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simplegenius042 · 4 days ago

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Music Monday & WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @josephseedismyfather

Tagging @voidika @imogenkol @socially-awkward-skeleton @inafieldofdaisies @aceghosts @cloudofbutterflies92 @cassietrn @direwombat @noodlecupcakes @adelaidedrubman @raresvtm @derelictheretic @davrinsgriffons @shallow-gravy @strangefable @statichvm @carlosoliveiraa @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @alypink @shellibisshe @josephslittledeputy @skoll-sun-eater @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @florbelles @minilev @justasmolbard @yokobai and @seedsplease + anyone else who'd like to join.

Music for A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore and The UnTitledverse and WIP snippets for The UnTitledverse and The Silver Chronicles. Listen and read below the cut:

First song for my Sole Survivor OC Nate Gust Sarid from my Fallout 4 WIP A Symbol For A Better World in my A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore series. Nate... is amongst many of my Fallout OCs in particular who goes through a rough stage in his life. The life he knew originally ends with a bang, he and many of his neighbors are frozen in stasis and he witnesses his wife die and his son get taken and wakes up again decades later as the "Sole Survivor" (...or is he?) in a world trying to heal but still under conflict. And while he wants nothing but to find his son and avenge his wife, he instead gets caught up in helping the factions around the Commonwealth just to get the resources and aid necessary to find his son (as well as make the Commonwealth safer for his son when he brings him home). The only one who seems to just want to help him with no strings attached is strange flippant woman named Ress who really wants to kill her own dad (whoever he may be). Honestly Nate gets the most depressing narrative for a Fallout OC of mine and his arc is to find hope again (which starts with his friendship with Ress, which kickstarts her own arc of becoming someone more than she perceives herself to be, e.g. a symbol of hope instead of a bad omen like her father). Putting him up there with Alph Dolen (my Lone Wanderer OC) and Finidy Mona (my Chosen One OC). Anyway, song below:

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"High, high hopes."

"Had to have high, high hopes for a living Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing Didn't have a dime, but I always had a vision Always had high, high hopes ("High, high hopes!") Had to have high, high hopes for a living Didn't know how, but I always had a feeling I was gonna be that one in a million Always had high, high hopes

Mama said, "Fulfill the prophecy Be something greater, go make a legacy" Manifest destiny, back in the days We wanted everything, wanted everything ("High, high hopes!") Mama said, "Burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams" Museum victories every day We wanted everything, wanted everything

Mama said, "Don't give up, it's a little complicated All tied up, no more love and I'd hate to see you waiting"

Had to have high, high hopes for a living Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing Didn't have a dime, but I always had a vision Always had high, high hopes Had to have high, high hopes for a living Didn't know how, but I always had a feeling I was gonna be that one in a million Always had high, high hopes ("High, high hopes!")

Mama said, "It's uphill for oddities Stranger crusaders ain't ever wannabes" The weird and the novelties that don't ever change We wanted everything, wanted everything ("High, high hopes!") Stay up on that rise Stay up on that rise and never come down, oh Stay up on that rise Stay up on that rise and never come down

Mama said, "Don't give up, it's a little complicated All tied up, no more love and I'd hate to see you waiting" They say it's all been done, but they haven't seen the best of me-eh-eh-eh So I got one more run and it's gonna be a sight to see-eh-eh-eh

Had to have high, high hopes for a living Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing Didn't have a dime, but I always had a vision Always had high, high hopes ("High, high hopes!") Had to have high, high hopes for a living Didn't know how, but I always had a feeling I was gonna be that one in a million Always had high, high hopes ("High, high hopes!")

