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“Is there something you want, Keiichi?”

“Nothing in particular. Wanna hang out for a bit?”

“Sure. Come inside before I fall asleep…”

>>Keiichi: Spend time with Nina.

Nina invites you into her den of a dorm room. The place hasn’t changed much from when you last visited. Spotless technology at the very back, discarded clothes and cardboard boxes on the floor and the walls are covered in bleeding bright cartoon characters. You navigate around the mess and empty cardboard boxes and come to rest on a small beanbag in front of Nina’s television. She snaps her fingers and the doors to a cupboard and a fridge swing open. Out fly a box of chocolate biscuits and a bottle of lemon-lime soda. They land next to you, along with a pair of plastic cups.

“Huh, I didn’t know this brand came in this flavor.”

“It’s from America. Us Japanese just got it a few days ago. It looked interesting, so I bought it.”

“Bet it tastes like all other soda.”

“Can’t be picky in times like these. Donations only go so far…”

If Akasha-Alea were here, she’d demand you to put down the snacks at once. If Avery were awake, she’d demand to transform into her human form and join. None of these are present, allowing you to thankfully stuff yourself without obstacle.

“These are really good.”

“Mmm…thanks.”

“Thought you were always awake around this time of the day.”

“Uncle called me in last night for a mind dive. Peeling away layers around the patient’s superego was a real pain in the ass…It took way too long, and I missed my usual streaming time too.”

“Afraid all your followers quitting on you.”

“No, less streaming time means less views, which means less cash.”

“How very pragmatic of you.”

“Less game time, as well.”

You eat a chocolate biscuit. You eat another. You blink and half the biscuits are down yours and Nina’s throats. She swallows, licking crumbs away from soft pale-pinks lips. Her back slouches into her beanbag. Several metres away from her, a DVD case lifts itself from a box, opens and slides the contents into a player beneath a television.

“Which one’s this?”

“A new one. A game of sin and debt, apparently.”

“Say what?”

“It’s not bad.”

“This isn’t going be like the last one, right?”

“The one where it starts all serious but then the girls start stripping off their clothes half-way through? Oh, I remember that. I remember you getting really mad for some reason…”

“You lied to me! You said it was a cool action series! Instead, it turned to be another one of those stupid wank-bait anime series!”

“There was action. Action in bed.”

“Those are two different things and you know it.”

“I think you enjoyed it.”

“I did not!”

“Oh wow, your face is all red. I should take a photo…”

“Don’t you dare, Takai!”

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The video starts playing. The two of you stop chatting in favour of watching the action on the screen. Fast cars, dudes in trenchcoats, seedy bars and cool one-liners whiz past as the DVD spins its course. A woman reaches out for her lover and is promptly mowed down by the gunfire of a light machine gun You can’t help but notice how incorrectly shotguns are portrayed in the shootout. They have more range than people think, and the way that guy was holding his should’ve dislocated his shoulder. Yes, it may be the cyberpunk future, but that’s no excuse.

Still, the show is fun and you don’t want to sound petty in front of Nina. You’ve already ruined what should’ve been a nice session by complaining about firearms in media. Akasha-Alea already does enough of that when she’s with you.

“I’ve got the whole season on DVD. Want to watch it tonight?”

“I can’t stay out after dark, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right. Meh, I’ll send you the torrent for it later.”

“Do we even have the bandwidth to download it?”

“Okay, then borrow the DVD.”

“I’d rather watch it with you.”

“…really?”

“Yeah. What? You said that watching anime is more fun with friends.”

“…yeah, you’re right.”

“…”

“…”

“Oi, Nina is the screen more interesting than me?”

“Never mind…let’s do something else.”

>>Keiichi: Play video games with Nina.

As expected of a shut-in who spends her time getting anonymous men on the Internet to send gifts to her, Nina has a sizable collection of video games. Some are physical, others use this computer service you can’t wrap your head around. She plays some games while streaming and others when she wants to cool down and relax. Then there’s the last group of games, which are only meant to be played by multiple people.

Your experiences with those games can be categorized into two sections. You either have a decent time like a normal person or you end up swearing like a sailor on crack and threatening to shoot the television screen into a million shards of glass. Since there’s a choice, it tends to lean to the latter.

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“GOD FUCKING DAMNIT!”

For some reason, you never seem to learn, as demonstrated aptly here.

“Keiichi, I’m taking your tarot cards.”

“How the hell did you rack so much cash that fast?”

“I read the instructions like a normal person.”

“There were no instructions!”

“They were on the loading screens.”

“In that tiny fucking font?”

“Yes. Oh, wow. Your space turned into a critical failure. I think there’s only one percent chance of that occurring.”

“Why is this happening to me?”

You don’t know why you agreed to this. Is it because Nina asked and she’s a girl? No, that’s ridiculous. You like to think you are above those sorts of charms. Alright, you know Nina looks cute when she bothers to clean up, but that has nothing to do with these video games!

“I don’t understand, Nina. I don’t understand at all.”

“You died. Again.”

“I can clearly see that on the fucking screen!”

“Take some deep breaths. Wait, is this a new record? Keiichi, if you grip that controller too hard you’re going to break it.”

“If I did that I would at least stop playing this shitty game!”

“Are you a boy who relishes in his anger?”

Things escalate to the point where you are fighting a demon called the ‘Thunderous Warlord” amidst a sea of broken motorcycles and treasure chests. You only have a shitty sword for a weapon, no health restoration flasks and zero development potential. This is in spite of the game being a turn-based party game based in a cyberpunk environment. It's an easter egg or a leftover piece of material from development. Nina says all these things and you have no clue how they all connect or what they really mean.

If Mom was present, she’d be dragging over to the sink to wash your mouth out with soap. Then she’d ask who this slobby girl was and why her son was spending time in her garbage dump of an apartment.

“Keiichi, you can quit if you want.” Nina says carefully, having long since put down her controller. She eyes the way your shoulders shake and your teeth threatening to grind themselves into grit. “It’s just a video game.”

She sounds confident. Prepared, because she’s not doing anything at the moment. Smug, because she’s winning and ready for you to lose. Something burns to cinders in your brain. This is very unlike you, but Nina’s video games tend to do that.

>>Keiichi: Think about what Akasha-Alea would do in this situation.

“Video games? What are those? They sound useless. Don’t waste your time with them.”

That wasn’t of any help at all!

Anyway, what are you going to do now?

>Take from your sister and don’t get unreasonably angry at things.
>Real men persevere. Go for victory!
>Attempt to calm down like Nina.
>Give up, because this is a waste of time.
>Pray to your mentor for guidance.
>Custom option.

>>1390037
>Real men persevere. Go for victory!

Git gud Keiichi

>>1390037
>Real men persevere. Go for victory!
Determination is no substitute for git gud, but at least it's highly masculine.

>>1390037
>>Real men persevere. Go for victory!

>>1390037
>Real men persevere. Go for victory!

>>1390037
>>Attempt to calm down like Nina.

Playing angry doesn't help.

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>>Keiichi: Real men persevere. Go for victory!

“Keiichi, are you really doing this?” Nina asks, putting some distance between you. You don’t bother to look up. The demon on screen is smashing the ground and sending lightning bolts flying everywhere. It requires your full concentration.

“I am going to beat this fucker, Nina. Just you watch.” You don’t feel the sweat clamming up your fingers, nor hear the bombastic orchestral soundtrack playing from the television speakers. All in your mind is a dude in armour, the monster he is facing and the colors in the graphical user interface. Some of Akasha-Alea’s training sessions were less intense than this.

“I’m not responsible if you pop a blood vessel.” Nina says, taking our her phone.

“I am not stressed, Nina.” You snarl back. Shit, you just lost half your health! Why is this encounter so blatantly bullshit?

