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Well, this is an interesting development.

The last time you saw Rei, she was comatose, with no signs of waking up anytime soon. And then... out of nowhere, she appears. Like a bolt of lightning, sword in hand, smirk on face, healthy and ready to take on any challenge. What changed?

Rei's been standing before you, resting her hand atop the hilt of her sword for a while now, expecting some kind of answer from the group. Instead, you're all busy staring at her, slack-jawed and in shock to even see her standing on her own two feet.

“Rei... you're awake...” Akira mutters, her eyes wide, her face twisted into an expression that's a mix of shock and pure joy.

“Of course I am!” Rei laughs. “You really think Class 3 could keep me down for long. I-WHOA!”

She cries out in shock as she notices Taka standing at the back of the group. She cautiously raises her sword, pointing it at him, before charging at him with intense speed.

“Rei, wait! He's with-” you begin, but you're unable to finish as she's already engaged him in combat. Taka raises his great-sword in order to defend himself, parrying a few of her blows, but Rei's too fast for him. It's amazing, it's like she's stored up so much energy in the time she was out of action, and now she's even stronger and faster than she was before coming out of her comatose state. Not even Taka can keep up with her swift movements.

“Rei! Stop!” Akira exclaims. As Rei and Taka cross blades, Akira sprints towards her friend and tackles her to the ground. Though due to the circumstances, the tackle seems to be more of a very aggressive hug.

“Akira, what are you doing?!” Rei exclaims, struggling under her best friend's weight. “Taka's right there!”

“I know... he's on our side,” Akira explains.

“He's... what?” Rei's eyes widen in confusion, as Akira raises her back onto her feet. “What are you talking about? We were just fighting him! And where's Yamato?”

You shake your head solemnly. She has no idea, does she? “Rei, Yamato's dead,” you explain, approaching her. “You... you've been in a coma for three weeks. A lot has changed.”

Rei stares blankly, glancing between you, Akira, Taka and the Darkworld around her. “Okay... you might want to fill me in, Ryoji.”

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Back at camp, you sit Rei down and explain the current situation to her, as she munches down on some candy Akira had to spare. “So, let me get this straight...” Rei remarks, trying hard to grasp what she's missed. “There's this cult... and they worship this place, so their leader made a deal with a Super Darkworlder so that we would be stuck here for as long as he lived?”

“That's the long and short of it,” you nod.

Rei sits crossed legged on the ground, scratching the back of her head. “Man, this never would have happened if I was awake! Those Order freaks would never have gotten the drop on you with me around!”

Seeing how Rei moved earlier, you think that might actually be the case.

“So, what else did I miss?” Rei asks, curious.

“Well... there was a festival in town, a nice fireworks display... the school held a dance... that's pretty much it,” you reply.

Soon, Saki approaches after receiving the run-down on what happened from Akio. She hugs Akira, before smiling as she addresses Rei. “Good to see you back! We were all so worried about you!”

Rei picks herself of the ground and offers a handshake to Saki. “You didn't need to be! It would take a lot more than that to keep me down forever! Pretty sure I'm even tougher than you these days, Miss Kobashi!” she says with a smirk.

Saki laughs as she accepts the handshake. “It looks like all your training really did pay off!” she replies. “Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!”

“That reminds me,” Rei says, turning her head towards you. “This means it's been at least three weeks since our last training session, Ryoji!” She pokes you in the chest. “That just won't do at all! As soon as we're out of here, we're going for a run!”

“Sounds great! I can't wait!” Saki says, inviting herself with nervous laughter. “I... have to check on the camps defences. Welcome back, Rei!”

Saki gives and awkward waves as she rushes towards Akemi. Oh boy... you just realised there's something else Rei missed. She has no idea you and Saki are together... in fact, she fell into her coma before knowing that you were even interested in Saki. This could be a pain to explain...

>Tell Rei about you and Saki.
>It's not that important for her to know that right now. It can wait until later.

>>246107
>Tell Rei about you and Saki.
Better now than later

>>246107
>Tell Rei about you and Saki.
Better get this done now.

>>246107
>Tell Rei about you and Saki.
Things could get ugly really quickly if we didn't tell her about it.

>>246107
>>Tell Rei about you and Saki.

>>246107
damm she could be fun but hay im expacting someone to die in here naver no the gf spot might be open

>>246170
forgot to pick something >It's not that important for her to know that right now. It can wait until later.
dont want her think too hard about thigns as we need fighters not baby dramas

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>Tell Rei about you and Saki.

Rei wanted to get filled in on what she missed, right? This is probably something you should inform her of. After all, you and Rei did kind of have a thing going not to long ago, and judging by Saki's nervous reaction, she probably remembers. Poor Saki might just be a little jealous of the blonde.

“Hey Rei, there's something else that happened while you were out...” you begin, scratching the back of your head.

“Oh? And what's that?” Rei laughs. “Did you finally figure out how to be useful in a fight?”

“You see... Saki and I are kinda dating now,” you answer.

Rei's laughing stops, as she stares at you in surprise. “You and... Saki?”

You nod. “Yeah. We're a couple now.”

Rei squints her eyes, still befuddled by what you said.

“You and... Saki? You and the girl who spends all her time lecturing you can trying to get you into trouble are... dating?”

Looks like she's having a hard time processing it. “Yeah... I mean, Saki and I became closer as friends, and one thing led to another, so-”

“Okay, I think I get that, but... her? With you?” Rei's eyes dart over to Saki, before shaking her head. “That's just... I won't judge, but that's a real shocker.”

Rei might be the only person surprised by the news. Apparently everyone in the entire school was expecting it to happen long before either you or Saki realised your feelings.

Rei's face soon turns red as she realises something. “Oh... so when I asked you to go to training, she thought...” a smirk develops on Rei's face. “I made Miss Kobashi jealous, didn't I?”

“Don't make a habit of it,” you laugh. “I don't want my girlfriend having a meltdown every time we talk.”

Rei smirks as she begins to stretch out her arms. “Sure thing! Now, when are we going out to kick some cult ass? I'm just itching to get back into action!”

“Don't you think you should try to take it easy?” you ask. “You're just out of a coma that was caused by you pushing yourself to hard. A coma, Rei.”

Rei scoffs. “Come on, that was nothing! It was only three weeks! It was barely a hiccup! Three weeks isn't a long time, is it?”

>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.
>Are you absolutely sure you're fine?

>>246200
>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

At some point we're going to need to test if Rei's made a deal with an Archdemon and forgot like Ryoji, maybe get her to cut her finger or run against Hiro's shield or something?

>>246200
>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

Rei, like Akemi, is taking this perfectly well.

That said, she is also not quite getting the whole 'in a coma' thing.

>>246200
>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

>>246200
>>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

Oh well that went surprisingly well.
>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

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>Ask Akira. She never left your bedside that whole time.

Rei smiles proudly. "I wouldn't expect anything less of her! We're best friends, of course she would visit me every day!"

"That's not what I said," you shake your head. "I said she never left your bedside. At all. From the moment you fell into that coma until the moment we were thrown in here, Akira didn't leave your side. For three entire weeks."

Rei stares at you in disbelief. "Then... how did she eat?"

"Tekina brought her food," you answer.

"And she slept-"

"Right beside you, every night."

Rei sighs. "So, she didn't go to the festival? Or the school dance?"

"No," you shake your head. "She wanted to stay by your side in case you woke up."

"But what about school tests? Surely-"

"She didn't take them," you reply. "Akira didn't leave you for any reason."

Rei stares over at Akira, who is standing with her arms crossed. "I..." Rei mutters, her mouth hanging agape. "Hang on, I have to take care of something. Go give Saki my regards... I'm not going to get you to you two being a couple. That's just weird to me."

