>>4443474
>Don’t let her into your room. You’re not scared of her! (+1 Hopeful)

>>4443474
>Ask her why she’s here in the first place

>>4443474
>Ask her why she’s here in the first place

>>4443474
>Ask her why she’s here in the first place

>>4443474
>Don’t let her into your room. You’re not scared of her! (+1 Hopeful)

>>4443474
>>Ask her why she’s here in the first place

File: Kaguya's Mother.jpg (70 KB, 681x1174)

70 KB JPG

“T-that’s a lie! Y-you’d never just simply want to visit me!” You protest. It was the truth. Even now, your Mother was looking at you like you were something distasteful that had managed to block her way. “W-why are you here? Are you visiting Father? Then why aren’t you with him instead of right here?”

“Aw, shut up.” Your Mother snaps, apparently losing patience, “Are you going to step out of the way or not?”

Ah, you were beginning to understand now. Your Mother wasn’t here for you. For whatever reason, she wanted to get into your room. Once you figure that out, the rest comes easily. What was special about your room that wasn’t available anywhere else in the Manor? To the entire household, it was private. But to her it was accessible.

“You’re trying to use my suite as a hiding place, aren’t you?” You accuse her.

“So what if I am? Get out of the frying way!” Your Mother snarls, stepping forwards. You don’t have the courage to block her way any longer. If you had continued to block her way, she would just have shoved you aside.

You watch helplessly as your Mother makes herself at home in your suite. She saunters into your kitchen and rummages around the fridge, before pulling out half a dozen cool cans of soft drinks. Then, she sets herself up on your living room couch and turns on the TV you never use on, turning it up to a painfully loud volume.

“Hey, quit staring!” Your Mother lashes out, when she notices you staring in distress at how she was reclining in your favorite couch like it was the most natural thing in the world, “I’m going to be here the whole night, so you might as well just accept your current reality ...”

>Flee your Suite. You’re afraid of what will happen between the two of you if you stay.

>Stay with your Mother. You don’t trust your Mother enough to leave her alone in your suite.

>>4444977
>Stay with your Mother. You don’t trust your Mother enough to leave her alone in your suite.
Go get a bodyguard first though.

>>4444977
>>Stay with your Mother. You don’t trust your Mother enough to leave her alone in your suite.

>>4444977
>Stay with your Mother. You don’t trust your Mother enough to leave her alone in your suite.

>>4444977
>Flee your Suite. You’re afraid of what will happen between the two of you if you stay.

>>4445001
Support. Can we simply have her killed,of thrown out of the manor?

>>4445592
Kaguya-chan is too pure for that.

>>4444977
>Stay with your Mother. You don’t trust your Mother enough to leave her alone in your suite.

>>4445001
This.
>>4445592
I think we need a few more cynicism points for that, anon.

>>4446367
I don't do point buy for decisions anymore.

But I'd still disallow this kind of decision for being out of character. Try going through several character arcs first.

>>4446380
Ok, but if Kaguya's that afraid of her mother, she needs some kind of protection. Maybe a bodyguard or a non-lethal drone on her or on her mother for her own protection? Slso, it's obvious that Mother runs from something or someone. We need to find out what.

Staying in the same room as your Mother is almost unbearable for you. Her gaze fills you with a terrible feeling of fear unlike any other person. Ever since you could walk, you could never predict when she would be in a bad mood and it would be dangerous to attract her attention. The older you had grown, the worse those moods had gotten, all the way up until you began living in the Manor. And you still occasionally saw her, even though the two of you should have by all rights been out of each other’s lives.

With her in the room, you can’t do anything but huddle in the corner and try to keep out of her attention. But you can’t leave either. You can’t be sure what your Mother would do to this room in your absence. You had assumed after you left her life, your Mother wouldn’t want anything more to do with you. But instead, she had continued to visit you, rubbing salt into old wounds on both your parts. Over time, what had been anger and resentment on your Mother’s part had soured into disdain and hatred. And as hard as you tried, you couldn’t understand why.

Barely five minutes had passed and already this was the longest time you had spent alone with your Mother since leaving her Apartment. So far, your Mother just silently sits in front of the TV. If she was using your room to hide, then she was smart enough not to antagonize you needlessly. But still, your sense of danger only deepens until it’s unbearable. You’re just about to leave your room to get a guard …

… When unexpectedly, there’s a knock on your door!

“Kaguya-chan? Are you there?” An imploring, saccharine voice calls out from outside your door. But underneath the sweetness is a touch of shrillness, “Can you answer the door? I need to talk to you!”

You move to answer the door, but before you do, your Mother grabs you roughly by your shoulders, clamping one hand over your mouth. Her palm is cold and damp from the chilled soft drinks she had been drinking.

“Don’t let her know I’m here.” She hisses in your ear, “Understand?”

There’s only the loud ambient sound of the TV as the reality of the situation sinks in. So that’s how it is. Your Mother was hiding from your Father’s wife. And here you were, stuck between the two of them.

“Kaguya-chan? Are you there?” Lady Muramoto knocks on your door again, this time more frantically. But your Mother drags you away from the door. You don’t struggle. But even if you did, the unpleasant volume the TV was turned up to would have covered the sound of any struggling up.

Your Mother drags you to a closet for storing futons, before hiding herself inside.

“Remember. Don’t tell her.” She warns you one final time, before sliding the door shut. Now if someone were to peer through your front door, it would seem like you were the only one there.

“Can you hear me!? Kaguya-CHAAAAAAN! … Oh, there you are. Good evening, Kaguya-chan.” Standing outside your door is Lady Muramoto. Her usual gaudy clothes and makeup are gone. She’s dressed in a simple white robe, as if she had suddenly rushed here from her private quarters. She seems calm and composed like always, completely in contrast to the shrill, frantic voice that you had heard outside your door. But you can see from the streaks on her cheeks that she was recently crying. And there’s a hint of mania in her eyes.

“Good evening, Lady Muramoto.” You respond cautiously, as respectfully as possible, “How may I help you so late in the evening?”

“Well, I’m glad you’re willing to help me even so late in the evening.” Lady Muramoto says, “Sorry to disturb you, Kaguya-chan … But have you seen one of your Father’s women recently? I’ve been, ah, looking for one of them.”

>As a matter of fact, I have. In fact, she chose to hide in my room. Let me take you to her.

>I’m sorry, but unfortunately I have not. I … hope you find who you’re looking for. (Initiate Social Combat)

>>4446465
>As a matter of fact, I have. In fact, she chose to hide in my room. Let me take you to her.

>>4446465
>Express sympathy. offer refreshments, provide a shoulder to cry on, and make her sit here for as long as possible while our bitch mom is stuck in the closet. And if possible, make it look like it was Lady Muramoto's idea.

>>4446534
+1

>>4446534
This is better. Support

>>4446534
^This is fantastic. Support.

>>4446465
>"You mean my mother?"

>>4446534
This. Might require rolls so hopefully we don't blunder.

>>4446534
+1

You had no intention of giving up your Mother. As horrible as she had been to you, she was still your Mother. Besides, there was still the fact that you a very good idea of what the consequences would be if you exposed her. She had been invited here by Father, right? The last thing you wanted to do in this household was antagonize your Father.

But if you outright turned Lady Muramoto away, there would be consequences too. Well in that case, you would have to put on a good show. A plan forms in your head to appease Lady Muramoto and get back at your Mother at the same time.

“Father’s ... woman?” You cover your mouth as if shocked by the revelation, “Mother, I’m so sorry! To think that my own Natural Mother would cause you so much grief and mischief in your own home …”

“I’m so glad you understand.” Lady Muramoto pats you on your cheek, a touched, but sad expression on your face. “You really are mature for your age, Kaguya-chan.”

“These kinds of actions … they’re inexcusable, really. I wish I could tell you where she is. Have you alerted the Household Guard of her presence? They’re professionals, so they might be able to find her where we would miss her.”

“No I haven’t. But Kaguya-chan, please understand, matters like this must be kept strictly within the family. You mustn't involve any outsiders, even staff members. It would cause too much of a scandal if it did.”

Inwardly, you can’t help but laugh silently. As if you didn’t know this already. You were just confirming that your Mother wouldn’t be found by a guard with augmented sensors.”

“Still …” You continue, “Mother, it pains me to see you wandering the halls in such a state. Why don’t you come in so you can wipe the tears off your face. Perhaps I can get you something to drink to calm yourself?”

>Roll 3 1d20’s. Degree of success depends on number of successes.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4447717

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>4447717

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>4447717

>+2 Kaguya is very charming
>Lady Muramoto is not on guard and cannot actively resist

>2 Success, Gained 3 Cynical (Bonus for going down an extra-devious route)
>Limited Success, Lady Muramoto will not stay for very long.
>Lady Muramoto's regard for Kaguya has improved. She is touched that Kaguya is treating her like her Mother.

Kaguya has 9 Cynicism

>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?

>Accept limited success

>>4449417
>>Accept limited success

>>4449417
>Accept limited success

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal

>>4449417
> Use 5 Cynical to achieve goal.

It's effectively 2 Cynical, since we got 3 in this turn. We gain favors, and Lady Muramoto can character build. It's also easy to farm Optimism and Cynical, so they are spammable.

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?
Fuck it

>>4449417
>Use 5 Cynicism to fully achieve Goal?

