tsuitouu

[tsuitouu]

Duane, August 22nd (Cough Syrup)

One young, conflicted boy returns to the memorial pole. Even though he was no longer a Player, Duane felt he could seek guidance and peace of mind here. It’s almost been a week since the end of the Game…since he asked for more time… 

Duane looks down at the pictures adorning the memorial and bites his lip. “If you could give me some clarity…one more time…I’d really appreciate it,” he murmurs. 

He felt so sure during the Game. Everything about the UG felt so absolutely right to him. The music in his soul, the power he could summon, the feeling of being unlimited by anything or anyone…and he knows he would give anything to fly or turn into a Noise animal on top of that!

….but then the thought of home hit him as he reflected this week. 

Sure, being a Reaper would make him so much more than anyone at home– with all that he could do, he’s in so many leagues ahead of them! All of his theater friends would be so jealous of the cool things he got to pull off! They never in their lives would form the most totally awesome band ever and also summon a giant storm or a phoenix with said band! …though he would never get to tell them. Or see them again. 

Duane shook his head and thinks, he’d be much more of a success than Brendan ever would be! Ciara would be told stories of how Duane was the best older brother, not Brendan…the one who left and abandoned them…

…like Duane was considering now. If he stayed in the UG, he’d be forced to give up his family forever…and would that make him any better than his brother? Knowing his parents, Ciara wouldn’t really grow up with good stories of how much harder Duane tried, how much more he worked– he’d only be painted as the one who ran off to Tokyo and died before he put in any value for the family. 

Duane feels a painful dry lump form in his throat, and as he swallows, salty tears prick at his eyes.

“It’s not fair.”

He starts to sing… and hot tears roll out of his eyes, down his cheeks.

Life’s too short to even care at all oh, I’m losing my mind losing my mind losing control These fishes in the sea they’re staring at me oh, oh A wet world aches for a beat of a drum Oh, oh If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down, come down Life’s too short to even care at all oh, I’m coming up now coming up now out of the blue oh, These zombies in the park they’re looking for my heart Oh , oh A dark world aches for a splash of the sun oh, oh If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now And so I run now to the things they said could restore me Restore life the way it should be I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down Life’s too short to even care at all oh I’m losing my mind losing my mind losing control oh, If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now So I run now to the things they said could restore me Restore life the way it should be I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down One more spoon of cough syrup now, oh One more spoon of cough syrup now, oh

Duane wipes at his eyes and looks up at the sky. In his heart, he knows what he has to do. What he has to choose.  He walks away, stuffing his hands in his pockets, back towards Jean’s apartment. 

[tsuitouu]

-- THE FINAL DAY. --

…

[ Tobio gained 4 HP ]

—

Tobio spends a long, solid while with a hand against the Memorial pole. It always seemed oddly quiet in this area, so it was a great place to get away and just… think. It was the final day, the final hour, and Tobio knew a fight was coming for him.

Even though he knew a fight was coming, it didn’t stop him from being unsure. If anything… it was the battle and whom it would be against that had him truly, truly wavering.  “I don’t know… what I’m thinking anymore. But if my gut feeling is true…” He stares at the floor, his hands clenching into fists – one against the pole, and the other into his shirt.  “I wanted to make it out with everyone. I wanted to make sure everyone got out safely…” His eyes began to water.  “That meant you, too…” Even if he didn’t deserve it, even if none of them did… was it still too bad to want it to come true?  All he knew is that no matter what… he said he’d follow through… until the end.  A few moments later, all that was left of the boy was the residual flutter of bright yellow jacket and the stars underneath, guiding his way home.

[tsuitouu]

-- Justice. [Takuto Day 7] --

…

[ Takuto gained 1 DEF ]

—

Takuto snuck out of Takamagahara’s base to stare up at the pole.

“The time’s arrived… hasn’t it?”

Takuto leaned forward and rested his forehead on the pole.

“I gotta be decisive on what I do next… So why’m I so filled with doubt?”

…

“… I have t’ see this through the end. No matter what, tha’s what I vowed t’ do. I came int’ this Game with that in mind… so… I s'ppose we’ll stick to that, huh?”

Takuto pats the pole.

“Well. Guess it’s time to go, huh?”

And Takuto leaves, uncertain yet determined.

