UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
It's a cafe, not a theme park. I doubt there's much reason to spend a lot more time there if we're going there alone.
Of Stars and Melodies - A Girls Band Party Quest (No Setting Knowledge Needed!)
- Thread starter ~Celeste~
- Start date
~Celeste~
Vampire Catgirl Extraordinaire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Oh, there's absolutely nothing wrong with your votes - It's was a valid option, as I said before.
I was just wondering if my wonky voting format last chapter kept people away from voting. It often seems that the more simple the voting options, the more people vote.
As for why I found the winning votes amusing, you'll just have to wait and see~
- Location
- Toronto, Canada
Let's roll a die!
UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
... what did we set?! It was innocent lunch and innocent outing!
Band Story 0.2a
~Celeste~
Vampire Catgirl Extraordinaire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Okay when I said I would take some time before writing the next update I didn't mean quite this much. I really have no excuse save for lockdown messing with my sense of time and deadlines.
After taking the tram to school and back home for two days straight, and moving around the city for the better part of a week before that, you could say you had almost gotten used to the huge crowds involved.
You could say it, but you'd be lying through her teeth. The train car is full, standing room only, and you're forced to juggle your phone in one hand as the other grabs the handholds for dear life at each twist and turn in the path to avoid bumping into someone else.
Still no answer, huh?
Considering Nishimura's usually quick replies, and that you texted her before even leaving the house, that's a bit strange. She should be on her way to school by now. Unless she's feeling sick?
It's a but rude, but you send her another message.
This time you get an answer. Kind of.
You raise an eyebrow. She actually wrote down 'ignore' and sent it. Well, if she's being that weird she's probably alright. But why that reaction? You scroll up the chat history to see- Oh.
Huh. That was a quick reply.
You resist the urge to roll your eyes. The fangirling is strong with this one. Best not to tell her you also met Shirasagi-san, or she might just lose it.
Actually, considering you wanted to talk with her in the first place, that gives you an idea.
Well, that was quick. You honestly feel a bit guilty, using Aya's fame like that. Not that you're going to divulge her personal life or anything. Heck, you're willing to bet Yuki-san knows more about her than you do.
Still, you do need a place to meet. You fumble for an answer before remembering something Megumi said on your first day at Hanasakigawa.
"Saotome-senpai!" a high-pitched voice calls out from your left, louder than the din and the hustle of the crowded tram. Turning and raising your eyes to face the source, you can feel your eyebrows receding into your hairline at the scene. One one hand, you shouldn't be surprised, considering what happened on you first day. On the other, you're beginning to wonder if fate perhaps has a sense of humor.
Making her way towards you, smile on her face clearly visible above most of the crowd as she inadvertently plows through it on her way to you is the girl you saw on the tram the other day: none other than Wakamiya Eve, keyboardist of Pastel*Palettes.
Okay, first, senpai? She's a first year? She's taller than you, and you are certainly not short. Granted, if you remember correctly she's half Finnish and you've read that Europeans are taller on average, but between her and Seta-san you're beginning to wonder if there's something in the water around here.
Second, how does she know your name if you-
"Nice to meet you, Saotome-senpai!," the girl greets you again as soon as she reaches you (which she does in but a few seconds) "My name is Wakamiya Eve - Aya's told me 'bout ya!" She says, somehow managing to bow despite the lack of space.
From how her speech sways from formal to informal you think Japanese must be her second language. You have to admire her accent though - it's probably closer to Tokyo Standard than yours (no, you're not jealous, why would you be?). A few people glance over at Eve when she mentions her name, but look away just as quickly - you figure they must be used to her quirks.
You blink as you finally process her actual words.
"About me? Huh, I mean - it's nice to meet you too, Wakamiya-san. ...what did Maruyama-san say, exactly?" you ask, silently hoping Aya didn't actually-
"Aya-chan said you decided to join a band after you heard me hum Pasupa*Revolution!"
She did! And in the most embarrassing, out of context way possible!