>Lost 5 Cynicism

Kaguya has 4 Cynicism

“That’s a very kind offer.” Lady Muramoto smiles, “Thank you, Kaguya-chan.”

Lady Muramoto follows you into your room.

“Ah, were you watching television, Kaguya-chan? Noir Net News? You’re grown-up for watching the news in your free time ...” Lady Muramoto comments absentmindedly. Her gaze sweeps over the half-dozen soft drink cans on your coffee table. “You shouldn’t drink so much soda though. You won’t grow properly if you stray too far from your diet …”

“I’ll remember that.” You promise. You weren’t the one who was going to drink those anyways. “So, what can I get you? I have matcha and ujikintoki Soda, lemonade, barley tea … I can make some fresh tea if you’d prefer ...”

“I’ll have some barley tea, thank you.” Lady Muramoto quietly says, sitting at your kitchen counter.

You graciously oblige her, pouring her a tall glass of barley tea.

You wonder if you should be scared that Lady Muramoto is in your suite. After all, the woman she is looking for was less than twenty meters away, in the closet adjoining your living room. But despite that, you’re not. You feel perfectly confident that you can keep her from discovering your Mother.

You wait patiently for Lady Muramoto to start talking while she slowly takes sips of barley tea.

“Thank you Kaguya.” Lady Muramoto says again, “You’re such a sweet girl … nothing like your father at all.”

“Oh?” You reply simply.

“That damn bastard!” Lady Muramoto unexpectedly swears, “He never pays any attention to me or the kids at all! Aren’t I his wife? Aren’t we his family?”

“He doesn’t pay any attention to me either.” You sympathetically say.

Lady Muramoto laughs bitterly. “He wasn’t always like this. When we first married, he was so sweet and caring … similar to how you are actually … Where did it go so wrong?”

Lost in thought, Lady Muramoto lowers her head and clutches her face in her hands. Powerful sobs wrack her body …

>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

>You find it hard to care about this woman you barely know (+2 Cynical)

>Ask her about your Father (what?)

>>4450735
>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

>>4450735
>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)
She got dealt a shit hand. Also,
>he was so sweet and caring … similar to how you are actually
probably means he was employing Plutocrat charms. I can't help but feel a bit bad about using her to get back at our mother now.

>>4450735
>>You find it hard to care about this woman you barely know (+2 Cynical)

>>4450735
>You find it hard to care about this woman you barely know (+2 Cynical)

>>4450735
>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

We don't need to know her to feel bad for her.

>>4450735
> Embrace her out of sympathy
Kaguya's not that cold to do anything else.

>>4450735
>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

>>4450735
>>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

>>4450735
>You can’t help but embrace her out of genuine sympathy (+2 Hopeful)

Gained 2 Hopeful
Gained 1 Guilt

As Lady Muramoto weeps, head in her hands and closed off to everything except her own misery, soft hands wrap around her from behind and embrace her without any reservation. Lady Muramoto grabs onto your sleeve with surprising strength, drawing you closer and crying into your shoulder. Hot, angry tears soak your yukata.

“Uuuuuu … Kaguya-chan …” Lady Muramoto moans in a mixture of grief and gratitude.

You couldn’t help but embrace Lady Muramoto out of genuine sympathy. Up until now, you hadn’t felt that much sympathy for Lady Muramoto. She had been a mysterious and somewhat intimidating figure in your life, someone you had to play your part as a daughter of a Plutocratic family perfectly around. But you had never understood her situation. But now that you did, now that you understood how she had spent so much time and been caused so much misery by being manipulated by a Plutocrat … How could you not feel guilty for doing the same? Especially for a reason as petty as simply getting back at your Mother? You promise you won’t do something like this ever again.
…

Lady Muramoto continues crying into your shoulder for about an hour more before her tears finally abate. After that, she stays in your suite for a good while longer. She seems to have given up any thought of continuing to search for your Mother. You play your part as a good hostess and the two of you discuss various frivolous topics, nothing but small talk really, compared to the weight of the earlier topics.

But eventually, after half the night has passed by, she finally takes her leave. It isn’t until then that your real Mother emerges from hiding.

“Thought that fried bitch would never leave.” She complains, stretching out her cramped limbs before pulling out a brightly colored cigarette …

>You shouldn’t disparage people people who you’ve caused so much trouble so freely

>You’re still taking those narcotics of yours?

>Let her leave without antagonizing her

>Other (what)

>>4452000
>Let her leave without antagonizing her

>>4452000
>Ask her not to smoke in our suite
>Let her leave without antagonizing her

>>4452000
>You shouldn’t disparage people people who you’ve caused so much trouble so freely

>>4452000
Oh no we have guilt now

>You're still taking those narcotics?

>>4452000
>You shouldn’t disparage people people who you’ve caused so much trouble so freely
>Ask her not to smoke in our suite
She's in debt with us.

Also:
> Gained 1 Guilt
It's a new mechanic. Should we expect a debuff out of it? (Like when vulnerable, we need to roll a save to not incrimnete ourselves, or search a confidante to get rid of guilt?)

>>4452152
Guilt will be a modifier for actions you take to absolve it as well as a penalty for rolls against things you would feel guilty about doing. It also leads to interesting effects should you get enough of it, like every other modifier.

>>4452000
>Let her leave without antagonizing her

>>4452000
>You shouldn’t disparage people people who you’ve caused so much trouble so freely

You hate it that your Mother just came out of your closet looking none the worse for wear, despite having been stuck in there for hours. If that was the case, then your plan to get back at her through having Lady Muramoto stay for as long as possible … had been a fruitless one.

Although you want to respond to your Mother, to reprimand her, to express some small fraction of how you feel towards her. You’re afraid to antagonize her. You’re powerless to say a word.

“Goodnight, Kaguya.” Your Mother says, patting you on the head. She frowns when you flinch back, before snorting and looking away. in the end you simply clench your fists and watch her sashay out your door. She doesn’t look back once.

You do look back, just long enough to close your door.
…

Interlude

A Plutocrat’s body is akin to a finely-tuned machine, and like a finely tuned machine, has many delicate requirements in servicing and maintenance. The adolescence of a gene-enhanced child of the type colloquially referred to as ‘Plutocrats’ is foundational for many of the abilities and capabilities commonly found in maturity. There are changes to the body only possible in adolescence, various methods and techniques to influence how the body grows only possible in the process of maturing. The foundation of these methods and techniques can be broadly broken into three categories: Dietary, physical conditioning, and biofeedback-related conditioning.

The first category of methods relates to proper diets. From birth to the end of adolescence, there are very strict daily nutritional requirements. A diet must be carefully planned with many different type of nutrients, from calories, to vitamins, to protein, considered and properly balanced. Put on an average child’s diet, a Plutocratic child will almost definitely starve. But even given an appropriate amount of food without careful consideration of the nutrients, development can be stunted or imbalanced as there will be too much of one nutrient and not enough of a necessary one. It is especially critical to take this into consideration in early childhood when a Plutocratic Child’s development can be tracked on a day-by-day timetable. There are two important factors to consider when planning even a casual meal. One is that an adolescent Plutocratic body will not store excess fat or calories. Overly fatty and calorie-dense foods can be very intense-tasting, or even unpleasant and sickening to Plutocratic children. The other important note is that most commercial synthetic macronutrients are expelled by the Plutocratic body as toxins and useless for feeding them.

The second category of methods relates to proper physical conditioning. Although a Plutocratic body will automatically seek a state of healthiness, many of the capabilities it can possess at the highest level can only be reached through rigorous physical exercise in adolescence. The amount of nutrients demanded by the body is influenced by the amount the body senses it needs. Since nutrients that are not required are simply passed out, an inactive Plutocratic youth will not end up using the nutrients that would otherwise contribute to a stronger body. And it is only possible to reach peak developmental effectiveness by regularly straining the body to its limits. Of equal importance to proper levels of activity is the importance of gaining a level of physical conditioning. Although Plutocrats never lose the capacity for physical improvement until the very end of their lifespan, the best time to condition the body is in adolescence since that conditioning is retained for life. A Plutocrat’s muscles and acquired reflexes do not atrophy over time unless they are starved, making further exercise and practise in adulthood completely unnecessary. Adolescence, when their regeneration factor and energy levels are at their peak, is the best time to subject the body to brutal conditioning and acquire as many skills as possible because this conditioning will remain for the rest of their life.

The third category of methods relates to the imprinting of biofeedback skills. Not only is the Plutocratic body a finely tuned machine, it is a self-monitoring machine. A Plutocrat is aware of every process in their body to some degree, and with enough training, can consciously control them. However, bringing this innate awareness of the body into voluntary consciousness requires many meditative and self-hypnosis techniques, as well as an extensive knowledge of biology. But with proper conditioning and training, auto self-hypnosis techniques can be learned and used at will. Childhood and Adolescence, when neuroplasticity is at its highest in a Plutocrat, is the most ideal time to permanently impress these techniques …

- Optimizing the Performance of a Plutocrat in Adolescence, Introduction

Interlude Out

You open your eyes and are greeted by a view of your room filled with early morning light. Yor pillow is a bit damp. You must have been crying in your sleep.