[tsuitouu]

[Masque, Week 16 Day 7]

…

[ Masque gained 2 DEF ]

—

The unmasked child remains confined in the safe haven at Towa Records. The Game Master had found them already, it was only a matter of time before the final showdown. A quick look around the room showed the spectrum of doubt and resolve, and while Masque knew where their goals lay, they secretly hoped they might be wrong. Pingo the Sprog nuzzles into their hands as they ponder.

“Tohru Kamiya. If you are in there, give us a clue. You said you wanted everyone to live, and if that’s your goal, then you’re fighting as much as we are.”

Perhaps he’s too far gone by now. The Noise outside have barely given the Reapers a break. They sigh, finally praying.

“Suzuki-san, if you’re out there, I hope you’re safe too.”

Masque mentally adds. ‘I pray I have the strength to protect Arita. If it’s the right or wrong thing, I don’t care anymore. But she and everyone else deserves their second chance.’

—————————————–

A distant blonde, but angry chef screams “Where’s the lamb SAAAAAAAAUCE?!”

[tsuitouu]

…

[ Masato gained 8 ATK  - he received the STAR. ]

—

Masato solemnly walks up to the memorial. He stares at it. And stares. And continues to stare until he’s been standing there for almost half an hour, not moving an inch, expression blank.

… It’s strange. In the moments he needs it most, he doesn’t feel like praying at all. He’s not sure what he should be praying for anymore. For Tohru? For his grandmother? For himself and the other Players? The more he thinks, the more everything gets clouded in his head, foggy and distorted. He wants to save Tohru. He wants to see his granny again. He doesn’t want Chihiro to be erased. He knows all of that is on him. He knows better than to ask favours of an uncaring god. Nothing ever comes of it. Nothing will change. He’s responsible for his own problems. (Nothing ever comes of it.) … Still, even if nothing will come of it, even if he doesn’t feel like it… maybe it’s worth a try anyway.  So he finally kneels, and he prays. He prays for Tohru, for granny, for Chihiro. He prays for his job back, for drinking sake with his coworkers, for another night of cooking hotpot, for hours spent baking a cake. He prays for another chance to create again, to sketch people, to try and capture their personalities in pencil and paper. He prays, and he prays, and he prays… all for the return of something resembling his regular day to day life, for the people in it, for every small thing that matters to him. He prays that Tohru makes it out of this alive, that they can have something more than this. A future, together. He prays that he’ll get to see his granny off when she dies, prays that she won’t be alone much longer. He prays that nobody dies. He doesn’t dare hope… but he prays.

[tsuitouu]

Day 7

Arita held her arms tight to her she chest was happier than she’d ever felt in her life and there was still so much danger they had to go through… She breathed out deeply humming to herself. “You always said I should be a singer… Maybe I should try…” She smiled. “I mean I have to win now… Right? Between avenging you and Masque… Sweet, beautiful… Perfect Masque. Who loves me. I need to fight for them. I need us to win."

…

[ Arita gained 3 BRV ]

[tsuitouu]

-- DAY 6 END. DAY 7 START. --

The city swarms with dark figures and the sound of battle -- yet the memorial stays ever peaceful.

Hachi, on her part, was terrified. She was not a fighter. She never wants to be a fighter-- Kami and Charles were kind enough to go and defend Shibuya on her stead, but for herself... well...

Hachi stared down at her hands, where a star-shaped ema rested at her fingertips.

Hachi may sit in the eye of the storm... but that doesn’t mean she cannot help those outside of it.

---

There is a raffle for a star in the memorial! Here’s what a star does:

Allows a prayer to roll for three strong ATK stats only.

By buying this item, ATK stats will be rolled thrice.

In order to enter the drawing for the star, submit a prayer that involves your character’s motivations towards winning the game. Why do they want to win? What are they fighting for? And what will they do when they win?

Finally, D7 prayers will be accepted until 2:30 pm EST. The raffle’s winner will also be determined by then.

[tsuitouu]

…

—

Tohru heard that there was a memorial of some sorts in the Scramble Crossing. He never believed in God, but if there was anything that could save him now, this would be it. He staggered towards the pole with clear eyes in the dead of night, sinking to his knees. His sleeves and his pants were shredded to pieces, revealing just how much black was on his body. He didn’t have much time left.

