>>793921

He continues with his work as you take your desk along the hallway wall of the classroom. The scars of the past few weeks barely visible beneath a relatively new coat of paint. Waving toward the middle of the classroom as your friend Kairi takes her seat, and sharing a nod with Midori and Keiko as they come in together and take their seats near you.

They draw a few lasting stares, but nothing lasting, as everyone takes their seat.

Homeroom procedure passes quickly with rollcall, club announcements, the revised cleanup schedule, and a few notes from Student Government. Yoshi leaves the front of the room for his seat as Toriko-sensei arrives to begin homeroom as the final bell chimes; and he instructs the class to listen up for a PA announcement.

As it was described to you the other day, there is an announcement about last week’s incident.

Principal Sakurada offering students and faculty the chance to talk to professional counselors over their experience either possessed, transformed, or hunted. It ends with some positive assertion you don’t pay much attention to as you get out your texts and notebook and prepare for your rotation of educators for the first part of the morning.

Its, normal.

Not boring, but painfully normal. A comfortable pain as you worry some new fresh madness or hell is going to explode during an otherwise peaceful day.

However it never comes.

Lunch does, though. And with it the gravity you’ve developed being at the center of things. Already flanked in row by Midori and Keiko, it is of no surprise when the luxuriant darkness ahead of you turns to reveal the smiling face of a friend only recently made but among the people closest to you as she spins her seat to face your desk. Pulling the edge of your desk away from the wall, you let Midori sidle past you with her desk and planting her back firmly against the recently repaired wall. Kairi approaches for the last side of your desk with a borrowed abandoned desk chair from the next row over.

The lot of you do have a few things to go over right now, you muse as you fish out a bento from your bag. You’re still sore about the one that was lost and probably broken, but that is beyond your control.

>>793928

Looking across the room, busy with people grouping up or leaving the room for the period, you catch sight of Yoshi getting himself together to possibly leave the room after talking to some other boy in the class who you aren’t directly familiar with.

And you certainly don’t notice the presence creeping closer to your gather from empty desk to empty desk behind you out of the corner of your eye. Well, you do but you never noticed Umeki-san even arrive to class this morning.

>Initiate War Council mode, what did Midori find out last night?
>Semi Casual conversation, you told Yoshi the truth.
>Let one of the others start things off, let Lunch proceed organically
>Ask Kairi-chan and the others if they got notes from Nomura-san
>Sidle over, obviously make space for the slow approaching Saori Umeki
>Maybe wave Yoshi over, into this cloistered den of teenage girls who might intimidate even him?
>Write in

(1/2 hour voting window from first vote, welcome everyone! While this is up and waiting I'm just gonna step out for dinner and a copy of Volo's Guide to Monsters)

>>793935
>Ask Kairi-chan and the others if they got notes from Nomura-san

>>793935
>>Semi Casual conversation, you told Yoshi the truth.
>Sidle over, obviously make space for the slow approaching Saori Umeki

My flgs was sold out of Volo's Guide.

In line for my burrito. Extending vote.

Eating my Burrito and then writing a combination of the three.

Its a good Burrito. How is everyone doing tonight?

>>794429
Misplaced a flash drive and am still looking for it. Other than that, can't complain.

>>794429
pretty good, getting addicted to japanese hearthstone

Scooting to the side, with a quite obvious shimmy of your hips and a press at the base of your heels to slide your chair, you make space for the slowly approaching Saori Umeki between yourself and Midori. Everyone unpacks their lunch at a casual pacing, sharing momentary comments and impressions of quality.

“That looks beautiful,” Midori says in awe of Keiko’s uncovered lunch, though she glances down in pause at her own hastily put together fare.

“I know, I made extra so we can share,” the beaming point of black haired sunshine smile to her side and lifts a cut of omelet with her chopsticks, hand hovering beneath it, and presenting it to your now surprised and blushing Knight Marshal.

Turning to Kairi, you weight your earlier encounter with Nomura-san in your mind.

“Say, Kairi-chan,” you ask as you set your own chopsticks down, “Did you get an apology note from Mio Nomura in your shoe locker this morning?”

She pauses in eating her own food, nods, and swallows before speaking.

“I found a note,” she says, “Though it wasn’t signed,”

“Same here,” Keiko chimes in across the small desk, her chopsticks pulling back empty from Midori who seems guarded as her eyes scan the room, paranoid of or daring someone to say something.

“Caught her putting this in my shoe locker when I came in,” you say and place the note on the table.

“Same as I got,” Kairi says looking over the paper while you feel another chair brush against the edge of your own.

“Well, it’s to be expected. I’d be more worried if she didn’t do anything after what happened,” Midori comments, picking up her own chopsticks and darting down to her small lunchbox salad.

“Awww,” chimes a voice beside you, “You should totally keep letting Sugimoto-san feed you, I’m practically seeing bubbles and soft wash out lighting,”

Saori Umeki props her elbows on the table and balances her chin in her hands, even leaning forward she sits taller than the lot of her. Though she still takes up very little space at your desk besides her chair, being rail thin.

Midori promptly chokes on a cherry tomato from her lunch.

“Hey Umeki-san,” you say to the girl now sitting next to you.

“Damnit Umeki-san!” Midori composes herself as Kairi-chan stifles a snickering guffaw, “This is a private conversation,”

Midori looks at the pale and near to mesmerized girl through scrutinizing and suspicious eyes. And she certainly doesn’t leave her suspicious for long.

File: Jadeite Knight.jpg (9 KB, 164x203)

9 KB JPG

>>795357

“Fufufu, I know,” Saori says dangerously as you say nothing and enjoy a bite of hambagu. “And I’m here for the magic in the air,”

“This isn’t a secret Coven,” Midori hisses in a low voice leaning toward the negative reminder of her past, “And don’t creep on me and Keiko!”

For her part and mention, Keiko laughs a bit. More amused than anything.

“But you two are so cute together,” she whines.

“And Umeki-san knows what she knows now,” you offer to diffuse the situation and take a playful tone of authority, “Knight Marshal, I have named her Spymaster of this Court,”

Midori of course deflates, and then tenses with a twitch to the corner of her eye as she wheels to face Kairi.

“So you weren’t joking last night?”

“I tried to tell you,” the redhead sighs.

“Anything else crazy we should know,” the ever concerned mother hen of your team groans and retreats from her defensiveness toward your table’s new arrival.

“Well, and I want to keep our talk this after casual for now...so...I also told Yoshi the truth last night,” you offer a bit sheepishly and distractingly.

There is a silence that falls over your desk.

“And?” Kairi questions as the eyes of your desk turn toward you.

Well, all but one. Keiko’s eyes dart over first to scan the room for the topic of your looming conversation before turning her attention back to you.

>Well, he was all supportive and sweet
>And he asked me if I wanted to eat lunch together
>I think it cleared the last of the air of secrets between us
>And I have no idea what I’m going to do next
>I cried because it was hard to do, and he hugged me
>Write in

>>795357
>I’m practically seeing bubbles and soft wash out lighting
The yuri goggles are strong in this one.
>>795367
>And I have no idea what I’m going to do next
>I cried because it was hard to do, and he hugged me

>>795367
>>And I have no idea what I’m going to do next
>>I cried because it was hard to do, and he hugged me

Writing

>>795367
>I think it cleared the last of the air of secrets between us
>And I have no idea what I’m going to do next

“And? And I have no idea what I’m going to do next,” you lament in a hushed shout, “It was hard to tell him, and I started crying. Then he hugged me!”

Keiko and Midori share a quick look with one another.

“Supportive hug or,” Keiko begins with the twinkle of someone who thrives in conversations of relationship advice.

“The kind to cop a feel,” Midori finishes her partner’s opening with a skeptic's concern.

“Well, at first he was just steadying my shoulders,” you admit while looking down at your food, “And I hugged him first...no he didn’t cop a feel when he hugged me back,”

There is a scratching sound, and you let your eyes drift to the side. Is Saori taking notes?

“Has he made any kind of move?” Saori asks in a hushed tone as she glances over the rest of the group toward Yoshi’s empty desk, “Is there someone else you’re in rivalry with for his affection?”

“They kissed,” Kairi-chan says before you can respond to the rail thin spy, “A few days ago, and it's more like Mikage-chan’s attentions for potential affection is split,”

You stare Kairi. Begging with her eyes not to continue and send Saori Umeki spiraling down the wrong looking glass of madness that are your relationship woes.

“Though I guess that’s not all that relevant right now,” she laments and takes a drink from her juice box.

You mouth a quiet thank you, facing away from she who would dissect you pentagon.

Midori and Keiko share a glance and a nod.

“So, what does he know about us?” Midori questions, seriously, you can practically hear the distance clucking heralding the oncoming henpecking, “And where are things going between the two of you?”

>...I was vague, he probably doesn’t know anything other than you girls being my war council
>Hey, what Yoshi and I talk about is our own business
>He only knows about me
>Write in

&

>I want to go on a date with him
>Do I sound like I have a damn idea of where or what?
>Shy mutterings
>Write in

>>795982
>Do I sound like I have a damn idea of where or what?

>>795982
>He only knows about me
>Do I sound like I have a damn idea of where or what?

>>795982
>>He only knows about me
>I want to go on a date with him

I'll take a stand, I like Yoshi

Writing momentarily.

“He only knows about me,” you admit, though you remember saying today at lunch you’d likely hold a war council.

He could infer anything from that and who he saw, anything he wants. Though you don’t expect him to say anything or do anything with anything he could infer. So best not to worry any of them.

You sigh, sinking into your chair and causing the ends of your pigtails to coil on the floor behind you.

“And do I sound like I have any idea of where I want to go,” you grouse, “or what I want to do?”

“No?” questions Saori beside you, looking to the others for confirmation or denial of her question in statement, “So, is this what usually happens? I thought since you were all together it would be shop talk,”

“No,” Midori explains to the girl she bullied when she was younger, though with a decidedly frustrated tone, “Sometimes it’s a wonderful mix of normal and drama. Which I think is healthy, because it means once all this crisis is over we can just as easily be friends like normal people,”

Saori takes that as something worth noting.

“Well, after we sort things with Minami-san you two should definitely try going out again,” Keiko suggests with a devilish twinkle in her eye.

“And more often than not,” Kairi offers past your sunken form toward Saori with a laugh, “Mikage is at the center of that drama,”

“It hasn’t even been a month,” Midori cuts in, slipping a bit with a slight delinquent form of self address, “And I’ll remind you that when we started there was plenty of drama with me and Keiko,”

“True,” Keiko herself muses as her hand snakes out and grabs Midori’s on the desk, “and I’m quite happy with how that turned out,”

Midori dips her head forward, a shadow covers her eyes, before she leans into Keiko. Resting her head on the taller girl’s shoulder she blushes and stares across the desk at you. Her expression somewhere between thankful and regretful.

You notice that Keiko has been nothing but happy lately. The girl once ruled by uncertainty regarding an inner darkness she did not understand, now openly embracing her happiness. Unphased by any risk in doing that.

“Who is Minami-san, and what needs sorting?” questions Saori, “And weren’t they just on a date before it got interrupted?”

“Minami-san is a friend of Mikage and Mori-san who is about to become a monster,” Kairi explains quietly.

“And once we take care of her and get her back to herself,” Keiko says, “Then everyone can enjoy a little breathing room,”

>Until Amazonite tries something at the Aiba Tournament
>Breathing room would be nice
>We should try to take care of Minami-san tonight
>What happened last night with Minami-san?
>Write in

>>796783
>>Until Amazonite tries something at the Aiba Tournament
>>Breathing room would be nice
>>We should try to take care of Minami-san tonight

>>796783
>Until Amazonite tries something at the Aiba Tournament
>What happened last night with Minami-san?

Alright

Sitting up you offer your frustrated opinion on the possibility of imminent breathing room.

“Until Amazonite tries something at the Aiba Tournament,” you say with a joyless expression.

Kairi, Midori, and Keiko stare at you. At first uncertain and then with questioning and stressed eyes.

“What?” you question and gesture to Saori, “Spymaster over here is already paying off with that intel,”

Not one to wilt under praise, the girl beside you takes on a self satisfied smile as her eyes take a similarly pleased expression and she demurely laughs to herself with a hand barely covering that sinister and pleased smile. Her posture righting itself that her true height is expressed and she manages to feel as though she is towering over the lot of you.

Until Midori seemingly grounds her with a certainly idle threatening glare. To which she does wilt and ceases the laugh just shy of it reaching the haughty critical mass of a fan wielding Oujo-sama.

“I’ll be g-good,” she offers to the shorter blonde girl, her stutter returning.

Midori’s expression softens. Eyes losing their edge and feathering as her lips tighten and guilt creases and folds across her face. Midori and Saori have a history, and not a particularly good one. For tragic reason, young Midori Mori was a bully and Saori Umeki was her target. Firstly it was jealousy; Midori’s mother killed herself when she was a child and she resented how doting, if also smothering, Saori’s mother was when they met soon after.

Though it is sad to you that their shared youths was one of adversarial relation rather than friendship. Saori’s mother was only so doting because she had lost Saori’s older sister, who had sacrificed herself to knock her baby sister out of the way of an oncoming truck.

“Saori...you weren’t being bad,” she says with a steadied voice, as her hand tightens its hold on Keiko’s, that matches the regret on her face, “you were just about to draw some unwanted attention,”

Sad, but it makes you smile they are able to become friends now. Even if they are very different people with very different interests and personalities.

“We’ll need to give Sasha a heads up then,” Kairi-chan reasons, her features tightening regarding her own encounter with Amazonite when she first became your Nephrite Knight, “And pretty soon we’ll probably have to deal with them directly,”

“Breathing room would be nice,” you respond with a sigh.

“The balance of things is shifting to us,” Keiko says with certain determination, “The more light we shine on their plans the less they can do,”

Nodding in response, you offer a decision.

“We should probably take care of Minami-san tonight,” and are met with a round of nods as you turn to Midori, “What happened with her last night, anyhow,”

“That’s...a long story,” Midori Mori concedes.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 140
Thread Pause

Thread resume will be tomorrow.

>>797147
DAMNIT. Missed it by a few minutes.

“Breathing room would be nice,” you sigh in response..

“The balance of things is shifting to us,” Keiko says with certain determination, though it seems just further proof of her recent drowning spate of a sunny disposition, “The more light we shine on their plans the less they can do,”

Nodding in response, you offer a decision.

“We should probably take care of Minami-san tonight,” and are met with a round of nods as you turn to Midori in curiosity, “What happened with her last night, anyhow,”

“That’s...a long story,” Midori Mori concedes.

“Well, I haven’t heard it yet,” you shrug and return to eating your lunch.

Midori nods and her posture shifts. A restrained worry settles in to her.

“After meeting up with everyone, and Diana deposited herself in my purse, I made my way toward her apartment. Everyone else was on rooftops for backup,” she begins as her voice takes on a certain discomfort, “Halfway down the street to the apartment someone came up behind me,”

The rest of you lean in toward Midori as she recounts the experience.