Rei brushes past you as she marches up to Akira. She wraps her arms tight around her, squeezing tight. "Rei? What are you doing?" Akira asks, looking slightly embarrassed. "You can't-"

"Don't tell me what I can't do!" Rei laughs, squeezing tighter and refusing to let go.

Akira pauses, before her eyes begin to well up and she returns the hug with full force. "Oh, Rei... I've missed you so much..."

You smile at the nice reunion, before making your way over to Saki, who is talking to Akemi about the ships defences. "Hey Sak," you cut in, "What's our next plan of action?"

"I'm not sure..." Saki replies. "Right now, I'm just recovering from the shock that Rei is up and walking. It's great news, obviously... Rei is a great asset to the group right now. She's powerful, fast, a great fighter, beautiful... very beautiful actually... you didn't stare at her butt, did you? N-not that I think you would, it's just that you used to do that all the time and-"

Saki soon devolves into unintelligible rambling as her face turns bright red.

>You're so cute when you're jealous.
>Let's focus on the matter at hand, Saki.

>>246289
>Let's focus on the matter at hand, Saki.
We got things to do. Flirt later.

>>246289
>You're so cute when you're jealous.
But,
>Let's focus on the matter at hand, Saki.
I like both, honestly.

>>246289
>You're so cute when you're jealous.
>But we need to focus on the matter at hand. What's the situation?

>>246289
>You're so cute when you're jealous.
Blatantly look at sakis butt

>I don't know, I think she has more to be jealous about than you do.

>>246289
>You're so cute when you're jealous.
>Let's focus on the matter at hand, Saki.
Both

>>246289
>You're so cute when you're jealous.

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>You're so cute when you're jealous.
>But let's focus on the matter at hand, Saki.

"Jealous? I'm not jealous! Why would I be-" Saki begins, but you cut her off.

"Our plan of action, remember?" you say, trying to keep her on track. "What's our next move, leader?"

Saki takes a deep breath and nods. "Okay... we obviously need to take down the Order before things turn from bad to worse... problem is, we have no idea where they are hiding, and I sadly don't think that we are strong enough to defeat their leader by ourselves. We need to find the rest of Class 3, our teachers, everyone who can help us in the coming battle."

"But they aren't anywhere in the surrounding area..." you begin. "Sending the scouting team out too far could be a bad idea."

"Exactly my thoughts," Saki replies. "Which is why we need to press on together. For that reason, I'm having Akemi convert this camp in a caravan, make our defences mobile so that we can travel together with our supplies and in relative safety."

Akemi gives an excited salute as she lifts her head from tinkering with one of her turrets. "You can count on me, you guys! And don't be jealous, Saki! Ryoji only has eyes for you! Take it from me, the future Best Girl at your wedding!"

You raise an eyebrow. "A little too early to be talking about weddings, don't you think? We're only sixteen... also, what do you mean Best Girl? Do you expect me to make you Best Man or for Saki to make you Maid of Honor? There's no such title as Best Girl!"

Akemi pauses. "There isn't? Oh well, whatever you call it, it's me!"

Saki sighs, blushing. "Thanks for the... advice? Let's keep this ball rolling, anyway. As we travel, we also need to be on the lookout for food, since we weren't able to retrieve any from the forest. We've been in here a while, and I'm beginning to hear complaints of hunger."

"Alice's powers can create food," you reply. "But it takes a lot out of her even to make a small amount."

"We don't want to push her," Saki nods. "It wouldn't be right of us. If it takes too much out of her to do that, then we shouldn't force her."

"Why not?" Akio asks, listening in on the conversation. "If the girl's willing, then shouldn't she use her freaky evil powers to help the rest of us out? I'm not in favour of her overdoing it and killing herself or anything, but she should be expected to at least pull her weight!"

>Akio's got a point. We can live off small rations, which Alice could create. I'm sure she'll be more than willing to.
>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.

>>246386
>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.

>>246386
>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.
Can't feed a good 20 something people with an apple or two anyway.

>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.

>Unless we are in actual danger.

>>246386
>No, I don't want to risk powering up her Archdemon.

>>246386
>Akio's got a point. We can live off small rations, which Alice could create. I'm sure she'll be more than willing to.
>That said, we should still keep a lookout for food, I don't want to put to much strain on her.

>>246386
>>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.

>>246386
>Ask Alice how much food she could reliably make.

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>No, even if she's making small amounts, trying to feed all of us would put too much strain on her. I don't want to risk it.

"You don't want to risk it?" Akio crosses his arms. "Most of us are starving! We're going to die if we don't find any food!"

"We'll find something," you reassure him. "Until then, we shouldn't try to push Alice beyond her limits.Think about it Akio, do you really want Alice drawing power from a demon for the sake of a few apples?"

Akio pauses, before shaking his head. "No... I guess not. But we need food soon! I can't fight on an empty stomach!"

"You aren't the only person going hungry, Akio. We'll keep a lookout for food while we travel," Saki explains. "The sooner you help pack up supplies, the sooner we can move out and do that. Understood?"

Akio nods. "Whatever you say, boss."

Saki turns to you, as Akio takes off and begins to ready supplies. "I hope we can find something edible. It'll be a sad ending if those order lunatics win this because the rest of us starved to death."

"There's got to be something," you reply. "I mean... the order must have expected there to be food. They probably have something to eat right now... and since they worship Darkworlders, I doubt that's what they're chowing down on."

"I suppose you're right, Ryoji..." Saki mutters. "This is a big place. We're bound to find something we can eat."

Saki looks out over the camp as she stretches her arms and yawns. "Anything I can do to help out?" you ask.

"Of course!" Saki smiles. "Since you're in charge of morale, you want to try talking to some of the others in camp? I'd help out, but I don't think I'm a much of a comforting presence as you are."

She walks off in order to pack away several supplies. You make it a point to stare at her butt as she leaves, even if she doesn't see you doing it. You scratch the back of your head as you ponder who you should talk to. Of course, there's the obvious suspects, those that need a good pep talk, but your last chat with Nanami didn't end well and it might be too soon to try talking to her again. Of course, you could just use this time to get to know some others better, make sure everyone's doing okay.

>Talk to Nanami
>Talk to Sayeka
>Talk to Rei
>Other (Please Specify)

>>246549
>>Other (Please Specify)
Kousuke and Rini. Haven't heard from them much.

>>246549
>Talk to Nanami
Need to clean up our mess before she try to do something stupid.

>Other (Kousuke and Rini)

Nanami is still pissed off at us.

>>246549
>Other (Please Specify)
Nariko

I really want to talk to Nanami, I do. But I think us showing up right now would do way more harm than good right now. We do need to talk with her soon though.

>>246549
>Talk to Rei
Catch her up on what she missed in her coma (Yamato, Archdemons etc).
Then run Darkworlder tests.

>>246549
>Other (Taka)
talk to him about the events that just happen, and see if he can give us clues as to what year 3 students would do in this situation and how to find them

>>246588
Why at us?

>>246637
We told Ken that she liked him and told him to go talk to her. Not hard to figure out what happened.

>>246662
Oh yeah, good point

>>246637
After Ken tried to talk to her she realized that we told him about her feelings to him and went from "leave me alone" to "fucking Ryoji stop meddling in this."

>>246637
>>246662
>>246681
So when are we going to meddle more and tell Ken that Alice doesn't like him?

>>246692
When we're not in a life or death situation and have Alice tell him herself than us.

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>Talk to Kosuke and Rini

You realise you haven't spoken to Kosuke and Rini since arriving here. As two of the weaker members of the class, they aren't going to prove very useful in a combat situation. When you find them, however, you see that the two are helping others gather their supplies... helping others being a very uncharacteristic action for the couple.