“Florence Rutherford.” Nina says.

A crack rings out through the room. Nina stares at the fracture in the video game controller. Instead of remarking about it, perhaps with annoyance, she wisely decides to keep her mouth shut.

>Roll 1d30 to win at video games.
>Best out of three.

Rolled 28 (1d30)

>>1390103

Rolled 29 (1d30)

>>1390103

Rolled 15 (1d30)

>>1390103

>>1390111
>>1390129
jesus christ

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>>1390111
>>1390129

>>1390111
>>1390129

Apparently I'm wrong.

>>1390162
Our anger let us tap into our hidden power.

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>>1390111
>>1390129

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The next few minutes vanish into a blurry mess of rolling, sword swinging and attack dodging. The tips of your fingers sting. Your eyes are straining blood red. You can sense your teeth breaking against each other with the force of your frustration. You don’t care about it all. You are determined to show Nina’s who’s boss and win this fight once and for all. Never mind that video games don’t have much application towards your real-world skills, but whatever. Pride is important, too!

And thus, with a final lunge, the player character strikes the demon in the chest, killing it instantly.

The message ‘DEMON DEFEATED’ pops up on the screen. You fling the controller on the ground and roar in triumph.

“Good job.” Nina comments, clapping her tiny hands. Her expression hasn’t changed at all. “Everyone considers that to be an easy boss, by the way.”

You retort, still flushed with relation. “Shut up. Let me feel accomplished for once.”

“Do you want to keep playing?” She asks, picking up the dropped controller.

You look at the screen and let out a bark of laughter. “Hell no.”

Nina shrugs. “Suit yourself.”

She turns off the game system and breaks out the snacks. This time it’s biscuit sticks coated in strawberry and chocolate. A classic, seen in convenience stores all across the country. You refuse and pour out the remaining soda. The sweetness calms you down. You have now gone from enraged to your usual tense, semi-irritated demeanor. What a relief!

“What’ve you been up to lately?” Nina asks.

“Lots of things.”

“As usual.”

“Yep. Got roped into the school production. Now some kid is asking us to check if his friend’s doing drugs.”

“Go on…” Nina says, leaning forward, interested.

You proceed to tell her about the request that Ryo kid asked you to do. Nina listens in silence. When you conclude, she stands up and walks over to a nearby desk. She rummages in the drawer for a moment before withdrawing a small plastic bag. A familiar one.

“That Tamiko girl…” She begins, tossing the bag over to you. “She dropped this.”

“It’s just like the drug bag. This one’s empty, though.”

“It’s still evidence. Keep it. No charge.”

“Thanks, Nina.”

“Happy to help.”

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>>Keiichi: Idly look around Nina’s room.

You spot a pamphlet lying on the floor. A closer inspection reveals the title ‘CAREERS CONSULTATION. MAKE YOUR CHOICE NOW’ in big white letters against a navy-blue background. Your school’s emblem is displayed in the corner. A quick scan of the contents reveals them to be about future careers, universities, part-time jobs and general employment strategies.

“Oh, that.” Nina says, looking in your direction. “Yeah, my uncle gave me that. Told me to think about it, but I already know what I want to do.”

“Sit on your ass and play video games all day?”

“Yup, and get rich doing it. Basically the same stuff I’m doing now.”

“What if you get old? As in, past expiration date old?”

Nina shrugs. “There are people in America who stream games and have kids at the same time. Eh, if I charm runs out, I can always make more videos and put them online.”

“You could do more about the hospital job.”

“Yeah, that’s what my uncle told me. He spent an hour telling me how I could further my career into being a mental consultant. Consultants make a lot of money, but they’re so busy and there’s too many steps you have to do to even get your foot in the door. Medical school is sheer hell…”

“Isn’t your foot already in the door?"

“Sort of. My case is a bit special. A lot of people say it’s due to nepotism. And I only started it to get this place to live in the first place.”

“You could become a consultant if you really wanted.”

“But how would I play all my games? I don’t want to.”

“You already have everything planned out, huh?”

“It’s not like it was particularly complicated.” Nina says. “What about you, Keiichi? What sort of job can you see yourself doing?”

You’ve been thinking a little and the answer is…

>“Something peaceful, I hope.”
>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it.”
>“A desk job.”
>“I wouldn’t mind helping others…”
>“It needs to be independent.”
>“I wouldn’t mind taking orders…”
>“My mentor must be involved.”
>Custom option.

>>1390022
What the fuck? I don't remember this scene at all.

>>1390273
>>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it.”
>“My mentor must be involved.”

>>1390273
>>“Something peaceful, I hope.”

But

>>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it. Someone's gonna rope me into something I just can't walk away from, for one reason or another."

>>1390273
>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it

>>1390273
>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it.”
>“My mentor must be involved.”

>>1390273
>"It's going to be dangerous. I just know it."
I mean, already has assassins after him and fighting spirit monsters.

>>1390273
>>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it.”

>>1390273
>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it."
>“It needs to be independent.”

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>>1390273
>>“It’s going to be dangerous. I just know it.”
When are we going to fug Nina already?

>>1390290
Seconding this.

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You sigh. “It’s going to be dangerous, I just know it.”

“Yeah, I can see that happening.” Nina remarks. She slumps back into her beanbag pillow. The material inside rustles loudly. Her smartphone is grabbed by an invisible hook and hauls itself towards her face. It dangles mid-way in the air. “Whatever it is, it’ll involve you shooting things a lot.”

“That’s a given.” You state. “I just wish the answer wasn’t so obvious.”

“You already do stuff like that all the time.”

“I know. That’s what I don’t like.”

“And yet you seem resigned to it.” Nina taps something on her smartphone. She yawns and reclines further. Empty boxes on the ground lift themselves up and are flung towards an overflowing trash bin. “I can easily imagine you working as a freelance bounty hunter. You’ll go after a bunch of criminals and toxic spirits with your guns, mow them down and bring to the police for solid cash. Then you piss off a big criminal organization like the yakuza and end up being caught in a street. You’ll probably overcome it with your luck and your sister, beat all the bad guys and then go home to your cute little wife with a lost eye and the satisfaction of a job well done.”

You stare at her for several seconds.

“Something wrong?”

“What kind of story was that supposed to be?”

“Oh, just something I thought up in like five seconds. I put you as a freelance worker because, let’s face it, you don’t seem like someone who’s the best with authority.”

“That’s not true. I listen to my mentor.” You defend.

Nina gives you a pointed look, in the sense that she’s narrowing her eyes by a fraction. She still looks half-way dazed. “I bet you argue with her all the time, whoever she is…”

“I…” No, she’s right. Winning, on the other hand, is a whole different story. You put your hand to your forehead and groan. “Ugh, I just know she’s going to be involved in whatever job I get.”

“It’s not uncommon. Still, she can’t dictate your life entirely, can she?”

“She’s got a lot of influence.” You say. “That’s undeniable.”

“You shouldn’t have to listen to her if you don’t want to.”

“Shit, I’m not sure if that can be helped.”

“Just apply for the job you want when she’s busy doing something else and it’ll go smoothly.”

You refrain from correcting Nina that Akasha-Alea monitors you almost constantly, making her unique among spirit mentors. Nina or anyone else outside the Hirayama household doesn’t know of Akasha-Alea’s existence. Your mentor put a stop to the notion the moment she contracted with you.

“Only members of the Hirayama household shall know of my existence.”

Also, you can see your mentor demanding you to leave whatever job she thinks is unsuitable for her mentee, consequences or pay grade be damned.

>>Keiichi: It’s time to leave. Go before Airi starts getting worried.

“You coming tomorrow?”

“Dunno.” Nina replies. “Probably not.”

>“You should come to school more.”
>“About Akihabara…”
>“Today was fun.”
>“It’ll be fun.”
>“Stay safe.”
>Custom option.

