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

[galling]

Eh? You don't know...? You fight to the death, obviously.

[ HE REALLY IS KIDDING... but you know... you wouldn't know from his matter-of-fact tone. ]

But when you're short on time and mortal lives, most schools have sign-ups. Hope you've got your clipboard ready! Since you're kind enough to get a jump on the organizing.

[orphne]

[She just kind of gives him a look, like sure, okay, whatever you say, buddy. If you want to fight to the death, that's your business!! But don't involve her club in it!! (He's not serious, right?? Also, can he even see her look... she can't be sure.)]

I mean, I don't mind doing the organizing! I'm not really interested in being the leader unless nobody else wants the position, though. I just think it would be nice for people to have something to do that isn't just, you know...

[Important? Useful?]

[galling]

[ there are certain poignant pauses (and judgment) that breach the physical limitations posed by wearing a blindfold. ]

Fair point, fair point.

Alrighty then, kiddo! I like your style, so what do you think? Has anyone come up with something interesting? Baseball? Yoga? Orienteering? Scuba diving? Tea ceremony?

[orphne]

Magic!

[He asked for "interesting," right? Cooking and sewing are pretty basic, but Seimei had talked about magic, so-]

I don't know exactly what Seimei-san has in mind, but he said if I could get people to join it, he'd teach them magic. That's pretty interesting, I think!

[But she giggles at the whole list she's given.]

Why, do you want to start any of those clubs? I'd join in!

[galling]

[ ... so.

this could really go two ways: 1) card tricks and doves suffocating in top hats, or 2) badly.

needless to say, magic of the more alarming ilk doesn't really get taught back home. it's simply something that someone has at birth, that can be taught to a finer edge of control. ]

Seimei's got some invisible string, swords, and human-sized boxes lying around?

[ all of that to say that there's a reason for the long, lilting hmmmm that isn't just incredulous dismissal. ]

Thooooooouuuggh! Why not start 'em all? We've got all the time in the world for all we know.

But how're you gonna juggle being club president of more than a dozen clubs, Kotone?

[orphne]

[She's of the opinion that dangerous magic probably isn't something that can be Just Taught if someone doesn't have potential, so she's pretty convinced it's card tricks and doves? But Seimei had seemed nice about it all, and she's willing to try just about anything once, so hopefully it all goes well...]

Maybe! He said I'd have to find people who were interested before he'd do anything with it, though... want to join and see what it's about?

[She laughs again and shakes her head.]

I already told you, I don't want to be president of them all! I just want something to participate in -- you know, stuff people can do other than worry about all the weird stuff that's going on. Besides, I don't know anything about yoga, or tea ceremony, or scuba diving... somebody would have to teach me! They could be president, I guess.

[galling]

Sure! Jot my name down on the clipboard. "Gojo Satoru."

[ innocent enough. some random club with card tricks and doves and probably the occasional interloper who probably shouldn't be dropping high magic in a club where kids are trying to have some fun.

... that could probably be fun, too, but they probably could use the supervision. ]

Go ahead and put that name down for president of The Teatime Deep Sea Diving Vinyasa Collective.

Club name pending!

[orphne]

Gojo Satoru-san...

[She actually does write it down so she doesn't forget. She's talked to a lot of people today; she doesn't want to forget any of them!

Then she laughs out loud, more from surprise than actual amusement at the club name he's come up with. Okay, if he doesn't want to take it seriously, that's all the better, really. It'll at least make people ask, "what?" when they hear it.]

Okay, I will! Tea and yoga sounds fun, at least, so I'll definitely come sometimes if you actually do it.

[It's audible in her voice that she isn't quite sure if he's messing with her or not, but she'll play along for now.]

[galling]

Won't you? How about tomorrow? You can bring friends. It'll be by the beach.

[ which is a totally normal place for tea ceremony and yoga, but should they forget, it's a club with "deep sea diving" in its (pending) name.

but more importantly... ]

Got a lot of those around here? Friends from home, specifically.

[orphne]

Alright!

[If nothing else, it'll be an excuse to spend time at the beach with her friends. She blinks at the question and shrugs a little with a smile.]

Specifically from home? Just one, Shinjiro Aragaki-senpai. What about you?