Right then, the events of last night hit you and a cold shiver runs down your spine. The first thing you do after getting out of bed is rush through your suite to check that your Mother is gone for good. Once you finally check the closet where she was, you breathe out a sigh of relief. What had happened last night was over … at least for now.

You feel like a massive weight has been lifted from your chest. A slight giggle escapes from you. Today is a new day!

>You might be able to join Lady Muramoto for her breakfast … you wonder if it’s possible to visit her without being invited?

>Kyune Onee-chan is probably just waking up now. You might be able to catch her for breakfast.

>A normal breakfast just won’t do today. You feel a sudden urge to visit the Manor’s kitchen.

>You think you’ll enjoy breakfast somewhere scenic today.

>Eat breakfast like you usually do

>>4453086
>>A normal breakfast just won’t do today. You feel a sudden urge to visit the Manor’s kitchen.

>>4453086
>You think you’ll enjoy breakfast somewhere scenic today.

>>4453086
>>Kyune Onee-chan is probably just waking up now. You might be able to catch her for breakfast.
We need her. Desperately. For a LONG talk.

>>4453077
>>4453084
Does Kaguya know any of this? If yes, I think it's high time for her to hit the gym.

>>4453152
She knows all of this and exercises every day

>>4453165
Fit girls are best.

>>4453086
>You think you’ll enjoy breakfast somewhere scenic today.

>>4453086
>Kyune Onee-chan is probably just waking up now. You might be able to catch her for breakfast.

>>4453086
>>A normal breakfast just won’t do today. You feel a sudden urge to visit the Manor’s kitchen.

>>4453086
>A normal breakfast just won’t do today. You feel a sudden urge to visit the Manor’s kitchen.

What did we waste 3 Cynicism for, though? Not even giving our mom leg cramps?

Just as usual, you feel some morning hunger pangs. Usually, you would take some bread out of your pantry. But today, a normal breakfast wouldn’t do! For some reason, you feel a desire to visit the kitchen and make something interesting for yourself. And as for why you didn’t just have the ingredients sent to your room … well, it would feel nice to stretch your legs.

You’ve never visited the Manor’s Main Kitchen before, but you remember where it is from the maps of the Manor. You head out of the Upper-West Wing and down into the staff levels, towards the Main Kitchen. Even if you hadn’t known where it was, it would have been easy to figure it out. All you would need to do is follow the stream of Maids carrying ingredients and food to and from the kitchen. You follow them to a pair of large stainless steel doors, completely at odds with the traditional architecture all around them. And behind them is the main kitchen.

Completely separated from the world of wood beams, tatami mats, and paper walls outside, the Main Kitchen is a landscape of stainless steel organized into a space of industrial efficiency and filled with bustling activity. It is large, perfectly adequate for a medium-sized restaurant.

If it had just been meant to service the Muramoto Family’s culinary needs, then it would have been much too extravagant by even Plutocratic standards. But the Muramoto Family wasn’t the only family living in the Manor. There were the personal households of the Family’s most trusted staff, from the Head Butler and Maid to the elite Enforcers that served as your Father and Uncle’s personal retainers. And there was no need to mention the population of live-in servants and guards. All of these people relied on the services of the Main Kitchen to one degree or another. In truth, the Manor was actually mostly underpopulated, with a bit less than half of it’s rooms sealed off and without occupants. If the need arose, it could accommodate the needs of multiple branches of the Muramoto Family to any degree of comfort and luxury indefinitely.

Amid the business of the kitchen with everyone here focused on one task or another, it takes almost a minute for even you in your brightly colored yukata to be noticed. But as soon as you are, a man dressed in a Chef’s uniform scurries over to you.

“K-Kaguya-sama!” He exclaims in nervous excitement, “I-I never expected you to visit my kitchen. W-what brings you here? Was there something wrong with your breakfast? If so, then I can …”

“I’m looking for some ingredients for my breakfast.” You interrupt the Chef before he runs out of breath.

“Ah.” The Chef nods, “I see … W-well, I have some excellent breakfast rolls that came in, some fresh fruit from good greenhouses ...”

You let the Chef guide you around the kitchen and presenting you with various fresh ingredients in the kitchen. You end up selecting some steamed rice, a couple of fish, a a bag of miso soup stock. Not a bad amount of ingredients to make your breakfast with.

“Please have these sent to my room promptly.” You tell the Chef. He bows in acknowledgement, before shouting some orders to some kitchen maids nearby.

Having fulfilled the objective of your small adventure, you find yourself at a loss for what to do. You could go back to your room, but that would be a waste …

>Search for a certain extra ingredient (what?)

>Is that Hosoda-san you see three kitchen counters over?

>You hear someone say the words “Assistant-Head Maid.” Perhaps you should pay her a visit.

>There’s nothing to do but go back to your room

>>4454461
>You hear someone say the words “Assistant-Head Maid.” Perhaps you should pay her a visit.
Just a curiosity visit. We've just seen the kitchen for the first time, why not the AHM?

>>4454461
>Search for a certain extra ingredient (what?)

EGG

>>4454461
>Is that Hosoda-san you see three kitchen counters over?

>>4454461
>You hear someone say the words “Assistant-Head Maid.” Perhaps you should pay her a visit

>>4454461
>You hear someone say the words “Assistant-Head Maid.” Perhaps you should pay her a visit.
Not in some aggressive way. Just want to meet her.

>>4454461
>You hear someone say the words “Assistant-Head Maid.” Perhaps you should pay her a visit

Just then, you notice a notable change of atmosphere in the main Kitchen. The commotion of work slightly, but noticeably lessens. Something of interest just happened ...

“Damn, the newbie really messed up.” You hear someone whisper quietly to a neighbour.

“The Assistant-Head Maid’s in a bad mood day. She’s really going to get it …”

The discreet gazes of half of the kitchen were directed to a young Maid. And at her feet was a carton of broken eggs.

“I-I’m sorry, Tena-sama!” A young girl stammers in fear.

“You fool!” A dumpy, old woman hobbles forwards, berating the young girl mercilessly, “Those eggs were from free-ranged chickens! Completely organic! Each one cost more than a week’s pay for you! And you broke a dozen of them! Is this how you repay the Muramoto Household for taking your sorry self in and giving you bed and board! You shameless and lazy bitch!”

That old woman must be the Assistant-Head Maid. Yes. You remembered seeing her name and face in your briefing on the Manor staff when you first came.

>Intervene and make it clear you don’t approve of how she’s treating the poor girl (+1 Hopeful)

>Get angry in front of the whole kitchen and exclaim that it’s just a carton of eggs (+2 Hopeful)

>Interrupt the Maid for seemingly unrelated reasons (+1 Cynical)

>Watch from a distance and don’t intervene (+2 Cynical)

>Look away and go back to your room

>>4455613
>>Watch from a distance and don’t intervene (+2 Cynical)

>>4455613
>Watch from a distance and don’t intervene (+2 Cynical)
Even though it's out of character for poor Kyune, Cynical will grant us more powerful combat options, And we find ourselves in a lot of combat nowadays. Si vis pacem...

>>4455613
>Watch from a distance and don’t intervene (+2 Cynical)

>>4455613
>Watch from a distance and don’t intervene (+2 Cynical)

>>4455613
>Loudly ask if anyone has organic eggs to go with your breakfast today

>>4455776
Kyune's not that cold. She needs a thread or two of minmaxing to reach that, and I don't think that would be good for her sanity.

>>4455613
So we now understand why is Druggie Maid so afraid of the AHM. Are Plutocrats in general that cold, to warrant that kind of dehumanization, or is the Muramoto family especially heartless?
> Cyberpunk
Yeah, that also.

>>4455829
Genetically engineered conquest-machines trained since birth to seize power and protect it at all cost are generally not know for their kind-heartedness. Some familes, not including the Muramoto Family, actively engineer their children to be clinically sociopathic.

But working-class rights aren't a thing in the Year of Our Lord 2210. The population is rising along with automation and a Maid is lucky to get a job that requires so little professional skill to hold down.

>>4455613
>Interrupt the Maid for seemingly unrelated reasons (+1 Cynical)

Gained 2 Cynical

You could easily intervene … But you choose not to. You’re not sure what the consequences of direct contact with the Assistant-Head Maid will be. If she finds out for sure that you’ve taken an interest to her illicit activities, she might turtle down and hide everything. Or she might run to a more powerful member of the Household who was serving as her benefactor. It would be a bad idea to antagonize her directly with so little information about her. Instead, you’ll watch and wait.

Even if you’re watching an innocent girl get mistreated.

“A dozen eggs broken. That’s 6720 sincreds. You’ve got that kind of money on your card? Hah?” The Assistant-Head Maid asks aggressively.

“B-but the Employment Standards Act …” The Maid nervously objects.

“You think that has anything to do with you? You were hired on recommendation from another employee! As a favour! Your contract doesn’t have anything about the Employment Standards Act on it, does it?”

The Assistant-Head Maid goes on, accusing the young Maid of being careless and lazy and useless, and telling her she’s lucky she’s not sacked right then and there. As the Assistant-Head Maid’s vicious tirade continues, the Maid bursts into tears. But eventually, the Assistant-Head Maid slows down, seeming to notice she’s caused enough of a scene and half of the kitchen is staring. You’ve already long looked away.

