#𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘 🌹

[ultimateropebunny]

closed rp with @heraid 🥀

It had started innocently enough.

She was just a girl. A frail, shy young woman he'd gone to high school with several years ago. She seemed just as meek now as she had the last time he saw her, during class 77s graduation. Even then, he was well aware of her beauty. But now, it made him do a double take.

Mikan Tsumiki hadn't crossed the anthropologists mind much since she left Hope's Peak. Although, that was nothing out of the ordinary for Korekiyo. He didn't get attached. It was rare he spared a thought for his own past classmates these days. Many of them were still close friends. Some had genuinely considered Korekiyo a friend. He appreciated the sentiment, but forming bonds with others wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. People were temporary. People could hurt you. People could die.

Now that he had been done with school for a couple of years, he'd had plenty of time to travel and immerse himself in different cultures with no worries about deadlines. His recent travels included Spain, China (one of his favorites that he had already visited several times), and a small rural village somewhere in Latin America where he had participated in a festival with the locals and taken many photos for the scrapbook he was working on. Yes, this life was far more suited to him than one filled with forming bonds. Never again would he let someone toy with him like she had. He would not even chance it.

These were the very thoughts on Korekiyo's mind as he stepped out of his favorite local bakery, tiny paper bag of Russian tea cakes in hand. A guilty pleasure treat of his, much needed after the day he'd had.

He wasn't sure what came over him then. Normally, he was purely an observer, a watcher of humanity. He did not like to interfere, to entangle himself in the web of other peoples lives. Unless it had to do with anthropology, he rarely went out of his way to speak with others unless they approached him.

But there was something about that girl.

That girl.

That damn deceiving girl with her mask of innocence.

What else was he to do but help when suddenly, the only girl to ever make him turn his head was sprawled on the pavement in front of him after taking quite a tumble? She was like a helpless little lamb..

"Oh, dear.." Korekiyo spoke softly from behind his mask, leaning down and extending a hand toward her to offer his support. "It's been a while. I'm sorry we must meet again under these circumstances."

How was he to know that he had just opened the door to the worst, most beautiful thing that would ever happen to his life?

[ultimateropebunny]

Why, hello there. Welcome to my low effort introductory post~

literate multi para danganronpa roleplayer with 11 years of writing experience

mun is 28 and writes korekiyo so it goes without saying.. minors DNI!!

yes i know my url is silly but everything related to ultimate anthropologist was taken

open to crossovers, AUs, shipping, smut and writing with OCs

i LOVE angst mixed with a little fluff to even things out

i am extremely down for fucked up, toxic ships. BUT i draw the line at incest (hahahahaha yeah i know), huge age gaps, teacher/student or other things along those lines, and shipping kids with literally anyone.

i don't have many triggers but if our rp heavily involves drugs or addiction i may need to take breaks

if i find out you lied to me about your age i will block AND warn other roleplayers about you

this is a sideblog. i follow from @facingthetruth

please do not harass me for replies, i promise i will get back to you eventually. however, feel free to reach out if its been more than a day or two with no warning, as i sometimes miss notifications.

if our writing styles don't mesh well or i get bored, i will let you know and i hope you will extend me the same courtesy.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Of course." His eyes were full of respect. "A preference for healthy foods reflects your skill as a nurse. After all, how could you take care of the health of others if you are not nourishing yourself properly? As expected of a medical professional of your caliber."

These sorts of conversations were easy for him to engage in. He could get a good read on someone's personality and worldview just by learning small pieces of information about them such as which foods they most enjoyed or what authors they were most often reading.

It was another story when she started offering to eat food off of the floor to make him happy. This piqued his interest immensely, stirring his own inner darkness. He could feel it rising within him like a venomous snake, eager to bite.

No. No, not again. Leave that lifestyle behind. You will only get hurt. You will only hurt others. Nobody will ever love you the same way that you love. It is impossible. Most humans are simply incapable of that sort of devotion. It's not their fault. Don't go there. Not with her.

"You've no need to do something like that." He chuckled, trying to sound as normal as possible so she wouldn't know that something so taboo had just flustered him. "We will go somewhere with enough plates for the both of us. Actually.." His eyes narrowed as he contemplated. "We're rather close to my place. I could make you something for dinner, if you like."

