( 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]

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.

[taketori]

[ He sighs, simply shrugging his shoulders. ]

It's only going to get harder from here, isn't it? I have to be at the top of my game.

--if Shinomiya were here, I'm sure we would have been rescued or escaped by now.

[repliacting]

[ ... ]

Then we'll come up with a plan to escape tonight.

[taketori]

[ He pauses in his tracks. A sullen look on his face. Still not looking at hers. ]

I... can't do that. I don't want to put you in danger.

[repliacting]

I'm wounded to hear that you don't think that I can come up with an escape plan.

[ She still speaks with the same nuance that Kaguya would, shaking her head. ]

And not just a simple one, but one that wouldn't cause any harm to any of the "contestants". I'm not the same Kurokawa you spoke to a few days ago, president. I'm quite confident that I can come up with a tactic that will get us out of here. Unless...

[ She pauses for dramatic effect, readying herself to challenge him-- ]

...you think that you can't come up with a way to escape yourself? And here I was thinking that Shirogane Miyuki might just be capable of something as simple as that. Too bad.

[taketori]

No, that's-- that's not it at all.

[ Shirogane is completely caught off guard, yet again. It doesn't make sense to him-- he knows exactly who he's speaking to; more importantly, who he's not speaking to.

Yet everything, from the subtle nuances of her tone, to the way she attempted to provoke him, even down to switching from previously calling him "Shirogane-kun" to "President", felt as if it were confusing his senses.

If it were Akane, he'd note that she shouldn't have to overwork herself to match his pace. Shirogane himself didn't know how he would escape, and would admit that it would take time.

Right now though, in that tone... ]

Of course I can. One that wouldn't just protect the other "contestants", but allow them to contribute as well, if they please. That said... if it's really that simple, then I can count on you to help me, right?

Or is that too much for you to handle yourself, Kurokawa Akane?

[repliacting]

Then you'll have until midnight to figure it out, president. If you can't...

[ Her smile widens even further. ]

... then it'll be my win. I'll get everyone to escape here using the plan that I've thought up. But if you can come up with something better, hmm. Let's see. Should I reward you after?

[taketori]

[ How could that possibly be fair? All of them had spent weeks trying to determine how to escape, and now Miyuki had to figure it out before the day ended?

--Still. Despite that.

The way that Akane's tone hit him made him not even consider backing down. ]

Fine with me. I'll hear out your plan at that time too. I'll accept any reward you give me, and I'll offer the same to you.

We'll meet somewhere at midnight, then. We'll both think on this independently, without anyone else's help. Does that work for you?

[repliacting]

'Any'...? That's a dangerous word to use. I won't forget it, you know.

[ He better keep his word. ]

But that's fine. If either of us get help, shall we consider that as a disqualification?

[taketori]

Any that I can possibly provide, anyway.

[ Obviously, it was probably something that involved escaping. Again, working towards her goal... ]

That's right. If anyone else finds out, it could put us in danger. If I'm going through with this, I'm not going to let you get hurt.

[repliacting]

I'll have to remember that.

[ And for a second, her starry eyes fade. The cadence in her voice shifts into something that's much more like Akane, even if it's brief-- ]

You really are too kind, Shirogane-kun.

[taketori]

[ God. He relaxes, just a little. ]

You're a terrifying actress, Kurokawa. I nearly...

[ ...no, he can't say that. Anyway. ]

I'll see you later tonight, then.

[repliacting]

Ah, well--

[ It's the only thing she's good at, or so she tells herself. ]

I'll see you tonight.

[ She should just go before she gets even more flustered... ]