blood...their blood, the blood of all those people, her colleagues, her subordinates, those she had failed to save, those who might very well now be dead because she wasn't there to do something. It had oozed and bubbled, painting her hands red, pooling at her feet until it lapped at her legs like a sea of decay she had to wade through, trying to avoid the floating corpses of those she had let down and praying she wouldn't drown as it rose higher and higher.]
[But then...she saw them, and herself. Pure, innocent, blissfully unaware of what was to follow because of that fateful encounter on a rainy day. Was it just there to taunt her, was she seeing her life flash before her eyes? Maybe, but...then she turned. The little Ruruka looked at her, and smiled.]
["How come you're letting all that icky stuff drag you down?" the sugary voice had chirped, stretching out a hand and offering her that same wrapped candy she still carried, young Izayoi watching silently as the little girl had giggled. "You should just come and play with us instead!"
[Somewhere in the real world she had heard the metal clang on the knife being dropped, body collecting it without pause, memorized and simply going through the motions. Her guilt of course had to be unleashed, leading to her bashing herself over and over into the cold wall until it bend and buckled around her body shape, her senses just barely picking up a dampness creeping into her clothes and skin, the latter now shredded and tattered due to repeated impact. Had she caused a water pipe to burst? Oh well, it didn't matter anymore. What was important now was...]
["Go for it Seiko-chan!"]
["You don't have to deal with that stuff anymore."]
["We can go back to having fun again, like it was before."]
["And you'll be able to eat my candy too! Isn't that great?"]
["You're my friend Seiko-chan...I believe in you!"]
[Then...the knife had...]
[She was a coward. She had wanted the pain to end so badly she had allowed herself to fall into delirium, and it affected her even now, somewhat dazed as she finally realized Ruruka was back to sniping at her, apparently having missed the mask failing for that brief second earlier. It should have been fine, she was used to the harsh words by now. And yet...it still hurt. Why did it still hurt?]
That's not true! I just-... [There was no screaming, no rage this time. They had both worn themselves out on that before. No, this was a much rawer, heartbroken denial. Thinking on what she did, even with her conviction that she had been treated unfairly, Seiko was repulsed by what she had allowed herself to turn into by downing all those pills. She could have killed them, she wanted to at the time, but now...]
I was angry...because you wouldn't stop saying those things...blaming me for everything...
[It wasn't an excuse, she wasn't asking to be forgiven. More than that, she just wanted to come to terms with it herself, fingers clutching her sleeve in a tight grip to stop her hands shaking as she stared back at the other young woman. Now they were like it, it seemed to prove they were both wrong in their suspicions during the game.]
Well, if I was the traitor, I wouldn't be here, would I?
[Why was she still trying to justify herself? What did she care what Ruruka thought of her now? It wasn't as if they were going to magically make up and float up to heaven together, the confectioner wouldn't listen, she never listened. She'd used her, that was the only reason she pretended to care, the reason she led the pharmacist on, making her think they were friends, but never really trusting or believing in her. They hadn't even really been friends in first place! If they were, she would have listened instead of immediately assuming the worst in her when something went wrong at the exam.]
[Why did she care enough to invest any of her remaining feelings in this girl who clearly would always despise her? Seiko didn't know, and hated herself all the more for her weakness.]
.... [What can she even say to that?
Well, Minako was certainly innocent to some extent, at least in Rakka's mind. Sure, the whole plan of date training wasn't anything Rakka would have suggested to another person - likely because she doesn't know the first thing about it, but, semantics.
If hell is an angel girl, about to receive a lesson in love from a goddess herself, it's gotta be interesting.
She stands still, listening more intently then she thought she would. Maybe she'll actually learn something useful through this! Though, if that's really the picupline Minako's going with, it's possibly more likely to get some laughs. Not that she knows that. The man impersonation gets her to crack a bit of a smile.]
That's... how it works, huh? [Slight bemusement, then a nod.] Alright, well, if you think it will help then... let's see. [And here she goes, focusing...] Hey. So, did it hurt... when you fell out of heaven?
[She's... surprisingly smooth if she tries. Who knew.]
