video;

[orphne]

[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!

Comments

[orphne]

Oh yeah, I heard about the dragon, too.

[She hadn't really taken it seriously back then, but now that she's spent more time here, it is distinctly possible! And if a dragon decided to swoop down on the town, that could be a huge problem. Actually, any monsters at all wouldn't be great.]

Well, if people want to get together to do something like that, I'd definitely want to help! It might be a little more serious than I was expecting for a club, but it's still really important.

[usarinpa]

[ Monsters are generally not welcome around these parts, no. She brightens slightly when Kotone shows her interest, though. ]

It's not like we're gonna be attacked everyday or anything, but it'll be nice to have something like that on call for when we need it. I'll let him know if I ever see him.

You looked like you knew what you were doing in the forest.

[orphne]

Yes! Let me know!

[She pumps both of her fists. And if she's involved, she'll almost certainly be able to bully Shinjiro into helping, too, but that's a demand request she'll make when it comes time.

Then she pauses and blinks, fists still in the air for a second before she laughs.]

Oh... thanks, but I didn't do much. I mean, I'm glad we both made it back, but... I haven't had any luck searching for any of the people who disappeared.

[usarinpa]

[ ...Ah. That visibly dampens her mood a little bit, because it isn't as if she's had much luck, either. She shakes her head. ]

Yeah... When I asked if anyone had shown up back here while we were gone, they told me no. They said I should pray to Those Who Were There for their safe return.

[ Her shoulders raise in shrug. She can't say she believes in that sort of thing still, but it certainly can't hurt, either. She still enjoys visiting the shrine back home. ]

[orphne]

[She makes a face at the prospect of praying for safe return. As someone who's had a plethora of gods pass through her heart, it's not that she doesn't respect their power! But she's also well aware of their capriciousness and disinclination to help if they're not bound to her. Even the shrine back home could feel fickle.]

We'll just have to keep looking! They must have gone somewhere. [Even if they died, their remains should still be somewhere. Some kind of evidence, some kind of proof -- something to show they existed at all.]

At the very least, if we're hunting monsters and keeping the town safe, we can make sure nothing like that happens again.

[usarinpa]

[ That optimism sure is something. Her bubbly personality reminds her a little of Iris... Maybe that's why it doesn't grate on her as much as she feels like it should. Mizuki nods, a soft smile blooming on her face that somehow grows more confident. ]

Yeah. I'll definitely keep an eye out.

[ Monsters, the missing... For now, it might be best to leave it at that. ]

You listed a lot of options, though. What clubs would you want to join?

[orphne]

Oh, me?

[She almost looks surprised to have the question turned back to her, though she hums and gives it careful consideration.]

Well... when I was in school, I was part of the Tennis Club, the Cooking Club, the Sewing Club, the Library Committee, and the Student Council. [And SEES, but she's leaving that out.] I think I can get Aragaki-senpai to do Cooking Club, so... maybe Sewing Club? I'd like to try all kinds of new things, though. Maybe stuff I haven't even thought of!

[usarinpa]

[ She hasn't told her about ABIS yet, so that's fair. Her mouth does kind of drop though as she just kind of... keeps going. Holy shit. ]

That's a lot.

...You know that's a lot, right?

[orphne]

Is it?

[Hmmm...]

Well, originally I only signed up for Tennis Club and Sewing Club, but then one of my friends asked me to help her out on Student Council, and the one of the teachers told me I had to also join Library Committee or Health Committee. Oh, and then one of my other friends had started Cooking Club and she asked me if I could help her out, so...

[Really she'd only intended to be in two clubs! And then it just snowballed from there.]

It's fine! I like to keep moving. If I don't have anything planned, it's really easy to just stay in bed all day, you know?

[usarinpa]

[ Mizuki laughs a little and holds up her arms, waving them slightly in defense. ]

No, totally! It's not a bad thing. I get it, I'm just impressed, I think. [ Said like she didn't even realize that's what she was getting at. ] Dealing with that much high school would drain my social battery pretty hard... but I went to an all girls' school, so maybe it was different.

[ Hers should probably be the better experience without any pushy basic bros to deal with, but maybe she's biased!! She also just, really has no idea. ]

[orphne]

Oh, an all-girls school sounds really fun, though! I bet you didn't have to worry about anybody taking pictures of you in your gym uniform and selling them.

[Yeah... it really hadn't bothered her that much, but it had gotten Junpei up in arms, so she'd gone along with his crusade to find the perpetrator.]

Are you the kind of person who gets overwhelmed when there's a lot of people? [A lot of members of SEES are like that, and Kotone doesn't mind. She can even tone it down herself when she has to.]

[usarinpa]

[ Mizuki makes a face. Ugh, gross. ]

They'd wish they were expelled by the time I got through with 'em...

...But... yeah, something like that. [ Overwhelmed. ] Less so now, ever since... Well. [ She gestures vaguely. She'd shown off to people like Aerith easily enough, though the logical part of her wonders if maybe she shouldn't be drawing unnecessary attention to herself. ]

[orphne]

Hehe, I'd like to see that.

[She means that genuinely! It could be kind of fun to see a girl beating up a bunch of pervy boys! But she tilts her head and hums with interest at that vague gesture, raising both eyebrows.]

"Well"...? You mean, since you've arrived here, or...?

[usarinpa]

[ Since she discovered her superstrength.

Something like that is better shown, however, so she'll leave it for another opportunity. Mizuki nods. ]

And joining the MPD, yeah. I had a best friend at home who kinda dragged me out of my shell, too.

She was a little like you, I guess.

[orphne]

Oh, yeah?

["Dragged her out of her shell"... yeah, that sounds like something she'd do. It's kind of nice to hear that Mizuki had someone like that she could rely on.]

I don't suppose your friend is here, is she?

[usarinpa]

[ She almost says I wish. Almost. She can't say she'd want to wish this place on anyone, especially not a world where Saito is actually live.

Except for Date. Date needs to get his ass over here right now. ]

Nah. Just me, myself and I. [ This is fine. ]

[orphne]

Oh... well, you have me at least! For a friend.

[She gives Mizuki a thumbs-up through the "camera." It's a little corny, she knows, and she punctuates it with a self-aware little laugh.]

[usarinpa]

Hey, thanks.

[ Whether she means it or not, Mizuki can't tell. How can they call each other friends when they're only just getting to know each other? But she's not about to get into all that and it seems harmless enough to just accept it.

Just so long as she doesn't start pitying her. ]

If you decide on a club, I'll come check it out. That's what friends do, right?

[orphne]

[Mizuki isn't the first to wonder what's up with Kotone simply declaring someone a friend when they barely know each other, but it's fine. She's used to it!]

Hmmm... I'm definitely going to do a Sewing Club, 'cause I think it'll be useful, but I really want Cooking Club to succeed for Aragaki-senpai. He's kind of grumpy, but I think it'll be really good for him.

[She shrugs. If none of the other clubs work out, if nobody's interested, at least if she can convince Shinji that his efforts are worth something... that'll be enough.]

Thanks, though! I hope you'll have fun whatever you decide.

🎀

[usarinpa]

[ Cooking and sewing. Both valuable skills to have.

She remembers that Big Fight she had with Date over eggs, and she was so mad she kicked him out of the house. She'll make the best eggs ever so that when his ass gets here, she can throw it in his smug face.

...Maybe literally. ]

Heh, I'll see you there!

[ She sees no reason to hold her up, so after lingering with a smile and making sure they say their goodbyes, the charm flickers off. ]