>>38267075
That's... the most annoying solution to any problem you've ever had a need to solve.

>Run back to school, try to get her a doctor. You can probably still return afterwards.
>Stay with Naoko.

>>38267081
>stay with Naoko

>Naoko, wake up. Please wake up. I'm not going to leave you, but I can't call anyone for help. You need to pick up the phone and call an ambulance or a doctor or something.
>Naoko, you have to wake up.

Wait...she lives in an apartment building, right, break windows. Draw attention!

>>38267081
Shit, I missed this going up. Uh uuh.
>>38267227
This I guess, it makes sense.

>>38267081
>We don't know Kimiko's number
This seems like a bit of an oversight.
Anyway, I'll support trying to get her to call for help, but if she's unresponsive or the like we should go to school ourself.

>>38267081
Voting over, writing.

>>38267347
What timezone are you in Mushroom?

Awww yisss, time for best quest.

>>38267075
It's just a fever, right? Well, probably not just, but it's the only symptom we have to go off of. Leaving to get a doctor shouldn't be too risky surely, what exactly can we contribute by staying?

>>38267620
We can't just leave the BFF without trying something else...that's not how quests work anon!

>>38267347
Do you need us to arrange your funeral OP?

>>38267227
You really don't want to leave her alone. If she gets worse, then you want to be around to help her. And if you can't help her, well... no, that's nonsense. You'll do whatever you have to do. Naoko is going to be just fine.

Though, you're not at all comfortable with her being unconscious. You nudge her, shove her, push her a bit. You yell at her to wake up, you tell her that you can't call for help the way you are now, but it's useless. She seems content to remain in her restless sleep.

You sit down by your side, thinking of a solution. You glance at the window.

...Yeah. That'll probably attract attention.

You stand up, unsheathing one half of your sword. The other, the one without a hilt, remains tucked in your sheathe. You walk up to the windows, and cock your hand back, about to slam it into the glass.

But you hear a noise behind you and stop. You turn back and see Naoko's eyes slightly open, though as if straining to remain so. She's muttering something, though again, you can't make out what she's saying.

You lean in closer, trying to figure it out.

A cracked briefcase. A red tie. Twintails.

In her delirium, she mutters completely random words. She doesn't repeat them, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern or meaning to them.

...There isn't any, is there?

"...Naoko. Please, you need to call for help. I'll beat the number in for you; you just need to tell the doctor that you're sick. It'll help you get better, come on!"

Her half-closed gaze looks at you in confusion. Naoko's head just barely gives a light shake. After that gesture of refusal, she falls asleep again.

"Come on! Damn it!" In your frustration, you try to shake her back to consciousness. It doesn't work.

You grab the hilt of your sword once more, and, after a few steps towards the windows, slam them with it. The glass easily shatters, a deafening noise emerging from the act. This ought to attract some attention, damn it!

(1/2)

>>38268132
You sit back down on the large bed, waiting for the results. If that didn't do it, you'll just have to break another window. There are two more in this apartment, so you've got that many more chances. And until then, you should probably think of a better plan than breaking Naoko's property.

...

A little time passes, maybe ten minutes or so.

Instead of the bell or a knock on the door, you hear an animalistic roar. From your brief experience as a Shinigami, you've learned that each Hollow's voice seems to be in some way unique.

But you've heard this one before. Several days ago, on the night of your very first death. You recognize it immediately.

Judging by the volume, it seems to be close.

...

>Go and try to find the Hollow.
>Break another window before you go, leave the door unlocked.
>Stay with Naoko.

>>38268173
>Go and try to find the Hollow.
Ssssssshit.

>>38268173
>Stay with Naoko.

>>38268173
>Go and try to find the Hollow.

>>38268173
>Break another window before you go, leave the door unlocked.
We really need to get her some help.

>>38268173
>Go and try to find the Hollow.

