>>40387553
>You can't just force Aiko to help!
>I still don't get why you hate me so much!

>>40387553
>You can't just force Aiko to help!
Girls, please.

>>40387553
>HOLD ON! I still have questions for you!
>You can't just force Aiko to help!

>>40387553
>HOLD ON! I still have questions for you!
>You can't just force Aiko to help!
I am not warming to Aiko's mom. Not one bit.

>>40387736
Our new friends/sisters/whatever, on the other hand, are adorable.

>>40387770
Very true. I wish to huggle all of the humanized cards and monster quite a lot.

>>40387779
I'm sure there will be time for Masami to huggle them once this is over, anon!

>You can't just force Aiko to help!
>I still don't get why you hate me so much!
>HOLD ON! I still have questions for you!

Writing!

Rolled 30, 69 = 99 (2d100)

>>40388220
Worry

>>40388220
hmm...

File: Aiko's_Mom.jpg (724 KB, 850x1200)

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"HOLD ON!" I yell at her, before she storms away. "You can't just force Aiko to help you!"
"..Masami, please."
She pulls Aiko close. "This is her duty, this is something I have trained her for and she is prepared to face. I know you and your kind like to trick people by taking human form, but it's not going to work on me. We will be fine without you."
"Hold on!" I stop her again, "I don't get why you hate me so much! I'm offering to help, Asai is as much of my enemy as he is yours!"

She really furrows her brow at that. She steps forward as if she's going to go off on a huge rant.
"You will NEVER be his enemy, You and him are both monsters. We're leaving, Aiko."
She grabs her and starts walking toward her car. Which I didn't realize was parked right outside the bubble.
"Moom! Stop this! You're acting weird again, maybe you're just hungry?" Aiko tries to reason with her.
I step forward, "Yeah! and I still have questions for you! Like how are you even going to fight that thing!? You're throwing your daughter at an impossible enemy!"

She turns to me, "You let us deal wth it. I don't want you anywhere near my daughter until then, understand?!"
"Answer me!"
Instead, she picks Aiko up with a squeak and tosses her in the car.
"ANSWER ME!" I yell at her once more, pounding on the passenger window. Aiko is pulling on her mother's sleeve as the car pulls away.

Aiko's gone.
Maybe it's not as bad as I thought. I can just go to her house, right? I know where Aiko lives.
I hear that whumping noise behind me. I see that the building-sized monster is no less intent on breaking out of his cage.
What's worse, I can hear sirens in the distance. Police sirens. They must be extremely confused right now as to what's happening now.

>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!
>Maybe I can follow that car!
>Maybe I can get to Aiko's house before her mother does!
>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.
>Other?

>>40388471
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!
>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.
I think first we need to properly understand what happened with the last generation that made Aikos mom so crazy.

>>40388471
>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!

>>40388471
>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!

>>40388471
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!

>>40388471
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!
>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.

>I should call everyone to make sure they got out okay.
>FAMILY MEETING! Get everyone together and talk about this real fast!

Writing!

File: Izumi_3.jpg (631 KB, 2560x1440)

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"Masami!"
"Masami!"
The two card sisters walk over and watch teh car as it moves out of sight.
"Do you want to chase it! I'm way faster!"
"No. No no. Julie, Haruko, please hold on. Don't rush into anything because we might make things worse." "It might be worse, but I don't really trust leaving Aiko with that woman!"
"I know, but we can't deal with her right now. We need to make sure everyone is safe first."

I take out my phone and sigh in relief as I notice that it has full signal strength again. The bubble must have been cutting it off. I tap a tile on the screen for Mom's number.
"Sorry, our network is overloaded with-"
No, no, no!

"Masami, look behind you."
I notice, down the way, Mom is running almost straight for me. I nearly drop the phone as I rush back toward her.
--
I explain to her what happened with Aiko, and Aiko's mom. Plus what she said about the bubble and the building escaping. Mom seems to soak all of this in intently, but doesn't seem to be too disturbed by it.
Everyone else, on the other hand, is completely stunned.
"Aiko." Maeda seems the most worried.
"Hold on, I'm sure her mother has a good reason for doing this."
"No, she really doesn't." The principal intervenes. "She's doing this because she's stubborn."

