#hm i wonder what chika likes for breakfast…..

[evergreen-endo]

my selfship with takiishi literally would not work without endo and the reasoning is chika’s burger obsession

[cc-hatredisland]

{.Battle Strategy.}

“Alright, we’re officially ready to start our first meeting!”

Hirotsugu offers some applause that thunders a bit due to his obvious exuberance. He mutters an apology and skulks back into his chair.

“Ahem! So. It’s obvious why we have gathered here today...”

“Yeah, because you called us, dipshit. Are you getting to the point anytime soon?”

“First of all, I am NOT a dipshit!”

The word sounds alien out of his mouth and Rie starts snickering as soon as he says it which only serves to make him grumpier.

“And SECOND OF ALL! We are here to discuss our plan to shut down Patchnuki’s nefarious activities. Since we have only just assembled... it’s alright if little progress has been made. Instead, we can share information so as to better plan for next time.”

Shiratori looks like he’s in his element. I’m not sure the guy can crack a smile so he’s still scowling but he paces back and forth with an energy previously unseen.

“I’ll start us off with a discovery I made. The stairs on the second floor have been blocked off.”

“I’m sorry, ‘blocked off’?”

“Correct! Yes! A very curious case all things considered! There are bars in the way. I suspect... they weren't always there.”

“I am so very glad such an astute police officer is taking charge.”

He actually does grin at that and flashes Hanji a thumbs-up. I guess he missed the sarcastic tone.

“If we’re sharing what we found... I’d like to add something. May I take the stage?”

“What stage?”

“Oh, I meant to say--”

“OH. I get it. Turn of phrase! Yes, please tell us what you saw, Kumatani-san!”

“I took stock of the kitchen and we’re very well-prepared. Cupboards have a variety of ingredients and there are three freezers worth of meats and other goods. Not to mention the refrigerators.”

“Uh. You have three freezers?”

Hanji didn’t look like he wanted to be here at all so his icy glare goes arctic when Rie flicks her hand vaguely in his direction.

“This is not the main house. You will just have to deal with it.”

Wait, his main house had even more freezers?! Why would you need so many? I wonder if he just has things to have them rather than use them. That thought alone makes my blood sizzle. It’s so damn wasteful. Well at least in this case it seems to be a help. That many freezers and that much food is a comforting thought.

“Fufufu... it is not merely the kitchen that is fully equipped! Allow me to enlighten you and open your eyes to the wonders of the garden! Fresh herbs... flowers... vegetables... lo, we are blessed with good fortune!“

At this point, Shiratori’s stopped pacing back and forth. Instead he’s taking this information in, nodding, and keeping his watchful eyes on those who speak up.

“U-uh... um... uh... Kasah... ara-san. um, do you want to, you know, um, say the... thing?“

The equity analyst seems pretty comfortable where she is, actually, saying nothing. Sitting in a chair and reading as if none of this effects her. Makes you kinda wonder why she’s there... eh, maybe she can multi-task.

“I don’t.”

“R-right! Yeah, of course, sorry no, I, um, I get it. Er, so... um... the library... it’s uh, it’s full of books.”

A long awkward pause. When she realizes there are several pairs of eyes trained on her, she crouches and throws her arms in front of her face.

“Please don’t stare! I j-just... I don’t! Um...!”

“If you don’t speak up, I can’t hear! Don’t just sit there, speak up!”

Chika’s wilting under the pressure. Geez...

“Back off, Sugu-kun. Can’t you see she’s nervous? Don’t needle her when she needs space.”

“I-- wasn’t needling! I was pressing for details! It’s normal!”

“You seriously don’t switch off.”

The atmosphere sparks and tenses once more with most people opting to glare at someone else. Or failing that, ignoring the whole situation as a whole. I can’t imagine this is what Shiratori wanted. Two claps resounds around the room and suddenly everyone’s attention is captured.

“Alright now, let’s all settle down. Bickering’s not gonna help.”

Hanji scoffs. It’s possible he’s bitter about the whole ‘I don’t trust you’ thing.

“Help? You are quite delusional if you think anything will.”

“You should fix that negativity of yours, Hanji-san. i actually had a few ideas. What if we, at least once a day, posted a message on our IDs to the group? That would make sure we’re all accounted for, wouldn’t it?”

“No.”

“Yeah, sorry... totally not sure I’m down with that either. I’ll just forget n’ besides... it sounds reeeal troublesome!“

“... We need to prepare for the worst.”

It was said so quietly but her voice somehow captured the interest of everyone. She just had that quality to her.

“Someone will panic... and they might do something they later regret. We should round up all potential weapons and keep them someplace safe. If they are all in one place... any potential killers will have to work that much harder.”

Her grim words create a thick and heavy atmosphere. She wants to leave no doubt that someone could... or perhaps, will, die. My throat feels all craggy and prickly when she talks like that. I don’t want to write this situation off as some game but I’m not sure I’m ready to just believe people are gonna just...

