( closed )

[repliacting]

[ The studio that all twenty participants had come to was no ordinary one.

It was a place that was secluded from the outside world, crafted specifically for these young minds to be on a sick, twisted reality-slash-game show.

Week after week, it tore at Akane's heart.

They'd offer up a motive. Some weeks, someone would succeed. They'd have a trial, figure out who the culprit is, and then the host would execute whoever was chosen, regardless of whether they were 'correct' or not.

But on weeks where they managed to prevent a murder, they'd play a game of sorts- many of them would be based off of other game shows that you'd see around, but would be more potentially deadly.

Everyone was split into four teams of five randomly, and each group had their own separate dorm area of sorts.

While Akane herself was not on the same team as Shirogane Miyuki... that didn't mean that they couldn't work together. In fact, he had saved her one week from an unfortunate fate. She felt indebted to him. There had to be some way that she could help him out.

She had heard from one of the other "contestants" that Shirogane's ideal girl was someone named Shinomiya Kaguya. That name was a bit familiar- or at least, the last name was. The Shinomiyas were a well known conglomerate that would sometimes invest in the entertainment business; she even heard from fellow members of Lalalie that if they could get that family interested in their theater company, they would truly be a success.

One of the rooms in the "house" they were living in during the duration of all of this was a library. It was stock full of all the information that she could possibly ask for.

And so...

She devoted her time to studying.

It didn't take her more than a day to figure out what this girl was like, and while she definitely had to fill in some holes that she couldn't find, but that was easy for her.

All she had to do was put it in practice. So she seeks him out after preparing herself--for once, she's glad there's a costuming room that she could use to replicate the look- something that she could possibly wear casually- a black dress with a bright red cardigan and tying her hair up with the 'usual' red ribbon- before seeking him. When she sees him, her eyes shut for a moment before she gets into character, speaking up with an air of confidence that she normally wouldn't have a tone that was befitting of someone who could only be described as upper class. ]

Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you for a while, president.

[ Her bright eyes shimmer, radiating something that, in spite of how in some ways she looks different enough from Kaguya for someone to tell the difference if they scrutinized hard enough, would be considered as deceptive.

Eyes that could make lies into truths. ]

Comments

[taketori]

[ Shirogane had, for most of these weeks, attemoted to play his own role. The reliable Student Council President, outside of his school yet still able to be counted upon when he was needed.

Yet, it was starting to become more and more obvious that sheer dumb luck was getting him through some games, though when it came to trivia, he was nearly unmatched.

The week where a murder took place, Kurokawa Akane had taken center stage. Accused, framed, nearly wrongfully executed before a razor-thin observation presented itself to Shirogane, and he was able to turn the tables, clearing her name.

Later, he had yelled into his pillow so loudly that he was certain sound would still escape. After all, despite his bravado and quick thinking, it didn't shake the fact that he was terrified, that he was certain that he was going to be killed any day now.

Yet, he survived. Those he felt were more skilled and talented than he was, better suited to surviving these games, had died. While he could still put on an air of reliability, he was losing his grip fast, and he was finding it hard to keep up.

So much so, that when he hears a voice... it gets his entire body to freeze up. The voice itself, in unemulatable ways, wasn't the same. It was still, too close to comfort, with the same dry and superior tone that he remembered.

Shirogane hadn't gotten close yet, but... everything he saw, with details he couldn't tell right away if they were different or not, pointed to one name coming from his lips. ]

Shino...miya?

[ It was impossible. It had to be. As he stepped forward, he tried to focus a little harder on the details. ]

No, wait-- you can't be...

[repliacting]

Sorry, did I surprise you?

[ Her apology comes off as a bit casual, but still keeps up that air of confidence in the way that she's speaking. Her mannerisms, the way Akane holds herself is different from usual. Gone away is the shy, awkward girl who didn't have confidence.

Who was scared and didn't have the confidence to defend herself when she was outright confused.

It was difficult for her to handle. She wanted to cry. So... she has to repay him. This is the only way that she can. ]

I wanted to thank you for the other day. I don't like owing debts, after all.

[taketori]

Kurokawa...

[ The complete aura around her just felt different. It felt so familiar, it was scary. What is he even supposed to say to this?

Obviously, he should reprimand her a bit. This felt too strange, the somewhat timid Akane just... seemingly transformed. He recalled her mentioning that she was an actress, but wasn't this a bit much? ]

I... appreciate the thought. But you really don't have to--

[ As he looks at her, knowing it's not Shinomiya Kaguya in front of him, he stumbles a little over his words. ]

Honestly, you had me convinced for a moment.

[repliacting]

[ She huffs a bit, planting a hand on her waist as she shifts her weight from one heel to the other. ]

I already said that I don't like owing people debts.

[ ... ]

Do you dislike it?

[taketori]

[ Haaaa jeez-- ]

I...

I don't... hate it, no. It's just... unexpected. I hadn't expected to see her again.

[ He hasn't actually seen her... or, has he? It was hard to say. It's partially why, as different as they are, he can't bring himself to look Akane directly in the face. ]

[repliacting]

Hmm.

