Forum Thread

Jirou's glare intensified as Airi continued her teasing. He was determined to maintain his composure despite the teasing, but his furious blush and the pounding of his heart were betraying his attempts at nonchalance. His hand clenched into a fist at his side as he retorted, his voice stern.

"And how is that any of your business?"

His body was betraying him. The context was usually on the tennis court, when he could see how to return the drop shot at the perfect angle, but his footwork was too slow, or when his perfect serve placement knocked him off balance. But now, it was as if he didn't have control over his heartbeat, his face. He took deep breaths to calm himself and lower his heartrate, like he would after a particularly exerting point.

He couldn't help but wonder. What the heck is happening to me?

The once clear lines of his identity and preferences were now blurred, tangled in a mess of emotions he couldn't easily untangle. He felt exposed, like the inner workings of his mind were on full display for everyone to see, a sensation that left him simultaneously intrigued and mortified. Kuraim was hot. He could objectively say that. It didn't make him... gay. Besides, he had dated loads of girls and been perfectly satisfied with his relationships.

---

"Dear viewer, we call such a thing 'bisexuality'! Ever heard of it? Well, judging from your reaction, I suppose not."

Airi's laughter was cheery, her voice having that ever-upbeat tone.

"Airi's tip of the day: It's okay to be gay! Or Bi, or Pan, or trans! Don't let society wear you down! Look at me! I'm gay, and I turned out just fine!"

She laughed. She seemed... just a little unhinged. But that was a good thing, probably.

Magnus was sighing quietly, exasperation clear on his features.

"God, you're annoying. Do you ever shut up?"

"No, I don't!'

"F---."

---

Jirou clenched his jaw, his blush now burning with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. The banter around him was relentless, a constant reminder of how quickly things had spiraled out of control. He attempted to muster a retort, something to deflect the attention away from his flustered state, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess. His mind kept drifting back to Kuraim's seductive whispering, and he couldn't shake the sensation of the other's presence lingering on his skin. Seductive? Where the heck had that word come from? Kuraim was just trying to unsettle him, to knock him off his game. But winners never quit, and quitters never win. He shifted uncomfortably, his discomfort exacerbated by the memory of the touch that had triggered his unease. Swallowing hard, he mustered a response in a strained voice.

"Look, I'm... not... whatever you're suggesting. Can we just... get back to the conversation or something?"

Inwardly, he was berating himself for letting his emotions get the better of him. He was determined to regain control of the situation, to put an end to this unwarranted exploration of his personal feelings. Yet, even as he spoke, his mind was still plagued by a confusing mixture of curiosity and apprehension, leaving him questioning the unexpected turmoil within himself.

---

Amelia Rivera's POV

"Very likely so. Doesn’t seem like it’d be anything else. Hey- you wanna see something cool? Quite clever, don’t you think?”

It was indeed quite clever. Amelia wasn't sure whether to be impressed at the hacker's skills, or wary of them. Needless to say, she would probably be far better to make an ally than an enemy.

“Nice to meet you, Ultimate Astronomer. Tell me more about your talent! D’you explore the stars? Chart astronomy maps?”

Amelia made sure to prepare before she had said it to keep her calm. To not give any indication of offness. At least, not the kind of offness that would get you called out as a liar.

She pretended to collect her thoughts. When, really, she was recalling any information that might help her.

"I study them from afar," she replied simply. "Learn all I can about them. Why they function the way they do, how some of them might have come to be… it's all very fascinating."

“Obviously. Accuracy is key when it comes to computers and AI. One wrong letter or pattern in the code and your whole system fails- or goes haywire. Just like gene mutations. You know, mismatches and all that stuff.”

She nodded. "Accuracy is key in my work as well. You have to be very exact with it all. Sometimes you doubt yourself, and you wonder if… maybe things are different than they seem. I guess that's how it is with people, too, sometimes…" she trailed off after that comment.

She paused, drawing a breath. “I must admit though, you don’t seem like a starchaser. But then again I suppose I don’t seem much like a hacker, if I didn’t have Bubbles constantly floating around me. I s’pose it’s just a matter of appearances. Can’t judge someone based on looks after all.”