Or... uh. Hmm.
[Or maybe not.]
Well, Minako was certainly innocent to some extent, at least in Rakka's mind. Sure, the whole plan of date training wasn't anything Rakka would have suggested to another person - likely because she doesn't know the first thing about it, but, semantics.
If hell is an angel girl, about to receive a lesson in love from a goddess herself, it's gotta be interesting.
She stands still, listening more intently then she thought she would. Maybe she'll actually learn something useful through this! Though, if that's really the picupline Minako's going with, it's possibly more likely to get some laughs. Not that she knows that. The man impersonation gets her to crack a bit of a smile.]
That's... how it works, huh? [Slight bemusement, then a nod.] Alright, well, if you think it will help then... let's see. [And here she goes, focusing...] Hey. So, did it hurt... when you fell out of heaven?
[She's... surprisingly smooth if she tries. Who knew.]
Or... uh. Hmm.
[Or maybe not.]
[Rock Lee believes in her! He has a lot of faith in her, but he also knows that it will probably be a bit of a process before she succeeds. But that's why this is an important test for her.]
Ah?
[He remains stationary for a moment. Did Komaru manage to outpace him?! ...Well, except that when she delivers his punch, Lee's head simply shifts to the side to dodge it.]
Nice try!
Ah?
[He remains stationary for a moment. Did Komaru manage to outpace him?! ...Well, except that when she delivers his punch, Lee's head simply shifts to the side to dodge it.]
Nice try!
I see.
[ She folds her arms over her chest, humming rather pleasantly in agreement. Then again, Mion is rather skilled at games so she gets what Nanami means by having your opponent understand what's going on if things keep repeating too often. At least it makes things interesting! ]
I get it. You'd have to mix things up and keep your opponent on their toes! By making sure they can't read you, it makes it easier for you to win.
[ She folds her arms over her chest, humming rather pleasantly in agreement. Then again, Mion is rather skilled at games so she gets what Nanami means by having your opponent understand what's going on if things keep repeating too often. At least it makes things interesting! ]
I get it. You'd have to mix things up and keep your opponent on their toes! By making sure they can't read you, it makes it easier for you to win.
[ Really, it's not particularly something that Ruruka could hold against her in the first place, if she truly had wanted them dead. After all, hadn't she wanted the same thing...? It was something that she and Izayoi both decided - well, mostly her - just like they always did, that Kimura Seiko was a threat that needed to be eliminated. They had intended for her to die that day, and even when they had the advantage of knowing her NG Code, the only way that things would ever be resolved was if Seiko died. That was why she had sent Izayoi off to retrieve a weapon that would finally finish off the pharmacist once and for all. But even so, to say it was because Ruruka truly wanted her dead...no, that wasn't right, was it?
Because...Seiko had once been her precious friend. Her hero. She was someone whom Ruruka admired and looked up to, because there were so many things that she could do with her talent, unlike her. Seiko was so talented that she could create a drug on the spot to remedy an issue, just from hearing a few symptoms. She was far more useful to others than Ruruka would ever be. What good was making sweets if she couldn't share them with the people she cared about the most? When Seiko would do so much for her and would continue to do anything she asked, and she couldn't repay the favor...?
That's why Ruruka felt justified in feeling the way she felt. Seiko had no idea how terrible she made her feel every time she would refuse her sweets. It was the only thing that she knew how to do, the only thing she could take pride in, and she couldn't even feel proud of her craft when Seiko would reject her every time. The way that she saw it, if Seiko truly thought of her as a friend, if she truly cared for and respected her the same way that Ruruka did, she would eat her sweets regardless of the adverse effects. Not that she particularly believed that, in the first place. Who would die because of sweets? Hadn't that just been an excuse? An excuse to disguise the fact that Seiko didn't respect her as a fellow "SHSL," an excuse to disguise the fact that she thought little of her and her talent.
