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Topic Started: Apr 8 2014, 04:25 PM (597 Views)
The One True Nobody
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
"...Okay," Etsuko said, in a slightly dubious voice. "I guess it kinda makes sense, yeah."

Well, it only kind of did, by virtue of her not really knowing what sorts of ulterior motives he could have for it. If he knew she was a girl, that might be one. Or--oh jeez, if he thought she was a guy and just happened to like guys. That was a possible ulterior motive, too. One that made Etsuko feel kind of squirmy and uncomfortable to be on the possible receiving end of, so she stopped thinking about it.

With Cordelia's weakness to cold out of the way, she now rubbed her arms much more slowly. Cold like this was pretty ordinary. She was used to it, but at this time of year she usually tried to find some indoor place to stay. Even if it didn't have proper heating, being sheltered from the wind was helpful and this rooftop was not sheltered from the wind.

"...S-Say, Kagami-san?" Etsuko muttered hesitantly, glancing away and frowning a bit. Suddenly she felt kind of bashful, and that really didn't help with the question she wanted to ask. "If you go to this school, do you, maybe... know a girl... named... Nishiyo? Nishiyo Sadako? I've heard she goes t' this school, is all, so... I'm curious..."
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Prince Arjuna
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-insert something witty here-

After she mentioned Nishiyo Sadako's name, Kakeru's expression changed slightly. He was well-aware about that name, being sufficiently-informed about that particular girl thanks to his girlfriend, Isoroku Mayoi. Kakeru closed his eyes, crossing his arms, trying to find the right words to say to her.

"She's a student here, yes..." Kakeru said carefully. "Met her once or twice sometimes ago, but other than that, I don't know her very well..." he admitted. He carefully chose his words so that Etsuko wouldn't suspect anything about what he just said. He didn't know whether this 'Daiki' person might be a Persona-user or not, and he just wanted to play it safe by avoiding talking about Persona stuff.

"What's with that question? Do you know her?" Kakeru asked.
Edited by Prince Arjuna, Apr 27 2014, 09:55 AM.
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The One True Nobody
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
Etsuko felt a curious mixture of relief and disappointment at Kakeru's answer. Relief, because for once she was speaking to someone who didn't know what a horrible person Nishiyo had become... who didn't hold a grudge. Disappointment, because that meant Kakeru couldn't tell her anything about how Nishiyo was doing.

The girl's head fell a bit, and she nodded. "Oh. Okay," she said. A pause. Then, Kakeru asked his question. She bit the inside of her lip a bit. How much to admit...? Her arms folded a bit over her chest, as if closing herself off. But then she decided, talking a bit about herself was fine. Kakeru might even sympathize. If he did, then maybe when school started again, she could ask him to find out some things...

The girl's arms slowly opened, and settled to rest on her laps, fingers folding together. She didn't need to keep rubbing at her arms. She was used to this sort of cold. Cordelia was just a wimp, was all.

Hey!

"...Nishiyo is... actually... my sister," Etsuko admitted slowly. Just in case, just in case Kakeru knew more than he let on... she let a bit of guilt slip into the tone. Yes, I know she's done bad things, her voice said. Yes, I know they can't be forgiven, it said. But Nishiyo is my sister, said the words.

As she said it, she realized it sounded a lot more pitiful than she'd meant it to. In the next moment she decided she was fine with that.
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Prince Arjuna
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-insert something witty here-

"...I see..." Kakeru mused. So, everything was clear now. Isoroku had told him everything about her involvement with the case about Nishiyo Sadako, including her known relative. "So... everything makes sense now..." he said. He looked at Etsuko, but his eyes seemed downcast. Because he was never directly involved in this, he knew that it wasn't his place to say anything about this, but he was well-informed enough to know about the true identity of the kid who called herself 'Daiki'.

"Your name is not Daiki, right?" Kakeru spoke to Etsuko. He already had an idea about her real identity, but being an outsider who wasn't involved in any of this, he still needed confirmation. "C'mon, let's get out of this place. I'll buy something for us to drink," he said to Etsuko with a smile as he got up from the bench. "Probably hot coffee. Or do you want chocolate?" he asked. "There's a vending machine just outside the school gate."
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The One True Nobody
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
So... everything makes sense now.

Etsuko tensed, feeling the first slithering hints of mistrust toward Kakeru twist in her belly. He knew more about Nishiyo than he'd admitted after all... the... stupid liar! She narrowed her eyes at the boy, and stood up when he correctly guessed that the name she'd given was a false one. Let's get out of here, he said. I'll buy you a drink, he said. She wanted to snap at him. Wanted to say "fuck you" to his drinks and just ask him what the hell that look was about.

Steady. Go along with him for now. See what this is about. If he meant you harm, he wouldn't need to take you anywhere else... whispered Apsaras, though the water-spirit's tone conveyed the same narrow-eyed suspicion that played across Etsuko's face at that very moment.

