expiationnet | video;

[Kotone has never really been one to like... start things. Mostly people told her to join other things, or she followed her friends with their interests. But here, it seems like people are just kind of left to their own devices, so a few days after the return to the forest and the fruitless search for the missing, she's getting antsy. She needs something to do and doesn't really know where to start. So-]

Hello! Um, my name is Kotone Shiomi. I was wondering if anyone was starting up any clubs or anything in town! You know, a group of people with similar hobbies or interests, like a sports club, or a book club, or a gardening club...

One of my friends at school started a sewing club. I think I might do something like that, if anybody is interested! Or somebody, [Shinji,] could make a cooking club and give lessons, stuff like that.

[She holds up one finger as if struck by a sudden idea.]

Oh, maybe if we can get a list of everybody's hobbies, we can figure out what kinds of clubs to make? I just think it's important to have something fun to do with everyone, instead of just always worrying about the weird stuff that's going on. So... tell me about what you like to do!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hm, well sewing and cooking would be useful, and learning about local books is always fun in a new place. But what I really want to learn... magic, maybe?

Magic?

[Magic club sounds like something that weird school nurse would have wanted... She scrunches up her nose thoughtfully.]

Is that something that other people can learn to do? Or would you just want a space to talk to people who already have powers of some kind?

Anyone can learn magic to some extent. There are also many kinds--I would like to learn as much as I can, if possible.

[He seems completely oblivious to how weird he sounds.]

In a strange place, isn't it useful to learn as many skills as possible? Strange ones would fit, wouldn't they?

Huh, really?

[Huh? Anyone can learn magic? That can't be true! At least not in the normal world. Maybe where this guy comes from is different.]

Do you know any magic already? I'd love to join your club if it means I'd learn some!

[Did she just assign him club leadership... perhaps.]

A-ah?

[Seimei looks completely taken aback by that response. When did this happen?!]

I've never been in a club before... I don't know if I'd be qualified to lead something. It sounds important.

[Is he turning on the big, naive eyes? He sure is.]

I suppose I know a few things, but I'm honestly a rather irresponsible person. I don't want to ruin your club.

Well, it can't be me. I can't teach any magic, after all!

[Personas aren't exactly a teachable thing, and she's not really in a rush to figure out if she can even summon them properly here. Other skills, though...]

I've never led a club, either! So I think it's okay if we just kind of make it up as we go along. It's not like school administration or anyone is going to be mad at us if we do a bad job.

[She holds up a finger with a smile.]

You can think of it more like... spending time with new friends!

[Damn.]

Well, if you say it that way, it sounds very charming... but I don't have any friends.

[Did he make a mistake by jumping in for a laugh? Suddenly Seimei is like a cat with his head stuck in a paper bag and he's the fool backing up for dear life.]

I doubt anyone would want to join something called a magic club, right? They'd probably laugh.

[That is so sad to say out loud. Oh, she can't stand for that. People aren't allowed to not have friends while she still has the energy to do something about it!]

Well, I'll join it! A club doesn't need to have a lot of members to start, [that's definitely not true,] just people who are really dedicated to it. Or, I guess, really want to have fun with it?

I bet there are more people than you think who'd be interested. And then you can make friends!

[A club definitely needs members. He's sure, despite his limited knowledge of modern school life, that requesting to form a club has some participation requirements to be authorized. But the sentiment is nice, so Seimei has to smile anyway. Why is she being so nice? Humans really are incredible.]

Don't you think that people these days find magic more inconvenient than fun? Things like spells or tricks--aren't they called a waste of time?

I think most people don't think about magic at all, yeah.

[That's maybe a little mean to say, but she's just agreeing with what he said! But before he can answer, she continues,]

So I think for people who are interested, it'll be really nice for them to have somewhere to go. A club doesn't have to be for everybody. It really can be just a few people having fun!

[He does draw a breath to answer, but Kotone is too quick for him. He's surprised, because he really didn't expect to meet someone that passionate over a hypothetical question. Especially about something most humans find to be a waste of serious time.

How is he supposed to argue with that?]

...Haah. Well, I suppose if there were such a person, I would want them to have somewhere to go. How about this: if you find someone like that, you can send them to me, okay? I can at least try to entertain them for a while. But! A club requires formal organization, and it definitely calls for more than one person. I can't ignore that.

Got it! So if I can find enough members, we can start the club!

[Isn't this the plot to like, several high-school mangas? Alright, she's up for the challenge. She pumps her fists in the air and grins brightly. Time to become the number one spokesperson for Magic Club (whatever that actually means).]

I'll do my best, um... sorry, what's your name again?

Seimei.

[He can't even get upset. Her enthusiasm is too good and if she can recruit even one person to a club that silly sounding, he'll be impressed. He might as well test the resolve of humanity.]

I suppose if you manage to find people really that interested in such things, I can't argue the matter. Proof is demonstrated in the number of voices behind it, right?

I'll do my best!

[That's a promise. She's incapable of giving less than 110% for any given task, and as long as she doesn't have to actually run the club, just find the members... she's pretty sure she can do that! Maybe Astralin can spare some time away from the farm...? He can do magic. She might be able to ask Shinji to come just to prove a point, but he's going to have his hands full with Cooking Club, so she doesn't want to push too far. Hmm... she'll have to ask around.]

So look forward to it, okay? I think it'll be fun!

[He still doubts anyone would actually join a club like that. If they can already do magic, a club probably sounds weird and out of context, and if they can't, doesn't it mean they don't believe? But she seems very determined to see it through. If she works for it, he's somewhat obligated to grant her wish and at least do something, right?]

When you say it like that, Kotone-kun, I feel like I can believe it. I suppose I can try too, since you are working so hard.

video;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject