route_1065 | Boom Boom Boom Boomba

Who: Kyouko Kirigiri (

freshprints) and Kiyotaka Ishimaru (

ardent)
Where: The Violet City Pokemon Center!
When: August 29
Summary: In which two super solvin' teenage crimebusters attempt to figure out what a Moomba is. Now contains SPOILERS for Dangan Ronpa.
Rating: G
Log:

[There is a Moomba in her PC.

That's the gist of the situation that Kirigiri's in right now, but while it's certainly the most significant detail of her current circumstances, it's also of course far from the only one. Some of those others include things like the fact that she's standing in the Violet City Pokemon Center at the moment — having finally made it to the city where her ~~friends~~ ~~classmates~~ friends have been waiting for her — or the fact that it's a rather nice day outside (albeit hot), or the fact that the tied-off end of her braid is brushing lightly against her leg as she unconsciously leans forward to examine this strange phenomenon she's been presented with. There's the chatter of the surrounding NPCs and other trainers filling the air, and the white noise of it all is doing its part to drown out the exhausting repetitiveness of the background music, which is assuredly appreciated by now. There's the faint beeping of machines, the clicking and clattering of shoes on flooring, and she is aware of all these things but it's not stopping her from fixating on the enigma that is the PC screen in front of her.

Or rather, the contents of her box that the PC screen is so helpfully indicating.

You see, it seems there is a Moomba in her PC. She is reasonably certain she did not put it there. She is likewise reasonably certain she has no idea what a Moomba is. Her PokeDex has been surprisingly unhelpful; presumably a Moomba would fall neatly between Monferno and Mothim, alphabetically speaking, and yet there is no sign of such a creature in the Dex at all.

Yet here in front of her, the PC is indicating that there is a Moomba inside.

She does not know what a Moomba is.

She does not know how it got there.

And therefore, this assuredly is a mystery, all right.

(Realistically speaking, it's one she might well stand there contemplating all day, should a timely intervention not arrive.) ]

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...Something like that.

Do you believe my brother is also worthy of scrutiny like that?

Not the same variety. I'll certainly watch him with respect to the topic of strength and his ability to maintain control when agitated by it. There's no doubt of that.

But Oowada Mondo-kun never schemed to graduate at our expense, either.

He wouldn't. And you don't have to watch him - he's my brother, and I know how much this has affected him. I've taken the responsibility of watching him myself, both for his sake and for everyone else.

I watch everyone, Ishimaru-kun.

[Sometimes when you sleep. Just ask Naegi.]

That doesn't mean you should.

And what I should do is my concern.

No. I think you understand why I have to find that line of thinking unacceptable.

[...because if you really expect the SHSL Hall Monitor to not SORE WA CHIGAU YO you for that...]

Lines have already been drawn, Kirigiri-kun, whether you like them or not; if I find you crossing those lines, you're going to face interference at best.

You're establishing school rules for me to follow?

[She arguably didn't have to throw that adjective "school" in there in order to get the same point across but you know what, there it is, all right.]

Then I have to obey, don't I?

[...wait. Wait, are you -

...

... ... ...

It's never this easy, are you messing with him somehow - ]

Yes, of course!

[Despite the confidence behind his words, though, he's still kind of looking like the most skeptical thing because no really are you fucking with him, what is this.]

And the rule is that I should follow the lines you've drawn without crossing them, and one of those lines is that I should not watch Oowada Mondo-kun. That's correct?

[Of course she is but you know, there's that deadpan drywall thing again.]

[...okay, what is he not understanding here - he imagines there must be something, because this doesn't feel...right, but at the same time...]

I'm not asking much of you overall. Just that you leave my brother as my responsibility.

Then I agree to let you handle the matter if there's a problem, and I agree not to be the one watching him.

[How effortlessly she agrees. Or seems to.]

Does that content you?

[...]

Violations of the spirit of it, not just the letter, are still violations.

And you'll be the final arbiter of that?

Yes.

Then I'll take care not to be brought before you for something of that nature.

...Kirigiri-kun, exactly how stupid do you think I am?

Enough to make me think that something like that would've been successful at making you leave me alone, Ishimaru-kun.

[He just bristles at that.]

That was uncalled for. Especially since the one request I've made of you is to leave us alone.

[Meanwhile, since we haven't checked in on Moomba lately—

...Nope, he's still pretty much not giving a fuck, we're good.]

"Us".

[...well, that's good to know; it'd be a bit of a shame to look back and realize that someone's now got an arm off.]

My brother and I.

Not just "him", but both of you. And if I don't, you'll divide our classmates fighting me over it.

[Her shrug is faint, but there.]

Fine. That sort of outcome isn't something I want.

...What?

[Good lord, you didn't just jump to that conclusion, you flat-out pole-vaulted over to it.]

I don't see why this matters so much to you - it doesn't sound like you care outside of a personal need to know everything about everyone else, in which case you can't always get what you want.

I said we're done, Ishimaru-kun.

[He pulls back from Moomba then, brushing himself off a bit because he is most certainly covered in fur by now; the gesture is tight, angry, though the way he's doing it is clearly more just to give his hands to do than anything.]

I'm not an idiot, Kirigiri-kun. I may not always see it right away, but I do understand what you were doing - don't try to use that against me again. Is that understood?

[He shakes his head before she can answer, however; there's no point in getting upset over this, never mind that he fairly obviously sort of is.]

I have to get back to work, anyway.

(no subject)

freshprints - 2013-08-31 14:35 (UTC) - Expand