▶ ORIGINAL TEST DRIVE 2 POST IS LOCATED HERE ▶ ALL NEW TOP LEVELS SHOULD NOW BE POSTED ON TAKE 2
▶ ALL CARRIED OVER OLD TOP LEVELS SHOULD BE LINKED, NOT COPY AND PASTED
【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-Star Resort and Casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.
Due to unprecedented high demand we are temporarily unable to check you in to your reserved room. We apologize for the inconvenience. We have arranged for a temporary room while we work on processing your reservation as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding.
As a special wedding gift from us, we have arranged for you and your new spouse to stay in one of our junior penthouses while you wait. Congratulations on your new marriage. We are so pleased you have chosen our resort for your honeymoon.
You will be notified as soon as your official reservation has been processed. Your comfort and happiness are our utmost priority. We hope you enjoy the provided amenities and lose yourself in marital bliss. 】
EVENS
EVENS: NEW CHARACTERS
Music plays. Instrumental, the tune gentle enough not to disturb peaceful rest. The sudden insistent beep of the Watch is a cutting cacophony across an otherwise sweet lullaby. Upon opening their eyes, new arrivals will quickly discover that something is wrong. The quilt snug across their body is weighty. Crystals glint in a weave of embroidery and cotton shimmers with threads of silver. Dozens of decorative pillows surround the bed. The gauzy curtains of the canopied bed are drawn, obscuring the rest of the room.
Extravagant for a kidnapping. Too extravagent. What’s more, these new guests will find something even stranger than this new diamond-studded suite tucked into bed beside them. Someone else. Who are they, what are they wearing? What happened last night?!
Guests are encouraged to explore the resort from here! There are paper maps available for those who would like and staff are happy to recommend locations if they have any preferences. Enjoy your honeymoon, you lovebirds!
ODDS
ODDS: SPECIAL RE-ARRIVAL
Never trust a hallway in the Golden peacock.
Cross the wrong threshold and time begins to slow. A short hallway becomes long, sheds its doors, only leading to turns without end. Guests too eager to explore the resort have gotten lost before. For how long always varies, dependent upon capriciousness of the resort. Hours? Yes. Years? Yes. Every guest caught in the winding hallways has reported the same thing: time is different there and too difficult to discern.
Some wayward guests have been caught in the endless hallways since the FIRST TDM. Weeks pass before a single doorway appears in the distance. It creaks upon opening before everything goes topsy-turvy. These guests have been let out of a trap door in the depths of Crane's Respite.
All water corridors will eventually lead back to the populated areas of Crane's Respite. The waters are warm, the scent of bath salts returns, and staff are wild with joy at finally finding all of you. They have been beside themselves searching ever since you vanished!
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Because we love all of the new characters premiering on this TDM, we kindly request that our Evens prompt be top level exclusive for new characters. Current characters are encouraged to tag in to these prompts with the caveat that they’ve been picked up from their assigned suite (or wherever else they were before) and dumped into the new arrival’s bed. We would like for new characters to have this prompt unique to their top level comments!
▶ Players are welcome to have their current character riff off of these prompts in the log community with the exclusion of the new arrival element. This request is just for TDM top levels.
▶ Current characters and new characters are both welcome to freely mess around with the Odds prompt with the exclusion of the arrival element. For new characters, players may participate with the idea that their character is exploring Crane’s Respite after their unique arrival in the Evens prompt. The Odds arrival element may also be utilized by current player characters who may have been on an unofficial hiatus in January and did not tag as much as they would have liked, to explain any long IC absence.
▶ Octopi may be killed. If a character decides to eat one of the octopi they may find themselves taking on some of its traits. Which traits are up to player discretion.
ELEVATORS
ELEVATORS
The house has recently ordered a full changeout of art in all high traffic areas. The elevators in particular have received special attention with many different famous artworks and portraits studded to the walls for guests to admire. These artworks are treasures of the modern world that one would typically see behind glass at a museum. Guests may even find works from their own world hanging in the elevators. Even famous works that maybe have been lost to time. So this is where they ended up. Is that Vermeer's The Concert?
Guests may find their elevator suddenly stopping without warning. The portraits on the wall stir, curiously studying them, but there are three main portraits calling the shots. The portrait that controls that particular elevator will make their demands known with the threat that, if they are not obeyed, you will be trapped forever.
Elevators will function after the portrait's demands are met. Guests that hold out and refuse may find themselves trapped upwards of twelve hours. Guests with the ability to do so may crawl out of the top emergency door, free to go wherever they want from there.
GREAT TIT!
GREAT TIT!
Great Tit! is the Golden Peacock’s popular dessert bar and cafe. With its bright pops of color and whimsical treats, guests simply can’t resist stopping in for a butt shaped cookie and hazelnut coffee. After catching wind that the resort has decided to celebrate a dessert shop's most lucrative holiday, Great Tit! is ready to impress the masses. Advertisements for limited edition drinks and desserts rain the main lobby; one can’t go three steps without slipping on a neon pink coupon for 10 percent off nipple buns. Guests that decide to pass by the cafe will find themselves assaulted with confetti cannons and eager employees ushering them inside.
Guests will find a temporary communal shower room upon exiting Great Tit! where they can wash off after a fun day of rolling around in sugar. All guests will be gifted a tee branded with a, CHOCOLATE IS MY LOVER logo.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ This portraits prompt has been triggered by several characters expressing interest in and investigating the lore of the resort paintings. This is just dipping a beginning toe in, but congrats to all for poking around!
▶ Portraits in the elevator should not be destroyed, purely for continuity’s sake. If a character would go far enough to attack one of the portraits, the portrait will slap them back with ghostly power.
▶ Characters may also figure other ways out of the elevator if they have specific abilities to do so. While the portraits can control the elevators, they cannot control your character(s). Any destruction to the elevator itself is liable to result in a rush of security dragging the culprit(s) away to the Iron Net.
▶ Great Tit! is running a massive sale! Even characters who are on the broke end of the spectrum will be able to afford to join in on the fun and indulge in sugar at these prices.
▶ Players are encouraged to make up any other elements for the Hall of Chocolate. If it’s a dessert and edible, it’s there. Enjoy your sugar coma!
▶ While the chocolate boxes are ICly limited due to Alessandro’s skills as a chocolatier, this is only an IC mechanic. There is no OOC limitation on this prompt as far as chocolate rarity goes.
THE NEST
ALICE AND THE PARROTS
Fashion boutiques are a dime a dozen in the Nest. The shopping hub is massive, lined with stores all trying to aggressively appeal to guests. A challenge in itself — but the guests of the Golden Peacock are no ordinary people. Used to being pampered and fed excitement, if these boutiques don’t bust their bottoms to appeal to the fickle nature of their patrons, they won’t be in business for much longer! One particular boutique, Alice and the Parrots, is riding winds of romantic thrill and churning out a couple of brand new fashion lines sure to draw in loads of chips.
Guests are welcome to try on clothes in Alice and the Parrots' dressing rooms. These dressing rooms are small and can only accommodate two people sharing at a time. Such is the life of a small boutique store. Sharing is no big deal, right? And there’s no way you can buy clothing this expensive without giving it a test first.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Players are encouraged to make up whatever cute outfits they would like for this prompt.
▶ Wedding clothes do not have to be cute and frilly; this section accommodates tastes of everyone.
▶ Alice and the Parrots is more expensive than Love Dove. Their clothing quality is excellent but their price tags are high. Staff may watch low ranks extra diligently to cut off any stealing. Thieves will be chased by NPC security! Anyone caught gets a day in the Iron Net.
CASINO CHAPEL
CASINO FLOOR
A Pop up Chapel has appeared in the Phoenix Casino. Guests are delighting in playing out weddings and pretending to get married — and a few guests are even tying the knot for real. They aren't worried about the sanctity of marriage; they can divorce tomorrow if they get bored of each other. And everyone knows that getting married doesn't mean you can't fuck whoever you want!
Since the resort isn't keeping track of how many marriages a guest has, all guests are encouraged to marry as many people as they would like. The more the merrier!
Wild wedding events will continue all throughout the month of February, until the guests find it's gotten stale. A divorce rush will round out the fun at the end of the month.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Weddings are not legally binding. Birdvis is not registered as a real officiant, but he does have an excellent beak and pompadour.
▶ Prizes from easy mode slot machines are automatic and do not require mod thumbs up to claim.
▶ Chip prize from difficult mode slot machines is automatic. The special prize is 5 reward points to add to your bank on rewards. Players who wish to claim the special prize should link the finished thread (the kink in question has been completed) under their rewards header with the header, Wedding Slot Machine. If you do any combination of 6/6 (finger hand lol) we ask you somehow make this sexy or involve a climax in order to claim the points.
BLANKET CW: Aphrodisiac; Compulsion; Costumes; Dubcon; Entrapment; Foodplay; Gambling; Lingerie; Matrimony; Tentacles; NSFW Images and Language; NTR; Nudity; Roleplay; Sacrilegious Themes
▶ All new characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. The house is still observing and deciding. As rank and suits are assigned upon acceptance your new character's suit will not manifest until they are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's February event.
▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Please make sure to review the arrival prompt notes! Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.
▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are priority and receive attention!
▶ If you aren't satisfied with the prompts on this TDM please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort.
▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread anyway!
▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.
▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.
▶ Thank you for spending Valentine's Day with us! You're our sweetheart this year. 💕
[Of course Jun won't give in. Just because he woke up in bed with someone doesn't mean he'd do something inappropriate (though Hiyori's still annoyed it happened in the first place). Jun is good and polite to others. But above all else, Jun is serious about being an idol. He worked so hard to become one, after all—giving up his whole childhood, struggling under Reimei's hellish conditions. There's no chance he'd throw away his dream—no chance he'd throw away their dream—now that his efforts have finally been rewarded. Hiyori ought to have faith in him.
Though, in all honesty, it's mostly other people behaving badly towards Jun-kun that he's worried about...
He's less worried now, though. Firstly because Jun made it clear he'll fight the resort's demands, and secondly because they're reunited now! They have each other, and they have Nagisa and Ibara on the outside.
Although...]
... mm, that's right.
[His smile thins out just a little, his eyes seeming to lose some of their brightness (or maybe it's just a trick of the light?).
It's not that he has no faith in Nagisa and Ibara. He's absolutely certain that neither of them will take their disappearance lying down. However, as far as Nagisa is concerned...
He hasn't been himself lately. There's something on his mind, clearly: some personal problem he's struggling with. Something changed while he was holed up inside the basement of that shrine. And now it seems that whatever he learned down there has taken precedence over everything else—even winning the SS Competition. Assuming that is indeed the case, would Nagisa really abandon his plans and come rushing over to save them...?
It makes him uneasy, but he tries to shove that thought out of mind. He doesn't want to doubt Nagisa; after everything they've been through together, he knows their bond is unshakeable. And, at the very least, their slithery producer cares for them as two "business assets." Not only that, but Hiyori knows for a fact that Ibara also cares about Jun as a friend. So, at the very least, he ought to be working overtime to track them down.
... it hurts to have more faith in him than Nagisa-kun. But Hiyori is trying not to doubt anyone. Not Jun, not Nagisa, not Ibara! They're his precious family and he must have faith.
His smile brightens up again and he releases Jun's hands.]
Plus, now we've found each other. It's a good thing I found you, but it's an even more wonderful thing you found me. I'm not sure you've noticed, but there are lots of shady people running around these parts. Some are in the same boat as us, of course, and just trying to get home to their families, but others seem to have taken the view that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
[Translation: he's met people who are clearly playing the "game." But that does not mean that they have to follow suit! With a confident smile, he puts his hands on his hips, drawing himself up to full height.]
Which is exactly where I come in. We're partners, but I'm also your senior! Which means it's my job to look after you and ensure nothing bad happens. Rejoice, Jun-kun—your Ohii-san will protect you from any suspicious characters. If someone tries to get you to do something dirty, I'll simply shoo them away. Aren't you fortunate? ♪
[ It's perfectly alright to entertain such thoughts, knowing well that they will never come to fruition. Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that his father treated him the way he did, giving up his childhood, for who knows what path he would have taken if things were different. (Or the fact he likely would be participating in this game.) Jun's grateful that he doesn't possess those qualities and takes his role as an idol seriously. He's sure Hiyori must be the same, even as he's unaware of the potential consequences that may arise from not adhering to the instructions given by the watch.
But for now, this isn't a pressing concern, especially since he has already made it clear to Hiyori that he will not comply. So, for the time being, everything is fine.