Hadn't that been it...? It had to have been, right? After all, if they truly were friends, then that didn't explain why Seiko betrayed her at the practical exam. Ruruka trusted and believed in her; that was why she had asked her that day for her physical performance-enhancing drug. If she didn't believe in Seiko's abilities, she wouldn't have bothered asking for favors; however, it was because she trusted her that she kept depending on her so much. And because she trusted in her, that was why it hurt more when everything transpired that day: being set up and humiliated at the practical exam, being expelled from Hope's Peak, having everything she's ever worked for crushed in a matter of seconds. In her eyes, Seiko, her childhood friend, had betrayed her, and Ruruka couldn't ever trust her or anyone else ever again. ]
...Hmph. Fine. Maybe you're not the traitor, I'll admit that much, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still a traitor.
Because...Seiko had once been her precious friend. Her hero. She was someone whom Ruruka admired and looked up to, because there were so many things that she could do with her talent, unlike her. Seiko was so talented that she could create a drug on the spot to remedy an issue, just from hearing a few symptoms. She was far more useful to others than Ruruka would ever be. What good was making sweets if she couldn't share them with the people she cared about the most? When Seiko would do so much for her and would continue to do anything she asked, and she couldn't repay the favor...?
That's why Ruruka felt justified in feeling the way she felt. Seiko had no idea how terrible she made her feel every time she would refuse her sweets. It was the only thing that she knew how to do, the only thing she could take pride in, and she couldn't even feel proud of her craft when Seiko would reject her every time. The way that she saw it, if Seiko truly thought of her as a friend, if she truly cared for and respected her the same way that Ruruka did, she would eat her sweets regardless of the adverse effects. Not that she particularly believed that, in the first place. Who would die because of sweets? Hadn't that just been an excuse? An excuse to disguise the fact that Seiko didn't respect her as a fellow "SHSL," an excuse to disguise the fact that she thought little of her and her talent.
Hadn't that been it...? It had to have been, right? After all, if they truly were friends, then that didn't explain why Seiko betrayed her at the practical exam. Ruruka trusted and believed in her; that was why she had asked her that day for her physical performance-enhancing drug. If she didn't believe in Seiko's abilities, she wouldn't have bothered asking for favors; however, it was because she trusted her that she kept depending on her so much. And because she trusted in her, that was why it hurt more when everything transpired that day: being set up and humiliated at the practical exam, being expelled from Hope's Peak, having everything she's ever worked for crushed in a matter of seconds. In her eyes, Seiko, her childhood friend, had betrayed her, and Ruruka couldn't ever trust her or anyone else ever again. ]
...Hmph. Fine. Maybe you're not the traitor, I'll admit that much, but that doesn't change the fact that you're still a traitor.
[ Part of her wants to ask him "Do you really believe that?" or "How can you say such a thing when you have no idea?" but...of course he believes it. Of course he thinks that way. His optimism is one of the many things that she admires about him, and while the pessimist in her hinders her from fully believing in his words, at least hearing them helps to quell some of her worries. ]
...Ehehe. When you say things like that...it makes me believe that we really will get out of here someday, Naegi-kun.
[ Or at the very least, it reminds her that she wants to get out of here. To return to her idol group, which weren't just her fellow members, but her friends and family. ]
Um...this may be a selfish request, but when that day comes and we all go our separate ways...please don't forget about me, okay, Naegi-kun?
...Ehehe. When you say things like that...it makes me believe that we really will get out of here someday, Naegi-kun.
[ Or at the very least, it reminds her that she wants to get out of here. To return to her idol group, which weren't just her fellow members, but her friends and family. ]
Um...this may be a selfish request, but when that day comes and we all go our separate ways...please don't forget about me, okay, Naegi-kun?
Yes, that's it!
[ Nanami can't help but sound excited when Mion says that, because she feels as though her teachings were actually beneficial into helping her catch on so quickly. A few seconds later, there's a "You win!" from the arcade machine, with Nanami having beaten the CPU. ]
Then...do you want to go ahead and begin? Or you could play against the computer to practice first...I don't mind either.
[ Nanami can't help but sound excited when Mion says that, because she feels as though her teachings were actually beneficial into helping her catch on so quickly. A few seconds later, there's a "You win!" from the arcade machine, with Nanami having beaten the CPU. ]
Then...do you want to go ahead and begin? Or you could play against the computer to practice first...I don't mind either.