I think our presence could draw more hollows. It might be more dangerous for her if we stay. Hopefully Kimiko responds to the hollow and we can send her here to check on Naoko.

>>38268173
>Go and try to find Naoko.
>we're a tasty target, it can't find our friend while she can't protect herself

>>38268327
Find Naoko? Bwuh?

>>38268173
Okay so we can't help Naoko and we're up against a hollow we kinda beat by luck last time. This is going swimmingly!

>>38268173
Voting over, writing!

>>38267386
GMT+2

>>38268327
...wait...I fucked that up. I started writing one thing but finsihed another.

>>38268424
Ah, alright. That makes sense I suppose, just rarely see sessions start this time.

>>38268430
Well I'm sure you can still correct it anon.

>>38268396
It's been a bit and I have shit memory, how'd we handle it last time around?

>>38268196
>>38268255
You give Naoko one more glance. She's soundly asleep, even if her sleep is quite clearly an uneasy one. You crouch at the broken window's frame, and then leap outside. Before you let yourself fall, you step on air, and jump towards the adjacent roof.

You rush to where you think the noise originated from. In the meantime, you try to figure out what your tactics are once you inevitably stumble onto the gray behemoth.

The last time you fought it, the monstrosity did not die even when it should have. Even when the much more experienced and more skilled Kimiko quite perfectly ambushed and assassinated it, and then killed it in open combat several more times, it still brought itself back to life. You don't have Kimiko's experience and most likely don't match the level of her ability when it comes to dispatching Hollows, so your chances... don't look good.

You are armed with two snapped halves of a single sword. You are still not feeling in top shape after your fight with Naoko. Not even close. You'd probably feel better right now if you didn't force yourself to take her hits in full. You didn't even realize that you are this handicapped until now, when your strength is about to be measured.

Though even right now, after having been quite severely wounded and beaten half to death, you feel about as good as in your regular, human shape. Which, for the spiritual world, must largely amount to nothing.

Well, it's not like you have to engage it. You just need to make sure that it doesn't harm anyone. If it "can't be killed", putting effort into that might be a waste in the first place. Of course, the odds of that mindless monster "not harming anyone" are pretty slim.

A sudden noise of shattered glass and cracked concrete attracts your attention, and, after following it, you find the Hollow.

(1/2)

>>38269084
It destroyed the entrance of a mall with a single swipe of its man-sized claws. It's heading out of the building, so for whatever reason, it must have gotten impatient or lost its temper. A few people have been severely injured by the flying debris, but there don't seem to be any fatalities. You spot neither unmoving bodies nor detached souls.

Meanwhile, the monster shows a complete lack of interest in the crowd of confused people. The mad, yellow eyes hidden underneath its white skull-mask wander around, as if looking for something. As it's about to turn your way, you step back, using the elevation granted by the rooftop you were standing on to conceal yourself.

You're not sure what it's doing. Is it... looking for someone? Does that beast even have the mental faculty for something that?

>It's a walking disaster. Letting it roam free will probably lead to fatalities. Get its attention and make it focus only on you.
>See if you can figure out what it's doing. Trail it, keep hidden. You're no ninja or stealth expert at all, but there's still a tiny chance it won't spot you.

>>38269105
>Its a walking disaster
We are not a clever girl

>>38269105
>See if you can figure out what it's doing. Trail it, keep hidden. You're no ninja or stealth expert at all, but there's still a tiny chance it won't spot you.
BUT interfere if it looks to be endangering a person.

>>38269105
This is kinda weird.
>It's a walking disaster. Letting it roam free will probably lead to fatalities. Get its attention and make it focus only on you.
Maybe we can lead it on a merry chase.

>>38269105
>See if you can figure out what it's doing. Trail it, keep hidden. You're no ninja or stealth expert at all, but there's still a tiny chance it won't spot you.

>>38269105
Both sound like bad options...
>It's a walking disaster. Letting it roam free will probably lead to fatalities. Get its attention and make it focus only on you.