"That's not really the entire reason." MOm sighs, "There's a lot of history to it. She's just, distrustful. That's all."
"It's probably partially my fault, too." The principal sighs, "I knew she was trying to get back into it when I heard about Kaori a few years back, but."

>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this
>Let's just go get Aiko back.
>Let's focus on the building first, that seems more troublesome.
>Do we HAVE a plan on the building?
>I want to know how and why Asai can do that
>Other?

>>40389435
>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this
>Let's focus on the building first, that seems more troublesome.
>Do we HAVE a plan on the building?
>I want to know how and why Asai can do that

>>40389435
>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this

>>40389435
>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this

>>40389435
>Let's focus on the building first, that seems more troublesome.
>I want to know how and why Asai can do that
These twins sure are a handful. They're lucky to be so useful and cute.

>>40389435
>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this
>Do we HAVE a plan on the building?
>I want to know how and why Asai can do that

>Okay everyone, stop, we need to sit down and go through this
>Let's focus on the building first, that seems more troublesome.
>I want to know how and why Asai can do that

Wriing!

File: izumi_business_3.jpg (248 KB, 900x958)

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I wave my hands around in the air.
"STOOOP! Everyone! Just stop! I don't get any of this at all!"

The adults turn to look at me, and then they notice that the other kids are just as confused as I am about everything.
"I think we need to sit down and talk about this some more." I cross my arms. The middle of the street when the police are coming is probably not the best time to be talking about this anyway."
The adults are suddenly aware that there aARE cop cars, and the sirens ARE getting closer the longer we stand out here. We all agree to meet someplace a bit further way and more secluded.
--
I tap the screen of my phone once more, scrolling through all the news stories that have popped up.
Some of them report the Fortune building remaining perfectly in place, with police investigating reports of a break-in.
Others report strange occurances happening around the building, and ask that residents stay in their homes until further notice.
I look up once more, toward the structure. It's still now, but could spring back to life at any minute. It's almost like the building is pretending to be immobile instead of actually being a regular building again.
Two days, that's how long I have to figure out a way to topple Fortune.

The sun is starting to wane on the horizon as the streetlights spring to life. We decided to reconvene in a nearby park which is not very populous right now.
Julie and Haruko agreed to take the younger kids home, they didn't need to be a part of this. Really I just did it so they would stop arguing and give me some space.
"First thing I want to ask, how is it Asai can do that with Fortune HQ? Could he always do that?"
"There's... a kind of secret I've been hiding, but I don't think it really matters now." Mom looks guilty.

>If it's a secret, then that's okay.
>I want to hear it, he has no secrets anymore.
>Let's talk about Aiko first
>Or the past, let's talk about that.
>Other?

File: intermission04.jpg (15 KB, 400x266)

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Everyone, it's that time of day where I drive home.

Thread resumes in a couple hours when I get there. Until then, tell me what you think of everything so far. I love reading your speculation!

>>40390317
>If it's a secret, then that's okay.
>Let's talk about Aiko first

>>40390317
>Let's talk about Aiko first
>Or the past, let's talk about that.

>>40390317
>If it's a secret, then that's okay.
>Or the past, let's talk about that.
I think its pretty important to understand what exactly went down back when Mom and the parents of our friends fought first.

>>40390317
>Let's talk about Aiko first
>Or the past, let's talk about that.

>>40390317
>I want to hear it, he has no secrets anymore.

>>40390317
>Let's talk about Aiko first
>Or the past, let's talk about that.

>>40390379
Well, we still don't know how Mom ended up on good terms with the prinicpal and still stayed with Fortune.
How exactly that ended is our big knowledge gap to put together whats going on, since the rest is esoteric stuff that comes from how the magic world worked.
I wonder if maybe the magic abilities of our friends could be connected with monsters becoming human.

>>40391802
Those magic abilities seem to simply infuse the monsters with power and such, which apparently leads to the monsters changing when there is nothing to prevent it.

>>40392323
>Those magic abilities seem to simply infuse the monsters with power and such
I think he's talking about stuff like Ken'ichis super punch.
They inherited those from their parents, but we don't quite know where those have them from.

>Let's talk about Aiko first
>Or the past, let's talk about that.

Writing!

>>40392369
>I think he's talking about stuff like Ken'ichis super punch.
That's what I was talking about as well.