Maybe mentioning Nagi-senpai was a misstep, as Jun notices the subtle change in Hiyori's smile. He feels the urge to say something, anything to alleviate the situation, knowing he still had faith Nagi-senpai wouldn't want them to be here. Jun firmly believes, despite his partner's feelings towards Ibara, he's committed to finding the two of them, even if they weren't part of Eden or particularly close.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Jun has heard this phrase before, but what exactly would the Romans be doing in this situation? Would they be playing along with the game? Jun assumes that's what it implies. ]
I've noticed, there's people out there fightin' over chocolate boxes. Not the weirdest thing I've seen, but I don't wanna think 'bout what else is happening out there.
[ Apart from the odd Poker Machine randomly giving out bizarre instructions, the focus shifts to what Hiyori says next, causing Jun to burst into laughter. After all, how can he possibly protect him? Jun's the "intimidating" one in their duo, so shouldn't he be the one issuing threats, even if he doesn't feel like it? And aren't those days long gone? It seems that he is willing to go to great lengths just to prevent any peculiar individuals from attempting either of those things.
He, unfortunately, cares too much about Hiyori to allow anything to happen. ]
... shouldn't I be the one saying that? I dunno how you're gonna shoo anyone away, Ohii-san, 'cause how are they gonna take you seriously? I mean, I don't wanna see anything bad happen... How 'bout we look out for one another instead? Yeah, I'm fine with that.
[ And Jun refuses to be pressured into doing anything he doesn't want to do, so he is grateful to Hiyori for the times when he respects his boundaries. Similarly, he would never want to see Ohii-san being coerced into doing something against his will. ]
Ah, you saw that too, huh? It's the saddest thing—people here look like nobles, but they behave more like barn animals! I'd been hoping to pick up a box for Nagisa-kun, but nope, no luck! One more reason I can't wait to get out of here...
[He shakes his head, a look on his face that says Can you even believe it? At least he just mentioned Nagisa without any awkward pauses or bitterness, though. Perhaps things are fine between them after all...?
In any case, it's onto the next topic: Hiyori appointing himself the guardian of Jun's virtue! He's very serious about it, but cheeky Jun-kun has the gall to laugh at him. He blinks, not having expected that burst of laughter at all. It might be preferable to Jun looking guilty, but it's still rude! So he sticks his nose up in the air and gives a haughty retort.]
Easy! I'll say, "Jun-kun is one of my possessions, and I forbid you from borrowing him!" That should set the record straight. If anyone still persists, we can run fast the other way!
[He talks like these are obvious conclusions. No hesitation with calling Jun his possession; Jun doesn't have a sweat-soaked sports towel to dangle over his head in retaliation this time!]
And I can take care of myself, thanks! Though I do suppose it's good that you have my best interests at heart. I want to think it won't come to this, but people here do seem rather uncouth, so if I ever have unwanted suitors that need fending off, I'll simply let you handle them. How's that for responsibility? ♪
[And he's back to a self-assured smile at the end.]
Yep, I saw that. Must be some good chocolates for people to go mad over. Anyway, I think you can get Nagi-senpai even better chocolate, something that's not being fought over.
[ He can't wrap his head around why people are acting so irrationally over something so trivial. If it were about money or clothes, he could at least comprehend it. And those boxes seem to be in terrible condition, too!
Oh, Hiyori's serious about the virtue thing... Jun only can't bring himself to take it seriously. How else is he supposed to respond? It just seems ludicrous, even more so than when Hiyori refers to Jun as one of his possessions. He stops laughing now, instead frowning and shaking his head. ]
I'm not "one of your possessions," so you can't go around saying something like that, you know? Not that you care, you'll say it either way, which'll be a whole other problem. And running's not your thing, so let's just avoid it altogether.
[ Jun cannot argue against the fact that it is a feasible option, he has already witnessed it, and Hiyori also mentioned seeing it. It's humorous to consider, that even though Jun doesn't feel he needs Hiyori's help, he doesn't understand how he's able to say so with such certainty. Maybe he can find a sweaty towel, there's surely one lying around here somewhere! ]
... Can you? With you, it's always, "Jun-kun do this for me, and Jun-kun do that." A stranger won't do that sorta thing without wanting something in return, y'know? Plus you've still got that real sloppy side, and who wants to see that?
[ Jun can't resist the urge to playfully tease. It's not that he doubts Hiyori's ability to handle things on his own, but rather a feeling that conveys, "This guy's gonna find himself in some serious trouble." Jun needs to project more confidence, but Hiyori's presence constantly leaves him unsure about what's coming next, making it even harder for him in this place. And if that's something Hiyori wants, and if individuals around here struggle to understand the word "No," there's no other choice but to intervene. ]
Sure...? If it comes down to it, I'll handle the responsibility.
You're right about that, anyway. I could always have our chef whip up something delicious made just for him. I just thought it might be nice to bring back a souvenir he'd like. But any souvenir from this place will probably bring seven years' bad luck, so on second thought, forget it!
[Now, moving back to the whole "virtue" thing.
He cocks an eyebrow in response to Jun's arguing, then coolly replies,]
What other problem?
[Does Hiyori know? Is he just pretending to be clueless? How oblivious is he, really?
Not as oblivious as he seems. Honestly, he knows exactly what it sounds like to claim someone else as his "possession" in this place. But so what if it sounds like that? For one thing, they've implied that sort of thing before as fanservice. If there are hidden cameras around, the footage won't reflect poorly on them. Fans would see it as part of their usual act. But for another, who cares if one of the other guests thinks they do have "that" sort of relationship? That should make them give up and go away, which suits his purposes wonderfully!
... or at least that should be what it means. In reality, Hiyori remembers how people behaved when he entered the lounge with his falsely registered "spouse." Although they'd been booked as a married couple and everyone wished them a happy honeymoon, some of the staff still encouraged him to mingle, saying they "won't tell" if he goes off to one of the suites with someone else! No respect for fidelity here, apparently! They probably don't care at all that Jun is his partner and his property. But he'll be damned if he lets those warped values rub off on Jun-kun.
His smile fades as Jun talks about how helpless he is, and he frowns reproachfully there at the end. Though he's not truly heated, his tone more matter-of-fact than mad.]
You think I can't tell when people want things from me?
[The cool look in his eyes probably shows what he thinks of that. "Pure princess" or not, he isn't that naive.]
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's exactly the sort of environment I grew up in. Everyone wanted something or another—sometimes it was just money, other times they were trying to curry favor for their family. But this place is clearly part of "that" world. And since I'm far more experienced in matters of nobility than you are, you'll let me look out for you, won't you?
[He smiles again, though there's an odd quality to it; it's a little more subdued, perhaps, than his "real" smiles.]
Just stay by my side, and I'll guide you step-by-step through this unfamiliar world.
[And make sure he comes out untarnished on the other side. Otherwise, he really won't forgive whoever's responsible.]
[ Even though he seems to have forgotten about the not-marriage issue, he persists in staring at Hiyori with an expression of confusion. Jun finds this ridiculous, especially for them! Maybe he should care if fans see or hear Hiyori go on about possessions, even if that's how they are as Eve, but surely he should be concerned about the implications of that? Especially as they're not Eve here? And to persuade somebody to refrain from bothering them, Jun wishes he could be as carefree and not worry about how this sounds.
And Jun would like to argue the point, but subconsciously he knows Hiyori is right. He has no experience, or lack thereof, in whatever "noble world" Hiyori believes they currently inhabit. A noble world, but are the people who live here like that? He hasn't met enough individuals to reach that conclusion, but with Hiyori being skilled at interacting with others, this makes it easier for him to concede.
Because there's a high chance conversing with strangers here (that way) will drive Jun infuriated, and what he's argued seemed to set Hiyori off, so. ]
I wasn't implying you didn't. It's just.. [ He pauses, sighing. ] but right. I know nothing 'bout nobility, not like you do. Just know I'm not giving in, only I'm no good at the whoole talking thing, and I'm leaving that to you.
[ There's just something about Hiyori's assurance that makes him believe everything will work out, even if he's unsure how to handle the situation. It's not that he's completely defeated, with misplaced feelings of loss, Jun's unsure of how to navigate this unfamiliar territory. It's reminiscent of the dreadful atmosphere in the Reimei dorms, and there's no desire to relive that.
His smile returns, completely betraying the stubborn nature from before. ]
Fine, this is me meeting you halfway, Ohii-san. If you know better, I'll stay by your side and ask you to guide me into whatever hell this place is gonna be. How's that sound?
You're not still on about that, are you? There's no way you're married! That sort of thing's strictly forbidden!
[Hence his confusion. Actually, his expression's a bit sour, not just confused. Jun doesn't actually feel a sense of fidelity towards the person he woke up in bed with, does he? Because that would just be absurd! He ought to prioritize his partner and his unit, not some stranger!
But Jun's next words seek to mollify him, as it sounds like their priorities are aligned. They've reached an agreement: he'll do the talking, and Jun will fend off any aggressive unwanted suitors. Not that he can't take care of himself, but he doesn't like violence, and he might chip a nail or worse if he got into a fight! Though, he knows better than to think that Jun likes fighting, either...
Well, anyway. His smile resurfaces at the end.]
Now that sounds like a plan ♪ Not that I intend for us to stay here long, of course. We really can't afford to stick around much longer, so if those two don't show up soon, we'll just have to bust our way out ourselves. You wouldn't happen to have any ideas there, would you?
[ 'What marriage problem,' he says, as if that fixes everything. Goddamn..... ]
I'm not.. I already know all that, but.. Ugh, never mind. Just forget 'bout it.
[ Why is he feeling guilty? He shouldn't feel any particular way about that, should he? Maybe this place is messing with his head, causing him to feel faithful to them. But he should only be loyal to Eden! Jun and his kind heart constantly like to do the right thing, even when he should be sticking with Hiyori.
Sure, it might go that way. It's not that Jun has forgotten how to fight, only that he's not the same person he used to be. He only fought to survive Reimei. But now, he's much fitter and has a better mindset all he ought to do is grumble a bit, then they'll be left alone.
And that's unbecoming of an idol to engage in a fight, especially if their fans were witness to something like that. Now that wouldn't be appreciated by anyone. ]
Yeah, I don't wanna stick 'round here any longer, either. I'm getting a bit angsty if we've gotta wait much longer. But if I've got ideas? Uh, my only idea is this is a resort, yeah? Kinda like a hotel, and hotels always gotta have an entry and exit. So, there's gotta be a way in and out 'cause we arrived somehow.
[ Unless they were transported here through magic, but otherwise, he hasn't any other idea. ]
... That's all I've got, Ohii-san. Maybe it's not all helpful.
[Jun is thinking about things all wrong, is the problem. It's not this place that decides who's married and who's not, it's the law! But also, it's Hiyori Tomoe who decides how things work in Eden, or at least in Eve, and in this case, he's decided Jun's not married! The end!
But sure, he'll forget it instead of giving Jun more strife. The sooner he forgets, the better, really. Though deep down, some part of him does wonder just what sort of person Jun woke up with if he already feels this fidelity towards them...
Ugh. Nope, he's done thinking about it. Moving on!
Jun getting into a fight would be terrible publicity for sure, but it might be justified if he was doing it to protect his partner. Then he'd be seen as a dashing hero. It'd be its own form of "fanservice." But Hiyori would rather not play the damsel, or risk either one of them getting hurt, so relying on Jun's protection is more of a "last resort" sort of thing. The best course of action is to escape! Which is exactly what Jun's suggesting.
... even though his idea is a "well, duh" sort of deal.]
Well, you're not wrong. There must be a way out somewhere. I just haven't found one yet, since it looks like they've taken steps to conceal it. I spent all yesterday searching—first I checked the garage, since that seemed like a decent bet, but there wasn't any exit that I could find, just a bunch of new luxury cars. I tried asking the valet how those cars got inside, but all he said was, "the guests left them." The staff here is completely useless. That, or they all have a script they're being fed.
[He rattles off his complaints in the usual obnoxious tone.]
Then I tried one of the staff exits, but it didn't lead to anywhere helpful. The stairs were pitch dark, and they just seemed to go on forever! I made my way down anyway, but then I wound up trapped in an empty hall! It must've been hours before a door finally appeared. But when I opened it, it just led to some little rooftop garden! I'm not sure how that happened, since I'd been going down, not up! But it was all one great big misdirect.
[Is... he being serious, or is he exaggerating? This would be an awfully strange time to joke. Hiyori is the type to get hopelessly lost and end up somewhere strange, which might not help his case any, but his recounting of yesterday is honest.]
I do still have that map they were handing out, but I've been too tired to try looking elsewhere. I thought I'd relax with some shopping, and that's how I wound up here! Now that you know how hard it's been, you'll do your best to comfort me, won't you?
[ He's... just not going to think about it again. Not even sure why he did, maybe he'll never see them again, maybe he will. He still doesn't know if he's legally married, but Hiyori seems so certain that he's not! It's all sorts of confusing and Jun can't exactly recall anything, so for all he knows, he's in a legally contracted marriage! Ah, if he is, Ibara's gonna be pissed... As for now, he'll go with: he isn't married, mostly because he doesn't want to cause issues in Eve and Eden.
