Law of large numbers does that a lot.
Edit: a nice strong hit...
ETA: and another!
ETA: Ah, excellent.
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TomoFlake (Original Tokusatsu-Adjacent Quest)
- Thread starter Fabricati
- Start date
- Mature
Edit: a nice strong hit...
ETA: and another!
ETA: Ah, excellent.
1.7-- If Only
"As for getting out, that's simple. The Understacks listen to your heart." Iwai breathed in and steeled herself. "You, more than anyone, need to understand this, Torioi."
You considered it merely a cryptic warning, as you guided everyone back topside. The stacks were almost alarmingly empty. Row after row of bookshelves passed you by, featureless. The air was quiet, and felt like it was watching you.
And there, at the edge of the Understacks, in the border between the Understacks proper, and Iwai's office, there was a table under a sunbeam, and a sliding door made from a very thin bookshelf.
It was a different table than the one from your memories of high school. It was a low table, painted just like you remembered it in your parents' house. It was the place where you and Ichigo would talk after hard days of study and afternoons of light training that your parents said were better for you than trying to do the training from hell you thought up for yourselves, or stole from manga.
Bone tired, you heaved a breath and sat, heavily, legs splayed, on one of the cushions, thinking yourself safe. Kazue followed you, putting her arms around you, careful of your burns.
For a long moment, that comfort was all that happened.
"... This would make things so much easier on both of us, wouldn't it?" Kazue said, at last. "If this was how I really was. … Sure, my mother would probably be, I don't know. Marrying you to one of my cousins, I guess. But that we could get so much closer, and stand closer together for the tribulations ahead-- I wish we could."
"... I wish I could, too," you said, with a heavy heart.
"I wish you could stay," Kazue said. "... You could, you know. You can live here."
The thought rammed into your heart. You could. You could stay here. The Understacks would bend over backwards, to provide your every need.
You could stay here, with Kazue, having adventures until your inheritance forever slipped out of your grasp, the college descended into fear of youkai, and even your parents' memory was entirely lost to you.
You could have. Sometimes, you wish you had.
It would have been so sweet. So fleeting, but so sweet.
But you balled your hands into fists, and winced as the burns and cuts made themselves known once more. "... I could. And I wish it were all true."
You sniffled, just a little. It was the first time since your parents died that you cried over another person. "But… But it's not."
"Please, just a little longer," Kazue begged you.
[Escape the Depths: 2+3+1+1 vs 10, 1 weak hit. You take 2 Stress as the thought of staying with Kazue in the stacks forever tempts you, shaking you to your core. Why did it tempt you?]
[Endure Stress 5+3 vs 1, 6 strong hit.]
"I can't." Your voice shook, but you said it anyway.
"Why not!?" Kazue asked.
"You know why," you said, slowly standing up. "You saw, right alongside me. Even… Even if I want to-- no, even though I want to, I can't abandon everyone else."
A feeling of isolation choked you. You let it. It would make your goals that much easier to obtain going forward.
[You embrace the darkness. +1 Momentum.]
"I'm sorry. I know," you said, petting her hair.
"No. You don't. You don't, and it hurts, and one day you'll know and it'll hurt you just as bad," Kazue spat.
"Probably. But would you really be happy if I was the kind of person who left everything half-done?" You gingerly walked towards the waiting Iwai, who nodded in gentle understanding.
The specific antidote Iwai had on hand was a powder that hissed and stung as it contacted the poison still on your skin.
You didn't write down anything else about it. But you remembered it well enough. The pain as you tried to keep still for Iwai. The lecture that escaped your mind entirely, turned to smoke and vapor by the time you got back to your apartment. The pain.
The pain was seared into your memory, and so was the humiliation of most of your clothes being ruined. You had to walk home in them; Iwai had none to spare.
Honestly, the entire thing was humiliating after the fact, even if, while in it, you had wanted a little bit of that desperation in your life.
Was this what Ichigo felt, the night he had to face that nekomata?
[Secure an Advantage: aid an ally, 1+2 vs 5,8 MISS. Lose 1 outfit. Take 1 Stress.]
FAILURES [⁑] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
[Endure Stress 4+3 vs 5, 1 strong hit.]
But you highlight that entry anyway. It was humiliating to remember, but the fact was it contained a valuable lesson. One you didn't forget. One you won't forget.
Never again would you go in, completely unprepared for a Site. You let the lesson burn in as you entered your apartment and threw the holed tatters of your athletic shirt and spats into the trash.
[You embrace the darkness. +1 Momentum.]
But, even then, your burns reminded you that you had work to do.
[Heal, 5+2 vs 5, 1 STRONG HIT. +2 Body.]