>>38269105
Voting over, writing!

Do we have ANY chance against this thing right now?
I guess maybe we can run away and make it follow to somewhere less populated...

>>38269481
Gotta hope for our freeloader to help!

>>38269851
She's like our Rukia, except she's completely intolerable and unreliable.

Don't trust to hope.

>>38269926
Also, lewd.
But I'll still trust her!

>>38269972
She may well come through in a pinch, but then again she may not. And she's shown absolutely zero regard for the main character in any sense that goes beyond "you're doing my job, get to it".

I don't like her. I don't trust her.

>>38270166
We also haven.'to been so warm to her...though we have our reasons

>>38270166
I'll give her a chance, and this IS job-related at least.

>>38269131
>>38269297
You take a deep breath and step forwards, back into the monster's line of sight. Its attention has already diverted elsewhere. You inhale again, and yell something offensive and crude at it. The beast turns your way and roars, though the meaning of your words was probably lost on it. It leaps sky-high with ludicrous speed, like a bullet fired out of a rifle, and then begins a descent just as swift as its flight, like a hawk dropping onto its prey.

You lift your mockery of a sword and jump away. The Hollow collides with the rooftop like a fallen meteor, sending chunks of concrete flying like the fragments of an exploding grenade. One of its tree-sized limbs threatens to flatten you like a bug, but you evade both of the impacts.

The behemoth continues its advance. For its size, the speed with which it moves is completely overwhelming. With your next movements, you are forced to leave behind the rooftop on which you previously stood.

You're not really 'acting as a distraction' right now; you're trying your best to simply survive. You slide on air to make yourself less predictable, but it only fools the Hollow for a few moments.

After a short struggle, it hits you with its arm, with a motion suitable for swatting a fly. You are thrown aside and onto the ground, violently colliding with an unoccupied car. The force of the impact very nearly folds the vehicle in two.

You dropped your broken sword somewhere in your flight. The pain turns into something akin to white noise, only one spreading through your consciousness. Your Shinigami form allows for movement even in your shape, but you can't perceive nor understand what you are doing. At the very least, you find some relief in not having been hit by its claws. Had that occurred, you would have been cut into useless slices of meat.

All you can hear is a roar. A deafening, powerful roar that's trying to crush you with its sheer volume.

(1/2)

>>38270481
Then, it turns into an explosion. Your unfocused vision is overcome by the spark of blue flames, and as you turn to face them, they turn into a massive cloud of black smoke. Even the beast is thrown away by its power, and it slides back along the ground as it is knocked out of the sky.

Your head turns towards the side opposite to that of the Hollow. Kimiko stands several hundred meters away, still wearing the form of Aiko. Her arm is outstretched forwards, and her lips seem to be forming words.

You stand up, your spiritual body heralding your actions with surges of numbing pain. You catch sight of blood running down your hands, though you can't make out where it's coming from. Your eyes turn back at the beast.

A chunk of its arm has been blown away, but you're not sure whether or not that will actually hold it back. It's quite clearly furious, and its roar is directed at the distraction.

>Use Kimiko's magical support as covering fire and flee.
>Grab your sword. When Kimiko fires, you'll try to deliver the finishing blow.

>>38270500
>Grab your sword. When Kimiko fires, you'll try to deliver the finishing blow.
Gotta be brave!

>>38270500
>Use Kimiko's magical support as covering fire and flee.
Sheeeit.

>>38270500
>Grab your sword. When Kimiko fires, you'll try to deliver the finishing blow.

>>38270500
Is our sword actually even able to deliver a finishing blow? I somehow doubt it...
>Use Kimiko's magical support as covering fire and flee.

>>38270500
>>Grab your sword. When Kimiko fires, you'll try to deliver the finishing blow.

>>38270500
>Grab your sword. When Kimiko fires, you'll try to deliver the finishing blow.

