( 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]

...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?

[repliacting]

There's no time better. I plan on telling the others as well, once it's safe to. If we wait much longer, the host will regain the upper hand and someone will potentially make an attempt to murder. Let us not waste time.

[taketori]

[ --Damn it. ]

Very well. In that case, I'll follow your lead.

...and I intend to meet you on the outside. If this works, I will repay you.

[ ...As long as it's not money, but he's not going to say that either. ]

[repliacting]

Of course. I would not expect anything less.

[ aaaand cue timeskip to when they've all escaped; she'll wait for him patiently outside ]

[taketori]

[ --He genuinely can't believe he survived.

He's in a bit of shock right now, stepping outside after saying goodbyes to the others... eventually, finding his way back to Akane. ]

...

[ What... does he even say? ]

...Thank you. I owe you.

[repliacting]

A--Ahaha, it was nothing really. Well, I mean. It wasn't actually nothing, but.

... Um.

You really don't have to owe me.

[taketori]

Typically I'd accept that, but considering we had a deal, I can't just walk away without giving you some kind of reward. I don't typically have much in the way of money or material goods, but I'm sure I can work something out.

[repliacting]

.... Can the reward be anything?

[taketori]

...within reason, sure. I don't mind.

[repliacting]

[ Mulls this over. ]

Do you mind if I stop by my place first? I can grab my wallet real quick.

[taketori]

Oh, that shouldn't be a problem. I should probably make some phone calls myself, now that I think about it.

[repliacting]

That's fine... ahh, should we meet somewhere in about an hour?

[taketori]

Sounds great! Just let me know where, and I'll be right there.

[ As he's pulling out his phone?? It's surreal knowing he's out again, but god, he can't shake the feeling of gratitude... ]

[repliacting]

I'll send you the address, then.

[ To which we smash cut to another time skip! ]

[taketori]

[ Time skip! To him trying to find the address. Hmmm. He did offer to meet with her, so where would that be... ]

[repliacting]

[ Good news: it is a hotel district, but at least it isn't love hotels? Small blessings.

Nevertheless, she can be found wearing her usual incognito wear, covering her face with a hat and glasses; she also seems to have a backpack with her, too. ]

Shirogane-kun, over here.

[taketori]

Oh! Hey there!

[ He didn't recognize her! Which was the point, no doubt. The district was an odd choice, but so far, so good? She WAS an actress after all, so being seen with a commoner like him...

Well.

Really, it's better for both of them. ]

So, what's the plan?

[repliacting]

I was thinking about renting a room that we could use for the reward.

[taketori]

Oh, that works for me. I suppose it's too early to meet at anyone's house in particular.

[ give him a second. ]

[repliacting]

You're really okay with that...

[ Huh. ]

Alright, let's go.

[ SMASH CUT TO INSIDE THE HOTEL ROOM?? ]