"Hey Ryoji," Kosuke nods as you approach them, as he dust his hands off and offers you a handshake. "I haven't had the chance to say congrats yet for landing the girl."

You accept the handshake and smile. "Thanks, man. Rini, I'm guessing you're less enthused?"

"Just because I think you can do better doesn't mean I'm not happy for you!" Rini laughs. "Seriously though... Rei's back. It's not too late to change your mind on the whole Saki thing..."

You wave your hand, dismissing the comment before changing the subject. "So, how are you guys holding up?"

"This Darkworld is a real pain in the ass!" Rini exclaims. "There we were, having a nice intimate moment, then all of a sudden the ground opens up! Seriously, that Settan guy is going to have my fist rammed through his face for interrupting our private time!"

"You sound pretty heated," you reply.

"You're damn right I'm heated! It hot as hell in this place!" Rini yells, clenching her fist.

Kosuke shakes his head. "We're both pretty damn annoyed. It's why we're trying to help out as much as we can."

"We wanted to join the scouting party, but Akio turned us down," Rini mutters, "Of course, didn't stop him from letting his little girlfriend join..."

Kosuke shrugs. "We're not very strong. We all know that... but we really want to make ourselves useful for once. We don't really know how, though... any ideas?"

>You could help with morale. Nanami in particular could use some encouragement.
>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.
>Ask Saki. I'm sure she has some kind of job you two could perform.

>>246738
>>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

>>246738
>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

>>246738
>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.
I don't believe that the dating couple who have more or less loved each other since childhood would be a significant helper for Nanami.

>>246738
>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

>>246738
>>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

>>246738
>>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

>>246738
>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.
Gotta increase those "everyone survives" flags.

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>Why don't you give Akemi a hand? A little help could lead to defences being built faster.

"Akemi? We don't really know anything about machines," Rini remarks.

"Don't worry, she could just use a spare pair of hands," you reply. "You don't need to know how they work, she'll just tell you what to do."

"And you think Akemi will be able to explain this stuff to us," Kosuke asks, "Without us having something explode in our face?"

"Hopefully," you shrug.

Rini sighs. "I suppose we should take what we can get. Come on, let's help out the airhead."

Kosuke and Rini take off in the direction of Akemi, as you are approached by Chihiro. "Ryoji, may I have a word?"

"Sure, what's up?" you ask. "Is there something the matter with Alice?"

"No!" Chihiro exclaims, puffing out her cheeks. "I'll have you know I have plenty to talk about besides my aunt, Ryoji! This concerns me!"

"Okay... what is it?" you ask.

Chihiro takes a deep breath. "Call me crazy, Ryoji... but ever since we arrived here, I've had the strange feeling that someone's been... watching me."

"Watching you?" you ask. "From where?"

Chihiro shakes her head. "I... I don't know. But every time I turn around, I feel like there's a pair of eyes burning into the back of my head. And sometimes, I could swear I hear... I don't know, whispering? Someone might be spying on us."

"We're in a vast wasteland right now," you reply. "There's really nowhere to spy on us from, Chihiro."

"Are you calling me a liar?" Chihiro places her hands on her hips.

"No," you shake your head. "I'm just saying it's unlikely that there's someone spying on us right now. We would have seen them. Are you sure you aren't just... scared?"

"I am not scared!" Chihiro protests.

"Well, what do you expect me to do about it?" you ask.

"Send out the scouting party or something!" she declares.

>We need to move out soon. We're not holding things up and sending out the scout party because you're a little paranoid, Chihiro.
>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.
>I can try to get the scouting party to look, but I don't think Saki would approve.

>>246909
>>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.

>>246909
>>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.
It'd probably be a bad idea to tell her that a super demon wants to get into her head, right? Then again, if we make her wish for Settan's death or something then we could skip ahead like crazy. Some kind of toss your friends away for power type thing.

>>246909
>>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.

>>246909
>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.

>>246909
>It could be an archdemon, tell her about them

>>246909
>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.
>If anything starts whispering to you, come to me immediately and ignore them

>>246939
Seconding this.

>>246933
I think she has a right to know what's going on.

>>246909
>>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp
>To be honest, it wouldn't be that strange considering superpowers, cults, and the dark world exist.

>>246962
I guess we could take the chance to gather everyone up and tell them about the Archdemons. I doubt they're going to stop at Chihiro so it'd be smart to clue everyone else in.

>>247001
Good idea

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>If it makes you feel any better, the two of us can search around camp.

Chihiro clasps her hands together. "Oh Ryoji, thank you! I knew I could count on you!"

Chihiro clings to your arm as the two of you exit the camp. You should have figured that you being in a relationship wouldn't be enough to keep her from being all touchy-feely with you. You quietly hope this doesn't make Saki jealous as you examine the surrounding area with her. "See? There's nothing here," you say as your search dries up.

Chihiro pouts. "I swear, I heard something! It sounded like whispering!"

Whispering... could that mean? No, it couldn't be... wait, what are you talking about? Of course it could mean an Archdemon is trying to get inside people's heads. "Chihiro, do you remember what the whispering said?"

"No, I wan't really listening to it," Chihiro replies. "But it sounded... weird. It sounded as if the whispering was coming..."

"From inside your own head?" you ask.

"Yes, actually. How did you know?"

You sigh. "Chihiro, there's these... things called Archdemons. They're what gave me, Alice and Yamato our powers. Thing is, they come to people when they're in a moment of despair, they have them make a wish, and then they burrow themselves inside their head like a parasite. I think one may have been whispering to you."

Chihiro laughs. "Well, then it's a good thing I'm not in a moment of despair! I don't think any of us are!"

You shake your head. Chihiro may be hopeful, but you know the facts. There are people in your class who are ripe targets for an Archdemon. You need to get to them before they do something stupid. Warn them of what making a wish entails.

"Chihiro, I have to take care of something important," you explain, as you break away from her and make your way back to camp, hurriedly rushing towards...

>Nanami
>Sayeka

>Nanami

FUCKC FUCK FUCK UYFKC FGU CKCKF U CVKF

>>247086
>>Sayeka
Was Sayeka in despair? I feel like it'd be easier to warn Sayeka though since Nanami might be pretty damn upset with us.

>>247086
>Nanami

>>247086
>>Nanami
SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT.

>>247086
>Nanami
Fuck, even if we stop one the others making the deal right?

>>247086
>>Sayeka

>>247086
>>247128
In fact now that I think about it is it possible to tell Chihiro to warn the one we don't pick?

>>247086
>Sayeka
Nanami is going to be more difficult to deal with.

>>247086
>Nanami
I'd like to think Sayeka is more headstrong, Nanami is in a more imediate pit of loathing/despair. We'll need to talk to both though.

>>247086
>Nanami
Well fuck.

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>Nanami

You need to get to Nanami, fast. You need to warn her not to listen to any whispers she might hear. Sayeka will be fine, she's much more rational, but Nanami's in a pit right now. You sprint into the camp and make your way towards the pink-haired girl curled up into a ball in the corner of camp. "Nanami!" you cry out, lowering yourself to her level.

"Go away, Ryoji!" Nanami cries. "I know you told Ken about me! How could you! You're supposed to be my first mate, not some traitor!"

It's a little heartwarming that even when she vows never to do the pirate shtick again, she still can find herself slipping into the terminology. You don't have time to focus on that, though. "Nanami, have you heard any kind of whispering?"

Nanami raises an eyebrow. "What? No..."

You breath a sigh of relief. "Good. If you hear any, don't listen to them. Whatever they say, whatever they promise you."