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"I want to talk about Aiko first." I pout. "I want to know why her mother hates me and why she took her away and what she's planning on doing with her."

The principal sits back in his chair, "I can't really tell you what she's planning on doing with her. She's always been really tough on the poor girl. I hope she isn't planning something like trying to take her into battle or something."
"L-let's assume she won't do that." Mom interjects, with a nervous laugh. "But to answer your question, she's always really never liked monsters. I guess it's a family thing for her."

"A family thing?"
"Marie's family has been fighting monsters for a long time. At least several generations. Aiko is the first one in her family who didn't have to fight anything."
"How is that different from you? Or Ryouta? Or-"

"I'm the first one in my family that had the ability to." The principal looks upward. "So is Ryouta and Maeda's mother and fathre. They were the first ones in their family."
"Then, how did you get them?"

"That's a little complicated." He looks over to Mom, "I think you would know more about that."
"I do." Mom sets down a cup of water. "I don't remember what I was like before I turned into a person, but apparently me turning into one was a mistake. Shortly after I did, I started hearing about people who had the same abilities and powers that my former monster-self had."

"Your former monster-self?"
She wistfully sips from her cup, "The ones who helped me turn into a person way back when was the Principal and his two friends, completely by accident. Shortly afterward, they started showing abilities. That's when my former master started ordering attacks on them."
The principal picks up from there, "A couple weeks after that, Aiko's mother moved into town and transferred to our school. Her family had been the ones trying to track that guy down, and somehow found out about us. That's how we got involved in all this."
>Cont.

File: Principal_2.jpg (259 KB, 950x475)

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>>40393396
Mom puts her cup down. "About a year or so after that, the master passed away. Largely in part to my father, Emperor."

"This is too much." I interrupt. "Can we get back to Aiko's Mom?"

"Right, right. Anyway, she was completely adamant about her mission. From what I know, it was drilled into her head since birth."
"We may have been the first ones in our family, but she was born with hers."

Mom leans back in her chair. "When Emperor took over the for the master and tried his own hand at ruling the monsters; I wanted out. I wanted nothing to do with it. David here offered to hear me out, but it didn't really work out. "
"Marie and Ryouta's father was too paranoid to accept her at the time. Ever since then Marie has had this attitude like she has to do this, she has to be the last one in her family to fight."

That's confusing for me.
"But she took Aiko away! Why would she do that!?"
"I think she believes that the peace thing hasn't worked out with the monsters, and that includes with you and your family. If she goes back to the way she was raised, she might be trying to take her daughters away for training."

"..She wouldn't involve Aiko's little sister, would she? She's younger than I am!"
"She's also the age that Marie started training. Of course, Marie's on a timer, with the bubble and all, so it may not happen today or tomorrow."

>No! She can't do that! This Marie person is a jerk!
>Forget it! I'm going to go get her!
>No, no, she is on a timer. And so are we.
>I don't know what to do.
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!
>Other?

>>40393661
>No! She can't do that! This Marie person is a jerk!
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!

>>40393661
>Other?
so, about that secret...

>>40393661
>I don't know what to do.
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!

>>40393661
>I don't know what to do.
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!
>Forget it! I'm going to go get her!

>>40393661
>I don't know what to do.
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!

>I don't know what to do.
>You're her friend, can't you talk to her?!

Writing!

File: kaori.png (464 KB, 498x651)

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"Can't you talk to her? She has to realize deep down that this is insane to do to her daughter!"
"I wish I could, Masami."

"But you can! You're her friend!"
"I'm her friend, but I'm not her father. I can't force her to do anything."
"Then you should realize how terrible it is for her to force Aiko to do anything!"

Mom stops me, "Sweetie, I know you're upset. But please don't raise your voice to the principal of your school."
I stop myself, but then pout.
"It's just.. it's just."

"I know, sweetie, I know."

Kaori, who was so silent I almost forgot she was there, wraps her arms around me from behind.
"Sis, I know you're upset, I am too. Aiko is one of the closest friends I have."
"But.."
"We'll get her back, I promise."

It's easy to say that, but-
"I don't know what to do. It seems like there are so many problems happening at once now."

Mom stands up and walks over to me, wrapping her arms around both Kaori and I.
"All we can do is worry about one problem at a time."