[ Minako listens, nodding approvingly as Rakka begins to recite the line. The girl was off to a good start, she had to admit, but then it all fell to pieces when the girl began to falter. Minako sputters, flabbergasted, and leans forward, just a tad intruding Rakka's personal space. ]
Whaaaat?! What do you mean "or...uh. hmm"?! You can't just freeze up now! You've just ruined the entire effect you've worked so hard to set up, Rakka-chan!
Whaaaat?! What do you mean "or...uh. hmm"?! You can't just freeze up now! You've just ruined the entire effect you've worked so hard to set up, Rakka-chan!
[He turns to face her with a sheepish smile and makes placating hand motions.]
I thought that you might have as well! But that is okay. You can just keep trying! That is the meaning of 'hard work', Komaru-san!
I thought that you might have as well! But that is okay. You can just keep trying! That is the meaning of 'hard work', Komaru-san!
[In the same respect, she couldn't entirely begrudge them wanting her dead either. Ruruka might have been shouting abuse, but she was the one who had lost it first. She had downed those pills, pushed her body to its limits, transforming it into something capable of killing her two former classmates, and all because she couldn't keep her temper in check. Years of suppressing bitterness and resentment would do that to you, but really, if she had just turned away one more time, just let it slide until the game ended, things might have turned out differently. Hindsight was rather frustrating in that respect, letting you see all your foolish mistakes and how much they had cost you.]
[That did make her think though; had there been another way? Was there something she could have done all those years ago to prevent this horrible outcome? Had anything in their friendship been salvageable after a certain point? Sure, when they were little kids, innocent and genuine, the bond had been real. Of course, once they had made their terms clear, things had changed, and from there, their fate was inevitable. She had relied on Ruruka too much, bending over backwards to please her to desperately secure their friendship, so glad to have someone care about her. Naturally, the confectioner must have eventually realized what a good thing she had, and exploited Kimura for all she was worth. That was how it played out in her mind at least. It never crossed Seiko's mind her friend had anything to envy in her. She was pretty, well liked, could socialize with just about anyone she liked, while the pharmacist was always the weird, creepy girl with the mask and braces. Ruruka calling someone like her a friend was a big deal, and she wanted to show her gratitude as best she could, especially when her medication meant she could never taste the candy the other girl enjoyed making so much.]
[She had done everything her friend had asked of her bar that one task, and yet it apparently still wasn't enough to earn her trust. She had fulfilled every other request, why would she say no unless she had a truly important reason to do so? Or did she just want her to die to prove her loyalty? Even that probably wouldn't have been enough!]
To betray someone you have to have their trust in the first place. But you...you never trusted me anyway, did you?
[If she had, then surely she would have asked questions, listened to her side of the story before immediately assuming the worst. It just proved how little Ruruka knew about her, how little she valued her. She was a tool to be taken advantage of, nothing more.]
[That did make her think though; had there been another way? Was there something she could have done all those years ago to prevent this horrible outcome? Had anything in their friendship been salvageable after a certain point? Sure, when they were little kids, innocent and genuine, the bond had been real. Of course, once they had made their terms clear, things had changed, and from there, their fate was inevitable. She had relied on Ruruka too much, bending over backwards to please her to desperately secure their friendship, so glad to have someone care about her. Naturally, the confectioner must have eventually realized what a good thing she had, and exploited Kimura for all she was worth. That was how it played out in her mind at least. It never crossed Seiko's mind her friend had anything to envy in her. She was pretty, well liked, could socialize with just about anyone she liked, while the pharmacist was always the weird, creepy girl with the mask and braces. Ruruka calling someone like her a friend was a big deal, and she wanted to show her gratitude as best she could, especially when her medication meant she could never taste the candy the other girl enjoyed making so much.]
[She had done everything her friend had asked of her bar that one task, and yet it apparently still wasn't enough to earn her trust. She had fulfilled every other request, why would she say no unless she had a truly important reason to do so? Or did she just want her to die to prove her loyalty? Even that probably wouldn't have been enough!]