>>38270500
>>Use Kimiko's magical support as covering fire and flee.

Unless it is allergic to us bleeding all over it there doesn't seem to be anything we can do.

This seems a bit suicidal anons...we already have one girl under the weather, another would be inconvenient.

>>38270500
Voting over, writing!

>>38270781
Yes, but we have responsibilities. Let's at least try to get *him* to flee rather than us. Besides, it's the Bleach protagonist way.

>>38270811
I suppose. A bit bit bad odds for an all-or-nothing move but Bleach protags do as they must.

>>38270842
Well we gotta protect all the cute girls since we failed so badly with the last one. Last two even if you count Naoko.

>>38270872
last three, remember the little ghost girl?

>>38268424
Late as hell. Also that is a weird as hell time zone.

>>38270872
>>38271148
We'll totally protect people. As long as we don't count.

>>38271148
We sure suck at protecting girls...

>>38270562
>>38270664
You look back at Kimiko, throwing her a meaningful glance. Even from this distance, her eyes manage to lock with yours, and you see them widen as she understands what you're meaning to do. Her firm expression falters in worried surprise, but her lips continue the chant.

You grin, though you can't spare any more time amusing yourself with her reaction. Looking around, you see the dark blue hilt of your weapon, and the meager inches of steel remaining attached to it. This isn't going to be enough. Even your own nails would probably work better, or at least just as well.
I want to kill it
That sword is worthless. It can't cut anything. It won't kill anyone. It's good for absolutely nothing, not even for picking your own teeth.
Do you?
Mere moments remain until it's time for you to attack. You have decided that you will do so; at the moment, it is your greatest desire. For all the pain that the creature had inflicted on you, you'll respond in kind. Of course, you're no demigod. You can't tear it open with your bare hands, even if you wished to do that.

Shinigami are, after all, swordsmen. As such, you require a sword. A Shinigami cannot wield swords that are not their own, so you will need a sword that belongs to you.

And if that's the case, then the solution is simple.
If you need a sword
You will reach out and take one.
Then I will allow you one more
Once again, your hand grasps the empty air.
Carry out your wish
And yet again, you grab the handle of your sword.

You have only a moment to glance at it. A light blue hilt and a guard in the shape of a four-pointed star. A long blade with steel so cold that it cools even your temper. A sword that provides you with an icy composure even as you are tempted to fly into a berserk rage.

(1/3)

>>38272123
It is a good thing you took this sword. Right now, timing is of the essence, and your strength requires the 'how' rather than 'how much'.

Kimiko's sphere of blue flames emerges out of the palm of her hand. She hails the name of the spell loudly enough for even you to hear.

"Hado #33, Sokatsui!"

You dash forwards. Comparing your speed now to how it was before, when you were focusing on survival, is like comparing a bullet fired from a handgun and a rock shot from a sling.

This surge of speed, as fleeting as it is, is almost enough for you to reach the Hollow before even the projectile does.

The behemoth tries to swipe the spell aside with its arm and it explodes immediately, engulfing the surroundings with a shockwave and smoke that is impenetrable to human vision.

But unfortunately for the Hollow, this is not a detriment for you. This only provides you with cover.

You remember where it stands with perfect clarity, and you don't need your eyesight. With one more step, you leap, the tip of your sword pointed forwards like a spear. With a crack of bones and the slushing of penetrated flesh, your weapon stabs through its head. With a roar to match the Hollow's own, you assume a firmer grasp on the handle and push it upwards, splitting the skull in two.

After a hop from its shoulders, you land behind the beast.

You dealt it a lethal blow, and yet...

And yet it still stands, as if refusing to fade from this world. Its mask of bone knits itself together.

The short-lived thrill and sense of empowerment are gone, now substituted by worry and fatigue.

The Hollow reforms; its mask heals alongside the rest of its injuries. It turns to you, and as it does, it receives another blast of blue flame into its back. This one seems weaker, and it merely pushes the beast forwards. It stands firmly after a moment of faltering balance.