Walking weird?

This girl must have spent the majority of her life apologizing for absolutely everything. It made him pity her, like she was some sort of vulnerable creature left to fend for herself in the wilderness. But maybe that was just a part of that lurking predatory nature he had sensed earlier.. making herself seem small and needy to get closer to her prey. But really.. what could she do to him? He, who had a good foot on her in height. Probably natural masculine strength that could overpower her easily. He would be fine.

Korekiyo did his best to avert his eyes from the graveyard as they passed by it, but his heart seemed to stop for just a moment. It wasn't until the cemetery was behind them that he realized he had been holding his breath. It was hard to remember how to breathe normally for a second or two.

"I must ask you.." He smiled beneath his mask. "What is your preferred cuisine? I can take you anywhere you like. My treat." Truthfully, he was not short on money. He had inherited some from the family when.. she died. And he made a decent amount of income from his work in anthropology. A lot of his trips were paid for.

[ultimateropebunny]

Walking weird?

This girl must have spent the majority of her life apologizing for absolutely everything. It made him pity her, like she was some sort of vulnerable creature left to fend for herself in the wilderness. But maybe that was just a part of that lurking predatory nature he had sensed earlier.. making herself seem small and needy to get closer to her prey. But really.. what could she do to him? He, who had a good foot on her in height. Probably natural masculine strength that could overpower her easily. He would be fine.

Korekiyo did his best to avert his eyes from the graveyard as they passed by it, but his heart seemed to stop for just a moment. It wasn't until the cemetery was behind them that he realized he had been holding his breath. It was hard to remember how to breathe normally for a second or two.

"I must ask you.." He smiled beneath his mask. "What is your preferred cuisine? I can take you anywhere you like. My treat." Truthfully, he was not short on money. He had inherited some from the family when.. she died. And he made a decent amount of income from his work in anthropology. A lot of his trips were paid for.

"Please, it's no trouble. I don't have anything to do tonight, anyway." He smirked a bit under his mask, raising a palm to rest on the side of his face. "Though.. I would understand if you opted to reject my offer. We may be former classmates, but I am essentially just a strange man who asked you out for a date. I could be a serial killer, for all you know." His tone was playful, but part of him still hoped that maybe she would be put off by him enough to just leave him be so he could back out now before he got in too deep with this girl.

Still.. The mere idea of it all lifted his spirits. He was doing something for a change. Not just something. He was going out with a woman. A woman who wasn't her. Oh, how she would forbid it. Even if they were just going out as friends. It was an act of rebellion he would never have dared commit if she were still alive. Even now, he almost feared he would be haunted by her ghost. That somehow she would still manage to ruin his evening from her grave.

[ultimateropebunny]

"Please, it's no trouble. I don't have anything to do tonight, anyway." He smirked a bit under his mask, raising a palm to rest on the side of his face. "Though.. I would understand if you opted to reject my offer. We may be former classmates, but I am essentially just a strange man who asked you out for a date. I could be a serial killer, for all you know." His tone was playful, but part of him still hoped that maybe she would be put off by him enough to just leave him be so he could back out now before he got in too deep with this girl.

Still.. The mere idea of it all lifted his spirits. He was doing something for a change. Not just something. He was going out with a woman. A woman who wasn't her. Oh, how she would forbid it. Even if they were just going out as friends. It was an act of rebellion he would never have dared commit if she were still alive. Even now, he almost feared he would be haunted by her ghost. That somehow she would still manage to ruin his evening from her grave.

"Is that so?" He questioned with a tilt of his head. When he thought about it, it wasn't all that surprising. He had done his fair share of research and exploration of the extremely varied medical practices around the world. It would make sense that someone who specialized in the medical field would also take in interest in that area of anthropology. How was he to know that wasn't what she was referring to?

"If you think about it, there really is something in anthropology for everyone. Everything we do as humans is anthropological by nature. Medical procedures, language, food, music, folklore.. simply existing." This is just another reason he enjoys it so much. If he keeps talking about this, he might not stop.

Maybe spending time with someone else in a casual manner would be good for him.. maybe it would be a terrible mistake. But you never know if you don't try, right?