"Why?"

"It's a demon, Nanami. The same kind that made me the way I am, that made Alice the way she is. Whatever you do, don't listen to the whispers."

Nanami looks up at you, considering your words, before shifting her head to the side. "Whatever. Can you go away now? I don't want to look at you anymore."

"Nanami, come on-"

"I mean it, Ryoji! You're a traitor! I trusted you, and you went behind my back! You're not my friend anymore!" She hugs her knees tighter.

"Nanami, of course I'm your friend..." you reply. You try to place your hand on her shoulder, but she pushes you away hard with both hands, before standing up.

"No, you're not! Get away from me!" she cries, before doing the unthinkable. Nanami... the sweetest, most kind-hearted, most fun-loving kid in the entire school, throws a punch at you. She hits you square in the jaw, causing you to stagger back.

You place her hand to your jaw, shocked that Nanami would do that. She in turn stares at her fist, in a mixture of surprise and regret. She turns her attention to you, breathing heavily. "Ryoji... I... I didn't mean to..."

"Why did you-" you begin to ask, but you are soon cut off.

"Because why do you get to be happy?!" Nanami screams, grabbing the attention of the entire camp. "Why does everyone else get to be happy? I work so hard to keep a smile on everyone's face, and I never asked for anything in return... all I wanted was to be happy too. Why can't... why can't I be happy?"

>Nanami, this isn't the end of the world. You can still be happy. Don't lose faith.
>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?
>I'm sorry Nanami... I don't know.

>>247282
>>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?

>>247282
>>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?
Let's face it Ken's a nice guy but he's out as observant as a bag of bricks.

>>247312
Yeah pretty much
>>247282
>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?

>>247282
>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?
>Besides Alice only kissed Ken because he asked to, not because she likes him.

>>247282
>>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?

>>247328
This, this drama has lasted long enough and I want my cute and genki captain back.

>>247328
This

>>247328
This one

>>247328
Yeah this, better for everything to be open.

>>247282
>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?
Not sure if adding more is wise, because I think it'll make everything muddier with Alice and Ken too.

>>247418
True, but since we know there's a high chance of everyone being killed we should get this relationship shit sorted so we have a better chance of surviving.

File: Nanami13.jpg (326 KB, 600x583)

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>Life isn't fair sometimes. Are you going to give up on your principles because of some setback?

"I..." Nanami begins, before quickly trailing off.

"Nanami, you're a good person, who has worked so hard for a good cause," you tell her. "Ken doesn't like you... so what? I know it sucks, but are you really going to let that change who you are? Are you going to let that stop you from being who you've always wanted to be. Are you just going to give up?"

Nanami faces scrunches up. She's still angry with you, but you can tell she's seriously considering your words. "S-shut up, Ryoji..."

"Besides, if it makes you feel any better, Alice only kissed Ken because he asked to, not because she likes him."

"That doesn't make me feel any better..." Nanami mutters. "All that mattered was that he didn't like me..."

She sighs as she picks up her now completely crumpled hat and stares at it. "I just... I don't want to do this anymore. I don't have the heart, Ryoji..."

She drops the hat, and returns to her original position, her knees pressed to her face. You sigh, knowing there's nothing else you can say. At least you warned her about the Archdemon, something you should fill everyone else in one just in case.

File: Alice04.png (477 KB, 768x1024)

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As you make the rounds in telling everyone in camp about the imminent danger, you see Alice approaching Nanami. You keep a close eye and ear on her as she does, in case things go sour.

"Hi!" Alice exclaims, sitting down beside a tearful Nanami. "You look sad!"

Nanami looks over at Alice, a scowl on her face as she sniffles. "G-go away."

Alice pouts. "Aww... but I like you!"

"W-well I don't like you!" Nanami yells back at her. There's a brief pause between the two before Nanami speaks again. "I'm sorry... I don't mean that. It's not your fault."

"What's not my fault?" Alice asks.

"Nothing... never mind..." Nanami mutters.

Noticing the pirate hat, Alice picks it up and dusts it off. "Why aren't you wearing this?" Alice ponders. "I always thought it was funny!"

"I don't want to wear it anymore..."

Alice frowns. "What? Of course you do! Come on!"

Alice neatly places the hat atop Nanami's head, while Nanami doesn't spare the energy to swat it off.

"There we are! Much better!" Alice smiles. "Come on, sing a song!"

"No."

"Come on!" Alice shakes her by the shoulders. "It's fun! What do we do with a drunken sailor? What do we do with a drunken sailor? What do we do with a drunken sailoooor... ummm...."

"Early in the morning," Nanami completes the line.

"Yeah!" Alice laughs. "Now the rest!"

Still with a solemn face, Nanami actually puts in the effort to fill Alice in on the rest of the song. For a brief moment, Nanami's tone lifts, and you hear a lilt in her voice.

Huh... you never expected Alice to be the one to get through to her.

"Okay... we're ready to go!" Saki announces to the group. "Those of you who are weakest in a fight, please board this makeshift caravan that Akemi made! The more battle-ready of us will walk alongside the caravan and be ready for any oncoming threats."

As the weaker members of the class board the caravan, Saki places a hand on your shoulder. "I'd like it if you got inside too, Ryoji."

You stare at the wooden contraption fitted with turrets that Akemi has created. It'll be a little cramped, but the people within it should be pretty safe with the scouting party backing them up.

>Too bad, I'm travelling outside the caravan with you guys.
>Whatever you say, Saki.

>>247495
>Whatever you say, Saki.

>>247495
>>Too bad, I'm travelling outside the caravan with you guys.
I'm nigh impossible to keep down Sak, I can at least distract the greeblies, and I have the gauntlet Akemi gave me. Plus I need to Talk to SAyeka to do the job you appointed me to,.

>>247495
>>Whatever you say, Saki.
As long as we can still help out in a pinch.

>>247495
>Too bad, I'm travelling outside the caravan with you guys.

Oh cmon, we might still be weak but we are not useless in a fight, at least now we have a taun/stun?

>>Whatever you say, Saki.

Don't want to abandon Kou and Rini when they're already feeling shitty about not being able to help.

>>247514
Going with this, would at least be able to fight against the ambush we're going to walk into.

>>247495
>Whatever you say, Saki.
But lets talk to everyone about not taking the archdemon's deal. Because they need to know at least that something is up.

Calling in 5 minutes

>>247508
>>247521
>>247528
>>247558
Why are we turtling up and hiding? WE at least need to talk to Sayeka who will be outside.

Calling for
>Whatever you say, Saki.
Writing now.

File: Hoshi03.png (308 KB, 800x1200)

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You hop aboard the caravan and take a seat. Joining you inside the caravan is everyone not apart of the main scouting party. This includes Hoshi, Akemi, Rini, Kosuke, Sora, Reiji, Alice, Nanami and a very reluctant Isamu. As you expected, it's pretty freakin' cramped inside. Hoshi is the last to enter, looking around. "Umm... there's not any free seats..." she mutters.

"Have no fear, Hoshi Sanada!" Isamu boasts, "My lap is free!"

Hoshi gives a nervous squeak at the suggestion, before moving over in your direction. "R-Ryoji... I'm so sorry, but I... I trust you more."

She sits herself down on your knee, as the door to the caravan shuts and the group begins to move. She trusts you more, huh? You remember when you were beginning to garner a reputation as a pervert among your classmates, now you're the trustworthy sort. Being a taken man changes you, you suppose.