Thankfully, after a moment to clean your burns, you realized they weren't nearly as bad as they first appeared-- or maybe the specific had leached enough of the poison out of your skin that it was already losing its swollen look.
Either way, a moment with some isopropyl, painkillers, and a few meters of gauze bandaging soon had the worst of it under control, though you winced every step of the way.
You had, so far as you were concerned, one major advantage over everyone you were working against so far: no one knew what the fuck you were up to, yet.
But who knew how long that luck would hold? Rumors would surely start circulating the campus at this rate, and anyone who knew about the Understacks might be able to put two and two together. You suspected that, despite Iwai's warnings, that was all too many people.
And there you were again, in the bathroom mirror. 148 cm. Black hair. Black eyes. Unremarkable. A stepping stone to your childhood friend, or for him.
The thoughts made you burn worse than the poison did.
Still Saturday, the 29th. You remembered at the time that this coming week was Golden Week. You mention as much to Ichigo, over the dinner you made.
[Take A Rest: 4+5 vs 8, 8 STRONG HIT, MATCH]
Ichigo nodded. "Oh, hey, yeah. I don't think we can go far, because of our budget, but Dad sent over a few things to take up the time on our days off."
He reached into his desk, and put them on the table-- a veritable pile of shrine visits, a trip to the local aquarium, a famous park, train tickets to one of the national treasures, a visit to an old-fashioned inn. "I don't think we can get to all of them, but at least we can try to get to some of them."
"Mm." You nod. "That will take some thought. Are they just passes, or genuine reservations?"
"Most of them are just coupons, really." The air got thicker, more oppressive, as the both of you looked at the week ahead. Maybe he didn't know it, but it sure felt like neither of you would be having much fun. "And hey, maybe you can tell me how you got those injuries."
You felt your eye twitch. "Only when you tell me why you were attacked. And why you stole my mail."
Ichigo looked nervous for a second. "Listen. I-- I don't know what's going on with that. Really. And maybe you can tell me why you're slacking off on judo? You know it's going to bring down the hammer--"
"Did you even get in the club, Ichigo!?" you found yourself retorting. "They're going to be watching us either way, at least I was there every meeting--"
"And they're starting to call you 'Torioi Mozu' because of it," Ichigo said. You winced. Bird-chasing shrike, huh. "I'm not-- I'm not dumb, I know you. Or at least I like to think I do. You tried to investigate, didn't you?"
"What else can I do? Your parents told me to keep you safe, and in case you forgot, I--"
"-- This goes so much deeper than you think, Mei! I--" Ichigo looks pained, conflicted for a moment. "Look, I just want you to stay safe, all right?"
Suddenly, the picture cleared.
[Test Your Bond, 5+3 vs 6, 2 strong hit]
"You don't know. You didn't read the letter. Your parents haven't told you anything."
"Of course I didn't! Of course they don't! When was the last time they gave us anything but an order?"
You paused, smiled, and slapped the table, pointing at him. "Let's take your dad up on at least one of those offers. I'll explain in transit. But long story short, I think we're both in the same cookpot, and the only way we're getting out is together."
Ichigo looked… Entirely nonplussed. "If I have to… But let's spend some time apart. Make it look like we're fighting."
That's… That's actually such a good idea you wish you had thought of it. It's shit like this that made you still friends. You took his hand in both of yours. "Excellent! Pick-- Pick a friend of yours, and I'll pick a friend of mine, and we'll both go somewhere. Heck, we have enough coupons, make it two places! And then-- And then I guess we make up before the end of the week and do something supposedly romantic?"
"Uh, sure?" Ichigo didn't seem quite sure what to make of your enthusiasm.
"Great! Uh--" You paused. "What would be best for that, do you think? We can look at the rest after that."
"... Probably the inn visit…" Ichigo said, with a disappointed sigh.
You couldn't blame him.
[You gain 3 Spirit and 2 Body from your brief fight with Ichigo, that had threatened to split you permanently with distrust.]
[Body: 4/5]
[Spirit: 5/5]
[Supply: 5/5]
[Momentum: +4]
[You feel your bond with Ichigo, which had was stressed nearly to the breaking point, deepened, just a bit.]
BOND: KANEKO ICHIGO
[X]
VOTE TIME:
Where should we go during Golden Week, aside from the inn?
[] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
[] [TRIP] The mountain shrine.
[] [TRIP] The historical site.
[] [TRIP] the movie studio tour.
[] [TRIP] the famous national park.
We'll be headed into the wilds for a few days for a Judo Club retreat. Who will we tent with? Regardless of what we choose, this has a chance to clear our Complacency.
[] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
[] [JUDO] A brunette medicine major who, for some reason, brought a push-broom to the mountains.
[] [JUDO] A former miko who has hundreds of tales about weird shrine visitors.