“It was her roommate,” Midori shudders, “scared the hell out of me, but she just wanted to warn me that Flowers had a guest,”

“Wait, are you shuddering for the guest?” Saori questions, “And who’s Flowers?”

“No. I’m just scared of Hisako Ito, her roommate,” Midori grumbles, “When I was still a delinquent, our careers overlapped. And Flower’s is Minami-san’s nickname in our fashion circle,”

Hisako Ito, she used to go by the nickname of the Winter Wolf. Now she’s an art student who blogs about girl gang activity and gossip. Just this weekend she picked a fight with you as the Red Eyed Beast as a last hurrah for herself.

Turned out to be your last hurrah as well as the experience brought that splintered persona back into you.

“Anyway, we were chatting for a bit and I got a good beat on where her headspace is at,” she leans back in her chair, “We waited around together for a few cigarettes and then I saw one of the guys from the show this weekend leaving. He fronts for Malefic Black,”

“Byakuya Hoseki,” you say tightly.

That might not be good. Hanako is apparently head of heels for this guy, and he probably feeds into her memories from another version of herself.

In the averted future your big sister, who is actually an alternate version of yourself, comes from that boy would have been Prince Demand of the Black Moon Clan. Hanako herself would have been Esmeraude of the same group, and harbored an unrequited love and self destructive devotion to her prince. Looks like things are turning out differently for them this time around...but you know Hoseki-san is at least haunted by nightmares of the life and future that aren’t his.

File: Esmeraude falls.jpg (16 KB, 446x340)

16 KB JPG

>>798093

The others don’t harp on you knowing his name. You’re pretty sure they know he was hitting on you last week. Probably because his alternate version was obsessed with your mother’s alternate future self…

It’s complicated.

“We got up there to speak with her,” she continues, with a sad tone, “And spoke for a bit, she was upset about something...angry even and she was going on about leaving the circle and that I was never really her friend,”

She leans in close.

“Hisako-san actually got between us. There was this look in Flower’s eyes, a scary look,” she huffs, “And it was scary, Diana was sneaking around and searching for stuff while I had her attention. When we left, she said her wastebasket was filled with her makeup and accessories,”

Whatever happens next, you’ll be working alongside Koyomi and the senshi.

>We should go to her apartment, civilly, after school
>I could sneak into the apartment tonight, and stop this in her dreams
>I could sneak into the apartment tonight, and purify her or feed on the shadows while she sleeps
>She may have already turned...this may be a fight.
>I want to talk to Ito-san, maybe she can help us talk to her...or if things get ugly…
>We may need to shadow Hoseki-san, she might go after him
>Write in

(we're back, I'll be leaving to see Dr Strange around 5-5:30 est. So I'll step out, watch the movie, hang with friends, come home, and we'll resume again on Monday. So only a few updates today. 30 minute voting window from first vote now)

>>798096
>I want to talk to Ito-san, maybe she can help us talk to her...or if things get ugly…
>I could sneak into the apartment tonight, and stop this in her dreams
But:
>She may have already turned...this may be a fight.

>>798096
>>I want to talk to Ito-san, maybe she can help us talk to her...or if things get ugly…
>I could sneak into the apartment tonight, and purify her or feed on the shadows while she sleeps
>She may have already turned...this may be a fight.

>>798096
>We should go to her apartment, civilly, after school
>She may have already turned...this may be a fight.
>I want to talk to Ito-san, maybe she can help us talk to her...or if things get ugly…
>We may need to shadow Hoseki-san, she might go after him

Okay, breaking this multi multi vote down.

>Want to talk to Ito, gets ugly
>>798105
>>798114
>>798118

>I could sneak in dreams
>>798105

>She may have already turned
>>798105
>>798114
>>798118

>Sneak purify/feed
>>798114

>Apartment Civilly
>>798118

>Shadow Hoseki
>>798118

“I want to talk to Ito-san, maybe she can help us talk to her...or if things get ugly…” you know she’s more than capable in a fight, but you don’t want to put another normal person immediately in the path of a monster.

Then again, your mind wanders as you look at the place in your palm where Kunzite’s stone sits, she is a candidate for your last knighthood. In a pinch you did let Yoshi help with his uniquely placed talents against Orbrachnid. Pending on where things are, she might not have a choice but to get involved. And she seems the type to not back down either, like Sasha.

‘We couldn’t keep her away from this if we tried,” Midori laughs a bit, “Though when I said scary earlier, I meant both of them. Flowers was terrifying the way she carried herself but Ito was-”

She pauses, shakes her head.

“Even in my defense, that girl frightens me,” she concludes and fixes you with a glare, “when she gets going. While we were smoking together she was calm and friendly, but at the first inclination of a fight she’s like a different person. She probably suspects something is wrong, how can she not,”

You nod firmly.

“Well she isn’t wrong. It may just be a fight,” you reason, “By now Flowers may have already turned,”

If you hadn’t had to wipe yourself out last night with Koyomi, you would have probably tried to confront your older fashion circle friend last night. Taking out your phone, you scroll through lurk and check the last few posts by @repostyankee, Hisako Ito’s handle.