The sooner the feeling goes away, the better! He doesn't know how Hiyori can take this information in stride, but okay! He's not married, that's final.
(He also doesn't want Hiyori to stress about it, either. Not that he'll ever admit that.) ]
Well, yeah, that's what I thought! But as I said, haven't had a chance to have a real good look. Wait, then why the hell're there cars here if we can't leave? That doesn't sound right, Ohii-san, just leaving cars behind?
[ It's starting to sound exactly like a detective manga, especially as he listens to Hiyori talk about all the places he's checked for exits. There has to be something behind all that, and the valet must know where the cars have come from, besides, "guests leaving them behind." He doesn't like how Hiyori's already searched a few places and been met with nothing.
Even though he knows his partner's terrible with directions, it kind of impresses Jun he made it to a rooftop garden, despite walking for hours. He doesn't think Hiyori's joking, is he? Nope, even if he doesn't always know when he's pulling Jun's leg, so he believes this without question. Maybe there could be a little exaggeration there, but Jun's still used to that. ]
Why'd you walk down there alone? I'm pretty impressed, 'specially with your sense of direction, but you coulda ended up anywhere. Still, that doesn't make a buncha sense. A rooftop garden downstairs? You sure you didn't go the wrong way!?
[ He sort of scolds his partner, anyway, because what if he was still walking until right this second? Jun might've never learned he was here! ]
Alright, we'll just make a plan later. I'll take a look at the map, and figure somethin' out. But how can I even comfort you? I'm already gonna end up carrying your stuff, anyway.
[Ibara would handle the divorce proceedings swiftly and discreetly but very irritably.]
Well, one explanation might be that some of us are allowed to move freely and some aren't. I've talked to some people who got snatched from their beds the same way we did, but others seem to be just regular resort guests. I haven't gotten a single explanation from anyone about the cars, though. It's like those "regular guests" don't care about anything except drowning in luxury! And I've got no idea how the garage works. There didn't seem to be any entrance, so I wondered if the floors might open up, kind of like a trap door. Or perhaps the ceiling opens, and the floor moves up like a giant platform? But figuring out the mechanism there sounds like a huge headache, so that was when I started looking for other ways out.
[He's, well, he's been busy. The resort is huge, so there's lots of time to waste searching the nooks and crannies. Couple that with his naturally poor sense of direction, which leads to him winding up in the wrong place every time he does try searching a certain area, and it's no wonder he's made zero progress.
But that still sounds like more than what Jun-kun's been doing. And he does not take kindly to his sense of direction being called out! He gets all huffy, in fact, turning his nose up and replying hotly.]
Of course I know whether I was going up or down! And it's not my fault I got lost, it's their fault! They must've been trying to get me lost! The halls in here are like a labyrinth. Which means we'll need some kind of "Ariadne's Thread." Ah, but now that you're here, I do have another idea.
[He brightens up, waving a finger in the air.]
We'll go back to the garden! You'll hold me up on your shoulders, I'll find some binoculars somewhere, and then we should be able to have a look at our surroundings. I didn't get to look last time, since it was already dark out—it really did take hours for me to get anywhere. But if we follow the same route again, we should end up in the same place! And since you just promised to carry my things, you should have absolutely no problem carrying me ♪
[He talks at a mile a minute, same as usual, and by the end, he's cheered right up. Never mind the fact his plan has several holes in it. He cheerfully continues,]
You know what pleases me by now, don't you? A shopping trip or a spa appointment would be just the thing to lift my spirits up. But those cost money and they've cut off access to my bank account, if you can believe it, so I might just have to settle for you giving me a shoulder rub. Anyway, that's what I've been up to, but what about you, Jun-kun? Just what have you been doing?
[Please tell him Jun hasn't just been canoodling with the person he woke up in bed with. Then we'll have to break out the silly icon again!]
[ Ibara's definitely going to be working overtime. ]
Okay, so some people just decided to up and travel out here? Think those are the people we should be lookin' for, right? Starting to sound like those people are flaunting their wealth just 'cause they can. [ Kind of like someone else he knows! ] But if those cars got in, there's gotta be a way out, so maybe there's a trap door? It sounds like they don't want us to know unless they drive around the resort in 'em for fun.
[ Perhaps that is exactly what they do, but Jun doesn't seem convinced. This sounds exactly like rich people doing rich things; even though the resort is large, would anyone really be that bored? Jun
But from this, it does surprise Jun how much Hiyori's been looking and searching for an exit, especially as he hasn't, while he probably should have. He's been doing more, leaving Jun a little embarrassed, but there's a reason for that! He rubs briefly at his temple, sighing after.
But what, are they Crazy:B now? ]
Well, just don't go walkin' off on your own, Ohii-san. 'Cause you'll get lost again, and it's gonna be annoying to deal with. But I've never really heard of a place that wants to get you lost. You could be imagining that. Maybe if Crazy:B were here, we could ask 'em. They did that labyrinth thing before, right?
[ Jun definitely should consider putting a tracker on him for safety. And when Jun believed things couldn't possibly get any worse, along comes Ohii-san with the most absurd idea ever. ]
First of all, where are we gonna get binoculars from? I doubt they're handing those out freely. They'll probably cost chips, Ohii-san. Second of all, I'm not gonna carry you down a hallway. D'you know how tiring that'll be? I really need you to think before you speak.
[ He sighs again, a little exasperated. It sounds tiring and exhausting, and Jun doesn't want to carry him all that time. He did say it would take hours to find the rooftop, so Jun's going to pass on that one. ]
Wow, what are you gonna do without the spa or a shopping trip? I'm sooo sorry that's happened to you and all, Ohii-san, but we're not meant to be here for that reason. But if that's what you want, sure, just don't complain about it later, alright? As for me, not much. Like I said before, I woke up, left and went to find the gym. Was there for a couple of hours, came here and found you.
[ He's not going to say that he spent so long at the gym due to him feeling anxious again—that's how the old Jun would have felt. But perhaps this place did make him anxious, especially waking up next to a stranger. And he needed a new outfit besides the wedding suit, though he doesn't mention that to Hiyori either. ]
That's pretty much it, nothing as exciting as you. Sounds like you've been doing too much.
Yes, a trap door, that's what I said! Try to keep up, will you?
[He says, like he didn't just unleash an avalanche of words on Jun. Some might say he talks too much, or that he talks too fast. But to them, Hiyori would simply say, "Too bad!" This is how he talks, they might as well get used to it!]
But yes, as far as I can tell, this is an actual resort. It's not like the ryokan we stayed at, which was reserved only for ES idols. And several of the people I've talked to don't seem to have any connection to idols, or the entertainment industry. Which means something bigger than just the SS Committee is pulling the strings here. I'm still not convinced "that" man wasn't responsible for our ending up here, though. And there's also something strange about those "regular guests" that I can't quite place my finger on...
[He trails off, thinking about some exchanges he's had. It's not just that the guests here love drowning in luxury—rather, it's like they're living in their own little world, their own society with its own language and its own set of rules. They talk about ranks, and they call him names like "wildcard!" Which sounds like a lot of nonsense, but then again, it's not like his own noble family doesn't have its own set of traditions, including rituals that might look strange to an outsider. Take the noble game of clamming, for instance...
At the mention of the labyrinth, he nods in recognition.]
Ah, that thing. Rinne-senpai said it was quite the ordeal he put them through. But I haven't seen him anywhere, even though this sounds like just the place for him. Apparently there's some big casino, but I have absolutely no interest in gambling, so I haven't checked that out.
[Let's just say he hasn't run into Rinne yet in this continuity, since if he had, he would've mentioned that by now.
Also, time for him to get all huffy again. As Jun makes fun of his idea without even considering it, his eyes narrow into a sharp glare!]
I wasn't asking you to carry me in the hall! I said on the rooftop, so I could look at our surroundings! And what makes you think they don't sell binoculars? There's an awfully large number of stores, so they ought to be selling something along those lines. And as for those "chips," we won't need those once we leave this place, so it should be fine to spend them on something useful!
[He crosses his arms, refusing to give up on his idea just yet. Not that he's suggesting they go now—he does want some time to relax. And getting a relaxing massage from Jun-kun seems like the best way to achieve that at the moment, given his lack of funds! But first, he listens to Jun's explanation about what he's been doing since he got here. And the answer is...]
The gym?
[He repeats the word in disbelief, before shaking his head.]
You and your muscle training... Honestly, don't you think about anything else? I'd say your priorities desperately need reordering.
[Says the guy who was just about to put on a one-man fashion show in front of the dressing room mirror... If it's any consolation, though, his words lack bite. He might even sound just a tad relieved. Better for Jun to be at the gym than in bed with his fake spouse, that's for sure.]
[ He (reluctantly) follows everything Ohii-san says, especially the part he regrets following. It all seems so surreal, but Jun can't argue against it. He hasn't even seen the garage, so what kind of mystery is unfolding here? And waking up in a strange resort only adds to the confusion. ]
An actual resort, huh? Yeah, it's nothing like the Ryokan. For starters, it's louder and brighter and there's gambling. But I haven't told anyone I'm an idol yet, except one person, but she didn't understand. I've got my doubts, but least you've got more outta people here. I can't get any information outta anyone, or maybe I've been askin' the wrong people. I think if they were responsible, there'd be more of us here, or maybe they've got something against Eve. You've noticed that, too? I felt a little weird 'bout the ones looking at us earlier.
[ Maybe they don't want Eden to win SS, that's another option to consider. However, the only other instance he's encountered patrons shouting things was in the restrooms, and that was already strange. Why do they care what Wildcards do here? Jun isn't very interested in finding out. ]
Yeah, so maybe it's like that, but different? You talked about the thread and all, and I'm sure they'd help us out if we had to complete a trial. But the casino? Yeah, I've been down there. I kinda expected Rinne-senpai to pop up from nowhere and loudly yell 'bout placing bets.
[ And whatever else people do in casinos, all the bright lights give him a headache. Besides with many of the residents yelling obscenities, he wanted to stay far away from the floor.
Jun sighed, realising that he either misheard or Ohii-san had been speaking too quickly for his brain to process. ]
Fine, the rooftop. If it's just gonna be the rooftop, I'll do it. You don't have to get all huffy! And I dunno, now I'm thinking 'bout it, the more it makes sense they might. That's probably what some people here are into, right? Spyin' on others through binoculars. And right, I'll buy 'em if we ever come across 'em, 'cause I probably have more chips, anyway.
[ He nods slightly, attempting to show some willingness to entertain the idea. Even though it seems absurd, it's the only option available, while Jun's previous suggestion has already been dismissed. He doesn't have the motivation to deal with it at the moment, so he's relieved Hiyori isn't insisting they leave right now. For once, he can relax and worry about it another time. And he's uncertain when he'll have to give his partner a massage, so that's another concern for after this. ]
... Yeah? My only other option was the suite, Ohii-san, so I'd say my priorities aren't so bad.
[ He blinks, as if the answer sounds surprising, brows easing up given there's been little else for Jun to do here. And despite the circumstances, he had no desire to return to the suite, even if his fake spouse was pleasant. No matter how Jun tried to rationalize it, the situation seemed bleak. Although Ohii-san's words lacked any harshness, Jun secretly wished he had considered an escape plan, though his training had lifted his spirits. It takes a moment for him to register the sense of relief, but Jun ultimately shares the same sentiment. ]
'Sides isn't your priority shopping? You can't really complain 'bout mine.
Yes, that's another perplexing thing. It's surprising how many people here have never even heard of idols. I can't imagine how they ended up in the same place we did. But as for why we're here, it must be related to SS. And if that's the case, then it's Eden they're out to sabotage, not Eve.
[They didn't enter SS as Eve, they entered as Eden. And then they got snatched just days before the main competition was set to start—right before he could ask Jun to distribute the oracles. A coincidence? No, surely it couldn't be. But why this place, where all these non-idols have also been kidnapped to? What's the grand conspiracy here?
But maybe there is no grand purpose; maybe Gatekeeper or whoever just needed them out of the way, and happened to have connections to whoever runs this place. Then again, given the name of the game, there's another nasty explanation.
One that Jun manages to hit upon with his comments about the binoculars. Hiyori's eyebrows jump, and then he wrinkles his nose, his cheeks turning hot.]
Ugh, don't say that! You're probably right, but I do not want to think about that!
[More like Jun's definitely right. If all they have to do to play that "game" is get some girl or whoever to come back to their room with them, how would anyone know they're actually playing properly? They could just be having a tea party in there. In order to know if they're "playing," someone must be watching. This is totally a voyeurism exercise! Which would be creepy (and illegal) in any circumstance, but them being idols just adds another terrible dimension.