[ Akane's grin widens into something a little more mischievous. ]

Then there's no problem. Well, shall we take a bit of a walk?

[taketori]

Sure. R-right, we can go.

[ A walk, then. ]

...have you been well otherwise, Kurokawa? I haven't checked in lately.

[repliacting]

I've been well. You seem to be a little nervous, though. Are you quite alright?

[ A little gentle mental nudge; while learning about Kaguya, she also learned a bit about Shirogane as well, so she can see right through him in some ways. Here's an out, if he chooses.to take it. ]

This place has been taking its toll on everyone, after all.

MIYUKI SHIROGANE'S LOSS

[repliacting]

[ Just around midnight, Akane searches him out at his room, knocking on the door. ]

Shirogane-kun...? It's Akane.

[ She's acting like her normal self for the time being, if only so that he doesn't spook him. ]

[taketori]

[ Shirogane had spent most of his night in his room, and had unfortunately... mostly been distracted. While he tried to consider all angles, tried to figure out the best method to escape with everyone, his mind kept drifting back to Akane's performance. How accurate it was.

How much he actually did miss Shinomiya, how badly he wished he could see her again, and how the thought of not being able to actually made his stomach upset.

Those thoughts overwhelmed him, and as soon as he knocked, he immediately looked at the clock.

Damn it...! ]

Just a moment!

[ He gulps. Really... this wasn't a smart move. He was in danger of being killed at any point, how would he know that Kurokawa Akane wasn't actually there...?

No. He had to trust her. They agreed to this, after all.

So, he heads over to... open the door just a little. ]

[repliacting]

I came, just in time. Did you come up with something?

[ That way, she knows what to do next to follow through. ]

[taketori]

...I...

[ He steps back, sitting back in a chair. ]

I couldn't. I thought I had something, but I couldn't bring it all together in my head.

1 / 2

[repliacting]

Then...

[repliacting]

[ And then there's a shift, in both her expression, her cadence. ]

It's my win then. And once we're out, you'll have to keep your end of the deal. I won't forgive you if you don't.

[taketori]

[ That shift, yet again. Into that familiar tone, the familiar aura that bugged him so much before. ]

R-Right. [ A brief pause-- ] You... you truly have a plan, Kurokawa?

[repliacting]

I do. I thought about it long and hard. The host is only human. He isn't some special being or anything like that. If I can get to them, then that will lead us to being able to leave.

I've figured out their motives. Why they're doing this in the first place, what they're trying to gain from it. I've spoken to them enough times to figure out what kind of person they are.

With that all in mind, I've concocted the perfect plan for escape. All that's needed now is to initiate it. You just need to leave it all to me.

[taketori]

[ That confidence. It was so much unlike the Kurokawa Akane he had grown to know so well over the past couple of weeks, it was rattling.

Was this because she had taken on this role? Was she actually losing herself into being Shinomiya Kaguya?

... ]

Do you intend to initiate this tonight?

MIYUKI SHIROGANE'S WIN

[taketori]

[ The hour was drawing near. With the image of Kurokawa Akane, the near spitting image of Shinomiya Kaguya reflected against her, it was a clearcut reminder of what he needed to do.

There were pieces that needed to placed, roles that needed to be filled, and most importantly... he had to hope everything proceeded perfectly. It was something he had to come up with on short notice, but he could pull it off.

So when it got closer to midnight, Shirogane stayed put in his room. He wasn't needed for most of this, and he needed to be there for the last part of his plan to work.

As he waited for Kurokawa Akane. ]

[repliacting]

[ She's here, and the act is completely up -- she isn't Kurokawa Akane right now, but a replication of 'Shinomiya Akane'.

She knocks as she speaks up: ]

It's me. Are you ready?

[taketori]

[ As Shirogane opens the door, he's got a grin on his face. Honestly, he was hoping for the best and ultimately... was playing it cool. He steps through. ]

I've been ready for a while. Hope you don't mind that I'm a little impatient.

[repliacting]

I see. So you've figured something out.

[ She matches his grin with one of her own, full of confidence. ]

Then, let's hear it.

[taketori]

To be honest, if it was going to work, I needed to do something a little drastic. So actually--

[ There seems to be a commotion going on down the hall. ]

--I got the ball rolling on it a couple hours ago.

[ Through secrecy, word of mouth, and being able to predict how others would react, he's started a chain reaction. One that ultimately, will cause enough of a commotion that this and that'll happen.

And, soon, they'll find themselves back on the outside after a fun timeskip. ]

[repliacting]

[ It's a lot.

Once they're outside, Akane finds herself looking very much in awe. ]

It actually worked... Shirogane-kun, you're amazing.

[taketori]

[ --Holy shit, it worked. He didn't sell that he was in any doubt the entire time, but he's definitely feeling better now that it's done and over with. Whew. ]

That wasn't anything too special. Still, I couldn't have done it without your help in motivating me.

[repliacting]

Ah, well...

[ She trails off. ]

I guess you win, right?