To betray someone you have to have their trust in the first place. But you...you never trusted me anyway, did you?
[If she had, then surely she would have asked questions, listened to her side of the story before immediately assuming the worst. It just proved how little Ruruka knew about her, how little she valued her. She was a tool to be taken advantage of, nothing more.]
Maizono-san...
[At first it's just a breath of surprise that's similar to awe - were his words enough to help...? But then it's something more along the lines of shock.]
Of course I'll never forget about you! No matter what happens, I wouldn't ever forget about you. I swear I wouldn't.
And... Maybe if you don't mind, I'd like to ask something of you that's far more selfish than what you asked me... [As in, Maizono hadn't been selfish at all, but Naegi is certainly about to be.] I know... When we get out of here, it's likely we'll each take our own path separate from one another. But Maizono-san, if it's at all possible... I'd like to continue being around you, even if it's just a little every once in a while. I know you'll probably be busy with your life as an idol once things have settled down, so you probably won't have as much time, but... This might be presumptuous of me to say, but I think of you as a friend. [Probably a little bit more, but Maizono doesn't need to know that right now.] And I'd... like to continue being your friend, if it's alright with you.
Besides... If we were able to meet again here at Hope's Peak, only to be separated again once we leave... That seems too cruel of a fate, doesn't it?
[At first it's just a breath of surprise that's similar to awe - were his words enough to help...? But then it's something more along the lines of shock.]
Of course I'll never forget about you! No matter what happens, I wouldn't ever forget about you. I swear I wouldn't.
And... Maybe if you don't mind, I'd like to ask something of you that's far more selfish than what you asked me... [As in, Maizono hadn't been selfish at all, but Naegi is certainly about to be.] I know... When we get out of here, it's likely we'll each take our own path separate from one another. But Maizono-san, if it's at all possible... I'd like to continue being around you, even if it's just a little every once in a while. I know you'll probably be busy with your life as an idol once things have settled down, so you probably won't have as much time, but... This might be presumptuous of me to say, but I think of you as a friend. [Probably a little bit more, but Maizono doesn't need to know that right now.] And I'd... like to continue being your friend, if it's alright with you.
Besides... If we were able to meet again here at Hope's Peak, only to be separated again once we leave... That seems too cruel of a fate, doesn't it?
[Oh... It hurts, it aches his heart to see her downspirited. And to think that he's the one responsible...
Lee steps up to her and tries to rest a hand on her shoulder.]
Please, Komaru-san... please believe me! Nothing is hopeless. If you keep trying, you will succeed! You are stronger than you think!
Lee steps up to her and tries to rest a hand on her shoulder.]
Please, Komaru-san... please believe me! Nothing is hopeless. If you keep trying, you will succeed! You are stronger than you think!
[ She's relieved to hear that he won't forget about her, and it's evident from the release of the breath she wasn't even aware she had been holding. Being forgotten was one of her biggest fears, and to be forgotten by a person she cherished dearly, by Naegi, was even worse. Therefore, it meant the world to her to know that he valued her so much that he wouldn't ever forget about her. ]
Naegi-kun...thank you. [ Sayaka can't help but smile at that, but this time, it's a genuine smile. Not the usual smiles she always forces upon her face in order to uphold her image, but...Naegi had some effect on her that always allowed her to smile genuinely when she was around him.
However, when he says he has a selfish request of his own, that smile fades, replaced by pure confusion. She hasn't the slightest idea what Naegi could want to ask of her, unless...no, there was certainly no way that he would ask her that, would he...? She can't help but flush at the prospect, but she puts away her assumptions, quietly listening to him speak while trying to ignore the blood rushing to her cheeks.
When he finishes, she can't say it was what she expected, but that doesn't mean that she appreciates it any less. That smile from before returns, and she shakes her head. ]
...No, that's not presumptuous at all. It actually makes me happy to hear that, because...I think of you as a friend, too, Naegi-kun. Well, now that I think about it...we're more than that, aren't we? [ She pauses just for a moment, enough to tease him by allowing him to start making assumptions about what she's going to say next, before continuing on. ] I mean, that makes us soulmates now, right? Being reunited at this school and remaining together for the rest of our lives...ehehe, maybe we're bound together by the red string of fate.
