>>47010010
>Oh! I should ask Mom!
>Wait, I said I wouldn't..
>I should do it anyway!

>>47010010
>"It's fine, Maeda. Kaori knows what she's doing. She's a big girl."

>>47010010
>>"It's fine, Maeda. Kaori knows what she's doing. She's a big girl."

>>47010010
>"Don't look at me, I don't know what to do."
>Oh! I should ask Mom!
>Wait, I said I wouldn't..

>>47010010
>"Why wouldn't mom let us keep him? We do have a garden and everything..."

>I should ask Mom
>Wait, I said I wouldn't.
>"It's fine, Maeda. Kaori knows what she's doing. She's a big girl."

Writing!

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Oh.
What to do? What to do.

Oh! I know! I'll ask Mom!

I take out my phone, and am almost about the tap a very specific tile on it.
Then I remember something important.

I said I wouldn't..

Darn.

My phone slips back into my pocket and I kneel back down to the puppy's level.

"It's fine Maeda." I state, some uncertainty in my voice. "Kaori knows what she's doing, she's a big girl."
"Well, I don't know about that." Kaori bites her lip.

"Besides, why wouldn't Mom let us keep him? We do have a garden, and everything!"

"It's just-" Kaori hesitates. "I don't know if she wouldn't let us keep him."

"So just tell her."
"If I tell her, though." Kaori scratches at the puppy's scruff. "Then she would find out and might try to take it to the pound or something."

"That's-" I try to think of the words to counter that. "That's not true! You don't know that, at least."
"It's enough of a worry for me not to do it." Kaori frowns.

Maeda kneels down behind Kaori. "Listen, Kaori. I know it's not easy to do, but you have to tell someone. What happens when this puppy grows up? Or decides it can live somewhere else?"
"Then- I'll just have to-"

She clenches her fist.
"I don't know, okay? Just let me have this one secret." She snaps at us.

>Okay, fine.
>Kaori, it would be best if you listened to Maeda's advice.
>How about we just ask Mom about this as if a friend found it?
>We could try asking another adult.
>Maeda, she's right, let her alone for now.
>Other?

>>47011219
>Maeda, she's right, let her alone for now.

>>47011219
>>How about we just ask Mom about this as if a friend found it?
>>We could try asking another adult.

>>47011219
>We could try asking another adult.

>>47011219
>We could try asking another adult.

>>47011219
>How about we just ask Mom about this as if a friend found it?
>We could try asking another adult.
like the nice monst- guy!

>>How about we just ask Mom about this as if a friend found it?
>>We could try asking another adult.

Writing!

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"Well."

I try to think of a way that will leave the least amount of hurt feelings.
Which is hard, because I'm very good at hurting feelings.

"-How about we just ask Mom about this as if a friend found it?"

Kaori considers that, her hand lays pressed against her chin.
"I guess we could do that. But- That's still pretty risky."

"Or-" I continue before she can shut me down. "Let's ask another adult, then!"

"Another.. adult?"

"Yeah! someone who is- Well. not likely to tattle on us to Mom!"

She thinks about this question while stroking the scruff of the puppy. The small creature withdraws into the hole; bites itself along the leg and then curls into a ball.

"It has fleas." Maeda comments in the most astute fashion.

"Yeah." Kaori sighs.

"Maybe we can ask an adult who knows about fleas?"

"Mm, Maybe the monste-"
She stops herself.
"..Maybe Alex would know more about it."

"Why him?"
"Because." She gets a pouty frown on her face, "Fortune was always full of fleas."
"I-" I'm taken aback by her sudden change in mood. "I think we need an expert on actual fleas."

"We could ask my father, but there's no guarentee that he won't tell Izumi." Maeda grumbles.

"We'll- give it a try then. Let's start with Alex. Where is he?" Kaori grabs her bag.
"The arcade, with Ken."

--

I never liked this place.
It's just so loud, and bright, and flashy.

And they've strategically placed this venue a mere two blocks away from the school. It's like they knew.

All three of us stand outside the doors. We look up at the monstrous visage of the building.

"M-Maybe we can ask someone else." Kaori states, hesitation in her voice.

>"Do you not like this place?"
>"Okay, if you're uncomfortable, we don't have to go in."
>"Uhh, is something wrong?"
>"I'll go in, you wait here."
>Other?

>>47012405
>"Do you not like this place?"

>>47012405
>>"Do you not like this place?"

>>47012405
>"Do you not like this place?"

>>47012405
>"Okay, if you're uncomfortable, we don't have to go in."

>>47012405
>"Okay, if you're uncomfortable, we don't have to go in."

>Do you not like this place?
Okay, if you're uncomfortable, we don't have to go in

Writing!

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"Do you not like this place, Kaori?" I worriedly put my hand on her shoulder.