"Uuuh... ahem, that is-" you stammer, feeling your face heat up. "it's a bit more complicated than that! I just happened to notice you on the train and, well, you were humming something, so I memorized it, then one thing led to another, and, well, I was inspired to..." ...no wait, that's even worse - she probably thinks you're a weirdo now. Even more than before, that is. You'd hide your face in your hands - except you still have to keep yourself and your schoolbag upright, so you can't even do that. You settle for looking down "Uh... I'm sorry?"
"Don't be!" the girl all but shouts, and you whip your head up to find her looking at you with a determined expression on her face, arms pumped - only the kami know how she's keeping her balance. "I am honored!" she continues, all but pinning you under her gaze. "To be able to inspire people with just my voice- just like the Samurai leaders of old... It's the peak of bushido!"
What
"...Bushido." you repeat, slowly.
"Yep!" she nods vigorously, white hair bobbing up and down with the movement "I strive to follow bushido in all things!"
You glance from Eve, looking like she has shared some kind of universal truth, to the people around you, who are now very pointedly ignoring your conversation - then back to Eve.
This is your life now, apparently.
"Oh," you say, eventually. "I'm glad to have helped?"
Eve's smile could light up the whole train.
You step out of the train a few minutes later, Eve in tow. The white haired girl can be surprisingly chatty despite not being a native speaker, and you're certainly not going to criticize her somewhat quirky Japanese - you know what that feels like. Some things you already knew from Aya-san, such as the fact she's half-Finnish and moved to Japan recently, or that she works as a model in addition to being an idol. Others, like her being part of the Hanasakigawa High Kendo club, are completely unsurprising. As you walk up to school, though, the subject moves to the live you're going to see.
"Roselia-san is very good," the blue eyed girl nods, holding her schoolbag in front of her with both hands as she walks, "they've honed their craft by practicing over and over like true warriors!" And there's that intense smile again. "Rinko-san's piano work is excellent, she started playing a long time ago!"
Well, that's interesting. "You mean five, six years ago?"
Eve hums in thought. "I don't remember exactly, but a lot more than that, I think."
A lot more? Can someone even learn much that early?
"What about you, Wakamiya-san?" you ask, suddenly curious. "You're the keyboardist of PasuPare, right? How much playing experience did you have?"
"Me?" she seems faintly surprised at the question. "About three years, three and a half."
Three years?
You think back to the keyboard parts in Shuwarin Dreamin and Pasupare*Revolution. To be able to pull them off flawlessly, in sync with the others...
"That's amazing," you reply in awe as you both finally cross the school gate and step into the front yard, "for your keyboard playing to be so good, after just three years... you must be really talented!"
To your surprise, Eve doesn't take well to the praise: she starts slightly, misses a step and, for the first time since you've met her, frowns.
"N-not at all, Saotome-senpai!" she says, eventually. "It's studio work - we can try over and over, and we have many people always helping us. At the start we-"
"Youkai-san!" someone shouts from your right, "let Eve-chin go!"
Excuse me?
You whip around towards the voice to find a short girl with orange hair in a pixie cut and matching orange eyes staring at you with what could probably pass as a glare if you were feeling generous. She's standing a short distance away, pointing her left hand at you, while her other arm, still holding her schoolbag, is raised to the side as if to shield... huh, the blue-haired girl from the other day - Kanon, was it? Of Hello, Happy World.
Ah, right, you recognize this girl now. It's the bassist of that same band - Kitasomething Hagumi, you think.
Now, why the heck is she calling you a youkai?
"Uh..." you slowly raise a hand, "sorry but are you talking to me?" you ask, pointing at yourself, "because I'm pretty sure I'm not a youkai."
"Nuh-uh," the girl shakes her head. Oh, good, so she doesn't- "I won't fall for your tricks, Youkai-san! I have proof!"
"Proof?" you can feel your eyebrows receding into your hairline.
"Yes! Here it is!"
You watch, dumbfounded, as she stops pointing at you to rummage into her schoolbag and pull out...
...is that the school newspaper?
She opens it to page four.
The words "The supernatural at school: five reasons why the new transfer student is secretly a youkai" are clearly visible despite the distance.
You. Have. No. Words.