Blackmail, that is.
Or tabloid fodder, or whatever you want to call it. Being caught participating in this "game" could destroy both their careers.
And when he thinks about some of the other people he's met, and how they claimed to have fancy-sounding titles back home, he wonders if that might not be the connecting thread.
It's all deeply unpleasant. Too much to wrap his head around; too much to bear. His thoughts feel clouded, a heavy weight bearing down on his shoulders. If he keeps lingering over how miserable things are, he might just get swallowed by darkness.
So, instead of countering Jun's comment about his priorities, he simply nods in acknowledgement.]
That's right. After spending all of yesterday spinning my wheels, I wanted to catch a break from things. It does no good to mope around, after all, no matter how dire the circumstance. I suppose that must be why you went to the gym. And I'm sure things have been even harder for you, since you don't even have your "security blanket"—that is, your Jin Sagami poster! So, now that we've found each other, let's try to strike a balance.
[He swings his fist decisively in the air, assuming a commanding tone again. Looks like he's got some of his cheer back, at least.]
We'll relax and see what this place has to offer, while taking note of any possible escape routes. But we'll alternate that with gathering more information and trying to get out of here! How does that sound?
Yeah, I don't get it. But that's gotta be a good thing, right? Being related to SS, maybe the guests living here aren't involved? I only thought that 'cause we're here, but dunno what I think anymore.
[ So being aware that someone is intentionally sabotaging them and the SS Finals, but so far, this has been an incredibly confusing journey from beginning to end. The strange ordeal that Hiyori has been through only adds to the confusion. However, Jun wonders what it would mean if non-idols were involved. Could it be a cover story for Eden? Despite all the uncertainty, one thing Jun is certain of is that Ibara, with his knack for finding solutions, is surely devising a plan to rescue them.
It's funny how the thought of the binoculars resurfaces, making him wonder why he even entertained it in the first place. He shouldn't allow this place to best him. ]
... yeah, I shoulda kept that to myself.
[ It was a bit crude for him to blurt it out, but that implies that one of those specialty stores must sell them. He never really considered it until now, but this place continues to toy with everyone. The longer he avoids thinking about playing the game, the better. It's just too overwhelming to contemplate.
Girls were strictly forbidden from entering the Starmony Dorms, so maybe if they keep that rule in mind, it'll be easy to debunk anyone! Yep, that's the logical approach. But what if the watch is somehow connected to all of this? And somehow the watch knows what they do. All he knows is that he doesn't want either of them to participate in this "Game 52." Despite the people he's encountered himself, he's confident they can handle themselves. Some even expressed a desire to play the game, but he couldn't fathom why.
Or why it was such a hot commodity.
He's busy thinking about that until Hiyori begins talking again, which begs the question: how did he know Jun no longer has the poster? His "severity blanket" as he once put it. He frowns, another point to this he hadn't wanted to think about. There's a small pang in his chest because he hasn't been sleeping too well without the poster of Jin. Not that he's not said anything about it, but his head hangs a little low once Hiyori finishes his spiel.
Is it possible that Ohii-san is missing something other than just money in his bank account? Jun can't help but briefly think about Mary before quickly dismissing the thought. He wants this reunion to be an optimistic one, so he decides not to mention her for now. ]
I'll just entertain it for today, 'cause we've got a lotta stuff to plan out if we're gonna get outta here. And how'd you know I don't have it here? It's not obvious I've not been sleeping real well, is it, Ohii-san?
[ Finding the right equilibrium is key, even if he's a bit uncertain about the details. However, the solid plan is reassuring, like a rock, and Jun feels himself easing up a bit more. ]
Sounds good to me! I'm actually relieved hearin' you say all that, 'cause we can't just sit around and do nothing. You think there's a way to figure out who made these watches?
They're definitely not involved. If they were familiar with SS, they'd be much more excited to meet me! But I haven't heard anyone go all hushed and say, "That's Hiyori-sama from Eden!" as I pass by. Given where we are, though, that might be for the best...
[But it's still an oddity, and a rather jarring one. He's not used to this world where his celebrity holds no weight. And not just his celebrity, but also his wealth (which he doesn't have access to) and his family name (no one here has ever heard of the Tomoe clan.) Everyone just keeps calling him a "wildcard," which makes absolutely no sense. It feels like a denial of his very self; a denial of his very place in the world. Any more of this, and he might start to lose his grip on things.
That was how he felt... until Jun, the other half of "two souls in one" showed up. His arrival brought with it a cacophony of complicated feelings: shock at the sight of him; anger at their kidnappers for taking him; worry about what might happen in a place like this. But it also brought relief, easing the loneliness inside Hiyori's heart. With Jun here, he feels more comfortable. More "himself." He has someone he can talk to now, someone he can rely on.
Perhaps Jun isn't the only one who keeps a security blanket.
Speaking of which, Hiyori's reasoning is straightforward.]
This isn't the dorms. They didn't let you keep any personal possessions, did they? I don't have anything of mine here.
[A pause, and then he smirks.]
Except you, of course! ♪
[Yep. After making a similar comment earlier, he couldn't resist doing it again! But behind the obnoxious tone and smug smile lies a genuine gladness. He doesn't want Jun in a place like this, but he's truly glad to see his face again.
... almost a bit too glad. It's sort of embarrassing, really.
But anyway. Time to focus on other stuff.]
We could ask around, I suppose. Or go into one of the shops—there must be some that sell watches. They have all kinds of stores here, including some you couldn't pay me to enter.
[The sex shops. He's talking about the sex shops.]
But even if we found out who the manufacturer was, I'm not sure that information would be useful. The real culprit is whoever programmed them with those messages. If we can figure out who wrote those, that should bring us one step closer to solving the puzzle.
Alright, so we're able to cross that off. I've gotta say that's for the best, it's a big relief, but I'd rather you stay outta trouble in case someone recognises you.
[ Eden, despite their fame, remains an anomaly here. Even Jun acknowledges this fact. Now they've taken a step towards salvaging their careers, there's a small amount of victory there. Hopefully, Hiyori isn't showing off his (lack of) wealth to others, as that would surely cause some trouble in this place where luxury is highly valued.
And Jun doesn't place much value on material possessions, so he doesn't mind sharing his chips with Hiyori. He's relieved to have Hiyori around, maybe even more than he realises. Maybe somewhere along the way, his partner became a comfort to him, another security blanket in this unknown world. His initial guilt about marriage has been resolved, but he still feels guilty about being away and causing worry for those back home.
Every time that comment is made, a faint blush creeps up his cheeks, and he shoots a glance at his partner. Despite hearing those remarks countless times, the surprise never fails to catch him off guard. Yet, deep down, there's a certain warmth in being regarded as Hiyori's "possession" - it's comforting to know that he's genuinely happy to see him. And now, Jun can't help but feel the same way. ]
Nah, they didn't! And you've really gotta stop sayin' things like that, Ohii-san! I've toldja already today.
[ He's!!! Not!! Blushing!!! It's a trick of the light and a trick of being caught off-guard again by his partner's smirk, and boisterous voice.
Despite his reluctance to step foot into any of those shops, he understands Hiyori's words perfectly well. It seems he shares the same aversion towards speaking the names of those stores. ]
... I'd rather avoid going anywhere near those stores, so we're on the same page. There's gotta be something on the back of the watches or in the programming somewhere. 'cept when I tried removing mine, it wouldn't budge.
[ They look the same as the Ap*le W*tch*s back home, but they can't be. ]
You said something 'bout asking around! I'd say I'm a lil' hesitant 'cause who're we gonna ask? D'you think the staff here'd tell us anything if they're hired by whoever's running this place?
Mm, we can't afford to be too careful. Especially since someone here does have our names.
[He's registered as a guest whether he likes it or not (and the answer most certainly is "not.") But there's no sense in fretting about what's already happened and can't be taken back. They ought to be on-guard so nothing worse does.
But even if they keep up their guards, someone could just steal them away in their sleep. It's happened once; it could surely happen again. What should they be doing in the meantime, to protect against that?
It's very worrisome. No wonder Jun is having trouble sleeping.
Regardless of Jun's embarrassed denials, though (which only earn a blithe smile from Hiyori), Hiyori does consider Jun "his." He's not an object or a piece of property like Hiyori sometimes jokes about, but Jun is his partner and his junior. He'll do anything he can to protect him. Anything at all to help him...
Still, the question remains: what can they do in this situation?
The watches aren't removable, so Jun's idea wouldn't work, and his own idea was also pretty flawed. His shoulders sag when Jun points that out.]
I wouldn't assume the entire staff is in on it. It's hard to believe every person who works here knows we've been kidnapped and is fine with it.
[All the same, he looks deflated. If they are in on this, then how big is the conspiracy, exactly?
It's a lot bigger than just Gatekeeper. Bigger, even, than whatever Nagisa imagined. It means they're up against truly insurmountable odds.
Yet even still, he refuses to give up. Otherwise, what would he have left? Forcing some cheer back into his voice, he continues to share his thoughts.]
But whichever one it is, we might be able to get some information out of them. If they're dupes, they might tell us the watch's model without thinking twice about it. And if they are in on things, then they might have even more useful information. Perhaps we can bribe them to share a thing or two. I can't imagine they're that well-paid.
[Where they'll get the collateral to bribe people with is a separate issue.]
I'm just tryna figure out how they'd get our names if we didn't give them.
[ The only alternative would be if they somehow monitored everyone here before taking them to the resort. However, that seems quite eerie and intrusive, and their fans were not like that.
And the strange fact that they were snatched from their beds, only to wake up after arriving here. How could someone abduct them from the dorms with them so heavily guarded? It's almost as if they're stuck inside a mystery manga, with scarce answers available. Delving too deep into this has Jun feeling uneasy, numerous unanswered questions lingering in his mind, knowing he may never uncover the truth.
And not only that, managing to steal two idols away so easily.
Overall, even though Hiyori is grabbing what's rightfully his, he's relieved they're together. He understands it would be much worse if one of them were alone, regardless of the situation, his expression darkens after Hiyori finishes his spiel.
Who wouldn't be upset with numerous people being abducted? There must be a reasonable explanation for all of this. ]
You'd think so, even I'd prefer thinkin' some of the staff here might feel bad 'bout this.
[ It's a good explanation because shouldn't one person be upset with whatever and whoever is abducting all these people? If he was in any of the staff's shoes, he wouldn't want to go along with it, but who's to say what happens to those people if no one can leave anyway? Maybe they're stuck inside a mystery manga, after all.
.... Wait, did he hear Ohii-san wants to bribe the staff!? He blinks a handful of times, gently shaking his head. ]
Hmm, asking the staff 'bout the watches. D'you think they're the ones makin' them, or slapping 'em on us? And Ohii-san, we can't go 'round bribing people like that. Where's something like that gonna get us?
[ It's a bit unsettling for him, not knowing what kind of incentives they might offer in a community where everyone is expected to engage in sexual activities. ]
Well, that one's not too big a mystery. Perhaps they've watched our variety shows. Or they bought all my magazines, or they were in the audience when you played the hyena prince!
[Isn't that lovely thought? Then, a bit more seriously,]
Or they've been following the SS Competition.
[He still thinks it's probably that. The timing is too coincidental for it to be anything else. Of course, whoever ordered their kidnapping and whoever actually did it could very well be two different people (or three or four or five different people). Crime lords tend to have hired "muscle" who do the dirty work for them, don't they? And that seems just like Gatekeeper's style.
He watches while Jun mulls over the issue of the resort staff. Of course, Jun wants to believe the best of them, since he's a good boy at heart. Hiyori knows there are plenty of rotten people in the world, but in a resort this huge, there's a ton of staff. Isn't it a bit much to think they're all in on the kidnapping? At the very least, that's a lot of people to keep quiet...]
I'm guessing whoever put the watches on is the same person who kidnapped us. And the same one who changed our clothes for us, too.
[Boy, did he hate the outfit he woke up in.]
But I suppose there's no telling who did all that, unless someone woke up during it, or it was all caught on camera somewhere. ... I wonder if there's a big information room where all the cameras are gathered?
[Kind of like the one at ES where Jun's friend Makoto hangs out in. But before he can spend much longer musing about that, Jun objects to his bribery idea, which makes him a frown a little. What sort of offering did Jun imagine him making?]
It was just a thought. I don't like bribes, either. But although I hate to say it, our enemy is playing dirty, so we may have to fight fire with fire to a degree—obviously nothing that would compromise our reputation, though. But there's no need to resort to bribes yet—first, we might as well chat them up and see where that gets us. Maybe I can try the ones who work at boutiques, and you can try the ones that sell athletic clothes and such! How does that sound?
Right, Bogie Time was pretty popular. But maybe all those things're true; it's gotta be something close to that. We're pretty assessable to the public now you've said all that, even if Ibara tries to stop weird stuff from happening.