"It's-"

She takes a step back. Her tiny leap away from the locale is enough to take away a burden of worry.
"It's very crowded, that's all."

I look at her with worry. This is a side that I'm not sure I've seen before.
"Do you not like crowds, Kaori? You seem okay around school."
"That's different." She snaps back immediately. "School is where all the children laugh, play, and learn. This place-"

She eyes it with an almost kind of contempt.
"Is filled with nothing but anger."

"Anger?"

I gaze inside the establishment. I can see children happily laughing and bashing at the machines while a clearly stressed-out manager tries to keep them under control. In the back, several rows of machines seem to be showing a game where two characters are facing each-other.

"Everyone looks happy to me."
"Trust me, it's there." Kaori nervously thumbs through her hair. "The feeling of dozens of people, some of them on the brink of breaking, all at once feeling an unbearable amount of frustration. Anger, frustration, sorrow, it bubbles like a fountain."

I look back into the arcade, it just looks like an arcade to me.
"S-sorry." Kaori has leaned against Maeda's shoulder. She keeps her standing. "It's just- places like this where it's very crowded and people are very angry. I can hear it, it's as clear as a bell."

"You never told me about this!" I stamp my foot.
"I-" She stands up straight, "You never asked."

How could I ask about something like that?!

"Kaori, If you're not comfortable, we don't have to go in."

Her eyes turn to you.
"But- Alex."
"We can ask him later. There are other adults we can go ask."

She blinks. "Like who?"
"C'mon, let's go find someone. Like-"

>Mom.
>Alex, I'll just get him to come outside.
>Maeda's parents
>Marie?
>Oh! The principal!
>Other?

>>47013341
>Mom.

>>47013341
>>Alex, I'll just get him to come outside.

>>47013341
Crap I completely forgot what adults we know and how we get along with them.

>>47013341
>Maeda's parents

>>47013341
>Alex, I'll just get him to come outside.
hahah, sounds like Kaori got a taste of the salt

>Alex, I'll just get him to come outside.

Writing!

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"Here, I'll just go get Alex and have him come outside. Won't be a problem at all."

"Masami!" Kaori grabs my sleeve.
I turn around to look at a girl who seems genuinely terrified.

"..Be careful, okay?"

"Kaori.." Now it's my turn to pout, "I'll be fine."

I shake her off and enter the arcade. The doors slide open to reveal a wave of cool air.

Around me, some kids about my age are hanging off a machine shaped like a motorbike. The screen hums and whistles with vibrant colors and flashy lights.
A loud beep gets my attention, and my gaze snaps to a strange machine shaped like a sickly person. The meat on his face seems to be rotting off, and the entire cabinet cackles at me as I walk past.

Maybe Kaori was right, this place is kind of strange.

Oh! There's Alex, he's at the back along a huge wall of identical screens.

He pulls away from the machine, and gives Ken'ichi a huge hi-five.

"Hey!" One of the other boys along the cabinets yells, "What the hell was that?! That was bullshi-"
"No johns, man." The green-haired boy flashes him a sly smile. "Fair and square, not my fault you can't do quarter circles."

"I'll turn your nose into a quarter-" The kid looks like he's about to wind up a punch.

Thankfully, an adult catches his fist. The manager drags that delinquent out of the building to thunderous applause.
Ken and Alex think that was the funniest thing in the world. They laugh and mock the infuriated delinquent as they sling swears and slang at one another.

I don't get boys at all. This is supposed to be fun? That delinquent could have really hurt him!

"Alex." I get the green-haired boy's attention.

"Masami?" He turns away from the machine. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for you!"
"I know, Kaori had a question for you."

He looks left, and then he looks right.
"I don't see her."
"That's because she waited outside."

With a sigh, he trudges past the mechanical quarter-thieves and out the doors.

>Cont.

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--

"So that's how it is?"
"Mm." Kaori states.

We've moved away from the arcade now. Kaori wasn't very comfortable even trying to talk near the place.

"Well, if I were you." Alex leans back on his bench. "I would just tell Izumi."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I'd just tell her."

>Problem solved, let's go tell Mom.
>Do you want a second opinion?
>Surely you don't think it's that easy, right Alex?
>Thank you for your opinion.
>Other?

>>47013940
>Problem solved, let's go tell Mom.
>Thank you for your opinion.

>>47013940
>>Thank you for your opinion.
>>Problem solved, let's go tell Mom.

>>47013940
>Problem solved, let's go tell Mom.
>Thank you for your opinion.

>>47013940
>Surely you don't think it's that easy, right Alex?

>Problem solved, let's go tell Mom.
>Thank you for your opinion.

Writing

How did it get so late again!?

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"See?" I nudge Kaori. "Problem solved!"

"Oh, I don't know."

