happy birthday from all of us to you

[diamondo]

Who: All the Dangans + Parker!
Where: Violet City
When: 8/31, evening
Summary: It's Ishimaru's birthday and his classmates are throwing him a surprise party. This can't end badly.
Rating: PG-13 for language. I'll update this if there are any changes!
Log:
Never again. Mondo is never planning a party this big ever again. Of course the original plan didn't take into account the arrival of five classmates, so originally this would have been easy enough to handle. Now, though? He'd practically run himself ragged making sure that everyone was here and everything was ready.

The hotel was kind enough to lend them the Conference Room for the occasion, and it was quite a large room that should easily fit all of the Hope's Peak classmates and Alice. All the food is spread out on a table by the wall (it's entirely vegetarian, since that's what Ishimaru likes) and the tables are situated nearby so that the guests can actually sit and eat. There's plenty of open space in case anyone wants to dance to the music that's been set up (though Mondo doubts Ishimaru will set foot on the dance floor, it's mostly to entertain the other guests). The gifts are all piled in the back corner and there's even a large TV for the guests to watch. All in all, it seems like the perfect place to hold a party.

All that's left is for Fujisaki to bring Ishimaru to the location, so Mondo fires off a quick text to his friend, letting Fujisaki know that everyone's ready and in position. This is gonna be awesome.

Comments

[superordinary]

You're right. The way I see it, it seems to be structured like the games. I don't know if you played them, but the wild Pokémon in the beginning of the game were weak but the ones found later were much stronger. It takes a lot more time to level up your team if you battle against weaker Pokémon, so that's another reason to travel to different places.

Unlike here, though, you actually had to defeat the Gym Leaders if you wanted to keep going. The story wouldn't progress and you couldn't access new areas if you didn't.

[freshprints]

I...didn't pay much attention to that sort of thing.

What was the point of the game? How did you win?

[superordinary]

Um...the point of the game was to defeat the Gyms and the Elite Four. And to complete the Pokédex, but I think you only got a diploma for that.

[freshprints]

And the character you played as — were they also a person taken from a different world and brought into the game to complete the quest?

[superordinary]

No. He lived with his mother in a house in, um, I think it was Pallet Town. Then one day she told him to leave on a journey.

[freshprints]

Pallet Town...

[Hmmm...]

There was a ferry to Pallet Town when we arrived in New Bark. But the rest of the experience seems the same — arriving in a mother's house and being forced to leave. And sources seem to indicate that the only place people arrive here—

[Unless they're a Rocket, which she's not going to point out.]

—is New Bark. I wonder if they're screening new arrivals for some reason, to see which ones recognize Pallet Town and choose to go there first?

[superordinary]

Maybe...I don't know why they would do that, though. [ He pauses, and then adds: ] By the way, how did the survey go?

[freshprints]

Mm. Naegi-kun...we should go there sometime.

[She probably means "to investigate" but you know what, that's really not important right now.]

The survey resulted in a lot of information. How much of it is useful still remains to be seen; that sort of evidence needs confirmation from a separate source before it can be seen as reliable. But it's a starting point, at least.

[superordinary]

Yeah. Let's do that sometime. I'd like that. [ He certainly wouldn't mind tagging along and investigating things that aren't...the dead bodies of his friends. ]

...How are you going to confirm it, then?

[freshprints]

Investigate. Now that I have an idea of what might be occurring, I can watch for signs that would either confirm or deny it.

[Kirigiri, that's not really an answer and you know it. Which is probably why she hesitates a little.]

It's...something I can do, at least.

[superordinary]

I want to help you with that, if I can. [ Even if he isn't sure how useful he would be. ]

[freshprints]

Like being at school again?

[She ducks her head a little — maybe to hide the fact that there's the barest hint of a smile threatening to play at the corners of her mouth.]

Did Asahina-san tell you that none of us would've managed to endure the final trial if you hadn't been there with us?

[superordinary]

...Huh? [ He looks at her when she says that, confusion spreading across his face. ]

No, she didn't mention that...what did I do, Kirigiri-san?

[freshprints]

I told you there was something I'd say to you again, once we were face to face like this. The thing I said to you then.

That trait that brought you to Hope's Peak, Naegi-kun...I don't think it was Super High School Level Good Luck. Because of that final trial...because of everything, I think that special quality you possess is Super High School Level Hope.

[And now at last she glances up, flashing him a faint smile.]

When you're there...whatever the challenge, I'm sure we can do anything.

[superordinary]

Super High School Level Hope.... [ He repeats her words to himself in a quiet voice, considering them carefully before shaking his head. ]

I don't think so...I mean, my one good trait is being optimistic, but that's not a special quality.

[ Still, he can't help but smile, his expression lighting up. ]

You have a lot of faith in me, Kirigiri-san.

[freshprints]

What makes something "special"? Isn't it just that someone thinks it's important?

[She ducks her head again, her hair falling across her eyes.]

That's what I think.

[superordinary]

I'm just an ordinary person, though...I just happen to be a little more optimistic than most people.

[freshprints]

You never gave up on me. Even when I deserved it.

That's something— no, I should say...you're something I'm glad for.

[superordinary]

Kirigiri-san...thank you. You're something I'm glad for, too.

I'm glad we met.

[freshprints]

Then let's stay together, Naegi-kun, and solve whatever mysteries this place has waiting for us. If we do, I'm sure we can do it.

[superordinary]

[ Naegi nods, his expression lighting up even more than it had before and he holds out his pinky finger to her.

Yes, we're totally doing this. c: ]

[freshprints]

[...

What is he do—

...

...what is she supposed to do wi—

O...okay...

...yes

PINKY PROMISE GO.]