Don't look much like a starchaser. Ah. But then again, did she look much like a voodoo practitioner either, she couldn't help but wonder. She looked at Wei En thoughtfully.

"People just look like people, really. It's their behavior that matters. Just like when it comes to all those different galaxies." She pretended to reminisce about something. "The light, the distance they travel across the expanse… it's only when you get a close look at them. After a while. That you truly know them."

Amelia felt more like she was talking about people. Human beings often revealed themselves to be disgusting creatures. You'd think someone was a friend, or wanted to be your friend, and then–

No. The thought was foolish. She was foolish. And so was Kei. Amelia didn't know why the girl had entered her mind. Was it because of that sheer naivety she seemed to possess, that had reminded Amelia so much of herself, when she was young? When she didn't realize the right way to do things?

Studying. Toiling away. On her knees, up in that cold, dark and creaky attic. Flipping through pages, deeply fascinated by them. Not fully understanding the words, and yet proceeding to mumble at first growing into chants.

Her granddad never liked it when she was up there. Sometimes he used to-

The past was unimportant. Amelia rose back up into reality, feeling a certain urge to reach for a thread. She wanted to pull on it, and pull, and pull, until she reached the end. But what lay at the end of it was the question…

"My apologies. Got a little lost in thought there. It happens sometimes." She smiled slightly in a way that was probably supposed to be reassuring, but had this strangely stiff and insincere feeling to it. "Quite the remarkable creation you have there."

She couldn't help the additional comment. Bubbles had almost been as though Wei En had created life. And the idea greatly intrigued her.

I wonder if Bubbles really is alive. Maybe Wei En doesn't even know for sure.

It's not like there was any particular way to find out. But a curious thought occurred to Amelia. What differentiates an artificial intelligence from a human being, especially if there is no humanity left?

She shook the thought away. It was unimportant.

"I was thinking it would be wise to explore this school. After we all got acquainted. We could then have a fuller idea of our circumstances, perhaps."

She was curious how Wei En felt about the matter. She had seemingly made it pretty clear she thought they all weren't going to get out of there alive, except in a best-case scenario. Frankly, Amelia agreed with that, but she wasn't going to immediately prepare for the worst until there was evidence that there was adequate reason to believe that.

It was… interesting, what this whole business did to people. The two people she had met thus far, at least, if they were what they appeared to be, seemed like a couple of possible optimists. And yet, they both immediately jumped to the idea that they might not all get out of there alive. And Amelia, herself, was definitely not an optimist, but she didn't immediately believe they would all die there.

She wouldn't deny the possibility was there. However, she didn't have enough information yet to determine how this would all play out.

Once she did…

If push came to shove, maybe one of the students would mysteriously choke to death. Or perhaps, find themself stabbed until they bled out.

And Amelia Rivera, in either case, would be the one who spiked the glass, or... held the knife.

---

“You’re very vague. Not sure whether I like that or not, ehe~ But you’re alright, I suppose. Are we…friends then?”

Wei En leans towards Amelia expectedly, not enough to trespass into her personal space, yet enough to make herself un-ignorable.

“Psh, people suck. Robots are much easier to understand than humans. We’re too complex, too calculative. We lie too much, and that’s really crafty of them. With machines like Bubbles, the truth is so easy to detect. If I could, I’d replace everyone with AI. Plain and simple, no wishy-washy nonsense. Less emotions to deal with too. Everyone should have a switch! Something that can turn their emotions off and on….emotions aren’t all bad…hehehe. Guess I know what else to work on!” Wei En rolls her eyes, huffing as she blew her hair out of her face, then grins again.

“Anywho. I’d love to work with you and learn more about astronomy sometime!” She says, clapping her hands and giggling.

She rocks about, whistling as Amelia seems to drift out of focus for a while. She understood. It happened a lot with her.


"Want one of your own?” The question was abrupt and unexpected, and Wei En was already digging in her pockets.

“Yeah we definitely should. What’s your perspective on this game thingy though? Think we’ll all make it out alive? With all our limbs? I honestly wouldn’t mind prosthetic limbs. Better, too.”

---

---

Amaya Ono

---

Amaya jumped as the girl spoke. Her eyes were fixed on him in a way that made him uncomfortable. He wrapped his arms around his torso. "Sure," he said. "Why not."