"Come, I'll treat you to dinner. We have much to discuss if we plan to get to know each other, yes? I should probably eat something with substance anyhow." He beckoned for her to walk with him. What was he thinking? He had no idea. This was certainly bound to end in chaos, like everything else in his life. But oh, how he longed to feel alive again. And to walk in the opposite direction of the cemetery ahead..

[ultimateropebunny]

"Is that so?" He questioned with a tilt of his head. When he thought about it, it wasn't all that surprising. He had done his fair share of research and exploration of the extremely varied medical practices around the world. It would make sense that someone who specialized in the medical field would also take in interest in that area of anthropology. How was he to know that wasn't what she was referring to?

"If you think about it, there really is something in anthropology for everyone. Everything we do as humans is anthropological by nature. Medical procedures, language, food, music, folklore.. simply existing." This is just another reason he enjoys it so much. If he keeps talking about this, he might not stop.

Maybe spending time with someone else in a casual manner would be good for him.. maybe it would be a terrible mistake. But you never know if you don't try, right?

"Come, I'll treat you to dinner. We have much to discuss if we plan to get to know each other, yes? I should probably eat something with substance anyhow." He beckoned for her to walk with him. What was he thinking? He had no idea. This was certainly bound to end in chaos, like everything else in his life. But oh, how he longed to feel alive again. And to walk in the opposite direction of the cemetery ahead..

This was so.. odd.

Even with her declarations of merely wanting something as innocent as friendship, Korekiyo could not help but feel perturbed.

She resembled his lover abuser so much, it gave him the creeps. Maybe he was simply projecting his trauma onto this girl who had nothing to do with it whatsoever, which was completely unfair to her. But it wasn't his fault either. It wasn't his fault that his undeniable attraction to her made his stomach turn. And here he thought he was getting better..

However.. maybe in the end it really was for the best that she had been waiting for him here. He was going to give in today. For the first time in months, he had made the decision to visit her grave again. Like an addict who had failed to quit cold turkey, going back to his drug of choice again and again.

So in reality, maybe Mikan was his savior.

He certainly wouldn't be going there now, after this haunting meeting.

"And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do together? Perhaps we should just talk sometime. See if we have anything in common." He half hoped she would just ask for his number so he could give her a fake one and then never leave his apartment again.

[ultimateropebunny]

This was so.. odd.

Even with her declarations of merely wanting something as innocent as friendship, Korekiyo could not help but feel perturbed.

She resembled his lover abuser so much, it gave him the creeps. Maybe he was simply projecting his trauma onto this girl who had nothing to do with it whatsoever, which was completely unfair to her. But it wasn't his fault either. It wasn't his fault that his undeniable attraction to her made his stomach turn. And here he thought he was getting better..

However.. maybe in the end it really was for the best that she had been waiting for him here. He was going to give in today. For the first time in months, he had made the decision to visit her grave again. Like an addict who had failed to quit cold turkey, going back to his drug of choice again and again.

So in reality, maybe Mikan was his savior.

He certainly wouldn't be going there now, after this haunting meeting.

"And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do together? Perhaps we should just talk sometime. See if we have anything in common." He half hoped she would just ask for his number so he could give her a fake one and then never leave his apartment again.

"F-Friends?" He stammered, very much unlike himself. He couldn't help it. Nobody had ever just outright asked him to be their friend before, much less someone he had interacted with three or four times at most.

Calm down. Don't let her see how lonely and pathetic you've been lately.

"I suppose that would be alright, though I'm not quite sure what that would entail." He mused, lifting a finger to his chin. "Do you intend to spend time with me? Talk on the phone? I'm not all that accustomed to doing such things. Most of my time revolves around my interest in anthropology."

It made him feel a bit narcissistic, but he wondered if perhaps she was looking for something.. else. Maybe she was just too afraid to say it outright. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was fairly good looking. He had been with a few people in the past that had told him so, through singular short-lived encounters after meeting in online forums. He wasn't about to ask, though.

[ultimateropebunny]

"F-Friends?" He stammered, very much unlike himself. He couldn't help it. Nobody had ever just outright asked him to be their friend before, much less someone he had interacted with three or four times at most.

