>>3101781
“Ha…Ha…”
The woman is panting as she struggles to undress herself. The light is too faint to make any details, but you can see the beads of sweat all over her body.
She removes her bra. It falls to the floor unimpeded.
“Hot...Hot…”
She staggers over to the table and grabs the alarm clock above it.
The woman raises the object…
And smashes it to the side of the desk.
Pieces of the clock fall to the ground. The woman discards the clock on the table.
“Hot...I can’t…”
She crawls over to the bed, and travels the sheets with her arms and body.
“Forgive me...Forgive me…”
The sheets above you are removed. You are fully aware of your surroundings. But struggle as you might, your body does not move.
Her hand crawls over your chest. Her fingers dash around your adam’s apple, tracing the curvature of your collarbones.
“Ha…!”
You don’t see where her other hand is.
She starts to unbutton your front…
But her hand stops.
She chokes. And she sobs.
“I’m sorry...Sorry…Sorry...Sorry...”
And she leans her head on your chest and mutters,

“Why...did it have to be me?”

///

“...ama…”
“Y...da…kun..”
“Yamada-kun!”

You are shaken awake by a hand on your shoulder and a strong voice. You look up to see the ever-kind smile of Nakamura Eiji.
“Ah! Morning.”
“Huh…?”
“We’ve landed,”
You’re disoriented for a second. You soon come back to your senses.
“...Field trip. Hokkaido.”
He chuckles at your reply. You look around and see that the airplane is already empty. The only exception are you, Eiji, and the air stewardess giving you the stink-eye.
“You’ve been out for a pretty long time.” He says with a grin.

>cont’d

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>>3101787
“Geez, couldn’t the senseis wait for us at least?”
You and Nakamura Eiji walk down the boarding gates. You can’t help but notice how out of place you look with your PE uniforms while everyone else dons business suits and sunny dresses.
“Well, they still have to coordinate with the bus company and organize the other people, so they didn’t really have the time to take care of us slackers.”
“Why are you lumping yourself with me? You could’ve gone ahead, you know.”
“No way am I leaving my seatmate buddy! Ryou said in the orientation, right? No man left behind!”

You wonder how to feel at such a brazen display of kindness bordering on idiocy.

“Well, thanks,” you simply reply.
“Where are the others in our group though, Nakamura-san?”
He looks up at the ceiling while he tries to recall.
“Well...Ryou had to go ahead to organize our class. Nakahara-san had to, er, dash to the comfort room. And Rei-chan...well…”

You face Eiji with a raised eyebrow.

“She’s having one of those days where she’s a bit hard to approach.”
“One of those days?”
“Yeah, it happens sometimes. When you know someone for so long, you just kind of pick up on those sort of things.”
“I see…”

Well, for now, you should probably--
>Assist Ryou in her duties
>Find Fumi
>Talk to Rei
>Stick with Eiji

>>3101790
>>Assist Ryou in her duties
We'RE BACK BABY

>>3101790
>>Assist Ryou in her duties

Hey, Rage Against the Heavens Quest is back!

>>3101790
“I’ll probably help the class rep,” you say to Eiji. “She probably needs help if she’s organizing the group all by herself.”
“Good idea! Should I help too?”

“Er,” you decide getting Nakamura Eiji near to Ryou right now might not be all that good an idea.
“Well, let’s try not to overburden the class rep as well, right? Two’s company, three’s a crowd?”
“I see,” Eiji says. “Then I should just probably explore the Shikoto airport, I guess.”

“Shi--?!”
A sharp pain flares up behind your eyes.
Suddenly the whole world spins around you.
“...? Yamada-kun?”

The space contracts and expands like putty.
It changes colors as if passing a prism.
The people around you double in number, triple, and then disappear, and then reappear as different entities, before looping again in a hellish loop.

“Yamada-kun?!”

And then…
You’re back to normal.

Your forehead is throbbing, and your mouth feels like cotton…
But you’re back, intact.

“...It’s nothing, sorry. Probably air-sickness or something…?”

Nakamura Eiji looks at you with concern.
What is going on?

>cont’d

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>>3101829

You walk to where your other classmates are, under the eye of Nakamura Eiji. Your school has took it upon themselves to group in the middle of the mall-like part of the airport. The place is spacious with a huge wide floor and plenty of sunlight.

Yet right now you feel so claustrophobic. It feels like the walls will collapse on you at any second. Not to mention, it feels like every eye is trained towards you.

“And just where have you two been, Eiji-kun and Ken-kun?”
Somehow you both made it to where 2-1 is. Hikaru Ryou marches towards you, hands on hips. You try to stand as straight as possible and to reply like normal.

“Sorry for being late.”
Ryou’s eyes narrow. She looks at Eiji.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, nothing…” You try to butt in.
“Well, Yamada-kun suddenly just felt dizzy I think...he reckons it might be air-sickness…”
“After we land?”
“Well…” You say, trying to come up with something.

“Ken-kun. Are you alright?” the class rep says with full authority. She demands an answer.

>Completely fine
>I feel terrible

>>3101844
>I'll live.

>>3101844
“I...I’ll live.”

Hikaru Ryou looks at you with a frown before turning to Eiji.
“Eiji-kun? Could you do me a favor and take the clipboard over there? Make sure there’s no one who’s lost and wandering around.”
He nods and heads over to where the others are.

“You come with me.”

///

While sitting on the bench, you watch Ryou grab a bottle of Pocari from the vending machine.
“It might just be dehydration or something, but still take this.”
She reaches out the bottle and a couple of pills.
“Antiemetics,” she explains. “Helps with nausea.”

You gladly take them. So far, the queasiness has passed…
But you’re still unsure what brought upon such an intense reaction from your body.
It felt like your mind was being split into one, or maybe like something is smoothing out the grooves in your brain. Overall, it felt unpleasant.

“Thanks class rep.”
“Hey, its no problem.” She says while looking at her feet. “Gives me an excuse to be away from him for now, anyway.”

You put the cold bottle to your head, and watch the class rep fiddle with her fingers, head down. It seems the whole affair is really bothering her.

>What’s your plan anyway?
>You’re hyping yourself up too much.
>So you didn’t really care about my well-being?
>Don't confess after all.
>Write in

>>3101887
>"Aw, so I was just a convenient excuse? You wound me!"

She's getting too far into her own head. Take her out of it for a minute with copious amounts of cheese.

(Also I don't know where everyone else is but you all better get here soon, because I don't think you guys want just me steering this ship.)

>>3101887
>>"Aw, so I was just a convenient excuse? You wound me!"

>>3101897
+1
fug hanazawa on mountain quest is go

>>3101887
“Aw, so I was just a convenient excuse? You wound me!”
The class rep is stunned at first, but she giggles at your cheesy acting.

“No it isn’t! You just walked in with him so...yeah. But I still would love to know what is up with you. What happened? Did you wake up wrong in the plane?”
“No it’s really nothing. I suddenly just got dizzy when Nakamura-san talked about S̟̝̥̗͑̉̀̕͢͠ȟ̨̼͖̊̐̉ͅÇ̫͓̠̆̿͒͒h̡͉̝̿̒̀̚͟İ̧̱̭̞̍̒̈k̛̪̝͇̄̕͜O̪̺̣͔̍̑̀͝t͚̫̭̭̦̔̂̐̋̚Ő̭̳̒s̢̭͚͒̑͞E̹̝̽̌͜͡?̫͉̘͛͂̔?͓̔ airport and--”
“Hang on, Ken-kun. What did you just say?”
“I...uh...what?”
Somehow you didn’t realize just what is coming from your mouth.
“What did you say was the name of the airport?”
“It’s...uuh…”
Somehow you’re sweating hard, trying to focus. The name of the airport is..

“Chi...uh, er...Chito…?”
“Hey, quit joking like that Ken-kun.”
“I-I’m not.”
Somehow the names just aren’t coming out correctly.
“But I’m close right? Something like, Shin-chito?”

The class rep looks seriously worried now.
“It’s Shikoto, Ken-kun.”
>She’s wrong
>She’s WRONG
>WrOnG
>w̘͙̃͞r̩̗͚̭̔̍̃̕ő̰̮͎̃͞͝ñ̢̛͕̗̔͟g͖̫͂͞

“I, uh...huh?”
“Hey are you seriously alright?”

>Play it off as nothing. This will pass soon.
>Say you’re seriously ill this time
>R̀ͅų̣͕̺̈̏̌̋Ṅ̫͍̗͓̀̎̚ ̘̚r̬̥̿͠Ù̗͕n ͍R̩̻͋̈u̢͚͔̍̒͡Ń̹͇̩̂͌̏̏ͅ ̞͕̦̔̔͘r̼̳̄̌Ù͓̚͜n̞̣̎́̀͢

>Play it off as nothing. This will pass soon.

>>3101960
>>Play it off as nothing. This will pass soon.
"I got a worse headache then I thought, is all."

>>3101960
>"...I could've sworn it was a different airport. Did it change or what?"

>Play it off as nothing. And keep an eye out for what else might be different.

>>3101960
>>Play it off as nothing. This will pass soon.

>>3101960
“Yes...I’m alright...just, a temporary thing?”

And just like that, the intense nausea has washed away again.
Somehow, the name of the airport has really been triggering these blackout pains recently. But why?
Would getting out help me better?

“Maybe it’s just my eyes, class rep, might need to visit an eye doctor soon.”
“Are you sure? Can you see?”
“Yes class rep. Just some minor stuff that the plane probably shook from me. So no need to worry okay?”

Now is not the time for Hikaru Ryou to worry. If she’s going to be confessing, she needs to give it her 110%.

Ryou was about to say something when someone jogs closer.
Its Eiji.

“Hey, uh, we’ll be leaving soon so…sorry, but we should probably get moving.”

>cont’d

>>3102087
The whole class lines up in an organized file towards the bus pickup spots.
As you thought, going outside made you feel already a 100x better. It almost feels like nothing even happened earlier. Is this the effect of the country-side air?