So that was what kind of woman the Assistant-Head Maid. She would put pressure on any new employee that made themselves a target until that employee cracked and found herself involuntarily indebted to her. If the Assistant-Head Maid told a new Employee that they were in her debt and that they better pay up, how could they say no?

Unfortunately, you didn’t have the influence to protect every single worker in the Manor. But one day, maybe you would have enough to root out this kind of corruption. You wouldn’t have any in the place you called home, at the very least.

You return to your room. But when you do, you’ve found that watching such a depressing incident has dulled your appetite. You put the ingredients you collected in your fridge and settle for a breakfast roll from the pantry. Class was coming too soon for you to prepare a meal anyways …
…

Kaguya’s Lesson Today is …

>Organic food in the 23rd Century

>Synthetic Food and Dietary Substitutions

>Noir’s Food Supply

>>4456872
>>Noir’s Food Supply

>>4456872
>>Synthetic Food and Dietary Substitutions

>>4456872
>Noir’s Food Supply

>>4456872
>Noir’s Food Supply

>>4456872
>Synthetic Food and Dietary Substitutions

>>4456872
>Noir’s Food Supply

>>4456872
>Noir’s Food Supply

Covering most of it’s island, the city of Noir and it’s population of 11.3 billion residents is forced to import 75% of its food. However, since Noir is a minor trade hub in the South China Sea, it can easily afford to do so. In fact, it is estimated that 5.4 million tons of food are dumped into Noir’s landfills or the sea per year. Even given the relative poverty of the lower-working class and floating homeless population, starvation is relatively rare in Noir. Despite this, malnutrition-related health problems have been on the rise for nearly a century due to the low nutritional quality of the reconstituted or synthesized foods that most of Noir’s population lives off of.

Despite being mostly occupied by the city of Noir, the surrounding island’s agricultural sector is a significant, billion-dollar industry that accounts for 1.5 percent of Noir’s GDP. Only 10 percent of the island is suitable for agriculture, although that number is boosted significantly with hydroponic greenhouses and urban agriculture. Much of the land that would otherwise be suitable for agriculture has been since developed into extensions of the city or long rendered toxic wasteland by Noir’s constant flow of pollutants. What arable land remains has been turned into large automated intensive crop and and animal factory farms.

Most of Noir’s self-provided food supply comes from the sea. However, despite what would be commonly believed, this does not come from fishing, but instead from aquaculture. Unfortunately, the ocean around Noir is too heavily polluted to support any sea life not gene-engineered to survive in the oily, heavy-metal laden waters. What fish there is available in Noir comes from either Fish Factories both on the island and floating off the shore, or expensive imports from abroad.

Instead, the two main food sources from the sea are algae and jellyfish. Algae specially gene-engineered to grow in heavily polluted water and naturally grow in massive, easily farmable mats. is grown in floating intensive farms along and off the coast. It is used both as a food source, and a raw material to synthesize nutrients from. Jellyfish on the other hand, is perhaps the only resource in Noir harvested from the surrounding environment. Gene-engineered to not only survive, but thrive in the warm and heavily polluted oceans of the 23rd Century, Jellyfish have become the true benefactors of the sea’s changing conditions. Massive swarms blanket the oceans, stretching for miles, bringing with them a new, artificial ecosystem of petroleum-eating plankton and hardy algae. These floating ecologies have a tendency to congregate at mouths of port-cities like Noir where they flourish off of the constant supply of warmth and waste nutrients. In fact, the main source of protein in Noir is reconstituted jellyfish …
…

You’ve never gotten the impression that your classes are boring. Tiring and exhausting, sure, but always interesting and full of valuable information. But because they weren’t boring and merely exhausting, even if you were completely worn out by the end of the morning, after even your short lunch break, you would have recovered more than enough energy to tackle the afternoon. In a way, this lunch break was one of the most valuable times of the day for you. It was a time allocated solely for you to rest and eat, a time where no matter how high their expectations of you, one would expect you to be doing anything else.

Which is why than you’re more than a bit miffed that it’s been disturbed for the second day in a row today.

Just as you were beginning to tuck into your meal, two of Lady Muramoto’s Handmaidens step into the room without even the courtesy to knock or even announce their presences.

“Kaguya-sama.” They greet you in unison, bowing respectfully, although not as respectfully as was usually expected of servants. You’ve never liked Lady Muramoto’s Handmaidens and you can tell they’ve never liked you either. You only ever saw them at Lady Muramoto’s side, or when they wordlessly prepared you for formal occasions. But you suspect they were rougher than they had to be with your hair on purpose.

“Greetings. To what do I owe this pleasure?” You ask, giving them the proper courtesy they had not given you.

One of them bows again this time, before beginning to speak.

“Kaguya-sama, we have been bid to inform you that your afternoon classes immediately after your lunch have been changed to a more formal affair. We have been sent to help you prepare.”

You glance to her companion, who remained silent and aloof, before glancing back to the Handmaiden who had spoken. Her face was composed and completely serious …

>Shrug your shoulders and go with them. (+1 Hopeful)

>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)

>You want to hear this directly from Winslet-san. (+2 Cynical)

>”Just let me finish my lunch first.”

>>4458728
>11.3 billion residents
I wonder how many people live on Earth in total. Did the world reach the stage when heat rejection is the bottlebneck yet?

>>4458729
>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)

>>4458775
That's a typo. It should be million.

>>4458782
Awwwwwww

>>4458729
>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)

>”Just let me finish my lunch first.”

Our nutrition is important. It's also a shame that the handmaidens aren't on our side. We should put some work into fixing it later, but for now we must find out what we're preparing for.

>>4458782
Funnily enough, I would believe we could conceivably come to that numbler. But the sheer scale is almost mind boggling to try to comprehend. Not just the population, but it's needs, the environment and space they'd live in, the sheer mass of automation, employment and homelessness... it'll be an insane kind of world to live in.

>>4458808
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJeYe-abUA

>>4458808
No, this one is even better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lJJ_QqIVnc

>>4458729
>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)

>>4458775
Ok, but how did they survive cataclysmic global warming? Weather control?

>>4458729
> You want to hear this directly from Winslet-san
> Just let me finish my lunch first.

Plutocrat nutrition is holy. Until that, I want a written order to believe anything coming from those snakes.

>>4458729
>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)
>”Just let me finish my lunch first.”

>>4458729
>What is this ‘event’ they are to prepare you for? (+1 Cynical)
>”Just let me finish my lunch first.”

>>4458729
>You want to hear this directly from Winslet-san. (+2 Cynical)
>”Just let me finish my lunch first.”

>>4458848
>>4458849
>Isaac Arthur
Holy fuck my players are based. I-I think I'm going to cry ...
>>4458990
They watched half the environment die and the rest that was left was adaptable enough to survive with some genetic engineering. Most seaside population centers along the coast from our time ended up beneath the ocean, but people just moved and built new cities. As long as it isn't too hot for the human body to function, people probably won't care.

Gained 1 Cynical

“What is this event you were told to prepare me for?” You ask.

“We were not told.” The Handmaid tells you flatly.

You see. Well, you’re sure these Handmaids really were telling the truth. You wouldn’t expect any plotting or danger from Lady Muramoto’s longtime personal servants.

“Just let me finish my lunch first.” You tell them. You begin quickly scarfing down your meal. Every one of your lunches was a gourmet and it was a shame to eat it so quickly without taking any time to appreciate it. But unfortunately, that was how it was.

The Handmaids wait patiently for you to finish, but the way they watch you eat make it seem like they are exasperated from waiting even this long. It felt like you were consciously imposing on them. It makes you feel very rushed and slightly uncomfortable, although you shove those thoughts away. You weren’t going to let yourself be intentionally manipulated.

The Handmaids start moving as soon as you’re finished, without even waiting for you to stand up. You’re forced to hurry along and catch up with them before they leave the door. Once in the hallway, one Handmaid leads the way while the other falls behind you, boxing you in between the two of them. As you walk along, they glance at you every now and then. It’s almost as if they’re afraid of you running away for some reason. You find this all very conspicuous ...

>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>Any conversation in such a tense atmosphere would just make things more awkward

>>4460214
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>>4460214
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>>4460211
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

So the politicking begins... so, how will we play this, like Kaguya or Machiavelli?
;)

>>4460214
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)
Also, try to pry exactly where we are going.
Until we're told, assume that we are being abducted either as a drill (esp. because we don't have a bodyguard), or as a real attack on the Muramoto Family.

>>4460506
Usually when Lady Muramoto's handmaidens come and say they're here to help you prepare, it means they're taking you back to your room to get dressed all fancy-like.

>>4460390
Either way, the first move is getting them to like us.

>>4460506
>paranoid
I like your style, kid, but I trust the Handmaidens enough not to abduct her in our family's seat of power.

>>4460506
>>4460534
It could be a kidnapping, or the maids could have been instructed to act sketchy to unnerve us and make us embarrass ourselves.

>>4460214
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>>4460539
It's possible, I will admit. I think it's more likely that they just don't like us and no one told them about the event since it's beneath their station.

>>4460214
>>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>>4460214
>Try to make some polite small talk (Social Combat: Increase Handmaid’s regard for you)

>>4460214
>Any conversation in such a tense atmosphere would just make things more awkward
If we're making predictions, mine is that these maids are high-tech assassin drones here to kill us.