Calm down. Don't let her see how lonely and pathetic you've been lately.

"I suppose that would be alright, though I'm not quite sure what that would entail." He mused, lifting a finger to his chin. "Do you intend to spend time with me? Talk on the phone? I'm not all that accustomed to doing such things. Most of my time revolves around my interest in anthropology."

It made him feel a bit narcissistic, but he wondered if perhaps she was looking for something.. else. Maybe she was just too afraid to say it outright. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was fairly good looking. He had been with a few people in the past that had told him so, through singular short-lived encounters after meeting in online forums. He wasn't about to ask, though.

"I'm terribly sorry." He put a hand to his chest. "I suppose I simply misunderstood. You see, not many people go out of their way to approach me. If I'm being completely honest, its been a while since I've interacted with anyone outside of work." He admitted, truly feeling guilty now. "I couldn't imagine someone like you would bother speaking to me after all these years without some sort of ulterior motive."

Still, he wished to leave this place and be on his way. He was starting to connect the dots now. A beautiful dark haired older woman with something malicious stirring just under the surface, seemingly fixated on him.

She reminded him of her.

Why? Why did he have to bump into her? Why was he so nice?

"I only hope you can forgive my rudeness. I did not mean to make you upset."

Please just leave. Please just go.

[ultimateropebunny]

"I'm terribly sorry." He put a hand to his chest. "I suppose I simply misunderstood. You see, not many people go out of their way to approach me. If I'm being completely honest, its been a while since I've interacted with anyone outside of work." He admitted, truly feeling guilty now. "I couldn't imagine someone like you would bother speaking to me after all these years without some sort of ulterior motive."

Still, he wished to leave this place and be on his way. He was starting to connect the dots now. A beautiful dark haired older woman with something malicious stirring just under the surface, seemingly fixated on him.

She reminded him of her.

Why? Why did he have to bump into her? Why was he so nice?

"I only hope you can forgive my rudeness. I did not mean to make you upset."

Please just leave. Please just go.

This change in demeanor pulled him in, made her much more interesting to him. She seemed to be a lot more genuine in this moment, though there was still a strange dullness behind her eyes that made him shiver.

What was she?

He was genuinely starting to question whether she was some sort of spirit, or maybe a succubus that he was immune to the charms of. Did he really believe in those things? He wasn't entirely sure. But there was something mystical about Mikan Tsumiki.

Maybe she was still pretending, attempting to manipulate him in some other way since the previous tactics hadn't worked. This was a game to her, he could tell. But was he willing to play?

"Cool?" Was all he managed to say for a moment.

That wasn't a word anybody had used to describe him before. 'Weird', sure. But 'cool'?

Thankfully he recovered from his bout of surprise quickly enough to maintain his calm and collected composure.

"Come now, Tsumiki-san.." His eyes were still kind, but there was a dark glint in them too. As if to let her know he has played similar games before, and is up to the challenge. "What could a beautiful, talented young woman such as yourself want from a man who was merely an underclassman a few years ago?" He smiled beneath his mask. "You clearly had some sort of intention, waiting for me here, no? Or was this really just a coincidental meeting?"

[ultimateropebunny]

This change in demeanor pulled him in, made her much more interesting to him. She seemed to be a lot more genuine in this moment, though there was still a strange dullness behind her eyes that made him shiver.

What was she?

He was genuinely starting to question whether she was some sort of spirit, or maybe a succubus that he was immune to the charms of. Did he really believe in those things? He wasn't entirely sure. But there was something mystical about Mikan Tsumiki.

Maybe she was still pretending, attempting to manipulate him in some other way since the previous tactics hadn't worked. This was a game to her, he could tell. But was he willing to play?

"Cool?" Was all he managed to say for a moment.

That wasn't a word anybody had used to describe him before. 'Weird', sure. But 'cool'?

Thankfully he recovered from his bout of surprise quickly enough to maintain his calm and collected composure.

"Come now, Tsumiki-san.." His eyes were still kind, but there was a dark glint in them too. As if to let her know he has played similar games before, and is up to the challenge. "What could a beautiful, talented young woman such as yourself want from a man who was merely an underclassman a few years ago?" He smiled beneath his mask. "You clearly had some sort of intention, waiting for me here, no? Or was this really just a coincidental meeting?"