The person on your side, though, seems to not agree.
“Somehow, you suddenly looking chipper pisses me the fuck off,”
A pale Nakahara Fumi glares at you, with a plastic bag on her side ‘just in case’. Looks like she’s still recovering from the plane ride.

“It’s a nice day out, its hard to feel down.”
“Go die.”

You laugh. You’ve never felt better in a long time.
The class waits for the bus, but they’re sure taking their sweet time.
You’re feeling the urge to take a leak.

>Bow out and go quickly
>Ask someone to come with
>Hold it in until the bus comes

Reminder that we need to inform Hanazawa of Iwata's bullshit attempts and that she might try more direct intervention between Eiji and Ryou at the mountain. Furthermore we need to mention how Iwata's trying to fuck over the harem in general.

WAIT.

>>3102114
>Ask Eiji to come with us. To make sure we get back in time.

>>3102114
You look around, and with still no bus in sight, you approach Nakamura Eiji.
“Hey, Nakamura-san. I’m just going to the toilet. Can you come with?”
“Oh, I’m cool man. I’m just, uh…”

You notice him staring off to the class rep’s direction.

“Is something the matter?”
“Huh? No! Not at all. I’m just thinking that if the Ryou needs help, then you know. I want to help.”
Even for someone who’s as big-hearted as Nakamura Eiji, for some reason he’s a bit eager to help Hikaru today.
But there shouldn’t be a problem, so you shrug it aside.

“OK, I’ll be back real quick.”

You dodge out of the lines and head over back to the airport to look for a restroom.
You walk around and end up on a part of the airport being constructed.

“Huh? Could have sworn this part was made already…”
There was a mini hot spring here, and some authentic Hokkaido ramen and...huh?
How should you know that?

You turn away, and head towards a corner, and upon turning it…
Hit your face flat against a wall.

“Huh? But isn’t...huh?”

You’re quite sure there’s a way to the comfort rooms in here. Right next to the water fountains, and the smoking lounge, and…

While rubbing your forehead, you see someone from the airport, a middle aged woman, pass by. She has seen you bump yourself onto the wall.

“Excuse me!”
“Yes?”
“Uh, didn’t there used to be a restroom here?”
“As far as I know...there has never been?”
The employee looks puzzled.
“No, I’m quite certain. There were water fountains and a smoking area and...yes, there was even a playground around here! And the restroom area was by those playgrounds, yes?”

You say, while pointing to the blank solid wall.
The employee looks a bit terrified of you.
Why wouldn’t she?

Isn’t it your first time in Hokkaido?

“Er, what’s your name, boy?”
The lady asks with a nice tone, as if trying to sooth a dog about to run amok.
“I’m…”
Huh.
You’re…

”Who am I again?”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Oy. So the writein was meaningless and now we have no memory.

And here I forgot why this quest infuriated me so much.

>>3102238
Oh no the production is having budget cuts that the screenwriter of the anime was fired.

>>3102238
A shame, I was waiting to point out to our little brother that it makes far more sense to consider all of the "problems" we started are because his god wanted us to start them (Eg. He kept on pestering us to hang out) so they're possibly a manifestation of his frustration at the status quo and against himself for maintaining it. That and he's the one that told us that mobs are people too in the first place. Little bro seems to have far too many misunderstandings for a 4th wall character.

>>3104313
Honestly, the whole quest is full of logical fallacies that don't make sense even when you take into account 'well, it needs some narrative drama because if they did the smart thing it'd be too easy!' There's a number of plotholes or lines of action where if you think about it for longer than 10 seconds it doesn't make sense. And that's not even getting into the whole 'invalidating player choices' thing the QM loves to do.

Oh didnt know this was back

Daskoo :)

>>3104319
>lol it's my old VN script, you think I'm going to let you stop me from using contrived bullshit and retardation to railroad things the way my script dictates? XDDDDDDDD
>lol this is a harem anime, of course they're all gonna be retarded XDDDDDD
fuck

I think you all got punked

>>3104319
I suppose it makes at least a little sense since you can't have a boring story so 4th wall characters have to spice things up somehow before Haruhi decides to start all over.

I personally suspect little bro is full of shit about Tokyo being a vacation or break from things and there are mob characters that have long gone off the rails. Delinquent-Chan was teetering close to them to begin with as it is. As long as you're outside the narrative it's possible to not get sucked in and if that person has an assistant/partner/team there will be an observer who notices a person's personality/actions warping.

>>3102225
Running in an hour or less

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110 KB JPG

>>3102225
Everything feels strange.
And yet…
So overly familiar.

Who am I again?

These sights all seem to be pastiches.
A cheap imitation of something…
But what?

Shikoto…
Shin-Chitose Kuko…

Where am I?

All the things seem to overlap…
What I think should be there…
And what is actually there.

Which one is real?

The employee looks at me weirdly as I try my best to answer her question.
What’s my name?

>It’s Yamada Ken.
>It’s not Yamada Ken.

>>3106754
>"It’s Yamada Ken. I apologize for disturbing you, miss. It's a chronic condition I have, and I forgot to take my medicine over the flight." Bow formally.

>>3106754
“I apologize for the disturbance. I have forgotten to take my medicine on the flight here, and now I feel a bit woozy…”
You try to laugh off the previous awkwardness and come up with an excuse.
“My name is Yamada Ken.”

“...Are you sure?”
“Eh?”
“...No, I meant are you sure, since it seems like you were struggling to remember just a few seconds ago.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant...Yeah, I guess.”

The old employee laughs.
“You’re mighty young to be forgetful aren’t you? Though sad to say, I can relate to the feeling.”
She ponders for a moment.
“That school uniform. You’re on a field trip?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, whenever you have the time to explore Hokkaido, I know of a place that helps my mind relax.”

The woman nods as she reminisces,
“Yes, walking by the Taporo Canals really brings me at ease…”
>What?
“Ah, is that so? I’ll see it if I have the chance.”

You catch someone from the corner of your sight.
“Oi, Ken-kun! You sure are taking your sweet time, you know?!” The class rep comes over with a huffed expression. “I thought you were just going to the restroom!”
“Er, yes,” You bow in apology to Ryou. “I just got a little bit lost. This person was just helping me…”
“Who?”
“Huh? Her--”
You turn around to see the old woman has left.
“Huh.”
“You were saying, Yamada Ken-kun?”
“...Actually, I still haven’t went...do you happen to know the way to the restroom?”

“Ow, my forehead! Ryou, that hurts!”

>cont’d

>>3106815
“Now that we’re all here,” said Ryou with a grumpy demeanor, “Let’s discuss seating.”
“Because -someone- took their sweet time, all the front seats are taken. It’s a good thing that those rowdy boys wanted to sit in the back. Honestly. How can they stand not getting dizzy there?”
“Yeah, how could they…” backed Fumi, looking a bit better, but still pale.

Our little group of Eiji, Fumi, Ryou, and Rei are still outside the bus. You confirm your discovery; you feel a lot better outside than in the airport itself. The air and sunlight are enough to rejuvenate you back to normal.

“Anyway, groups should be seated together but since Iwata-san is not here, one of us has to be separated. So...what do you guys think?”

No one speaks up, so you take it upon yourself and--

>Ask to be seated with Fumi
>Ask to be seated with Ryou
>Ask to be seated with Eiji
>Ask to be seated with Rei
>Ask to be seated with someone else

>>3106833

>Ask to be seated with Fumi
It's better to have a backup even though if the backup is kinda have a motion sickness

>>3106833
>>Ask to be seated with Fumi

Maybe Yamada Ken died on the airport from either heart attack of something like airport shooting.

>>3106833
>Ask to be seated with Fumi

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97 KB PNG

>>3106833
“Could I seat with Fumi?”
Both her and the class rep raise an eyebrow.
“Well, we’ve both been a bit sick so...maybe it’d be easier to assist us if we’re together.”

Ryou nods. “Ok then. So Ken would seat with Fumi, and Rei-chan, would you mind seating with Eiji-kun?”
Rei nods, and the seating is settled.

///

Watching the setting pass by the window is enough to calm you down back to normal.
No, even better, it seems to bring you to an almost meditative state.
The sights of the people, the little streets, the houses…

It almost feels nostalgic in a sense. It feels cathartic…
And yet somewhat tragic too.

Nakahara on the other hand has done nothing but stare at the aisle of the bus.
“Oyabun, are you still feeling sick?”
“...Nah. I’m good.”

She clutches the throw up bag in her hand. She seems a bit irritable right now.

>She wants to be left alone
>Pat her in the head
>Find a candy to give
>Make some small talk
>Write in

>>3106906
>>Find a candy to give

>>3106906
>>Find a candy to give

>>3106906
>>Find a candy to give
>Maybe one for us, too.

>>3106906
You dig in your pockets and bag. You remember packing some just in case, and...aha.
“Here,” you reach out a candy to Fumi as you pop one in your mouth. “This will help.”

“Thank you…” she takes one, and after playing with the wrapper a bit, eats it.
“Better?”
“I think so, yes. Thanks Yamada.”

You take a moment in silence as you chew on your candy. The other kids are playing and are focused on anything but the outside. On their consoles, talking with buddies, playing popular music, and taking pictures…

There are few who are actually enjoying the travel. Though yours is less by choice and more of circumstance - you didn’t really bring anything to the trip.

“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it,” Nakahara starts, “How things work out.”
“What do you mean?”
“How I’m here right now. In this field trip, seated next to you of all people. It doesn’t feel like long ago I want to beat your stupid face in.”

She slinks further into the seat. “Now you even give me candy and stuff...It’s unfair, really…”

>What’s unfair?
>But isn’t this what you wanted?
>I, for one, appreciate your presence
>Write in

>>3104477
Lmao how does this still have olayers

>>3106959
Because it feels good to succeed if only a little, and Bisugo isn't as much of a fucking insufferable QM as before. Now he actually incorporates our write-ins in a way that almost makes a difference instead of no difference. He can still improve his shit for his players, he's no SOMINUS

>>3106956
>>I, for one, appreciate your presence

>>3106956
>But isn’t this what you wanted?
>I feel like a lot of people are messing with me recently for doing things they told me to do in the first place. I'm glad you're sensible about that, Oyabun

>>3106959
Basically >>3106963. He's just good enough that as frustrating as he can be, there are some good points. Still needs a lot of improvement, but there's SOME forward progress. And most anons are masochistic.