>>1390464
>“It’ll be fun.”
>“Stay safe.”

>>1390464
>>“You should come to school more.”
>“Today was fun.”

>>1390464
>It'll be fun.
>Stay safe

>>1390464
>“It’ll be fun.”
>“Stay safe.”

>>1390464
>“It’ll be fun.”
>“Stay safe.

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“Eh, it might be more fun than you think.”

“I doubt that.” Nina replies, shaking her head. “I know all the material anyway.”

“Okay, but you get to hang out with us more. That’s fun, right?”

“Mmm…” Now she’s staring off into space. Again. That’s what Nina does whenever she’s struggling to think of a response. Those wide blue eyes and blankness on her features remind you of a porcelain doll, like the one Airi really wanted to buy when she was a little kid. As opposed to the color of her skin, which only reminds you of a growing Vitamin D deficiency.

“Whatever you do, stay safe, alright?” You say.

“You don’t have to tell me that.” Nina raises her hand and waves. “See you, Keiichi.”

You wave goodbye back and disappear into the night of the city.

>>Airi: Search every nook and cranny around the apartment for 1000 yen.

>>Airi: Text Hideki.



AIRI HIRAYAMA: We’ve scrounged up the 50,000 yen.

HIDEKI NISHIO: Sweet! Give me the money and I’ll send it over to my friend, guaranteed. If I try to steal it or anything you can whack me with your sword as many times as you want.

AIRI HIRAYAMA: Before we do that, may I ask what kind of person your friend is?

HIDEKI NISHIO: There a problem?

AIRI HIRAYAMA: I just don’t want my brother or I being involved with illegal matters. The mercenary attack was bad enough. It’s not that I don’t trust you, Hideki but…

HIDEKI NISHIO: Nah, I see your point. He’s a detective. A real, professional one. A few years older than me, he broke into the business when I was finishing middle school. We lived in the same town back home, so that’s how I got to know him.

HIDEKI NISHIO: I won’t deny that he’s got some shady connections; all detectives have some. But he’s legitimate. Here’s his office address if you’re not convinced.

AIRI HIRAYAMA: No, I believe you. I’m sorry for doubting you.

HIDEKI NISHIO: It’s cool. Don’t lose sleep over it.

AIRI HIRAYAMA: Should I go to his office directly?

HIDEKI NISHIO: Don’t. Use me as a middleman and he’ll take the job more seriously. This sort of thing is piss easy for him, though.

AIRI HIRAYAMA: When can I expect the results by?

HIDEKI NISHIO: Four days max, most likely three days. The guy has other work to do.

Speaking of days, we're probably not finishing all those tasks in time...

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>>Keiichi: Text Michiko.



KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Hey, remember that Tamiko girl who threw a hissy hit in front of us.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: How much do you know about her?

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Wait, why are you interested in this?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: We’ve got business with her.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: And that business is…?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: It’s kinda private.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: I know. I’m still asking.

>Tell her about the drugs.
>Don’t tell her about the drugs.
>Custom option.

>>1390657
>>Tell her about the drugs.

>>1390657
>Tell her about the drugs.

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>>1390657
>Tell her about the drugs.
No need to hide things from her anymore, she herself asked for that.

>>1390657
>She might be in some serious shit. We're looking into it. Can't say much more than that right now.

>>1390657
>>I'll need to tell you in person

>>1390657
>>>I'll need to tell you in person

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: I’m only this because I trust you, Michiko. Promise you won’t tell.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: This sounds serious.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: That’s why I’m asking you. Please don’t say a word to anyone.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: I promise I won’t tell anyone, Keiichi.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: I’m holding you to that. Basically, Tamiko’s best friend thinks she’s doing drugs.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Drugs? Are you serious?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Yeah. He showed us a plastic pouch with this white powder at the bottom. Nina also saw a similar pouch fly out of Tamiko’s pocket. It’s undeniable now.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: What drug is it?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Hell if I know. Tamiko’s best friend—Ryo—said that it’s made her distant and act more angry recently. It can’t be anything good.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: I’ve seen pictures of drug abuse victims online. They look like the pictures seen on the backs of cigarette boxes. They’re horrible.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: I know.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: So why hasn’t this guy called the police?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: He doesn’t want to. The guy thinks if he gets a chance to talk to Tamiko he can persuade her not to act like a moron.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Doubt the police would listen to me even if I called them.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: So that’s what you’re doing? Giving this Ryo guy a chance to talk to his friend?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: That’s the gist of it.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: When and how are you planning to do this?

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Saturday at the least. As for how…corner her and persuade her somehow? I’ll think of something when I get there. I don’t know much about her.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: I do know Tamiko’s sister, but that’s as far as the connection goes.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: You said something about lending an ear to Tamiko. Did you ever get the chance to do that?

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Unfortunately not. The girl kept avoiding me and it soon slipped my mind.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Damn.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Want me to help? She might react better if there are more girls around.

>“No, we can handle this by ourselves.”
>“No, just stick to gathering info. Don’t bother with this.”
>“No, Tamiko might get too intimidated to talk.”
>“Yeah, but only if you can play the good cop.”
>“Yeah, cornering is easier with more people.”
>“Yeah, you make a good point.”
>Custom option.

>>1390771
>"Yeah, but only if you can play the good cop."

>>1390771
>“Yeah, but only if you can play the good cop.”
>"I'm much better at being the annoyed cop."
>“Yeah, you make a good point.”

>>1390771
>>“Yeah, but only if you can play the good cop.”

>>1390771
>“Yeah, you make a good point.”
>“Yeah, but only if you can play the good cop.”

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KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: You have a point. Can you play the good cop?

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Do you even need to ask? The girls I hang out with get into squabbles all the time and I end up helping break it up. Leave it to me, Keiichi!

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Thanks.

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: You’re probably enough bad cop to balance me and Airi out, anyway

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Right….

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Can you help us find stuff about Tamiko in the meantime?

MICHIKO TSUKIWAKI: Sure. I’ll see what I can dig up.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: Appreciate it.

KEIICHI HIRAYAMA: We’re going to look for Tamiko on Saturday. Let’s meet up in front of the station square.

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>>HELP DESPERATELY NEEDED! MY SON IS MISSING!!!

>who the hell are you? not the original user, no doubt
>I’m the account holder’s mother. Have you seen my boy? He hasn’t come home in days!
>WHY WOULD WE KNOW WHERE YOUR SON IS.
>Aren’t you all his friends?
>THERE ARE NO FRIENDS ON THE INTERNET. ONLY COMRADES AND TROLLS.

>do you have nice tits?
>That’s disgusting! Please don’t say stuff like that. I need to find my son.
>CONTACT THE POLICE IF YOU’RE SO DESPERATE.
>JUST BECAUSE WE’RE A NEWS SITE DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE OMNIPRESENT.

>Can’t you do something at least? Have your friends search around Shibuya? Why aren’t you more worried about him???
>if you aren’t a troll, then it’s because your son hasn’t logged in three days. that isn’t all that unusual on the internet
>to think that you would call yourself a mother…
>Rude!!!
>I DON’T KNOW THIS PERSON. HE HAS NOT SHOWN HIS FACE. HE’S ANOTHER USER IN A SEA OF THOUSANDS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR ME TO CARE FOR HIM.
>maybe if you take off your top i’ll care
>gotta confirm that you are actually a girl and not a troll
>to put it simply
>tits or gtfo

>Are you insane? What would your parents think about posting such degeneracy?
>HIS PARENTS ARE BOTH DEAD.
>thanks for asking though
>since you didn’t post your tits, kindly gtfo
>in fact ban your son’s account by posting a picture of your anus and never come back
>DO IT. IT WILL BE HILARIOUS.
>What an awful site this is! I can’t believe my son was going on here regularly!
>When I find my son, I am filing a complaint to the Internet providers and having this entire site shut down!
>Mark my words, you will all face punishment for those comments!!!
>THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS, YOU STUPID, IGNORANT WOMAN.