[] [JUDO] A blue-haired girl who seems awfully familiar somehow.
[] [JUDO] Attempt to ditch the retreat.
Should we swear a Vow to learn from Iwai Kanna?
[] [VOW] Yes.
-[] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
-[] It's a good way to figure out what makes Iwai-sensei tick.
-[] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
[] [VOW] No.
-[] We already had one close call in the Understacks, and that was the place playing softball. We can't afford another fuckup like that.
-[] We can't afford to keep going back to the Understacks. Kazue scares us.
-[] If anything, we should be learning archery or making things right in the Judo Club.
Should we take a Delve this week? If so, where, and what will we look for?
[] [DELVE] This is an all write-in category. You may only suggest Delves to sites we have discovered.
Vote opens at noon and ends 1800 PDT Tuesday.
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- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Oooh, Ominous!
So first of all
Ichigo has even more reason to suspect we have a crush on him. Yay Faiz Level Miscommunications!
now for voting:
[X] [TRIP] The historical site
[X] [JUDO] A former miko who has hundreds of tales about weird shrine visitors.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
This one is the one that requires a train ticket, so I kinda want to ensure that we get it done - It's something that we definitely can't get to as easily as the more local stuff.
Miko feels likely to open up the door to the Shrine, or get us some more info on it for when we eventually decide to look into it. Also, Miko's are inherently cool, as any Touhou fan know.
And the vow to learn how to acutally get on with our Magic BS - Umm, Fucking yes? And whilst I'd like to outright vote for the magic stuff, I do want to learn more of Kazue's deal. In part because This can only end in WAFF or tradgedy, so I win either way!
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- Pronouns
- He/They/She
Love to hear "You embrace the darkness." multiple times in one update. Is that just game terms for accepting a loss in return for a benny, or are we actually doing something there?
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
[X] [JUDO] A blue-haired girl who seems awfully familiar somehow.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
I like aquariums, I the description is the most tantalizing, and that's my honest opinion, respectively.
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
[X] [JUDO] A blue-haired girl who seems awfully familiar somehow.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
I like aquariums, I the description is the most tantalizing, and that's my honest opinion, respectively.
Specifically a flavor text for Stress. The term for Harm is "embracing the pain". I'm taking it to mean, as shown above, just trying to live with what you did instead of trying to justify it, moving forward as quickly as possible/taking refuge in audacity.
bii
member, Other World Tourism Bureau
- Pronouns
- She/They
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
Given where I live, I think I have to vote for a rad aquarium. Plus if we do it with one of our cute female friends, it'll be all romantic and shit!
[X] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
She sounds hot and I'm a sucker for girls like this.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
I know what I'm about this vote and what I'm about this vote is cute girls.
Given where I live, I think I have to vote for a rad aquarium. Plus if we do it with one of our cute female friends, it'll be all romantic and shit!
[X] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
She sounds hot and I'm a sucker for girls like this.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
I know what I'm about this vote and what I'm about this vote is cute girls.
- Location
- Wingmaiden's Reach, the Near Roofs, Town
- Pronouns
- She/Her
... a persuasive argument.
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
[X] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
[X] [JUDO] A blue-haired girl who seems awfully familiar somehow.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
[X] [JUDO] A blue-haired girl who seems awfully familiar somehow.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
[X] [TRIP] The Aquarium.
Because if Anime has taught me anything then it is that Aquarium's are gay af^^
[X] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
Because if Anime has taught me anything then it is that Aquarium's are gay af^^
[X] [JUDO] Some pink-haired delinquent with a bunch of kawaii-punk accessories.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] We have to figure out what the deal with Kazue is.
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Shit this is true
But my culture vulture tendencies though...
*Screams in indecision*
[X] [TRIP] The historical site
[X] [JUDO] A former miko who has hundreds of tales about weird shrine visitors.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
[X] [JUDO] A former miko who has hundreds of tales about weird shrine visitors.
[X] [VOW] Yes.
-[X] It's probably the only way we'll do it consistently enough to get us there in a reasonable amount of time.
Vote closed
Vote results and dice rolls needed, pre-1.8
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Okay, going with the iron vow!
Could be better, but like, 6 is more than half!
Could be better, but like, 6 is more than half!
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Interesting note, this is Nerdorama's third 1 in a row.
It's like lucky 7's, but opposite! /s
It's like lucky 7's, but opposite!
/s
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
out of 10 dice, 3 were below 5.
This is amazing It's like some weird luck curse or something, or the die roller equivalent of a burial ground.
It's hilarious, much as it causes us suffering.
This is amazing It's like some weird luck curse or something, or the die roller equivalent of a burial ground.
It's hilarious, much as it causes us suffering.