I can barely see it out of the corner of my eye, but the principal is smiling.
"Izumi, I envy you."
"Hmm? Why is that?"
"I wish I had the same relationship with my son. Ken barley even talks to me anymore."

"Well, getting to know him over fighting monsters probably isn't the best way to do it."
"I don't know, it seems to work well with your daughters." He laughs.

I pout.
Kaori laughs and ruffles my hair.

"Anyway, still got to deal with the building. I don't have any plans unless you do."
Mom thinks about it for a second.

"I might have a plan."
"Really!?" I nearly tackle her, "Thank you!"

"Oof, wait, wait, one second. It's about Asai."
"What about him?"
>Cont.

File: 846928.jpg (2.48 MB, 2178x3200)

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>>40394770
"I don't think.." Mom looks for the right words, "He's not a person, like you or I, he's still a monster in nature. Even though he looks like one."
"Really?"
"The 'Asai' personification is a front he puts up. He's entirely monster, I'm certain. It's just that-"

Mom hesitates, "We could, I guess, try to turn HIM into a person, just like the other monsters. If that happens, he might lose all his powers like what happened with the other monsters."
"Really!?" My eyes light up.
"Well, hold on, I don't really know how to do that. It's something that just sort of happens, we would have to work really hard trying to find out why it happens and how to force it to happen to him. Which means we would need a test subject, and it might require lots of drafting. Are you okay with that?"

>I'm better than okay with that!
>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
>Well, it does seem like a lot of work. I don't know.
>Hmm, let's ask around, maybe someone has a better idea on how to do that.
>Other?

>>40394792
>>>I'm better than okay with that!

>>40394792
>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
>Start interviewing all our Cards/Monster turned Siblings what went on with them

I'm sort of dubious about this plan, given that Mom used to be a monster and she didn't lose her powers either.

>>40394792
>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!

>>40394828
I mostly want to draft more cards. So, the success if the plan isn't something I care much about.

>>40394792
>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
>Hmm, let's ask around, maybe someone has a better idea on how to do that.

>>40394792
>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
more cards means more weapons against him, so it's a win-win anyway

>>40394870
Why do you want to draft more cards?

>>40394792
>>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
>>Hmm, let's ask around, maybe someone has a better idea on how to do that.

>>40394936
because the ones we have are starting to turn into sisters. Each card that turns is one less power we have (though more allies)

>It's at least a plan! Better than what I've come up with to defeat him!
>Hmm, let's ask around, maybe someone has a better idea on how to do that.
>Like maybe interviewing all our Cards/Monster turned Siblings what went on with them

Writing last post of the night

Wow this starting early thing turned out real well.

>>40394982
We only have two more that are likely to turn, and the one we just got from fortune.

>>40395183
Currently Belle is our only combat card, are we just going to opt out of battles if she turns?

>>40395287
Sofar only cards that used to be monster turned, we don't really know if Belle can turn at all.

>>40395312
Didn't we draft Melissa/Amber? She turned, but I can't remember where we got her.

>>40395287
Belle is unlikely to turn since we only drafted her a rather short time ago, and she has never even been a monster.

>>40395334
No, we have only drafted Belle, the speed card, the flight card and the power card.

>>40395334
We only drafted Bellevedere among the named cards.
Amber/Melissa, I'm fairly sure is the card Mom helped us with, we didn't draft her in any case.

>>40395337
Then what is the opposition to drafting more cards? Regardless if Belle turns or not, if we have the opportunity to make more cards for powers why not take it? Even further, if cards we draft by ourselves can't turn into monsters, then what good is drafting cards for mom anyways?

>>40395395
We don't know if they 'can't' they just haven't yet.
Might be a age thing too. Also, Mom might know how to make cards into monster to begin with so we can turn them into sisters.

>Then what is the opposition to drafting more cards?
None, I think? Its somewhat draining, but not much for Masami.
Maybe because Moms house isn't big enough?

>>40395395
I'm not opposed to drafting as such, but there's no sense making more cards just for the sake of having more cards.

>>40395447
>We don't know if they 'can't' they just haven't yet.
then people shouldn't be using this as an argument.

>Maybe because Moms house isn't big enough?
Semi-relatedly, I wonder if we can make a house card. Give ourselves a mansion.

For the record, in my orginal comment I only wanted to make more cards because we lost powers from turning into sisters.