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee & Eric Nally's "Downtown" is a song I typically listen to when working on my Detroit: Become Human WIP called Detroit: Battleground from my The UnTitledverse series (I also listen to Nicki Minaj's "Starships" while working on the WIP but that's a post for another time). And I gotta be honest... I don't know why. Does a song about an interaction between a shopper and a moped salesman got anything to do with androids fighting for their rights with the help of a cat and dilophosaurus as a malevolent virus goes around killing the rich and wealthy while stealing autonomy away from sentient androids got anything to do with each other? Unless you're really looking deep into things... not really. I'm sure if you squint you could find something, like how I imagine Detroit to be this downtown city even though I've never been there and I'm probably wrong. Like yeah... I just think the WIP and song vibe with each other on the level that Madonna's "Like A Prayer" vibes with Deadpool and Wolverine... neither had anything to do with each other but they still work! Anyway, listen below:

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"Downtown, downtown ("Downtown!") Downtown, downtown She has her arms around your waist With a balance that will keep her safe (Downtown)

Have you ever felt the warm embrace (Downtown) Of a leather seat between your legs? (Hey, hey-ey-ey, hey, hey-ey-ey, hey, hey-ey-ey, hey, hey-ey-ey!)

Downtown You don't want no beef, boy Know I run the streets, boy Better follow me towards

Downtown What you see is what you get, girl Don't ever forget, girl Ain't seen nothing yet until you're

Downtown You don't want no beef, boy Know I run the streets, boy Better follow me towards

Downtown What you see is what you get, girl Don't ever forget, girl Ain't seen nothing yet until you're Downtown!"

First WIP is for the FC5 Bloodborne AU, showing a snippet where John and Jacob had rallied their followers to attempt their first assault to take the Convent back and confront Vicar Faith... but just before they encounter a powerful obstacle in the forms of the Church Hunters, and very much before they notice the first sign that somethings different about the Bliss. Read below:

Passing by the rocks, John looked out his side of the window, and saw the glimpses of the Convent; a property that once belonged to the Project before they made the deal with that deceitful snake, Paul Yellowjack.

As Jacob turned the corner, John could see how drastically it changed since last they handed it over.

The congregation hall was bigger, altered into a chapel. The dormitories were present, but seemed to be in disuse; and given the bodies of black-garbed Hunters laying outside the small stone walls, John made an educated guess as to why.

He grimaced at the distant sight of the so-called "Church Hunters" patrolling within the vicinity of the Convent. Adorning large wide-brimmed hats, cloaked in white over their dark hooded garbs, the hulking creatures were far from human; they were twice as tall as ordinary people, their skin drained of all colors except a ghostly pale, their features eternally etched in a ghastly stiff and emotionless face, their glazed blank eyes somehow more soulless than their shorter and more temperamental cousins.

John wondered how this one night managed to have him prefer their twitching, jittery and screaming Angels to the Monastery's stoically calm, sluggish moving and low moaning Church Hunters.

Though John could easily explain that as away as the result of the former being volunteers or those too full of doubt that Bliss was needed to elevate their minds, even if John didn't like it. Meanwhile, the latter were a vehement vileness towards the beauty God their souls' vessels, nothing more than husks that the disgraceful Saint Matilda managed to gain since Faith was appointed the Monastery's vicar.

The reminder of their astray "sister" was enough for a scowl to nearly break through.

"Guess Dansky was right for once," Jacob spoke up, surveying the Convent from afar as he pulled the truck to a stop, thankfully not pushing any further, "They're keeping people out, even those who are supposed to be their own."

That detail both disturbed and confused John; despite their lives often being full of vice, the Hunters risked their lives and sanity ensure the safety of everyone, regardless of affiliation, from the vile beasts that roamed the county, compared to the Church Hunters, who resided around properties owned by the Monastery, like guard dogs.

Such a quality was something that John and his brothers could agree on finding an admirable trait about the Hunters. But to see them so callously murdered by trusted affiliates just for seeking a well-known safe haven to recover made his blood boil. Though it also raised questions about tonight.

Like, why?

Why reveal their true colors on this night of all nights? What was the purpose of disposing their only forces against the beasts? How does the "Hunt of the Long Night" differ from previous nights? Was it a similar case to the "Night of Flames"? But why does Paul continue to broadcast his warnings and reminders to the civilians if he's assumed to be behind this?

John didn't have answers. Neither did his brothers nor any of their followers. But... perhaps their wayward sister did.

The other envoys full of Jacob's Chosen and John's bravest men and women also pulled to a stop, awaiting further action.