"...Hot chocolate's better. Coffee ain't bad, though," Etsuko said, by way of a calming exhale, willing her shoulders to relax. "Lead the way."
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Prince Arjuna
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-insert something witty here-

"Alright, then..." and so, Kakeru led the way, going back into the building, walking back towards his classroom. Then, he led Etsuko out of the classroom through the window, walking across the courtyard before climbing the fence, going out of the school area. Like what he said before, there was a vending machine just near the gate.

Using his own money, he bought hot chocolate drinks, one for Etsuko and one for himself. "Here you go..." he handed Etsuko the hot drink. "While we're at it, do you have anything to ask?" he looked at Etsuko before he started drinking his hot chocolate.
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The One True Nobody
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
She made sure to keep herself looking as calm as she could, and followed along behind Kakeru. After a while she was even able to feel as calm as she wanted to look. So what if she couldn't trust this guy? That didn't mean she had to be nervous or afraid, although some small part of her still hoped this was someone who didn't wish harm or "justice" on her sister.

When Kakeru led her to the window, she balked--hadn't he come in through the front gate?! Weren't they going to just... walk out?! Was he just as not-allowed-to-be-here as she was, even with the key he'd been given?!

...Etsuko followed in silence. Fortunately the place Kakeru climbed over the wall had some damaged parts (older ones, from the rain-eroded look of them--a lifetime of squatting in abandoned buildings and other such places had given Etsuko an eye for this type of thing) that could work as handholds. She didn't have much trouble climbing over the wall after him, and fortunately they couldn't see the damaged portion of the wall that Etsuko had climbed to get in earlier from where they came out.

At the vending machine, Etsuko took the hot chocolate--a warm can of chocolate... it was cold, so she figured it best to crack it open and enjoy it while she still could. Since they were out in the open now, she knew she had nothing to really worry about here as long as she stayed at least a little bit out of arm's reach, so she relaxed and took a long gulp from her can. Letting out a contented sigh--which produced a heavy mist on the air--she gave Kakeru a narrow-eyed smile when he asked if she had any questions.

"Yeah, for starters--how d'ya really know my sister?" she asked simply, and bluntly.
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Prince Arjuna
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-insert something witty here-

Kakeru already expected that she would ask him that question. Taking a sip of his hot chocolate, he looked at Etsuko before he sighed. "Well, I guess I can't help it, then..." he said. "Before I begin, I'll tell you that I technically told you the truth. I did talk to her once or twice, and nothing more..." he said. "It's because I'm an outsider who doesn't like interfering in other people's businesses, I'd like to stay out of this matter because it doesn't concern me..."

Then, he sighed again. "But, despite, or because of me being someone who stays on the sideline, I tend to learn things that I'd rather not know. I don't know her personally, but I got to know about her... activities from my friends," then, he shrugged. "Being an outsider, I don't want to get involved in anything related to her, but thanks to my connections with other people, I unintentionally learned about her..."

He looked up to the sky as put one of his hand into his pocket while holding his can of chocolate with his other hand. "Let's just say that I pretend to not know her because I'd rather stay the hell away from her instead of being involved in her business. Satisfied with my answer?" he asked Etsuko.
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The One True Nobody
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
Etsuko supposed Kakeru's answer made sense. Leaning against the side of the vending machine--which was kind of cold despite whatever mechanism inside kept the coffee and cocoa cans warm--she gulped another gulp of chocolate and looked at the boy shrewdly, frowning a bit.

"So that explains how y'know my sister," she said. "What about me? D'you already know my real name, then? 'Cause you're right, it ain't Daiki..."

The girl trailed off, waiting for Kakeru to answer. How many of her sister's enemies knew about her, anyway? A shiver ran down her spine as a thought occurred: what if the people who wanted to see Nishiyo pay for what she'd done weren't all nice about it like Hanako or Benkei? Or, what if they decided to take their anger out on Etsuko? What if one of them decided to try using Etsuko against her sister somehow? Did she need to spend the rest of her time here looking over her shoulder because of this...?
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Prince Arjuna
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-insert something witty here-

Kakeru smiled wanly when Etsuko asked him whether he knew her real name or not before he shook his head. "I don't. I just know that Nishiyo has a younger sibling, which is you..." he said, emptying his drink before he flattened the can with his hands and then threw it into a nearby bin. "So, do you feel like telling me your real name?" he asked.

He knew that despite Etsuko's connection with someone like Nishiyo, it was not his place to judge Etsuko. Etsuko was her own person before her being somebody's relative. For him, blaming someone for other person's fault was rather unthinkable. "Or do you not trust me enough?" he sighed. "Well, I guess I can understand that."

Then, he looked at Etsuko. "But I want you to know something. Maybe this is not my problem, and I'd rather stay at the sideline than to get myself involved, but if I can help it, I will make sure that nothing can harm you..." he said in a rather serious tone. "Maybe you're related to her, but you are your own person before you being other person's sibling. If there is anyone who want to harm you because of that, I will protect you with everything I got..."

After a pause, he added. "Well, let me say this again... I'm weak against kids who need help..." he sighed. He just declared to protect a complete stranger due to his habit. He held back the desire to groan in annoyance, and he could only hope that this was a right decision to make.
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