>>3106959
Shut up anon you can't stop me ramming best waifu Hanazawa on the mountain doing unprotective sex where there's a chance someone will see us that makes us both excited.

>>3106956
“That so. But isn’t this what you wanted? To be honest, I feel like a lot of people are messing with me recently for doing things they told me to do in the first place.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. That’s why…”

You sigh and lean back on your seat.

“I appreciate your presence here. Really.”
At least you feel you did her right.

She stays silent for a while with you. The only sounds that come through are the engine of the bus, and the candy in your mouth.

“But, why would you do this, Yamada?” Fumi asks. “What’s in it for you?”

>Should there always be an ulterior motive?
>It’s because I wanted to
>It’s my penitence
>Write in

>>3107027
>I'll let you know when I find out.

>>3107027
>>It’s because I wanted to

>>3107027
>>It’s because I wanted to

>>3107027
“It’s because I wanted to.”
“Bullshit. There’s always an ulterior motive.”

Somehow, she looks fidgety and a bit uncomfortable.
“Hey, you ok?”
“...Yeah. I am. Why wouldn’t I be? Things are going so well.”
“I’ll be blunt. It’s because you don’t look like it.”

“...I don’t know Yamada,” she finally says with a sigh. “I really don’t know.”
“It feels like I should be happier, but...I try to wrap my head around it, and…” Fumi shrugs and spits out the candy.
“Let me organize my thoughts for a bit. I don’t know if it’s the airplane, or something but...I don’t feel all that well. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Yeah. No, sorry, it’s my fault I think.”

And that was the end of that. Fumi did nothing but stare at the aisle all the way to Lake Asa.

///

“Haaa, we finally got out of that wretched bus~”
The first one out was the class rep, soon followed by the rest of the 2-1 class. Soon, you are ordered to be with your groups and are given a pamphlet with instructions for the path.

“It says here that there are some nature paths that are narrow, so a pairing of two would be ideal.” Ryou organizes our group in a circle as she reads through the pamphlet. “Geh, another pairing situation again…?”

“Class rep.” This time, it’s Fumi that raises her hand.
“Yes?”
“Can I be paired with Nakamura? If I get dizzy in the hike again I would like him to assist me.”
“That makes sense. Ken-kun might not still be at 100% as well, so it’s better to play it safe. Ok let’s go with that.”

“And as for us…” Ryou looks at the rest of the group, an odd number.
“Well, hmm…”

>Pair with Ryou
>Pair with Rei
>Pair with someone else

>>3107131
>Pair with Rei
Ask her about the plan she is going to do with class rep

>>3107131
“Can I pair with Tezuka-san, Ryou? I think I might be able to assist her if needed at the very least.”
“That’s true as well. Alright that’s settled. I’ll probably find a sensei I could join anyway.”

You look at Tezuka, who sleepily smiles at your direction.

///

The hike, though steep, isn’t bad at all. The burn in your muscles is a foreign but welcome sensation, and the cool air entering your lungs makes the entire experience worth it. Not to mention, the view is fantastic. You almost forget that you were just about to throw up in nausea just a few hours ago.

Even Tezuka looks to be enjoying herself. You have urged the other pairs to go ahead of you in the more narrow parts of the trail, where she struggled. But now, she’s regained that almost elegant smile while she observes the nature around her.

“It’s been a while,”
It’s Tezuka that starts the conversation.
“Yes, it has.”
“What do you think? Of Ryou-chan’s plans?”
“Well, I’m really happy for her that she’s finally got the courage. I think things would turn out okay.”
“I hope so as well.”
She says, with a somewhat troubled expression.

>But is this alright with you? You like him too after all.
>Are you having any doubts about her success?
>Relax. Things would work out in the end.
>Write in

>>3107247
>I don't blame you for worrying, though. Regardless of the reason.

Remember, we need to stay near Ryou because Bitch Angel is lurking in the wings.

>>3107259
Supporting

>>3107247

“Are you worried?”
With a troubled smile, she nods.
“I don’t blame you…”
Whether it’s because she doesn’t know if Ryou will succeed, or if she’s still not comfortable about giving up Eiji, Rei has all the reasons.

“Yamada-kun, what do you think will happen if Ei-kun accepts her confession?”
“Then all is fine, isn’t it? Everything we worked hard for will pay off. Both Eiji and Ryou will be—“

…
[Happy].

Is this the [Happiness] that this universe was destined for?
Is this the wish that you have to fulfill?
Is this the [End]...?

You look at Rei. Try as she might, a bitter smile is showing.
Why?
Is it worry for her friend?
Or worry for her own [Happiness]?

That’s right. Your mission was to grant [Happiness].
To the [Main Character], and if possible, to the other girls as well.
That way, you can achieve the [True End].
…

Then is this the right path?
You are sure that Ryou’s [Happiness] lies in love and being loved.
So, if the confession is accepted…
Would that mean that the [End] is achieved?

But what about Rei? And Rinko? And Iwata? And Mariko?
And Eiji?

And if the confession falls short…
That would mean the opposite of Ryou’s [Happiness].
What happens then?
What happens when Ryou’s [Happiness]...

Is shattered?

Should you help Ryou win?

Or the better question...

Can you afford not to?

(TO BE CONTINUED)

>>3107407
I'm pretty sure we decided on the answer to this question like, several threads earlier and you either forgot or discarded them. Or just ignored them, you tend to do that.

>>3107019
>someone supporting my idea that I kept mentioning in past threads
thanks anon

>>3107407
What >>3107422 said. You have to accept we will break your VN script and adapt accordingly. Don't be an asspuller QM, Bisugo.
We said and decided on this before: Ryou needs to try on her own. If she wins, she wins. If she loses, she needs to accept it and move on in life on her own terms, on her own power. Learn to love herself, and all that.

>>3107422
I appreciate the comments earlier defending me for being such a bad QM. To be honest, I really am still learning how to avoid railroading, though really its just ignorance on my part. If there ever was railroading, I do not mean it in any intentional or malicious way.

But regarding this plot point, I’m *pretty* sure we’ve never gone through it yet? At least comprehensively. I’m double checking my notes, but there hasn’t really been a solid questioning of this since iirc Kei’s introduction of the [true end] concept. I do believe we have passed through it before in a personal sense to Ryou but not in the [universe] sense. Again, I am still re-reviewing my notes so I might be wrong, but I have been saving this plot point for Hokkaido so I’m somewhat sure.

I also hate doing things like these because it pulls back the curtain a bit too much on the story for my liking. I know that the characters, especially the fourth wall breakers, can be frustrating, but we are relatively early on in the story too. We haven’t even tackled Ogai, Mariko, Rinko, Murakami, hell, we’ve barely tackled the family and Ken himself. I guess the big problem is that I already know why they’re acting like that, and the challenge is to show just enough yet not too much. Please bare with me as each thread truly is an eye-opening learning experience for me.

>>3107505
>>3107505
Again, I hate hate hate pulling the curtains away from the story but if people are interested...

The VN script has not been followed for a while now. Hanazawa was never meant to be a girlfriend, Fumi was supposed to be like the defacto antagonist, Rinko wasn’t supposed to be super malicious. Everything was adjusted on the fly, and the only use I have for the old vn script now is as a basis for the arcs of the characters, and for overall plot direction. If anything, the only one to blame is my bad qm’ing for not being accomodating enough. I’m really sorry for that.

>>3107508
>>3107551
The fact alone that you are admitting these and asking for constructive criticism makes you head and shoulders above other hack QMs IMO.

>>3107551
True admitting own fault is one thing but to do it even though it's already been said is one thing so I hope that could be avoided in the future. But sometimes I know that you only do it for the sake of narrative.

So I just today finished reading the archive And getting caught up. I don't think you're doing a bad job QM, and I dont see a ton of railroading. I think a lot of people are butthurt when you even suggest anything that interferes with who they consider the best girl.

With that being said im not a fan of our [mob] girlfriend and I actually agree with the [meta] characters that we've been selfish and not working much towards the true end

>>3107648
What do you suggest? Waifu that bitch idol angel Iwata Riho?

>>3107648
>>3107648
90% of our issues and complaints are from trying to figure out what the FUCK is going on, having our write-ins reappropriated or misunderstood, and in general trying to unfuck ourselves. I'm not sure where this 'waifu first' talk came from- it hasn't really been an issue. Maybe it looks different when you weren't there at the time, but as a guy who's been there since word go, I can tell you that I'm more worried about survival and not getting ENDED than anything regarding waifus.

It's honestly just salt from anons because they THINK it's railroading. A matter of perception, I guess.
Admittedly I too get frustrated when Yet Another Issue shows up when we haven't come close to solving the last dozen, but that's probably intentional due to the nature of this world being a punishment and trial of sorts

On a different note, I actually enjoy moments when the curtain gets pulled back. It's nicer to have responses and interactions with the QM than to not have any at all. And it feels excellent when your questions get answered.

>>3107648
I don't really see much railroading either as I mentioned earlier (it's mostly just a result of us being an unimportant mob character getting swept away from being in the middle of everything in an uncaring universe)
The selfishness idea on the other hand seems ridiculous to me. The meta characters are built to serve. We aren't. We have no obligation to help or assist them in any way outside of some self preservation involved in not wanting to run afoul of them. He is THEIR god, not ours. If we were selfish we'd be trying to manipulate their god for our own selfish desires. We'd have transferred out to Tokyo asap and not bothered helping anyone. Instead we tried actual altruism even if that altruism is the one selfish motivation we've had. So no, we're not selfish, not any more than a normal human being can healthily be.

>>3107728
Also see >>3104313

>>3107551
>>3107702
>>3107648
I'm down for a Riho route.

>>3107759
Riho pls stop posting and also kill yourself.

>>3107788
I like crazy Okinawan girls that destroy my alarm clock and then sleep naked in my bed.

>>3107508
>>3107551
...Eh, s'fine. I'm mostly just frustrated sometimes because- and this, I feel, IS a valid critique- oftentimes it feels like our choices don't matter. Like with the 'ask a friend' thing. You basically rendered the option absolutely useless by just saying 'no, he didn't go'. That makes most players think 'wait, so this was a trap option/useless choice, so my effort was wasted' and that's not a thing people enjoy feeling. I think that's really the crux of the problem people have with your quest- you often make people feel like their choices don't matter, or matter very little, and we're basically just along for the ride- at least when it comes to major story beats.

You have to understand, what you're doing goes far faaaaaar against the general accepted 'norm' for QMs and flies in the face of common practice. It's usually considered a mark of a good QM when 'every choice matters', even if it's not in the way the players WANTED. However, you all too often don't even do that- it's just nullified completely and the story moves on as if the choice wasn't presented in the first place- which is the point. If the story is going to go in a direction regardless of the choice the players make...then why is it in the quest? The only answer to that is 'to frustrate the player and offer an illusion of control'.

In all honesty, if you're worried about it? I wouldn't be. Write the story so that we get choices that you KNOW will cause different reactions from the other characters THAT AFFECT THE STORY, and not just choices that you feel need to be there because it's a quest and we might get too ornery if we don't get SOME choice every post. I don't know if you read too many other quests, but I'd suggest browsing around and seeing a few others. Notice how they split up posts, set up options for their players, and how they react to their players. You might be surprised at what you can glean from your peers even if you don't want to do what they're doing exactly.

>>3107505
>>3107422
I'm pretty sure this was only established OOC by anons and not in story yet. We still perfectly have the chance to decide "fuck your rules we're going to make all of them happy even if we have to give them times where they feel like shit" and tell it to Riho's stupid face.

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>>3108148
Yeah we really should tell Riho to fuck off. I think most characters are actually pretty good and at least decently believable but Riho's just like a Cliche villain. A cliche villain we know all the tricks to.

>"Tries to cry rape"
we tell her "That's fucking dumb why are you even in my house bitch"
>"Threatens to do something to Ryou"
we stick to Ryou like glue and not let her out of our sight or give chances for bullshit

>Now she asks us "Can somebody really be happy after they've been sad"
>Nigga please
We know that's a load of crap. The form of happiness she's trying to achieve is idealized bullshit, it's happiness that only happens in stories. People find long term happiness and fulfillment even after terrible times. Just because you get your heartbroken once doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Some people get their heart broken dozens of time, some people eat shit just in their daily lives but that doesn't mean sooner or later they can't find happiness.

>>3108155
Yeah the whole sexual assault thing was weird but QM should probably ask himself a simple question. "Who is Ken Yamada"?

QM seems to think that he's still an anti social homeless man in a socially awkward teenager's body and honestly he's not wrong. QM gave Yamada to /qst, ergo Yamada is now /qst. We might be autistic and socially inept but we can catch tropes and cliches like a bloodhound. The rape card's been played multiple times in other drama/thriller manga and those have done it better. Riho seems to treat this world as an old school harem manga but that doesn't work when the characters are sapient living breathing people. We're going to go as paranoid as shit

>Question to the Anons because I haven't read this since like half way through in what felt like years ago.

Rei's the lesbian right? Because I just remembered we probably should be worried that she's gonna throw herself off the mountain or something.

>>3108160
>>3108160
>the whole sexual assault thing was weird
desperately retarded thot being a desperately retarded thot, duh
>QM seems to think that he's still an anti social homeless man in a socially awkward teenager's body and honestly he's not wrong.
In context of the story and with the setting being a purgatory deconstruction of isekai and harem genres, yes.
>QM gave Yamada to /qst/, ergo Yamada is now /qst/.
Wrong. The character itself is piloted and guided by voters/players to an extent, but not completely. Ken Yamada has a prior backstory and set characteristics, as well as own drives and motivations. Primarily they are "attempt to work for [True End] at all costs, assuming what we were told weren't lies", "survive with autonomy intact, do not be subsumed by the universe or get too badly fucked up", "keep Hanazawa safe and alive", and "keep memories and identity intact, do not lose sight of goals and origins", in no certain order.
>We might be autistic and socially inept but we can catch tropes and cliches like a bloodhound.
Not to mention the antisocial homeless man who died and got put into this purgatory as Ken Yamada, was also a NEET. Of course they'd know and expect most of these tropes and attempt to counter them in feasible ways.
>The rape card's been played multiple times in other drama/thriller manga and those have done it better.
thot unaware of genre conventions enough to play the big game on our level
>Riho seems to treat this world as an old school harem manga but that doesn't work when the characters are sapient living breathing people.
Little Bro said [Mobs] are people too. And Eiji, the god of this anime purgatory, keeps trying to talk to us and hang out with us even though we're technically a [Mob].
>We're going to go as paranoid as shit
We already are, dude. I remember people discussing wanting to play Ken Yamada as a Vetinari - a crucial individual to everyone, such that if the universe or any rogue fuckhead tries to fuck with us or our position, it upsets the overall balance of the harem and the original premise itself. An "if I go tumbling down, everything and everyone goes tumbling down with me" deal. Being needed by those around us, building reliability and gitting gud, and we keep our influence on the universe.
>Rei's the lesbian right?
Yes. Or she's willing to play the part to prevent disaster, I forgot which. Probably yes.
>Because I just remembered we probably should be worried that she's gonna throw herself off the mountain or something.
We talked this over with her IC I think. Senseless double-suicide is NOT good for anyone.

>>3108174
The problem is if the narrative calls for it. We were gonna cheat on our girlfriend because the setting said we had to cheat on her. Japanese fiction/culture can get quite dreary and/or macabre with how much they enjoy seeing tragedies or bad ends. It doesn't matter if it's in or out of character, reality warps to conform to what is expected/demanded.

There had better not be a hidden yandere character.
I half suspect the universe is trying to hand off MC status to us after Eiji attains [happiness] as part of some cycle but we immediately got a girlfriend which is getting in it's way.

>>3108276
>It doesn't matter if it's in or out of character, reality warps to conform to what is expected/demanded.
So we'll warp the narrative right back.

Running again in an hour or less

>>3110346
Actually, scratch that. It'll be a bit later.

>>3110364
you okay there?

>>3110800
Yep, will run within the hour

>>3107407
It was your brother that said that the purpose of this universe is for the [Happiness] of the [Main Character].

Fulfill it and the world ends.

The girls are [Main Characters] too, but a they are a tier below.

Their [Happiness], along with the [Main Character]’s means the granting of [TRUE END].

Kei said that these people harbor deep wounds and traumas that have to be solved.

You know of Hikaru Ryou’s - her reputation for being a man-stealer, and her idolization of what love is.

And you feel that the step of confessing is necessary in the granting of her [Happiness].

But what would being rejected be the end of that?

...Matter of fact, you know of Hikaru Ryou’s [Happiness], but what about the other girls? Is this confession going against their [Happiness]?

And what about Nakamura Eiji himself?

Where does his [Happiness] lie?

Rei follows along closely behind you. She’s humming, but it’s obvious she’s lost in some place in her own world.

>What do you think will happen if Ei-kun accepts her confession?

“Rei-chan.”
“Yes?”
“About your question earlier. Regarding if Nakamura-san accepts Ryou’s confession.”
“...”

>What are *your* feelings in the matter?
>What do you think will be Eiji’s feelings in the matter?
>What if Nakamura-san rejects her?
>Write in

>>3110948
>What are *your* feelings in the matter?

>>3110948
>What are *your* feelings in the matter?

>>3110948
Let's be honest here, Ryou's totally going to get rejected. There's still too much story left

>>3110948
>What are *your* feelings in the matter?

>>3110948
>What are *your* feelings in the matter?

>>3110948
>What are *your* feelings in the matter?

>>3110948
“Well...you’ve been asking so much about them, Nakamura-san and Ryou. I’d love to hear personally what you’re feeling.”
“Why?”
“Why?...Well, you’re pretty…’involved’ in this matter. Ryou’s your friend, and so is Nakamura-san.”

Not to mention, she’s technically part of the [Main Characters], part of Nakamura Eiji’s “harem”.

“So I’d love to hear what you think of all this.”
Rei goes silent before returning to you with a smile.

“I’m happy. I’m glad. I feel like Ryou has gone through a lot of hard things in the past. For her to gather that amount of courage...in the past I don’t feel it will be possible. But now, I truly believe she can do it.
“And...Ei-kun’s been looking for a girlfriend for a long time you know? When we were in middle school, he just wouldn’t shut up about finding a cute girl to go on dates with. It was so cute.”

Rei giggles, and then looks up at you with a smile.

“So to answer your question...I’m happy,”

...she says. So does that mean that her [Happiness] lies in the happiness of her friends?

>That’s exactly it.
>No. No one’s that altruistic.
>She’s lying about being happy

>>3111024
>Nakamura said that the people who know you would know when you're acting weird. This seems weird for you Rei. I know that you want to seem strong but pushing down uncertainties and smiling will back fire on you sooner or later. If you really don't want to be honest with me that's fine but you should know I'm worried. I'm pretty sure Eiji's worried too.

>>3111024
Backing this >>3111042

>>3111024
>>She’s lying about being happy
She's probably just nervous or unsure but also this
>>3111046

>>3111024
>She might be content, but..

>"Then what's your want, deep down?"

>>3111024
“Nakamura said that the people who know you would know when you're acting weird. I won’t claim to know you as well as Nakamura-san does, but there’s some truth to what he’s saying. I know that you want to seem strong. But pushing down uncertainties and smiling will backfire on you sooner or later.”

She keeps silent.

“You may be content...but deep down, is this what you want?”

Rei looks away. You wait for her answer, but it seems it’s not coming.

“Just know that I’m a bit worried about you, Rei. And I’m pretty sure Nakamura-san is too.”

She flinches at my mention of his name. You start to move you both along again.
“Come on, let’s get goi--”

“Ei-kun’s bride.”
“...hm?”
”I want to be Ei-kun’s bride.”
“...”
“We promised it a long time ago, and I doubt he still remembers it. But I never forgot.”