Whoosh... thud!

Puncturing the silence, a dart whizzes right past Satoko’s face and into the wall. It’s nowhere near me but my heart’s still beating like crazy. My eyes immediately try to zero-in on the source. Thankfully it doesn’t take me that long... nor Shiratori.

“Oi! What do you think you’re doing, Maki-kun?!”

I was shocked by it, too. There’s a ton of problem children here and a few I wouldn’t be surprised if they resorted to violence... but Yuunagi? That doesn’t seem right.

“Relax, officer. I have super good aim, it was never going to hit.”

“That’s not the point! Ohhhh, miss Anzai, are you alright?! Apologize, you charlatan!”

“I was proving a point. You get it right, Sato-chan? In the right hands, anything can be a weapon. I mean, check out Rie-kun.”

The sailor seems confused but upon being stared at, opts to pose a bit.

“She could probably snap me in two, right? You can’t just ban her... being her. That weapon pool thing’s never gonna work and... honestly, it’s probably just gonna make people more jumpy.”

“... I can see your point. However... pretending we will all get along... and making no preparations will... if we do nothing, it will end poorly. That is all I meant to say.”

“Personally I disagree with Maki-san! I move we confiscate any weapon-like objects right away! This is simply an obvious matter of safety first! Who’s with me?!”

He was getting really into it. I didn’t bother raising my hand because I could see Yuunagi’s point but quite a few people did including both Hanji and Manabu. Maybe they were more similar than they thought. Huh.

“Then it’s decided! You’re outvoted, Maki!”

“Guess so.”

Her lack of a reaction seems to get on his nerves but he hides behind a cough and turns back to the group.

“There’s something else! We haven’t gone over the rules yet! Have we all checked the rules? Raise your hand if you’ve read the rules! Thoroughly! If you haven’t read the terms and conditions then you have to go back and do it all over again!”

Why does this stupid ID have a terms and conditions?

“I’m not doing that.”

“How about I just... reiterate the rules out loud instead of all that? Some people learn better when they hear things.”

“T-th-that’s definitely tr-tr-true for me.”

He looks a little sheepish admitting that. Shiratori huffs loudly and folds his arms but offers no protest. Manabu makes sure the officer’s not going to interrupt before opening his own ID and beginning.

“Alright. Listen well. The first rule is simple. 1. Don’t attack Patchnuki. If you attempt to destroy their majesty... not my words, then you will receive a punishing shock. If you attempt this again, you will be exterminated.”

Somehow the bluntness makes me shiver.

“2. At 8PM, the autolocking system will shut certain doors. If you are stuck by yourself, it is your own fault. 3 is pretty similar. If you stay up past 10PM whatever happens happens; we take no responsibility for your foolishness. Little... ominous. Hm, okay, onto 4. Do not leave the field of play. If you do, you will be terminated. 5... if you ever need Patchnuki, simply twirl around three times and call out Patchnuki-sama, again, three times. 6. If something has Patchnuki’s Seal of Approval you are not allowed to break it. Otherwise... go nuts, it stays. 7. Everyone must assemble in the Dining Room by 10AM. They must stay for 10 minutes before they can go about their day... it says, um... a healthy breakfast and conversation is key. So, onto 8... the only way to leave the field of play and game safely... is to kill another student. And 9... Patchnuki can edit these rules at any time.”

“Read the terms and conditions.”

“That shouldn’t be necessary, Shiratori-san...”

“Besides, it’s kind of late, right? Geez, I wanna sleep for the next four years!”

That’s... right, huh? I’d assumed I was tired just because... well, just because this whole situation’s damn tiring. But it was actually kind of late, wasn’t it? Guess it made more sense than I thought.

“I’m beat, too. We got our rooms so I say we crash.”

There are some murmurs of agreement and nods.

“Hold on a second! Hold on now! Ogawa-kun and Seiyama-kun have yet to hear my strategies! We must seize them and force them to listen.”

“Perhaps they already turned in for the day? Why not just wait for tomorrow?”

He almost seems tearful. But in the angriest, most Shiratori way possible.

“... F...fine. Fine I say! Tomorrow it is! I expect you all to be here! We will reconvene my strategy meeting at 6AM!”

“Oh piss off, Shiratori.”

Rie flips him off as she lumbers out of the room.

“Ah, hey, wait! Rie-chan, wait for me!”

As people begin to file out of the room I get a distinct sense of deja vu... it wasn’t too long ago everyone left the games room before, abandoning a sulking Shiratori. History repeats itself, I guess. I barely conceal a yawn before one hand and with everyone else leaving I decide to take my leave and head to my room, too. I don’t even have the energy to talk it out with anyone. I slam my card in the reader and enter the room. My memories kinda blur around that point. I’m too tired and way too exhausted to do anything but crash into bed.

Everything darkens as I let my body finally rest...

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