[ (Jun definitely means accessible.)
But regarding that thought, Bogie Time was a fair while ago, as was the time he played the hyena prince, but Hiyori's often in magazines, isn't he? They usually are as Eve anyway. Either way, he's in agreement; it must be someone closely watching SS, but could someone closely related to Gatekeeper be responsible? If not GK himself, then who? Where was Ibara when you needed him most? He'd have an answer for this.
The mob business always has Jun's head in a tizzy; he usually doesn't pay much attention to what's happening in the background, but now that he's deeply involved, it's important to understand! Especially crucial as they prepare to compete in SS and aim to win the competition. ]
Yeah, but I'm pretty curious how they even made it into the dorms. It can't be explained; I'm thinkin' too hard 'bout it. It's not like they could teleport into our rooms, like in some fantasy anime.
[ As much as that might explain something, with the few things Jun knows about the security in ES and the dorms, he doesn't know how anyone would get past that. (Unless they pulled a Mayoi and came in from the vents.)
So he can't help but think the best of people here, that they'd not want to go against their employer unless they've been rightfully wronged. If only he could think more along the lines of Hiyori, who had no problem thinking that of people. ]
Unless they did somethin' to us to make sure we didn't wake up, 'cause how's it possible so many of us didn't know? Resorts usually have cameras, right? Hotels usually do, but only Yuuki-san'd know where that's at; or what to look for. He's the one good with that sorta stuff.
[ Jun can't help but feel guilty about his thoughts on Makoto; he doesn't want him around, yet he knows his skills could come in handy. They may be thinking alike, but Jun is clueless about where to find those rooms or how to utilise them. Perhaps Makoto's "streaming" skills could also be of use. He wouldn't wish his friend here, though, so the thought lingers and then leaves.
The answer is definitely "not a positive one." He's against Hiyori offering bribes for him, and he doubts that many would accept chips as bribes. The thought stayed unexpected for him to even consider that Hiyori would go against their agreement not to play! ]
I know, but it's not gonna get to that. Doin' something that could ruin our reputation isn't worth it, Ohii-san. I'd prefer staying here and not playing along if it meant we could keep our careers, or that's what I want for you. But yeah, we could do that! I'd prefer going into athletic stores over boutiques; that's more your thing. I'm already feeling outta place here...
It's true that he can't even begin to guess how their captors bypassed security. He'd been more focused on the logistics of other stuff—transporting them to the resort and changing their clothes without them waking up, for example. But that part is equally puzzling.
Unless...]
They wouldn't have to teleport if they were someone connected to ES.
[Not one of his fellow idols. He doesn't suspect that. Only Eichi has the resources and money to pull this off, and he knows Eichi wouldn't dare sabotage SS. Yes, Eichi must surely want to win against Eden and the others, but more than he loves winning, Eichi is someone who loves idols and wants to spread that love all over the world. He wants the program to be a success, no doubt, after the Tenshouin Conglomerate poured so much money into it. And he'd never want to tarnish the image of pure "idols" that he loves so much. They can rule out Eichi-kun.
But they can't rule out Gatekeeper, or anyone else he's connected with. What are the chances it was anyone else?]
I know this place has cameras. I wish it didn't, but I'm sure it does. So then I suppose it's just a matter of where to find them. That sort of room wouldn't normally be accessible to guests, and it wasn't on that map they handed out, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The sort of people who would have access would probably be security guards, so if we found one of those to tail, we might get somewhere.
[Another point in favor of bribing the staff. Which Jun seems very adamant about him not doing. He raises one eyebrow; what did Jun think he meant by bribery?]
You know the sort of bribes I was talking about, right? The Tomoe Foundation runs a few different businesses, so it's never hard to set someone up with a job. If you promise better pay and benefits, most people will turn on their current employer. Especially when they're just doing grunt work, and their employer's involved in some shady illegal scheme.
But anyway, first we ought to talk to them. This is where we split up, I guess. Or so I'd say, but you came to this store for a reason, didn't you? You weren't here looking for me like a lost puppy, were you? That's awfully cute if you were ♪
It's almost exciting to understand how this place operates, especially given the circumstances. It's beginning to feel something close to a detective manga or anime, not that those genres are Jun's favourite, but he's read enough to (believe) that he's some expert. Maybe leaving it to the professionals who were skilled in hacking and similar capabilities, would be better, but chatting about it with Hiyori has sparked his curiosity. ]
It's... I guess that makes sense. Who'd let them in, though?
[ From what he understands, he doesn't think Eichi would, even if he doesn't know him all that well. Ibara wouldn't. So maybe the only logical answer is Gatekeeper, something they've already established. He'd rather not entertain the thought of someone intentionally trying to sabotage Eden, even if this isn't the first sabotage. ]
Any sorta place like this does, right? Even more creepy this place has 'em. It's gotta make sense that's how it goes, 'cause they probably don't want people finding out. How're meant to look for security guards? I haven't seen one since I got here, unless you've gotta do somethin' real bad first.
[ He now regrets jumping to conclusions about it being a form of bribery, despite knowing about the Tomoe Foundation's business activities. Why would the people here even care about that? He's hesitant to burst Hiyori's bubble, but... ]
Wait, you're serious 'bout this? Are you really gonna offer 'em a job with one of the Tomoe Foundation's businesses?
... yeah, I'd rather you talk to 'em first before you go off and offer something like that, Ohii-san. Jeez, I didn't even know you were here! How was I meant to go looking 'round for you if I didn't know that? You're not making any sense, 'cause I came here lookin' for clothes, not for you.
[ Sure if he did know Hiyori was here, this would be the first place to look. ]
[It does feel like detective work, and Hiyori would be lying if he said there wasn't anything the least bit enjoyable about it. The prospect of searching for clues and unraveling a mystery together is fun, especially now that he has a partner to do these things with. The Watson to his Holmes! Now if only the stakes weren't so high...]
Ah, I'm one step ahead of you there. There were security guards in the garage! Though they were just milling around and not really doing much of anything. And I was expecting to see more, given how expensive the cars were. Perhaps that does mean there are people monitoring the garage from a computer room somewhere? Anyway, if we want to tail a guard, we might as well start there.
[There's another option that occurs to him: sneaking into some more staff-only areas. They might just find security there, or even some management offices. But that's obviously more dangerous, so he'll opt to go back to the garage.
He pouts a bit as Jun expresses his dislike for the bribe idea (again)—]
That was just a last resort in case no one's willing to tell us anything! Of course I'll talk to them first.
[—but lets it go, since this is all hypothetical anyway.]
Ah, you were here to shop too, huh? This place does have rather nice clothes, though it also has some over-the-top stuff even I wouldn't wear. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough of those "chip" things for me to buy all that I'd like to buy. I honestly don't feel comfortable buying much of anything, given that food isn't free, either. Which is an absolute outrage, since I never thought I'd have to hold back! If you're going to hold us hostage, the least you could do is feed us!
[He puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head. As though that's the most outrageous thing going on here, and not literally everything else.]
You weren't given more of those "chip" things than I was, were you? I was only given what I might spend during a couple of shopping trips, which isn't nearly enough...
[In reality, he was given a medium payout just like all the new arrivals. Also, what Hiyori spends during the average shopping trip isn't at all the same as what a normal middle-class person might spend, but Jun surely already knows that.]
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peacockstop2024-02-19 10:08 pm
@blundering
Though, in all honesty, it's mostly other people behaving badly towards Jun-kun that he's worried about...
He's less worried now, though. Firstly because Jun made it clear he'll fight the resort's demands, and secondly because they're reunited now! They have each other, and they have Nagisa and Ibara on the outside.
Although...]
... mm, that's right.
[His smile thins out just a little, his eyes seeming to lose some of their brightness (or maybe it's just a trick of the light?).
It's not that he has no faith in Nagisa and Ibara. He's absolutely certain that neither of them will take their disappearance lying down. However, as far as Nagisa is concerned...
He hasn't been himself lately. There's something on his mind, clearly: some personal problem he's struggling with. Something changed while he was holed up inside the basement of that shrine. And now it seems that whatever he learned down there has taken precedence over everything else—even winning the SS Competition. Assuming that is indeed the case, would Nagisa really abandon his plans and come rushing over to save them...?
It makes him uneasy, but he tries to shove that thought out of mind. He doesn't want to doubt Nagisa; after everything they've been through together, he knows their bond is unshakeable. And, at the very least, their slithery producer cares for them as two "business assets." Not only that, but Hiyori knows for a fact that Ibara also cares about Jun as a friend. So, at the very least, he ought to be working overtime to track them down.
... it hurts to have more faith in him than Nagisa-kun. But Hiyori is trying not to doubt anyone. Not Jun, not Nagisa, not Ibara! They're his precious family and he must have faith.
His smile brightens up again and he releases Jun's hands.]
Plus, now we've found each other. It's a good thing I found you, but it's an even more wonderful thing you found me. I'm not sure you've noticed, but there are lots of shady people running around these parts. Some are in the same boat as us, of course, and just trying to get home to their families, but others seem to have taken the view that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
[Translation: he's met people who are clearly playing the "game." But that does not mean that they have to follow suit! With a confident smile, he puts his hands on his hips, drawing himself up to full height.]
Which is exactly where I come in. We're partners, but I'm also your senior! Which means it's my job to look after you and ensure nothing bad happens. Rejoice, Jun-kun—your Ohii-san will protect you from any suspicious characters. If someone tries to get you to do something dirty, I'll simply shoo them away. Aren't you fortunate? ♪
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But for now, this isn't a pressing concern, especially since he has already made it clear to Hiyori that he will not comply. So, for the time being, everything is fine.
Maybe mentioning Nagi-senpai was a misstep, as Jun notices the subtle change in Hiyori's smile. He feels the urge to say something, anything to alleviate the situation, knowing he still had faith Nagi-senpai wouldn't want them to be here. Jun firmly believes, despite his partner's feelings towards Ibara, he's committed to finding the two of them, even if they weren't part of Eden or particularly close.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Jun has heard this phrase before, but what exactly would the Romans be doing in this situation? Would they be playing along with the game? Jun assumes that's what it implies. ]
I've noticed, there's people out there fightin' over chocolate boxes. Not the weirdest thing I've seen, but I don't wanna think 'bout what else is happening out there.
[ Apart from the odd Poker Machine randomly giving out bizarre instructions, the focus shifts to what Hiyori says next, causing Jun to burst into laughter. After all, how can he possibly protect him? Jun's the "intimidating" one in their duo, so shouldn't he be the one issuing threats, even if he doesn't feel like it? And aren't those days long gone? It seems that he is willing to go to great lengths just to prevent any peculiar individuals from attempting either of those things.
He, unfortunately, cares too much about Hiyori to allow anything to happen. ]
... shouldn't I be the one saying that? I dunno how you're gonna shoo anyone away, Ohii-san, 'cause how are they gonna take you seriously? I mean, I don't wanna see anything bad happen... How 'bout we look out for one another instead? Yeah, I'm fine with that.
[ And Jun refuses to be pressured into doing anything he doesn't want to do, so he is grateful to Hiyori for the times when he respects his boundaries. Similarly, he would never want to see Ohii-san being coerced into doing something against his will. ]
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[He shakes his head, a look on his face that says Can you even believe it? At least he just mentioned Nagisa without any awkward pauses or bitterness, though. Perhaps things are fine between them after all...?
In any case, it's onto the next topic: Hiyori appointing himself the guardian of Jun's virtue! He's very serious about it, but cheeky Jun-kun has the gall to laugh at him. He blinks, not having expected that burst of laughter at all. It might be preferable to Jun looking guilty, but it's still rude! So he sticks his nose up in the air and gives a haughty retort.]
Easy! I'll say, "Jun-kun is one of my possessions, and I forbid you from borrowing him!" That should set the record straight. If anyone still persists, we can run fast the other way!
[He talks like these are obvious conclusions. No hesitation with calling Jun his possession; Jun doesn't have a sweat-soaked sports towel to dangle over his head in retaliation this time!]
And I can take care of myself, thanks! Though I do suppose it's good that you have my best interests at heart. I want to think it won't come to this, but people here do seem rather uncouth, so if I ever have unwanted suitors that need fending off, I'll simply let you handle them. How's that for responsibility? ♪
[And he's back to a self-assured smile at the end.]
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[ He can't wrap his head around why people are acting so irrationally over something so trivial. If it were about money or clothes, he could at least comprehend it. And those boxes seem to be in terrible condition, too!
Oh, Hiyori's serious about the virtue thing... Jun only can't bring himself to take it seriously. How else is he supposed to respond? It just seems ludicrous, even more so than when Hiyori refers to Jun as one of his possessions. He stops laughing now, instead frowning and shaking his head. ]
I'm not "one of your possessions," so you can't go around saying something like that, you know? Not that you care, you'll say it either way, which'll be a whole other problem. And running's not your thing, so let's just avoid it altogether.