>>[THREAD CLOSED]

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>7 DAYS HAVE PASSED. 2 REMAIN.

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The days starts off like any other. You run around the city, as per your exercise routine. Airi cooks rice porridge for breakfast and Avery slurps down half the pot before you barely start. She grumbles about how school is by far the most boring invention created by man. Too bad for her. She wanted to live in your household and now she must face the consequences. Akasha-Alea, acerbic as her remarks can be, had the decency to remain silent.

The morning news blares out of a small radio set. A dishwasher hums and spins. Shesmur gurgles as the remnants of his meal trickle down his throat. Avery tries to pet him and is met with a snap of disgust in return. You and your sister brush your teeth, gargle mouthwash and get dressed. Loose threads cling to your blazer. The tie is unfitting, as always. Avery jumps back into revolver form and you place her inside your blazer. Airi notices how time is tight and urges you to head to the front door. You do and then you leave.

The streets of Shibuya are lively as usual. The traffic flows and ebbs and grows stronger with every passing minute. The path to the school gates is one you can recite by memory and you reach it in no time at all. You then notice that a small crowd is gathered there, along with a lack of people inside the school grounds. The clicks of smartphone cameras reach your ears. For once, no-one is giving you and Airi a wide berth. Whispers and muttering mish-mash together into a mess of incomprehensible words and phrases. None of this is normal and you find yourself instantly wary.

“What’s going on?” Airi asks, running up to you.

“No clue.” You reply. “It’s packed as hell, though.”

“Is a celebrity visiting the school today?” Airi asks.

You shake your head. The notion that a celebrity with enough charisma to halt half the school visiting True Heart is an unlikely one. It’s more fitting for the True Hearts’ three rivals. Caelestis produces the vibrant, Lady Sagisawa’s creates the prodigal and Stonewolf grinds out the notorious. And in the distant background is True Hearts, making the reliable like the silent, productive machine that it is.

You notice that most of the crowd is staring—no, gaping stunned in a particular direction: up ahead. You and Airi follow their gazes. At once, you understand. Your reaction matches their own.

You didn’t know what you were expecting to see, but it certainly wasn’t the entire school building covered in graffiti.

You rub your eyes. Nope, no use. The incredible sight is still there. The part of your brain responsible for governing your PERCEPTION begins to take note of the details. Entire walls are covered in swathes of thick, chemical-laden ink. Black outnumbers concrete grey at least three to one. The ink is dripping, too, forming pools of muck on the grass below.

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The courtyard, the roofs and the four display poles out front have not been spared of the damage. They too are covered in filth. You notice other signs of vandalism: broken windows, desecrated trees, upturned bins with rivers of trash spilling out. The gardeners must be crying out for blood.

Some of the graffiti is readable. You wish it wasn’t, because trying to read it is a pain. Every single character is scrawled in a haphazard fashion, resembling random scribbles than anything else. You’ve seen better handwriting from first-graders.


>FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK YOU
>TRUE HEARTS IS A LIE
>DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE RESURRECT AND DIE AGAIN
>ALL OF MY HATE
>CHOKE ON A THOUSAND DICKS AND DIE.
>GET RAPED IN AN ALLEYWAY
>WOMBS OF SLUTS FILLED WITH THE SEMEN OF TRASH
>YOU DESERVE WHATEVER YOU GET
>LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER
>YOU DESERVE NOT HER EMBRACE
>TWO NUKES WEREN’T ENOUGH

The rest of the graffiti are caricatures of human genitalia. Dicks, in particular. There’s a particularly huge one imprinted on the path leading to the school. Also, the front door is framed by an anus lined with drooling sharp teeth.

This is just the front entrance, by the way. Somehow, you feel as if the rest of the school has not escaped unscathed.

“Onii-chan?” Airi speaks up.

“Yeah, Airi?”

“We’re awake now, yes?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“I see.” Airi says. She resumes staring at the graffiti. Her look is one of pure disgust, and yet she cannot tear her eyes away. Such sights only appear once in a lifetime. “I think I’ve seen this graffiti before.”

“Yeah, at that ruined hangout.” You answer. “I’ve heard that other places in Shibuya were vandalized, too.”

“Wasn’t there a bus top that got ruined?”

“Now that I think about it…”

“I think it might be the same person. Whoever itis, they work fast.”

“Same group, more like. There is no way a single person did all of this, not even with magic.”

“The handwriting looks the same. Maybe they used familiars?”

“It’s all so terrible I can barely tell.”

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A loud high-pitched wail assaults your hearing. You hear the crowd swoosh as everyone turns to see the source of the noise. It’s Makoto. To say that he’s panicking is like stating that black holes tend to be a little heavy. Sweat pours down his face like a bursting tap. Veins pop out from beneath his skin. His jaw is extended so wide it’s on the verge of detaching itself. He tries to speak, but all that’s emitted is a low, choking noise.

After several seconds, his eyes roll back into his sockets and he collapses on the ground. White froth pours out of his quivering mouth. Airi shrieks and runs over to his side. You follow, out of morbid curiosity more than anything else.

“Makoto, are you alright?” Your sister cries.

“It’s over. We’re done.” Makoto whispers, his tone the very definition of raw despair, “Stonewolf is never going to let this go...”

“You have to snap out of it!”

“True Hearts is done. I’m such a failure. Some student council president that I am... There goes Tokyo University…”

Everyone is watching him and, by extension, you. What you say here will have dramatic impacts on your reputation at school. Meaning, your already terrible reputation might get even worse! You should choose your words carefully…

>“It’ll be okay…I think.”
>“C'mon, lean on my shoulder.”
>“Don’t worry, our reputation was already low enough.”
>“I think that drawing over there looks like you.”
>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”
>“Man up, you pussy.”
>Custom option.

>>1390967
>>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”
>>“Man up, you pussy.”

>>1390967
>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”
>“Man up, you pussy.”
>"People are assholes, kick their ass or sic the cops on them. If they really want to make something of it fuck em. Or get the education council to put me and Airi on the case AFTER we get a few of our current assignments done."

>>1390967
>>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”

>>1390967
>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”
>“Man up, you pussy.”

>>1390967
>>“It's nothing that can't be fixed.”
>>“Man up, you pussy.”
>"People are assholes, kick their ass or sic the cops on them. If they really want to make something of it fuck em. Or get the education council to put me and Airi on the case AFTER we get a few of our current assignments done."

>>1390967
This>>1390988

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You attempt to placate Makoto, who is now devolved into full on sobbing regardless of whoever is watching, “Dude, it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.” You say, trying to put on a gentle smile. The entire crowd sees it as a treacherous smirk. They all gasp, hushed. “Calm down, man.”

“That’s right!” Airi adds, “It’s just a whole of ink and paint. It can be cleaned up. It might take a while, but it’ll happen!”

Unfortunately, your words have no effect on the student council president. He continues to cry, moaning, “It’s over…we’re over…” again and again. He seems to be unaware of you and Airi’s presences. If gentle words won’t work, maybe force will? You take a deep breath and contort your features into a snarl.

“You’re the student council president, damn it! You represent everyone here. Man up, you pussy.”

Airi looks at you, unsure. You continue your rant.

“Look, I know people are looking. They’re going to make a lot of noise about this, I know. None of this was your fault, though. What’s the use crying about it? Use all that energy to fix the problem, damn it!”

Makoto pauses. Tears are still streaming down his cheeks, but at least he’s stop making noise. He’s listening. Good.

