Forum Thread

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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Clink! Hisoka flinched, expecting a knife to be burying itself in his gullet. But no, it was only Kowai- doing her best to psyche him out, as usual. He maintained a calm expression, though his heart was going at a rabbir's pace.

Thankfully, nobody noticed his silence. Majikaruman got rid of Kowai, who was probably pretending to be sad (as per usual, yet again) and scuttled off like the unwanted cockroach she was.

But what Majikaruman said caught his attention.

Buraddo?

Wasn't she the weak little thing who followed Megami around like a lost puppy? The one who stared at her and Suzume as they played their games? Hm-

He frowned.

Was there... romance going on? Surely not. He would've noticed it. At most, the obnoxious Keiki-Niwa duo had some odd friendship going on. Romance was in improbability during a killing game... right?

Or perhaps I'm underestimating desparate teenagers and their ability to form romantic connections at the worst possible time. Evolution had many drawbacks, he supposed. He'd never fall in love in such an incredible scenario as the one at hand now.

Teenagers were immature, however. So he smiled and called Buraddo over. "Join us, Jemu!"

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Kōun no Megami

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Buraddo Jemu
Once I reached the table, I sat in the chair that Maji gestured to.

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
"Sorry about that, it's a long story."

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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"We didn't want to sit with Kowai." Boom. Shot point-blank. ...Hisoka really needed to stop making references to obscure mafia movies. This was getting concerning for everyone involved.

"Anywah," he cut in. "Are we all going to eat? I do not mind skipping- but I was under the impression we were here to do just that."

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Kōun no Megami

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Buraddo Jemu
"Sounds good, I saw Suzume and Megami being all gay and flirty but shy at the same time which was just blech."

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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Mental note, two romances are unfolding. Unfortunately, they are connected, which is not good for a murder gams, or teenager's delicate egos.

Hisoka kept his face as blank as he could manage. Even though inside he felt like delivering several loud coughs.

"Well," he said decidedly. "We'd better go collect then. Maji?" He angled his head at Majikaruman. He didbn't know where the nickname had come from, but it felt right. And in any case, 'Maji' already called him 'Soka', right? Clearly they had passed the minimum friendship criteria for nicknames.

cough friendship cough cough

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu
"Sounds good, lead the way Soka!"

"Weeeeh!" Koda jumped into the water in an instant, yowling with happiness. "WATEERRR!!" She yelled as loud as she could, bobbing around wildly.

She seemed very happy, and at home.

Suzume Fujimori's POV

Suzume smiled and took Megami's hand in hers (but not before excessively blushing). "Well- we should be going, then." Suzume began to make her way to the cafeteria.

With... Megami.

She was heading there with Megami. Suzume Fujimori. Was going. On a date. With someone.

She'd never considered romance a priority in her life. And yet.

Yet as she clung to Megami's hand, she found herself not wanting to let go.

Femi Davis's POV

Femi looked over at Buraddo. "Um, hi there! Thank you for..." Femi shrank, his shoulders hunched to his sides. "For-- stopping Kowai from sitting here with us. You're Buraddo, right? I'm Femi..."

Why was he so dramatic about it? So afraid?

He heard what Hisoka seemed to be thinking in his words. "To be honest, I... really don't get the idea of people among us dating either. I mean!! Not that it's necessarily bad but... some of those people might not live to see tomorrow."

Kowai Kurai's POV

Oh, whatever. Kowai wasn't all that hungry. She'd had crabs!!

And she couldn't shake the impression that she was looking for somebody. She found herself heading down to the pool.

A memory flashed in her mind she had considered telling Koda about. In fact, Koda was here! In the water!

Kowai shrugged and jumped right into the water with a tremendous SPLASH!!

"Heyyy, Koda!" Kowai exclaimed, waving at her. She playfully splashed her with water.

Unsure of how to continue, she asked the dull question: "How was your morning?"

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Kōun no Megami
Once we reached the cafeteria, I slowly directed us to the kitchen to find some cocoa.

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Buraddo Jemu
"I don't get it either," I lied. "It might make a few people closer but everyone else will be isolated from them, and when one dies..."

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Majikaruman Dōseiai-shadearimasu

Keiki wooped and ran off. "Last one there gets pushed in!" They cheered.