1.8.1-- and that's when the chud came after me
Your first action, after cleaning up the meal, was to head back to your own room. If you were to use the Aquarium ticket, you might as well LINE someone you gave a shit about. Heck, if you got through it quickly, you might even be able to get some time together to go talk with Iwai.
You're careful to look at your laptop, and feel another burden on your heart. There's no other way around it, you're going to have to treat Iwai's request as if it were ironclad. Otherwise, there's simply no way to get it done this semester.
Besides. If nothing else, you wanted to see Kazue again. There were so many questions that your brief time in the Understacks had left unanswered.
And you couldn't get her face, near to crying, out of your head. You couldn't leave it at that. You just couldn't.
[VOW: I will shape a path for Kazue to find peace.]
[DIFFICULTY: Dangerous]
[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
[Swear An Iron Vow: 5 vs 10, 1 weak hit]
Your text to Yagami-senpai, however, got a call back. "Hey, Torioi, did you not look at the board Friday? Both the boys' and girls' clubs are heading out into the Mountains starting tomorrow."
"-- Uh. I wasn't aware, no." While this temporarily shot your attempt to train with Iwai-sensei in the foot, you honestly couldn't think of a better reason to blow off the Kaneko parental units, so the thought of ditching didn't even cross your mind. "How long?"
"Three days."
"... I understand. I'll get myself and Kaneko there on time. When are we leaving?"
"We'll be leaving tomorrow morning at 6 AM from the-- Uh, from the University Station, on the Mountain Line."
"All right, I'll be there."
Thus, a quick text or two later, an emergency meeting between yourself and Ichigo started in your apartment. "So the Judo club is doing a retreat starting tomorrow--"
"Oh hell. We have to pack. I'll pack my stuff and bring along some curry and meat in a cooler--"
"We have to be there by 6AM."
"Well so much for Sunday visits."
"Yeah. But hey, at least we get to blow off a good portion of all this sightseeing stuff."
Ichigo laughed in relief. Honestly you hadn't been looking forward to going to a bunch of sites alone, but…
"And this way we have a plausible, public fight," you continued.
"Still with that plan, huh…?" Ichigo rubbed his chin. "No, no, it's still a good plan…"
"The quicker we get packed, the better off we'll be, it's already way late if we want to be there by 6 AM."
Ichigo looked at his phone, and then, utterly shocked, nodded.
[Face Danger vs. Quick 2+1+1 vs 3, 8 weak hit]
The next hour or so is a flurry of packing and quick runs to the only open stores this late and going over everything you've decided to bring with you. You have no excuses. Usually, you were so much better about this kind of thing. What happened?
… No, you know what happened. You let yourself be led by the nose into the Understacks instead of keeping on top of your duties to yourself and others.
[A hasty flurry of packing ensues, and while you manage to get properly packed, the experience causes you 1 Stress. Endure Stress 4 vs 8, 10 MISS. Lost 1 momentum in beating yourself up over it.]
[Stress 3/5]
FAILURES
[⁑] [/] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
Momentum +2
You were both tired as you took the way to the station at a sustainable run. The sun was, thankfully, threatening to rise, even this early, so you didn't have to try and keep pace with only limited street lighting.
When you got to the station, Sakaki and Yagami were already there, along with two rather strong boys that you don't recognize.
Ichigo apparently does, giving a bright wave to the both of them. "Ah, they're the club heads?"
Ichigo nodded, excitedly introducing you to all the boys in a flurry of introductions.
You're swept up in it for a good bit, and even end up talking shop for a good while. Soon enough the girls' club joins in as well, and the hubbub becomes a little overwhelming.
"OK everyone, it's 6 AM, form up, please." A few people made 'see you soon' noises at you, and you wrote down that you wondered at the time how many of them had developed quick crushes on Ichigo. Everyone filed into first and second ranks, separated by club.
This done, Sakaki continued. "Remember, we're representing the University on this retreat, so let's make sure we don't bring our reputation down on this. Let's be fastidious and clean up after ourselves."
"Yes," came the tired chorus of everyone else.
"This will be an hour's train ride, so find someplace comfortable, or you'll regret it immediately," Yagami warned. "I speak from experience, so listen to it!"
This made a few of the club members confused.
"Our train will leave at 6:20 from the Mountain Line platform, so let's get going."
You looked at your phone. …
It is 6:10!?
[Face Danger: Quick 6+1 vs 4, 6 strong hit]
Thankfully you didn't get yourself turned around in the train station, and managed to keep up with everyone else. For the first time since last night, you actually felt in control of this situation, albeit hungry.
You breathed in, relaxed.
[You gain +1 Momentum from succeeding without problems.]