Thank you, something deep inside him whispered.

He still had to dorm with the psycho, but at least there was also someone he could vaguely stand with him. That sure helped matters...

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

Hotaru had a terrible roleplayer, she decided. Said roleplayer was absolutely terrible at keeping up on posts and managing her life and it showed. Such a thing was becoming a common occurrence in modern day society...

Hence why Grotto Productions had come up with a solution! Drugs! Specifically, crack. And thus, Hotaru instead make a "funny" reply that was totally not a cover for Serendibite being too lazy to read up on the past 5 pages of the roleplay that she swears she will read tonight.

"Congratulations on your many purchases!" She flashed a pleasant smile. "This is definitely a good thing, and I definitely have no plans to throw you out on the curb when my plastic weapons break down and you come for a refund. Of course, of course."

She nodded seriously and began handing out sporks. "Knife for you, knife for you, another knife..."

---

Nanami chuckled as she took the proffered knife, her flirtatious demeanor still in place despite Hotaru's apparent distraction. "Oh, thank you! But I might be hoping for something a little sharper... With a trademark elegant beauty..."

Her words dripped with charm, but there was a slight undercurrent of annoyance beneath the surface. She had been trying to catch Hotaru's attention for a while now, and it seemed that her advances were going unnoticed. It was quite unlike her to be ignored in such a manner, and it was beginning to grate on her nerves.

As she admired the knife for a moment, Nanami couldn't help but think that maybe this would finally pique Hotaru's interest. After all, a debate was a game of words, and she was more than ready to engage in one with the shopkeeper. Maybe then, she would finally get the attention she deserved.

"So, Hotaru," Nanami began, her tone light and teasing, "how much does it cost to win your undivided attention? I'm quite skilled at negotiations, you know. I'm willing to pay a favor for a favor." She winked playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaned in slightly, waiting for Hotaru's response.

---

Horatia Arborea

---

i guess we're doing that chuku thing for horatia this time

---

Eden Aconitum

---

Eden hesitated a little, before extending their hand at Amaya and gripping his arm like their life depended on it. Well, maybe not that hard (heh), probably more like a squeeze than anything.

He took a step closer to Amaya, not sure what to say. Which is to say they pretended to dig through their purse for stuff. They couldn't help but stare at the white(?)-haired boy though, wondering whether he was gifted with that face from forces outside of his control, or worked hard to maintain it like they did.

It was possibly a better question to think about later, Eden decided. It really sucks that pretty much nothing good is ever permanent. If only the world could be sealed in an unchanging time bubble.

He shyly blinked at Amaya, his clear blue eyes gazing into an unspecified part of Amaya's face.

---

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

Hotaru's mouth nearly fell open. This girl... what a skilled negotiator! Quid pro quo- she should've expected that someone here would be a rival in business.

"A trademark elegant beauty, huh?" She mused. "But my dear, you already have that. The knife certainly brings out your eyes."

Yes, it brought out her eyes. That sharp glint that Hotaru had amazingly picked up on. She had to ensure that her newfound rival was aware that Hotaru was onto her scheme and her inner saleswoman. Enemies would not be tolerated here.

"The sight will always be stored near my heart, as well as you- for I hope to keep you by my side in this school for as long as we can."

Excellent. A direct reference to a common expression. Keep your enemies closer so that you can usurp all their business.

Hotaru was totally winning in absolutely every way.

---

---

Amaya Ono

---

Oh. The kid was staring at him. Amaya winced half-heartedly, wondering if he should say something. Was there something on his face? Did the eldritch beings this kid undoubtedly worked for suddenly find his skin tasty?

He knew he shouldn't have used that moisturizer! An unhealthy complexion made for an older looking, less delicious face.

Internally cursing out Hana, Amaya offered the boy a shy smile. "We can hold hands if you want. Is that alright with you?"

You don't want to peel back the skin of my skinny ass fingers and gnaw on the very non-existent flesh underneath?