“But it’s a promise between children, Yamada-kun. Children are inherently selfish. But we can’t be selfish as we grow up. Some still do, but it’s because of selfishness that the world today is as bad as it is.
“I don’t want to be part of that. I don’t want to remain a child. So I have to let go of childish dreams.
“There’s a time for all of us to grow up. And this one is mine. I have accepted the possibility that Ei-kun will never like me the way I like him. And that’s ok. Things don’t always go the way you want to.”

“But...I’m still a child,” she says with a self-deprecating grin. “I still want to be by his side. Like always.”
“So...as long as I’m friends with him, and as long as I’m friends with whomever he loves…”

“Then I will still be happy.”

>cont’d

>>3111113
holy fuck incredible numbers Bisugo

>>3111117
you're not so bad looking yourself, mister ;)

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>>3111113
Your discussion ends with the eventual arrival to the peak of Lake Asa.
The lake glitters in the sunlight, and the calm waters look perfect for swimming. But you’ve been taught that this is a lake formed in the crater of a volcano. The water would be boiling from the volcanic vents all around it.

You see Ryou wave to the two of you stragglers, and make your way to rejoin 2-1.

“Alright, seems we’re all here,” Ryou reads through the class list one last time before pocketing it.
“I know this is a field trip, but this is still an educational trip, so later on we’ll be having a few lessons about the areas around here…”
Some of the other students groan.
“But! I know you’re all hungry, so…”

She grins and with a triumphant pose,
“Let’s cook some curry for lunch!”
The whole class cheers.

“We’ll need to gather some firewood, someone to stir the roux, cook the rice, peel the carrots and potatoes...the meat is still on the way here, but we could get started, right?”
The whole class cheers again.

“Alright, line up so I could assign you.”
Being the late-comers, you and Rei are the last one to be called.
“Rei-chan, you’re on rice duty. Help the others in cleaning up and cooking, ok?”
“Yes, class rep~”
Rei glides over to where the other girls are, who welcome her with open arms.
“As for you, Ken-kun…”

She moves her finger through the list, but her brow furrows.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well...there really isn’t an assignment left…”

Forgotten, huh. Why does this feel familiar?

“Just give me whatever class rep.”
“That so? Then why don’t we make this into a game?”

She rolls her hand, mimicking a lottery in the shopping arcade.

“There are three possibilities between the duties, Yamada Ken: A tier luck, S tier luck, and so bad you wish you’d die luck.”
What’s with the unfortunate wording on the last one?
“So! Pick, Ken-kun. What duty would you like to do between these three?”

>Peel carrots
>Peel potatoes
>Stir the roux

>>3111144
>>Peel potatoes

>>3111144
>Which One's Mayumi doing?
If we don't know
>>Peel potatoes

>Stir the roux

I'm biased.

>>3111144
>Peel carrots

>>3111144
>Peel potatoes
How hard can it be?

>>3111144
Peel potatoes. With our memory problems right now we're totally gonna burn the roux. Carrots are also way more annoying to peel than potatoes depending upon what sort of knives we have even if it's more work. There's also some trick I've mostly forgotten since I was drafted that makes the skin come off easy? I think it was dunking em in cold water after they're boiled to pull it right off?

>>3111144
>Peel carrots

Four to potatoes, two to carrots, one to roux.
>Writing

>>3111144
“I’d like to peel the potatoes, class rep.”
Ryou mimics the spinning of the lottery, and picks up an imaginary colored ball.
“Jagan~ You get the A tier prize!”
“What makes it A tier, exactly?”
“Well, its A tier for you but it's S tier for me!” She turns the list around for you to see.

“...Ah, now I get it.”
It seems she’s in the potato peeling group as well. Of course she’d appreciate your help.
Hanazawa is in the roux group.
While there seems to be a low amount of people in the carrots group from 2-1, you see Kobayashi Mariko’s group start to peel some carrots. So bad you wish you’d die is with them, then?
“Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to rank yourself A-tier, miss class rep?”
“Shut up. Anyway, come on, let’s not keep the others waiting!”
She grabs you by the forearm as you march towards the cutting board station.
“My goal today is to have no finger cuts!”
“...Please don’t get blood on the food, class rep…”

///

“So, I’ve been thinking…”
As you wait for the potatoes to boil, class rep starts talking in a much lower voice.
“Yes?”
“We’re going to be having that test of courage in Jigokuyama.”
That’s where she’ll be confessing, is what she’s trying to say.
“Are you making use of the suspension bridge effect?”
“Ehh, even you know of that stuff, Ken-kun?”
“Of course.”
It’s a common romcom trope after all.
“Well, I’m not sure who will be in charge of the pairings...but if I’m participating, it won’t be me. Would you mind…”
It seems she’s asking you to investigate and “influence” the two of them to do the test of courage together.

“I’ll...see about that.”
“That’s good enough. Thanks, Ken-kun.”
She continues to watch the boiling potatoes, smiling. Occasionally she’d giggle. She hasn’t been this chipper in a while.

>Let her be. Ryou should savor the moment.
>Ask her to temper her expectations.

>>3111222
>>Let her be. Ryou should savor the moment.

>>3111222
>Let her be. Ryou should savor the moment.

>>3111222
>Let her be. Ryou should savor the moment.

Although this does remind me- we need to double check on Eiji and see how he feels about the whole 'what if a girl confessed to you' thing.

>>3111222
You stay silent and let her be. This is her youth after all. She should savor it.
“Ah! These look done.”
The class rep grabs a pair of tongs to pull out the potatoes, when someone interjects.
“Oii, class rep!”
“What is it?”
“We need a couple more hands for the gathering of firewood. Could you spare us a couple of guys?”
“Sure.”
She looks around before her eyes land on you.
“Alright. Don’t get a burn while I’m gone, ok?”
“I’m not a child, idiot!”

///

The guys drag you along to the forest, where a pile of twigs and logs are stacked to be dragged to the campsite.
“Man, I’m knackered.”
“Tell me about it. All this after a hike and a long travel? Give me a break!”
“I can’t wait for the hot springs man…”
“You sound like an old geezer, lol!”

The other guys were horsing around while you kept more to yourself, gathering more pieces for the fire.
You see something dash in the corner of your eye.
“...?”
“Yo, Yamada. What’s up?”
“...Nothing. I just thought I saw something move there.”
“Dude, that’s scary, lol!”
“It’s probably just a rabbit or something.”

…Probably.
But the size seemed bigger than a rabbit.
More like the size of a small child.

You continue to gather.
“...!”
There it was again.
That movement.
You look around. No one seems to be giving it any attention.
Maybe it is just your imagination, after all…?

>Investigate
>Ignore it

>>3111274
>Keep an eye open but don't investigate

>>3111274
Second >>3111280

>>3111274
>>Investigate

>>3111274
Might be a bear cub or something like that. Voting >3111280
so that we don't accidentally anger a mama bear or something.

>>3111274
Whatever it is…
You don’t investigate it for now. You keep an eye out though, just in case.
“Yo, did you hear? Hikaru-chan won’t be doing the pairings.”
“Aw man. That sucks! I wanted to be with my girlfriend too for the test!”
“Tough luck man.”
“Who’s replacing her?”
“I heard it’s a sensei.”
“Eugh.”

That just makes the job exponentially harder.
No way can you convince a sensei to partner up Ryou and Eiji.
Hell, the possibility of it being a same gender deal might not be all that far off.

“Maybe we can convince the teacher?”
“Lol, fat chance. They’ll just think you’re a horny bastard, lol!”

No way would the sensei agree to you helping with the pairings as well.
Not to mention…
But, who can the sensei trust to do the pairings, that you might be able to convince to pair Eiji and Ryou up?

“...!”

There it is again.
The rustling of the leaves.
Again, no one seems to notice it aside from you.
But this time, its accompanied by snickering.
The snickering of children.

>Investigate
>Ignore them

>>3111325
>>Investigate
Yolo bois

>>3111325
Can we tell if it's male or female?

>>3111325
>Ignore them

>>3111325
>Investigate

>>3111325
>Ignore them
>Heads up one of the teachers or a sensei that we've got pint-sized spies.

>>3111325
This >>3111341

3-2 on ignore them
>Writing

>>3111325
You decide to ignore them once more.
They’re just children playing around. You should let them be.

With the gathering finished, the firewood is brought to the clearing once more.
“Oho, excellent haul you got there boys!”
One of the older senseis claps in approval as you march in with your spoils.
“Mhm, excellent, excellent. We’re gonna have enough here to have a bonfire if we want to!” he says with boisterous laughter.

“Sensei,”
“Hm? Oh, Yamada. What is it?”
“There were some kids playing around in the forest while I was there. If the parents ever look for them, just tell them that’s where they are.”
“Kids? Parents?”
“...Is there a problem, sensei?”
“Not really a problem, but as far as I know we should only have the place to oursel--”

“Senseii~!”
A group of girls come to the old bear of a teacher with high pitched voices.
“Yes, what is it? Need something from me?”

The group called out for the teacher...
But instead they circle around you.

“Can we borrow Yamada-kun for a second?”
“Eh? Me?”

The girls are [Mobs], so they have no distinguishing features. You remember none of them, apart from them being from the same class as you and looking familiar. They have mischievous smiles on their faces.

“Come on, come with us! We need your help for something~”

>Follow the girls
>Refuse to follow them

>>3111386
>>Follow the girls

>>3111386
>For what?

>>3111386
>>Follow the girls
time to get mobbed i guess.

>>3111424
I mean, if we KNOW they're probably trying some skank shit in AND out of character, why just go along with it? See if we can't get something out of them first.

>>3111386
>For what?

>>3111429
Ken's likely going to get mobbed whether we like it or not. Might as well get it over with.

>>3111437
Then you could just refuse to follow them. One of those sorts that believes we don't have any choice, then?