You trust the Handmaidens enough not to abduct you in your family's seat of power. So you’re not worried about being in danger. But there are other threats that you have to worry about, especially given their dislike for you. There was still the danger of them embarrassing or humiliating you. But whether it was on somebody’s orders or by their own initiative, you did not know.

But regardless, you should be working on charming them as soon as possible.

If they were being sent by someone, then any action you took would be pointless anyways. But if they were acting of their own accord, then perhaps you could convince them to leave you in peace. Needless to say, if they had no ill intentions for you at all, well, would it be such a bad thing to gain their regard?

So even though you’re feeling nervous, and a bit unnerved, you don’t give any of that away. It’s easy to hide your inner world to outsiders, especially with how unperceptive normal humans could be. You carry yourself with a calm grace, as if taking a walk through the manor while being flanked by the two of them was nothing more than an everyday occurrence to you so natural as to not be worth noting.

But when you pass by a courtyard flower garden, you abruptly come to a stop. You sigh forlornly.

“This spring’s flowers are quite lovely … aren’t they?”

>Roll 3 1d20’s. Degree of Success depends on number of successes (Cynical Modifier)

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4461521

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4461521

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>4461521

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>4461521
A d20 to summon NoirQM!

Rolled 20 (1d20)

Rolling for Handmaids

>>4461940
Turns out they hate flowers. And spring. And loveliness.

>>4461940
why does this always happpppppppen

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>4461940
Rolling to banish the bad juju. Begone, foul rolls!

The Handmaidens roll should have been mine. I am sorry to have failed you all. *commits seppuku under a cherry blossom tree*

>>4461940
Can we honestly just have the DC stated during the roll at this point

>>4461521
>Cynical Modifier
Lads, I think we've been going about this all wrong. We're not playing to our strengths. I suggest a change of strategy.

The Pretty Puppy Strategy, based on being Hopeful.

Step 1. Be irresistibly cute and honest. If they struggle, we overwhelm them with kindness.
Step 2. Get punted across the house. Should have called it the Punted Puppy Strategy.

>>4461875
>>4462010
Minor gripe, but please don't roll if I don't call for one.
>>4462011
The DC if the target is not resisting is always 10. And there is a difference in outcome if their resistance lands a crit versus if Kaguya lands a critical failure.

>>4461940
Why do the dice gods hate Kaguya

“Kaguya-sama, it’s best to keep moving. We’re already pressed for time.” The Handmaid in front of you tells you. Although her words are polite, her tone is brusque and slightly annoyed.

Unfortunately, it seems your attempt to charm them was unsuccessful. More than that, from how annoyed they were at your offhand comment, they must have realized that you were trying to charm them. These two Handmaids were either specifically trained, or very socially savvy.

You don’t waste any more words for the rest of the journey back to your room. Having already been failed and noticed, any more would only damage things further.

Like half a dozen times before, you let these strangers make their way into your most private of spaces. One of them draws your elaborate formal clothes out of the closet, while the other lays out the grooming tools and cosmetic items they will need on the coffee table. But even more than how you are letting two strangers have the run of your Suite, you’re forced to leave them to their devices as you take a quick shower and clean yourself.

Except … something feels wrong this time. The atmosphere in your living room had been tense, but not only from the animosity between you and the Handmaids.

“Kaguya-sama, please don’t take longer than you need to. We need to finish in the next two hours.”

“I’m almost done.” You call back, drying yourself off before slipping on an underobe and stepping out of the bathroom.

The Two Handmaids are quick and professional about their work. They quickly dry your hair before grooming you in a cold and formal silence like they always did. Except … something feels wrong this time. The atmosphere in your living room had been tense, but not only from the animosity between you and the Handmaids. It was quiet … but you could feel something looming on the horizon.

Suddenly, the Handmaid combing your hair jerks painfully on it. You immediately cry out in pain, but she clamps a hand over your mouth, stifling it.

You can see in the mirror that the other Handmaid is standing menacingly to the side.

“It’s useless to call for help.” She hisses in your ear, “You should be able to tell we’re doing this on someone else’s behalf, so it won’t do any good if you do. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll cooperate. If you cooperate, then you’ll be fine, already more than you deserve. Understand?”

The Handmaid doesn’t continue before you nod in acknowledgement.

“We know the truth. We know your whore of a mother was here, right?” The Handmaid pulls on your hair even harder, forcing your head backwards and forcing you to look her in the eye from where she stared down from above you.

“Where was she hiding? Well?”

>Insist that you don’t know what they’re talking about (+1 Cynical, Social Combat)

>Stubbornly stay silent (+1 Hopeful)

>W-who sent you?

>Tell them the truth

>Call for help

>>4462321
>W-who sent you?

I am perpetually too nervous for social combat now.

>>4462321
>>Insist that you don’t know what they’re talking about (+1 Cynical, Social Combat)
Confusion, being confused and acting like a kicked puppy are good.

>>4462328
They won't tell us lad, but it's either their own initiative or a directive of Lady Muramoto. Either way, it's useless to speculate. We want to waste time. They are on a time constraint, either because of the event or because they lied about it and Kaguya is missing her classes. Either way, they can't do much but cause some pain and threaten.

>>4462331
>>4462329
Actually, could we also put the loathing for our mother into it as well. She was a horrible mother to us, why would we protect her when she caused us so much suffering and misery. (The best lies are those baked in truth.)

>>4462321
>Insist that you don’t know what they’re talking about (+1 Cynical, Social Combat)
>>4462333
This as well

>>4462331
I don't think it's Lady Muramoto. I think it's Winslet playing on the handmaidens' loyalty.

Dammit, why did we study archery instead of jujutsu.

Anyway, supporting >>4462333

>>4462321
>Insist that you don’t know what they’re talking about (+1 Cynical, Social Combat)
It's the AHM wanting to ruin us for smelling around her little drug circle. We don't fight for out mother, we fight for ourselves, and what little respect we had gained the other night with Lady Muramoto, and to have a chance sniffing at the AHM's drug deals without her having a gun pointed at our head.

Also, if we get out of this, first order of business will be getting ourselves a guard drone (or other bodyguard), and a Handmaid. Once we figure out enough of household politics to determine the safest choice.

Can we turn the tables?
"I'm not willing to participate in the working class gossip of yours, especially if it results in the mistreatment of a Plutocrat. I know you could not be sent by any member of the Household, from which I deduce that it's by the political machinations of the Assistant Head-Maid you were sent here.

Also, if you knew anything about me, you'd know that if the whore indeed where here - or anywhere around me, she'd be dragged out in a body bag by one of the Enforcers right now.

Leave. Now. Or you will be accused of damaging Corporate property. Leave now, and I may forgive you, and not report this incident to your superiors."

>>4462510
Why do you think it's the AHM? We've never actually sniffed around for her drug gig. Also I don't think she can provide the handmaidens with the backing to ensure their safety after treating us like this.

>>4462321
I'll specifically vote against mentioning the AHM or anyone else by name, because if we're mistaken our position in this fight will plummet.

>>4462510
The best choice for now is pitiful ignorance, not risky posturing. We need to sound weak and genuine, not threatening and Machiavellian, at least for the immediate moment.

This battle can still be turned into our favor.

We also need some more Hopeful in our way of thought.

>>4462321
>Insist that you don’t know what they’re talking about (+1 Cynical, Social Combat)

>>4462523
The AHM is feared by the majority of the staff, is politically motivated, and she holds debts to the vast majority of the staff which she can easily collect as favors. This ensures that if someone acts on her command, and it backfires, the traces won't go back to her.

Also, if it's not the AHM, it can only be Lady Muramoto as evidenced by the fact that it's the Lady's Handmaids who are sent to execute the order. The Lady has enough political capital - especially against us - to survive this act. This would also mean, that the Handmaidens are under strict orders, and pose a serious threat. This would mean, that even though we have invested enough Cynical in evading the Lady, we weren't actually successful, and lying to her actually lessened the position in her eyes. In this case, we must attempt to apologize. That means a high dc Social Combat, for which we need all the Cynical we can get our hands on.

>>4462523
> I'll specifically vote against mentioning the AHM or anyone else by name, because if we're mistaken our position in this fight will plummet.
It's a great idea.

>>4462544
> We need to sound weak and genuine
^ Also, this.

> We also need some more Hopeful in our way of thought.
While it'd be great for a story and characterization purpose, unfortunately, Hopeful presents us with weak choices in the growing number of Social Combats we find ourselves in. The dice rolls are consistently bad, so we must farm Cynical whenever we get the opportunity.

"I seriously do want to help whomever must have sent you, however I cannot. While Lady Muramoto-sama herself have searched for my birth Mother in this very suite, she could not find her. She was visibly distraught though, so I do realize why finding where my birth mother has been would be a priority for her. I sincerely hope you will be able to find her. Have you alerted the Enforcers, or had sensor footage reviewed?"

>>4462679
>This ensures that if someone acts on her command, and it backfires, the traces won't go back to her.
It won't go back to her, but the handmaidens will certainly get fucked. That's what I was talking about. She can't protect her henchmen, and this should be enough to give them pause. While these two are acting like they aren't afraid of us complaining.

If it were Lady Muramoto, I think she would've come in person, or at least let it be known she has ordered the punishment. I can't believe she could bawl on our shoulder because of mom, then send her goons to rough us up all business-like, like she has no emotional investment in the matter. It's inconsistent.

