1-3: Nerrrrrds!
- Location
- Somewhere in the stacks
- Pronouns
- She/Her
"I...I've been seeing them. But maybe I should try to do so more often," you admitted quietly. You do have friends. You do and you're not just saying that. You're part of a tabletop group that's technically part of the Board Game Association at school. It was a fairly big circle, though, so unless there was a specific reason for it or a club event, most people just split into the groups that play together. Some people prefer fancy complicated board games (there was one about exploring a haunted house that was popular). Your group played tabletop roleplaying games, though! Your game is run by a senior, Shinohara Atsushi, who had himself taken it over when his upperclassman left the school. You were pretty sure it'll still be going by the time you graduated.
"We're actually getting together tonight," you said. "For the game."
"I'm glad," mom said. "It's alright to rely on others, Hanako."
"I know," you replied. "I'm just. Private about this stuff with the group. Some people can be weird. And Erika was always awkward about people she hadn't met knowing, so…"
"Well, tell them it was a boyfriend or something then," your mom says. "Or just that you had a fight with a friend. I mean… they're your friends. They'll support you." She paused.
"Have you tried talking to Mari? Or one of your other high school friends…?"
"No. I mean. Jesse is overseas. Mari is getting married in a few months, I don't want to bother her and her perfect youthful romance, you know?" You laughed. It was well meant--Mari and Ryou were kind of lucky to have each other. Ryou was getting on with the fire brigade full time now and Mari had been chatting about starting to stay home and maybe having a kid and… it all felt like a lot.
"I know, I know. I just… want you to have the support you need," mom said with a sigh. "Please, reach out to someone if you need. Or me! Or your father!"
"I will mom, I promise. I think I just need time."
"Well, I'll send you some apartment listings. Try and focus on school!"
"Yes, mom. Take care, okay?"
"You too. I love you, Hanako."
"Love you too."
---
Heart pounding, you pushed yourself up against the damp wall and hugged your precious cargo to your chest. In the echoing and damp corridors behind you, you can hear something moving. Something unnatural. It makes your spine shiver when you remember what it was you saw, moving and shifting in the spaces below the house. You just need to make it to the door, then you will be free of this place--free of the disturbing and loathsome presence that haunts this place.
Peering to your left, you hissed at your companion.
"Where's Richard?"
"I haven't seen him. The last time I saw him, he was mumbling about salt--" Just at the instance, the front door burst open, revealing Richard. In his hands he cradled a heavy looking double-barreled shot which he waved about in an altogether unhealthy and unsafe manner.
"Now I have it! I'll blast it to pieces!" He said and moved to shove past the pair of you. You heard the walls groan and creak as if the house were itself shifting on its foundations.
"Are you crazy?" you demanded, "We have to get out of here! You saw what it did to poor Lydia!"
"REVENGE!" said Richard
"Wait, wait, wait--your plan is to just shoot it with rock salt?" Suzu asked from across the table.
"Quiet, you died," said Koji, RIchard's player. He was a fox-eared fellow with thick spectacles, always full of energy. Slender and tall, you thought he resembled a bean poll sometimes.
"Because no one else wanted to check out that bedroom. And that's how you figured out salt hurts it," Suzu protested. She was probably the closest to 'normal' in your group, you sometimes thought. She was in the same year at uni and was like you, a feline of sorts. Suzu seemed to be always on point with her poise and fashion. Not to mention that she was fit as hell and played soccer on top of that, somehow. Where did she find time to come play? Sometimes you felt a bit self-conscious about your own, rounder frame around her.
"Mmm, true. But you shouldn't give advice when you're dead, right? It's kinda cheating," Takato said--your other player. He was a stout, broad-shouldered, wolf-eared young man with a happy-go-lucky personality. In high school he'd played American football but had decided to play sport more casually so he could focus on studying literature at university.
"I think it's okay for her to ask questions," you said. "All I know is that intrepid reporter Alice Armstrong wants to survive to publish her next big scoop, you know? And I think charging in with a shotgun full of rock salt isn't gonna help--this thing is way too big! We need like, a truck load of salt. Don't they use salt on the roads during winter?"
"If we leave it might escape," Koji pointed out.
"Are you guys sitting here arguing in character? Because if you are…" Atsushi said with a sly grin from behind his game master's screen. A regular human, he had a tubby sort of build and at school had a reserved, shy way about him that only seemed to fall away when he sat at the game table. It was amazing how taking over the role of leading you all into another world could bring about such a change.
"Nope!" You said. "Richard can fight that thing with a shotgun if he wants, but I'm running for the front door!"
"Traitor," Koji said with a dramatic sigh. "I can't believe you're abandoning me."
"I'm retreating so we can come back prepared!" You protested.
"Okay, Alice is running for the door. Kitagawa?" Atsushi asked of Takato.
"...Edward is going with Alice, he's still in shock after what happened to Lydia. Definitely in no shape to do anything like fight a monster," Takato said. "Besides, the book Alice has might have more information."