She was already difficult to understand, but this sudden display took him completely by surprise.

"What? No." He replied, sounding genuinely taken aback for once. Korekiyo had no idea how to react. It was not his responsibility to comfort this girl, nor was it his fault she was so clearly unstable. "No, no.. I simply have places to be and things to do." His eyes narrowed, not maliciously, just as though he were trying to read her like a book and failing to understand the language. It frustrated him for some reason.

"Please, do get a hold of yourself." People were starting to stare, looking at him as if he were an abusive boyfriend or something. "There is no need for tears. I'm terribly sorry if I gave you that impression."

He hardly knew this woman and she had him reeling, completely at a loss after just a couple of interactions. He just wanted to go home. Maybe he would avoid this place for a while. The thought pained him. This little bakery was his only solace on dark days. Maybe he could get them to deliver. Sure, it would take away from the actual experience and atmosphere he enjoyed so much, but at least he would not be subjected to.. this any longer.

For some reason, though he was fully aware he owed her nothing, he found himself frozen here. Like he had some sort of moral obligation to make this right even though he had done nothing to her. Considering Korekiyo's morals, most of which were various shades of grey, he was even more entranced by her power. Her clear attempts to manipulate for.. some reason. But why? What did she want from him?

[ultimateropebunny]

She was already difficult to understand, but this sudden display took him completely by surprise.

"What? No." He replied, sounding genuinely taken aback for once. Korekiyo had no idea how to react. It was not his responsibility to comfort this girl, nor was it his fault she was so clearly unstable. "No, no.. I simply have places to be and things to do." His eyes narrowed, not maliciously, just as though he were trying to read her like a book and failing to understand the language. It frustrated him for some reason.

"Please, do get a hold of yourself." People were starting to stare, looking at him as if he were an abusive boyfriend or something. "There is no need for tears. I'm terribly sorry if I gave you that impression."

He hardly knew this woman and she had him reeling, completely at a loss after just a couple of interactions. He just wanted to go home. Maybe he would avoid this place for a while. The thought pained him. This little bakery was his only solace on dark days. Maybe he could get them to deliver. Sure, it would take away from the actual experience and atmosphere he enjoyed so much, but at least he would not be subjected to.. this any longer.

For some reason, though he was fully aware he owed her nothing, he found himself frozen here. Like he had some sort of moral obligation to make this right even though he had done nothing to her. Considering Korekiyo's morals, most of which were various shades of grey, he was even more entranced by her power. Her clear attempts to manipulate for.. some reason. But why? What did she want from him?

What was wrong with this girl?

He just couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her made his skin crawl. And he really couldn't make up his mind about whether he was merely being judgmental or actually picking up on some inner darkness. Either way, Korekiyo did not plan on sticking around to find out. Nothing against her personally, he just had no desire to get attached to other people.

There was a pang of pity for this girl, this unfortunate creature. He felt it in his chest. He knew she wasn't lying about having been mistreated. If this is how she has always behaved, of course some people would take advantage of that. But.. he recalls again the predatory animals and insects he has read about in books. The way some carnivores make themselves look weak or helpless to lull their prey into a false sense of security.

"Well, I assure you.. you need not apologize to me. If I had bothered to speak with you, perhaps you wouldn't have chased after me like this in the first place. I can be quite unsociable." He admitted, kindness never wavering but.. he was guarded, cautious.

"It was nice to see you." He bowed, ready to get the hell out of here.

[ultimateropebunny]

What was wrong with this girl?

He just couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her made his skin crawl. And he really couldn't make up his mind about whether he was merely being judgmental or actually picking up on some inner darkness. Either way, Korekiyo did not plan on sticking around to find out. Nothing against her personally, he just had no desire to get attached to other people.

There was a pang of pity for this girl, this unfortunate creature. He felt it in his chest. He knew she wasn't lying about having been mistreated. If this is how she has always behaved, of course some people would take advantage of that. But.. he recalls again the predatory animals and insects he has read about in books. The way some carnivores make themselves look weak or helpless to lull their prey into a false sense of security.

