Sixth Curse

[bondsofsuffering]

[Video/Action for Cancer Ward Arcade]

[Hey guess who's calling during work at a game center? If you guess Hizumi, you are 100% correct. He's got an extremely excited!!! expression as he talks, having clearly made the most wonderful of discoveries and being eager to share them with the world.]

Great news Hinoto-Ri! According to studies, playing video games can reduce stress-- going off of that, if you happen to be suffering from stress due to unexpected demonic kidnappings, playing some video games to let off some steam is a fantastic solution. And it just so happens, the arcade is pretty much empty right now, so what better time to drop by and try to heal some of that trauma?

...Also, if anyone brings me snacks, I'll seriously owe you one.

[Please. He's hungry and bored and desperately needs someone to pester.]

Comments

[trainwrecking]

[Maybe people just aren't in the mood to game, or arcades are losing favor nowadays...]

Gamers can get pretty lazy -- [spoken from experience, of course] -- so if there was a bunch of sugar and entertainment all in one place, they might go for it. Offer to start a tournament off with sweets and let them loose to burn off all of that sugar.

Maybe people will come for the food and stay for the games, or the sideshow of other gamers competing...

[bondsofsuffering]

You realize you're gonna be the one doing all of this, right?

[It's not so much that Hizumi is directly opposed to it, so much as he's too lazy (surprise!!) to organize it himself. Looks like he's not all that motivated unless he's the one who directly benefits from it...]

Well, if you really want to, I'm not going to stop you...

[Munch munch munch.]

1/2

[frequent_flyer]

[Otonashi's plan is a stroke of brilliance as far as he's concerned, turning to grab the redhead by the shoulders.] That's it! We'll have snacks and maybe some really impressive prizes for the winners!

[Suddenly he's all pumped again, swinging from one extreme to the next.]

2/2

[frequent_flyer]

[...and then Hizumi talks.]

...What was that?

[Hizumi had seniority! He couldn't be bothered to help at all?]

[trainwrecking]

[Hizumi, you're the laziest.]

If this place stays dead, it's going to continue being this boring, you know... [Another yawn.] You could at least offer some kind of input.

Well, I'm going to go play a game or two for now. Mind if I have an open drink? [And he pulls the unopened coffee out of his bag to indicate it.]

[bondsofsuffering]

But running something like that when I can't even play is a pain!

[Whiiiiiine. The true issue comes to light.]

--Just keep it off the machines and it'll probably be fine.

[frequent_flyer]

When you can't-!? [Hizumi...] Do you want customers, or do you want to play games!? [They would only be mutually exclusive during the tournament..!]

[Ugh. He can't deal with being the only one between them with the motivation to plan this thing. He decides to tackle the subject again later, looking to Otonashi.] ...What game? I'll play a round with you.

[trainwrecking]

Ahh, I should have known it was something like that... Uh, there's nothing stopping you from playing a handheld game while it's going on or treating yourself to things after hours.

[Hmm...]

Eh? O-oh, I was going to play Space Invaders or City Break Ultimate. [Sometimes controlling a badly-rendered robot and breaking cities is therapeutic, okay?!]

[bondsofsuffering]

It's just time consuming.

[Munch. He washes down the cupcake with some of the soda, sticking by the counter as Hinata goes to join Otonashi.]

--If you're going to do this, there's a lot more to it than just deciding to have a tournament, you know. You'll need to figure out how to advertise and get a good estimate of the crowd you'll be able to draw in. The prizes we offer and other expenses should be based on what you expect to earn from the entry fees. I mean, it's good publicity even if we take a loss, but you're already going to need to take it up with the manager, so it'll be more convincing if you can make sure we earn it all back and then some.

[frequent_flyer]

[He follows dutifully behind Otonashi as he goes to the game, rifling through his pockets for his money, turning to listen to Hizumi as he finally weighs in on the conversation.]

[See, this is why he needs leadership. He hadn't thought of any of that.]

Ah... [He suddenly looks to Otonashi, giving him a pleading look.] Do you... know how to do any of that? [He wants to help. He wants to be a part of it. But organizing the whole ordeal? He doesn't think that falls within his skillset. And at this point he just assumes Hizumi wants no part of it.]

[trainwrecking]

[You would have to give him a look like that, wouldn't you, Hinata. Otonashi can't abandon people in need.

He exhales a slow, shuddering breath.]

Posters, maybe. A network post. If we could gather a few people to do something gimmicky. If we had Iwasawa with us, I'm sure she could have riled up a crowd, but if we could do something similar... [He clears his throat.]

Prizes could be made as long as the craftsmanship was decent, or bought in bulk. I'm sure smaller prizes could be free rounds here at the arcade. But publicity is the first step, and the best publicity is word of mouth and gimmicks, though-- a-and someone else has to talk with the manager. I-I don't even work here..!

[bondsofsuffering]

You guys have an awful lot of friends, don't you?

[He seems amused. And is also reaching for another cupcake.]

Anyway, you heard the guy. Still thinking you want to run a tournament?

[frequent_flyer]

[The more Otonashi talked, the lower Hinata's stomach sunk. This all sounded like... a lot more work than he was willing to put in for a job that didn't pay well. Especially since he had to juggle this along with Yuri's insane whims and his own strict diet of video games back at his apartment.]

Should... I ask if there are any musicians here? [He seems to miss the point about Iwasawa's crowd drawing abilities, assuming it was specifically the guerrilla concert part that Otonashi was referring to.]

[Hizumi's sarcastic remarks and lack of input are bothering him, he rounds on the "nice" green-haired kid.]

W-well how else are we supposed to get people to come here!?

[trainwrecking]

Ahh, I don't have very many friends...

[Quality over quantity, right? And unfortunately, none of them are musicians.]

Um, Hinata... Do you think you could start a music group--some other talent, just something that people would want to see or do-- the same way you start a baseball team...? You wouldn't need as many people, and you were moderately successful...

Unless someone else has a better idea? [Music is just an easy go-to, and performances are attention grabs.]

[bondsofsuffering]

That’s up to you to figure out. You’re the one who wanted it, so don’t wimp out now that it’s tougher than you thought it was going to be.

[…Not that this was the entire point of the conversation or anything.]

…Haah, I guess I could try to come up with something interesting on a harmonica if it came down to it, but… You [He stares rather pointedly at Hinata] -have to be ready to put in a lot of work. A plan like this won't get off the ground unless you're willing to put in the hours.

[And then he looks to Otonashi.]

As long as we attract attention, a jingle should be fine on its own, right?

[frequent_flyer]

[Hinata's little suggestion had gained power, feeding on the blood of the innocent until it was a giant, unbeatable beast ravaging the arcade and most of the tri-city area.]

[There was no way out now.]

I could... try asking around... [Being forced to do things he didn't want to do for the sake of companionship... this all seemed very familiar to him.] Are there any holidays or anything coming up next month? We could make it tie into that maybe...