compnetwork | [Video

Hey. Looks like I've got this working.

[Atsuro's face appears on the network under somewhat inadequate lighting. An astute guess would place him in his room illuminated only by the backlight of his laptop.]

Everyone get out of that first mission OK? I can't speak for anyone else, but geez, I think I slept for a few days straight there. If they, uh, wanted a report or anything, the research labs are fine. ...Probably.

[He stifles a yawn before continuing on, the camera zooming out slightly to reveal a lot of bedhead and a conspicuously absent trademark floppy hat.]

Hnn... Sorry.

So! Anyway. I've been thinking a lot. About what they've told us and about... what they haven't. Hah, I'm still surprised this place isn't some weird hallucination. It's a little unreal, right? Like they're asking us to act out a game or a fantasy novel. But... even if it seems like it might be fun to stick around, I think we need to find out what it is we're really getting into. ...There's something I want to say about all this.

You've all run into the monsters by now, right? They talk, they cast magic, they do tricks. Not all of them are bad, but they're things we've heard of in myths and stories from different cultures all across the globe - Cerberus, the hound of Hades. British pixies and kobolds. Nekomata and other youkai from Japan. So... what gives? What're they doing here?

...I'm not gonna get into details, but I should say that these guys - the exact same identical demons - have popped up in at least two other worlds that I know of. And both times.... they showed up because the world was about to end.

I'm not saying this place is the same way, but... maybe that's why they need our help badly.

[addendum a few minutes later]

Ah, someone reminded me - if you guys want to see a database of all the demons I've ever met, you can drop by my room. Libra 5-07.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, really? That's pretty lucky! Do they all work alright?

Yeah, I think so! I've just been setting up the desktop, but it's not like any of the plugs here are different or anything - I think this was still a part of Japan, after all.

Ah, is that so? That's good to know, I guess. [More importantly--]

So, does this mean we can play against each other sometime?

Of course not.

It means we're playing against each other as soon as I get it hooked up.

I'm liking it here more and more...

Can I call dibs on player one?

Yeah, right. Player one's the player who owns the system. It's only fair.

In that case...

I'll have to overthrow this archaic system! [Yes, this is very dramatic.]

No fear. I'll hold the controller over your head.

[Low blow, Atsuro.]

. . .

I don't think there's any way I can come back from that, is there.

A...haha. Don't worry about it! You're only a first-year. You'll hit a growth spurt soon.

...Wait, won't that be weird if we go home and we're like... five years older?

That might be pretty weird to explain... do you think Philemon-san could change us back or something? Then again...

I could be taller than Akira-kun in Class A... [Don't mind him, he's just basking in this glorious mental image.]

You could work out and grow a goatee. I'll give you moral support or something from the comfort of my web-surfing chair.

You'll end up with a curved back if you spend so much time like that, you know!

~~Then you might have a chance at reaching the controller~~

That's what my parents tell me, but I'm pretty sure being an adult means spending 90% of your time sitting in a cubicle, anyway.

[Now that was a low blow.]

Oh, you're aiming for a desk job?

Nah. ...I haven't thought too much about the future yet. Maybe I'll follow in my parents' footsteps and move to America or something.

Oh? Your parents live abroad, Kihara-kun? [Then... who would he be living with?]

Not... exactly. Our home is still in Japan.

[Technically.]

They just work there - Silicon Valley. They're both, ah, computer enthusiasts, so you probably see where I get it from.

Hm, so it's something that runs in the family! [Why does he seem so excited by that, really.]

Still, it sounds like you've got quite the home life, Kihara-kun.

[Nonexistent?]

Y-Yeah. It's neat. A lot of kids wish their parents wouldn't butt into their lives so much, aha.

Mm. [What's with that stutter...] I guess my mum can be a bit overbearing. Though, if she butt in less, I'd probably have to do more of the chores...

Ah, they're not so bad when you get used to it. Just swab out the toilet once a month and use a fan to blow all the dust into the corners.

Eh, is that all? I've heard stories of this mythical 'washing machine' being involved!

Nah. You can just take a shower with your clothes on and hang 'em up to dry.

...Speaking of showers...

You're coming by in ten minutes, right?

Ah, right! [And thankfully, he's done bandaging now.] I forgot already!

I'll head on over now, if that's alright? [Admittedly he's already up and heading for the door because he's excitable like that--]

(no subject)

otakuro - 2012-09-25 02:45 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-09-25 19:41 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-09-26 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-09-26 16:11 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-09-27 02:28 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-09-27 19:03 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-09-28 02:55 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-09-29 00:39 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-02 02:31 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-03 00:07 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-03 04:11 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-03 21:10 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-04 02:39 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-05 23:31 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-06 00:57 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-07 01:23 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-09 03:11 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-09 21:48 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-10 02:04 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-10 02:12 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-10 02:30 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-10 14:57 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-11 01:47 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-11 20:39 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-12 02:00 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-12 22:16 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-13 03:55 (UTC) - Expand

endears - 2012-10-13 21:18 (UTC) - Expand

otakuro - 2012-10-19 03:00 (UTC) - Expand