---

Nanami couldn't help but be impressed by Hotaru's quick wit and the way she skillfully turned the conversation in her favor. It was clear that this girl was not one to be underestimated, and that only fueled Nanami's determination to win her over. As Hotaru's words flowed smoothly, Nanami leaned in a bit closer, her heart beating a bit faster at the proximity. This was turning into quite the game, and she was more than ready to play.

"You have quite the way with words," Nanami purred, her fingers gently brushing a strand of hair off of Hotaru's face. Her touch was soft, deliberate, her eyes locked onto Hotaru's as she continued to play their flirtatious game. "And you've certainly caught my attention, my dear."

"And as for your invitation," Nanami purred, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper, "I must say, I'm quite tempted to accept. After all, who could resist the charms of such a captivating businesswoman like yourself?" Her gaze flickered to Hotaru's lips for a brief moment before returning to her eyes, a suggestive smile playing on her own lips.

Inwardly, Nanami couldn't help but marvel at just how attractive Hotaru was. The way her hair framed her face, the spark of intelligence in her eyes, the confidence in her stance—it was all incredibly alluring. But she kept her wits about her. It took more than a pretty face to throw this girl off her game. It had only happened once before, anyway. But still, she could use a little fun, and Nanami was more than eager to explore just how far this flirtatious dance could go.

---

Horatia Arborea

---

So it appeared that no one wanted to talk to her. Fun. She had a sudden, inexplicable urge to yeet to the kitchen and start boiling knives in a pot. Reality was often weird.

She learned not to question it quickly, obviously. Can't risk experiencing those cluster headaches again.

Ah, speaking of knives, weren't someone giving them away? Well, Horatia would love to talk to them and get to know them a little, but the little crackpot lunatic living in her head was yelling at them to make knife soup.

This can only go so well.

---

Eden Aconitum

---

He wanted to...hold hands? Great! Eden's mind briefly drifted off to thinking how soft Amaya's hands would feel like, before snapping back to attention.

"Oh, umm, sure! I'd love to, actually," He made the closest approximation of a ":3" in terms of tone, and wriggled his hand until it met Amaya's. It was a good enough balance of soft and roughness, he'd say.

"Wait, uh..." Eden hesitated (again). Come on, do it already.

"I-I don't think we introduced each other yet. I think. So umm...my name's Eden. Eden Aconitum. It's, uh, really nice to meet you. Oh and I'm the Ultimate Reverist."

Ultimate Reverist...it does sound pretty good.

---

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

"Charms?" She murmured, eyes trailing seductively, deliberately along the girl's form. "Oh darling, you haven't seen the half of it. Charms aren't all I can do."

After all, a good business proposition certainly wasn't finished with a pretty face. No, it needed a grand finale to paint that final golden picture.

"I'm never one to give out free samples, but with you love- ah, how you do tempt me."

---

---

Shizuka Matsubara

---

By unpopular request (Celery) our resident enby emo is back, definitely not to plan a murder. (Their own.)

Shizuka had quickly found the dorms, grateful that the others seemed too distracted plotting and being gay to notice them sneaking off. At the moment they lay on their bed, eyes closed, My Chemical Romance blasting in their ears.

Mamaaaa we're all gonna die. Maama we're meant for the fliiiiiiies.

"And right now, they're building a coffin youuuuur sizeee-" they sang.

"Mama we're all gonna die."

Ah, the life of an emo who brought a sh*tty cd player with them to a murder school. Things were depressing, and quite frankly, great.

They sighed blissfully as the emo music screamed about graphic violence in a way that soothed all of life's problems. Ahhh..

---

---

Amaya Ono

---

Okay wow. Holding hands. Absolutely terrifying.

To hell with it, he hated children. "I'm Amaya Ono... Ultimate Vigilante." The title slipped from his mouth before he could even stop it, and on came the wave of self loathing- mixed with pride in a sort of sickly sweet dish.

There was no need for anger or guilt or regret, he had to keep reminding himself. Because it WAS the truth. He had been granted that title and he deserved it. He was no liar, no no-show. Thousands of vigilante operations could trace their roots back to him.

Everyone in the underground emulated him- looked up to him even, despite the fact that they had no idea who he was- and never would.

He had EARNED the title, and to hell with it, he'd take it, no matter what his brain cooked up in response. He could be a badass if he wanted to be- what the hell was stopping him?