With the cramped nature of the caravan, Rini is forced to sit on Kosuke's lap, as Alice forces herself onto Nanami's. The caravan bobs and bounces as it moves along, and you find your head hitting off the roof many times as you do. That's still less uncomfortable than every single nervous "EEP!" Hoshi lets out as she bounces on your lap.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Sora states to nobody in particular. "This Settan was able to keep this night going for so long, and likely for even longer. That's an incredible amount of power."

"How long have we been in here, anyway?" Rini asks. "It's hard to keep track of time when there's no sun or moon."

"We have been here for twenty six hours, thirty four minutes and twelve seconds," Sora replies.

You glance at him, wide-eyed. "You... you're joking right? You don't actually know how long we've been here, do you?"

"Of course I do," Sora smiles. "I've been counting."

"It... it's been over a day?" Hoshi asks, as her stomach rumbles. She groans as she leans back, almost unconsciously, against you. "Ryojiii..." she mumbles, "I'm so hungry... and scared..."

Poor girl is shivering. This isn't exactly a pleasant experience and you know most people are having a hard time keeping it together. You've seen that first hand already.

"I... I don't know what we're going to do..." Hoshi whispers, as she leans her scared little head against your shoulder.

The caravan continues to rumble and bounce as it moves.

>Hug into Hoshi in silence as you move.
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.

>>247706
>Hug into Hoshi
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.
Surely we can find a game that will help us out a little?

>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game

>>247706
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game

>>247706
>Hug into Hoshi
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.

>>247706
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.

>>247706
>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.
Chinese Whispers: Archdemon Edition

>>247706
>>Hug into Hoshi in silence as you move.

File: Hoshi05.jpg (153 KB, 637x900)

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>Come on guys, let's lift our spirits with a game.

"A game?" Hoshi asks. "What kind of game?"

You shrug. "I don't know. Anybody have a suggestion?"

"Would you all like to hear me run down who I believe to be the most beautiful girls in class?" Isamu asks.

"Is the answer all of them?"

"Why yes!" Isamu smiles. "How did you know that? Very clever of you, Ryoji Shida!"

You sigh. "Anybody else have any suggestions?"

You hear complete silence from the caravan. You turn your head towards Nanami. You really don't want to single her out, but maybe putting her on the spot could help bring out some of her old self. "What about you Nanami? I'm sure you've got something fun tucked away under that hat."

Nanami turns her head to the side, hiding her face behind Alice, refusing to give an answer. That is, until she mumbles something, "Maybe..."

"What?" Rini asks.

Nanami sighs. "Maybe we could... I mean, it's not really a game, but we could all take turns in saying something we're happy about. Give us all perspective, you know?"

"That's a lovely idea," Sora smiles. "I'll even go first. I'm very happy that I have time to meditate even in dire situations."

"And I'm happy that I get to spend time with many beautiful girls!" Isamu exclaims.

"I'm happy that I'm not with the bad people anymore!" Alice smiles.

Akemi pumps her fist. "I'm happy that I get to be best girl and Ryoji and Saki's wedding!"

You never agreed to that. And once again, best girl is not a title.

"I'm happy that I've got Rini," Kosuke smiles. "The two of us have been friends since we were children, and for us to be together is... it's great."

"I'm happy for the same reason," Rini smiles, before planting one on Kosuke's lips. Nanami looks on, jealous.

"Uhh... I'm happy that I have people who keep me safe," Hoshi answers. "Nice people who take care of me when I'm feeling scared... which is a lot..."

You guess it's time for you to answer. But damn, what the hell are you going to say?

>What are you happy about?

>>247849
>What are you happy about?
I'm happy about all of you. I never had friends before, now I have more than I could ask for. If I die tomorrow, I'll have died happier than any MASTER DELINQUENT deserves.

>>247856
I was gonna write something corny myself, thanks for saving me the effort annon.

>>247849
Cigarettes

>>247849
>I'm happy about a lot of things, you see, 'cause there is a policy I like to to live by...
At which point, we begin singing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Monty Python's The Life of Brian, and everyone starts joining in, especially on the whistling.

Because lemme tell ya, this quest has a sore lack of musical numbers.

>>247849
>What are you happy about?
I'm happy to have friends. Friends that have been able to stand up for me, friends that would actually give a damn about me. Friends that I strive to pay back the kindness of, even a little.

>>247867
Also, Cigarettes. Cigarettes are also pretty nice.

File: Nanami06.jpg (179 KB, 836x731)

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"I'm happy I have all of you," you answer.

"All of us?" Rini laughs. "Seems a little too sentimental for you, Ryoji."

"I mean it," you reply. "I've never had friends before, now I have more than I could ask for. If I die tomorrow, I'll have died happier than any master delinquent deserves."

There's a lasting silence in the caravan, as you notice a smile form on the faces of everyone inside. Even Nanami can't help but smile a little.

"Oh, and cigarettes," you add jokingly. "Cigarettes are great."

"Hey," Kosuke places out his fist, and you readily bump yours with his. "We'll always have your back, man."

"Yeah!" Akemi exclaims. "We all love you, Ryoji!"

You smile proudly, before turning your attention to someone else. "What about you, Nanami?"

"Huh?"

"It's your turn," you say. "You haven't said what makes you happy yet."

"I haven't either," Reiji says, raising his hand. "I'm very happy that I'll likely be in the front row next semester with how hard I worked on our class-"

"Nobody cares," Rini fires back. "Pirate girl, what makes you happy?"

"Well, I..." Nanami stammers, before taking a deep breath and smiling. "I'm happy that I was able to make all of you happy," she answers. "Spreadin joy and cheer, that's... that's... THE DUTY OF A TRUE PIRATE CAPTAIN!"

Nanami raises her fist high in an over-dramatic pose, one that's difficult to pull off in the cramped space of the caravan. That's the Nanami you know. She doesn't need some guy to make her happy, Nanami's her own little happiness factory. She laughs loudly, before looking over to you. The two of you share a brief smile... before the turrets begin to fire.

"AGH! What is it?" Hoshi asks.

It isn't long before you get you answer, as something comes crashing into the caravan, toppling it over with you inside. Pieces of wood break and splinter off as you crawl out of the wreckage. You see that the object sent flying towards the caravan was Taka, who is trying hard to pick himself off the ground. Even worse, you see what sent him flying... who sent him flying.

"Reiji..." you mutter. "Your mom's back."

Oharu stands before the group, who are all wary and drawing their weapons. "Ryoji..." Oharu announces, paying no mind to the scouting party ready to fight, disregarding them as a threat. "Stand up straight so that we can talk."

>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?
>You think you can take us by yourself? We can beat you.
>Go to hell.

>>247987
>>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?

>>247987
>You think you can take us by yourself? We can beat you.

>>247987
>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?

>>247987
>Slouch
>Go to hell

>>247987
>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?

>>247987
>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?
>Let me Guess you did the same thing Settan did, but with a different wish.

File: Spoiler Image (15 KB, 387x300)

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>>247987
>>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?
Also my face when I my write in got used for MC dialogue in a booker quest

File: Oharu.jpg (124 KB, 704x528)

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>Okay... how about you tell us where Settan is?

Oharu stares at you, a cold smile on her face, as she points out into the distance. "Do you see that mountaintop? That is where our leader lies."

You turn you head to look in the direction she's pointing. You can barely make it out from this far away, but the top of the mountain in the distance... it reaches high. It would take days to scale towards the top.

"Settan is very interested in meeting you once more, Ryoji," Oharu states. "Yamato possessed The Charmer, who was weak, and Alice rejected The Dreamer, but you... there is still a chance for you to accept The Stranger."

"So, is that why you're here? You're going to drag me to Settan?"