John reached to the backseat for the automatic rifle he stored in there, with Jacob checking the ammo of a pistol in the glove box.

Jacob looked to John, watching as his younger brother checked the magazine and loaded it back it upon seeing it was full, flicking safety off. John was surprised when his older brother placed the pistol against his chest, forcing him to hold it.

"Take it," Jacob gruffly ordered, gesturing to John's empty holster. When John tried to refuse it with a push away, Jacob stared at him harder, and looking into their shared blue eyes was something John didn't see much often in his older brother; behind the insistence was worry.

Not that John could blame him... tonight had been rough on his older brother, especially with the failed arrest nearly costing Joseph's life and the compound being uninhabitable due to the Beasts lured over by the helicopter's crash.

"John. Just take it," Jacob insisted roughly, and though John wanted nothing more to show his brother that he was capable on his own, he gave in, taking Jacob's pistol.

Jacob gave a satisfied nod, patting John's shoulder before exiting the driver's seat, going to the trunk to get his rifle.

John looked ahead to the convent, where he saw the blue hue of some Church Hunter's lanterns illuminate, grimly alluring.

He swore he could see the outlines of a green mist swirl along the walls, but when he blinked, it seemed more like fog.

Shaking his head, exhaling a breath to steel his nerves, John exited the truck to help Jacob rally their faithful together.

Another FC5 snippet for my You're Almost Like Family WIP where John is able to have a (somewhat) civil negotiation (after many failed and fatal attempts beforehand) with Silva at a gas station with neither having any weapons on hand to defend themselves against unknown stalkers with murderous intent... Enjoy reading below:

John straightened up as soon as he saw her silhouette approach closer, eventually watching the Deputy enter the gas station.

When she turns to him, his eyes instinctively checked her over. He's relieved the moment he saw no gun and no knife. No weapons means he said and done the right things this time, though he's not foolish enough to believe she trusts him... after all, she doesn't need weapons to end his life once again.

He gives her his biggest, most welcoming smile that he can. The Deputy responds by narrowing her grey eyes at him, clearly suspicious.

Alright, John thinks as he grits his teeth, We'll work on that.

"Ah, Deputy," he greets with wide arms, without his coat this time, showing that he too had honored the agreed conditions with his empty holster, "You don't know how glad I am to see you make it here."

The Deputy didn't immediately respond, instead observing and analyzing him. John's heart quickened in pace; being in close proximity of her didn't ease his nerves. He prayed that he didn't make the wrong move, say something that would mistakenly tip her off to some non-existent threat.

She was a skittish thing; easily on guard by the smallest movements, tense from the slightest change in tone, most likely to strike if she feels threatened. Even if John wanted to poke fun at her previous failed attempts to get here, he knew she didn't know about those cycles, so his phrasing just comes across as odd.

He almost exhales aloud the breath he was holding in when he sees the neutral stoic expression return. Not a scowl, not wide alarmed eyes and most definitely not a confident smirk before he sent him to suffer through another agonizingly long cycle.

She crosses her arms, her gaze focused on him as she curtly replied, "I'm here now. Spill or I leave."

Straightforward as always.

This next part had been something he'd been practicing for a while. Taking in account the previous attempts ultimately leading to failures, John had been extra cautious this cycle; he did everything he could to avoid her wrath, her distrust and a reason to immediately kill him.

He left the Ryes alone - hell, he even spared Rae-Rae and her mutt - he gave his men strict orders to not kill anyone they detained, even if some were traitors like Alex or resistant like Wendell, and left Fall's End just north of the gas station they were in alone after she reclaimed it once again. He refrained from... getting Deputy Hudson's confession, at least just yet. Nadi was sore about the disuse of the Revelator, but if she knew of what he was going through, he's sure she'd understand the necessity.

He allowed the Deputy to escape, twice. Gave her the tools to escape. He hoped this could at least spark an interest or a benefit of the doubt, at least to hear him out.

Her life depended on it. And his sanity too. Lord, he hopes they can work together to put an end to her untimely demises. At least to stop him from restarting back to the night of the arrest.