Maybe that he couldn't grow facial hair. That was definitely up there.

God I hate moisturizer, he grumbled internally. Screw you Hana- it DOES make me more adorable and I hate you for it. If a granny pinches my cheek again I'm pinching myself straight into hell.

Eden probably used moisturizer. He wondered why he thought of that, but- well, he did have pretty soft hands. And uh, train of thought and everything...

Focus!

"So um... I guess we're onto the dorms."

If they didn't lock, he'd cry and he very much did not need to cry today, thank you, so they'd better lock or else.

"Hooray...?:

---

Nanami's heart accelerated as Hotaru's words washed over her, each syllable laced with a tantalizing promise of something more. The rhythm told her that she was alive. She was drawn in by the seductive trail of Hotaru's gaze, her body responding to the unspoken invitation that hung between them. The air was charged with an electric tension. A slow, knowing smile curled on Nanami's lips as she met Hotaru's gaze, her own eyes smoldering with an intensity that matched the fire in Hotaru's words.

"Darling, I must say, I'm quite intrigued by all that you can do," Nanami purred, her voice a velvety caress. "And while I may not be one to give in to temptation easily, I have a feeling that resisting you would be a futile endeavor."

She leaned in, their faces now only inches apart, their shared breaths mingling in the charged air between them. Nanami's fingers grazed Hotaru's hand, her touch feather-light but deliberate as she sent a clear message of reciprocity.

"Rest assured, my dear," Nanami whispered, her lips brushing against Hotaru's ear, "I have a knack for repaying favors in kind. And I believe in giving my all when it comes to striking a... mutually beneficial arrangement."

She had played it cool, enjoying this part immensely.

---

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

Oh. Hotaru's eyes dilated. A strange magic was settling on her. A mist that weaved in and out of her her brain, wafting past her eyes and her nose. She breathed gently in, and caught a faint smell of- raspberry? Lemon?- that she instinctively knew belonged to the girl in front of her.

The gentle glow of the magic seemed to warm something in the back of her throat for a second before dissipating.

She licked her lips, surprised to find them dry for once- Organic Orchids had a fantastic lip balm that kept your lips clean of chemicals and icky dryness- and gave the girl a demure smile.

"Indeed, an arrangement of that manner would indeed.." she trailed off as the girl's lips brushed by her ear and raised a single black eyebrow. "Be interesting. After all, you seem rather determined."

She leaned in closer.

"To take control, that is. But darling, you should never compete with a salesman- for that is how they make their living."

Her eyes glittered with a dark light. "If you must dominate, then you must watch yourself. Else I will crush you beneath my heel- and grind you into the dust. Where you will beg to lick my boots from where they're planted on that pretty face of yours. After all..."

Hotaru's eyes fluttered shut. "I do not lose."

When she opened them, there was a calm, friendly smile on her face, and the strange glow in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by the usual mischevious spark. "Ah, I see I've found my first rival. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Nanami."

She chuckled.

"I look forward to whatever schemes you come up with. I'll be sure to surpass them with my very vast collection of bountiful plots! Defeat is inevitable when faced with the wrath of the Ultimate Saleswoman!"

---

"You know, Hotaru, I have a feeling that our rivalry could still be... mutually beneficial," she purred, her breath warm against Hotaru's skin. Her fingers trailed up to brush against the nape of Hotaru's neck, her touch deliberate and seductive. "After all, competition can be such a turn-on, don't you think?"

Her lips brushed against Hotaru's jawline, a slow and tantalizing caress that left a trail of fire in its wake. Nanami's fingers curled around a lock of Hotaru's hair, twirling it between her fingers as she continued to flirt unabashedly. "But who says we have to be enemies, darling? I'd much prefer to explore... other possibilities."

She leaned in even closer, her lips dangerously close to Hotaru's as her eyes bore into hers with an intensity that matched her words. "So, what do you say? Shall we put our rivalry to the test and see just how well we can play together?"

The bold declaration of her intentions left no room for misunderstandings. Nami wanted her fun, so she would have it, murder game be damned. She'd kill for some time alone with this girl, that was for sure.