"Yes," Oharu replies. "But not without killing your friends. You see, Ryoji-"

Before she can finish, Akio charges at Oharu. The Order member sees no issue with this, calmly swiping her blade, cutting Akio's spear in two, before backhanding him, sending the guy flying back towards the caravan.

"You didn't let me finish," Oharu states once more. "You see Ryoji, these friends have made you weak. They've made you soft, like my son. If you could learn to embrace your demon-"

"Hang on a damn second!" an unexpected voice calls out, interrupting Oharu once again. Hikaru takes a few steps towards Reiji's mother, her arms folded and an angry scowl on her face. "Just who do you think you are?"

"Excuse me?" Oharu asks.

"You heard me!" Hikaru fires back. "You want to stand there and talk smack about us, and pretend we aren't even there? Exactly who deemed you fit to judge everyone, when with a face that pale, you look like the villain in a horror manga!"

"Hikaru, I know she just hit your kinda-sorta-boyfriend, but now is not a good time to antagonise the extremely powerful woman," Saki mutters.

"I beg to differ!" Hikaru exclaims. "Any time is a good one to talk down to these losers! You people want to act all high and mighty? Newsflash; you make deals with demons! You lunatics have no idea that you're the bag guys, when you're buddy-ing it up with the actual denizens of hell? How stupid can you get?"

"How dare you speak to me like that," Oharu glares. "What gives you reason to show such disrespect?"

"Caught you off-guard, didn't it?" Hikaru smirks, before ducking as Satomi launches a vial of explosives at Oharu. Oharu braces herself, but takes the explosion right to the face. It takes her off her feet, and she clutches her now burnt face as the fight is on.

She's tough. That same vial from Satomi was enough to take down that forest monster, but it only managed to do moderate damage to her. She readies her blade as the other charge at her. Hikaru goes to check on Akio, as you look around you, wondering what's the best course of action to take.

>Join the assault on Oharu. [ROLL D100]
>Check on the other caravan passengers. [ROLL D100]

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>248114
>>Join the assault on Oharu. [ROLL D100]
FIRE EVERYTHING.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>248114
>>Check on the other caravan passengers. [ROLL D100]

>>248118
Nailed it.

>>248114
>Join the assault on Oharu.
First time rolling, dice don't let me down!

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>248114
>>Join the assault on Oharu. [ROLL D100]

>>248132
Gotta put it in the options field man

Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>248114
>>248132
>>248138
Excuse my faggotry.

>>248140
It's namefag time

>>248140
we've all been there man.

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>248114
>Check on the other caravan passengers. [ROLL D100]

File: don't.jpg (16 KB, 512x384)

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>>248188
OH FUCK.

>>248188
Thank god that other Anon rolled 82

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>248188
Huh. Didn't think we'd actually get a 1 so soon. Might as well get the bad rolls out of the way.

>>248193
Booker Man doesn't do crit rolls. We're okay.

>>248188
>>248118
The dice gods really want someone dead don't they?

>>248188
>Everybody's Dead, Ryoji
>>248214
wait there are QM who take the negative crit rolls?

>>248114
>someone charges head first into the clearly powerful villain, showing immense bravery even if it is futile for them
>it wasn't Isamu

I don't know how to feel about this

>>248224
Part of me wonders if either of those were the guy who got like the first couple bad rolls in the quest. I think it was a 2 after he joked about someone rollling a 3.

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>248229
Is that not a thing that happens often? I would hope it happens at least in shorter quests.

>>248229
Among QMs I read, ELH and Archelon do

>>248237
Nop my best roll helped rescue Raiden and bring back and unconciouss Nina, that later I helped kill with others through aseries of bad rolls.

File: Orochi.jpg (698 KB, 1200x1652)

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>Join the assault on Oharu.

You ready your gauntlet, and begin to fire at Oharu. The fireworks whizz through the air, aimed directly towards her. She deflects the first two shots with her sword, but parrying a blow from Saki causes her to get hit with the third, sending her falling back. She shakes off the hit, but is left dazed when Saki charges in, slashing her arm with her lance.

Oharu winces in pain before knocking Saki back, and soon she is caught in a tussle with Rei. Rei is moving at ridiculous speed, and even Oharu is having trouble catching up to her. As the two cross blades, Oharu gives a knowing smile.

"What's got you so happy?" Rei asks.

"I sense something within you," Oharu replies. "You've been blessed."

Rei raises an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" Rei asks. "Are you trying to say I'm possessed by one of those things?"

Oharu shakes her head. "No, you have not merged with an Archdemon. You have however, been blessed with a gift from one of this realm's demigods," she explains. "They are not as powerful as an Archdemon, but you should be proud nonetheless. In fact, I sense a few others who have received a gift..."

"Yeah, I'm not as enthused about being gifted by one of your demidemons or whatever," Rei asks. "I am enthused about putting this sword through you, though."

"You shouldn't be so eager to use your gift," Oharu states. "Like I said, the Demidemons are not quite as powerful as their counterparts, and their gifts do come with drawbacks. If you keep moving that fast, you're going to waste away... but you know that already, don't you?"

"Shut up," Rei growls. "You made a huge mistake coming here alone."

"What makes you think I came here alone?" Oharu asks.

You hear a scream from behind. You turn around to see Alice being dragged out of the wreckage of the caravan by Orochi, Reiji's father, his weird Darkworld pet resting atop his shoulder.

Isamu crawls to his feet and points a finger at him. "HALT, YOU VILLAIN! I WILL DEFEAT YOU IN THE NAME OF-"

Isamu isn't able to finish as Orochi sics his creature on him. The peacock-snake hybrid launches itself at Isamu's face, and he struggle to keep it from pecking away at him.

Orochi shakes his head. "A pathetic display," he mutters, before finding a sword pointed in his face.

"Stop right there, dad."

"Reiji..." Orochi mutters. "You aren't brave enough to do anything with that sword. Don't waste my time."

As he says that, Reiji's hand begins to shake.

>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough! [ROLL D100]
>Help Isamu out with the peacock. [ROLL D100]

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough! [ROLL D100]

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>248291
>>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough! [ROLL D100]

>>248291
>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough!
Let Isamu have his moment.

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>248291
>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough! [ROLL D100]
This time I will not fail.

>>248303
Fuck
Quick someone roll higher

>>248310
Holy shit, he's getting fucking rekt.

>>248310
Noice

>>248310
Reiji just tapped into some kinda inner strength there.

>>248317
already did

>>248321
Reiji is raging

>>248310
Patricide ho!

>>248327
Nice job anon

>>248327
I forget, did Reiji have a power? Because he deserves one now.

>>248310
This is how it's done

File: Isamu.jpg (129 KB, 850x505)

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>Don't listen to him, Reiji! Of course you're brave enough!

"I am?" Reiji asks, his hand still shaking a little.

"Of course you are!" you exclaim. "You're the guy who broke me out of that bunker, you've stood up to your parents before, and you damn sure can do it again! You had nothing to gain from saving me, Reiji. You just did it because it was the right thing to do, no matter what consequences you faced. That's true bravery. You're one of the bravest people I know, Reiji."

"Don't be ridiculous," Orochi scoffs. "Reiji isn't brave. He's a pathetic little child, who has allowed himself to get wrapped up in your lies. He's a weak, stupid disappointment who has no place-"

Reiji's fist enters Orochi's face with amazing force. Orochi is sent flying, as he loses his grip of Alice, even dropping his sword. Reiji draws his own sword and charges his father. He gets atop the downed Orochi, and begins to rain down on him with a vicious flurry of punches to the face.

Isamu, meanwhile, is struggling on the ground with the peacock creature. "FOUL BEAST!" he exclaims. "NOTHING MAKES A FOOL OF ME! I'M ISAMU IORI, THE GREATEST HERO OF ALL!"