What do you do?
{Choose one}
[]Ignore.
Oh, no, you've had quite enough weirdness for one morning, thank you. Bid Eve goodbye, wave at Kanon, re-affirm your non-youkainess and sidestep the girl. Lessons are waiting, today is going to be a busy day, and you really don't want to waste any time.
[]Play along.
This girl is from the same band as Kaoru, right? Perhaps you can try to just go along with her otrageus claims and see where that leads you?
[]Explain.
Perhaps the rational solution is the best one for a change? If you just make it clear you're not a youkai and you're not going to spirit Eve away or anything she's bound to listen, right?
What are you going to do about the article?
{Choose one}
[]Explanations, now.
Oooh, that does it. You're angry now. You let Suzuki-san write an article about you, yes, but you didn't give her permission to write something... outlandish like that! Is this how she thanks you for your trust? You're going to have words.
[]Look into it.
Why would Suzuki-san do something like that? Get a copy of the article, read it, see what it's aiming at. Then, and only then, you're going to decide what to do about it.
[]Let it slide.
Sure, it sounds like a pretty crazy article, but it's the supernatural column of the school newspaper - it's just harmless fun. Give it a read, have a good laugh and move on with your life.
As always, comments and criticism are welcome. Let me know what you think!
After taking the tram to school and back home for two days straight, and moving around the city for the better part of a week before that, you could say you had almost gotten used to the huge crowds involved.
You could say it, but you'd be lying through her teeth. The train car is full, standing room only, and you're forced to juggle your phone in one hand as the other grabs the handholds for dear life at each twist and turn in the path to avoid bumping into someone else.
Still no answer, huh?
Considering Nishimura's usually quick replies, and that you texted her before even leaving the house, that's a bit strange. She should be on her way to school by now. Unless she's feeling sick?
It's a but rude, but you send her another message.
-
saotome hibiki Yuki-san, can I ask you something?saotome hibiki Yuki-san, is everything alright?
This time you get an answer. Kind of.
-
saotome hibiki Yuki-san, can I ask you something?saotome hibiki Yuki-san is everything alright?nishimura yuki stares
ignores
You raise an eyebrow. She actually wrote down 'ignore' and sent it. Well, if she's being that weird she's probably alright. But why that reaction? You scroll up the chat history to see- Oh.
-
saotome hibiki this is about yesterday, isn't it?nishimura yuki ...maybesaotome hibiki finesaotome hibiki Aya's in my class, okay?
That's how I know her.nishimura yuki what?
Huh. That was a quick reply.
-
nishimura yuki no seriously
you just transferred here
picked a school
and Maruyama Aya
was in your class?
just like that?
so unfair 😐
You resist the urge to roll your eyes. The fangirling is strong with this one. Best not to tell her you also met Shirasagi-san, or she might just lose it.
-
saotome hibiki yeah yeah totally unfair 🙄
can I ask you to keep it quiet?
privacy and all thatnishimura yuki of course who do you take me for?
I just have so many questions!
Actually, considering you wanted to talk with her in the first place, that gives you an idea.
-
nishimura yuki of course who do you take me for?
I just have so many questions!saotome hibiki How about this?
I have some time before Roselia's live
not enough for a jam
but we can talk about it
and about PasuParenishimura yuki Fine by me! 4 pm? Where?
Well, that was quick. You honestly feel a bit guilty, using Aya's fame like that. Not that you're going to divulge her personal life or anything. Heck, you're willing to bet Yuki-san knows more about her than you do.
Still, you do need a place to meet. You fumble for an answer before remembering something Megumi said on your first day at Hanasakigawa.
-
nishimura yuki Where?saotome hibiki I was thinking Hazawa Coffe
in the commercial district
ever been there?nishimura yuki Nope
time to try it out
Ok then 👍
Almost at school rn
See you!saotome hibiki I'm almost at my stop too
Bye 👋type message See you lat_
"Saotome-senpai!" a high-pitched voice calls out from your left, louder than the din and the hustle of the crowded tram. Turning and raising your eyes to face the source, you can feel your eyebrows receding into your hairline at the scene. One one hand, you shouldn't be surprised, considering what happened on you first day. On the other, you're beginning to wonder if fate perhaps has a sense of humor.