(2/3)

>>38272151
But that seems to be enough. Rather than dealing you a finishing blow, it leaps upwards, clawing a hole through reality. It flees into its own world, whatever god-forsaken hell that might be.

You can't help but sigh in relief as it does that. You wouldn't have survived a single blow.

...

You find yourself lying on the ground.

"...-were you thinking?! I told you not to fight that thing!" The small girl berates you as you gradually return back to consciousness. Has she been going at it for a while? As she notices you wake up, she issues one more. "What if you didn't get lucky and died, you fool?!"

The girl then sighs. A small crowd of people has gathered around her, probably curious about all the yelling, though Kimiko doesn't seem to be bothered by them.

...

>"Stop yellin' already, I'm fine. You're embarrassing yourself as Aiko, Kimiko."
>"I didn't really have a choice, Kimiko."
>"Uh... thanks for the help."
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."
>Other (Write-in).

>>38272151
Well, almost Clarissa! Better luck next time!

>>38272151
Posting Meti's sword teachings to help.

>Mastering the sword.

>3. The sanctioned action is to Cut.

>4. To Cut means division by the blade of Want, that parer of potentials that excises infinities.

>>38272175
>"I didn't really have a choice, Kimiko."
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."

>>38272175
>"I didn't really have a choice, Kimiko."
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."

>>38272175
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."
So. We just caught a glimpse of our shikai and it looks to me like it will have ice/cold based powers.
Neat.

>>38272175
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."
It's important!

>>38272239
unacceptable.

>The 18 Precepts

>4. Breathing is very important! Is the violent breath of life in you not hot? Exhale! Exult!

>>38272175
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."

>>38272175
>"Stop yellin' already, I'm fine. You're embarrassing yourself as Aiko, Kimiko."
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."
A very nice update!

>>38272123
Wonder if we have an asshole shikai or a nice one...

>>38272175
>"Uh... thanks for the help."
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."

>>38272175
>"Kimiko, there's a bigger problem right now. I, uh, need you to help Naoko. Right now. She's sick."

>>38272175
Voting over, writing!

>>38272123
Wait a tick. Light blue hilt, four pointed guard, coldness...

Did we get Hyōrinmaru for a sword somehow?

>>38273004
Could be mother Russia's general winter

>>38273004
I hope not.

>>38273004
Huh. Well that would be weird.

>>38273080
Baba Yaga?

>>38272239
>>38272266
"Uh, Kimiko?"

"What is it?" She asks, still annoyed.

"There's a bigger problem than, well, me, right now..." You continue. The girl looks at you with concern. "It's, uh, Naoko. She's sick."

Her reply flies out immediately.

"You're the sick one here! Sick in the head, you stupid fool! Do you have any idea just how much I hate being worried?" She groans, as if trying to vent her frustrations out with it, though that doesn't seem to be enough to calm her down.

"Just... call her doctor." You tell her. She glares at you with disdain, but takes out her phone.

"What's the number?" Kimiko begrudgingly asks.

"Uh... it was written on a note back in her house. I don't have that on me..."

Kimiko breaks out into a cackle. It sounds almost malicious.

"You should at least try to prove me wrong when I call you retarded, Clarissa!"

"D-don't yell out my name like that! There's a ton of people here, and it's not unremarkable at all! Okay, fine, maybe it was a little stupid, but... forget it, just follow me there."

There's a brief, silent pause. Kimiko looks down at you as she stands, as if thinking about something. It... seems suspicious.

All of a sudden, she gets on top of you. Her long hair tickles your neck, and her pleasantly sweet scent overwhelms your nostrils.

"W-what the fuck are you doing?! Y-you're too close! Get your face away from mine!"

She smiles mischievously.

"Then push me off."

Oh. It took you this long to realize that you can't move a single muscle. No, wait. You can move your fingers.