>>40395517
This isn't simply "for the sake of making more cards" this is to restore our flexibility in powerset. Or do you want to exclusively use one card for the rest of the quest?

>>40395539
We still have five cards, and I don't expect the rest of the quest be too long. Do we really still need such a large powerset?

>>40395539
>Semi-relatedly, I wonder if we can make a house card. Give ourselves a mansion.

Answering this question because it's a good question that may not come up: Someone already made a structure out of a card once, so you're perfectly capable of making a bigger house and just putting it on top of the current house.


>Next post almost done

>>40395690
>Someone already made a structure out of a card once
bet it's Asai and the fortune tower

>>40395788
That does seem quite probable.

>>40395654
I'm simply taking the chance the story is currently giving. It's a little late to be against drafting.

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"I-"

I try to find the words to this plan Mom has suggested.
"I like it! It's great! I mean, it makes sense in theory, right? This is wonderful! Way better than what I was thinking of doing!"

"I'm glad you like it, but it does have some problems."
"We'll work through those!" I grab her hand. "We just need to go ask all the other monster-humans right away! We can find out everything we need by just asking them what happened!"

"Masami, wait wait. Hold on." She grabs my shoulder. "It's late, everyone has had a long day. I think we should all have a good night's rest before we do anything."
"But-!"

"She's right, Masami." Kaori puts her hand on my other shoulder. "Especially for our friends, here."
She points to Ryouta and Maeda, who have nodded off in their seats. The principal looks like he's about to rest his head on the table and pass out as well.
"Maybe you're right."
"Then it's settled!" Mom pats my back, before going over and tapping the Principal on his shoulder. Together they pick up Maeda and Ryouta and usher us out of the park.

Tomorrow is another day, after all.

>Cont.

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>>40395926
Of course, I didn't expect tonight to be such a fierce battle. I suppose I should have expected it.
"I'm sleeping in her bed!" The girl in blue pajamas demands.
"Nuh uh! I am!" A similar girl in red pajamas pouts.

"Giiiiiiiiirls." I moan. "It's big enough for BOTH of you."

They glare daggers at one another, just as Mom emerges from the bathroom. She's damping the blue hair of a little girl as they walk. Emillion, clearly embarrassed, walks in behind her.
"How are you holding up, Mom?"
"It's hectic, but." She finishes ruffling the hair of the clearly annoyed little girl. "-I kind of like it! The house is so lively now."

The monster is sitting in the living room talking with the last two waiting in line for a bath.
She grabs the tiny hand of the next person in line, the little blonde girl who is Emillion's sister.

'Hectic' must be an understatement. She has eight kids living under her roof now.
It's fun, yeah. But it has some downsides.

"That's why I get to sleep closer to her!" Julie sticks her tongue out, jumping into bed.
"No! I'm her favorite!" Haruko jumps into bed.
That's when I notice that Kaori and the invisible girl are already sleeping in the bed and neither of them realize it. If I tried to sleep in it now, I would probably roll off.

I think I'll sleep on the floor tonight.

>Thread End

>>40395968
Thanks for running!
We're gonna need a bigger bed. Lots of bigger beds. And a bigger place. Shit.

>>40395968
I think we should get started with the mansion idea from before first.

File: 1414665176315.gif (1.93 MB, 432x324)

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Thanks for the thread everyone. I'm glad we're at this point in the story!
It's been great, and I have to remember to start threads early like this more often. We get a lot more accomplished!

>>40395899
I'm going to spoil something really minor:
It is NOT as important as it seems right now. It's helps to be prepared, but it's not going to hurt Masami if she finishes with the cards she has now.

That said, everyone is welcome to draft a few more cards over the next few sessions we have.

Thanks for the thread everyone, let me know what you thought of it.

>>40396012
Thanks for running.

We are so far along in the story and I am so used to questing at this point that I'm wondering if I shouldn't start planning another quest to pick up on when this and DDQ ends.

Maybe that's something to discuss.

>>40395968
So, when we make that mansions we need a bigger bed for Masami for all her sisters.

>that image of Haruko and Julie pouting at eachother from both sides of Masami

You're killing me here Heart!


Thanks for running!

>>40396038
That would be nice.

>>40396012
Thanks for running.

>>40396012
thanks for running

>>40396038
you totally should