codeforhope | 001 | Video/Action for New Bark

[A video appears on the feed with the sound of a Pokemon crying out happily, slightly muffled and at a bit of a distance. ”Goon! Gooon!” The feed shudders a bit, the surroundings shifting until whoever is on the other side finally gets their PokéGear angled toward themselves. Coming into view is what appears to be a young girl, and from the way their voice sounds in addition there’s nothing that could lead anyone to believe otherwise. This is in fact not the case, and rather she is a he. Still, the outfit he’s currently wearing seems to be made specifically for girls...]

Hello. ..Um. ...

[The child on the other end hesitates, pausing before trying to start again.]

My name... is Chihiro Fujisaki. I’m…not sure where I am...or what is going on, exactly.

[There’s a pause as the feed shifts once again, Chihiro moving to carefully sit in the grass instead of standing. The second he does a Zigzagoon climbs into his lap, nudging his head fondly against the underside of the boy's chin. He's not entirely sure what to do, obviously slightly unsure of the furry creature in his lap, but he seems friendly at least. After a pause he gently pets the Pokémon who continues to sit happily in his lap. Chihiro has arrived slightly overwhelmed by...well, everything, so it’s a moment before he’s able to continue.]

Or...how I got here, but.... Naegi-kun, Oowada-kun, Ishimaru-kun...um...Asahina-san...

[He quickly prattles off all the names of his classmates that he can remember off-hand, before realizing that a huge list of names won’t probably mean much if they...aren’t actually around. That thought strikes him hard for a moment before he takes a breath and continues, his grip on the ‘Gear tightening.]

...and everyone else. If any of you are here, from Hope’s Peak, please answer. Something...something must have happened. I mean, I’m outside again...and not...

[Chihiro seems unsure of what else to say, whatever he was saying dying on his tongue with his voice wavering slightly towards the end, so he dips his head a bit before cutting the feed.]

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Hi! [Well that's an abnormally friendly face all up in this feed.] You know Ishimaru and Asahina? Oowada, too? Did you go to school with them?

[Ishimaru mentioned something about school, and there's the implication that Serious Shit went down there, but she realizes she's asking too many questions and dials it back a little.]

My name's Maka--[no surname she will not allow anyone to call her by her surname.] It's nice to meet you...ahh...do you like Fujisaki or Chihiro? [No question of gender because, well, she's American and wouldn't know if a Japanese name is gender-specific or neutral offhand and...one of her best friends is very gender ambiguous, so she doesn't care.] I mean...I don't want to call you something that makes you uncomfortable when we've just met like this.

[Chihiro hadn't been expecting to meet others who knew his classmates. It's really telling as to how long they all have actually been there, ahead of him....he'll have to remind himself to ask about that when he gets to the house later.]

They....they're my classmates, yes.

[He pauses for a brief moment at the second thing Maka asks, tilting his head slightly. The fact that she mentions wanting to make sure he's not uncomfortable is a bit...surprising, to say the least.]

Ah....You can call me either...but Chihiro is fine.

P-pleased to meet you, Maka-san.

Cool. Ishimaru's a good friend of mine, it's always great to meet one of his classmates.

[Let's just say she has a thing for shy people of indeterminate gender.]

I like Chihiro, so I'll call you Chihiro. Umm--you don't have to call me "-san" though, I'm nobody special.

..Mm? ...Ok then...Maka.

[MMM that will take some getting used to, but he doesn't mind it either.

Before Chihiro has the chance to say anything else, his Zigzagoon leans over to sniff at the screen, treating Maka to some rather loud whuffling sounds. Hello there new friend.]

Aha--hi there, little guy! You're gonna work hard with Chihiro and become strong, right?

[At least it wasn't a trial to try and get someone to call her by her first name and not by any formal honorifics. AMERICA.]

Your friends have probably found you by now, but if there's anything you wanna know I can answer it, or I'll try to anyway.

[Isamu barks happily at that, flopping over the edge of Chihiro's arm. Even though Chihiro's still feeling a bit unsure about this place, he can't help but smile a little at the pokemon. He's been extremely friendly but gentle with him so far, as if he knows that trying to be overly energetic with him might just end up upsetting him further.]

Well....could you tell me how long you've been here, Maka?

Me? I've been here about...eleven months now. I've had friends say they've been here even longer, I think the most was three years?

Mm...

[He was afraid she would say that. Then again, if his classmates have been here long enough to get a house then that should be telling of just how long they'd apparently been there.

And, according to what he's been told, he's actually been here before.]

I see. That's a very long time...

Do you like it here?

[Maka's never really been asked that before, she smiles--though it's a faint, distant sort of expression--and looks away from the screen.]

I guess I do. I've never been given a reason to dislike this place, and I've done the best I can to make a life here, I'm grateful for the friends I've made and what I've managed to accomplish with my team, but...it's not my home. It's selfish to say, but I really would rather be home with my friends and doing my duties.

...

I don't think it's selfish....not really. ...

Especially if no one can....control who comes here, and who leaves.

[He really can't say he feels the same, though. Being here is already far better than where he was for a lot of reasons. Though, if for some reason the rest of his classmates weren't here he's not sure what he would do, honestly.

Still...]

It's.... good that you've been able to make the best of it, though.

[Yeah. Saying she doesn't actually enjoy being here as much as others is inconsiderate in her mind because...it looks like there are quite a few people that enjoy the "second chance" at life, a few she knows personally are dead or have experienced quite a bit of trauma back in their home world. Ishimaru hasn't confided what it was yet, but something very serious went down at the school he and the rest of his schoolmates attended.]

You will too! Your friends are here and they've already got a house in Goldenrod, you're sure to make a happy life for yourself in Johto. Your Zigzagoon will help you out too.

[That's all he can hope for, really. Things might be a bit overwhelming and confusing right now, but just being here is far better than where he was without a doubt. Anything beyond that can be worked out in due time.]

I hope you're right, Maka. ...all I want is for my friends and I to be happy.

There's nothing wrong with that! I really want my friends to be happy too, I think a lot of people do, and wishing for your happiness too...yeah, I'd like if you were happy too, especially being happy with your friends.

Mm...I'm glad you think so. It....might take some time, but...I think I will be happy here.

[As long as this really isn't just a dream and he doesn't wake up to the ding-dong-ding of someone dying.]

Well, if you ever want someone to talk to that's not one of your classmates about...I don't know, Pokemon or books, I'm always available!

[He smiles slightly, tilting his head to the side.]

Thank you for the offer...I'll remember that.

001 | Video/Action for New Bark

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