[ Jun cannot argue against the fact that it is a feasible option, he has already witnessed it, and Hiyori also mentioned seeing it. It's humorous to consider, that even though Jun doesn't feel he needs Hiyori's help, he doesn't understand how he's able to say so with such certainty. Maybe he can find a sweaty towel, there's surely one lying around here somewhere! ]
... Can you? With you, it's always, "Jun-kun do this for me, and Jun-kun do that." A stranger won't do that sorta thing without wanting something in return, y'know? Plus you've still got that real sloppy side, and who wants to see that?
[ Jun can't resist the urge to playfully tease. It's not that he doubts Hiyori's ability to handle things on his own, but rather a feeling that conveys, "This guy's gonna find himself in some serious trouble." Jun needs to project more confidence, but Hiyori's presence constantly leaves him unsure about what's coming next, making it even harder for him in this place. And if that's something Hiyori wants, and if individuals around here struggle to understand the word "No," there's no other choice but to intervene. ]
Sure...? If it comes down to it, I'll handle the responsibility.
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[Now, moving back to the whole "virtue" thing.
He cocks an eyebrow in response to Jun's arguing, then coolly replies,]
What other problem?
[Does Hiyori know? Is he just pretending to be clueless? How oblivious is he, really?
Not as oblivious as he seems. Honestly, he knows exactly what it sounds like to claim someone else as his "possession" in this place. But so what if it sounds like that? For one thing, they've implied that sort of thing before as fanservice. If there are hidden cameras around, the footage won't reflect poorly on them. Fans would see it as part of their usual act. But for another, who cares if one of the other guests thinks they do have "that" sort of relationship? That should make them give up and go away, which suits his purposes wonderfully!
... or at least that should be what it means. In reality, Hiyori remembers how people behaved when he entered the lounge with his falsely registered "spouse." Although they'd been booked as a married couple and everyone wished them a happy honeymoon, some of the staff still encouraged him to mingle, saying they "won't tell" if he goes off to one of the suites with someone else! No respect for fidelity here, apparently! They probably don't care at all that Jun is his partner and his property. But he'll be damned if he lets those warped values rub off on Jun-kun.
His smile fades as Jun talks about how helpless he is, and he frowns reproachfully there at the end. Though he's not truly heated, his tone more matter-of-fact than mad.]
You think I can't tell when people want things from me?
[The cool look in his eyes probably shows what he thinks of that. "Pure princess" or not, he isn't that naive.]
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's exactly the sort of environment I grew up in. Everyone wanted something or another—sometimes it was just money, other times they were trying to curry favor for their family. But this place is clearly part of "that" world. And since I'm far more experienced in matters of nobility than you are, you'll let me look out for you, won't you?
[He smiles again, though there's an odd quality to it; it's a little more subdued, perhaps, than his "real" smiles.]
Just stay by my side, and I'll guide you step-by-step through this unfamiliar world.
[And make sure he comes out untarnished on the other side. Otherwise, he really won't forgive whoever's responsible.]
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[ Even though he seems to have forgotten about the not-marriage issue, he persists in staring at Hiyori with an expression of confusion. Jun finds this ridiculous, especially for them! Maybe he should care if fans see or hear Hiyori go on about possessions, even if that's how they are as Eve, but surely he should be concerned about the implications of that? Especially as they're not Eve here? And to persuade somebody to refrain from bothering them, Jun wishes he could be as carefree and not worry about how this sounds.
And Jun would like to argue the point, but subconsciously he knows Hiyori is right. He has no experience, or lack thereof, in whatever "noble world" Hiyori believes they currently inhabit. A noble world, but are the people who live here like that? He hasn't met enough individuals to reach that conclusion, but with Hiyori being skilled at interacting with others, this makes it easier for him to concede.
Because there's a high chance conversing with strangers here (that way) will drive Jun infuriated, and what he's argued seemed to set Hiyori off, so. ]
I wasn't implying you didn't. It's just.. [ He pauses, sighing. ] but right. I know nothing 'bout nobility, not like you do. Just know I'm not giving in, only I'm no good at the whoole talking thing, and I'm leaving that to you.
[ There's just something about Hiyori's assurance that makes him believe everything will work out, even if he's unsure how to handle the situation. It's not that he's completely defeated, with misplaced feelings of loss, Jun's unsure of how to navigate this unfamiliar territory. It's reminiscent of the dreadful atmosphere in the Reimei dorms, and there's no desire to relive that.
His smile returns, completely betraying the stubborn nature from before. ]
Fine, this is me meeting you halfway, Ohii-san. If you know better, I'll stay by your side and ask you to guide me into whatever hell this place is gonna be. How's that sound?
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[Hiyori is equally confused!]
You're not still on about that, are you? There's no way you're married! That sort of thing's strictly forbidden!
[Hence his confusion. Actually, his expression's a bit sour, not just confused. Jun doesn't actually feel a sense of fidelity towards the person he woke up in bed with, does he? Because that would just be absurd! He ought to prioritize his partner and his unit, not some stranger!
But Jun's next words seek to mollify him, as it sounds like their priorities are aligned. They've reached an agreement: he'll do the talking, and Jun will fend off any aggressive unwanted suitors. Not that he can't take care of himself, but he doesn't like violence, and he might chip a nail or worse if he got into a fight! Though, he knows better than to think that Jun likes fighting, either...
Well, anyway. His smile resurfaces at the end.]
Now that sounds like a plan ♪ Not that I intend for us to stay here long, of course. We really can't afford to stick around much longer, so if those two don't show up soon, we'll just have to bust our way out ourselves. You wouldn't happen to have any ideas there, would you?
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I'm not.. I already know all that, but.. Ugh, never mind. Just forget 'bout it.
[ Why is he feeling guilty? He shouldn't feel any particular way about that, should he? Maybe this place is messing with his head, causing him to feel faithful to them. But he should only be loyal to Eden! Jun and his kind heart constantly like to do the right thing, even when he should be sticking with Hiyori.
Sure, it might go that way. It's not that Jun has forgotten how to fight, only that he's not the same person he used to be. He only fought to survive Reimei. But now, he's much fitter and has a better mindset all he ought to do is grumble a bit, then they'll be left alone.
And that's unbecoming of an idol to engage in a fight, especially if their fans were witness to something like that. Now that wouldn't be appreciated by anyone. ]
Yeah, I don't wanna stick 'round here any longer, either. I'm getting a bit angsty if we've gotta wait much longer. But if I've got ideas? Uh, my only idea is this is a resort, yeah? Kinda like a hotel, and hotels always gotta have an entry and exit. So, there's gotta be a way in and out 'cause we arrived somehow.
[ Unless they were transported here through magic, but otherwise, he hasn't any other idea. ]
... That's all I've got, Ohii-san. Maybe it's not all helpful.
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But sure, he'll forget it instead of giving Jun more strife. The sooner he forgets, the better, really. Though deep down, some part of him does wonder just what sort of person Jun woke up with if he already feels this fidelity towards them...
Ugh. Nope, he's done thinking about it. Moving on!
Jun getting into a fight would be terrible publicity for sure, but it might be justified if he was doing it to protect his partner. Then he'd be seen as a dashing hero. It'd be its own form of "fanservice." But Hiyori would rather not play the damsel, or risk either one of them getting hurt, so relying on Jun's protection is more of a "last resort" sort of thing. The best course of action is to escape! Which is exactly what Jun's suggesting.
... even though his idea is a "well, duh" sort of deal.]
Well, you're not wrong. There must be a way out somewhere. I just haven't found one yet, since it looks like they've taken steps to conceal it. I spent all yesterday searching—first I checked the garage, since that seemed like a decent bet, but there wasn't any exit that I could find, just a bunch of new luxury cars. I tried asking the valet how those cars got inside, but all he said was, "the guests left them." The staff here is completely useless. That, or they all have a script they're being fed.
[He rattles off his complaints in the usual obnoxious tone.]
Then I tried one of the staff exits, but it didn't lead to anywhere helpful. The stairs were pitch dark, and they just seemed to go on forever! I made my way down anyway, but then I wound up trapped in an empty hall! It must've been hours before a door finally appeared. But when I opened it, it just led to some little rooftop garden! I'm not sure how that happened, since I'd been going down, not up! But it was all one great big misdirect.
[Is... he being serious, or is he exaggerating? This would be an awfully strange time to joke. Hiyori is the type to get hopelessly lost and end up somewhere strange, which might not help his case any, but his recounting of yesterday is honest.]
I do still have that map they were handing out, but I've been too tired to try looking elsewhere. I thought I'd relax with some shopping, and that's how I wound up here! Now that you know how hard it's been, you'll do your best to comfort me, won't you?
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The sooner the feeling goes away, the better! He doesn't know how Hiyori can take this information in stride, but okay! He's not married, that's final.
(He also doesn't want Hiyori to stress about it, either. Not that he'll ever admit that.) ]
Well, yeah, that's what I thought! But as I said, haven't had a chance to have a real good look. Wait, then why the hell're there cars here if we can't leave? That doesn't sound right, Ohii-san, just leaving cars behind?
[ It's starting to sound exactly like a detective manga, especially as he listens to Hiyori talk about all the places he's checked for exits. There has to be something behind all that, and the valet must know where the cars have come from, besides, "guests leaving them behind." He doesn't like how Hiyori's already searched a few places and been met with nothing.
Even though he knows his partner's terrible with directions, it kind of impresses Jun he made it to a rooftop garden, despite walking for hours. He doesn't think Hiyori's joking, is he? Nope, even if he doesn't always know when he's pulling Jun's leg, so he believes this without question. Maybe there could be a little exaggeration there, but Jun's still used to that. ]
Why'd you walk down there alone? I'm pretty impressed, 'specially with your sense of direction, but you coulda ended up anywhere. Still, that doesn't make a buncha sense. A rooftop garden downstairs? You sure you didn't go the wrong way!?
[ He sort of scolds his partner, anyway, because what if he was still walking until right this second? Jun might've never learned he was here! ]
Alright, we'll just make a plan later. I'll take a look at the map, and figure somethin' out. But how can I even comfort you? I'm already gonna end up carrying your stuff, anyway.
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Well, one explanation might be that some of us are allowed to move freely and some aren't. I've talked to some people who got snatched from their beds the same way we did, but others seem to be just regular resort guests. I haven't gotten a single explanation from anyone about the cars, though. It's like those "regular guests" don't care about anything except drowning in luxury! And I've got no idea how the garage works. There didn't seem to be any entrance, so I wondered if the floors might open up, kind of like a trap door. Or perhaps the ceiling opens, and the floor moves up like a giant platform? But figuring out the mechanism there sounds like a huge headache, so that was when I started looking for other ways out.
[He's, well, he's been busy. The resort is huge, so there's lots of time to waste searching the nooks and crannies. Couple that with his naturally poor sense of direction, which leads to him winding up in the wrong place every time he does try searching a certain area, and it's no wonder he's made zero progress.
But that still sounds like more than what Jun-kun's been doing. And he does not take kindly to his sense of direction being called out! He gets all huffy, in fact, turning his nose up and replying hotly.]
Of course I know whether I was going up or down! And it's not my fault I got lost, it's their fault! They must've been trying to get me lost! The halls in here are like a labyrinth. Which means we'll need some kind of "Ariadne's Thread." Ah, but now that you're here, I do have another idea.
[He brightens up, waving a finger in the air.]
We'll go back to the garden! You'll hold me up on your shoulders, I'll find some binoculars somewhere, and then we should be able to have a look at our surroundings. I didn't get to look last time, since it was already dark out—it really did take hours for me to get anywhere. But if we follow the same route again, we should end up in the same place! And since you just promised to carry my things, you should have absolutely no problem carrying me ♪
[He talks at a mile a minute, same as usual, and by the end, he's cheered right up. Never mind the fact his plan has several holes in it. He cheerfully continues,]
You know what pleases me by now, don't you? A shopping trip or a spa appointment would be just the thing to lift my spirits up. But those cost money and they've cut off access to my bank account, if you can believe it, so I might just have to settle for you giving me a shoulder rub. Anyway, that's what I've been up to, but what about you, Jun-kun? Just what have you been doing?
[Please tell him Jun hasn't just been canoodling with the person he woke up in bed with. Then we'll have to break out the silly icon again!]
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Okay, so some people just decided to up and travel out here? Think those are the people we should be lookin' for, right? Starting to sound like those people are flaunting their wealth just 'cause they can. [ Kind of like someone else he knows! ] But if those cars got in, there's gotta be a way out, so maybe there's a trap door? It sounds like they don't want us to know unless they drive around the resort in 'em for fun.