My suspicions fall on Winslet mostly for the lack of better candidatures and because we know OOC that Winslet is plotting something and dislikes us (thanks to stupid choice by anon)

>>4462679
>>4462713
You assuming AHM is more powerful and knowledgeable that I think she is. Threatening a Plutocrat is serious, and if this gets out the family would be forced to investigate and punish, and I don't think they let such an infraction slip, no matter how highly ranked the servent. Plus it implies that she knew enough about the situation to try and fuck with us, but the Lady was trying to be discreet, and again, why target us personally and risk the ire of the family?

In relation to Lady Muramoto, why would she risk such a public scandal over this? She was trying to catch our mother, but she wanted the matter to be kept in house. While she may have had suspicions, why risk the humiliation and burn a bridge with us by sending her Handmaids? Surely she couldn't expect a Plutocrat to take threats and be intimidated by her servents. And even if she did think we'd crumble, surely she would have come herself then?

The Handmaidens acting by themselves would make the most sense. Loyal to Lady Muramoto, knows about her delicate situation, doesn't know or care much about us, the daughter's room being the only logical place to hide and not get caught (keep in mind I think that they're fishing for information and that their bullshitting that they know), and thinks we'll be submissive or easily intimidated by two handmaidens. I'd place my money on them being foolish.

Either way, we need to wait and see if they reveal more useful and concrete information than 'someone else sent us here, so it's useless to cry out and just give us the information that we already know you have, bitch'.

>>4462321
Don't panic, don't panic. A primal, almost ancestral fear threatens to overwhelm as they hold and jerk the hair. Calm down, just breath, j-just breat. Just g-gotta fight down the panic, gotta keep a clear h-head. Breathing getting more heavier, more ragged. The hair is still hurting, just make it stop make it stop make it stop-

Unbidden, a forgotten memory begins to stir.

>>4462321
>Stubbornly stay silent (+1 Hopeful)

>>4462466
By jujutsu, you mean the combat against bad juju?
>>4462544
You're pretending to be innocent while you know you're not so that would be pretty cynical thinking. Lying to people to get out of trouble is cynical.

Social Combat
Goal: Convince the Handmaids you don’t know anything

The Handmaid is pulling very painfully on your long hair. You’re frightened and in pain. So you immediately begin to talk. And by talk, you mean lie.

"I seriously do want to help whomever must have sent you! however I cannot!” You wail piteously.

“You’re Lying!” The Handmaid tugging your hair hisses, pulling your hair so hard you’re almost scared it will tear off your scalp.

“It’s true!” You swear, “Lady Muramoto herself searched for my birth Mother in this very suite, and she could not find her! She was visibly distraught! I do understand why finding where my birth mother has been a priority for her, and I sincerely hope you will be able to find her. I have as much cause to see her disgraced as Lady Muramoto does. Please, haven’t you alerted the Enforcers, or had the sensor footage reviewed?"

You keep your tone of voice weak and filled with genuine confusion. At the same time, you tinge your scared words with hurt, as if hurt that they would even accuse you of such a thing. Tears are even trickling down your cheeks from the pain. But inside, you are coldly managing all these outward signs of emotion, as well as desperately hoping they will believe your lies.

>Roll 3 1d20’s. You will need two successes.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4463790

>>4463800
PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT

>>4463800
14.25%

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>4463790

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4463790

>>4463803
So, cyberpunk maid thread when? Rip Kaguya

>>4463800
W H Y

>>4463903
Because the future is a cyberpunk dystopia and all must suffer.

Up next : Cyberpunk heiress quest

>>4463790
A blind, mad panic almost overwhelms, but sheer will keeps it at bay. Pain. Can only focus on pain. W-why must the hair be pulled? Why must g-good deeds be p-punished? Why why why- A humiliating, childish feeling pulses through the veins. Control, g-gotta get control. Gotta f-focu- The edges of vision are starting to fray, as the hair is yanked again. Gotta have control gotta gain control must have control-

There is something lurking at the edges of the mind, hidden in it's shade. An ancient, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself...

>>4463800
>Kaguya is sick of the lying, the pretending to be weak
>lets her true feelings show
Worst plutocrat.
>>4463822
Kek

File: external-content.duckduck(...).jpg (234 KB, 2560x1036)

234 KB JPG

>>4464823
> Kaguya tells the truth
> Rolled 1 (1d20)
> The Handmaidens will mark it as a lie

>>4464924
>When telling the truth about your bad deeds was the best possible outcome in cyberpunk

Truely Kaguya exist in the worst timeline.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

Rolling for Handmaids

“You little, lying bitch!” The Handmaid holding your hair swears, tugging at it even more painfully than before.She twists your head around to face before, before slapping you viciously, sending you reeling. You’ve barely caught your balance before she slaps you again … and again.

“You have no idea what you put Lady Muramoto through,” The Handmaid says in a low, savage tone, “The nights she’s spent crying, the countless times we Handmaids have comforted her. It’s all because of the other women your Father favours over her. Do you know the grief you and your mother cause Lady Muramoto?”

The Handmaid punctuates every few words with a slap. Each slap is slow, not hard enough to bruise or split your lip. But being slapped again and again was painful is humiliating. And she’s still tugging on your hair.

SLAP! You don’t catch your balance this time, but the other Handmaid steadies you by your shoulders, bracing your disoriented self for more slaps.

“Lady Muramoto’s heart is too delicate to see the truth of who you are. You’re nothing except a city rat, a parasite that doesn’t know how to do anything except feed off the goodwill of others! You … you shouldn’t even be here! Lady Muramoto is too naive … but we aren’t!”

Ah, that’s right. Many Handmaids were recruited from the daughters of Upper-Middle class families as a way to build relations with Plutocratic families. Perhaps some event in their past had made them familiar to the intrigues of inter-family politics.

The Handmaid draws her hand back for one more slap. Her hand descends on you in seemingly slow motion, before you momentarily black out …

>This is your fault. You shouldn’t have lied to everyone (-2 Cynical)

>So this is what you get for trying to protect your mother? (-2 Hopeful)

>There is something lurking at the edges of the mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself… (-1 Hint of the Unknown)

>>4465004
>So this is what you get for trying to protect your mother? (-2 Hopeful)

lying was the right choice

>>4465004
>[DATA EXPUNGED] (-1 Hint of the Unknown)
Our mother might be a bitch, but leave us out of your fucking drama. Go to the city and slap her around if you so desire, but we have nothing to do with it. Or better yet, take it to our father, if you have enough courage. It's not like our mom brainwashed him, it was his plan from the start.

>>4465004
>>There is something lurking at the edges of the mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself… (-1 Hint of the Unknown)

>>4465004
>There is something lurking at the edges of the mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself… (-1 Hint of the Unknown)

Cold. It so cold. The darkness, it stifles and chokes. The dirt, the grime, is felt in the bones. There is a sickness about the place, that of Home. A life once lived can never really die, not to the mind. The filth, the shadows of this Urban Arcology stains the soul. It's so cold.

White pixels start falling at Home. Beautiful snow starts to blanket the grimey floors, a fresh, pure cover. But it can never erase the filth, nor fight the smothering shades of night. It's so cold...

Wings wrapped around. A feather robe is donned. Warmth. Blessed warmth. A weight has been lifted, a burden lost. Feeling has started to slip away. Sadness. Compassion. As the night falls, resting comes naturally. Just before the slumber, the feelings are whispered into the wind.

Sleep well, little bamboo. I shall take care of rest...

A shrew shrieking. A child's wail. I never did like my hair being pulled anyway...

>>4465004
>>4465513
Crush the offending hand. Those who presume must learn.

>>4465004
>(-1 Hint of the Unknown)

>>4465004
>This is your fault. You shouldn’t have lied to everyone (-2 Cynical)

Embrace our mistakes, don't shy away from them. Breakdown and cry. Admit to all your sins and sinful thoughts. Especially the innate, irrelevant, rambly ones.

Make our soul as white as snow.

>>4465592
We must set things right. The Handmaidens are reacting to their own insecurities, their actions were not of malice. This situation we're all in is fucked, no one is really to blame. We must forgive them, if only for the selfish reason as a healthy soul.

>>4465004
>There is something lurking at the edges of the mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself… (-1 Hint of the Unknown)
I don't think we have very many of these hints, so hopefully it's worth it.

>>4465004
>This is your fault. You shouldn’t have lied to everyone (-2 Cynical)

>>4465004
>There is something lurking at the edges of the mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to reassert itself… (-1 Hint of the Unknown)

Lose 1 Hint of the Unknown

You black out. But in the dark blankness, something stirs ...

There is something lurking at the edges of your mind. An unknown, dormant feeling starts to assert itself…

For an infinitesimally short time, the blackness becomes filled with flickering streams of light. You can see the dark outline of the interior of your room, cold and dead except for three glowing points. You and the Handmaids. Hair-thin streams of light flow between the three of you, as well as out of sight beyond the room. Far in the distance, you feel the rumblings and shiftings of vast, monolithic things. As soon as you notice them, you inexplicably feel a deathly fear that your gaze will attract their attention. But what little attention you rouse fades away, indistinguishable from their unconscious twitches …

“Frag!” You hear one of the Handmaid’s swear. But it’s different from their swearing before. Her voice is filled with surprise … and pain?