"Well, I assure you.. you need not apologize to me. If I had bothered to speak with you, perhaps you wouldn't have chased after me like this in the first place. I can be quite unsociable." He admitted, kindness never wavering but.. he was guarded, cautious.

"It was nice to see you." He bowed, ready to get the hell out of here.

She almost seemed manic in her stammering.

Her questioning of his identity caught him off guard and made him worry that maybe he was the stalker-esque of the two for remembering exactly who she was despite their briefest of interactions in school. But it also soothed him a bit. Maybe it really was somehow just a coincidence, meeting her like this again so soon after all.

"Yes." He bowed politely, as he had before. "Korekiyo Shinguuji. I was known as the Ultimate Anthropologist, but I was a couple of years your junior so I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't heard of me." This was the most he had spoken to anyone in a while. It was making him a bit nervous.

"Is that so?" He questioned her last statement with a tilt of his head. "Do I give off the impression that I would be unkind? Or do people treat you so unkindly, you've come to expect it?" If it was the first, he did want to know so he could fix it. Maybe he was putting some sort of hostile vibe off thanks to his depressive episode. If it were the latter.. that was a whole other can of worms that she should probably see a therapist about.

[ultimateropebunny]

She almost seemed manic in her stammering.

Her questioning of his identity caught him off guard and made him worry that maybe he was the stalker-esque of the two for remembering exactly who she was despite their briefest of interactions in school. But it also soothed him a bit. Maybe it really was somehow just a coincidence, meeting her like this again so soon after all.

"Yes." He bowed politely, as he had before. "Korekiyo Shinguuji. I was known as the Ultimate Anthropologist, but I was a couple of years your junior so I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't heard of me." This was the most he had spoken to anyone in a while. It was making him a bit nervous.

"Is that so?" He questioned her last statement with a tilt of his head. "Do I give off the impression that I would be unkind? Or do people treat you so unkindly, you've come to expect it?" If it was the first, he did want to know so he could fix it. Maybe he was putting some sort of hostile vibe off thanks to his depressive episode. If it were the latter.. that was a whole other can of worms that she should probably see a therapist about.

Korekiyo felt his blood run cold when he heard the footsteps quickly approaching from behind him, followed up with that high pitched little voice.

What did she want?

This question would haunt him for a long time.

It bothered him. It caused a strange, unfamiliar sensation in his stomach when he couldn't get a read on her, less like butterflies and more like bees. Being perceptive was always something that came naturally to him, so when he found himself completely stumped it made him very uneasy.

Maybe to a normal person who wasn't drawn to the darkness, this lack of aura would be a red flag. Hell, he knew it was. But it made him curious about her. It was in his nature.

He was going to tell her he was too busy for a chat right now, but as he started to turn around he nearly tripped over the nurse as she suddenly fell, completely sprawled in front of him again.

"My, my.." the anthropologist blinked in surprise, already kneeling to offer her his hand. "Fascinating how we keep meeting like this. Kehehe.." He chuckled softly, but his eyes were warm. There was clearly a soft smile behind the mask. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you did that purpose." He teased, but it was playful.

"Really though, Tsumiki-san.." He sighed as he pulled her to her feet. "You should pay closer attention to your surroundings."

[ultimateropebunny]

Korekiyo felt his blood run cold when he heard the footsteps quickly approaching from behind him, followed up with that high pitched little voice.

What did she want?

This question would haunt him for a long time.

It bothered him. It caused a strange, unfamiliar sensation in his stomach when he couldn't get a read on her, less like butterflies and more like bees. Being perceptive was always something that came naturally to him, so when he found himself completely stumped it made him very uneasy.

Maybe to a normal person who wasn't drawn to the darkness, this lack of aura would be a red flag. Hell, he knew it was. But it made him curious about her. It was in his nature.

He was going to tell her he was too busy for a chat right now, but as he started to turn around he nearly tripped over the nurse as she suddenly fell, completely sprawled in front of him again.

"My, my.." the anthropologist blinked in surprise, already kneeling to offer her his hand. "Fascinating how we keep meeting like this. Kehehe.." He chuckled softly, but his eyes were warm. There was clearly a soft smile behind the mask. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you did that purpose." He teased, but it was playful.