[ Perhaps that is exactly what they do, but Jun doesn't seem convinced. This sounds exactly like rich people doing rich things; even though the resort is large, would anyone really be that bored? Jun
But from this, it does surprise Jun how much Hiyori's been looking and searching for an exit, especially as he hasn't, while he probably should have. He's been doing more, leaving Jun a little embarrassed, but there's a reason for that! He rubs briefly at his temple, sighing after.
But what, are they Crazy:B now? ]
Well, just don't go walkin' off on your own, Ohii-san. 'Cause you'll get lost again, and it's gonna be annoying to deal with. But I've never really heard of a place that wants to get you lost. You could be imagining that. Maybe if Crazy:B were here, we could ask 'em. They did that labyrinth thing before, right?
[ Jun definitely should consider putting a tracker on him for safety. And when Jun believed things couldn't possibly get any worse, along comes Ohii-san with the most absurd idea ever. ]
First of all, where are we gonna get binoculars from? I doubt they're handing those out freely. They'll probably cost chips, Ohii-san. Second of all, I'm not gonna carry you down a hallway. D'you know how tiring that'll be? I really need you to think before you speak.
[ He sighs again, a little exasperated. It sounds tiring and exhausting, and Jun doesn't want to carry him all that time. He did say it would take hours to find the rooftop, so Jun's going to pass on that one. ]
Wow, what are you gonna do without the spa or a shopping trip? I'm sooo sorry that's happened to you and all, Ohii-san, but we're not meant to be here for that reason. But if that's what you want, sure, just don't complain about it later, alright? As for me, not much. Like I said before, I woke up, left and went to find the gym. Was there for a couple of hours, came here and found you.
[ He's not going to say that he spent so long at the gym due to him feeling anxious again—that's how the old Jun would have felt. But perhaps this place did make him anxious, especially waking up next to a stranger. And he needed a new outfit besides the wedding suit, though he doesn't mention that to Hiyori either. ]
That's pretty much it, nothing as exciting as you. Sounds like you've been doing too much.
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[He says, like he didn't just unleash an avalanche of words on Jun. Some might say he talks too much, or that he talks too fast. But to them, Hiyori would simply say, "Too bad!" This is how he talks, they might as well get used to it!]
But yes, as far as I can tell, this is an actual resort. It's not like the ryokan we stayed at, which was reserved only for ES idols. And several of the people I've talked to don't seem to have any connection to idols, or the entertainment industry. Which means something bigger than just the SS Committee is pulling the strings here. I'm still not convinced "that" man wasn't responsible for our ending up here, though. And there's also something strange about those "regular guests" that I can't quite place my finger on...
[He trails off, thinking about some exchanges he's had. It's not just that the guests here love drowning in luxury—rather, it's like they're living in their own little world, their own society with its own language and its own set of rules. They talk about ranks, and they call him names like "wildcard!" Which sounds like a lot of nonsense, but then again, it's not like his own noble family doesn't have its own set of traditions, including rituals that might look strange to an outsider. Take the noble game of clamming, for instance...
At the mention of the labyrinth, he nods in recognition.]
Ah, that thing. Rinne-senpai said it was quite the ordeal he put them through. But I haven't seen him anywhere, even though this sounds like just the place for him. Apparently there's some big casino, but I have absolutely no interest in gambling, so I haven't checked that out.
[Let's just say he hasn't run into Rinne yet in this continuity, since if he had, he would've mentioned that by now.
Also, time for him to get all huffy again. As Jun makes fun of his idea without even considering it, his eyes narrow into a sharp glare!]
I wasn't asking you to carry me in the hall! I said on the rooftop, so I could look at our surroundings! And what makes you think they don't sell binoculars? There's an awfully large number of stores, so they ought to be selling something along those lines. And as for those "chips," we won't need those once we leave this place, so it should be fine to spend them on something useful!
[He crosses his arms, refusing to give up on his idea just yet. Not that he's suggesting they go now—he does want some time to relax. And getting a relaxing massage from Jun-kun seems like the best way to achieve that at the moment, given his lack of funds! But first, he listens to Jun's explanation about what he's been doing since he got here. And the answer is...]
The gym?
[He repeats the word in disbelief, before shaking his head.]
You and your muscle training... Honestly, don't you think about anything else? I'd say your priorities desperately need reordering.
[Says the guy who was just about to put on a one-man fashion show in front of the dressing room mirror... If it's any consolation, though, his words lack bite. He might even sound just a tad relieved. Better for Jun to be at the gym than in bed with his fake spouse, that's for sure.]
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An actual resort, huh? Yeah, it's nothing like the Ryokan. For starters, it's louder and brighter and there's gambling. But I haven't told anyone I'm an idol yet, except one person, but she didn't understand. I've got my doubts, but least you've got more outta people here. I can't get any information outta anyone, or maybe I've been askin' the wrong people. I think if they were responsible, there'd be more of us here, or maybe they've got something against Eve. You've noticed that, too? I felt a little weird 'bout the ones looking at us earlier.
[ Maybe they don't want Eden to win SS, that's another option to consider. However, the only other instance he's encountered patrons shouting things was in the restrooms, and that was already strange. Why do they care what Wildcards do here? Jun isn't very interested in finding out. ]
Yeah, so maybe it's like that, but different? You talked about the thread and all, and I'm sure they'd help us out if we had to complete a trial. But the casino? Yeah, I've been down there. I kinda expected Rinne-senpai to pop up from nowhere and loudly yell 'bout placing bets.
[ And whatever else people do in casinos, all the bright lights give him a headache. Besides with many of the residents yelling obscenities, he wanted to stay far away from the floor.
Jun sighed, realising that he either misheard or Ohii-san had been speaking too quickly for his brain to process. ]
Fine, the rooftop. If it's just gonna be the rooftop, I'll do it. You don't have to get all huffy! And I dunno, now I'm thinking 'bout it, the more it makes sense they might. That's probably what some people here are into, right? Spyin' on others through binoculars. And right, I'll buy 'em if we ever come across 'em, 'cause I probably have more chips, anyway.
[ He nods slightly, attempting to show some willingness to entertain the idea. Even though it seems absurd, it's the only option available, while Jun's previous suggestion has already been dismissed. He doesn't have the motivation to deal with it at the moment, so he's relieved Hiyori isn't insisting they leave right now. For once, he can relax and worry about it another time. And he's uncertain when he'll have to give his partner a massage, so that's another concern for after this. ]
... Yeah? My only other option was the suite, Ohii-san, so I'd say my priorities aren't so bad.
[ He blinks, as if the answer sounds surprising, brows easing up given there's been little else for Jun to do here. And despite the circumstances, he had no desire to return to the suite, even if his fake spouse was pleasant. No matter how Jun tried to rationalize it, the situation seemed bleak. Although Ohii-san's words lacked any harshness, Jun secretly wished he had considered an escape plan, though his training had lifted his spirits. It takes a moment for him to register the sense of relief, but Jun ultimately shares the same sentiment. ]
'Sides isn't your priority shopping? You can't really complain 'bout mine.
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[They didn't enter SS as Eve, they entered as Eden. And then they got snatched just days before the main competition was set to start—right before he could ask Jun to distribute the oracles. A coincidence? No, surely it couldn't be. But why this place, where all these non-idols have also been kidnapped to? What's the grand conspiracy here?
But maybe there is no grand purpose; maybe Gatekeeper or whoever just needed them out of the way, and happened to have connections to whoever runs this place. Then again, given the name of the game, there's another nasty explanation.
One that Jun manages to hit upon with his comments about the binoculars. Hiyori's eyebrows jump, and then he wrinkles his nose, his cheeks turning hot.]
Ugh, don't say that! You're probably right, but I do not want to think about that!
[More like Jun's definitely right. If all they have to do to play that "game" is get some girl or whoever to come back to their room with them, how would anyone know they're actually playing properly? They could just be having a tea party in there. In order to know if they're "playing," someone must be watching. This is totally a voyeurism exercise! Which would be creepy (and illegal) in any circumstance, but them being idols just adds another terrible dimension.
Blackmail, that is.
Or tabloid fodder, or whatever you want to call it. Being caught participating in this "game" could destroy both their careers.
And when he thinks about some of the other people he's met, and how they claimed to have fancy-sounding titles back home, he wonders if that might not be the connecting thread.
It's all deeply unpleasant. Too much to wrap his head around; too much to bear. His thoughts feel clouded, a heavy weight bearing down on his shoulders. If he keeps lingering over how miserable things are, he might just get swallowed by darkness.
So, instead of countering Jun's comment about his priorities, he simply nods in acknowledgement.]
That's right. After spending all of yesterday spinning my wheels, I wanted to catch a break from things. It does no good to mope around, after all, no matter how dire the circumstance. I suppose that must be why you went to the gym. And I'm sure things have been even harder for you, since you don't even have your "security blanket"—that is, your Jin Sagami poster! So, now that we've found each other, let's try to strike a balance.
[He swings his fist decisively in the air, assuming a commanding tone again. Looks like he's got some of his cheer back, at least.]
We'll relax and see what this place has to offer, while taking note of any possible escape routes. But we'll alternate that with gathering more information and trying to get out of here! How does that sound?
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[ So being aware that someone is intentionally sabotaging them and the SS Finals, but so far, this has been an incredibly confusing journey from beginning to end. The strange ordeal that Hiyori has been through only adds to the confusion. However, Jun wonders what it would mean if non-idols were involved. Could it be a cover story for Eden? Despite all the uncertainty, one thing Jun is certain of is that Ibara, with his knack for finding solutions, is surely devising a plan to rescue them.
It's funny how the thought of the binoculars resurfaces, making him wonder why he even entertained it in the first place. He shouldn't allow this place to best him. ]
... yeah, I shoulda kept that to myself.
[ It was a bit crude for him to blurt it out, but that implies that one of those specialty stores must sell them. He never really considered it until now, but this place continues to toy with everyone. The longer he avoids thinking about playing the game, the better. It's just too overwhelming to contemplate.
Girls were strictly forbidden from entering the Starmony Dorms, so maybe if they keep that rule in mind, it'll be easy to debunk anyone! Yep, that's the logical approach. But what if the watch is somehow connected to all of this? And somehow the watch knows what they do. All he knows is that he doesn't want either of them to participate in this "Game 52." Despite the people he's encountered himself, he's confident they can handle themselves. Some even expressed a desire to play the game, but he couldn't fathom why.
Or why it was such a hot commodity.
He's busy thinking about that until Hiyori begins talking again, which begs the question: how did he know Jun no longer has the poster? His "severity blanket" as he once put it. He frowns, another point to this he hadn't wanted to think about. There's a small pang in his chest because he hasn't been sleeping too well without the poster of Jin. Not that he's not said anything about it, but his head hangs a little low once Hiyori finishes his spiel.
Is it possible that Ohii-san is missing something other than just money in his bank account? Jun can't help but briefly think about Mary before quickly dismissing the thought. He wants this reunion to be an optimistic one, so he decides not to mention her for now. ]
I'll just entertain it for today, 'cause we've got a lotta stuff to plan out if we're gonna get outta here. And how'd you know I don't have it here? It's not obvious I've not been sleeping real well, is it, Ohii-san?
[ Finding the right equilibrium is key, even if he's a bit uncertain about the details. However, the solid plan is reassuring, like a rock, and Jun feels himself easing up a bit more. ]
Sounds good to me! I'm actually relieved hearin' you say all that, 'cause we can't just sit around and do nothing. You think there's a way to figure out who made these watches?
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[But it's still an oddity, and a rather jarring one. He's not used to this world where his celebrity holds no weight. And not just his celebrity, but also his wealth (which he doesn't have access to) and his family name (no one here has ever heard of the Tomoe clan.) Everyone just keeps calling him a "wildcard," which makes absolutely no sense. It feels like a denial of his very self; a denial of his very place in the world. Any more of this, and he might start to lose his grip on things.
That was how he felt... until Jun, the other half of "two souls in one" showed up. His arrival brought with it a cacophony of complicated feelings: shock at the sight of him; anger at their kidnappers for taking him; worry about what might happen in a place like this. But it also brought relief, easing the loneliness inside Hiyori's heart. With Jun here, he feels more comfortable. More "himself." He has someone he can talk to now, someone he can rely on.
Perhaps Jun isn't the only one who keeps a security blanket.
Speaking of which, Hiyori's reasoning is straightforward.]
This isn't the dorms. They didn't let you keep any personal possessions, did they? I don't have anything of mine here.
[A pause, and then he smirks.]
Except you, of course! ♪
[Yep. After making a similar comment earlier, he couldn't resist doing it again! But behind the obnoxious tone and smug smile lies a genuine gladness. He doesn't want Jun in a place like this, but he's truly glad to see his face again.
... almost a bit too glad. It's sort of embarrassing, really.
But anyway. Time to focus on other stuff.]