He was too tired to say a thing, though. He just stood there, admiring all the decorations in memorium of past Shibuyans. Someone must keep good care of this.

He left soon after, thinking up stories that were behind all the belongings there, wondering who they belonged to.

[Tohru donates 19350 yen]

[tsuitouu]

Jean runs past the memorial away from a pack of Rhinos, wondering when he'll be able to sit down and have a nice meal next, praying that it'll come sooner rather than later.

…

[ Jean gained 2 ATK ]

[tsuitouu]

[Tobio D6] He doesn't need to pray today. Not when he's in front of the Memorial, walking his way back to Towa Records with Takuto by his side. After all, his prayer is here, beside him, all the way until the end.

…

[ Tobio gained 2 DEF ]

[tsuitouu]

Lily, day ??? (She definitely doesn't go here...)

…

—

Lily’s making a pot of ramen on the stove as she’s talking on the phone to Hazuki. She sets it on speaker phone and puts it on the counter.

“Damn, Sui-chan, you should see this kid, he’s already getting rehearsals with yoshinda!”

Lily laughs and stirs the noodles. “Taiki-kun’s really got talent, huh? He might even surpass you~”

“Don’t joke about that, Sui-chan, I have a reputation to uphold!" 

"I’m making us some ramen for dinner tonight, sound good?”

“Again?” There’s a long sigh on the other line. 

Lily sighs as well. “It’s all we have until we go shopping, Ki-chan, but we’ve got some leftover pork.”

“I guess that’s better than nothing.”

Lily chuckles and goes to grab the pork out of the fridge when something out the window behind her catches her eye. Curious, and against her better judgement, she goes to investigate. 

“Sui-chan, you still there?”

“Yeah,” she says distantly, walking toward the window. “Just checking on something.” It could maybe just be a bird, but Lily has the strangest feeling…

As she gets to the window, she looks out, and her blood goes cold. The streets below are swarmed with black, red and dark grey violent Noise. They’re swarming around RGers– Oh no– oh god-! 

Lily screams.

“Sui-chan?!”

In her terror, she prays.

[tsuitouu]

[Masque, Day 6] "This is probably silly, but I hope Pingo stays safe tomorrow."

…

[tsuitouu]

Kagami, day 6 (Reflections of a Shattered Mirror)

…

[ Kagami gained 3 HP ]

—

Kagami returns to the strange memorial pole. She looks around for either Kami-sama or the other caretakers. When she does not immediately see them, she sighs. Perhaps they are fighting off the Taboo Noise, as she is. Though, the memorial has been strangely untouched by them, Kagami has noticed.

Just as well, Kagami probably needs the breather. 

She thinks on what Takuto told her before…to do everything she can possibly do while she has the chance.

“…I would have liked to see Hiraoka-san one more time.” She muses aloud. “Though I suppose, it is more than what I deserve.”

There’s a real chance they do not defeat the source of the Taboo Noise, and Shibuya is destroyed, though she hopes it does not come to that. However, the more she is here, the less she wants to go back. She has people she….cares about…here. And something…something is telling her she belongs. 

And given Shibuya does not get destroyed, her with it, Rancor will be coming to collect her, and any chance of her own life.

“…I do not have much time left.” She clenches her fists. “I must use every second wisely.” Kagami looks to the memorial and prays. 

“Give me the strength I need to eliminate my enemies. Allow the Players their due second chance.”

.…Let me enjoy this freedom while it lasts.

…I’m sorry, Hiraoka-san. Takuto…Masque-san…soon it will be goodbye.

[tsuitouu]

Day 5

…

[ Arita gained 1 ATK ]

—

Arita snuck out just to visit  the memorial because it’s the one place she feels close to her brother, more likely than you think. “Naoki! I got married. Well, not really. I wish you were here so you could… Be there… I’ve decided to visit Kummiko… When this is all over… She deserves some happiness to I think. Maybe I’ll drag Eiichi away too. We can start over in your memory. Do you what you wanted from the beginning.” Arita sighed looking up at the sky. “To be a family.”

[tsuitouu]

-- Chakram [Takuto Day 6] --

…

[ Takuto gained 2 HP ]

—

Takuto thought he had the answers.

Takuto was not sure anymore.