“The guys who did this are real assholes. You’ve got ties to the government right? You could find them. Kick their asses, sic the cops on them or whatever. Fuck, send them to jail if you’re really pissed. Or get the Or get the Ministry of Education to put me and Airi on the case AFTER we get a few of our current assignments done. We’d probably do something about it, if you really told us to."

Damn, you feel weird saying this. Making big speeches isn’t like you. You’re more the type to grunt and snap his way through verbal fights, throwing our sarcastic remarks and caustic insults when necessary. Even so, you can’t just leave Makoto to writhe on the ground. You wouldn’t call him your friend, but you don’t want to see him suffer.

“So chin up and get your ass up!” You bark. “No point in standing around. It’s what I’ve never done.”

Makoto sniffles. His eyes are stained red. His shirt is soaked in fluid and salt. He gingerly retrieves a handkerchief from his pocket and blows on it, hard. Snot and spittle fly out. You retreat a step backwards.

“Thanks, Keiichi…” He mumbles. “I’ll get up now. I’ll call the staff and we’ll talk about this.”

“See?” Airi says, “You’re already thinking of a solution. Come, take my hand and I’ll give you a lift up.”

The crowd is staring. The whispering is starting up again. You pay them no heed, instead running a hand through your hair and muttering under your breath. What a goddamn mess this is. Were any of your friends watching? If Hideki and Nina saw, they’d give you so much shit about this.

Inside your head, Avery rouses from her nap and surveys the damage.

“Hey, does this mean school is cancelled today?” She asks.

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Unfortunately for Avery, school is not cancelled. Not at first, anyway. The teachers make their presence known and tell everyone to gather in their classrooms while the grown-ups sort the situation out. There are grumbles all about, but the school populace obeys. It is then that they discover additional graffiti inside the school.

Shoe lockers are drawn on. One classroom is vandalized from head to toe. The library doors are a mess of black ink, though the books inside are thankfully unharmed. The less said about the gymnasium the better. Your classroom is untouched, for some reason. You sit down and listen to the homeroom teacher warble about exams and study subjects.

You have to credit, he’s doing his best to keep the class engaged. However, it’s hard for kids to concentrate when they can see a penis drawn on the wall opposite the classroom windows.

By the time the second period rolls around, the entirety of the staff has thrown up their hands and given up. Everyone gets a day off. The school is going to remain closed until the mess can be cleaned up. With the existence of cleaning magic and the amount of cash the academy holds, you estimate it won’t take more than half a week.

Makoto approaches you on your way out of the front building and decides to prove you wrong.

“Please help us with the cleaning! We can’t afford the cleaning services for more than a few days, so we need the help of volunteers!” He cries, bowing and clapping his hands together. He’s fully recovered from his earlier shock. You know for a fact that there were people recording him at the gate. You wonder if any of the videos will make it on the Internet tonight.

“Make it a task and I’ll think about it.” You reply.

“Um, I don’t think I have the authority to do that. The school production was already bending the rules.”

“See ya, then!”

“Wait, no! Come back, Keiichi! We don’t have enough manpower! Please!”

>“Give us money.”
>“Make us pass our exams.”
>“Give us lots of food.”
>“Fine, since you cried a lot.”
>“Make the teachers less of a pain to deal with.”
>“No, this is none of our business.”
>Custom option.

Taking a break for 30 mins...

>>1391328
>>“Give us lots of food.”
>“Make the teachers less of a pain to deal with.”

>>1391328
>You're going to have to make it worth our while somehow Makoto. Money, food, a get out of school for a day pass, free no homework for a week stipulation, something. I get you're in a bind, but you know Airi and I are too.

>>1391328
>Can you get us more aid from the government for our jobs

>>1391328
>“Give us lots of food.”

>>1391328
>>“Give us lots of food.”

>>1391328
>Sorry, I would if I had time, but got WAY too much to do already.

Back and writing...

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“Why are you even asking us?” You growl. “Has True Hearts stooped so low that it’s asking students for manual labour?”

“It’s not like I have a choice!” Makoto whines.

“What? Are cleaners that damn hard to find in this city?”

“Ones that are suited to removing mana-infused paint on such a short notice? Yes!”

You can only stare. The policies of this academy are seriously incomprehensible at times. Can’t the school at least wait a little? It’s not like the photos of the graffiti will disappear if they clean it fast enough.

“Firstly, what makes you think we’re suited for this job in the first place?” You ask.

“Well, you guys seem to be hard workers. You both have a reputation of getting impossible things done.”

“And?”

“That’s about it.” He admits, sheepishly chuckling. It’s quickly stopped by the force of your unamused glare.

“Go away, Makoto.” You say, putting emphasis on every word.

“Please!” He begs. “I’ll make it worth your while. I promise!”

“Fine!” You snarl. “Give us a hundred thousand yen, a month’s worth of meal tickets, two get out of class free passes and get all the teachers to stop looking as if we’re about to bomb the school.”

“Um…I can’t do anything about the money or the teachers or the passes, since we don’t have anything like that, but I can get you the meal tickets. How does two months’ worth of free meals sound?”

Airi’s eyes light up at his words. “Tell me more,” She says, running forward.

And that’s how you and your sister end up getting dressed in shoddy work clothes, lugging hoses around the courtyard and hosing down anything that is remotely covered in black ink.

“Y’know, why didn’t you guys just run off once you got the meal tickets? It’s not like they can catch you or anythin’.”

“Avery, shut it. You’re throwing off my aim.”

“I’m just saying! Christ, this is even more boring than your classes! I didn't hook up with you to watch ya spray water for several hours. Why are you even bothering to put up with this shit?”

>Boredom.
>Integrity.
>Spite for those who slander you.
>Airi.
>The satisfaction of a job well done.
>Custom option.

>>1391707
>>Spite for those who slander you.
>>Airi.

>>1391707
>Airi.
>Integrity.
>She gave Makoto our word, means we are doing our damndest to get it done. Even if I hate it.

>>1391726
I second this

>>1391707
>Spite for those who slander you.
>Airi.

>>1391707
>Integrity.

>>1391707
Thirding>>1391726

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“Airi.”

“What about her?”

“She gave her word to Makoto, so it means we’re doing our damndest to get it done. Even if I hate every minute of it.”

“Huh, not a bad response. Sounds reasonable enough.”

“I drag Airi into all kinds of shit and she always follows. I’ve done that since I was a little kid. So if she wants to drag her into her shit, I won't complain.” You briefly look at your sister. She’s wiping down a piece of machinery with an old cloth. Her red scarf is wrapped tightly around her neck, evading the dirt and grime covering her work outfit. She’s whistling a nursery rhyme, keeping a positive smile on her face. Not once have you seen that smile drop since you two started.

You look at her some more, grin and return to your work.

“Besides, there are too many people out there who say we’re useless or lazy. Proving them wrong is part of the fun.”

Avery laughs, raw and raucous. “True that. You’re not bad, Keiichi! Not bad at all!”

After hosing down the wall opposite your classroom, you are ordered to move onto other places around the academy. You make sure to give the supervisor a nasty look before moving on. He’s not joining despite being an adult. Screw him.

You wipe down the door in front of the library, work with other students to clean the lockers (none of which look you in the eye for more than a few seconds) and blast the pavement in the front courtyard with the assistance of a frog-shaped water spirit. Farewell, gigantic crudely drawn penis. You only knew it for a short time, but it will always be a part of your memory, reminding you of how crazy life at True Hearts can be at times.

The final task is to clean the gymnasium. It’s the same story as the rest of the vandalized classrooms. Crude drawings on the walls, equipment scattered everywhere, debris littered across the floorboards and filled with the stench of chemicals. You and some other kids get to work with cloths and wipers on the end of plastic handles. A solvent mixed in with the blessings from the spirits of health and cleanliness is provided.

