>>39130559
"...Yeah. Don't worry about it. I was just... tired, that's all." You try to assure her, and remain nonchalant as you do that, and then walk off. The girl follows you.

"We can skip out on tonight's patrol if you-..."

"Shut up about skipping patrols already, Kimiko. I'm not going to, and I'm seriously fine."

Kimiko stays quiet after that. You hope you didn't hurt her feelings, or something, because you didn't mean to.

You sit down for breakfast - a bunch of riceballs and an omelet - and Paul mentions something troublesome.

"There's been a lot of noise last night. It woke me up," He says. "What was it about, Clarissa?"

...

>"I don't know. Maybe you had a weird dream? I didn't hear anything."
>"Maybe a burglar barged in? You should check if anything was stolen."
>"Do you really want to know what the noise was? I mean, I was together with Aiko in my room, so..."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39130594
>"Maybe a burglar barged in? You should check if anything was stolen."

>>39130594
>>"I don't know. Maybe you had a weird dream? I didn't hear anything."

>>39130594

>"I don't know. Maybe you had a weird dream? I didn't hear anything."

>>39130594
Did our brother notice that we took the money (for paying Mayuri) because saying it was a burglary could be a sufficient lie.

But do we know what was noise? I don't recall hearing much last night.

>>39130594
Voting over, writing!

>>39130965
Just to clarify, he's most likely talking about all the screaming that went on last night.

Shit, I missed the vote. Oh well.

>>39130695
"Nope, I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe you had a weird dream? I didn't hear anything." You shrug him off. He squints at you suspiciously.

"I doubt that it was a dream. I'm pretty sure I heard your voice."

"So you were having a dream about me, you weirdo."

"No, I wasn't," He shakes his head and glares at you with disapproval. "Look, it doesn't matter what it was. I'm concerned that it woke me up. If it knocked me out of my sleeping schedule, we could have ended up oversleeping. You still don't have an alarm in your room, do you? Either way, just don't do it again."

"I hate alarms a little more than I hate you. I miss mom waking me up." You drink your tea and glance at Kimiko, who timidly observes the conversation, like a little kid listening to her parents arguing. It's kind of cute.

"You really miss that? Compared to her, I'm the gentlest person in the world when it comes to waking people up. Did you forget the bruises you received during those times? Did you forget how you twisted your shoulder one morning? Do you miss moving your bed back into its place every day?"

Recalling it makes your stomach feel heavy, like you've got indigestion.

"...I keep forgetting that she used to lift my fucking bed and throw me off of it."

"That's probably the brain damage that's making you forget." Paul smirks.

"Shut up. I'm going to school now. Kimi- uh, Aiko, let's get going."

You stand up, take your golden lunchbox and get going. Paul has a pretty satisfied grin on his face, maybe he thinks he 'won' the argument or something stupid and petty like that. What an asshole. You flip him the bird, but he turns around and acts like he didn't notice.

On your way to school, you talk to Kimiko about your dream.

"Well, if it was your Zanpakuto, she would have a name. Maybe you just didn't hear it, or maybe she wasn't willing to share it? And, well... if it's not your Zanpakuto, it could have just been a weird dream, like you think it was."

(1/2)

>>39131973
"Did you say 'she'? What makes you so sure about, uh... the sword's gender?"

"They usually possess on the same gender as their users. I mean, I've never seen it be otherwise."

All in all, Kimiko doesn't really know, either.

...

It's a regular day. Ren is back, though she looks a little out of it. When you ask her if something's up, she says something about seeing weird dreams, and then, in private, dreams involving you. Kimiko frantically gestures at you to not tell her anything, and you don't, for now, because the rest of your friends are there, so you can't really dump any huge revelations on her.

"Ren doesn't need to get involved. It seems that not all the relevant memories were erased - perhaps the device is a bit faulty - but she'll probably forget about it soon enough," Kimiko adds to you in private. "You don't want more people to be worried about you, do you?"

You nod and tell her that you'll think about it. She's probably right, but... you never know. And lying or hiding things from friends is just... not right.