—

Takuto stood in front of the pole. How funny, that a day – a mistake, a single person – could change your mindset. He stands, and he stares, and he feels like his insides churning.

“Is somethin’ wrong with me?” He asks the air.

He gets no answer.

“I… I’m still fightin’ for the right thing, am I? F'r gettin’ out of here ‘n goin’ back to my life? For makin’ sure tha’ my partner makes it home safe ‘n sound? For… bein’ a good person, t’ everyone?”

He gets no answer.

“This Game brings out change 'n all sortsa people. Even people set in their ways. So… what happened? Why’m I feelin’ 'n thinkin’ this way?”

He gets no answer.

“…” Takuto’s gaze falls to the gathering of items at the base of the pole. He tries to feel something. He doesn’t. He gets no answer, and he has a feeling that he won’t anytime soon.

He would just have to find his own.

“… I told th’ boss a’ one point,” he says, “tha’ I think my psyche’s based off’ve things existin’ in twos. Everything’s got two sides t’ them; black 'n white, Reapers 'n Players, life 'n death, an’ right 'n wrong. There’re dualities that’re definitive an’ extend way beyond our understanding an’ control.”

…

“I wanna get t’ know those things, 'n I’ll do what it takes t’ cut through the stuff in between. I will find my answer, whether you or anyone helps me 'r not. An’ I’ll do the same f'r the moment I face Tobio-tantei.

“We’ll see exactly where he lies with his justice soon enough.”

Takuto turns to leave, but then pauses.

”… Hey. Y’ like this sort’ve stuff, right?“ He says as he fishes out a 100 Yen coin and tosses it at the donation box nearby. "Not tha’ it matters, bu’ consider it repayment for the gross amount’ve debt I have on ya.”

Takuto smirks wryly, and then leaves.

[tsuitouu]

Duane, day 6 (Defying Gravity, pop version)

…

[ Duane gained 2 BRV ]

—

Duane returns to the Memorial, more stable than he was the evening before. He places a hand softly on the pole. “Sorry about that before, almost hitting you.” As if it has feelings, but who’s he to say? He sighs.

He talked to Jean about the costs of being a Reaper, and he doesn’t know if he can do it…give up his parents…his brother...his friends at drama club…

But…that feeling when he and Max had that Fusion attack…that was better than anything he’d ever felt before… The way the music seems to flow through him like it’s living with him…it’s incredible…he feels unlimited. Not to mention the idea he could be a sheep–!

But… Jean looked so upset when Duane brought it up. And, that he didn’t have the same choice Duane has. He wonders if Jean’s sister had this same kind of dilemma choosing. 

Duane looks down at the pole, then back up to the sky. No matter what, he knows he’s not the same person. He’s capable of so much more. And nothing’s going to hold him back anymore.

He starts to sing…

Something has changed within me Something is not the same I’m through with playing by The rules of someone else’s game Too late for second guessing Too late to go back to sleep It’s time to trust my instincts Close my eyes and leap

It’s time to try defying gravity I think I’ll try defying gravity Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity And you won’t bring me down

I’m through accepting limits ‘Cause someone says they’re so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I’ll never know Too long I’ve been afraid of Losing love I guess I’ve lost Well if that’s love, it comes at At much too high a cost

I’d sooner buy defying gravity Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity I think I’ll try defying gravity And you won’t bring me down

Unlimited My future is unlimited And I’ve just had a vision almost like a prophecy I know it’s sounds truly crazy And true, the vision’s hazy But I swear someday I’ll be

Flying so high! (I’m defying gravity) Kiss me goodbye! (I’m defying gravity) So if you care to find me Look to the western sky As someone told me lately Everyone deserves the chance to fly I’m defying gravity And you won’t bring me down! Bring me down! Bring me down! Ahhh

As he finishes belting the last note, he pauses in the lingering silence of the echo. He looks down again at the pictures at the pole. “If you could give me some help, I’d appreciate it.” He bows his head, then walks back to Towa.

[tsuitouu]

[Masque, Prayer Day 6] "Let me grasp the future with my own two hands. I don't hope it's bright anymore, I already know that it'll be if I stay by Arita's side. And Minako, and the others, I know we'll get the guy that's responsible for all this."

…

[ Masque gained 2 HP ]