Everyone scrunches up their noses from the smell. Except you. You have a gas mask. You’d like to say you came prepared for this situation, but it really was dumb luck.

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Part of you expects something to go wrong. It does, just not in the fashion you expected.

Halfway through the cleaning, all the lights shut off. The entire room is submerged in darkness. The reaction is instant.

“What the—”

“The lights! What happened?”

“A power failure?”

“Someone open the door!”

Thanks to a few small windows high above and your rather decent PERCEPTION, you manage to discern a boy your age stumbling over to the exit, tripping over plastic handles and debris in his way. He gives the doors a yank. They don’t budge. Frowning, he tries again. Same result. He repeats for a third time, struggling against the hinges. They are as immovable as the mountains themselves.

“The door won’t open!”

“What?”

“Impossible!”

“Kick it down! Blow it up!”

“Nothing is working!”

“Hey guys, I think I heard something moving…”

“You what?” You hear yourself say.

“Yeah, we’re all moving. Tell us something else!” Another voice cries.

“No, it isn’t natural!”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s not human!”

In that instant, your magic circuits hum and flare to life. Your instinct scream with them. Whatever cleaning equipment—no time to think which ones—you were holding clatters to the ground. Your phone has replaced them, the torch application is up and it’s facing the voice’s direction. Through the gloom, you spot something with a huge jaw burst out of the darkness, moments from clamping down on a cowering student’s torso with a set of razon-sharp, grimy fangs.

>Roll 1d30 to save.
>Best out of three.

Rolled 22 (1d30)

>>1392068

Rolled 18 (1d30)

>>1392068

Rolled 6 (1d30)

>>1392068

Rolled 29 (1d30)

>>1392068
No whammy

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>>1392083
You slow fuck

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>>1392110
I-I'm so sorry...

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You draw Avery, aim and fire. A plastic bullet blasts towards the something and blasts its head clean open. The student, a girl dressed in the same work clothes as you, shrieks as rancid flesh and thick blood rains down and drenches her upper half. You then see that said flesh and blood isn’t the color of red, nor is it particularly fleshy in the first place. Instead, it’s black and oily, like…

“Ink?”

The girl stares at you, shivering. You stare back. A piercing screams draws both your attention, from all the way across the other end of the gymnasium. You whip your head around. Another student is being pinned down, torso crushed by a powerful claws, face mere inches from a slobbering mouth. You fire Avery again, hitting the unknown creature twice.

Like the first, it bursts. Ink rains down on the student. He clutches his soaked eyes and howls.

“Onii-chan, look out!”

Something rushes up from behind, claws outstretched. Airi dashes forward, driving Shesmur into the side of its torso. It emits a throaty gurgle, before collapsing and splattering the floor with blackness.

“Airi, what’s—”

“It’s a trap! We’ve been ambushed!” She yells.

You senses detect the malevolent presence of dozens of unknown foes. You understand that your sister is right.

You realize that you are now surrounded said foes. The lights are off, the door is barricaded and everyone except you and Airi are panicked out of their wits.

Could this situation get any worse?

“They’re coming out of the fucking walls! Get ready, Keiichi!”

To be continued on Monday the 24th. 10:30 pm UTC as usual. See you all there.

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>>1392224
>>1392233
Game over, man! Game over!

cheers, boss

>>1392224
Aww shit

>>1392233
Cheers mate! See ya then!

>>1392224
>>1392233
Look like the mercs wanted a sure bet to take us out.

>>1392237
How are you going to avatarpost all the time?

>>1392257
Pretty sure this is separate from the mercs. My original thought when it first came up was Tamiko. Either herself or someone she's involved with. Still sticking to that, since it doesn't seem too out there.

>>1392282
I don't, though? I only post that at the end of the threads.

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Rolled 9, 6, 19 = 34 (3d20)

>>1392233
Rollin for chance of quicker time (DC: 35)
>knows this does nothing

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>>Acknowledge tidbit of trivia.

Did you know that out of the Big Four Academies of Tokyo, True Hearts Academy possesses the lowest arena participation rate? A little under a third of the student populace partakes in arena battles. Out of that third, only a fifth manage to truly excel. It is a statistic oft mocked by certain power-hungry individuals in Stonewolf High, whose participation rate is double True Hearts’ and the highest among the Big Four.

That’s okay through, because True Hearts does not and never will aspire to be Stonewolf. It was conceived as a private academy that accepts all adolescent magi, no matter what their background or how big or small their MAGIC POTENTIAL is. It’s why your parents chose to send you and Airi there. They wanted their children to learn in an environment of tolerance, free from the anomalies residing in the other three academies. The fact you and Airi became anomalies of your own through the many, many incidents over the past year is beside the point.

The normality of True Hearts, in comparison to its rivals, extends to its students. Sometimes you have to stop and remind yourself that a great deal of your peers are unlike you and the people you hang around with. They don’t blow things up with blood bombs or study under one of the most unscrupulous spirits in the entirety of existence. They refrain from skipping class and getting into fights with other schools. They rarely trip up and fall onto the bosom of a certain blonde, nor do they end up pressing upon the soft body of a certain silver-haired shut-in.

They are normal. Standard. Run of the mill, faces in the crowd. They are content to simply dabble in their magic art and not stretch it to the extreme limits needed for combat. They may have come to True Hearts for the education alone. They do not wish to associate with anomalies like you, Airi, Nina or Hideki. They are perfectly happy with what they have.

And ultimately, they are weak compared to your standards.

You understand there is nothing wrong with this. Each to their own, as the saying goes. Not everyone is suited for an adventurous life like yours (albeit a somewhat reluctant one) and you wouldn’t impose it on them. There is something enviable about being free from the burdens of Akasha-Alea's tutelage.

Bearing that in mind, this philosophy is of no help upon being barricaded inside a dark room and surrounded from all angles by monstrous beings. Unfortunately, this happens to be the situation your fellow cleaners find themselves in.

You got a sense for them the moment you met them. They are not fighters. Their STRENGTH is feeble, their ENDURANCE is fragile and their AGILITY is sluggish. They are nothing more than innocent bystanders and they are reacting to the chaos by screaming, running around and trampling over each other.

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“Help me!”

“Open the door! Hurry up, damn it!”

“I don’t deserve this!”

“Mother!”

“Ow, my knee! It hurts! Help me!”

To study beneath a Waffegeist means accepting a life of combat. Your hyperspace are stocked with firepower. You are not a sociopath who revels in the suffering of others. Thus, it is up to you to do something about all of these monsters. You do so by shooting at them, prioritizing the ones approaching you and your fellow students.

The darkness is not making it easy.

>>Keiichi: Mount Avery with a light already!

You don’t have one because you didn’t think you’d be in this situation! What ineptitude you possess! At least your PERCEPTION helps you see through the darkness, albeit with a significant reduction to the range of your vision.

>>Keiichi: Call the police for help!

You would, but there’s too many of these monsters drawing your attention. They leap at you from all directions, radiating bloodlust from their hollow-white eyes. Some are like overgrown dogs. Drool slivers from their outstretched, oversized fangs. Their talons clatter against the hard floor. You spy others that are two legged monstrosities, resembling minotaurs with their ram-like horns and bulging muscles. They lumbering towards you with fists the size of sledgehammer heads. They pound the walls and cause the surroundings to quake. They smash through a student’s ribcage, cracking it instantly.

You squeeze Avery again and again, rattling off bullets that sink into the monsters’ heads and necks and send them collapsing into piles of gunk. The ammunition runs out and the monsters leap forward, eager. You smash one of them with Avery’s butt and grab your shotgun.

“Ow! Careful, damn it!”