>Variable outcome event. Roll 3 1d20’s.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4466531
Here comes a crit fail!

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>4466531

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4466531
We were warned.

>>4466547
Wew

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Lucky_Gods

>>4466539
>>4466544
>>4466547
Please, let it be DC10 for us. (and let them fail their save) 2 out of 3 successes for dropping a nuke sounds pretty good.

>>4463823
>>4463853
>>4466544
>>4466547

>14,7
>second roll, last roll
>happens twice
>in succession

Illuminati confirmed

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpqffgak7To

>>4463800
>>4466539

>1, 10
>both in successional first rolls

>>4463823
>>4466544
>>4463822

>a double middle 14 in succession
>14.25% chance

>>4466562
Illuminati more confirmed

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ACReM8Z9g

>>4466567
14.25 is actually the chance for getting a crit I think. double 14 is 5% chance.

When you come to, the first thing you see is that the Handmaid was stumbling back, clutching her forehead in pain.

“Emi, what’s wrong?” The Handmaid holding you still asks.

“Really bad migraine all of a sudden.” The Handmaid that had been your chief tormentor groans, stepping back a few paces before collapsing on your couch, “Frag, why now of all times.”

“Should I call a nurse!” The other Handmaid asks.

“No, it’s not that bad … ugh.” The first Handmaid, Emi, reluctantly says. It seems she’s more preoccupied with you than her own well-being.

Then, the lights in your living room short out. For a good minute, the only light in your entire suite is the sunlight streaming through the windows. Then, the power turns back on.

The two Handmaids exchange nervous glances.

“Maybe we should wrap up?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t look like she’s going to talk ...”

The Handmaid that had been holding you roughly grabs your face and turns your head to face hers, carefully inspecting your face for any bruising.

“You went a little overboard, Emi. Her face is starting to swell a bit … get some ice from the kitchen, will you?”

Emi groans as she gets off the couch, clutching her head the entire way to the kitchen.

“Ice.” She says, handing over a pack of ice.

“Emi, you don’t look so good …”

“That headache isn’t going away.” Emi complains.

“Just sit down. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Thank you, Naoka …”

Naoka was much gentler than Emi, although still by no means kind. She applies the ice to your face to reduce the swelling, before skillfully applying your makeup to hide any traces that were left. By the time you’ll be finished getting dressed, you would have naturally healed to the point that any marks would be invisible.

With Naoka’s help, you’re eventually dressed in your furisode.

“It’ll do.” Naoka decides, staring at how you look in the mirror. While she had managed to put everything on properly, she had rushed and the end result was more shoddy than if there had been two people helping you.

“We’d better get going.”

Naoka turns to you, holding you by the shoulder and looking at you in the eye.

“You understand that you will not speak to anyone about what happened here, right?”

>Promise the two of them that they definitely won’t get away with this. (+1 Hopeful)

>You nod, but you’re lying. Inwardly, you promise yourself that you’ll get back at them. (+1 Cynical)

>You nod. The potential repercussions are too great.

>>4468392
>You nod, but you’re lying. Inwardly, you promise yourself that you’ll get back at them. (+1 Cynical)

>>4468392
>Promise the two of them that they definitely won’t get away with this. (+1 Hopeful)

We won't tell for Lady Muramoto's sake, not yours.

>>4468502
Guilt is the best medicine, after all.

>>4468392
>Promise the two of them that they definitely won’t get away with this. (+1 Hopeful)

they're gonna be double fired and then turned into green

>>4468602
I prefer a kill them with kindness strategy.

Or, we could let it slip to their families that they assulted a Muramoto family member... but I'd appreciate it if we killed them with kindness(just an expression btw).

>>4468392
>Promise the two of them that they definitely won’t get away with this. (+1 Hopeful)

>>4468735
so OD them on frag?

>>4468392
>Promise the two of them that they definitely won’t get away with this. (+1 Hopeful)

>>4468846
If frag means friendship, then yes. We will OD them on friendship.

>>4468392
>You nod, but you’re lying. Inwardly, you promise yourself that you’ll get back at them. (+1 Cynical)

>>4468392
>You nod, but you’re lying. Inwardly, you promise yourself that you’ll get back at them. (+1 Cynical)

>>4468392
>>You nod, but you’re lying. Inwardly, you promise yourself that you’ll get back at them. (+1 Cynical)
No fragging way they will survive this.

In the interests of continuing, I'm going to count >>4468502 as a vote for it's own option where we tell this to the Handmaids, and write the cynical option.

“I understand.”

Reluctantly, you nod. But inwardly, you’re fuming from this mistreatment. It’s an insult to your very person to be treated this way, especially over your Mother. You promise yourself that no matter what, you’ll get back at these two Handmaids.

“How do we know she’ll keep quiet?” Naoka asks Emi.

“She will. She’s a smart girl. She knows the potential repercussions of not keeping quiet might be too much for her to handle.” Emi promises her worried-looking friend. However from her expression, she hasn’t even entirely convinced herself.

But regardless, the two of them are out of time. If they delayed any longer, you really would be late. It was time to get going. The two of them quickly hustle you through the hallways of the manor towards wherever this formal event was going to happen. Rushing so quickly as if pressed for time … the three of you must have made quite an undignified sight.

Eventually, you come to a set of closed sliding paper doors.

“Winslet-san, we have arrived.” Emi says, bowing before the doors even open, and much more respectfully than how she had greeted you at that.

“Well it’s about time you did,” A slightly impatient-sounding Winslet-san answers, “Come in.”

You enter into one of the Manor’s many formal tatami rooms. Kneeling inside on a collection of are a collection of people from the different staff departments of the Manor, seemingly plucked straight from their duties. In contrast to the formal atmosphere of the room, they were all from very humble positions in the Household that would usually never be seated like guests of honor. Seated right next to the door in an out-of-place Western Mahagony chair was Winslet-san.

“You’re fifteen minutes late.” Winslet-san says, “Do you intend to explain to me the reason behind your tardiness, or …” As soon as she makes eye-contact with you, a strangely concerned expression comes over her face. “Lady Kaguya, your makeup is out of place … That won’t do at all.”

“My apologies. We will only be a few minutes.” Winslet-san politely says to the servants seated in the room, before hastily leading you to a neighbouring room.

“Child, what is with your makeup? It’s quite shoddily put on. Completely unpresentable.”

Winslet-san pulls out a small compact from her pocket before beginning to dab at your face with it’s small brush in an attempt to fix it ...

>Tell Winslet-san what happened in your room. She’s technically in charge of looking after you. (+1 Hopeful)

>Accuse Winslet-san of being behind what happened in your room (+1 Cynical)

>Say nothing and simply let her continue fussing over you.

>>4472083
>Tell Winslet-san what happened in your room. She’s technically in charge of looking after you. (+1 Hopeful)

>>4472083
>Say nothing and simply let her continue fussing over you
I'm kind of torn on this one, but ultimately, Winslet is not on our side. Even if she believes us I don't think she'll do enough to punish the maids, so I'd rather keep this under wraps. Strike when the iron is hot.

>>4472083
>>Tell Winslet-san what happened in your room. She’s technically in charge of looking after you. (+1 Hopeful)

>>4472376
I am as well, but this could be a good bonding activity between us as well, improve relations in an honest way. But we may lose control of the situation as well if we tell her now, so it all up to you lads.

Though I am interested in seeing how Emi's headache will play out...

>>4472376
^this. Winslet is definitely not on our side, and is kinda sus - the handmaidens greeted her more respectfully than they greeted us.

>>4472083
>>Accuse Winslet-san of being behind what happened in your room (+1 Cynical

>>4472376
Supporting

>>4472515
>>4472653
>>4472693
I don't know if we're tied, but just in case we need a tiebreaker lads.

>>4474010
We're not.
>Tell Winslet-san what happened in your room.
Currently has 2 votes (>>4472126 and >>4472381)
>Accuse Winslet-san
Currently has 1 vote (>>4472693)
>Say nothing
Currently has 4 votes (>>4472376, >>4472515, >>4472653, >>4473563)

>>4474017
Ah, I was worried for a moment. Carry on, lads.

>>4474049
Actually, this is just a thought. After this meeting, what if we formally apologized for our rude and childish behavior earlier. It was unbecoming of a Muramoto family member, even for one such as us. Then ask if there were any additional studies she would recommend us learn. Try and turn this into a bit of a bonding moment, assuming the meeting doesn't completely derail our thoughts completely that is.

At first, you consider telling Winslet-san what happened in your suite. But you have a sinking suspicion in your heart. What if she was behind this incident? What if she had been the one to order Lady Muramoto’s Handmaids to do what they did. And even if she wasn’t, would she even care if she heard what had happened? You had to remember, even if Winslet-san was ostensibly in charge of your upbringing, at the end of the day, she wasn’t on your side.

So you say nothing. You simply let her continue fussing over you.

“Well, I’ve fixed you up as well as I can. It isn’t the best, but it will have to do.” Winslet announces. She shows you your face in the small mirror of her compact. You were forced to admit, Winslet-san worked with professional efficiency and skill. Even with just the tools in her small compact, she had managed to fix the small mistakes that Lady Muramoto’s handmaid’s had made.

“Thank you.” You politely say.