"W-what did you do to me, you... you vixen! Get off!"

Kimiko stands up and moves away from you. Your arms sluggishly and with considerable delay carry out your command to rise.

"I didn't do anything other than push you down a bit. You did this to yourself. Honestly, you should be happy that I'm not taking advantage of you." She flicks her hair and offers you a hand.

(1/2)

>>38273796
The rest of your body then gradually lags to its feet. After helping you up, Kimiko makes a call.

"Who are you calling?"

"Chappy. I'm getting your body back. It'll help you recover faster."

"Wait. What about school?"

She suddenly grabs your ear and pulls really, really hard.

"Do you want me to tie you to a bed to make you rest or something, you blond, hyperactive mule?"

"Ow, ow, ow, fuck, let go, I get it!"

"Lead the way, then."

...

The two of you quietly walk towards Naoko's house. Kimiko still seems to be angry with you, and stubbornly keeps quiet.

...

>Be smug about it. "...So I made you worry, eh?"
>"Um... sorry for not... listening to you, I guess."
>"Uh... thanks for helping me out back there, Kimiko."
>Let her fume for a bit, she'll calm down by the time you get there.
>Other (Write-in).

>>38273834
>"Um... sorry for not... listening to you, I guess."

>>38273834
>"Uh... thanks for helping me out back there, Kimiko."
Geez lady, no need to thank us for saving your bacon back there.

>>38273834
"...are you still mad?"

>>38273834
>"Um... sorry for not... listening to you, I guess."
>"Thanks for helping me out."

>>38273796
I told you she was lewd, anons!

>>38273834
Voting over, writing!

>>38273834
>"Um... sorry for not... listening to you, I guess."
>"...are you still mad?"

>>38274237
Oh, still going this late? That's dedication!

>>38273968
Yeah I kinda think she's either being too tsun for her own good or just a bit of an asshole. We didn't have a ton of options.

>>38273796
Wonder how weakened she is from all those spells...

>>38273848
>>38273968
"Um... thanks for helping me out back there, I guess..."

"You're welcome. How are you going to show your gratitude for it, though? Are you going to cook me a meal? Give me an expensive present? Are you going to name your children after me? Ah, I'm just... joking. Just... don't do it again. Run if something like this comes up again."

"Are you sure that was an option, Kimiko?"

"It always is. And it's not always bad, either."

You spot something in her hand - the dark blue hilt of the snapped sword.

"And, uh... sorry for not listening to you."

"Alright, alright. Just don't do it again, okay? Risking your life like that... if you didn't get lucky, if it didn't decide to just leave, you'd be dead."

You notice her eyes curiously glancing at the sword you're carrying, the one with the four-pointed guard. She shakes her head, murmuring something.

"If the first one was yours, and the second one was mine... then what the heck is that one?"

"What? You said somethin', Kimiko?"

"Just thinking outloud. Nothing for you to worry about, I guess."

After Kimiko sighs, you continue on your way.

...

File: nurse clarissa.png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>38274626
Ending thread for tonight, it's really late!

Next thread will be announced on twitter!
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any questions or feedback, please shoot them my way.

Thanks for reading!

>>38274626
Thanks for running!

>>38274669
Thanks for the thread, it was fun. The combat update was definitely well-written!

Is your twitter in the QM directory?

>>38274782
Thanks!

And I have no idea what that is!

>>38274828
Ah, it's just a twitter directory of QMs to gather everything in one place. Useful for people like me without twitter to catch when you run (because otherwise my bookmarks would be flooded by QM accounts).
You could ask to be added in QTG if you want.

>>38274669
Why is Kimiko so prickly?
How fucked is our reputation at school after our double's day there?

>>38274966
She's just mad!

It could probably be worse, but that can be said even about very bad things.

>>38275022
RIP Clarissa's school-life.

>>38275022
Gotta sleep so suits me well to stop here, thanks for running though.

Wonderful thread as always.