codeforhope | Voicemail

[...should he tell him about the time he became a Pokemon with paws and everything? Probably not. That would just confuse poor Komasan further...maybe later, if he recovers and turns back to normal soon...]

I guess not. Paws aren't really made for picking up things, either.

[But human hands still don't have beans, and that's obviously that's a crime.

He notices Komasan's continued discomfort, of course, but he's not going to draw attention to it. Distracting Komasan might be a better course of action...at least he hopes.]

You ran a really far way all on your own, Komasan-chan. I'm glad I was able to find you.

[Distractions are good, distractions help.]

I thought if I ran far enough, I'd be able to get out of this... [...Village?] ...place, zura. B-But it just kept going, it doesn't end, zura...

[He hangs his head in defeat, but it's hard to tell if it's because he feels guilty about running off so far on his own like that, or because he couldn't get out.]

I see. Goldenrod is one of the biggest cities in Johto, after all. But where were you planning on going if you left?

[He's not too worried about what might have happened if Komasan ended up on a route, not with his Pokemon still with him, but still.]

Eh!

[Wow, that question is too hard. In fact, Komasan doesn't have an answer for it.]

I... ["don't know"] ...thought I'd find more youkai, zura...

[But it's like he said, they aren't youkai. They're pokey-things, fakes, he can't see the real youkai now. No one can help him now, just this...person.]

I don't care where I go, I just wanna be somewhere...normal, zura...

Well...I have a house not too far from here. Do you think you'd like to stay there until you decide what you'd like to do? You'd be welcome to stay for as long as you'd like.

[And before long, he hopes, this will have worn off.]

[Staying at a stranger's house, his mom would be screaming to the high heavens.]

I...

Ah...

...I don't even know your name, zura...

[Sure, this person apparently knows everything about him, but Komasan has no idea whose hand he's holding right now. If he didn't find so much comfort in it, he probably would've let go by now.

But no one else has offered their hand, no one else seems to care. This "city" isn't like the countryside at all, everyone there was much kinder.]

Oh...

[Right.]

My name is Chihiro. Fujisaki Chihiro.

Fujisaki house, zura...

[Komasan bites the thumb of his free hand while he thinks about it. Now that he has a name to attach it to, it doesn't sound...too bad.]

...

...Okay, but only until I can find my Ma again, zura...

Okay. I promise, only until then.

[Aw...]

...what's your Mom like? If you don't mind telling me.

[...Well, he supposes it's okay to tell him. If he knows what his mother is like, he can help him find her.]

U-Um... She's very...big... [Understatement.] ...and soft, and kind, zura...

Oh! And strong, she's monge~ strong, zura! She's everything a komainu should be, zura.

She sounds nice. I've never met a komainu before you, but I'll take your word for it.

I'm not one now, so I don't think I count anymore, zura...

[Such a good representative.]

She's gonna be so mad when she finds out I was in the human world, z-zura... No wonder she didn't want me going here alone, she never said anything about it changing you, zura.

Mm...I think she would understand. It's not your fault that you showed up here...it happens to everyone living in Johto who didn't live here before.

[He wishes he could explain, but even he doesn't have the answer to that one. Nobody does.]

[Thankfully for Chihiro, he doesn't have to explain anything because Komasan's attention suddenly goes somewhere else. It's not that he doesn't care about what a Johto is, it's just he's surrounded by so many new things, it's hard to keep focus.

...Probably not-so-thankfully, it's because he's ran off again, letting go of Chihiro's hand the moment they pass the huge department store. He's surprisingly sneaky about it, slipping away like some kind of easily distracted phantom. Even his Pokemon, who've been following behind, seem surprised that they didn't notice fast enough.

At the very least, he doesn't hide or anything, enamored with the building's rotating door. Both fascinated and a little scared, he reaches for it every time it spins his way, only to pull back his arm as he second guesses himself. Eventually he gathers up the courage to actually use the door, jumping in fearlessly...only to be caught in the nonstop motion of the both the door and the people constantly leaving and entering. It's a never ending loop of torment.]

MONGEEE!!

[Well, it shouldn't be too hard to find him if he's going to shout like that. Komasan's body is pressed up against the glass of the door as he continues to forcibly walk in circles. This is what curiosity gets you.]

Zurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazurazura--

[He'd only looked away for a second-]

K-Komasan-chan!

[Chihiro quickly hurries over to the store while Komasan is already drawing a lot of strange looks from passerby. The best thing he can think to do at this point is wait for the revolving door to come around again with Komasan inside before sliding in next to where Komasan's trapped.

Quickly, he takes hold of his hand, trying to pull Komasan away from where he's pressed up against the glass.]

You have to wait for the door to open again...see?

[And sure enough, their section opens up to the outside, just like the rest of the door.]

[Good heavens, he thought he was a goner for sure. Now that it's been pointed out to him, Komasan slips out of the door and back into the great, wide world. Look at that, freedom! He turns around and waits for Chihiro, looking up at him like he's some kinda hero.]

M-Monge~ You...you saved me, zura!

[He never expected such bravery, such kindness from strangers. So that's it, then? Back to the house? Everything said and done? I mean, it probably would've been, but now that he's back outside, something else grabs Komasan's attention and he speeds off again.

In this case, it's a snack stand, filled with foods Komasan's never seen before. Guess who's grabbing things and just stuffing them in their face. Go on, guess.]

MOOOOONGEE!! I can't believe humans just share their food like this, zura~!!

[IT'S SO KIND.]

Ah--! W-wait-!! You have to pay for that!

[Chihiro cries out as Komasan takes off again, but before he can give chase, Henko's speeding after him without hesitation. She skids to a stop behind Komasan, grabbing the ankle of his pants in her jaws before tugging hard, trying her darn best to pull away a person several times her size and weight.]

[Woah, pants, what a concept. Komasan's surprised simply by the fact that someone can grab him by these weird articles of clothing. It stops him from eating at least, as he looks down at Henko, concerned.]

O-Oh, I'm sorry, I'll share, zura.

[In which Komasan holds out a corn dog for a flareon.]

There you go, eat all you want, zura.

[Henko stares at the corndog in confusion for a long moment before turning her nose up at it, just as Chihiro's hurrying over before the owner of the stand can get too upset. When Chihiro explains the situation, he at least seems to understand- this isn't the first young'un he's seen nearby lately, which means Komasan's just the first child to come up and steal his food.

After quickly paying for what Komasan had eaten, Chihiro reaches for his hand again to try and pull him away from the stand.]

Please don't wander off...it's big in Goldenrod. I don't want to lose you.

[Or...have him steal anything else...]

[It's a good thing Chihiro manages to grab his hand, there's so many other things he wants to go see right now. He even tries to dash off again, but the tug from Chihiro's grasp seems to snap him back to his senses.

Behaving time is now.]

You live here? You get to see these things everyday, zura?

[How many corndogs have you eaten, Chihiro? It must be a lot considering his Pokemon seem to refuse such a generous gift.]

[Chihiro nods, making sure to keep his grip on Komasan's hand tight so he can't run off again. Henko is watching closely as well, having to keep one eye on Komasan and the other on Komajiro.]

That's right. I've been living in Goldenrod ever since I arrived here, so...I know this town quite well.

[Someone needs to get Komajiro's pokeball or something, because that dog somehow got under a discarded box while everyone was distracted with his trainer. Hope you're having fun, Henko.]

How do you handle it, zura?! Don't you wanna go somewhere quieter, zura?

[Says the kid who was just amazed with everything five seconds ago. As fun as the death door was, it's not something he could see himself dealing with everyday. What's wrong with regular doors? Or regular anything while we're at it.]

[It's fine, she's birthed enough babies to know how to deal with this. C'mon Komajiro, out of the box.]

Ah...not really. I'm used to living in a busy city, anyway...that's how it always was in Japan.

[Well then hopefully she's ready for a face full of puppy, because he'll happily tackle her the moment he's out of the box. Is it play time?! Has she finally accepted the play?!]

...I don't remember any of this at all, zura...

[They're talking about the same Japan, right...? Or is this some kind of other Japan where everything is large, loud, and horrible???]

[Hopefully he's ready to get scruffed almost immediately, even though the Growlithe is nearly as big as she is.

No. No play, not right now.]

Well...it's not exactly like this, obviously, but...my father and I lived in a busy prefecture.

Voicemail

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]