"Really though, Tsumiki-san.." He sighed as he pulled her to her feet. "You should pay closer attention to your surroundings."

It hadn't been long since his last trip to the bakery, but he was having such a rough time these past couple of months he was allowing himself to stop in at his favorite comfort locations and self indulge more than he probably should. Truthfully, it likely wouldn't hurt for him to gain a couple of pounds. He was so skinny, and had lost some weight recently due to stress and depression.

It should not be taking such a toll on him to cut off his.. abuser? He still wasn't used to thinking of his beloved in such a way. But he was trying to heal. To finally come to terms with it all now that he was safe from her clutches forever. He had to start living in reality.

He had been too busy staring at the ground on his way in to notice the nurse there, but she was the first thing he saw when he stepped back outside. Her abrupt appearance for a second time at this location he frequented but had never seen her at until recently made him stop in his tracks, stomach turning uncomfortably. He didn't know why, but there was something.. sinister about this encounter.

The way she was looking at him, seemingly so innocent and inviting. It seemed almost.. predatory. Like she was a beautiful but terrifying spider, waiting for him to step into her web.

It took a lot to make Korekiyo uncomfortable, nervous even. But he couldn't deny the chill creeping up his spine. Was it him? Was he so afraid of making a friend and getting attached to someone that he was making up fake mystical reasons to avoid some poor girl?

That seemed plausible..

Mustering up as much indifference as he could, the anthropologist met her eyes for a brief moment, giving her a gentle nod of acknowledgement before walking away in the same direction he had gone the last time. He was suddenly in a hurry to get home. It felt like it might rain soon. Yeah.. That was why.

[ultimateropebunny]

It hadn't been long since his last trip to the bakery, but he was having such a rough time these past couple of months he was allowing himself to stop in at his favorite comfort locations and self indulge more than he probably should. Truthfully, it likely wouldn't hurt for him to gain a couple of pounds. He was so skinny, and had lost some weight recently due to stress and depression.

It should not be taking such a toll on him to cut off his.. abuser? He still wasn't used to thinking of his beloved in such a way. But he was trying to heal. To finally come to terms with it all now that he was safe from her clutches forever. He had to start living in reality.

He had been too busy staring at the ground on his way in to notice the nurse there, but she was the first thing he saw when he stepped back outside. Her abrupt appearance for a second time at this location he frequented but had never seen her at until recently made him stop in his tracks, stomach turning uncomfortably. He didn't know why, but there was something.. sinister about this encounter.

The way she was looking at him, seemingly so innocent and inviting. It seemed almost.. predatory. Like she was a beautiful but terrifying spider, waiting for him to step into her web.

It took a lot to make Korekiyo uncomfortable, nervous even. But he couldn't deny the chill creeping up his spine. Was it him? Was he so afraid of making a friend and getting attached to someone that he was making up fake mystical reasons to avoid some poor girl?

That seemed plausible..

Mustering up as much indifference as he could, the anthropologist met her eyes for a brief moment, giving her a gentle nod of acknowledgement before walking away in the same direction he had gone the last time. He was suddenly in a hurry to get home. It felt like it might rain soon. Yeah.. That was why.

For some reason, her abrupt and profuse apologizing took him by surprise. Perhaps it shouldn't have, based on what he knew of her. But he had never spent much time with her, so he didn't have a personal impression of the nurse.

"Please, it's no trouble." He assured her, with a slight bow. "Not for me, at least. You should really be more careful."

This was just a small piece of genuine advice. Not everyone was a good person, after all. Somebody else may one day take advantage of her clumsiness and affinity for getting herself into compromising positions.

So the anthropologist didn't think much of the impact his small act of kindness could have on someone like her. Maybe he should have. It was part of his job to be charismatic and good at reading humanity. Yes, there was something dark about the girl, but didn't they all have their demons? Maybe hers were just worse than some others, it wasn't his place to judge. He would likely never see her again anyway.

"Take care." He said softly, with a tip of his hat before disappearing into the crowd. Korekiyo would go on to have a pretty average day. Mikan wouldn't cross his mind again for a while. He should have savored his peace.