Naoko still didn't come to school. Seems that she's still recovering.

It still feels like you're being watched, and you still can't figure out who's watching. It's kind of annoying, but it's not like you don't have a suspect; it's probably Yuuko.

The day soon ends. You need to decide what to do with the rest of it.

...

>Go home and rest.
>Visit Naoko.
>Go talk to Yuuko. Make sure that there are no stupid misunderstandings.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39131998
>>Visit Naoko.

>>39131998
>Visit Naoko.

>>39131998
>Visit Naoko.

>>39131998
>Go talk to Yuuko. Make sure that there are no stupid misunderstandings.
Yuuko~

>>39131998
>Go home and rest.

>>39131998
>Visit Naoko.

>>39131998
Voting over, writing!

Things are kinda awkward after last thread, huh...

>>39132416
How so? Just at school or what? Everything seems fine..

>>39132449
With Kimiko.

>>39132474
That's nothing new.

>>39132610
Well we've not always had the most comfortable relationship, but it's noticeably more distant and lacking communication after last night.

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>>39132060
>>39132083
Yeah. You should pay Naoko a visit. You want to find out how she's feeling. And she's probably bored to tears, too, what with being stuck with just her grandparents. You haven't exchanged phone numbers, but you have a feeling that she wouldn't call you anyway.

Well, you just need to tell Kimiko what you'll be doing. She'll probably volunteer to go with you, because she's your only way of being alerted to Hollow attacks. Now, where the heck is she? She's probably waiting by the entrance.

You scratch the back of your head. She's usually the one to come after you after school ends. Sure, you're kind of worried about what other people might be thinking when they see you walking together, but...

Well, who cares what they think? It's not really important. It wouldn't ruin your reputation or anything, either. You're just friends. Nothing weird about two girls being friends. It's not like you'd be holding hands or making out in the hallway or something just as-...

Occupied by those stupid thoughts, you end up bumping into someone; books and papers loudly fall on the floor, and while you manage to keep your balance, the girl you've walked into, with long black hair and a white hairband, doesn't.

"Aw, shucks, now I gotta pick this up!" She pouts and whines, crawling around on the ground to gather the dropped paperwork. She scolds you without even looking your way. "You should watch where you're going, you know!"

"Sorry for that." You apologize and help her pick everything up. The other girl lets out a sigh once the pile of documents is back in her arms.

"It's kind of heavy... could you help me carry this?" She sweetly pleads, extending the pile to you. "Please? I mean, this is kind of your fault..."

It really doesn't look heavy at all. And is she trying to guilt trip you into it?

...

>"Uh... alright."
>"Sorry, I'm kind of busy. Someone's waiting for me, too."

>>39132796
>"Sorry, I'm kind of busy. Someone's waiting for me, too."
How the hell is it our fault that she's carrying something heavy? Oh yeah it isn't

>>39132796
>>"Uh... alright."

>>39132796
>"Sorry, I'm kind of busy. Someone's waiting for me, too."

>>39132796
>"Uh... alright."
Grumble grumble

>>39132796
>"Sorry, I'm kind of busy. Someone's waiting for me, too."

>>39132796
>"Uh... alright."
She's kinda cute...

>>39132796
>"Uh... alright."

>>39132828
>>39132846
>>39132881
>>39132908
Really guys? Why? We have absolutely no reason to do this

>>39132881
What girl who we know isn't?

>>39132925
To be nice? To flirt? To see if we find Kimiko on the way? To take the plot/character-hook dangled blatantly in front of us?

>>39132948
Not him. Kimiko is shit.

>>39132948
>To be nice? To flirt? To see if we find Kimiko on the way? To take the plot/character-hook dangled blatantly in front of us?
She's trying to guilt trip us.Thinking with your dick there ain'tcha?.Why? We were on our way to see Naoko not Kimiko.Have you thought that it might not be a plot hook?

>>39132948
Different anon.Kimiko a shit.Best quincy waifu for life

>>39132987
If it's not a hook but random assholery, then what's the harm? We waste 2 minutes at most. I really don't see the downside...