Then immediately tensed up as some boy whose name escaped you in the fifty boy pileup sat next to you, followed swiftly by four other members of the ladies' judo club.
The boy looked decent enough, you supposed. He definitely washed, at least. His hair was black, and close cropped, his skin the shade of someone used to spending days in a field. "Torioi, right?"
[Face Danger on Rapport: 6+3 vs 2,3 strong hit]
This was something you absolutely did not need right now. You nodded.
"Uh, you probably don't know me, but, uh, I'm Sakamoto-- I'm in the club with your fiance,"
"We are not engaged to be married," you said, swiftly. And it was true. For all that the parents expected you to marry, he had yet to be cowed into compliance, probably for reasons of his own. This suited you both fine.
[You take this moment to seize control of your situation. +1 momentum.]
"-- You're not?" His expression brightened.
You did not need this right now. You sighed. "Did he say we were?"
"W-well, no, but, you arrive together most days, and you leave together, so there's some relationship there, right?"
You pinched the bridge of your nose. "Why do you care?"
All of a sudden, the other girls in the seats with you turned to regard him, and you could swear the temperature dropped some ten degrees.
Sakamoto paused, and swallowed. "Ah, I'm sorry, I'll, uh, I'll let you talk with your friends."
"Thank you," you said. After the lack of sleep last night there was plenty you wanted to catch up on. And yet, despite everything, you didn't feel disgusting and exhausted, you just felt… In command.
As if sensing the fragility of your mood, the pink-haired delinquent across from you sat next to you, along with a blue-haired woman who seemed oddly familiar.
"Sorry about that, Torioi. Sometimes guys just don't get it." You tried to remember her name, and she shook her head. As she and the blue-haired girl leaned into you, as if to offer their support, you caught the faint scent of-- strawberries? "Kisaragi Rei. It's nice to get a chance to talk to you."
The long brunette- both in hair and in height-- with glasses and a quiet demeanor waved at you from across the seats. You tried not to think about the fact she clearly brought a push-broom with her and smelled faintly of spices. "Yumeno Sakura. Medicine, first year."
"Introductions? She should have been paying attention during the meetup earlier… Though I suppose the boys rather did monopolize you, didn't they?" This is a girl with a short bob, and a thousand-yard stare. She's got the faintest hints of lavender hair in her roots, a fact that takes you by surprise. How had she managed that trick? Regardless, she was idly twirling a toy pendant in her hands, something that made Yumeno lean away. "Asamiya Yuki. First year. Used to be a miko, but right now I'm not sure what I'll be doing."
You were becoming more confused by the second, when the blue-haired girl took your hand. Maybe she mistook your confusion and averted eyes for insecurity. Maybe she was right. "Mm. Well, Asamiya, Yumeno, Kisaragi, it's good to meet you. I'm Morisawa Rin."
That hand pose Morisawa did. You'd recognize it anywhere. You blink. "Oh, you're a fan of Tenshi Momo, too?"
She reacted like she'd been shot. "Haha, yeah, her retirement really surprised me. I guess… You could say I still hold a torch for her."
"Me too," you find yourself saying. "-- Uh, you all probably know this already, but-- I'm Torioi Mei. Please treat me kindly."
You wouldn't say you became fast friends-- that would be much later. For at least a few minutes, you let yourself absorb what you could from them talking to each other.
"... Mnn. I don't like that Sakaki put us on the second string," Kisaragi said after that. "Honestly so much of this was underhanded--"
"Was it?" Yumeno said, quietly. "After all, I don't have that much experience in judo, so I guess it's not surprising that I'm near the bottom of the list…"
"Speaking of," Asamiya added, "Torioi, why did you get bottom spot? Aren't you supposed to be feared?"
"Fouls. A lot of them," you admitted. It wasn't something you wanted to think about at the moment, especially because you wanted to at least clear your head before the retreat started.
Kisaragi waved her hand. "Wait wait wait, how did that happen? Isn't part of the sport knowing all the rules?"
"Wait, before that, none of you have experience in judo?" you asked.
"Well I sure don't," Kisaragi continued.
"I learned some, but… it was secondary to learning how to strike," Asamiya said.
"I don't know how to fight in the slightest, and since a friend of mine wanted me to learn, I signed up," Morisawa added.
"I, uh… I used to rely on other methods, but I really think it's best for everyone if I stop doing that," Yumeno said, gripping her broom tightly. Asamiya leans away for a second, but Yumeno smiles sweetly and you can't imagine she'd do anything particularly evil.
That settled it. If you let them be, you'd have to be cleaning up after their mess in judo, at the very least. You pulled out your laptop. "... Listen. If I'm going to be your anchor, why don't I teach you?"
[Swear An Iron Vow 4+3 vs 2, 2 MATCH]
[Vow: Teach the Bottom Four how to work sport judo.]