>>3111386
>Follow the girls
Might as well be done with it

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>>3111386
“Er, for what exactly?”
“We need a taste tester, that’s what!”
“I mean, I’ll do it, but why me exac--oi, stop pushing!”
“Thanks sensei, we’ll be borrowing him for a bit~”

You are carried away by the girls. Even with all the noise, you can hear the tutting of the old teacher and mutters of, “Ah, to be young again…”

///

“We found you your taste-tester!”
“Thanks Suzu--eh?”
“Eh?”

‘Eh’ was all you can say when you come face to face with Hanazawa.
“What are you doing here...Yamada-san?”
What’s with the uber formal language?
“Well--”
“Yuyu was looking for a taste-tester so we got you one!”
And what’s with that overly-cutesy nickname?!

“But I didn’t mean…!”
“Yuyu, don’t forget to stir the pot! The roux will burn if you keep it like that!”
“Ah, right, sorry…”

The apologetic for some reason Hanazawa returns to mixing the stew.
“Aw, you’re not gonna let Yamada-kun have a taste of your cooking, Yuyu?”
“W-We cooked it together, y’know…”
“Hasn’t Yamada-kun been working hard? Why don’t you say ‘thanks for your hard work’ to him?”
What’s with this weird peer pressure…?

Hanazawa stirs the pot.
“...Thanks for your hard work…”
Eh, you’re playing along?!
Even the other girls are going wild.
“...No, you’ve been working hard to, thanks…”

You’re blushing ear to ear. So is Hanazawa.
You--

>Keep the ball rolling
>Ask the girls to lay off Hanazawa

>>3111475
>>Keep the ball rolling
Now I just want to give these guys a thumbs up. Also it looks like the Roux was the S-Luck Card

>>3111475
OMG these sneaky girls they just want to pick on us.
>Keep the ball rolling
Might as well die from embarrassment

>>3111475
>Keep the ball rolling
>Give the girls a thumbs up behind our back
>Walk up to Hanazawa and hug her from behind
>Whisper in her ear "I bet something else is delicious too. Maybe I can find out later, huh?"
All in on this.

>>3111533
I can get behind giving the girls a thumbs up at least.

>>3111475
>>>Keep the ball rolling
>Thumbs up for the girls
>Hug her from behind

Now I'm worried that QM is either going to fuck us by making us lower our guard or if he's just giving us an olive branch

>>3111475
>>Keep the ball rolling

>>3111533
Actually yeah give Mayumi a hug
>>>Keep the ball rolling
>Give the girls a thumbs up and smile
>Hugs for best girl

be back in a mo
>Writing last of the run for now

>>3111563
>last of the run for now
You mean end of thread, or a dreaded HIATUS?

File: DNGBvkV.png (1.47 MB, 1920x1080)

1.47 MB PNG

>>3111475
You decide to keep the ball rolling.
“Um, would you mind letting me taste your cooking, Hanazawa?”
She continues stirring. She answers with a nod.

You come closer to her as she grabs a saucer, and puts some curry sauce in it.
“Here…”
“Ah, thanks.”
She reaches the saucer to your lips.
“Uh, Hanazawa…”
It's too late. She tips the saucer to your lips, letting you taste the savory curry.
But she could have just gave you the saucer...she didn’t have to feed you too…

The girls are going mental behind you. You decide to ignore them completely.
“How is it…” Hanazawa returns to stirring the curry, avoiding your gaze.
“Is it too salty? Too spicy?”
“Cough, cough, as a matter of fact, its so sweet in here, cough!”

Hanazawa gives them a death glare, before returning to stirring the pot.
“...So…?”
You don’t know if you’re just hungry, but you answer honestly what’s on your mind.
“It’s delicious. The best curry I’ve ever had.”

The girls squeal, and that seems to be enough to put Hanazawa over the edge.
“Alright, that’s it--!”
“Hyaah! She’s gonna kill us!”
The girls run away.
“You’re welcome, Yamada-kun!”
You show them a thumbs up behind Hanazawa’s back.
“Honestly. Some friends they are…”

Hanazawa sighs, and turns back to you. She reaches up and brushes her fingertips to the bangs of your hair.
“You didn’t have to play along with them, y’know.”
You laugh.
“I did because I wanted to.”

She slaps you on the shoulder. “Idiot. Pervert.”
You smile. You reach in for a hug…
But she pushes you away.

“N-Not in public, Ken-kun.”
You notice the stares of some of the other students, including some teachers.
“Right. Sorry.”
She breathes out a sigh, before tip toeing to whisper…
”Wanna sneak out later, then?”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Love to, can't because we need to keep an eye on Ryou and keep Riho from possibly literally killing one or the other, or otherwise pulling some hoe shit.

>>3111610
Ohh yeah we should probably tell her Riho's a danger

>>3111611
Her Ryou or Her Hanazawa? Either way the answer is yes.

>>3111617
Probably just Mayumi for now. I don't know if Ryou'd trust us randomly saying that but then again she might and she's an MC

>Also we're so not getting laid because we'll have to spend most our time comforting Ryou once she gets dumped.

>>3111623
Just remind her of Riho's odd antics when she was introduced.

>>3111607
>”Wanna sneak out later, then?”
The right answer to this is "I thought you'd never ask."
We still gotta tell her about >>3111610 though

>>3111623
Bareback fucking Hanazawa on the open mountain where anybody could spot us is a key goal of this trip, alongside making sure Ryou and Rei do not fucking kill themselves, and that Riho fails to pull evil shenanigans.

>>3111625
It's a pretty big key goal since her brother's gonna cock-block us when we're at home but I feel like not getting Ryou and Rei killed/too broken takes precedent.

Also I thought we bought some condoms a while back. Bareback sex sounds like a pretty great idea at first but I doubt either Mayumi or Yamada want to risk it so much. I mean the first smut scene was pretty hot but it's gonna be really awkward having to pull out seems like it's gonna get tedious and I'm worried that it only takes Yamada letting his Lizard brain take over once to ruin two lives.

>>3111632
Fuck her thighs my dude there's not nearly enough Intercrural sex around

>>3111475
Break up with her

>>3111637
Why not try all positions?

>>3111607
Sorry, no can do. Also we should stop seeing each other

>>3111653
I mean I really wish we could just save up a bunch of money to go have a few weeks away with Mayumi and fuck like rabbits but we've got to babysit a bunch of anime characters

>>3111658
Just commit suicide Riho nobody likes you. You aren't nearly crazy enough to be hot you just look retarded with your dumb fucking plans

>>3111607
A crazy girl broke into my house and smashed my alarm clock to prevent me from making this trip so I'm a bit too paranoid for your tempting offer to conquer the mountain together. I don't think she's a yandere but i'd rather not accidentally raise any flags.
I'm just gonna have to settle for admiring your beauty for now. Kiss her on the cheek to say goodbye.

Seriously guys. Riho has the subtlety of a brick. If we take the bait she's gonna either film it and send it to everyone in the school or drag a teacher to where we are and get us expelled. We can wait until a freak storm forces us to spend the night in a spooooooky cabin.

>>3111667
Telling anon's to commit suicide? That sounds exactly like something Riho would say.

>>3111674
Ohh shit you're right Riho's so gonna film us to ruin our lives. That's just the sort of bitch she is.

>>3111680
>Alternatively just an Anon

>>3111632
Yeah it sucks. Though Mayumi might be on the pill for a while already if she was expecting exactly this to happen on the trip. She's literally a girl who canonically uses /g/ in-universe, the fuck you expect? And yeah we still have the condoms with us just in case.

>>3111674
>>3111683
>If we take the bait she's gonna either film it and send it to everyone in the school or drag a teacher to where we are and get us expelled
FUCK I FORGOT THIS WAS A THING
THAT FUCKING BITCH

>>3111667
>but we've got to babysit a bunch of anime characters
Mayumi won't be dying anytime soon, so Ken can still do that stuff without her bro cockblocking him at his own house. On the plus side, saving two girls from jumping off a cliffside and splattering their brains and guts onto the rocks will be a big fucking achievement, and will further us to our ultimate Vetinari position in the eyes of others.

>>3111688
Ohh god she's totally gonna do that thing where she sensually whispers she's not on the pill in black spoilers just before the end of a session so we can seethe in frustration and anticipation at not getting to tap that in like a week to a month to a year when QM runs again.

>>3111674
Addendum (before thecheesey line and kiss)
I think she just sees us as an obstacle since we're helping Ryou right now.

>>3111692
Mayumi wouldn't do that.Ken needs his freedom still to work undercover to [True End]. If she really is on the pill but doing RP of not being on it, then that's even fucking hotter holy shit

Now some anons might say we're in the wrong for thinking too much about fucking the girlfriend. They might be right. But they also forget that the universe is literally our to ruin Ken Yamada's efforts both subtly and unsubtly until we gain enough power and influence over the harem girls to protect ourselves and BEGONE THOT Riho for good. [True End] is the ultimate goal, but there's no law saying we can't have Ken go for some fun while he's at it.

>>3111692
The pill is ultra difficult to get in japan. A woman needs a written prescription and doctors appointment every single time they get the pills.

>>3111709
Ohh sorry, my fried brain miswrote. I meant to say she's gonna say she's on the pill in black spoiler text before the session ends. Like how past sessions ended with her saying her parents aren't home or some other sensual phrase in black text before the session ends.

>>3111718
Really? My ex-girlfriend was on the pill and I never realized it was that hard to get. Maybe it was easy cause she worked at a pharmacy? Or maybe she was trying to get knocked up

>>3111718
Okay that I didn't know about for Japan. So I guess the plan isn't too good now. Oh well

Hey so I'm pretty behind in this quest, I stopped reading around thread 8. Would anyone be kind enough to give a brief summary of the events so far?
Like crucial details, plot twists, characters, etc. If not that's cool, I'll just read the archive.

>>3112880
Read the damn archive

>>3112927
Alright, no need to be an ass.

>>3112880
In case anyone isn't caught up and is lurking here, check out "Parable of the Moth". It's the guide written by the QM that summarizes the story so far.

https://pastebin.com/dCj6wYNV

Aww man I just realized this story is a quest that's based off a visual novel where the main character's in an anime world and so he makes a visual novel about said anime world.

