the_tv_is_a_lie | Appointments

[ They were making good progress, and hadn't fallen yet. Still, there had to be something they could go through, right? A window, a door, anythi-

She stopped. Within a good leaps distance, was one of the community buildings...it'd be a bit of a risk, but if they could jump to one of the outside doors, they might be able to open it and fall through. Of course, if they failed, it was bye-bye. ]

...I'm going to jump. Stay here until I get it open.

[Keeping up with this girl is so straining that he needed the break anyway. x_x So when they do finally take pause, he leans against the tree trunk for balance, a small nod coming from the bowlcut as he takes notice of the building near them.]

[ With a nod back, she readies herself, before kicking off and making a dive for the door. She could already feel her momentum about to succumb to gravity. With one outstretched arm, she grabbed onto the knob. Bingo. A twist, and a pull, and now she was hanging from the door knob as it opened. ]

Hurry up!

Alright--here goes! [Now that he's rested, he can finally get to making that jump. Going as far back as possible, he quickly breaks into a sprint despite little room to be running at such a pace before making the big leap.

And thank god, too--he gets in. Thanks, girl he just met! :Db ~~...They never exchanged names, methinks.~~]

[ And with a swing, she threw herself inside. Seemed like the door didn't lead anywhere, but... ]

We're on ground again. [ It did the trick. Thank God. ]

[...Phew. That didn't take as long as he thought it would, but they're down. That's what counts.] ...Good. That's the last time I'm going through another door. [...And then he'll go through one later on. But that's for later. :P He'll peek over at her.] Thanks.

[ She just returned with a nod. ] Just glad it's over. That was annoying.

Same here. [...Oh, since they haven't exchanged names yet...he feels he should at least get to know her by doing just that. 8|] I should've introduced myself earlier, but...my name's Seta Souji. What's yours?

[ She nodded as he told her his name. ] Just call me Shiki.

Alright then, Shiki.

[...Why is he going to regret asking this? And why does he feel that he's going to regret making a mental decision to stick with her for a bit?] ...Are you headed anywhere else?

[It's roughly an hour after her and the rest of the draftees have returned home to the village and Naoto has finally made her way back to the apartment she shares with Yukiko and Souji.

She would've returned home sooner if not for the fact that she stopped to sit down and breathe for a moment. It was her attempt to regain her composure as best as she could. Not to say she didn't calm down while they were being evacuated, but she'd rather not worry her housemates with bothered looks and a trembling stature. Though the tired look on her face isn't something she can get rid of right now.

When she gets up to their floor, she opens their door and walks inside, announcing in a slightly tired tone: ] I'm home.

[And to help with the announcement, Kuzunoha comes running from Naoto's room, barking and howling the name "Naooo!!" as he goes to greet her.]

[...Ah, he hasn't heard from her in a while now...it takes a second or two to remember, but it hits him that she was amongst the names picked out for the draft. She must have returned already... He's not sure of what happened out there, but he still worries all the same that she may have cracked under the strain--of fighting in general, not just the risks that come with it. She--and everyone else in his happy little bunch--have already been through enough strain, despite being the meager age of 16 or 17; it was crazy how they'd gotten through with their sanity intact... ~~Though he had worse luck and got at least a dozen voices in his head for the rest of his life...~~

But even they had a breaking point; he just hopes she didn't hit it herself.

...It takes him a few moments to straighten himself out and get out of bed to greet her. It takes him very little to notice the tired tone, as well.] ...Welcome back.

Edited 2012-11-02 03:59 (UTC)

[It had been a while since either one of them had heard from their friend, and during that time she'd been focusing her worry on at least making sure a certain puppy (what, she had a soft spot for them since she was little) was taken care of while Naoto was gone. Of course, she had faith that if anyone could make it through the drafts she'd heard so much about, it was one of their own. Especially Naoto. Though, that worry about hitting the breaking point was mutual.

She'd nearly hit it not long before she arrived, after all. Darn those ~~spoilers~~ memories no one else but her knew about.

She was just lying there, not able to sleep very well, until she heard the click of the door and the barking. Naoto...?

Despite herself, she couldn't help a faint smile before peeking around the corner and stepping out as well.] Mm. Welcome back. Are you alright?

[Dumb question, but... they've both been worried, okay.]

[She kneels down to greet Kuzunoha and looks up at the two sleepyheads as they come into view, giving them both a light, tired smile.]

Yes... I'm all right. [At least she is physically. Mentally, she's still a bit shaken up from the draft. Which says something all on its own.

Naoto's been through a few drafts during her year and a half here and while none of them are ever pretty, this one feels like it was the most gruesome one so far, and not just for her. So many people died from infection, others were infected but later cured after the threat of being bombed was announced. So many people were absolutely terrified, and the power cap that was lifted to 100% only made things worse. That's what got to Naoto the most.

Not only was she in the middle of a warzone without her persona, but she couldn't even feel him anymore either. His voice and his presence both vanished into thin air, she no longer had Yamato-Takeru to hold her up. Which also meant she had to fight and kill people--the cultists with a sword, not something she's done before.

And Kouki's assumption about the cultists... didn't help matters.

But she doesn't want to say these things out loud, well, at least not at this very moment. She doesn't want to worry both of her senpai, two people who have been worried about her while she was gone. When things have calmed down, she'll tell them.]

I do hope Kuzunoha has behaved himself in my absence.

Yukiko-chan kept him busy.

[He unveils a faint smile in return, that quickly fades as he directs his attention to the detective's emotional health. How long has she been stuck here now? He isn't sure, considering the massive gap, but he's certain it was at least a year since he ended up in this place, since he was able to lend his helping hand--so that must mean she's been through a lot behind his back...

It pains him, gives him reason to fret whenever he sees the cracks forming, but what matters now is that she's back--and he can offer some sort of solace this time. He motions to the table.]

...Have a seat. I'm sure you're hungry.

[Naoto-kun... That was the only thought that crossed her mind as she watched. True, she didn't have as strong of a connection with her as Souji did, but that doesn't mean she didn't at least worry. They were close friends, after all.

And it hurt to see her like this. Maybe there was something she could-]

Mm. Why don't we sit together?

[Because she ~~is well aware that Souji has banned her from the kitchen~~ has a feeling that she could use the company while the only truly competent cook in the house is busy.]

[She almost cringes at the thought of eating but refrains and simply shakes her head] No, that's quite all right. I'm not hungry.

[When you're surrounded by flesh eating infected people and the memory of witnessing one of them eating another person is still fresh in your mind... your appetite kinda leaves you.]

However... I wouldn't mind taking a seat with you two. [She could use the company of her closest friends right now. And she stands, letting Kuzunoha sit and bat his curly tail on the floor]

If you're sure.

[Sorry, kouhai, it's hard to hide even the slightest change from him when you've been around him for long enough to be considered family. It makes him wonder what could have happened out there, but maybe that'll come up on its own later when she's less than rattled. At least, he hopes it will...

For now, though, he gives a nod and takes a seat himself.]

Appointments

FLYING THROUGH TREE TOPS

AND RISKING CERTAIN DEATH, THE ACROBATIC ACT OF SOUJI AND RYOUGI :|b

PAY-PER-VIEW MATERIAL

Not just pay-per-view material, it's grand finale material! :3a

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[October 31; Action]

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