[Difficulty: Dangerous]
[] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
"Really? You'd do that for us?" Morisawa looks up in your eyes and your ears start burning and you try not to think too hard about the images flashing in your head.
"Ha, solid as a rock, huh?" Kisaragi said, smiling. "I like that. Reminds me of a friend of mine in high school."
"Th-thank you," Yumeno said, bowing politely despite being seated. "I'll try to be as much help as I can."
"In a minute you're gonna ask me to teach you myself," Asamiya said. "But maybe not in judo. Let's use our time wisely."
[The power of genuine camaraderie fills you with determination. At least. You assume it's camaraderie and determination. +2 Momentum.]
[Momentum +6.]
So… yeah, that weak hit on Iwai's Iron Vow has gone places.
Update soon, where we learn the effects of that Match on Swear An Iron Vow.
May I get one Supply check, please?
You're careful to look at your laptop, and feel another burden on your heart. There's no other way around it, you're going to have to treat Iwai's request as if it were ironclad. Otherwise, there's simply no way to get it done this semester.
Besides. If nothing else, you wanted to see Kazue again. There were so many questions that your brief time in the Understacks had left unanswered.
And you couldn't get her face, near to crying, out of your head. You couldn't leave it at that. You just couldn't.
[VOW: I will shape a path for Kazue to find peace.]
[DIFFICULTY: Dangerous]
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[Swear An Iron Vow: 5 vs 10, 1 weak hit]
Your text to Yagami-senpai, however, got a call back. "Hey, Torioi, did you not look at the board Friday? Both the boys' and girls' clubs are heading out into the Mountains starting tomorrow."
"-- Uh. I wasn't aware, no." While this temporarily shot your attempt to train with Iwai-sensei in the foot, you honestly couldn't think of a better reason to blow off the Kaneko parental units, so the thought of ditching didn't even cross your mind. "How long?"
"Three days."
"... I understand. I'll get myself and Kaneko there on time. When are we leaving?"
"We'll be leaving tomorrow morning at 6 AM from the-- Uh, from the University Station, on the Mountain Line."
"All right, I'll be there."
Thus, a quick text or two later, an emergency meeting between yourself and Ichigo started in your apartment. "So the Judo club is doing a retreat starting tomorrow--"
"Oh hell. We have to pack. I'll pack my stuff and bring along some curry and meat in a cooler--"
"We have to be there by 6AM."
"Well so much for Sunday visits."
"Yeah. But hey, at least we get to blow off a good portion of all this sightseeing stuff."
Ichigo laughed in relief. Honestly you hadn't been looking forward to going to a bunch of sites alone, but…
"And this way we have a plausible, public fight," you continued.
"Still with that plan, huh…?" Ichigo rubbed his chin. "No, no, it's still a good plan…"
"The quicker we get packed, the better off we'll be, it's already way late if we want to be there by 6 AM."
Ichigo looked at his phone, and then, utterly shocked, nodded.
[Face Danger vs. Quick 2+1+1 vs 3, 8 weak hit]
The next hour or so is a flurry of packing and quick runs to the only open stores this late and going over everything you've decided to bring with you. You have no excuses. Usually, you were so much better about this kind of thing. What happened?
… No, you know what happened. You let yourself be led by the nose into the Understacks instead of keeping on top of your duties to yourself and others.
[A hasty flurry of packing ensues, and while you manage to get properly packed, the experience causes you 1 Stress. Endure Stress 4 vs 8, 10 MISS. Lost 1 momentum in beating yourself up over it.]
[Stress 3/5]
FAILURES
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Momentum +2
You were both tired as you took the way to the station at a sustainable run. The sun was, thankfully, threatening to rise, even this early, so you didn't have to try and keep pace with only limited street lighting.
When you got to the station, Sakaki and Yagami were already there, along with two rather strong boys that you don't recognize.
Ichigo apparently does, giving a bright wave to the both of them. "Ah, they're the club heads?"
Ichigo nodded, excitedly introducing you to all the boys in a flurry of introductions.
You're swept up in it for a good bit, and even end up talking shop for a good while. Soon enough the girls' club joins in as well, and the hubbub becomes a little overwhelming.
"OK everyone, it's 6 AM, form up, please." A few people made 'see you soon' noises at you, and you wrote down that you wondered at the time how many of them had developed quick crushes on Ichigo. Everyone filed into first and second ranks, separated by club.
This done, Sakaki continued. "Remember, we're representing the University on this retreat, so let's make sure we don't bring our reputation down on this. Let's be fastidious and clean up after ourselves."
"Yes," came the tired chorus of everyone else.