She hasn’t actually posted since she fought you as Red Eyes.

Well, before you make a message move toward Ito-san for Hanako’s sake, you shoot a message to your little sister’s compact about what’s going on. No doubt Kanari got her all caught up.

>We’ll track her down after school
>I’ll send a message to her from Red Eyes asking to meet up
>I’ll send a message from Red Eyes saying someone needs to talk to her
>Midori, did you get Ito’s cell number
>Write in

& with all of that done…

>Sit together and enjoy the rest of lunch as friends
>You want to go see if you can find Yoshi, and need moral support. Who?
>You want to go see if you can find Yoshi, alone
>Write in

Back to normal 15 minute voting window from first vote.

>>798253
>>Midori, did you get Ito’s cell number
>Sit together and enjoy the rest of lunch as friends

>>798253
>Midori, did you get Ito’s cell number
>Sit together and enjoy the rest of lunch as friends

Writing, hoping for another quick turnover.

Gah! Twitter, you have failed this player!
Didn't get the notification yesterday. Much frown.

>>798472
It makes me mildly relieved that the reason turn out is so low is because of happenstance and schedule.

>>798482
Usually it's been good with notification, picked a bad time to skip out on me, last night would have been pretty good time for me. Just hanging out and watching the BlizzCon Weird Al concert.

File: Some bentos.png (722 KB, 1152x648)

722 KB PNG

“Midori,” you question pointing your chopsticks at the girl, “did you get Ito-san’s mobile number?”

“Yeah, I can call or text her when the days over,” she nods, “I guess this means we’re approaching openly as ourselves?”

“Mhmm, there shouldn’t be a need to go cloak and dagger just yet,” you clarify.

“Alright, busy after school today,” Kairi-chan takes out her phone and swipes and taps through something.

“This is so coooooooool,” Umeki-san practically squeals to herself, “So what’s next?”

You pat the taller girl on the back, hoping to calm her exuberance.

“We just sit and each lunch as friends,” you explain as small talk takes over.

Its nice. To talk and laugh with friends. Kairi-chan doesn’t seem all that upset by the way things seemed to be going positively between you and Yoshi, but you aren’t going to guage that by asking after her and Ginja-san.

Actually amid the small talk, you realize you didn’t see the secretly Alien boy. Not to concerning, you suppose.

Otherwise time is spent comfortably until lunch period ends. Saori being...Saori and asking rather smugly after your enjoyment of those books she lent you. Explaining to Kairi that they’re too advanced considering where you’ve only just started her. Midori snarkily realizing that by advanced you meant lewd, and bluntly pointing it out. During it all, Keiko just seemed happy to alternate between enjoying her meal and sharing it with Midori.

This gave a small opportunity to turn her lewdness complaint around on her. To which Keiko defended her that his activity was wholesome and pure.

Saori’s amusement at this was barely contained.

Soon enough the warning bell chimes, and people filter back into the room and begin disentangling chairs and desks back into their usual arrangement. Catching sight of Yoshi as he comes in, the boy offers you a wave. Which of course you return.

He doesn’t seem any different, or conducting himself weirdly. You would think he might be a bit shaken up from things last night...you were. It’s not a huge sticking point, but sometimes you cannot tell if his unflappability is endearing or frustrating. At least, the echoing parts of you that carry the Beast’s values are frustrated.

Class resumes. Nothing particularly relevant or interesting happens, and before you know it free period arrives.

>See what Kairi is up to
>See what Saori is up to
>See what Keiko is up to
>See what Midori is up to
>See what Yoshi is up to
>Go find Nui
>You want to find Mio Nomura
>You have a bad girl itch, find someone being bad and try to bum a smoke
>You want to do some studying for a class, which one?
>You don’t have PE today, but you could stand to work off some energy
>Write in
>Combo, which two?

>>798563
*that this activity was wholesome and pure

>>798563
>>See what Yoshi is up to

>>798563
>See what Yoshi is up to

>>798563
>>See what Estra is up to
Haven't heard from our resident alien in awhile.

Wouldn't mind comboing with visiting someone else, though am less decisive about who.

>>798587
>>798573
How about comboing, visit Gai/Estra and then Yoshi?

Writing.

Damn it, I keep missing the votes.

As free period looms, you wonder if you should look around for Ginja-san. You haven’t seen him in class all day, but there’s still a chance he might be on campus given his usual proclivities. No, you decide. There are other matters you decide you want to focus on.

Matters of your own heart. Standing at your desk a few quiet moments of making sure your pigtails were straight and without noticeable tangle after the bell, you walk to the front of the room among everyone going about their free period business and walk across the front row of desks toward one in particular.

Yoshi Sakurada.

Stopping in front of his desk, butterflies swirling in your stomach, you clear your throat. He is packing things into his satchel, and turns to face you after you make your play for his attention.

“Say, Yoshi,” You ask with certain cheer, “What are you doing today for free period?”

“Oh, Mikage,” he smiles back to you, “I was planning to get my guitar out of Endo-kun’s van and spend a little time tuning it,”

“You keep your guitar in Endo-kun’s van?” you question.