Naegi-kun...thank you. [ Sayaka can't help but smile at that, but this time, it's a genuine smile. Not the usual smiles she always forces upon her face in order to uphold her image, but...Naegi had some effect on her that always allowed her to smile genuinely when she was around him.
However, when he says he has a selfish request of his own, that smile fades, replaced by pure confusion. She hasn't the slightest idea what Naegi could want to ask of her, unless...no, there was certainly no way that he would ask her that, would he...? She can't help but flush at the prospect, but she puts away her assumptions, quietly listening to him speak while trying to ignore the blood rushing to her cheeks.
When he finishes, she can't say it was what she expected, but that doesn't mean that she appreciates it any less. That smile from before returns, and she shakes her head. ]
...No, that's not presumptuous at all. It actually makes me happy to hear that, because...I think of you as a friend, too, Naegi-kun. Well, now that I think about it...we're more than that, aren't we? [ She pauses just for a moment, enough to tease him by allowing him to start making assumptions about what she's going to say next, before continuing on. ] I mean, that makes us soulmates now, right? Being reunited at this school and remaining together for the rest of our lives...ehehe, maybe we're bound together by the red string of fate.
[ Ruruka freezes at the question, eyes widening for just a moment before they narrow again, but it's evident that the question took her aback. Did Seiko truly believe that she didn't trust her...? Despite herself, she can't help but feel offended at the accusation. They had once been friends, after all; and because they were friends, Ruruka trusted her - admittedly, not to the extent that she trusted Izayoi, and that was something she wasn't ashamed to admit, but Izayoi had always been on a different tier because he was her boyfriend. Seiko was her friend, and despite the fact that the girl would never eat her sweets, she still at least tried to have some degree of trust in the girl as to not betray that friendship.
"You were my hero, Seiko-chan. You could do anything, and you did anything I wanted. I trusted you."
"I don't want to betray you because you trust me."
"I asked for your help because I trusted you."
"I asked Seiko-chan for so much because I trusted her."
It made her happy to have someone that she could rely on. A person that she could call her friend. While she depended on Izayoi for mostly everything, there were some things that even he could not do; and though he gave her everything in his ability to give - protecting her, eating her sweets, providing her affection - it was nice to have someone else that she could also depend on. Ruruka never once stopped to consider that anything was wrong with the way her and Seiko's friendship functioned; after all, the girl said that she would do anything she asked, and so she grew to depend on Seiko, supplying her with favor after favor.
Wasn't that what she wanted? Didn't she want people to rely on her? With a talent like that, there was no way that one wouldn't want people to depend on her and to ask her for things. Izayoi was like that - willing to do anything that Ruruka asked, happy that she trusted and depended on him so heavily. Ruruka felt that same sense of joy and pride whenever she could feed him her sweets, whenever she heard him call them "dewicious," but ultimately her ability was limited. Seiko was different, though; there was so much that she could do, so why was she upset...? Didn't she know what Ruruka would give to have a talent like hers? So to accuse her of not trusting her when she did, so much that she looked up to her...
Ruruka grits her teeth and clenches her fists at her sides, her former listlessness being replaced by a surge of anger and frustration. The emotion is so strong that she almost jumps up onto her feet, almost storms over to Seiko, almost threatening to do something, but she doesn't. Not yet, at least. She just remains where she sits against the wall, but she sits up straighter than she did before, her glare more intense. ]
Don't you dare try and blame this on me! I'm not the one who betrayed your trust; you betrayed mine! Of course I trusted you! I thought we were friends, but you proved me wrong by screwing me over at the exams with that damn drug! Because of you, I got expelled from Hope's Peak; Yoi-chan got expelled from Hope's Peak! Do you know how embarrassing that is to have that reputation?! We lost everything! You don't know how hard it's been for me and Yoi-chan and how much you put us through! We were your friends! Did you really hate us that much that you wanted us to fail? That you'd sabotage everything we worked so hard for?!