Making her way towards you, smile on her face clearly visible above most of the crowd as she inadvertently plows through it on her way to you is the girl you saw on the tram the other day: none other than Wakamiya Eve, keyboardist of Pastel*Palettes.
Okay, first, senpai? She's a first year? She's taller than you, and you are certainly not short. Granted, if you remember correctly she's half Finnish and you've read that Europeans are taller on average, but between her and Seta-san you're beginning to wonder if there's something in the water around here.
Second, how does she know your name if you-
"Nice to meet you, Saotome-senpai!," the girl greets you again as soon as she reaches you (which she does in but a few seconds) "My name is Wakamiya Eve - Aya's told me 'bout ya!" She says, somehow managing to bow despite the lack of space.
From how her speech sways from formal to informal you think Japanese must be her second language. You have to admire her accent though - it's probably closer to Tokyo Standard than yours (no, you're not jealous, why would you be?). A few people glance over at Eve when she mentions her name, but look away just as quickly - you figure they must be used to her quirks.
You blink as you finally process her actual words.
"About me? Huh, I mean - it's nice to meet you too, Wakamiya-san. ...what did Maruyama-san say, exactly?" you ask, silently hoping Aya didn't actually-
"Aya-chan said you decided to join a band after you heard me hum Pasupa*Revolution!"
She did! And in the most embarrassing, out of context way possible!
"Uuuh... ahem, that is-" you stammer, feeling your face heat up. "it's a bit more complicated than that! I just happened to notice you on the train and, well, you were humming something, so I memorized it, then one thing led to another, and, well, I was inspired to..." ...no wait, that's even worse - she probably thinks you're a weirdo now. Even more than before, that is. You'd hide your face in your hands - except you still have to keep yourself and your schoolbag upright, so you can't even do that. You settle for looking down "Uh... I'm sorry?"
"Don't be!" the girl all but shouts, and you whip your head up to find her looking at you with a determined expression on her face, arms pumped - only the kami know how she's keeping her balance. "I am honored!" she continues, all but pinning you under her gaze. "To be able to inspire people with just my voice- just like the Samurai leaders of old... It's the peak of bushido!"
What
"...Bushido." you repeat, slowly.
"Yep!" she nods vigorously, white hair bobbing up and down with the movement "I strive to follow bushido in all things!"
You glance from Eve, looking like she has shared some kind of universal truth, to the people around you, who are now very pointedly ignoring your conversation - then back to Eve.
This is your life now, apparently.
"Oh," you say, eventually. "I'm glad to have helped?"
Eve's smile could light up the whole train.
You step out of the train a few minutes later, Eve in tow. The white haired girl can be surprisingly chatty despite not being a native speaker, and you're certainly not going to criticize her somewhat quirky Japanese - you know what that feels like. Some things you already knew from Aya-san, such as the fact she's half-Finnish and moved to Japan recently, or that she works as a model in addition to being an idol. Others, like her being part of the Hanasakigawa High Kendo club, are completely unsurprising. As you walk up to school, though, the subject moves to the live you're going to see.
"Roselia-san is very good," the blue eyed girl nods, holding her schoolbag in front of her with both hands as she walks, "they've honed their craft by practicing over and over like true warriors!" And there's that intense smile again. "Rinko-san's piano work is excellent, she started playing a long time ago!"
Well, that's interesting. "You mean five, six years ago?"
Eve hums in thought. "I don't remember exactly, but a lot more than that, I think."
A lot more? Can someone even learn much that early?
"What about you, Wakamiya-san?" you ask, suddenly curious. "You're the keyboardist of PasuPare, right? How much playing experience did you have?"
"Me?" she seems faintly surprised at the question. "About three years, three and a half."
Three years?
You think back to the keyboard parts in Shuwarin Dreamin and Pasupare*Revolution. To be able to pull them off flawlessly, in sync with the others...