"Well, your comrades are running for it, Richard. What are you doing?"
"I've gone mad with grief over the loss of Lydia. I won't retreat!" Koji said, one fist clenched in a way that was meant to be dramatic.
"Well… Let's see about combat rounds, then…"
---
"I can't believe you lived," Suzu was saying as she sat at the foyer, slowly tugging her shoes on. You were doing the same, while behind you Atsushi and Takato were still chatting away in the living room, finishing off some beers. Koji grinned toothily. He lived here with Atsushi and while you didn't mind staying later, you felt better about walking to the station in company with Suzu or Takato, so usually left when they did.
"I just have skill," he said, preening.
"You got lucky," you said as you tied your shoe, "Plus we got back with a bag of road salt just in time."
"Point is, I'm alive! Even if Richard has to go to a sanitarium for a while…"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll pick it up next time and see where the book leads us, I guess," Suzu said with a roll of her eyes and moved to stand, slinging her purse over one shoulder.
"You coming, Mikuru?"
"Mmhm," you said and shouldered your own messenger bag. As Suzu opened the door you turned and waved back down the corridor. "See you!"
"Come back again safe," Koji replied. "See you next time."
With that you were out into and onto the street, the cool spring air nipping at noses still, though the promise of warmer weather was just around the corner. You glanced over at Suzu as you walked, smiled. She was a touch taller than you and with her slender figure you sometimes thought she could be a model.
"Sorry about Lydia," you said. Suzu waved a hand to dismiss the sympathy and smiled.
"It happens! I already have ideas for what comes next, so it's no bother. That's how the game goes, right?" She laughed, then her gaze slide over towards you. There was a moment of silence before she coughed.
"Ah… I know we aren't super close, so sorry if this is too personal, but are you doing okay? I know the last few times at the game you've seemed kind of… out of it at times. Kind of sad." Perceptive Suzu. You felt your cheeks start to burn a little with embarrassment.
"Did something happen? Did you break up with your boyfriend or something?" she continued as the pair of you turned the corner onto a busier street and headed towards the train station. "I mean… I just want to make sure you're okay." Ah yes. Your 'boyfriend.' At Erika's request, your relationship had been kept mostly quiet except with some trusted friends and others, which had made talking about it with your game friends a bit weird, since you had to be vague the few times you mentioned that you even had a relationship. And now here was one of your friends asking you about it straight up. Oof.
"We're actually getting together tonight," you said. "For the game."
"I'm glad," mom said. "It's alright to rely on others, Hanako."
"I know," you replied. "I'm just. Private about this stuff with the group. Some people can be weird. And Erika was always awkward about people she hadn't met knowing, so…"
"Well, tell them it was a boyfriend or something then," your mom says. "Or just that you had a fight with a friend. I mean… they're your friends. They'll support you." She paused.
"Have you tried talking to Mari? Or one of your other high school friends…?"
"No. I mean. Jesse is overseas. Mari is getting married in a few months, I don't want to bother her and her perfect youthful romance, you know?" You laughed. It was well meant--Mari and Ryou were kind of lucky to have each other. Ryou was getting on with the fire brigade full time now and Mari had been chatting about starting to stay home and maybe having a kid and… it all felt like a lot.
"I know, I know. I just… want you to have the support you need," mom said with a sigh. "Please, reach out to someone if you need. Or me! Or your father!"
"I will mom, I promise. I think I just need time."
"Well, I'll send you some apartment listings. Try and focus on school!"
"Yes, mom. Take care, okay?"
"You too. I love you, Hanako."
"Love you too."
---
Heart pounding, you pushed yourself up against the damp wall and hugged your precious cargo to your chest. In the echoing and damp corridors behind you, you can hear something moving. Something unnatural. It makes your spine shiver when you remember what it was you saw, moving and shifting in the spaces below the house. You just need to make it to the door, then you will be free of this place--free of the disturbing and loathsome presence that haunts this place.
Peering to your left, you hissed at your companion.
"Where's Richard?"
"I haven't seen him. The last time I saw him, he was mumbling about salt--" Just at the instance, the front door burst open, revealing Richard. In his hands he cradled a heavy looking double-barreled shot which he waved about in an altogether unhealthy and unsafe manner.
"Now I have it! I'll blast it to pieces!" He said and moved to shove past the pair of you. You heard the walls groan and creak as if the house were itself shifting on its foundations.
"Are you crazy?" you demanded, "We have to get out of here! You saw what it did to poor Lydia!"
"REVENGE!" said Richard
"Wait, wait, wait--your plan is to just shoot it with rock salt?" Suzu asked from across the table.
"Quiet, you died," said Koji, RIchard's player. He was a fox-eared fellow with thick spectacles, always full of energy. Slender and tall, you thought he resembled a bean poll sometimes.