"Listen." Alex taps Kaori on the shoulder, "Mom is like the one person in the world who won't judge you for the things you ask her."
"I'm not worried about being judged-"
"Yes you are." He rubs her hair the wrong way, "You're worried you'll get in trouble if you go home and try to bargain with her to take in a pet."

"No! It's not that at all, it's that I'm worried she'll take the dog away!"
"Please, Kaori." Alex keeps rubbing her hair, she puts up a protective hand to shoo him away. "Would she really do that after all the things she let Masami take in?"

"Hey! Those things are not pets!" I pout, "They're our sisters!"

"Sure, sure." Alex smiles, "In any case, I think you're not giving Izumi enough credit. She's very tolerant."

"I'm just, worried. That's all."
"Then stop." Alex stands up. "Stop being worried about her, you should know that she would give the world for you."

"But- then I'm worried about-"

"Kaori." Now it's my turn to be upset. "You're not going to spend all day worrying about this and then give up at the last minute and ask anyway, are you?"

She turns her head, and blinks.

"..Maybe?"

"Don't!" I frown, "If you're going to spend all day worrying about a decision everyone thinks you should do. I'll go hang out at the arcade."

"Wait!" She grabs my arm, "Don't do that! You can't!"
"I can and I will!"

This seems to seriously shake her resolve.

"..Let's go ask Mom."

--

We're standing outside of our house now. Just Kaori and I.
I take a step toward the door, and feel a tug on my sleeve.

"Masami, I- I can't."

Oh no.

>Do you want me to ask?
>Just go in there and do it.
>How about we bring the puppy over and show her?
>Fine, don't.
>Other?

>>47015270
>Do you want me to ask?

>>47015270
>>Do you want me to ask?

>>47015270
>Just go in there and do it.

>>47015270
>How about we bring the puppy over and show her?

>Do you want me to ask?

Writing last post of the night.

Guys, if we could keep this thread going overnight, I could finish up this epilogue arc completely.

OR

I could have another thread devoted to it, and make cutetime last longer.

Either is okay with me.

Let me know what you would prefer.

Well I can keep it bumped

>>47015738
I suppose either is fine with me. It really just depends on which one would work out better overall, but I'm tired and don't really know.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>47015974
>>47015938
I think it would be best if we just ended tonight. Ill pick back up on Thursday or Saturday provided I'm not dead-tired and we can finish up then.

Writing!

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I put my hands on my hips, turn to her, and give her the deepest frown I can manage.

"Do you want ME to go do it?"

"Well! No, but um-"

She looks around, with caution.

"..Could you."
"Of course I could." I pat her shoulder. "Leave it to me."

We walk toward the house, and I can feel Kaori's hand on my sleeve the whole time. I don't know why this has her so anxious.

It's just a dog, right?

I open the door, and immediately notice Mom having tea with the secretary (She really needs a name of some kind!) and Emillion. It is about noon, after all.

"Hi Mom."
"Hey girls!" She leans slightly over to the left, "Why is Kaori hiding?"
"Nothing! No reason!" Kaori laughs nervously.

"Hey Mom." I try to think of the right way to phrase it, as to not make it seem obvious what we want. "If you knew a kid who found a puppy, would you make them take it to the pound?"

"Where's the puppy?" She cuts straight through my rhetoric like a searing-hot blade! "You don't have it with you, do you?"

"Mom!" Kaori jumps forward, and grabs her hands. "Please?! I found it at the school, and I don't know what to do! Can we keep it?"

Mom sighs, gripping her hair.
"Kaori, Masami. You two do realize that a dog is a lot of work, right? Lots of food to buy, hair to clean up, vets to visit.."
"But Mom! Masami got to keep everything! Why can't I?"

I feel almost insulted by that! Those things I kept were our SISTERS, Kaori!

"Kaori. I don't think you're ready for it, is what I'm saying."
"I AM ready for it!"
"Kaori."

"Stop! I'm done!" Kaori turns away from Mom, "I'm going to my room!"

She storms for the stairs, but takes an extra second to just GLARE at me.
What?! How is this my fault?!

>Thread End

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Okay, thanks for the thread everyone. I'm sorry that it didn't get further. I've had a huge off-week in regards to writing and concentration. Must be the weather or something.

In any case! We still have one more epilogue thread for this arc. remember to let me know if you want more epilogues or if we can break for a month or two. Reminder that just because the epilogues end; doesn't mean I'm going to stop writing Masami. It just means threads will be infrequent.

Let me know what you thought of today's thread, and thank you for participating.

Also That 20 was Mom's perception roll, she's scary!

>>47016433
Thanks for running Heart.

Moms gonna mom.
I hope we can convince Mom.


>comparing our sisters to a pet
RUDE! though

>>47016433
Thanks for running.

>>47016433
Thanks for running.

>>47016433
Thanks for running!

>>47016433
A break after this arc should be fine.

>>47016433
A break would work, I'm not really sure what's left undone.