>>39132796
Voting over, writing!

>>39132963
>>39133016
I...don't see what your posts have to do with the post you linked whatsoever.

>>39133048
Look at>>39132948
>To see if we find Kimiko on the way?

>>39133087
Yeah, but that was our original plan. If we don't do it we're...going to find Kimiko. It was just pointing out we could look for her anyway.

>>39133048
>To see if we find Kimiko on the way

Which to be totally honest doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Because we were on our way to tell Kimiko what we were doing anyway.

In hindsight I realize that I mistook his wanting to see Kimiko for Yuuko. I apologize anon. She is.. okay. Yuuko a shit.

>>39133175
Yeah, after Kimiko. As noted in >>39132796.
>Well, you just need to tell Kimiko what you'll be doing. She'll probably volunteer to go with you, because she's your only way of being alerted to Hollow attacks. Now, where the heck is she?
So wed be looking for her either way, just somewhere else.

>>39133148
Excuse you anon, it's not Yuuko's fault you can't recognize a miracle of the universe.

I'm just worried that at this rate we're not going to see Naoko in this thread

>>39133402
That's fair, but I kinda feel we're racing around without pause as it is, like basically skipping the entire schoolday.

>>39133552
Not him.

Why wouldn't we skip the school stuff? It's boring. Hi I had lunch, math is hard! Or something to that extent.

I'd rather get to the part where we're hunting hollows/uncovering plot/speaking to our friends about serious issues (which isn't going to happen during school hours).

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>>39132828
>>39132846
"...Right." You accept the paper pile and follow her. She looks kind of familiar. Well, you must have obviously seen her before, considering you're in the same school all, but you're pretty sure that there's something else... Seriously, it's on the tip of your tongue. "Where are we going?"

"Student council room, obviously!" She chirps out like it's the most obvious thing.

Oh. She's the president, isn't she? The same one Paul complained about a few days back? The one who makes him do all the work? And she's trying to rein you in, too? How annoying.

You soon arrive in the aforementioned room, and you set the documents onto the desk, as the girl tells you to.

"Thank you!" She cheerfully exclaims. "You're Poru's sister, right? Kura- Kro... uh..."

"Clarissa. And yeah, I'm his sister. Do you need something else, pres? I ought to get-..."

She walks closer and continues talking. She's looking up at you; you're about a head taller. Well, this is nothing unusual. You're pretty tall compared to... well, most girls in Japan.

"You can just call me Michiko, it's fine! I swear, if you keep using 'president' or call me by my family name, I'll just get upset because it makes me think of him again. Poru never calls me by my first name, and I keep telling him to!" She complains. You chuckle a bit at how she pronounces Paul's name. Michiko seems to like your amusement, and smiles as well. "Just what's wrong with your brother? He's such a prude! It's like he's a Buddhist monk who's not allowed to do anything fun in life."

You shrug, stealthily and slowly approaching the door. "That's just the way he is."

"Seriously, I can't stand it! I want him to have fun for a change, and I WILL make him have fun, even if I have to force the fun on him!" She makes something like an oath, before starting a new subject entirely. "And are you really siblings? You don't look alike at all. Are you a prude, too?"

(1/2)

>>39133681
"Heck no. We're nothing alike, and we're better off that way. Unfortunately, we really are siblings."

The girl chuckles at that. "Yeah, I guess that's how siblings are, aren't they? I've never had any... but seriously, he's so stubborn! Not even my womanly charms work on him..." She eyes you up and down. "...Though I guess he must have developed some annoyingly large standards. I mean, just look at them!"

She glares at your 'large standards' with an envious pout. You can't help but feel a little proud at that and let out a chuckle.

Why not her?

You glance at the time. Just a few minutes have passed, and, well... it's not like Naoko or Kimiko will be going anywhere.

...

>"...You can practice your womanly charms on me, if you want. You know, so that I can... give you advice on them. Yeah."
>"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39133681
>"And are you really siblings?
So who else think's she just hit a bad subject?