[sorry for short post :(]

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Hisoka Yamanaku

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"...Yes." Hisoka didn't like this. Not Femi reading him, nor Buraddo's comment. Something was stirring, deep down. And it wasn't within Hisoka. It wasn't the way his heart leapt when he saw Maji or that the nickname had grown itself into his heart.

Focus! He shook a little.

Something was going on. Something was wrong. Something was here, among all the Ultimates. Some barriers had been broken down. True. But something had arisen from the ashes. Something he had never felt before, but seemed to be coming to its climax.

And at that climax...

What then?

Murder?

Or something worse?

Hisoka managed to smile at Buraddo. "You make some decent points." Though I'm not sure you fully mean them... "It's best to avoid such feelings for now. Perhaps after we all escape, we can organize a class reunion." Though I doubt anyone will want to relive our current hell. "I really-" he broke off suddenly. The words weren't real. He couldn't continue saying them, not when the atmosphere was tinged with the... the feeling? That something bad was coming?

Fine then. Honesty.

"Do any of you feel that?" he asked.

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Suko Nobu

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"Yay~y~" Suko singsonged. They glanced one last time at Niwa's twitching form on the stone, then turned and raced across the rocks for the water. The sand slipped deliciously beneath their feet, and they tripped, sprawling in the ocean.

They relished how the water surged around them, and they jerked forward in it.

I probably should've changed first.

They sat up in the shallow water, shaking their head a bit. Maybe... yeah, really. They should have. But wasn't living just living in the moment? So- No! This feeling was sad. It was wrong. Suko couldn't feel it, Suko couldn't feel it-

Their face had slouched out of its usual smile. They tried to smile, but their face felt all paralyzed and weak. It wouldn't respond to Suko. They couldn't smile, they couldn't smile, they couldn't-

Splash!

Koda had dove in! And she'd splashed them!

"Hey!" they yelped, lunging after her, giggling loudly. "You hurrttt meeee! So meannnnn!"

Something was wrong with them. And they couldn't even admit it to themself. No matter how many people died, no matter how many of Koda's sharp looks went over them, no matter how many Keikis or Femis they saw smile at them, they could never, could never, because it wasn't true, it wasn't true, it wasn't- no matter how many times that piece of paper that was crumbled up in their pocket said it, no matter how much they knew it, they didn't know it, it wasn't true it wasn't-

help me

And Suko continued smiling.

Because the moment was over.

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Niwa Atsushi

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Niwa was lying on a slab of stone. His cheek pressed painfully into it. So cold. And painful. And miserable. He sighed, watching as Suko had his fun with Keiki. His fun, that wouldn't have happened if that selfish brat had just gone and helped Keiki firsthand.

"I'm tired..." Niwa mumbled. He watched enviously as Suko grinned, raking their hand through the water and sending a cascade at Keiki. That stupid, selfish grin... "I wish I could-" he broke off, glancing at Chuku. "Why aren't you in the water?"

A terrible fear took hold of his bones. But it was soothed by her eyes. The kindness they had were still there. They smiled and spoke, telling him that everything would be alright.

Keiki was alright...

And wasn't that really all that mattered?

So why did it feel now that he was all alone? That Keiki didn't care and Keiki had never cared?

He didn't know... he really didn't know.

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Narrator

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These three people all had their own perspectives. Their own fears, their own worries- some feared for the other students. Some feared for themself. Some feared that the concepts which had driven him to open himself up were for naught.

But every one of them felt fear.

And in doing so, they were right.

Something bad was coming. Something bad was going to happen on the island. Evil cackled, thrusting its palms down on the Ultimates in the form of a harmless ocean. They all giggled and laughed, safe in the knowledge that they were all having fun, they all loved each other.

But someone among them didn't...

And soon, that would become evident.

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Chuku Mitsue.

"Oh- umm..." Chuku muttered. "It's not important-" She said, waving her hand. "Are you feeling better?" Chuku asked, changing the subject suddenly.

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Keiki Meyumi.

Keiki sat down in the sand, watching the waves of blue rise and fall. They felt...guilty almost- leaving Niwa there. But why? They shook their head.

Niwa has Chuku to keep him company- it's fine, he's not alone.

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Third Person POV

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"Eh." Niwa didn't seem to notice. "'m fine. Don't really care." He yawned a bit. "I wish I could-" his face aborted. "I wish I could go inside. Are you going to go swimming? Or do you just wanna stay here? A bit?" Niwa blinked at her with sleepy red eyes.