“Well, my electric one,” he corrects as you recall he brought his acoustic to your interrupted date.

“Right,” you remember, “You went and got it from there during all the chaos of last week,”

“That’s right,” he nods, “Wait, how did you know I got it from there?”

“Details, to be discussed sometime that isn’t now,” you say with an even tone implying that you don’t want to get into the nitty and or gritty of things like that just yet, to which he nods and rellents.

“That’s fine,” he nods and stands up, “Would you like to join me?”

>I would like to join you
>Could we go hang out on the roof?
>Could we go talk somewhere more secluded
>No, it’s fine. I won’t keep you.
>Write in

& if you are going with him somewhere

>take his hand directly
>Walk close to him with a hand hanging near his, maybe to see if he take the bait
>Ask if he’d like to hold your hand
>Just walk as normal, no publicly declared quiet actions
>Just walk as normal, but a bit close
>Write in

>>798762
>I would like to join you
>Just walk as normal, but a bit close

Is Saori following us?

>>798762
>I would like to join you
>Tell him that we’d like to hold his hand

Extending vote a bit.

>>798762
>>I would like to join you

>take his hand directly

How lewd

>>798762
>>I would like to join you
I want to say yes and no to hand. No might be meta though. Ok then.
>take his hand directly

Writing.

Last update today before I step out to see Dr Strange with some friends.

Rolled 60 (1d100)

Encounter roll

“I would like to join you,” you say as he rises with a smile.

“Good, let’s get going to the lot,” he says and heads toward the door with you beside him.

As he steps into the hall, you pointedly reach out and take his free hand. As its only the beginning of free period, the halls are flush with other students stepping back and forth to their various destinations. Several take notice of you, the general tone of the day involved notice being taken of you, a few more take notice that you are holding Yoshi’s hand.

More importantly is his own reaction. When you first grab for it, he seems surprised. Tensed and paused, though he relaxes and the two of you fall in step. His face betrays little, though you can detect a tick of nervous excitement about him.

Whispers probably abound. Those you went to junior high with likely offering their knowledge of the two of you once being an item in all but name.

Taking his hand like this, walking beside him with this purpose is a declaration.

And as you make your way to the first floor and to the lot, it’s nice holding his hand. Where his fingers have sleight pads or callouses from his long and fervent practicing on the guitar. While holding it, you take time to familiarize yourself with it, to know it.

Soon you pass through the right set of doors and are in open air. He explains that Endo-kun has since lent him a backup of the door key, but not the ignition key. A difference made for the sake of convenience.

Taking out a portable, battery powered, amp he sets up tuning the uncased guitar pulled from a rack along the passenger side interior wall. There are only a few bins and cases within today. You idly wonder about how it must have been loaded before to make Nui Takeda suspect Endo-kun of running guns for the Yakuza.

He sits in the open bay doors, you sit beside him. Fingers twist and tune and strum to test the setting before doing such again. Its relaxing as he finely tests and measures by ear each string.

And then, offering you a quiet smile, he plays.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 140
Thread Pause.

>>799294
Too lewd

way too lewd

>>799369
It was the description of his hand that put it over, wasn't it?

>>799521
Heh, you should've censored it. I feel like Mikage's purity has been stolen.

>>799587
...so noted.

I should have been more careful, given that this is a blue board.

>>799607
I can't believe the mods haven't banned you yet familia, lax standards

File: but it was just right.png (186 KB, 557x605)

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>>799369
>>799607
You thought it would be lewd, but it was just right.

Thread resume tomorrow, unexpected social call.

>>802690
Noted, time?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxJrjV4PNXA

>>805719
Probably before or just after noon est

The two of you sit in the open bay doors of the van as he adjusts the guitar and drapes the strap over his shoulder. For a few minutes his fingers twist, tune, and strum at test with the settings before repeating. Its relaxing as he finely tests and measures each string by ear.

Finishing that not long into the period, Yoshi offers you a quiet smile and plays.

It is nothing you’re really familiar with at first, just this song or that. Getting his bearings and perhaps further testing how well he tuned. Its relaxing, and you have quite some time to sit here and enjoy this before your last classes of the day.

>Enjoy the songs he’s going through on his own
>Make a request. What?
>Wistfully think about your past, the two of you
>Sorrowfully think about your own relationship with music
>Write in

&

>Lean against the wall of the van
>Lean against his shoulder
>Write in

>>806447
>Enjoy the songs he’s going through on his own
>Lean against the wall of the van

>>806447
>Enjoy the songs he’s going through on his own
>Lean against his shoulder

>>806447
>>Enjoy the songs he’s going through on his own
>Lean against his shoulder

Writing momentarily

You say nothing, and just enjoy this. The sharp and soft plucks of electric as he plays through any number of songs crowding his head right now on his own. He isn’t shredding of playing with the mad veracity he does on stage, but there is a soft and personal serenity to where he is right now.

And that serenity is something you want to share in.

Leaning over and into him, you duck past the back of his instrument’s neck and find purchase on his shoulder. Pressing lightly into him and resting the side of your head there, he keeps playing after a momentary pause of notice.