"Straight to the point then?" John questioned, one of many that he'd rehearsed throughout these botched attempts to talk with her. She gave an affirming nod, though this time without the irritation that broke through the stoic expression, but John didn't waste time to speak, "As you know Deputy, the Reaping has split us into those who believe in my brother's project and those who disagree with his vision."

The Deputy's brow furrowed, but John continued before she made a snide remark towards him and his family, "Yet through the gaps of this conflict, my best men and women have reported to me a string of strange behavior we believe originates from an unaffiliated and rogue party to our factions."

That wasn't exactly a lie; Sinclair and his faithful brothers and sisters had all, along with himself, witnessed Silva's demise to assassinations and sabotage from an unknown assailant... unlike him, they just don't remember the previous cycles.

Silva looked to him at the mention of "unaffiliated" and "rogue party", processing the information with scrutiny. As expected, she asked with a raised brow, "What makes you say that?"

"Well-" John said with a suave tone, attempting to lean on the kitchen counter, but misplaced his hand, unintentionally sliding a plate off the counter.

The plate's impact on the floor shattered it to pieces, resulting in a reverberating crash across the Golden Valley Gas station upon the dishware breaking.

The Deputy looked alarm, her arm reaching for her holster, though found no handle since it was thankfully empty. She relaxed, and stared at John with an incredulous expression for a short moment of silence.

John just covered his face and coughed to hide the embarrassment. Surely no one passing by would be able to hear that, right? It'd be quite inconvenient if the Deputy and himself were discovered together, not because they'd might mistake one or the other for working together, but because the Deputy would throw him under the bus, at the best and most hopeful scenario she'd just arrest him... though knowing her, she'd equally consider killing him to clear up any misunderstandings.

Not that such a thing had happened... yet.

He just hoped the chances of anyone walking or patrolling nearby was extremely low.

"Ahem," he faux coughed, hoping to get back on topic as he let go of leaning on the bench, "As I was saying- you see, your Resistance may not be aware of it yet, but there's been a low number of activity in murders towards members on both our sides; most that result in shells of a unique bullet that I know neither of our people use, capable of breaking through the human body with extreme ease."

Again, that was technically true; he's seen plenty of times when that bullet propels through the air and always creates an entry and an exit wound upon fatally hitting it's intended target- the Deputy.

Although the "murders on both sides" was a little speculative. John just assumed given the first time he witnessed the Deputy's demise, it was likely the assailant had been disguised as a Chosen, given Alexander seemed to have noticed them first. As for the Resistance... well, the assassin must have retrieved their disguise from somewhere during one messy attempt to recapture Fall's End.

Regardless, the Deputy appeared to be very attentive to his words, which was a good sign. It meant she either knew something or was believing him.

He's still standing uninterrupted, which is a testament in of itself.

"So... an unknown third-party is killing both of our members? If that's true... why are you bringing it to my attention? Why not protect your own and leave this boogeyman to come after the Resistance?" the Deputy questions, looking John up and down, trying to catch the slightest tic of deception.

John grins, and he finds a small vindication from the Deputy's huff of regret, especially from all the times she was snide with him, "That's because, my dear, I have reason to believe that you are this "boogeyman's" intended target."

Another WIP snippet for the Classroom of the Elite chapters of The UnTitled Stories collection. Or Ayanokōji recounts everything from Year 1 right up to the end of Year 2, How I Met Your Mother Ted Mosby style, the series:

"You're pitiful."

I had directed my gaze from my observations on our peers towards you; my sneering, obnoxious desk neighbor.

I remember raising a brow at you, with your poised shoulders and chest held up high with such assurance that I wondered if it was possible for you to lose balance and fall flat on your face.

A rather uncouth and petty fantasy, sure, but I stand by the fact it would have been well-deserved considering your attitude back then.

"Pitiful? How?" I had questioned you. I hadn't understood your comment, nor what prompted it.

You hadn't wasted a second when it came to mocking me, "'Oh, I want to eat with somebody', 'I wish someone would invite me to lunch'. Your thoughts are quite obvious. It's utterly pathetic."