"Because no one else wanted to check out that bedroom. And that's how you figured out salt hurts it," Suzu protested. She was probably the closest to 'normal' in your group, you sometimes thought. She was in the same year at uni and was like you, a feline of sorts. Suzu seemed to be always on point with her poise and fashion. Not to mention that she was fit as hell and played soccer on top of that, somehow. Where did she find time to come play? Sometimes you felt a bit self-conscious about your own, rounder frame around her.
"Mmm, true. But you shouldn't give advice when you're dead, right? It's kinda cheating," Takato said--your other player. He was a stout, broad-shouldered, wolf-eared young man with a happy-go-lucky personality. In high school he'd played American football but had decided to play sport more casually so he could focus on studying literature at university.
"I think it's okay for her to ask questions," you said. "All I know is that intrepid reporter Alice Armstrong wants to survive to publish her next big scoop, you know? And I think charging in with a shotgun full of rock salt isn't gonna help--this thing is way too big! We need like, a truck load of salt. Don't they use salt on the roads during winter?"
"If we leave it might escape," Koji pointed out.
"Are you guys sitting here arguing in character? Because if you are…" Atsushi said with a sly grin from behind his game master's screen. A regular human, he had a tubby sort of build and at school had a reserved, shy way about him that only seemed to fall away when he sat at the game table. It was amazing how taking over the role of leading you all into another world could bring about such a change.
"Nope!" You said. "Richard can fight that thing with a shotgun if he wants, but I'm running for the front door!"
"Traitor," Koji said with a dramatic sigh. "I can't believe you're abandoning me."
"I'm retreating so we can come back prepared!" You protested.
"Okay, Alice is running for the door. Kitagawa?" Atsushi asked of Takato.
"...Edward is going with Alice, he's still in shock after what happened to Lydia. Definitely in no shape to do anything like fight a monster," Takato said. "Besides, the book Alice has might have more information."
"Well, your comrades are running for it, Richard. What are you doing?"
"I've gone mad with grief over the loss of Lydia. I won't retreat!" Koji said, one fist clenched in a way that was meant to be dramatic.
"Well… Let's see about combat rounds, then…"
---
"I can't believe you lived," Suzu was saying as she sat at the foyer, slowly tugging her shoes on. You were doing the same, while behind you Atsushi and Takato were still chatting away in the living room, finishing off some beers. Koji grinned toothily. He lived here with Atsushi and while you didn't mind staying later, you felt better about walking to the station in company with Suzu or Takato, so usually left when they did.
"I just have skill," he said, preening.
"You got lucky," you said as you tied your shoe, "Plus we got back with a bag of road salt just in time."
"Point is, I'm alive! Even if Richard has to go to a sanitarium for a while…"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll pick it up next time and see where the book leads us, I guess," Suzu said with a roll of her eyes and moved to stand, slinging her purse over one shoulder.
"You coming, Mikuru?"
"Mmhm," you said and shouldered your own messenger bag. As Suzu opened the door you turned and waved back down the corridor. "See you!"
"Come back again safe," Koji replied. "See you next time."
With that you were out into and onto the street, the cool spring air nipping at noses still, though the promise of warmer weather was just around the corner. You glanced over at Suzu as you walked, smiled. She was a touch taller than you and with her slender figure you sometimes thought she could be a model.
"Sorry about Lydia," you said. Suzu waved a hand to dismiss the sympathy and smiled.
"It happens! I already have ideas for what comes next, so it's no bother. That's how the game goes, right?" She laughed, then her gaze slide over towards you. There was a moment of silence before she coughed.
"Ah… I know we aren't super close, so sorry if this is too personal, but are you doing okay? I know the last few times at the game you've seemed kind of… out of it at times. Kind of sad." Perceptive Suzu. You felt your cheeks start to burn a little with embarrassment.
"Did something happen? Did you break up with your boyfriend or something?" she continued as the pair of you turned the corner onto a busier street and headed towards the train station. "I mean… I just want to make sure you're okay." Ah yes. Your 'boyfriend.' At Erika's request, your relationship had been kept mostly quiet except with some trusted friends and others, which had made talking about it with your game friends a bit weird, since you had to be vague the few times you mentioned that you even had a relationship. And now here was one of your friends asking you about it straight up. Oof.
[ ] Yeah, I broke up with my 'boyfriend:' Respect Erika's wishes even though you've broken up and play along with Suzu's belief that you had a guy in your life. You can still maybe talk to her a bit about your romantic woes, which could be nice.
[ ] Actually, it was my girlfriend: Come out of the closet to Suzu and open up about your previous relationship a bit more. You don't have to name Erika, though if she's attentive Suzu might be able to put the fact that your 'roommate' moved out and that you broke up with your girlfriend together.
[ ] No, no! I'm fine, Just start of semester blues: Nothing's wrong, just a lot to do right now, you know? Lots to worry about going into the third year. Papers to write, research to do, study groups to organize. You're fine, really.