>>39133697
>Why not her?
Bad voice in our head! We just met her! We ain't no slut!
>"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around."

>>39133697
>"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around."

Quiet mental rapist.

>>39133697
"...You can practice your womanly charms on me, if you want. You know, so I can... give you advice on them. Yeah."

>>39133681
>Poru
Japanese girl please

>>39133697
>"...You can practice your womanly charms on me, if you want. You know, so that I can... give you advice on them. Yeah."
Indulge a little then gtfo

>>39133697
>"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around."

>>39133697
>"Thanks for the compliment, but I believe my friend is waiting for me to finish up. There's always a next time, right?"

>>39133697
>>"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around."

>>39133760
That sounds good.

>>39133697
>"Hey, you're quite the looker yourself! But I'm afraid I'll be late at this rate, so see you around!"

>>39133798
Leave her wanting more, good move.

>>39133697
Voting over, writing!

>>39133918
We can hope. At least we'd have to work hard to be more of a bore than Paul and she apparently likes him!

>>39133717
"Well, I gotta go, Michiko. I guess I'll see you around, uh... you can stop looking at them now."

"Are they really real?.."

"...Don't touch them. That's just... weird." She steps away when you ask her to. Breast envy is kind of a strange and scary thing, but, well... "...It's not like yours are that bad, either."

"Really? You think so? Apparently not good enough, though..."

"Look, don't worry about it. T-they're nice... and you don't have to touch them, either." This is getting awkward, but it's like she doesn't realize it. While you're starting to get embarrassed, she's doesn't even bat an eye. Well, she kind of does, when she looks up at you again.

"...Are you alright?" After briefly studying your face, she chuckles. "I knew it! You really are as big of a prude as him!"

"W-what? That's not the same at all! I'm just... look, I gotta go."

Michiko giggles as you take your leave. Even as you slide the door to a close, you can still hear it just faintly.

A single step outside, and you are immediately startled by someone's sudden appearance.

"Jesus christ, Kimiko! Don't sneak up on me like that, what the hell-..."

"You were taking too long, Clarissa. I... I thought something might have happened, so..." She says, crossing her hands behind her back.

"Well, whatever. We're going to Naoko's. You're coming with me, right?"

"...I don't know. I kind of want to go home. And I don't think she likes me, so... I'll pass."

"Naoko doesn't like you? I don't think she's that stuck up on hating Shinigami, especially after she figured out that she was wrong about things. Don't worry about it, it'll be fine."

"I'll still pass, Clarissa. I just don't want to." She looks away.

...

>"Well, alright... but make sure to call me if a Hollow pops up, alright?"
>"I guess I can visit her another time. Let's go home together."
>"You just don't want me to hunt Hollows, is that it? If we got split up, it'd be a good way to keep me in the dark about it."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39134455
>Well, alright. Make sure to call me in the event of hollows

>>39134455
>"Well, alright... but make sure to call me if a Hollow pops up, alright?"
Might as well trust her.

>>39134455
>>>"Well, alright... but make sure to call me if a Hollow pops up, alright?"

>>39134455
"...alright, I guess that's fair. As long as you can get in touch if hollows appear. I probably won't be too long."

>>39134455
>"I guess I can visit her another time. Let's go home together."

>>39134455
>"Well, alright... but make sure to call me if a Hollow pops up, alright?"

>>39134455
>"Well, alright... but make sure to call me if a Hollow pops up, alright?"
President is pretty fun.

>>39134455
Voting over, writing!

>>39134513
>>39134516
"...Alright. Make sure to give me a call if a Hollow pops up, alright? You still have my number?" You ask, at which Kimiko nods.

Maybe you're just paranoid to think that she's hiding something. She wouldn't go that far to sabotage her own work, would she?

...You're just thinking too poorly of her, and you really shouldn't.

You walk together for a little while, quiet and... feeling somewhat distant, and then split off.

...It really feels like something has been left unsaid.

...