"That's amazing," you reply in awe as you both finally cross the school gate and step into the front yard, "for your keyboard playing to be so good, after just three years... you must be really talented!"
To your surprise, Eve doesn't take well to the praise: she starts slightly, misses a step and, for the first time since you've met her, frowns.
"N-not at all, Saotome-senpai!" she says, eventually. "It's studio work - we can try over and over, and we have many people always helping us. At the start we-"
"Youkai-san!" someone shouts from your right, "let Eve-chin go!"
Excuse me?
You whip around towards the voice to find a short girl with orange hair in a pixie cut and matching orange eyes staring at you with what could probably pass as a glare if you were feeling generous. She's standing a short distance away, pointing her left hand at you, while her other arm, still holding her schoolbag, is raised to the side as if to shield... huh, the blue-haired girl from the other day - Kanon, was it? Of Hello, Happy World.
Ah, right, you recognize this girl now. It's the bassist of that same band - Kitasomething Hagumi, you think.
Now, why the heck is she calling you a youkai?
"Uh..." you slowly raise a hand, "sorry but are you talking to me?" you ask, pointing at yourself, "because I'm pretty sure I'm not a youkai."
"Nuh-uh," the girl shakes her head. Oh, good, so she doesn't- "I won't fall for your tricks, Youkai-san! I have proof!"
"Proof?" you can feel your eyebrows receding into your hairline.
"Yes! Here it is!"
You watch, dumbfounded, as she stops pointing at you to rummage into her schoolbag and pull out...
...is that the school newspaper?
She opens it to page four.
The words "The supernatural at school: five reasons why the new transfer student is secretly a youkai" are clearly visible despite the distance.
You. Have. No. Words.
What do you do?
{Choose one}
[]Ignore.
Oh, no, you've had quite enough weirdness for one morning, thank you. Bid Eve goodbye, wave at Kanon, re-affirm your non-youkainess and sidestep the girl. Lessons are waiting, today is going to be a busy day, and you really don't want to waste any time.
[]Play along.
This girl is from the same band as Kaoru, right? Perhaps you can try to just go along with her otrageus claims and see where that leads you?
[]Explain.
Perhaps the rational solution is the best one for a change? If you just make it clear you're not a youkai and you're not going to spirit Eve away or anything she's bound to listen, right?
What are you going to do about the article?
{Choose one}
[]Explanations, now.
Oooh, that does it. You're angry now. You let Suzuki-san write an article about you, yes, but you didn't give her permission to write something... outlandish like that! Is this how she thanks you for your trust? You're going to have words.
[]Look into it.
Why would Suzuki-san do something like that? Get a copy of the article, read it, see what it's aiming at. Then, and only then, you're going to decide what to do about it.
[]Let it slide.
Sure, it sounds like a pretty crazy article, but it's the supernatural column of the school newspaper - it's just harmless fun. Give it a read, have a good laugh and move on with your life.
As always, comments and criticism are welcome. Let me know what you think!
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UrsaTempest
Don't Panic!
[X]Play along.
[X]Let it slide.
What could possibly go wrong?
[X]Let it slide.
What could possibly go wrong?
bobbananaville
A giant crab, atop an even gianter crab
- Location
- The Philippines
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[]Explain.
[]Let it slide.
It feels weird to play along, but also I think it's all in good fun.
Edit: Also, I think the scene of her trying and failing to convince the school that she's not secretly a youkai is funnier than her playing along.
EDIT: Planning to switch out Let it slide with Look Into It. I think I am actually a bit curious.
[]Let it slide.
It feels weird to play along, but also I think it's all in good fun.
Edit: Also, I think the scene of her trying and failing to convince the school that she's not secretly a youkai is funnier than her playing along.
EDIT: Planning to switch out Let it slide with Look Into It. I think I am actually a bit curious.
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- Location
- Toronto, Canada
[X]Play along.
[X]Look into it.
Just curious as to what was actually written in the article.
[X]Look into it.
Just curious as to what was actually written in the article.
[X]Play along.
[X]Look into it.
I don't think we're going to convince her, but I DO want to look into the article. I don't know much about the writer, and the article should give us a better idea of what she's like.