>>3113175
The fuck? Where did you get that shit from? I'm pretty sure this is based on a real old VN script Bisugo had, but one that we got off-rails by being creative with write-ins

>>3113203
Ohh yeah I think it meant Light Novel not visual novel. But it's still a quest who's story started out as a visual novel about an anime world that's autists have shot off the rails where the main character's decided to keep a journal disguised as a visual novel about his life in an anime.

I'm pretty sure the plot twist is actually that QM is Yamada-Kun

>>3113215
I did yeah, I too think QM is Yamada is disguise

>>3113215
*Light Novel, Geez I confused them too

>>3112880
I don't get into aliens, metaphysical, religion. I study the [Meta], and if you wanna know, I'll actually break down right now, the best knowledg of what's happening in the quest.
Let me give you a basic gestalt.
The [Meta Characters] are all about happiness and ending the world, and the secrets to the [Plot] which only they know. Some are good, some are bad, some are a mix. The good ones don't ever wanna organize. But the bad ones they wanna organize because they lust after the [End] regardless of consequences. Powerful consciousness don't wanna dominate other people, they wanna empower them, so they don't tend to get together till really late in the game. Then they come together, and [Evil] is always defeated cause [Good] is so much stronger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIscL-Bjsq4

You're welcome.

>>3114110
based and redpilled, thanks Alex Jones

Woohoo I'm finally caught up! Okay, so something kinda important that nobody has really been discussing is when we had our little amnesia attack. We were at the Hokkaido airport, but we were confused about the name. We claimed the airport was called "chitose", but Ryou claimed it was called shikoto. We think she's wrong - in fact, we are adamant about it in our head, almost violent about it. Truth is, we're both right.
"New Chitose" is the largest airport in Hokkaido, in the real world. Shikoto is the same, but in this anime world. It seemed that Ken was rejecting this false reality. Why now? Why over this? I don't know.
What interests me is that Ken knew the layout of the real world airport, thinking that the bathrooms should be in a certain spot and so on.
It looks like, at the very least, old Ken has been to Hokkaido. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

>>3115166
Seems pretty clear cut. It's easy to accept the memories of the new world when they don't conflict with the old one. It's hard when they do.
I don't think much about his old life has ever been said, much less things that contradict his new reality, and his role as Yamada Ken - I mean there was a Yamada Ken underneath him, and we saw some of that when Ryou nearly got him to cheat.


On a sidenote: I deeply empathize with Ryou. My shitty situation was so similar to her own shitty situation. Makes me feel bad we haven't managed more progress into helping her. Do you guys have any opinions on how we should proceed there?

>>3115359
I guess in my head real world Ken was not Japanese, and instead just some American weeaboo. That's why the Hokkaido thing caught my attention.

As for Ryou, I think we should get her to confess to Eiji. She's already getting hyped up to do it, and regardless of the outcome she'll be able to move on from this Eiji crush and have a solid relationship with him, whether it's as friends or dating.

I guess the issue is what are the consequences of her confession? If it produces [Happiness] for Eiji, then won't the world end?

>>3115394
We've already agreed on getting her to confess. The issue comes with the fact that Riho doesn't seem to want that to happen. As for the [Happiness] thing, I think most of us are operating on the assumption that Eiji will either let her down gently, or accept but not actually be Happy because he doesn't want to make her sad. Either way, we're hoping to be able to still have time to work out everyone's issues.

[True End] is probably something along the lines of 'all the harem realize that they shouldn't be idolizing this one guy and risking life and friendships for him, and that they have much more in life worth worrying about, while Eiji remains good friends with them all while not having to worry about harem shenanigans.'

>>3115394
I don't think the confession will be the end of things.
Like Ken told Riho: happiness isn't easy, it's not something that just happens.
Even Tezuka said that Ryou's issue isn't just that she doesn't get to be in a loving relationship, albeit in a different manner, and I think we haven't come close to really understandinh what will make Eiji happy since we avoided him a lot.

>>3115394
The fact that we seem to be slowly morphing into a harem protag (which is only stopped by the fact that we have a girlfriend) might indicate that whatever random schmucks got forcibly reincarnated into the world are candidates for the next "god" in a never ending cycle. Maybe our parents aren't [meta] due to our little brother but our little brother is [meta] due to our mom or dad (probably dad) being the "god" a few iterations back?

>>3115416
My opinion:

Ryou will probably need to learn how to feel love for herself, and acknowledge her own worth, though it would help if she realized her friends do care deeply about her, and value/admire her. Still, she is insecure, lusting for exterior love and lashing out wrathfully when she's frustrated to find none, and even going as far as to try and steal what she feels envious of.

Tezuka seems to think she needs to be detached of her own desires to be an adult. While acceptance is important, sometimes you need to put yourself first. I'm gonna go on and guess she's in a state of slothful "acceptance" where she won't go out of her way to find her own happiness, not acknowledging her own desire. Should study further.

Kobayashi? I think we mostly just saw her pride, which is an issue in itself. Her risking her rep indicates there's more depth to her than that. I wonder if she isn't the type that only acts pridefully due to the role she has been assigned by society, which would fit in with certain overarching themes. Gonna need more intel.

Rinko? Don't know what to make of her. She showed a bit of greed in how she spread rumors about Ken, just to keep "what's hers". We'll need more investigative effort towards this one.

Eiji? He needs to date a neutron star, the only object dense enough to match a harem protag.

>>3115457
We really ought to find out more about Mom and Dad's past, that plot line kinda got sidelined.

>>3115475
Pride = Mariko
Sloth = Tezuka
Gluttony = That loli bitch
Lust = Riho
Envy = Ryou
Anger = Fumihara
Greed = Ken

So did i get it right?

>>3115562
Interesting, what about the seven virtues?

>>3115478
Yeah, I totally agree. It's pretty obvious that our dad used to be a protagonist, or at least lived his life as one, and our mom was the girl in the harem that "won".

So, why is Nakamura Eiji God? Does the status of "God" pass on from protag to protag? Can there only be one active protagonist at once? Just some questions to consider. We should really make exploring our parent's past a goal when we get back.

>>3115562
>>3115576
Greed could be the one girl we go on morning runs with

>>3115562
On further reflection, isn't Fumi a [Mob]? I'm wondering how character roles align with that analogy

>>3115614
That could be true. The world's focal point changes as its goal is achieved. Or maybe it really is part of their "background" as secondaries. Still worth investigating.

>>3115651
Because she mimicks others? Might be. I thought Greed would fit Rinko because her motivation for acting badly was to keep Eiji to herself (and her circle).

>>3115709
Nah, Fumi is way too special to be a [Mob]. She's the classic delinquent trope, and everyone in school fears her. She's a [Main Character] for sure.

>>3115576
Chastity = Mother
Temperance = Jogging girl
Charity = as much as i hate it to say but this is Kei
Diligence = Father
Patience = Hanazawa
Kindness = Soccer Coach Oga
Humility = Ken

I dunno about you but this is what i think of

>>3115829
>Patience
>Hanazawa
You know what? Yes, this one I can firmly believe in.

>>3115709
Fumi doesn't seem like a love interest. She seems more like a person that became a mob but still retained her overall outlook on the situation despite no longer being [Meta]. Or at least that's why I immediately mistook her for being a [Meta] character. Either that or Eiji crashed and burned her route ultra hard.

>>3115829
Isn't Akane, like, the exact opposite of chastity? She pretty much oozes sex at all times. If anything, she represents lust best out of any character.

>>3115875
She's antagonistic in nature. She isn't, and never was, a [Mob]. She can be a [Main Character] while not being a love interest.

>>3115876
She might oozes Sex all the times but she doesn't flaunt her affection in open. Not unlike that bitch Riho who would no qualms baring her body to a stranger.

Riho is a THOT mom is pure learn the difference

Running in a bit

File: 1530356720510.png (388 KB, 800x800)

388 KB PNG

>>3115911
Nice. Dubs are promising too.

>>3111607
Unlike the waves of the beach, the waves of Lake Asa flowed in relative peace. The sun was at a nice temperature - just at the cusp of being hot - and the wind flowed despite the walls of the caldera surrounding the lake.

The beach…that’s right. It will be summer soon.

You and Hanazawa climb down the boulders to approach the water. The smell of sulfur is in the air, but you don’t mind. The place is soothing in its own rights.

You go ahead of Hanazawa and help her down a particularly steep boulder.
“Thanks, Ken-kun.”
“No problem. Hup!”

You hold her by the waist as she jumps down. You’re reminded again of just how lithe her body is.
You remain like that for a second, before she slaps you in the forearms.
“Ow.”
“Don’t linger, its daytime. Pervert.”
You smile, but your arms stay right where they are.
“Ken-kun!”
“I know, I know,” you say while laughing. “Can I embrace you at least?”
“...Sure.”

You sit by the side of the lake, admiring the scenery. You’re surprised that no other couple or student playing hooky decided to come down here. Though it looks like the smell of sulfur would be unbearable, the wind washes it all off well. It's a genuinely relaxing place.

Your arms are around Hanazawa, who sits inside of your body. She’s so small that she fits perfectly inside. No words are exchanged for a brief moment, all attention turned to the scenery.

“Ken-kun, is something the matter?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“It feels like you’re up to something again. Then again, you’re always up to something.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means my boyfriend’s a busybody, that’s what.”

She giggles and puts her hands on your arms.
“So what is it? What’s been on your mind lately?”

>Tell her about Ryou’s confession
>Tell her about the kids in the forest
>Tell her about the airport sickness
>Tell her about the incident with Iwata Riho

>>3115968
>>Tell her about the incident with Iwata Riho
>Be careful with her she's dangerous but also kind of dumb.

>>3115968
>Tell her about the incident with Iwata Riho
Honesty is the best policy. Remember to point out how weird the girl has been acting around Eiji too.
>Tell her about Ryou’s confession
Maybe she has any clues.


"Your arms are around Hanazawa, who sits inside of your body. She’s so small that she fits perfectly inside."
D-did you mean over, BGS? I know english isn't your first language, just giving you some feedback.