---

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

Hotaru chuckled and gave the other girl a push. "Oh love," she mused. "How you tempt me so. Unfortunately, I appear to be made of stronger stuff than you."

Her eyes took on a gleam that was rather frightening. "You may yet prove me wrong... but do you not think that chasing after this lovely damsel may be a mistake? One with deadly consequences? You should never fly too close to the sun, and I am quite the sun indeed."

She laughed. "I like you, Icarus. You're always looking for a challenge. A debate, a game, a new toy-" she flashed her best "sweet, 'i would never harm a hair on your head' smile". "I suppose we'll see if you can fly high enough to catch me- and drag us both down to Tartarus."

In a flash, Hotaru spun on her heel.

"Let's get going!" she chirped. "I happen to have some microwaveable ramen in my possession that is calling my name."

She laughed ditzily and gave a twirl, reaching out to catch the wind- which gushed from a creaky ventilation system that definitely DIDN'T belong to a world-class school with ditty bits from all kinds of modern technology.

Coming to a stop, Hotaru flashed her a smile. "Ready... darling?"

---

Nanami's lips curled into a playful grin as Hotaru responded, her demeanor a mix of charm and confidence. She welcomed the push, her arm looping through Hotaru's as she was drawn closer. Hotaru's warning only seemed to fan the flames of Nanami's determination, her own eyes gleaming with a daring spark.

"Well, my dear... sun," Nanami retorted with a wink, her tone teasing, "If you really pretend to be a creature of the light when we'll be having all our fun in the dark, I've always been one to enjoy a little heat. And as for challenges and games, a little wager never hurt anyone, don't you think?"

She would be just as happy losing as she would be winning.

As Hotaru spun around and announced her plans to retrieve some ramen, Nanami couldn't help but laugh at the abrupt change in mood. The mention of microwaveable ramen only added to the quirkiness of the situation, and Nanami found herself oddly charmed by Hotaru's unpredictable shifts between business and casualness.

"Ramen sounds perfect," she agreed, leaning in to press a quick, playfully teasing kiss on Hotaru's cheek before looping her arm more securely through Hotaru's. "Lead the way, my ever-entertaining sun. Perhaps you'll find an angel ready to follow, and I assure you, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that might just... surprise you."

---

---

---

Hotaru Tsutsumi

---

Even as the two walked down the hall, surveying the different classrooms and looking for a section that hopefully revealed dorms, Hotaru was barely paying attention, instead running over the banter in her mind.

She rather liked a challenge, and this girl definitely provided one. She had a certain spark in her eye every time she broke into debate- someone who loved to destroy, to demolish- to crush one's will until their physical body writhed at your feet.

Just like Hotaru. For what was a salesperson if not that?

You used every tool in your arsenal, until it all blew up in your face, and then scrounged a bit of profit out for yourself. Siding with any one company did no one any good- so you used their every resource to fulfill your end of the bargain, and drag out what little remained in their Swiss accounts when it finished.

It was messed up, sure. They were both probably bound to kill each other in the end- knives already held held at each other's throat, unwaveringly, unseeingly, even as the entire sky collided with the ground and ripped apart the earth.

A sun was a good analogy.

Everyone needed the Ultimates. Their light kept the world alive. Bright, pure, that's what they were. Property of the world. Public.

Hence why they would die here. Because just as Hotaru had promised, they would one day enter Tartarus together. Every last one of those bright shining stars.

She jolted out of her thoughts just as they passed a second hallway. "Over here." She gave a tug on Nanami's arm. "I think they're down here."

---

Lo snd behold, a tall, blue haired scholar was in the hallway, aimlessly wandering.

His lifeless scarlet eyes flickered to look at the two.

He gave them a silent nod of acknowledgement.

Artemis continued looking for his room.

He was somewhat blind without his glasses, so it was proving to be difficult.

---

---

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Shizuka Matsubara

---

Hmm... who were they supposed to share a dorm with? Someone with a Greek-ish name. The name of some goddess. Whoever their dormmate was, they despised her immensely.

Terrible edgy name. Absolutely pathetic, very cringeworthy. She sounded emo.

My Chemical Romance screamed out of their earbuds as they stared up at the ceiling with a dead look in their eyes.

---