I had observed as you unwrapped your grilled cheese sandwich, a delectable food, one I would have felt envious for.

You were always good at reading me. It left me baffled by just how many times you accurately discerned my intentions. I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise that we'd flock to one another, despite how impossible it should have been...

Though as you know, I couldn't leave you to ridicule me without poking a jab in myself, "Aren't you also alone?"

My attempt to insult you back was ultimately nullified from your next immediate response, "That's true, but I for one prefer to be alone."

You easily bit into your grilled cheese sandwich just as you easily deflected my comebacks. Knowing further derisive comments would ultimately end in failure against you, I had accepted defeat with a soft exhale.

I peered towards our other classmates; watched at how most of the other girls flocked to either Hirata or Kushida, and noticed the absence of Sudō and the other boys.

I had hoped helping him out the day before would have sparked an interest from him, but I supposed my demeanor wasn't as approachable as I thought it was. I hoped he hadn't noticed my desperateness to gain a friend, considering how distant the girls are.

With nothing left to do for the lunch period, I had announced, for your ears only, "I'm going to hit up the cafeteria."

Once I had exited our homeroom, I had came to terms with the fact that I would likely spend most of my years here alone for the foreseeable future.

What I hadn't anticipated was one of our peers going out of her way to seek me out.

"Um... you're Ayanokōji-chan, right?"

I had stopped in my tracks to turn back around, to see the owner of that familiar voice.

...Yes, it was Kushida. The same girl with short beige-colored hair and gradient crimson eyes to compliment her well-endowed figure and shorter stature, especially in that uniform. You know, the school-approved shorter skirt one?

...Yes, those were observations I had made, it was the first time I'd actually met her face-to-face. The relevancy of these details shouldn't be the focus here.

Continuing on, I gave her my attention, and as one of the leading girls in our class, regarded her with respect as well.

"Yes, that's correct," I had answered her, and made her brighten further when I responded, "And you're... Kushida?"

She had seemed quite impressed that I had remembered her name at the time, I had been uncertain as to why though, but I could guess now that she was glad her reputation was spreading, especially within our class.

"I'm glad you remembered my name," she had told me with a overly cheerful smile, "I wasn't too sure if you paid attention during introductions, but thanks anyhow."

I had merely hummed in reply. I hadn't gotten used to being paid gratitude towards yet, so it was quite awkward for me at the time to receive it, especially for something so trivial.

Kushida's adorable expression shifted to something slightly nervous, her hands clasped together in front of her as she softly asked, "It wouldn't be much trouble if we talked for a sec?"

Her small and non-threatening demeanor hadn't alarmed me back then, even when it should have, so I gave her an affirmative nod as she led me down the hall a bit, away from our homeroom.

It was there where she revealed her intentions to me, "The reason I stopped you is because, well, I wanted to ask two very small questions."

I had nodded, letting her know to continue. I had a lot less stress that far back, so it left me free to pursue my growing curiosities.

"Well the first was if I could get your phone number?" she had asked, making me blink in momentary surprise before she elaborated, "I wanted to get it yesterday, but I had been preoccupied with everyone else that you managed to slip away before I could ask you, and I got the impression that you maybe wanted to be left alone as well."

It wasn't an illogical point of deduction, nor an incorrect assumption, considering how fast I wanted to leave, especially after how I blew my introduction. It was worse than Inogashira's, and her timidness managed to earn her encouragement whereas my awkwardness and social ineptitude cost me such sympathies.

I'm getting off-track. From there, I had answered with a resounding and hopefully excited, "Yeah, we can exchange phone numbers, I don't mind. What was your second question?"

Kushida's elated expression of victory toned down when she got to what I know she actually wanted to ask, "Well, Ayanokōji-chan, I wanted to know if you were on good terms with Horikita-san?"

I had tilted my head at the mention of you, almost glancing back to our homeroom to ascertain whether you were secretly close by, eavesdropping. But I dashed that ridiculous thought away, since I determined you weren't that kind of person at the time.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far," I had informed her, where her shock broke through her expression, "I wouldn't go that far. We're barely acquaintances, really. Why do you ask?"