On the way home, he forced himself to keep walking past the graveyard where his sisters headstone rests to this day. He had managed two months now without going to see her at all. It used to be something he did every day. It was only recently that he managed to stop, that he had finally accepted that what she had done to him.. what she made him do with her.. that was not "love". It never had been. He had seen enough families around the world interact to know that their relationship was beyond abnormal. He just never wanted to accept the reality of this fact. It came with trauma, emotional baggage he would have to carry forever.

Still, he had not gotten to the point of taking a different route home altogether yet. He really should. One day, he would. But today, he still spared a glance in the direction of the cemetery.

[ultimateropebunny]

For some reason, her abrupt and profuse apologizing took him by surprise. Perhaps it shouldn't have, based on what he knew of her. But he had never spent much time with her, so he didn't have a personal impression of the nurse.

"Please, it's no trouble." He assured her, with a slight bow. "Not for me, at least. You should really be more careful."

This was just a small piece of genuine advice. Not everyone was a good person, after all. Somebody else may one day take advantage of her clumsiness and affinity for getting herself into compromising positions.

So the anthropologist didn't think much of the impact his small act of kindness could have on someone like her. Maybe he should have. It was part of his job to be charismatic and good at reading humanity. Yes, there was something dark about the girl, but didn't they all have their demons? Maybe hers were just worse than some others, it wasn't his place to judge. He would likely never see her again anyway.

"Take care." He said softly, with a tip of his hat before disappearing into the crowd. Korekiyo would go on to have a pretty average day. Mikan wouldn't cross his mind again for a while. He should have savored his peace.

On the way home, he forced himself to keep walking past the graveyard where his sisters headstone rests to this day. He had managed two months now without going to see her at all. It used to be something he did every day. It was only recently that he managed to stop, that he had finally accepted that what she had done to him.. what she made him do with her.. that was not "love". It never had been. He had seen enough families around the world interact to know that their relationship was beyond abnormal. He just never wanted to accept the reality of this fact. It came with trauma, emotional baggage he would have to carry forever.

Still, he had not gotten to the point of taking a different route home altogether yet. He really should. One day, he would. But today, he still spared a glance in the direction of the cemetery.

closed rp with @heraid 🥀

It had started innocently enough.

She was just a girl. A frail, shy young woman he'd gone to high school with several years ago. She seemed just as meek now as she had the last time he saw her, during class 77s graduation. Even then, he was well aware of her beauty. But now, it made him do a double take.

Mikan Tsumiki hadn't crossed the anthropologists mind much since she left Hope's Peak. Although, that was nothing out of the ordinary for Korekiyo. He didn't get attached. It was rare he spared a thought for his own past classmates these days. Many of them were still close friends. Some had genuinely considered Korekiyo a friend. He appreciated the sentiment, but forming bonds with others wasn't something he particularly enjoyed. People were temporary. People could hurt you. People could die.

Now that he had been done with school for a couple of years, he'd had plenty of time to travel and immerse himself in different cultures with no worries about deadlines. His recent travels included Spain, China (one of his favorites that he had already visited several times), and a small rural village somewhere in Latin America where he had participated in a festival with the locals and taken many photos for the scrapbook he was working on. Yes, this life was far more suited to him than one filled with forming bonds. Never again would he let someone toy with him like she had. He would not even chance it.

These were the very thoughts on Korekiyo's mind as he stepped out of his favorite local bakery, tiny paper bag of Russian tea cakes in hand. A guilty pleasure treat of his, much needed after the day he'd had.

He wasn't sure what came over him then. Normally, he was purely an observer, a watcher of humanity. He did not like to interfere, to entangle himself in the web of other peoples lives. Unless it had to do with anthropology, he rarely went out of his way to speak with others unless they approached him.

But there was something about that girl.

That girl.

That damn deceiving girl with her mask of innocence.

What else was he to do but help when suddenly, the only girl to ever make him turn his head was sprawled on the pavement in front of him after taking quite a tumble? She was like a helpless little lamb..

"Oh, dear.." Korekiyo spoke softly from behind his mask, leaning down and extending a hand toward her to offer his support. "It's been a while. I'm sorry we must meet again under these circumstances."

How was he to know that he had just opened the door to the worst, most beautiful thing that would ever happen to his life?