You ring the bell, and Naoko is the one to open the door. She's still wearing pajamas, albeit clean and new white ones. She nods when she sees you, and, with some reluctance, invites you inside. Her skin is still pale, and her eyes are reddish and tired. You ask her why her grandparents aren't around.

"I'm feeling better, so I told them they could leave," She says. Her monotone voice sounds just like you remember it; just like always. Even if she doesn't look like it, maybe she really is getting better in her own way? After a pause, she adds. "I'll go to school tomorrow."

"You don't need to push yourself. Tomorrow's the last day, so just skip it. No harm done." You grab her by the shoulders and gently shove her towards the bedroom. "Come on, get back in bed. You still don't look too good, so you should rest some more."

"I was sleeping before you came..."

"Sorry for waking you up, then. I'm not going to hang around for long; I just wanted to check up on you, that's all."

"That's not what I was trying to say..." She protests."If you want to, you can stay." You arrive at her bed, and Naoko makes herself comfortable under the heavy sheets. You pull up a chair and sit down next to her.

"Well, ya need anything, Naoko? Just don't try to make me cook; it'll end with your kitchen on fire." You smile a bit. Naoko shakes her head and looks at you. Her eyes, although weak and unthreatening, still feel like they're studying you.

(1/2)

>>39135594
"...Are you alright? Did something happen?" Is what Naoko finally asks after a while.

...

>"Job's been kind of hard lately. You know, with all the Hollows and other crap?"
>"Well, there's this girl named Yuuko..."
>"Kimiko - you remember her? The Shinigami? - has been acting kind of weird lately..."
>"No, nothing's up at all, don't worry about me. You, uh, want to listen to some music or something?.."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39135625
>>"Job's been kind of hard lately. You know, with all the Hollows and other crap?"
>>"Well, there's this girl named Yuuko..."
>>"Kimiko - you remember her? The Shinigami? - has been acting kind of weird lately..."
time to ramble

>>39135625
>"Ah, had a scare on the job, and other things were already stressing me so it was a bit tough. But I'm doing better now."

>>39135625
>>"Well, there's this girl named Yuuko..."

>>39135625
>"Job's been kind of hard lately. You know, with all the Hollows and other crap?"
>"Well, there's this girl named Yuuko..."

>>39135625
>"Job's been kind of hard lately. You know, with all the Hollows and other crap?"
>"Kimiko - you remember her? The Shinigami? - has been acting kind of weird lately..."

>>39135625
>"Kimiko - you remember her? The Shinigami? - has been acting kind of weird lately..."
Still gotta deal with Aiko stuff!

>>39135625
Voting over, writing!

Hopefully we can get some decent advice, or at least let off some steam.

>>39135665
You stare at her for a short while, not really expecting her to have actually seen through you so well. You sigh in resignation - really can't hide anything from her - and start talking.

"I guess nothing's been going well lately," You smile again, kind of ironically this time, and scratch the back of your head.

You tell her just how hard the job's been on you. How the stakes seem to have been getting higher and more personal with every bloody day, and just how much you suck at it all, and how you're not even getting better. You tell her just how much of a fuckup you are, and just how awful you feel for having people die because of your lack of skill.

You tell her some things about your more personal life, and how Kimiko, the Shinigami you are a substitute for, seems to be growing kind of cold lately, or, well, maybe you just don't understand her that well. You can barely tell what's on her mind, really, or so it feels, even after she spoke up about herself a little more. You say that you're bothered about it, and can't really figure out what to do.

You tell her about Yuuko, the creepy girl who seems to have taken a liking to you or something like that, and who you suspect is probably stalking you; about how she seems to be perfectly content with straight-up cheating on a loved one, and that she'd probably not even mention it if she knew it was a problem. Well, sure, you may not know her that well, but she came off as pretty desperate, so you're not going to put it past her.

It turned out into quite the rant. However, Naoko quietly and attentively listened. She didn't really say a single thing as you went on and on, but, well, you didn't expect her to. Talking isn't really her thing, so you thought that you'd just save her the trouble of needing to fit in the occasional reply of some kind and kept on talking. You know she's listening, so you don't need a confirmation.