[ She pauses, just enough to catch her breath, not aware that she had worked herself up to the point where she was breathing heavily. She scoffs and turns her head away, hugging herself close again and muttering under her breath: ]
...Well, not everyone is as lucky to have a talent like yours.
"You were my hero, Seiko-chan. You could do anything, and you did anything I wanted. I trusted you."
"I don't want to betray you because you trust me."
"I asked for your help because I trusted you."
"I asked Seiko-chan for so much because I trusted her."
It made her happy to have someone that she could rely on. A person that she could call her friend. While she depended on Izayoi for mostly everything, there were some things that even he could not do; and though he gave her everything in his ability to give - protecting her, eating her sweets, providing her affection - it was nice to have someone else that she could also depend on. Ruruka never once stopped to consider that anything was wrong with the way her and Seiko's friendship functioned; after all, the girl said that she would do anything she asked, and so she grew to depend on Seiko, supplying her with favor after favor.
Wasn't that what she wanted? Didn't she want people to rely on her? With a talent like that, there was no way that one wouldn't want people to depend on her and to ask her for things. Izayoi was like that - willing to do anything that Ruruka asked, happy that she trusted and depended on him so heavily. Ruruka felt that same sense of joy and pride whenever she could feed him her sweets, whenever she heard him call them "dewicious," but ultimately her ability was limited. Seiko was different, though; there was so much that she could do, so why was she upset...? Didn't she know what Ruruka would give to have a talent like hers? So to accuse her of not trusting her when she did, so much that she looked up to her...
Ruruka grits her teeth and clenches her fists at her sides, her former listlessness being replaced by a surge of anger and frustration. The emotion is so strong that she almost jumps up onto her feet, almost storms over to Seiko, almost threatening to do something, but she doesn't. Not yet, at least. She just remains where she sits against the wall, but she sits up straighter than she did before, her glare more intense. ]
Don't you dare try and blame this on me! I'm not the one who betrayed your trust; you betrayed mine! Of course I trusted you! I thought we were friends, but you proved me wrong by screwing me over at the exams with that damn drug! Because of you, I got expelled from Hope's Peak; Yoi-chan got expelled from Hope's Peak! Do you know how embarrassing that is to have that reputation?! We lost everything! You don't know how hard it's been for me and Yoi-chan and how much you put us through! We were your friends! Did you really hate us that much that you wanted us to fail? That you'd sabotage everything we worked so hard for?!
[ She pauses, just enough to catch her breath, not aware that she had worked herself up to the point where she was breathing heavily. She scoffs and turns her head away, hugging herself close again and muttering under her breath: ]
...Well, not everyone is as lucky to have a talent like yours.
...Do you really think so? I mean, you've been doing this way longer than I have...
[ He was the one who had come to her, after all, and took her under his wing in preparation for the battle against the Warriors of Hope. It was only natural that he had more experience, so she's doubtful that she'll ever be on par with Lee's abilities. ]
[ He was the one who had come to her, after all, and took her under his wing in preparation for the battle against the Warriors of Hope. It was only natural that he had more experience, so she's doubtful that she'll ever be on par with Lee's abilities. ]
I have. [He nods softly.] And that is how I know! I can see that you have a strong and youthful fighting spirit. Just like mine! And with it, there is no limit that you can do! You can even punch me in the face!
[He nods, and his smile shines with pride.]
I am glad to hear that. Do not give up, Komaru-san... Keep on thinking of new tactics! Your youth is at full power!
I am glad to hear that. Do not give up, Komaru-san... Keep on thinking of new tactics! Your youth is at full power!
[Double punch! Rock Lee is impressed, but he still manages to catch one punch with each hand.]
Better! [He calls out supportively.]
Better! [He calls out supportively.]
Howooooh!!
[WILL SHE EVER TRY TO TRICK HIM if not then this blow will manage to land on his cheek through the sheer force of her determination.]
[WILL SHE EVER TRY TO TRICK HIM if not then this blow will manage to land on his cheek through the sheer force of her determination.]
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