This close, you glance up to see a thin smile on his face.

This close, you can see his fingers shifting on the strings just a bit faster.

This close, is nice.

With a deep breath, you relax yourself into this position and listen. Tones and melodies vibrating from the guitar in his hands and the small amplifier behind the two of you. Cascading off the utilitarian and not soft surfaces within the van and funneling out around the two of you.

You close your eyes, this close.

The music eventually comes to a stop.

“Thank you for joining me today, Mikage,” he says with a genuine and perhaps thankful happiness to his voice.

“Well, it was nice and very relaxing,” you straighten your posture so you can unsling the guitar.

“I think a moment like that would have been better served by acoustic thought,” he says with a playful regret.

“Well, you didn’t need to tune that right now,” you shrug, “And I don’t mind in the least,”

“Let me pack things up and we can get back to class,” he says and leans a bit around and past you for the amp.

You’re both so close again. Your memory flickers to the balcony and then again to the alleyway. Even if you were yourself in those moments, you wore the face and mannerisms of the others you once stepped into as needed. Now, here you are. Alone. Alone and close.

A conflict plays through your mind as you catch yourself leaning just a bit more as you run a few stray hairs back over your shoulder with the rest of your long twin tails.

“NOW KISS!” screams a voice that has you whip your head back toward the school building the open back of the van faces.

>>806588


That voice is fallen upon, and you see through one of the broad but vented hallway windows on the second floor, as Kairi-chan and Midori have clapped their hands over Saori Umeki’s mouth and try to haul the girl away from the window. They aren’t the only ones as among the same group you catch sight of Keiko ducking down out of the window, and several more of your classmates with them.

Along with a number of students whom you recognize as having been in your junior high class. At least on the second floor.

Standing out in the lot, closer to the door back into the school, are Nui Takeda and Daigo Endo. They are carrying boxes, seemingly bringing things out to the taller boy’s van.

Yoshi was not as quick as you were with the noticed reaction, perhaps because the snap speed of your turn gave him a faceful of pink coiled bun and tails. Glancing over you see his eyes widen as he notices what you have.

>Panic, run inside
>Run, run away and hide
>Stay calm, tell Yoshi to finish packing and then walk inside with him like nothing is wrong
>Rage a bit, should something at them, are they enjoying their spectacle!?
>Engage Princess No mode
>Write in

>>806590
>>Stay calm, tell Yoshi to finish packing and then walk inside with him like nothing is wrong
>scream internally

>>806590
>Stay calm, tell Yoshi to finish packing and then walk inside with him like nothing is wrong

I knew it! >>798777

Writing momentarily

Gritting your teeth to force yourself calm you scream internally. That howl lasts all but a moment as you take a sharp and calming breath. Of course Saori followed you, just of course. You made a show of things so of course people became curious. Thanks to Mio Nomura’s monster episode you and subsequent defeat your deal is still front in center in the public conscious.

Nui and Endo-kun, well that’s just a matter of circumstance.

Though why the hell are the rest of your friends there?

Whatever. Just, you have to remain calm. Rage or panic does not suit you right now and won’t help. They could only possibly hinder.

“Yes Yoshi, please pack up so we can get back,” you say with a certain forced rigidity.

He glances down at the auxiliary cable in his hand and then back up to the crowd. It looks like he wants to say something, either to those assembled above watching curiously and nervously or to you, but lets it go at your own words and replaces the guitar on the rack and puts away the amplifier. There is an embarrassed blush on his face. Was he thinking about that before Saori’s bellowed demand.

Leaving the Van open for the approaching Daigo Endo and Nui Takeda, you make your way to the door. Passing them on the way.

“Hey, we didn’t want to interrupt you two earlier,” Nui offers, apparently trying to keep a straight face and not show a strong reaction to what she undoubtedly heard from above.

“It’s alright,” you say without fault or inflection as you pass and Endo-kun and Yoshi exchange their own quick words, “Everything is fine,”

Nui nods, slowly, and makes her way toward the van after the larger boy.

As the two of you approach the door. Those assembled by the windows on the second floor scatter. You thank whatever precious stroke of luck prevented word of this reaching the first or third floor. It annoys you that such a private moment became a spectacle, but you will not lose your cool.

Not at all.

Arriving back to your classroom, already stocked with students in their rows and seats before the bell, you could hear a pin drop as you and Yoshi enter.

A pin.

Parting ways and taking your seat. And class resumes. You are the picture of the calm through to the end of the day. Through classroom cleanup. Everything.

>Time to meet up for how to approach Flowers
>See if you can find Mio Nomura before the end of the day
>Ask your friends why they were stalking you, you feel betrayed
>write in

>>806682
>Ask your friends why they were stalking you, you feel betrayed

File: 0 percent mad.png (926 KB, 640x718)

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>>806682
>Time to meet up for how to approach Flowers
PERFECTLY. CALM.

Leaving this open a touch longer.

>>806749
Maybe we could first
>Ask your friends why they were stalking you, you feel betrayed
And then
>Discuss how to approach Flowers

>>806757
I'd be ok with that.