I was curious to know how our peers perceived the two of us; I thought it could have been vital knowledge to know, especially when weighing our interactions thus far.

All I received were a confirmation of misconceptions since the beginning of the school day, "Really? You two seemed really close, though. She never lets any of the other girls talk to her, and from what I've seen, you're the only one in our class- in the school, really- that she seems to ever talk to."

She looked away for a few seconds as she stated, "I thought that... maybe you would have the best insight on how to best approach her? She turned me down yesterday, and refused me earlier this morning. It's my goal here to be friends with everyone, especially in our class, but she doesn't seem to want friendship at all. But since she talks to you, I was hoping that maybe you could tell me what kind of personality she had, or if she was the type to share her mind only with close friends?"

I think I would have frowned in that moment, hearing how you flunked your chances to get familiar with the class, though I was a bit preoccupied with Kushida's cute pout. In spite of that though, even if I was still learning on who you were as a person during that time, I knew I couldn't give what I did know away, even if it was to Kushida.

So I had gone for the safest response, "I think that's just the kind of person she is. I can't really help much, I only met Horikita yesterday."

Kushida appeared to be disappointed upon hearing this, her shoulders slumped down. It was a strange moment for me, considering I didn't know if it was appropriate to console her over something that seems so small now.

However, there was a passion that had reignited in Kushida, one I would witness grow throughout our years here, as she grappled onto my hands and declared, "But I still need to be friends with Horikita in spite of all her refusals. No one deserves to live their entire school year alone. It's just not right."

She had looked up at me with pleading eyes, "Could you... maybe help me?"

Her extreme insistence to achieve your friendship should have tipped me off to her actual intent, but I'm sure you can understand why I overlooked this, given her convincing facade.

Admittedly, I too was desperate to gain the friendship of one of my fellow female peers, considering just how poorly my luck was going.

Even if she and I weren't really friends back then, I'd like to think that's where the spark began.

And finally a snippet for my "Kiyotaka Ayanokōji went to ANHS with Ichika Amasawa and Takuya Yagami at beginning of First Year" COTE AU in my What If? WIP. During the Mixed Training Camp exam, after a rendezvous with Karuizawa the day before that involved, ahem a promise~, Kiyotaka is subsequently harassed later the next day during lunch by his fiendish kohais who were hiding in the bushes to witness such a private moment, and they will not stop their relentless teasing. Witness below the average older sibling experience when the younger devils discover the existence of your unofficial and refused to be stated in all but name girlfriend, enjoy:

[Note: Bit rushed here, will edit in final product]

I wondered what was going on with them. They were staring at me with such intensity that it was disrupting my desire to finish breakfast.

Yagami, Amasawa and I were sat at the same table; not an unique sight, given what the classes believe our history to be.

They glanced to one another, then back to me. Yagami observed me with curiosity, hands clasped together resting under his chin, which isn't unusual, as he's done it multiple times over the course of the year.

But his behavior combined with Amasawa's intense staring at me while she rested her cheek against one hand with a big teasing grin on her face and those familiar devlish eyes?

"So, anything you want to share with us, senpai~?" Amasawa was the first to speak, leaning forward as her grin grew manic, and glancing to Yagami, I may have caught a small smirk from him.

Something was off. I wondered... was today the day they'd betray me? Had Yagami finally played his hand against me, made his move to overcome me? Would this be the day I would be expelled, unexpectedly and without anyway to prepare myself? While I was not against improvisation, nor did I appreciate not being informed that I was playing into this trap, I would be sufficiently pleased if I was undermined by a fellow pupil after so long being father's "masterpiece".

However, it turned out to be something so, so much worse.

"Share what?" I questioned cautiously, clueless.

Amasawa and Yagami shared another amused glance. I felt like I was in danger, like when Horikita brings out her compass kind of danger.

"Oh, don't play dumb with us senpai~... there's no point in hiding it," Amasawa pushed further, much to my own growing confusion.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about?" Really, I didn't know what this was in reference too.