[X]Look into it.
I don't think we're going to convince her, but I DO want to look into the article. I don't know much about the writer, and the article should give us a better idea of what she's like.
- Location
- earth
[X] Play along.
[X] Explanations, now.
[X] Explanations, now.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X]Play along.
[X]Look into it.
[X]Look into it.
~Celeste~
Vampire Catgirl Extraordinaire
- Pronouns
- She/They
@bobbananaville @commando2341 welcome to the quest!
To the others, welcome back!
I'm seeing a good number of votes already! I'll keep the vote open for... let's say 20 hours more.
To the others, welcome back!
I'm seeing a good number of votes already! I'll keep the vote open for... let's say 20 hours more.
- Location
- Florida
[X]Play along.
[X]Let it slide.
[X]Let it slide.
- Location
- United States
[X]Play along.
[X]Let it slide.
[X]Let it slide.
~Celeste~
Vampire Catgirl Extraordinaire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Welcome to the quest, @Brainwasher !
Hmm, we're still a few hours from the end of the vote, and while we have a clear consensus for playing along, the vote for what to do after is more contested. I'll point out in advance that while I usually try to add elements of the second most voted option to the winning vote, here the vote options are pretty much mutually exclusive, so the winning vote takes all, I guess.
Hmm, we're still a few hours from the end of the vote, and while we have a clear consensus for playing along, the vote for what to do after is more contested. I'll point out in advance that while I usually try to add elements of the second most voted option to the winning vote, here the vote options are pretty much mutually exclusive, so the winning vote takes all, I guess.
GhostStalker
Jeopardy! contestant
- Location
- NYC
[X]Play along.
[X]Look into it.
Seems like the best course of action right now, since we already messed with one member of the HHW san-Baka trio. Can't wait until we come across member number 3, and what a meeting that will be, especially if certain members of her entourage, the <REDACTED>, are with her lol.
Poor Hagu, one of the least best girls of the Bandori fandom from what I observed, doomed to fill the somewhat dim genki sports girl (and get called a clone of Rin from Love Live due to personality and appearance) role (though croquettes is a new addition to the archetype) and one with a possibly tragic background too. Oh well, we'll see more of her eventually if we keep coming across HHW members here in Hanasakigawa, plus the meeting at Hazawa Coffee might have us pass by Kitazawa Meats for some croquette snacking.
And yay, Eve! I'm ready for some bushido memery, and how you wrote her was pretty good. People on the train near the school gotta be used to the number of characters and their affectations by now, lol. And if not, they're Japanese and polite enough not to comment on it, kusa.
Also, Hibiki doesn't seem the kind of person to let this newspaper thing slide. An out and out confrontation doesn't seem like it'll pass here, so might as well look for answers anyway.
I wanna say again how well you write text convos, Sideral. Also, lol coincidence of you posting while I was typing this up.
[X]Look into it.
Seems like the best course of action right now, since we already messed with one member of the HHW san-Baka trio. Can't wait until we come across member number 3, and what a meeting that will be, especially if certain members of her entourage, the <REDACTED>, are with her lol.
Poor Hagu, one of the least best girls of the Bandori fandom from what I observed, doomed to fill the somewhat dim genki sports girl (and get called a clone of Rin from Love Live due to personality and appearance) role (though croquettes is a new addition to the archetype) and one with a possibly tragic background too. Oh well, we'll see more of her eventually if we keep coming across HHW members here in Hanasakigawa, plus the meeting at Hazawa Coffee might have us pass by Kitazawa Meats for some croquette snacking.
And yay, Eve! I'm ready for some bushido memery, and how you wrote her was pretty good. People on the train near the school gotta be used to the number of characters and their affectations by now, lol. And if not, they're Japanese and polite enough not to comment on it, kusa.
Also, Hibiki doesn't seem the kind of person to let this newspaper thing slide. An out and out confrontation doesn't seem like it'll pass here, so might as well look for answers anyway.
I wanna say again how well you write text convos, Sideral. Also, lol coincidence of you posting while I was typing this up.
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