>>806682
>Ask your friends why they were stalking you, you feel betrayed

Writing in a bit.

Heading out of the swept classroom with no words for anyone, you move among the rest of the school with a certain calm posture and neutral expression. A mask of control so perfect you may as well have used your psychometry to structure your mind into a fortress, but you have not.

Arriving at the shoe lockers to switch from your slippers, you relax in the fact that during club time things are so quiet on the academic campus. Of course your arrival is not solitary. Keiko, Midori, Kairi, and Saori are there.

Saori and Keiko looking particularly guilty and crestfallen.

“Why were you guys stalking me,” you say with a calm clarity, “I feel a bit betrayed,”

They all share a look amongst themselves for a particularly long second.

Saori Umeki is the first to speak.

“T-the ot-thers didn’t come until after w-w-word started spreading about what was happening,” she sheepishly doesn’t meet your gaze as she is all stutters, “I was following f-f-f-from when you left because you were talking about him at lunch a-a-and it s-s-seemed…”

“We went looking for her when, figuring she’d be at that hallway after someone popped their head in to gossip about you and Yoshi,” Midori continues.

“We were going to try and get everyone to disperse,” Keiko offers apologetically, “but I started gushing over how sweet the whole scene was and then Umeki-san and I wound up in a back and forth about it,”

“Mind you she was splayed against the window,” Kairi rolls her eyes, “Before the back and forth became a play by play when she shouted so tastelessly,”

>>806868


“It was just like the third route sixth scene in-” Saori turns to defend herself again to the others as Midori claps a hand over her mouth again, though this time with far less struggle.

“No, no more of this Otome talk,” Midori says quickly, “Just let it drop,”

You stare at them, flatly. Sigh. And continue staring at them with a flat calm.

“So, how do we want to approach Flowers,” you ask as you go about securing your shoes and testing them for fit and comfort, “I know we’re going to start this as ourselves...and try with Ito-san there or at least in the loop, but I’m open to further suggestion,”

“The Senshi and most of us need to hang back,” Keiko offers first, “However this starts to go down, you and Midori are the one’s closest to her,”

“First things first, we need to figure out where she is,” Midori pops in, “I got the location of the recording studio she’s been frequenting, I know where some of her afternoon classes are, and Ito-san can help us narrow between both of those and the apartment,”

“Under the basic pretense of wanting to talk?” you ask for clarification as you stand and take your school bag.

“It’s the best pretense we have,” Midori offers back as she takes out her phone, “I’ll set up our meet up with Ito-san,”

“Keiko and I can go collect your sister and then the rest of the Senshi. We’ll make straight for where ever you figure things are going to happen,” Kairi nods and pushes off from her casual lean against the lockers.

“Eh, w-what should I do?” Saori questions meekly.

>Shadow Midori and I from a ways back after we meet with Ito-san
>See if you can scout some more out over by the Big Egg complex
>Take this card, go to the Crowne Arcade Karaoke lounges, and be base command
>Just...go home for right now
>write in

>>806871
>Shadow Midori and I from a ways back after we meet with Ito-san

>>806871
>Shadow Midori and I from a ways back after we meet with Ito-san
"I want you to play ride along for now, at least until we can get you something to protect yourself."

Writing in a bit, slow boil.

“You’re with Mori and I, once we meet Ito-san I want you to shadow us from a distance,” you explain, even if you’re a bit upset with her that’s no reason to cut her out of what you’ve brought her into, “It’s just going to be ride alongs until we can get you something to protect yourself with,”

Also, you don’t want her immediately in the company or purview of the younger senshi just yet during a mission. You imagine Saori has the propensity to be more than a bit distracting. However, in her element she should do fine.

“Okay, I can do that,” she replies, self consciously.

And you’re curious what impressions and observations she’ll have of Ito-san.

Midori taps her phone and returns to the group.

“I’ve got a place to meet Ito-san and a beat on Flowers, she should be at an off campus workshop in the city until 5,”

“Then let’s get going,” Keiko nods as everyone disperses.

Glancing back over the split, you hope you’ll have a chance to sit and talk with Kairi after tonight’s business is done.

Midori and Saori fall in with you as the blonder girl starts to pull ahead and lead the way on foot to your destination. The taller girl beside you has a definite nervousness about her, perhaps colored by what has happened rather than what looms ahead. And loom it shall.

Though you don’t know it yet, where you now go, there be dragons.

Eclipsed Moon Episode 140
End

Hope everyone enjoyed this thread and I'll let you know soon enough when I can run again. Got some busy times ahead, and hopefully when all is said and done I'll have this kind of work speed normally once I have a desk to write at.

>>807052
thanks for running my man

>>807052
Great ending quote. Thanks for running Art.

And now, we approach autosage.

>>807052
I didn't get to participate tonight, but thanks for the thread Artemis.

>>807052
Thanks for the thread Arty. Glad I could participate again.

Glad you folks enjoyed it.

Thanks be for thread.

Suddenly uncertain about my weekend and ability to run. Think I'll take the weekend to decompress.

>>809180
Whatever you need to do man, this week has been trying on everyone.