"This will be an hour's train ride, so find someplace comfortable, or you'll regret it immediately," Yagami warned. "I speak from experience, so listen to it!"
This made a few of the club members confused.
"Our train will leave at 6:20 from the Mountain Line platform, so let's get going."
You looked at your phone. …
It is 6:10!?
[Face Danger: Quick 6+1 vs 4, 6 strong hit]
Thankfully you didn't get yourself turned around in the train station, and managed to keep up with everyone else. For the first time since last night, you actually felt in control of this situation, albeit hungry.
You breathed in, relaxed.
[You gain +1 Momentum from succeeding without problems.]
Then immediately tensed up as some boy whose name escaped you in the fifty boy pileup sat next to you, followed swiftly by four other members of the ladies' judo club.
The boy looked decent enough, you supposed. He definitely washed, at least. His hair was black, and close cropped, his skin the shade of someone used to spending days in a field. "Torioi, right?"
[Face Danger on Rapport: 6+3 vs 2,3 strong hit]
This was something you absolutely did not need right now. You nodded.
"Uh, you probably don't know me, but, uh, I'm Sakamoto-- I'm in the club with your fiance,"
"We are not engaged to be married," you said, swiftly. And it was true. For all that the parents expected you to marry, he had yet to be cowed into compliance, probably for reasons of his own. This suited you both fine.
[You take this moment to seize control of your situation. +1 momentum.]
"-- You're not?" His expression brightened.
You did not need this right now. You sighed. "Did he say we were?"
"W-well, no, but, you arrive together most days, and you leave together, so there's some relationship there, right?"
You pinched the bridge of your nose. "Why do you care?"
All of a sudden, the other girls in the seats with you turned to regard him, and you could swear the temperature dropped some ten degrees.
Sakamoto paused, and swallowed. "Ah, I'm sorry, I'll, uh, I'll let you talk with your friends."
"Thank you," you said. After the lack of sleep last night there was plenty you wanted to catch up on. And yet, despite everything, you didn't feel disgusting and exhausted, you just felt… In command.
As if sensing the fragility of your mood, the pink-haired delinquent across from you sat next to you, along with a blue-haired woman who seemed oddly familiar.
"Sorry about that, Torioi. Sometimes guys just don't get it." You tried to remember her name, and she shook her head. As she and the blue-haired girl leaned into you, as if to offer their support, you caught the faint scent of-- strawberries? "Kisaragi Rei. It's nice to get a chance to talk to you."
The long brunette- both in hair and in height-- with glasses and a quiet demeanor waved at you from across the seats. You tried not to think about the fact she clearly brought a push-broom with her and smelled faintly of spices. "Yumeno Sakura. Medicine, first year."
"Introductions? She should have been paying attention during the meetup earlier… Though I suppose the boys rather did monopolize you, didn't they?" This is a girl with a short bob, and a thousand-yard stare. She's got the faintest hints of lavender hair in her roots, a fact that takes you by surprise. How had she managed that trick? Regardless, she was idly twirling a toy pendant in her hands, something that made Yumeno lean away. "Asamiya Yuki. First year. Used to be a miko, but right now I'm not sure what I'll be doing."
You were becoming more confused by the second, when the blue-haired girl took your hand. Maybe she mistook your confusion and averted eyes for insecurity. Maybe she was right. "Mm. Well, Asamiya, Yumeno, Kisaragi, it's good to meet you. I'm Morisawa Rin."
That hand pose Morisawa did. You'd recognize it anywhere. You blink. "Oh, you're a fan of Tenshi Momo, too?"
She reacted like she'd been shot. "Haha, yeah, her retirement really surprised me. I guess… You could say I still hold a torch for her."
"Me too," you find yourself saying. "-- Uh, you all probably know this already, but-- I'm Torioi Mei. Please treat me kindly."
You wouldn't say you became fast friends-- that would be much later. For at least a few minutes, you let yourself absorb what you could from them talking to each other.
"... Mnn. I don't like that Sakaki put us on the second string," Kisaragi said after that. "Honestly so much of this was underhanded--"
"Was it?" Yumeno said, quietly. "After all, I don't have that much experience in judo, so I guess it's not surprising that I'm near the bottom of the list…"
"Speaking of," Asamiya added, "Torioi, why did you get bottom spot? Aren't you supposed to be feared?"
"Fouls. A lot of them," you admitted. It wasn't something you wanted to think about at the moment, especially because you wanted to at least clear your head before the retreat started.
Kisaragi waved her hand. "Wait wait wait, how did that happen? Isn't part of the sport knowing all the rules?"
"Wait, before that, none of you have experience in judo?" you asked.
"Well I sure don't," Kisaragi continued.
"I learned some, but… it was secondary to learning how to strike," Asamiya said.