Winslet-san leads you back into the formal tatami room where your guests had been waiting so patiently. You still didn’t understand why Winslet-san had gathered these low-ranked staff members here, but you find out as soon as she starts speaking.

“Lady Kaguya, your studies and education have progressed quite admirably.” Winslet-san says in a formal and polite way, addressing both the guests and you directly. “However, as of late, I have found that your understanding of the working classes is lacking. To remedy this, I have gathered these humble members of the manor staff who make the life you live possible. Today, you will entertain them and hopefully learn to deepen your understanding and appreciation of them … however, it would be inconsiderate to pull them away from their tasks for too long, so pick one and let the others return to their tasks.”

>You pick the young-looking Maid

>You pick the scarred Enforcer

>You pick the tired-looking technician

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician
We have an in with both maids and enforcers if we so desire. Let's see what the technician can teach us, especially considering that building infrastructure is crucial to both comfort and security, yet often disregarded.

>>4474284
> The technican
Poor thing is tired as it is, he needs a break. Also more lore, and another view of household politics.

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician
Useful and interesting subject to learn about. Thank you, Winslet-san.

Poor thing... looks way too overworked, even for a technician. Why not ease his burden, if only for today...

>>4474437
>>4474641
Yeah, why don't we treat the poor guy to barley tea and snacks.

>>4474657
+1

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician

>>4474641
uhhhhh not lewdly anon?

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician

We have pretty regular contact with the other 2 types

>>4475130
Kaguya understands and sympathizes with the hardships suffered by the working class and wishes to ease their burden a bit.

No, of course not. Why would you even suggest such a thing?!? You've got a dirty mind, anon...

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician
Let's do something new.
Also, is this a insult by Winslet? Like some punishment or something?

>>4475340
Yes. We acted like a child and now she's treating us like one.

Fucking Westerners...

File: AnimeGirlSuicide.jpg (80 KB, 682x1024)

80 KB JPG

>>4475365
>weebs

>>4474284
>You pick the tired-looking technician

>>4475408
She just disrespected us public, albeit unintentionally, if front of the manor staff. That's a big Nono, and I'm sure the staff recognized it as well. Either way, we'll grit our teeth, say thank you, and ask for more. For if this is what it takes to get out of this relationship rut and move forward, we'll bare this humiliation with a smile. I can only hope that Winslet-san eventually realizes her mistake and apologizes for it.

Cheers to wishful thinking, lads...

>>4475466
She will apologize with her life

>>4475479
Bad thought, bad thought,
Let her be,
They're not good
For her good deed.

>>4475466
I wasn't referring to the makeup thing, I was talking about this whole concept of entertaining a staff member.

>>4475865
Yes, I know. This was related to a childish outburst Kaguya did in the previous thread (courtesy of an anon with poor communication skills), which not only resulted in the reversal of our goodwill gains with Winslet-san, but that also made her think of us as a spoiled brat who's lucky to live such a comfortable life. This is the continued fallout of Kaguya's (anon's) poor communication. (And I was referring to entertaining the servants as humiliating, but your also right about the makeup thing as well.)

>>4476079
I was one of those anons :^)

Sitting on the left of the group of guests is a tired-looking technician in rumpled work overalls and a grease-stained hat. The technicians were the invisible heart of the manor. They were responsible for keeping it’s many complex systems running, from the air conditioning, to the electricity, to even minor maintenance of the local cyberspace. You had contacts among both the guards and serving staff of the Manor. It might be a good idea to get some contacts in the maintenance side of the manor staff as well.

“Good Technician, would you be so kind as to tell me your name?” You ask, your tone the epitome of politeness.

“Goda.” He replies in a gruff, terse way. There was a hint of astonishment to his voice, as if he couldn’t believe he was here speaking to a Young Lady of the family and still wasn’t sure how to act.

“I see.” You nod gracefully and respectfully, so deeply as to almost be a bow, “Well then Goda, perhaps you could accompany me for some tea?”

Responding to your choice, Winslet-san quietly ushers the other guests out of the room, leaving you alone with your guest. Meanwhile, Goda seems to be considering your request, not whether to accept it, but whether clearly answering ‘yes or no’ would be in line with proper etiquette or not.

“There’s no need to answer quickly, take your time.” You reassure him, “However, if you do choose to join me this afternoon, I would be delighted.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Goda replies, “I don’t know much about tea, but I hope you won’t mind me joining you then, Lady Kaguya.”

Social Combat
Goal: Entertain Goda the Technician

>Roll 3 1d20’s. You will need 1 success. Level of success depends on number of successes.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4477263
14.25%

>>4477284
I often hate to be right.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4477263

>>4477284
>>4477285
It's not over yet lads!

>>4477284
>>4477344

>double 1

Um, we can still win this, r-right?

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>4477263
here's our third 1 just to clinch it

>>4477284
>>4477344
>>4477460
Goddess, gracious.

2 critical failures, and 1 success out of 1 needed. The Dice Gods sure despise poor Kaguya.

>>4477460
>17
>my hero

So, what now? Kaguya fucks up and embarrasses herself, in a way that's unintentionally endearing?

By the way, if that was another 1, I would have had a aneurism.

>>4477263
Well, I must say, we certainly entertained him all right... *nervous laugh*

Guys, I just got off the phone with qm. The two 1s cancel each other out, leaving us with the 17. Nice roll!

>>4478350
Please don't imperdonate the qm, unless he writes it. But it kinda makes sense. 2 1s are next level bad luck.

Seems like the QM really needs time to properly describe the tragic extent of our failings.

>>4478508

Guys, I found a graphic representation of Lady Kaguya, after the social combat to entertain the technician.

https://www.starwars.com/video/you-were-the-chosen-one

Our 'success' was that we lived.

Sorry guys, my internet was out for a while.

>>4477505
Critical Failures don't stack. One would already bring the worst outcome I'm willing to write for the scene.

To say that your conversation with Goda is awkward would be an understatement. The fact that he is nervous of the occasion and much too self-aware to relax because of that didn’t help. So at first, you try to gently relax him with gentle, calming small talk. But even as you succeed in relaxing him, you find it hard to make conversation with the technician. You have no common points of knowledge. While you exist in a world of society and courtesy, he was a native to a professional, businesslike world where no refined words of socialization were exchanged. And more than that, you get the sense that Goda is just a reclusive and solitary man in general.

“Please, try this tea. It was organically grown and imported from Japan.” You offer Goda, gracefully pouring him a cup of tea that probably cost more to sip from than his pay for a month.

“Frag, this is the first drink I’ve had in ages that wasn’t booze.” Goda says, before taking a small sip.

“To tell the truth, I can’t really tell the difference between this and water.” He apologetically admits.

“Ah. Is that so?” Well, you’re at a loss. How did you entertain someone with tea when they couldn’t even taste the tea?

“Ah. Well, I could …” Goda trails off, as if realizing how embarrassing his idea was before finishing.

“You’re my guest.” You gently remind him, “If there’s anything that would make you more comfortable, please feel free.”

“I see. Well if that’s the case …” You watch in amazement as Goda pulls a silver flask of alcohol from one of his overall’s pockets, and pours a stream of clear fluid into the half-empty tea cup. Goda samples the drink again, his face breaking into an expression of relief ...

>You can’t help but lose your composure. You must look very surprised.

>Pouring alcohol into tea is a gross breach of etiquette. Even an uncultured technician should know that.

>Noticing the hint of fascination on your face, he offers you a sip. You accept.

>Just then, a scream comes from outside ...

>>4479328
>You can’t help but lose your composure. You must look very surprised.

we don't need booze here when kyune can hook us up

>>4479328
>Pouring alcohol into tea is a gross breach of etiquette. Even an uncultured technician should know that.

>>4479328
>>Just then, a scream comes from outside ...

>>4479328
>You can’t help but lose your composure. You must look very surprised.

>>4479328
>Just then, a scream comes from outside ...
Tealcohol might be good honestly

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4479328
Welp, I'm torn between the surprise and the scream,so I'll let the dice gods decide on the condition the my vote only gets counted in an event of a tie.

1.>You can’t help but lose your composure. You must look very surprised.

2.>Just then, a scream comes from outside ...

Just then, before your reaction can fully develop, a splitting scream comes from just outside the room. It is a scream of intense pain. And it sounds like Emi. You immediately think back to her earlier headache. Was this an intensification of it?

Or … it could be another attack. Your mind flashes back to the incident weeks ago, where Kentaro-kun had protected your life against a hidden Assassin-Drone without you even realizing you had ever been in danger. You were always reminded again and again of the caution necessary to keep yourself safe, but that had been your first major security incident.

Goda raises a finger to his lip, indicating silence, before pulling a snub-nosed gun out of his overalls. He quietly creeps over to the sliding door, before throwing it open.

Collapsed in the hallway is Emi. Accompanying her is a frantic-looking Naoka, who’s shaking her friend desperately.

“Emi? Are you okay? Wake up!” Naoka cries. She turns to Goda. “She just collapsed. She had a headache before. I-I thought it was fine but …”

“Why don’t you remember your CPR training? Turn her on her side!” Goda orders in a surprisingly authoritative voice. As soon as Naoka does so, he checks Emi’s prone body over. Frowning, he pulls a cord from his neck jack and plugs it into Emi’s. Immediately, his face pales. “Call security.”

End of Thread