"Isamu, look out!" Akemi exclaims as she readies a wrist turret, firing at the peacock. The shot knocks the creature off of Isamu, but doesn't kill it. It comes charging again at the blonde hero, but this time Isamu raises his spear on time, as the creature lands right on the tip of the spear, being skewered. She creature gives a disturbing death rattle, before dissolving away.

Isamu stands in wide eyed shock, a huge smile plastered on his face. "I... I killed it... I DEFEATED SOMETHIIIIIING!" He exclaims in celebration, before leaping into the air with joy.

"Yay Isamu!" Akemi smiles as she claps her hands. "You did it!"

"I DID IT!" Isamu yells to the heavens, seemingly forgetting all the fighting going on around him.

File: Reiji02.jpg (147 KB, 500x690)

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Reiji continues to struggle with his father, before Orochi eventually fires back with a punch of his own, before shifting position, so that he is towering over Reiji. "What are you going to do now, son?" Orochi asks. "Face it, Reiji. You never had it in you. You are weak. You are pathetic. You're nothing but a little coward."

Reiji shuts his eyes and shakes his head as he grabs the hilt of his sword. "I'm... not... a cowaaaaaaard!" he screams before ramming the blade through his father's heart.

Orochi stares at Reiji, shocked, before collapsing into a pile of blood.

Seeing this, Oharu's eyes widen, as she charges towards her son with her blade drawn, ready to kill. You fire at her with your gauntlet in order to slow her, and to turn her attention towards you. It works, as Oharu gets distracted, but now you find her leaping towards you, kicking you back. You fall to the ground, as you turn your head to see all the groups best fighters have been taken down by Oharu. Even Rei and Taka have spent the last of their energy in the fight. Saki tries hard to return to her feet, but can't manage it as Oharu comes at you, her sword swinging down with a vertical slash.

Until it is blocked by a cutlass.

"Nanami?" you ask, as the pink haired girl crosses blades with Oharu.

"It's always a captain's duty to protect her first mate!" Nanami smiles, struggling with all of her might to keep Oharu back.

You know Nanami can't fight her alone, but everyone else is down...

"FEED... ME... RYOJI..."

No Stranger, shut up. You're not going to feed that demon anything. You can handle this on your own. You and Nanami can hold Oharu back long enough for Hiro to heal up one of the heavy hitters... right?

Nanami winces as one of the sparks from the blades hits her cheek. She can't keep this up much longer. You thought you and Nina would have been able to take Matsuyo by yourselves, and look what happened there...

"FEED ME RYOJI..."

You don't have time. You have to make a choice.

>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]
>Feed the Stranger. [ROLL D100]

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>248480
>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed.
DICE GODS

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>248480
>>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>248484
They heard you and answered.
>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]

>>248480
>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]
I will not bow, I will not break, I will your breathe away.

>>248480
>>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]

>>248493
>>248484
THANK YOU DICE GODS

>>248480
>>248484
>>248493
>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed. [ROLL D100]

After NinaI have been prepared to vote to feed the demon if necessary. I am glad that it wont be today.

>>248484
>>248493
On days like this, it is clear the dice gods have smiled upon us.

Holy shinto!

>>248484
>>248493
>Oharu runs us through
> we smile and spit up blood
>She starts making a monologue of how stupid we are
>Ryoji grabs her face and then fires everything at point blank range.

>>248526
>Ryoji punches Oharu's head so hard it explodes.
Make it so Booker.

>>248526
Please let this happen

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>248545
I'd back this, but I think something that excessive needs a damn high roll

>>248578
95 anon

>>248578
>95
>94
>88
DO IT BOOKER THE DICE HAVE SPOKEN

>>248589
Wait
WAIT
FUCK

WHAT IF BOOKER TURNS THIS BACK ON US BY MAKING IT SO THAT PUNCHING HER SO HARD HER HEAD EXPLODES HAPPENS BUT IT COSTS US BY FEEDING THE STRANGER IN ORDRR TO GET THAT MUCH POWER

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE DESICION I REGRET EVERYTHING

>>248633
Anon don't give him ideas!

>>248633
he wouldn't do that
r-right?

>>248633
>Feeding The Stranger gives us Scanner-like powers.
Can I switch my vote?

>>248526
do this but we also should spit the blood o her face to blid her then fire all the things

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>Keep Oharu distracted until the others are healed.

No. You aren't going to feed that thing, no matter what. That's just what the order wants. You and Nanami are going to fight her off, together.

While Nanami is holding Oharu steady as their blades cross, you aim your gauntlet and fire. The firework hits Oharu square in the gut, launching her several feet before exploding. She falls to the ground clutching her burned stomach in pain, as Nanami comes at her with her cutlass. Oharu manages to get her sword up in time to block Nanami's attack, but the accumulated pain from all the punishment she's taken so far is proving too much for her, as she doesn't block Nanami's second swing, which slices up her shoulder.

Oharu winces in pain as Nanami smirks. "That's what you get for messing with my crew!"

Oharu gets visibly angry as she punches Nanami in the gut, before grabbing her by the hair and tossing her several feet. Oharu's hands are covered in a clump of pink hair that she ripped from Nanami, which she tries to shake off before charging back at you. She raises her sword up within arm's length of you, giving you an opening to point your gauntlet right in her face. You set it off, and the firework explodes, burning most of her face and blinding her. She screams in pain, her face now a bloody, pulpy mess, as Nanami tosses you her cutlass, which you then proceed to ram through Oharu.

You remove the blade as she falls back, shaking as she loses blood, before eventually going still. He breath a huge sigh of relief as Nanami rises to her feet and embraces you with a hug. "I'm so sorry, Ryoji..." She cries into your ear, her voice blubbering as tears roll from her eyes. "I didn't mean what I said earlier! I don't hate you! I love you! You're the best friend I've ever had!"

You drop the cutlass and return the hug, as the others are recovered by Hiro.

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"Haha!" Taka exclaims, pumping his fist. "We did it! Now Settan's two main stooges are dead and gone!"

Saki sighs as she takes a more reasonable approach to the turn of events. "Are you okay, Reiji?" she asks, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I just watched my parents die," Reiji replies, "And I killed one of them. No... I'm not okay... but I will be. These two... they were monsters. I hoped it wouldn't end like this, but it did. Nothing I can do about it now."

"Did everyone see me?" Isamu asked. "I defeated the foul beast that accompanied them!"

"Yes Isamu, you looked very brave beating that chicken," Rei smirks.

"It was a peacock!" Isamu protests, causing Rei to laugh harder.

"Great teamwork out there, you two," Sayeka says to Hikaru and Satomi.

Satomi blushes. "What? We weren't working as a team! It just sort of happened!"

Hikaru laughs. "Come on, Satomi. Can't you admit we were able to work together just this once?"

"You're one to talk!" Akio laughs. "How about you admit that you were worried about me? You came rushing to my side as soon as I was hurt, after all!"

Hikaru gives Akio a light punch on the arm. "Idiot..." she mutters, before giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "Of course I was worried about you. I'm not going to deny that."

"That was real brave of you Nanami" Ken smiles, causing Nanami to blush.

"Why, t-thank you..." She stammers, smiling.

"It's good to see you back to your old self," Ken remarks.

"Yeah... what can I say? It was hard to stay away from my hat and the call of the sea for long!" Nanami laughs.

Looks like everything turned out as well as it could have. Of course, there's still one major challenge that lies ahead... Settan himself, and the mountain he resides atop. You're so close, and yet so far away. Defeating him will be the real challenge, but you have to beat him if you ever want to return to your world again.