Through the darkness, Airi shifts into a stance. Two handed, feet parallel each other, shoulders relaxed. She swings her blade sideways in a wide arc, slicing through a trio of monsters like heat through butter. Ink splashes against her hands and legs, but it barely loosens her grip. She raises her blade above her head and brings it crashing down on a two-legged figure, cleaving it in two. Then, explosions. Lots of them, reeking of blood and smoke.

“I smell blood! What’s going on?”

“Who’s firing those guns?”

“I can’t walk! Somebody help me!”

“Why is this happening to me?”

“Get us out of here!”

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You find that the monsters go down easily, exploding into globs of ink with a few well-placed hitts. But for every one destroyed another takes its place. Not good. Ammunition isn’t infinite, not even with Akasha-Alea’s Infinity, and neither is your energy. You contemplate this and nearly get clobbered around the head by the fist of a two-legged freak.

Seconds stretch into a haze a haze of gunfire, monstrous snarls and bloody explosions. How exactly long? You aren’t aware. Too much to do. Airi dashes and rolls around her opponent, slicing and detonating at any opportunity. You run around the place, alternating between shooting and protecting the panicking students. Some have the sense to grab their comrades and regroup near the door. Having their backs against the wall doesn’t help much, as it provides a target for the monsters to attack. You and Airi do not let them succeed.

You blast through a four-legged monster with your shotgun and prepare for its backup. To your surprise, it doesn’t arrive. No more monsters are approaching you, none that you can see anyway. You stand their panting and clutching your shotgun in sweat-covered hands. You fumble for the ammunition and reload as fast as you can.

“A lapse.” Avery speaks. “They’ve stopped attacking? Shit, no, there’s more on their way!”

“You can sense them?”

“Yeah! My old master couldn’t hear shit when I tried to tell him, but you can! You better listen or we’re gonna be buried six feet under!”

“Tell me what’s happening already!”

“Those monsters are coming out of the graffiti! I can feel it! I can feel them gathering in the distance. They’re preparing for a huge-ass push! Some are even coming from the air!”

And to think you wondered if things could get anything worse.

>>Keiichi: Inspect the door.

It’s sealed with magic. You’re not sure what element or magic art has been used. It isn’t the strongest. Airi’s Ultimate could blow it up. You could spray it with bullets from Akasha-Alea’s Infinity and force it open that way, too…

>>Keiichi: Inspect other students.

They are sobbing and whimpering. They won’t be of much help in combat. They might be able to do other tasks, though…

>>Keiichi: Inspect self.

You've taken some light damage. Your mana reserves are starting to strain. Airi is basically the same. Her skin is starting to look a little pale, however. All the ink on the ground is making it slippery as well...

>>Keiichi and Airi: Act.

>Break down the door.
>Destroy all the enemies.
>Destroy the walls.
>Destroy all graffiti.
>Call for help and buy time.
>Light up the room.
>Custom option.

>>1398900
>>Destroy all graffiti.
>Light up the room.

>>1398900
>Destroy all graffiti.
>Light up the room.

>>1398900
>Break down the door.
Get the students out of here

Writing now...

>>1398900
>>Destroy all graffiti.
>Light up the room.

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You recall what Hideki told you about seals. They are created by drawing intricate patterns with mana-infused ink on paper. The mana provides the fuel whereas the style of the patterns—a significance not unlike the faith of spirits—provides the seal’s function. If any of the two are removed, the seal will cease to function. Hideki languished about how careful he needed to be while drawing, as a tiny fault could break a seal into pieces.

You bet the graffiti is the same. If you broke the profane words and patterns scribbled on the walls, then the ink monsters should cease spawning. You quickly remember the placement of the graffiti. You and the other cleaners started off by wiping off the graffiti on the walls with the door. That leaves the two walls to your sides, the wall opposite you and the ceiling.

You then remember how some monsters would lunge out of the way to catch some shots, despite them being inaccurate. Could they be protecting the graffiti?

“Keiichi, hurry up! Find a solution, damn it!”

Airi could blow up the graffiti with her blood explosions. You could shoot at the walls and disrupt the graffiti that way. Either way, someone has to stay with the rest of the students to protect them. That person can destroy the graffiti near the position, while the other will advance forward and destroy the graffiti there. The question is, who should stay behind?

>>Keiichi and/or Airi: Light up the room.

This’ll draw attention from the monsters, but it’ll also make it easier to aim. It’s a fair tradeoff. Thing is, neither of you have torches or know light magic. This is due to the abnormal development of your magic arts. You think some of the other students might know. Light magic is very common.

You turn to the huddle of panicked students.

“Hey, do any of you guys know light magic? We could really need some right now!” You say.

Most aren’t listening.

“Our merciful King who art in the realm of the spirits, hallowed be thy name…” A girl, clenching her hands together and down on her knees, whispers.

“We’re going to die we’re going to die we’re going to fucking die…” Another boy moans, curled up against the wall.

“What did I ever do to deserve this?” A third girl bemoans. She shrieks as a four-legged monster approaches. You smash it over the head with your shotgun.

“Do any of you guys know light magic?” You repeat. “Airi and I need it to kill those monsters!”

“You want to attract them towards us?” The third girl shouts. “No way! That’s suicide!”

[Who will advance forward?]
>Keiichi Hirayama
>Airi Hirayama
>Both Hirayama siblings

[How will you calm the panicking students?]
>“They can already sense us in the darkness.”
>“You want to get out of here in one piece?”
>“It'll be fine. In a few hours, this'll all be nothing more than a bad dream.”
>“We’re the Hirayama siblings. We'll protect you.”
>“Suit yourself.”
>Custom option.

>>1399057
>>Airi Hirayama
>“You want to get out of here in one piece?”

>>1399057
>>Airi Hirayama
>“They can already sense us in the darkness.”
>“You want to get out of here in one piece?”

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“You want to get out of here in one piece?” You ask.

“As if that’s going to happen!”

She’s surrounded by monsters and a solution is dangling in front of her, yet she’s still acting all irritable and haughty? It’s understandable since her brain likely doesn’t know how to react to this first real time of danger, but it’s starting to get annoying! You take a deep breath and try not to yell.

“Look, they can already sense us in the darkness.” You say. “They’re going to come for us anyway. You might as well make our job easier. The more light we have, the easier it’s going to be to take these monsters down.”

“It’ll be alright.” Airi says, rejoining you. “We’ll protect you all.”

This seems to convince the girl, along with a few others near her side. “I’ll see what I can do.” She mumbles and flexes her fingers. Sparks bounce off the tips. They congeal into a small orb that shines with a pale yellow light. The orb hovers into the air. More soon follow.

>>Keiichi: Tell Airi your plans.

“I see. That’s a good idea, onii-chan.” Airi says. “I’ll go forward, then. I’m more suited than close-range combat than you are.”

You nod. “Stay safe.”

“I will!”

The air shifts. Your mana circuits flare even brither. You hear dozens of bloodthirsty growls and snarls from the edge of the shadows. The students behind you whimper and cower. A pressure is weighing down everything in the environment, making you aware of the tiredness in your bones, the cold ink coating your work clothes and, despite it all, the fire of anticipation tensing up the insides of your body.

“They’re coming, Keiichi! Get ready!” Avery yells.

Blood leaks out of Airi’s hands, forming knife and tags. You hoist up your rifle and aim towards the darkness. A loud animalistic screech rings through the area and the ink monsters swarm forward.

>Roll 2d30 to combat the monsters.
>Best out of three.

Rolled 13, 13 = 26 (2d30)

>>1399173

Rolled 15, 22 = 37 (2d30)

>>1399173

Rolled 4, 7 = 11 (2d30)

>>1399173

Writing now...

I cannot lie to myself any longer. Writing this quest is no longer fun for me. This is mostly due to some real-life factors preventing me from getting enjoyment out of questing. I've ignored them in the past but the mere act of ignoring them is making me enjoy writing less. I thought I could push past them, but in the end I was lying to myself. In doing that, I lied to my audience about my questing state. It was disrespecful to you all and I must apologize.