Sand flecked his hair, scattered across his cheeks like light freckles. He looked so silly. Little goofball baby who I wasn't thrusting on Chuku for reasons. His face was soft, but angled- with a chin that gave him a noble sort of look, but also the kind of look that you might find on a young child. Innocence, perhaps- or sweetness, naivety-

"I'm in love with Keiki."

Niwa immediately passed out a second later.

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Chuku Mitsue.

"Oh my gosh-" Chuku whispered, watching the boy pass out again.

That's the most heart-warming thing I've ever heard in my life- Now I hope one day it happens to me.

...

Probably not.

...

Who am I kidding?

"Um- Niwa? You- you awake?" Chuku sighed. "He-eelppp? Someone? Niwa passed out- again-.."

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Suko Nobu

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"Keikiiii~" Suko sang. "Splash me, wontchu?" They grinned diabolically at them. "You thought you could get away with it, didn't you?" They were slowly backing Keiki into a rocky corner, their hand going into the water. "You thought I wouldn't think of revenge. You thought you had escaped!"

With a jerk of their entire arm, Suko send a wave of water directly at Keiki's face.

"NO MERCY!" they crowed.

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Keiki Meyumi.

"AHHH!" Keiki yelled, kicking Suko. "Take that! And that! Aaand- more water!" They shouted.

"He-eelppp? Someone? Niwa passed out- again-.."

"Niwa you complete idiot- oh my gawd- Suko, he passed out- again. We should help-" Keiki muttered, and made their way over there.

"What. Happened. Now!?" Keiki asked, confused.

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Chuku Mitsue.


"Umm...well- uh-"

She paused.

"You'll see- just...ask him when he wakes up, 'kay?"

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Suko Nobu

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Suko pouted. But Keiki turned around and started wading through the water, so Suko followed after them. "It hurts that you don't care this much about me," Suko told them seriously. "You're making a Suko very sad."

They broke into the beach and headed up to Niwa. Niwa didn't appear to have hit his head again- but concussions could be bad, Suko grudgingly admitted to themself. Niwa wasn't faking it. Probably.

"Wake up, Niwaaa!" Suko whined. They crouched down by him and poked his cheek. "C'mon! Keiki careeesss about you! Use the power of love and getcherselfup! Suko is saddddd." They pouted, batting their eyelashes. But the effect remained non-effective on both Keiki and unconscious Niwa.

Am I not cuteeee anymore?

Maybe not.

Suko grinned. "Maybe put your cute mug next to mine?" they asked cheerfully. "He miiiiiight respond better to you!"

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Keiki Meyumi.

"I'm so very upset that I have hurt your feelings, Suko Nobu." Keiki responded solemnly. "After this, I'll give you a hug to say sorry. Please forgive me." They suppressed a snigger.

"Niwaaaa- wake upppp-" Keiki groaned. "Niwa- if you don't wake up right now, Suko and I will fill your dorm with spiders, or I'll paint the words Niwa loves Keiki because Keiki is amazing on your pillow with nail polish- okay?"

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what am i- chopped liver? chuku thought sadly to herself...

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Narrator

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Unfortunately, unconsciousness does not respond to heartfelt pleas or threats like Suko and Keiki seem to think and Niwa remained under. He didn't move.

"Well!" Suko clapped their hands together. "Guess he's dead! Time to move on to the spiders, an awesome Sukki-Bonding-Activity!"

"...M...dead...?"

"Frick, I jinxed it." Suko frowned. "I was really looking forward to the spiders too."

"The spiders-?" Niwa blinked. "Did... I pass out again?" His eyes landed on Keiki and brightened significantly. "Oh! Hello." He tried to sit up and groaned at the effort. "S-Sorry. I'm fine. Don't mind me. Just go on."

"Yes, go on." Suko poked Keiki. "The spiders, remember?"

"I feel like I've missed a lot..."

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Chuku Mitsue.

Chuku coughed.

"Niwa- how's your memory? You do...remember all that's happened recently don't you?" Chuku asked.

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Keiki Meyumi.

"What? What happened? Tell meee! I wanna hear! Ohmygosh- you have to tell me- I can bully him for it yess-" Keiki gasped.

"Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" They chanted.