You wander over towards Orochi's corpse, giving it a kick in the ribs for good measure. As you do, however, Orochi's eyes shoot open. You recoil back, but Orochi moves fast, sitting up and grabbing your leg. You struggle as Orochi stares at you with an intense fury, until-

*BANG*

Orochi is dropped with a gunshot through the head. You turn you head to see the source of the bullet. Maro, accompanied by Raiden and the rest of Class 3.

"Ryoji, it's good to see you again," Maro nods. "As I understand, we have an Archdemon to kill."

END OF EPISODE 23

YEEEEE BOY

>>248678
Everythingwentbetterthanexpected.jpg

And to those in the Discord. I told you we were a-ok! No jinx today!

Knocking on wood helped.

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Well, we beat the penultimate bosses. Now it's time for the final one. And we got all the party members. TO THE FINAL BATTLE.

Damn, it felt nice getting to kick some serious ass this thread.

I know Yamato wasn't exactly the most popular character in the quest, trying to NTR us and then went completely crazy, but since Booker said that we could have saved him every time Maro saves our ass I can't stop thinking "That could have been Yamato".

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>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOU4YiuaxAM

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Gate%20Academy

>Twitter
https://twitter.com/bookerman32

New thread... Next Weekend! Sorry guys, but I'll be away for most of next week, but I'll try to get up some pastebin OVAs in the meantime. So yeah, the season 1 finale episodes will begin next weekend! Stay tuned to the Twitter for updates, and get to the discord channel for discussion/shitposting!

>Discord
https://discord.gg/013qKvWOjCLMAps8G

>Player Questions
What's your predictions for the finale? What were the best moments of tonight's episode?

>Bonus Player Questions
Nanami's back to her old self! She's a pretty popular character, so... what's your favourite Nanami moment of the quest so far? Why do you like Nanami? Or why do you dislike her if you do?

>>248716
Should have been Nina.

>>248291
wait, is it demigods or deidemons

>>248719
>PQ
The finale is going to be insane, that's all I can say. Also, blasting Reiji's mom with a hot load in the face was the best part.

>BPQ
All the bantz she tends to do really makes her top tier.

>>248741
Demidemons, the Order just worships the Darkworlders as gods, so the terms Demon and God are synonymous to them.

>>248719
>Player Questions
The best moments were Nanami and Ryoji double teaming Oharu, second best moment is a tied between Isamu killing the familiar and Ken channeling the RNG gods power to beat his old man.

I expect Sayeka's prediction to come true and Settan will try to kill Saki, how we save her or even if we can save her will depend on the RNG gods.

>Bonus Player Questions
Her Ryoji/Saki smut fanfic and she literally naming a ship after our ship.

>>248719

God Damnit, I'm gonna have withdrawal all week.

>What's your predictions for the finale?
The dice gods turn on us and shit rolls kill everyone.

>What were the best moments of tonight's episode?
ISAMU!!!

>Nanami's back to her old self! She's a pretty popular character, so... what's your favourite Nanami moment of the quest so far? Why do you like Nanami? Or why do you dislike her if you do?
Best Nanami moment was during the civil-war. I don't really like her because I feel like all the love she gets is unwarranted

>>248719
Awww. I guess I can wait a week if we get some OVAs out of the deal.

Good thread Booker, as always. Quite a rush at the end!

>Player Question
This is probably the time that Ryoji will have to use the demon. He will hate every step of the process, but I feel its coming. Also, we will have to have serious discussions with Rei, Sayeka and all the other people that seem to have demigods. I feel like we'll have to.

I also think that we may potentially loose a handful of cast members. I don't know who and won't say who for fears of them coming true.

Best moments were Ryoji's cheering up the entire wagon, Reiji standing up to his parents one more time, Alice cheering up Nanami, and of course, the pirate crew's brave stand together!

>BPQ
Honestly, her return to form, and especially her heroic stand were fantastic. She truly proved herself there. Much like Isamu did.

I think the thing I like most of all, is her earnestness, much like Akemi she feels very genuine in everything she says and does.

Her best moment was either standing up for us when we thought we were alone when we revealed our darkworlderness or today when she broke out of her sorrow.

>QM question.
So what OVAs should we be looking forward to?
There better be a prank crew war/rampage/shennanigans...with no survivors...

>>248728
I said I'm sorry okay! I don't eat during the quest anymore!

>So what OVAs should we be looking forward to?

I'm halfway through an anthology episode, where the characters have written short stories. Nanami's story is pirate adventures, Isamu wrote himself as a knight, Saki writes a western where she's the sheriff in a lawless town etc.

>>248801
Does Ryoji's have it being an allegory of Holes?

>>248801
>Saki
I didn't know I wanted this. But I want this so bad!

>>248719
>What's your predictions for the finale? What were the best moments of tonight's episode?
Their will be probably be casualties on our side, though hopefully our high social links will reduce the amount

It was for a contest with a cash prize, so Ryoji put forth the actual story of his experiences in Dark Gate Academy, passing it off as fiction.

>>248719
>have to wait a whole week for a new DGA thread
I must be in the darkworld right now
>PQ
Finale: its going to be really hard to not feed the Stranger in the final boss fight. I hope anons come around before we lose any cast members
Best Moment:REIJI! Finding courage I didn't know he had! I'm sure he's in a bad way, but he did good
>Bonus PQ
Favorite Nanami Moment:Trolling Taka with her outfit still a best
Nanami is a character that is really easy to hate in a regular animu, but with the amount of characterization she's gotten I find myself rooting for her. Thanks for saving this weird character trope from hatred oblivion, booker.

>>248719
>best moment of tonight's episode
ISAMU KILLED A DEMON PEACOCK AND GOD DAMMIT THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING

I'm still sad that Akemi didn't take the offer to sit on Isamu's knees in place of Hoshi, of course with nothing more than the innocent intention of giving her spot up to Hoshi.

Bonus points for Isamu not actually reacting to this, as if his perversion/obsession gets nulled somewhat towards her. Because they are friends? The best of friends? Because there is potential for something even more there? You decide. I'm totally going with the last one though

>Nanami
I love her to bits and she is second best girl without a doubt behind Satomi and my favourite moments with her are pretty much all of them, but i enjoyed meeting her on the roof, her contribution to the first fight with Class 3, and encountering her at the fairgrounds when her crush on Ken was fresh. Plus, though its probably very narcisistic, I thoroughly enjoyed writing her in the PirateRider fluff-fic and that was so damn fun to create it probably tops everything else for me

>>248728
If Nina had survived I think Saki would have had some serious competition for the Ryoji bowl even if she was one episode away from victory, being a childhood friend who obviously cared about Ryoji and she had the appereance of Anya.

>>248801
Aww dang, no Nariko/Hiro shipteasing?

Well, you have given me a week to work with, so I SUPPOSE I can write somethin' myself, after all

>>248832
Go for it, anon. More fluff/smut fics are always appreciated!

If only I had a drawfriend to go along with the Quest's great writefriends. Can't get too greedy as a QM, I suppose.

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>>248843
Maybe i can get my better half into lurking this quest with me and provide a sketch or two if we get some spare time.

>>248914
That would be pretty cool, though I don't need someone drawing for this if they're already busy with another quest. I don't want to pile on someone's workload.

>>248926
Any art can serve as good practice.

Besides, im so bogged down with overtime and getting the work done to move into our new place, i dont have and wont have enough time to set down to feel comfortable about running a session of my own stuff for a while.

Anyways, great work as always. Looking forward to the finale.

>>248801
>Saki writes a western where she's the sheriff in a lawless town
Booker please, a girl can only be so perfect
You are hitting every note with this one