I realize that I'm basically flaking out again. It's exactly what it is and I accept full responsibility for what happens to my reputation next. To everyone who's read and gave me advice up so far, I'm very sorry. You've all been great and I've been very grateful for all the posts and (You)s.

I hope we'll meet again one day.

>>1399439
Damn, are you for real? god dammit thorn

>>1399439
K then. At the very least, would you be able to tell us what you had planned for the quest, like at the end of P2129?

>>1399439
Well, they might not quite hit the destination, but with your quests I always enjoy the journey.

>>1399451
I deserve any insult you guys give me. All I can give is my apologies.

>>1399468
Maybe not this time. These are some ideas I'd like to revisit one day. Writing them is not feasible at the moment.

If I ever write in the future, I might switch over to anonkun.

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>>1399439
>>1399472
Alright, before you go dumping your notes everywhere and ending everything, let me tell you to not do that.

I said I think in either the last thread or one before that to take a break. Doesn't matter how long, just fucking take one because it's obvious you're burnt out.

So instead of reiterating the advice I've already given, I'm just gonna tell you to get whatever shit you need to get together, don't focus on anything writing related, and take a goddamn break.

Then, when everything is sorted out and you've chillaxed enough, continue. Don't start another quest, just pick up where you've left off. QM's pause quests all the time; the amount that come back to them is fairly small, but you can definitely accomplish that.

Think of this as a sort-of mandatory hiatus. You *will* take a break to get shit together and you *will* like it.

>>1399472
>>1399476
but seriously tho i hope everything works out

>>1399476
I really, really would like to do this, but I think by the time I'm able to start running against everyone will have forgotten about this quest.

Thanks for all the well-wishes everyone. I'm sorry I wasn't able to give a satisfying ending, as usual. May we meet again in the future.

>>1399439
>>1399472
Stop. Stop right now. Now take a breath. Breathe deeply. Then do it again. Now top being a defeatist pussy. You're burnt out. Either life, or writing or some other cause ahs you too stressed to do this right now.

DO NOT just end this quest because "I can't do it!" like a crybaby. You're better than that.

Questing does not need to be regular, not does it need to be constant. Anons appreciate it, but we get that life, stress and other things happen. Several Qms have taken breaks of varying lengths to handle their life or keep themselves sane. Said Qms include, Guide, Kaz, Moloch, Ouro, Gobble, Queen of Hearts, Zap and others.

This is a running thing with you. Instead of saying "Hey guys I'm burnt out can't do this atm I'll post on twatter when I feel like I can run again," you quit prematurely and leave us and yourself both blueballed and feeling like shit. It's happened in this quest twice.

Here's what you do. You get your shit in order, get rid of that stress by playing vidya or some odd, and relax. Then when you feel up to it you resume the quest. Also get yourself to a doctor, not just for your literal ass pain, but a head doctor. You seem to be suffering from depression.

>>1399514
Guide stopped running in November of last year, he just now came back. That's a six month difference and people still play and remember his quest(s). Stop be a defeatist Thorn.

>>1399514
Bruh, we still remember P2129 and some even remember Harem Bro.

If you listen closely, you could hear the random anon pining for Maid Quest.

>>1399529
So much this. I still remember when we made our determination that bro should stop being less dense and to fight him for it.

>>1399522

>stop being a defeatist pussy
Yeah, that really sums me up, doesn't it? Shit, everything you said about me is correct.

If you guys are still willing to play after how many months it takes for me to recover and don't mind irregular threads, then I guess I'll resume this quest.

...I think I really do need to get my head checked. Thanks for the advice, anon.

>>1399608
Sorry if I cam off as dickish, but given this has happened before and you STILL put yourself down despite our Reassurances that yes we like the quest (otherwise we'd not be here) I decided to give you a check. You're burnt out, that's a fact of Qm life. It happens, but you are also Sick(unless your ass pain has been cured) and clearly depressed (possibly from asspain, asspain meds, not getting enough sun, or a few other factors). Then when you get into a funk you nuke everything instead of trying to save it. Which given you've come back within a month or two each time is kinda foolish. Especially since you've had a solid following since you started.

>>1399706
It's fine. Brutal honesty is what I need right now.

I hope I can move past my mental sickness in time.

>>1399797
You're assuming you are sick. You may not be, just depressed, in which case get some multivitamins, walk in the sun a bit and like we advise all qms, relax.

>>1399797
Talk with us thorn, we're all trying to help you. What's going on bud?

>>1399797
At the least, I want to say thank you for righting this thorn. This quest is quite enjoyable and I would love to see it return in the future, no matter how long it takes, but thank you for writing

>>1399862
Just me being overdramatic and self-defeatist. I need to talk to some people, clear my head, sort out my RL stuff. Then I'll get back to writing and see where to go next. Hopefully my mood will improve then.

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>>1399514
>I think by the time I'm able to start running against everyone will have forgotten about this quest.
I've spent at least 15 weekends reading this shit and I'm still here. I'm not going to forget. See: Questy's spunk by gargled his players, me included, even after his honestly pathetic mental breakdown.
But honestly, if you end up not wanting to run this, it's no big deal. You're not getting paid to do this shit and you really don't owe it to anybody to get a headache over a hobby.

>>1399514
>but I think by the time I'm able to start running against everyone will have forgotten about this quest.
How does that even make sense to you? Just think about how many hours each of your readers have spent just reading this quest either in the threads or the archives. Now imagine how hard it is to forget something you've spent that much time on.
Sure, if years go by some details become more hazy than others, but people will still remember the quest. Hell, I still remember shit like Omnipotence Quest from back in 2011.

>>1401243
>How does that even make sense to you.

I'm being stupid and too self-conscious. Which basically sums up all the times I've done this whole flaking things.

Regardless, it's good to know that people won't forget my quest.

>>1401269
>Regardless, it's good to know that people won't forget my quest
We aren't going to stop reading it either

>>1399439
>>1401269
Hey Thorn. Just came to drop by after our last conversation from /qtg/. I came from that post you linked to this thread. Glad to hear you bothered to bring this up to your questers.
I'm rather surprised at this turn of events, but it seems like it was on a slow burn for some threads that I missed.
I can't really give much advice on this matter besides try to keep everyone updated on what you do if you're close to burning out again, and not try to Uberman your quests when you're at your breaking point.

>>1401511
>Spoiler
What did he mean by this?

>>1404076
Me or him?

>>1401511
Can you highlight the conversations please?

http://www.strawpoll.me/12854980
http://www.strawpoll.me/12854980
http://www.strawpoll.me/12854980

You can pick more than one, you filthy fucking haremfags

>>1412182
Diva > Ice > Neet > Spirit > Gun
Imouto shouldn't even be an option.

>>1404575
Oh. I can't because /qtg/s aren't archived.

>>1420496
Try https://boards.4tan.org/qst/

>>1420693
The /qtg/ that we had the conversation in ended roughly 3 weeks before this thread started, so it's way past 4chan's archiving system. We didn't have any relevant conversations after the original one.

>>1421626
I'm embarrassed by your computer illiteracy.
https://boards.4tan.org/qst/thread/1319338/#1335555

>>1421679
>boards.4tan.org
>4tan.org
>4tan
What sort of website is this? Haven't heard of it before.

>>1421690
It's a third party archive. 4tan is the only one with search enabled that archives /qst/.

>>1421716
Hm, alright then. I still stand by my earlier statement of 4chan's archives.

4tan doesn't seem to bring up any mentions aside from the website itself, have any significant ratings, and was apparently listed as a parked domain before. Doesn't seem to bring up any malicious warnings though.
Where'd you hear about it from?