>>3115968
>Tell her about the incident with Iwata Riho
>Be careful with her she's dangerous but also kind of dumb.
>Tell her about Ryou’s confession

>>3115879
But in that case what/who is she meant to be the opponent of? Her rancor at the situation spiraling around eiji is a reasonable outlook on everything but not an easy one to come to in this world. Literally everyone automatically loves eiji and subscribes to the groupthink hive-mind. She for some unknown reason seems to question it. She even outright realizes something is wrong. She may be wrathful but she's a "villain" on the side of justice. I'm probably not being creative enough, but it's difficult to see likely situations where the current main 4 love interests would actually personally run afoul of her and be calmed down by Eiji. The most I can come up with is her getting a boyfriend (aka the snot nosed little brother) and Ryou's manstealing trait activating but i'm not seeing a resolution here.

>>3115968
>>Tell her about the incident with Iwata Riho
>Tell her Riho might not be right in the head

>>3115992
Maybe antagonistic to the ruling order of this universe, since she seems to go against the MC > SC > Mob value system, even if unwittingly

>>3115968
“Actually, do you know the new transfer student?”
“Iwata-san?”
“Yeah. Well…”

You start to tell her about what happened earlier this morning. The broken alarm clock, her creeping into your bed…

But as the story goes on, Hanazawa grows more and more silent.
Eventually, you stop talking as well.

“Mayumi? What’s the matter?”
“...What...exactly are you telling me, Ken-kun?”
“I’m just saying...be careful around her. She was out to make sure I was late for the flight. She might be a bit...off...is all I’m saying.”
“...”
“Mayumi?”

“I’ll be frank, Ken-kun. You’re the only one looking off right now.”
“...What do you mean?”
“You expect me to believe that the new transfer student crept into your house, broke your things, and crept into bed with you? Just like that? Do you know how preposterous you sound right now? Do you think I’m an idiot, Ken-kun?”
“What? No! Absolutely not!”
“Did you sleep with her? Is that it?! Are you making up stories now so I don’t catch you, is that it?!”
“Mayumi, calm down. Look, let me explain…”

She pushes away from you, and walks away. Her arms are crossed, and she’s doing her best to stop her tears.

“Mayumi…”
“I’ve been patient with you Ken-kun...it may not seem like it, but...I’ve been doing my best since I do love you. Genuinely. But if this is your way of letting me down slowly then I’d rather you push me off instead.”
“No, you don’t understand...I’m only saying this because I feel that she’s dangerous, and--”
“How could you say that to someone who’s almost a stranger to you?! Iwata-san’s sick, you come running late, and apparently its because of this...this...this!”

She wipes her eyes with one hand. She’s choking a bit now.

“I’m...I’m done for now, Ken-kun. Leave me for a bit.”

She marches off, ignoring your calls.
The waves of the lake hit the pebbles, leaving a light gentle sound in the breeze.

>cont’d

>>3116053
Fuck. Now that we say it out loud, it does sound pretty crazy.

>>3116059
>tfw we were the one to fuck up our own relationship, not Iwata
GOD
DAMNIT

>>3116053
Oh yeah. I forgot we can't really specify things in this quest. It's very broad strokes.

>>3116059
I mean, so is half the bullying Yamada went through. They threw shit at him, paid gangsters to beat him and most important of all:
They tried to undermine Hanazawa's trust of him by lying to her.
Hopefully she'll realize what he's getting at

>>3116069
I mean we can, but nobody did. That's what write-ins are for. We should have been more careful.

>>3116016
Which then loops back into my theory about her being a former [awakened] or [meta] that got subsumed in some manner as it makes no obvious narrative sense for her in relation to the MC and haremettes. She just feels like an anomaly jammed in there.

>>3116072
Wish I had gotten here faster. I'd probably have tried to be more specific.

>>3116072
Truth. But I'm not sure what would be a good option. Maybe remind her of the time when a group of assholes lied to her about Ken leaving and she almost believed them?

>>3116081
My idea would've just been to specifically tell her that 'Iwata's trying to get Eiji for herself, and she wanted my help with that.'

>>3116088
How does lying to Mayumi help? She needs to know the truth.

>>3116094
Because it's the most reasonably understood excuse for her actions, and there is justifiable precedent considering her actions when she was first introduced and dragged Eiji away a bit. (If I'm remembering it correctly.)

Wait up... how does she think we're dumping her?

Wait holy shit she thinks we knocked up Riho!

>>3116053
After you climb back up to the clearing, you feel a thousand gazes on you. The girls who dragged you earlier are part of them. Some of them look at you with disgust, the others with confusion.

Nakamura, not reading the mood, approaches you with a smile.
“Hey, where’ve you been Yamada? I’ve been looking for you!...Uh, is everything ok?”
You smile and assure him that it’s all fine.

You march to one of the sinks in the camping ground, and wash your face in the water.
You hear the whispers of the people around you, sharp words, harsh words being passed around.

“Move.”
You hear a familiar voice behind you. You step to the side as you dry your face with the inside of your shirt.

“Are you actually a despicable person, Yamada Ken-kun?”
Kobayashi Mariko speaks in a low tone, in an effort not to associate with you. She washes a couple of dishes in the sink.

“It’s all a misunderstanding, Kobayashi-san.”
“I hope it is. Or the effort of all the people around you will be for nothing.”
“...”
“Is it true? That you cheated on the girl with the transfer student?”

“Never--!”

Your voice involuntarily raises at the statement.
You feel the voices around you pause in surprise, before resuming.
Kobayashi though, looks with a neutral expression, and returns to the plates.
“Take control of your emotions. You’re a man aren’t you?”


“...Yes...sorry…”
You squat down on the floor as Kobayashi washes the dishes.
“As much as every second in your vicinity lowers my standing with the others…”
“...”
“Know that I, at least, don’t think you’re a cheater. A loser, maybe, scum, most likely, but not a cheater.”
She wipes the plate with a towel, and looks at her reflection in it.
“...Probably.”
“...So you trust me at least.”

“Not at all,” she turns around to walk away. “It’s just that the alternative means that all my hard work will be for naught, and that is harder to stomach in my mind. Farewell.”

She marches off, leaving you alone. You stand up to wash your face when you hear it.

Coming from the forest. The sounds of a child crying.

>Investigate
>Ignore it

>>3116118
And with good reason. We've been acting shady as fuck lately, and now we're telling her that some girl showed up in our bed naked but don't worry, it's only because she's crazy!

This is going to be a tough hole to dig ourselves out of.

>>3116059
As opposed to us becoming a delinquent commander,bullied by the zombie hordes,one of Eiji's harem turning lesbian, and everything else within the span of a few weeks?
>>3116115
She doesn't think we're dumping her. She thinks we're coming up with increasingly ridiculous excuses when we already act like a harem MC except we aren't as Dense as Eiji so we should know better.

>>3116121
>Investigate

>>3116121
Wait, how did word travel so quickly? Did Mayumi start blabbing to everyone, or did people just overhear us? The latter would be strange, because I would think we were talking in hushed tones.

Regardless,

>Investigate the crying

>>3116130
+1 to spooky ghost children haunting the land.

>>3116130
Her friends were watching us from the bushes

>>3116121
>Investigate
Why would she think we're lying to her now?

>>3116121
>>Investigate

Hey guys....i have a suggestion
lets kill ourselves here and be done with it

>>3116121
>Investigate
Hopefully she didn't spread the word when the guy is already being fucked over by rumors.

>>3116115
She's already fragilized, and having your boyfriend come out and say he was in bed with another girl does sound like a way to let someone off / push them away.
I don't think we can't overcome this, but it really sounds crappy. The context should extenuate it a bit of course, like the other guy said we've been through some deep shit.

>>3116147
Quiet, Iwata

>>3116143
She's fragilized and it's a huge load for her to swallow, context aside

>>3116147
No, because we still have a job to do. If nothing else, just to spite Iwata.

>>3116121
No one seems to be paying any attention to the cries, so you decide to investigate on your own.
You approach the forest once more, going down the trail you were at a few moments ago.

>...’s….o…

You hear the speaking of voices along with the crying. They speak in a comforting voice.

>...n’t...ry…

You can’t pinpoint the source of the voices. You can hear them, but it feels more like the sound is echoing in your head.
You decide to pick a direction, and walk towards it. It seems you’re in the right path, as the voices get clearer.

>Ge...z...wh..t...did yo...o th...is time?
>I...I...mess....ed up aga…
>Is that...t..rue…?

“...Yes…?”
For some reason, you find yourself speaking up.

>Aw, again?
>Shut up aneki. Come on, did you get yourself hurt somewhere?
>Kiiids! Lunch is ready!
>Oh no, is my little baby boy crying again?

The voice of a man emanates from deeper in the forest. But you’re sure that the camping site is behind you.

Should you follow the voices further?

>Turn back
>Keep on following

>>3116199
>>Turn back
We've got a job to do. We don't have time chasing old dreams

>>3116199
>Keep on following
Think I see where this is going

>>3116199
>>Keep on following
until we are at the edge of the hell mountain

>>3116199
Ghosts. We aren't in the mood to b at the campsite right now.

>>3116199
>Keep going
We might as well figure this out.

>>3116199
>>Turn back

I get people are in despair, but let's not be foolish about this.

>>3116199
>Turn back
What's going to happen is that we'll be stuck in this forest all night and miss the confession with Ryuo. Probably even give Riho the chance to fuck with Mayumi

>>3116199
>Turn back
Others are right. We gotta delay seeing our past to focus on the present. Lives are at stake.

>>3116205
Fine the others make good points. I would like to find out about the ghosts, but switching to
>TURN BACK
to avoid immediate suffering

>>3116226
>>3116221
Argh you guys are right. Switching my vote to >Turn back

Still, what can we possibly do right now? Mayumi doesn't want to see us.

>>3116234
Find someone who will really believe in us? Like... Ryou? Fumi, maybe?

>>3116234
Truth of the matter is we can't do anything with Mayumi. We still have a job to make sure Riho doesn't mess with the confession. The only thing we can give Mayumi is time. I want to tell her we love her, that she's the only women we have and do love then just leave it at that. Leave her some time to think.