"I don't know how to fight in the slightest, and since a friend of mine wanted me to learn, I signed up," Morisawa added.
"I, uh… I used to rely on other methods, but I really think it's best for everyone if I stop doing that," Yumeno said, gripping her broom tightly. Asamiya leans away for a second, but Yumeno smiles sweetly and you can't imagine she'd do anything particularly evil.
That settled it. If you let them be, you'd have to be cleaning up after their mess in judo, at the very least. You pulled out your laptop. "... Listen. If I'm going to be your anchor, why don't I teach you?"
[Swear An Iron Vow 4+3 vs 2, 2 MATCH]
[Vow: Teach the Bottom Four how to work sport judo.]
[Difficulty: Dangerous]
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"Really? You'd do that for us?" Morisawa looks up in your eyes and your ears start burning and you try not to think too hard about the images flashing in your head.
"Ha, solid as a rock, huh?" Kisaragi said, smiling. "I like that. Reminds me of a friend of mine in high school."
"Th-thank you," Yumeno said, bowing politely despite being seated. "I'll try to be as much help as I can."
"In a minute you're gonna ask me to teach you myself," Asamiya said. "But maybe not in judo. Let's use our time wisely."
[The power of genuine camaraderie fills you with determination. At least. You assume it's camaraderie and determination. +2 Momentum.]
[Momentum +6.]
So… yeah, that weak hit on Iwai's Iron Vow has gone places.
Update soon, where we learn the effects of that Match on Swear An Iron Vow.
May I get one Supply check, please?
- Location
- Wingmaiden's Reach, the Near Roofs, Town
- Pronouns
- She/Her
o_0
This is a colorful bunch.
Mei feels that Morisawa is vaguely familiar but can't place her. They are fans of the same ... idol? Morisawa's reaction to being recognized as a Tenshi Momo fan is a little weird but honestly everything that happens in this quest is weird, my weirdness sensors lost their calibration 8 pages ago.
Asamiya and Yumeno know each other somehow maybe? and are both ...a little leery of each other - Yumeno seems skittish around Asamiya's pendant (maybe just because Asamiya was swinging it around and Yumeno didn't want to be hit? Maybe because the pendant is MAGIC and DANGEROUS and Yumeno didn't want to be hit); while Asamiya is ... apparently worried about Yumeno's past broom-defense escapades? Also, "ex-miko with possibly-natural purple hair" and "medicine major with a security pushbroom," as long as we're taking in the general weirdness here.
Kisaragi seems nice? Nothing immediately suspicious or weird about her.
...
Kisaragi is clearly evil. Only possible explanation.
EDIT
More seriously, I'm just sort of assuming that Asamiya and Yumeno are mahous or something.
...also, and this just occured to me but would? possibly? explain her reaction and her familiarity, but what if-
Crazy idea but hear me out
...what if Morisawa is Tenshi Momo? Either in disguise or transformed by wicked magicks or whatever, who knows? It explains the familiarity to Mei, the sudden 'retirement', the unconscious use of the hand sign, and Morisawa kind of freaking out about Mei connecting her to Tenshi Momo, even tangentially.
...if this is crazy nonsense rambling in my defense I haven't slept in 30 hours
This is a colorful bunch.
Mei feels that Morisawa is vaguely familiar but can't place her. They are fans of the same ... idol? Morisawa's reaction to being recognized as a Tenshi Momo fan is a little weird but honestly everything that happens in this quest is weird, my weirdness sensors lost their calibration 8 pages ago.
Asamiya and Yumeno know each other somehow maybe? and are both ...a little leery of each other - Yumeno seems skittish around Asamiya's pendant (maybe just because Asamiya was swinging it around and Yumeno didn't want to be hit? Maybe because the pendant is MAGIC and DANGEROUS and Yumeno didn't want to be hit); while Asamiya is ... apparently worried about Yumeno's past broom-defense escapades? Also, "ex-miko with possibly-natural purple hair" and "medicine major with a security pushbroom," as long as we're taking in the general weirdness here.
Kisaragi seems nice? Nothing immediately suspicious or weird about her.
...
Kisaragi is clearly evil. Only possible explanation.
EDIT
More seriously, I'm just sort of assuming that Asamiya and Yumeno are mahous or something.
...also, and this just occured to me but would? possibly? explain her reaction and her familiarity, but what if-
Crazy idea but hear me out
...what if Morisawa is Tenshi Momo? Either in disguise or transformed by wicked magicks or whatever, who knows? It explains the familiarity to Mei, the sudden 'retirement', the unconscious use of the hand sign, and Morisawa kind of freaking out about Mei connecting her to Tenshi Momo, even tangentially.
...if this is crazy nonsense rambling in my defense I haven't slept in 30 hours
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