"Oh, you know Ayanokōji-san," Yagami spoke up next, trying to goad me into revealing something I was still out of the loop of, "It something that pertains to the relationship of you... and a certain blond classmate of yours... does that ring any bells?"

...Were they referring to Kei? What would she have to do with anything?

"...I don't follow," I told them, considering they already know that Kei was an accomplice of mine, and yet they seem to be acting clueless of that fact.

The two devils made eye contact with each other, with Yagami giving an affirming nod as he and Amasawa did the worse thing possible.

Play into their dramatic antics.

"Oh Kiyo~, tell me, if I ended up in the same situation as Tachibana-senpai, would you save me?" Amasawa, most inaccurately, reiterated Kei's words with such overt exaggeration.

"Kei, I won't let you be expelled. I'd do whatever it takes," Yagami impersonation of me, although slightly less monotone and with subtler emotion, was uncannily close to perfect.

Never in my life did I feel I would be capable of feeling flabbergasted by what I was hearing. Their commotion got a few side-eyes our way, but no one seemed that invested.

These two giggling hyenas were quite troublesome.

"I thought we were being watched," I shook my head, "Where were you hiding?"

"The bushes," Amasawa answered, and looking to Yagami, I received a nod of confirmation.

"So how does my choice of words towards one of my accomplices have to do with my relationship with her?" I questioned, still lost on their reactions.

"Aw senpai~, don't be dense with us now," Amasawa stated, her teasing grin never slipping.

"Of course we've observed how you act towards most of your accomplices and allies," Yagami explained, "Horikita being a prime example. Your investment in her may have been confusing at first, but it was understandable; she's useful in ways the others may not be."

"Same with your "friend" group," Amasawa added, jerking her head over to a direction where I could distantly see Keisei, Airi, Akito and Haruka sitting nearby each other, "Most of them are useful to your personal goals and learning. Not necessary, but useful nonetheless."

"However, with them, you don't find it necessary to protect them, even if they have lower grades like Sakura-san," Yagami pointed out, "Horikita-san's already gained your confidence where you don't necessarily have to protect her, as she can do that herself, but you'll still watch out for her. But with someone like Karuizawa-san, whose grades are poor, usefulness decreasing now that Horikita's leading presence within the class is increasing, not to mention..."

Yagami leaned forward, a faux yet pleasant smirk clearer on his lips now, "You claimed to us that you had no need for her anymore months back, whether it's because her usefulness was at its end or you wanted a low profile notwithstanding... but when Ryūen took her instead of Amasawa and I as you initially believed? You dropped everything, had us drop everything to get her back."

Yagami leaned back, green eyes maintaining an air of assurance, "You've promised to protect her, from others and expulsion. I can guess you'll want to teach her to defend herself too, academically and physically. If I were to really stretch far enough, you're going to get rid of any threats to her well-being too."

"Admit it Ayanokoji-kun... you've gone soft for her," Yagami finally states. It was almost irritable, though I can't deny he had a point.

Learning these observations from these two was odd; being made aware to my behavior outside-perspectives usually involved being made privy to the fact I can't emote, like when Satō pointed out I apparently never smiled on our date, despite the fun things we did.

That was expected though. However, these two shared my history; raised in the same White Room, though with slightly different methods.

For them to take note of behavior unfamiliar and unusual would be something think on.

However, I couldn't tell whether they were being serious, jesting or determining an vulnerability to target, so I wasn't to sure how trustworthy their words were. Besides, I didn't feel anymore different towards Kei, so they had to be wrong. Yes, that had to be it.

"I'll need to return to my group for the next stage of the exam," I excused myself, grabbing my unfinished tray as I made my exit.

Yagami didn't make a comment as I set off, merely enjoying his tea, but Amasawa, true to herself, was set on causing trouble for me, "Be sure to say hi to your GIRLFRIEND for us, senpai~!"

That got the attention of most of the remaining students present for breakfast, and I made haste in my escape to avoid prying eyes connecting back to me.

Such troublesome kohais.

12 notes · View notes