(1/2)

>>39137302
Well, you're done. You quite shamelessly vented your problems on someone who already most likely has a lot on their mind. Does it feel better after you've done this? Perhaps marginally so. Even though you've talked about them, they still need to be solved.

As you finish, you kick back in the wooden chair, sighing again, feeling a little tired.

"The Hollows... I could help you with them."

You didn't really expect her to say anything. Just that she let you pile all of your problems on her like that was already enough. You thought you were just making her uncomfortable, and... maybe you still are, but, well...

"I don't know anything about that girl, Kimiko, or what her situation is, but... you should probably try to talk with her."

She mumbles out incredibly simple advice. It may not help all that much, but she sounds quite sincere in her humble attempts.

"As for that other girl... maybe you need to be clearer? She might not be getting it. If she's as desperate as you say, maybe she's trying to grasp at whatever small chance she sees?" After a pause, she adds. "I can talk to her. Make sure she understands."

"...Thanks, Naoko. I'll think about it," You look around, searching for something. "Did you... did you decide about that cross?"

"...I don't know. I want to keep it and help you, but... I'm just not sure..." She mutters.

...

>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."
>"I don't really want you to keep getting involved. I'll manage just fine on my own."
>"You should really make that decision yourself, Naoko."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>39137347
>>"You should really make that decision yourself, Naoko."

>>39137347
>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."

>>39137347
>"You should really make that decision yourself, Naoko. But I'll support whichever you decide on, okay?"

>>39137347
>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."
She seems to have come to a conclusion on her own, and she DID tell us to be clearer. So if that's what she wants, we should encourage her to say it.

>>39137347
>>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."

We are way to far in over our head to turn down help. Its not like she has to kill hollows. She can just weaken them enough for us. Make sure Kimiko knows though. We don't want any reinforcements she calls in to see an active Quincy.

>>39137347
>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."

>>39137347
Deleting old vote>>39137579
>"I'd like you to help me, but only if you're absolutely sure that you're fine with it, and only when you're feeling better."

>>39137347
Voting over, writing!

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>>39137463
>>39137463
At your choice, Naoko nods. You notice something resembling a faint smile, and you can't help but smile yourself.

"Not tonight, though. You still look like crap. I'll decide whether you're ready or not tomorrow." You iron out your expression for a bit, and strictly tell her like a parent would.

"But..." She looks at you pleadingly.

"No buts, I don't want you fainting out there or anything. Take it easy for one more day, and then you can do as you like," You interrupt her, but then break out into chuckle. Did she really take you seriously? Well, you meant what you said, but it's not like you were trying to scold her... or something. You smile at her again. "I'm looking forward to your help, Naoko. It's way too rough on my own."

It's good to have her on your side. She wiped the floor with you when you fought, and she can probably just as easily beat the crap out of any Hollow. Heck, from what you've seen, she didn't even need to get up close. Sure, she may not be at her best right, but neither are you; it's still good to have her help. You really need any help you can get.

Maybe after finally catching on to the fact that you were just teasing her, Naoko firmly nods again. Her determination makes her look just a little bit healthier.

Maybe this week didn't have only bad things in it. After all, you've made a new friend. And this is a friend who can actually help you and share your burden.

For what seems like just the once, things are looking up. It's a very pleasant change, one that's having you smiling like an idiot. But that's fine. Looking at Naoko's adorably genuine expression of steel-like resolution, you doubt that there's anyone in the world who wouldn't be smiling. That resolve is amusingly contagious.

Something nice just happened, and it feels really great.

...

>>39138494
Yay nice things!

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>>39138494
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late!

Next thread will be announced on twitter, but I'm anticipating friday and saturday again!

https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any feedback or questions, shoot them my way!

Thanks for reading!

>>39138554
Thanks for running!

>>39138554
Thanks for running.

>>39138554
Tanks for writing, hopefully nice things continue happening!

>>39138554
Thanks for run!

>>39138554
Thanks for running dude.