We could ask around, I suppose. Or go into one of the shops—there must be some that sell watches. They have all kinds of stores here, including some you couldn't pay me to enter.
[The sex shops. He's talking about the sex shops.]
But even if we found out who the manufacturer was, I'm not sure that information would be useful. The real culprit is whoever programmed them with those messages. If we can figure out who wrote those, that should bring us one step closer to solving the puzzle.
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[ Eden, despite their fame, remains an anomaly here. Even Jun acknowledges this fact. Now they've taken a step towards salvaging their careers, there's a small amount of victory there. Hopefully, Hiyori isn't showing off his (lack of) wealth to others, as that would surely cause some trouble in this place where luxury is highly valued.
And Jun doesn't place much value on material possessions, so he doesn't mind sharing his chips with Hiyori. He's relieved to have Hiyori around, maybe even more than he realises. Maybe somewhere along the way, his partner became a comfort to him, another security blanket in this unknown world. His initial guilt about marriage has been resolved, but he still feels guilty about being away and causing worry for those back home.
Every time that comment is made, a faint blush creeps up his cheeks, and he shoots a glance at his partner. Despite hearing those remarks countless times, the surprise never fails to catch him off guard. Yet, deep down, there's a certain warmth in being regarded as Hiyori's "possession" - it's comforting to know that he's genuinely happy to see him. And now, Jun can't help but feel the same way. ]
Nah, they didn't! And you've really gotta stop sayin' things like that, Ohii-san! I've toldja already today.
[ He's!!! Not!! Blushing!!! It's a trick of the light and a trick of being caught off-guard again by his partner's smirk, and boisterous voice.
Despite his reluctance to step foot into any of those shops, he understands Hiyori's words perfectly well. It seems he shares the same aversion towards speaking the names of those stores. ]
... I'd rather avoid going anywhere near those stores, so we're on the same page. There's gotta be something on the back of the watches or in the programming somewhere. 'cept when I tried removing mine, it wouldn't budge.
[ They look the same as the Ap*le W*tch*s back home, but they can't be. ]
You said something 'bout asking around! I'd say I'm a lil' hesitant 'cause who're we gonna ask? D'you think the staff here'd tell us anything if they're hired by whoever's running this place?
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[He's registered as a guest whether he likes it or not (and the answer most certainly is "not.") But there's no sense in fretting about what's already happened and can't be taken back. They ought to be on-guard so nothing worse does.
But even if they keep up their guards, someone could just steal them away in their sleep. It's happened once; it could surely happen again. What should they be doing in the meantime, to protect against that?
It's very worrisome. No wonder Jun is having trouble sleeping.
Regardless of Jun's embarrassed denials, though (which only earn a blithe smile from Hiyori), Hiyori does consider Jun "his." He's not an object or a piece of property like Hiyori sometimes jokes about, but Jun is his partner and his junior. He'll do anything he can to protect him. Anything at all to help him...
Still, the question remains: what can they do in this situation?
The watches aren't removable, so Jun's idea wouldn't work, and his own idea was also pretty flawed. His shoulders sag when Jun points that out.]
I wouldn't assume the entire staff is in on it. It's hard to believe every person who works here knows we've been kidnapped and is fine with it.
[All the same, he looks deflated. If they are in on this, then how big is the conspiracy, exactly?
It's a lot bigger than just Gatekeeper. Bigger, even, than whatever Nagisa imagined. It means they're up against truly insurmountable odds.
Yet even still, he refuses to give up. Otherwise, what would he have left? Forcing some cheer back into his voice, he continues to share his thoughts.]
But whichever one it is, we might be able to get some information out of them. If they're dupes, they might tell us the watch's model without thinking twice about it. And if they are in on things, then they might have even more useful information. Perhaps we can bribe them to share a thing or two. I can't imagine they're that well-paid.
[Where they'll get the collateral to bribe people with is a separate issue.]
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[ The only alternative would be if they somehow monitored everyone here before taking them to the resort. However, that seems quite eerie and intrusive, and their fans were not like that.
And the strange fact that they were snatched from their beds, only to wake up after arriving here. How could someone abduct them from the dorms with them so heavily guarded? It's almost as if they're stuck inside a mystery manga, with scarce answers available. Delving too deep into this has Jun feeling uneasy, numerous unanswered questions lingering in his mind, knowing he may never uncover the truth.
And not only that, managing to steal two idols away so easily.
Overall, even though Hiyori is grabbing what's rightfully his, he's relieved they're together. He understands it would be much worse if one of them were alone, regardless of the situation, his expression darkens after Hiyori finishes his spiel.
Who wouldn't be upset with numerous people being abducted? There must be a reasonable explanation for all of this. ]
You'd think so, even I'd prefer thinkin' some of the staff here might feel bad 'bout this.
[ It's a good explanation because shouldn't one person be upset with whatever and whoever is abducting all these people? If he was in any of the staff's shoes, he wouldn't want to go along with it, but who's to say what happens to those people if no one can leave anyway? Maybe they're stuck inside a mystery manga, after all.
.... Wait, did he hear Ohii-san wants to bribe the staff!? He blinks a handful of times, gently shaking his head. ]
Hmm, asking the staff 'bout the watches. D'you think they're the ones makin' them, or slapping 'em on us? And Ohii-san, we can't go 'round bribing people like that. Where's something like that gonna get us?
[ It's a bit unsettling for him, not knowing what kind of incentives they might offer in a community where everyone is expected to engage in sexual activities. ]
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[Isn't that lovely thought? Then, a bit more seriously,]
Or they've been following the SS Competition.
[He still thinks it's probably that. The timing is too coincidental for it to be anything else. Of course, whoever ordered their kidnapping and whoever actually did it could very well be two different people (or three or four or five different people). Crime lords tend to have hired "muscle" who do the dirty work for them, don't they? And that seems just like Gatekeeper's style.
He watches while Jun mulls over the issue of the resort staff. Of course, Jun wants to believe the best of them, since he's a good boy at heart. Hiyori knows there are plenty of rotten people in the world, but in a resort this huge, there's a ton of staff. Isn't it a bit much to think they're all in on the kidnapping? At the very least, that's a lot of people to keep quiet...]
I'm guessing whoever put the watches on is the same person who kidnapped us. And the same one who changed our clothes for us, too.
[Boy, did he hate the outfit he woke up in.]
But I suppose there's no telling who did all that, unless someone woke up during it, or it was all caught on camera somewhere. ... I wonder if there's a big information room where all the cameras are gathered?
[Kind of like the one at ES where Jun's friend Makoto hangs out in. But before he can spend much longer musing about that, Jun objects to his bribery idea, which makes him a frown a little. What sort of offering did Jun imagine him making?]
It was just a thought. I don't like bribes, either. But although I hate to say it, our enemy is playing dirty, so we may have to fight fire with fire to a degree—obviously nothing that would compromise our reputation, though. But there's no need to resort to bribes yet—first, we might as well chat them up and see where that gets us. Maybe I can try the ones who work at boutiques, and you can try the ones that sell athletic clothes and such! How does that sound?
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[ (Jun definitely means accessible.)
But regarding that thought, Bogie Time was a fair while ago, as was the time he played the hyena prince, but Hiyori's often in magazines, isn't he? They usually are as Eve anyway. Either way, he's in agreement; it must be someone closely watching SS, but could someone closely related to Gatekeeper be responsible? If not GK himself, then who? Where was Ibara when you needed him most? He'd have an answer for this.
The mob business always has Jun's head in a tizzy; he usually doesn't pay much attention to what's happening in the background, but now that he's deeply involved, it's important to understand! Especially crucial as they prepare to compete in SS and aim to win the competition. ]
Yeah, but I'm pretty curious how they even made it into the dorms. It can't be explained; I'm thinkin' too hard 'bout it. It's not like they could teleport into our rooms, like in some fantasy anime.
[ As much as that might explain something, with the few things Jun knows about the security in ES and the dorms, he doesn't know how anyone would get past that. (Unless they pulled a Mayoi and came in from the vents.)
So he can't help but think the best of people here, that they'd not want to go against their employer unless they've been rightfully wronged. If only he could think more along the lines of Hiyori, who had no problem thinking that of people. ]
Unless they did somethin' to us to make sure we didn't wake up, 'cause how's it possible so many of us didn't know? Resorts usually have cameras, right? Hotels usually do, but only Yuuki-san'd know where that's at; or what to look for. He's the one good with that sorta stuff.
[ Jun can't help but feel guilty about his thoughts on Makoto; he doesn't want him around, yet he knows his skills could come in handy. They may be thinking alike, but Jun is clueless about where to find those rooms or how to utilise them. Perhaps Makoto's "streaming" skills could also be of use. He wouldn't wish his friend here, though, so the thought lingers and then leaves.
The answer is definitely "not a positive one." He's against Hiyori offering bribes for him, and he doubts that many would accept chips as bribes. The thought stayed unexpected for him to even consider that Hiyori would go against their agreement not to play! ]
I know, but it's not gonna get to that. Doin' something that could ruin our reputation isn't worth it, Ohii-san. I'd prefer staying here and not playing along if it meant we could keep our careers, or that's what I want for you. But yeah, we could do that! I'd prefer going into athletic stores over boutiques; that's more your thing. I'm already feeling outta place here...
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[Ah, deja vu.
It's true that he can't even begin to guess how their captors bypassed security. He'd been more focused on the logistics of other stuff—transporting them to the resort and changing their clothes without them waking up, for example. But that part is equally puzzling.
Unless...]
They wouldn't have to teleport if they were someone connected to ES.
[Not one of his fellow idols. He doesn't suspect that. Only Eichi has the resources and money to pull this off, and he knows Eichi wouldn't dare sabotage SS. Yes, Eichi must surely want to win against Eden and the others, but more than he loves winning, Eichi is someone who loves idols and wants to spread that love all over the world. He wants the program to be a success, no doubt, after the Tenshouin Conglomerate poured so much money into it. And he'd never want to tarnish the image of pure "idols" that he loves so much. They can rule out Eichi-kun.
But they can't rule out Gatekeeper, or anyone else he's connected with. What are the chances it was anyone else?]
I know this place has cameras. I wish it didn't, but I'm sure it does. So then I suppose it's just a matter of where to find them. That sort of room wouldn't normally be accessible to guests, and it wasn't on that map they handed out, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The sort of people who would have access would probably be security guards, so if we found one of those to tail, we might get somewhere.
[Another point in favor of bribing the staff. Which Jun seems very adamant about him not doing. He raises one eyebrow; what did Jun think he meant by bribery?]
You know the sort of bribes I was talking about, right? The Tomoe Foundation runs a few different businesses, so it's never hard to set someone up with a job. If you promise better pay and benefits, most people will turn on their current employer. Especially when they're just doing grunt work, and their employer's involved in some shady illegal scheme.
But anyway, first we ought to talk to them. This is where we split up, I guess. Or so I'd say, but you came to this store for a reason, didn't you? You weren't here looking for me like a lost puppy, were you? That's awfully cute if you were ♪
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[ No, it wasn't!
It's almost exciting to understand how this place operates, especially given the circumstances. It's beginning to feel something close to a detective manga or anime, not that those genres are Jun's favourite, but he's read enough to (believe) that he's some expert. Maybe leaving it to the professionals who were skilled in hacking and similar capabilities, would be better, but chatting about it with Hiyori has sparked his curiosity. ]
It's... I guess that makes sense. Who'd let them in, though?
[ From what he understands, he doesn't think Eichi would, even if he doesn't know him all that well. Ibara wouldn't. So maybe the only logical answer is Gatekeeper, something they've already established. He'd rather not entertain the thought of someone intentionally trying to sabotage Eden, even if this isn't the first sabotage. ]
Any sorta place like this does, right? Even more creepy this place has 'em. It's gotta make sense that's how it goes, 'cause they probably don't want people finding out. How're meant to look for security guards? I haven't seen one since I got here, unless you've gotta do somethin' real bad first.
[ He now regrets jumping to conclusions about it being a form of bribery, despite knowing about the Tomoe Foundation's business activities. Why would the people here even care about that? He's hesitant to burst Hiyori's bubble, but... ]
Wait, you're serious 'bout this? Are you really gonna offer 'em a job with one of the Tomoe Foundation's businesses?
... yeah, I'd rather you talk to 'em first before you go off and offer something like that, Ohii-san. Jeez, I didn't even know you were here! How was I meant to go looking 'round for you if I didn't know that? You're not making any sense, 'cause I came here lookin' for clothes, not for you.
[ Sure if he did know Hiyori was here, this would be the first place to look. ]
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Ah, I'm one step ahead of you there. There were security guards in the garage! Though they were just milling around and not really doing much of anything. And I was expecting to see more, given how expensive the cars were. Perhaps that does mean there are people monitoring the garage from a computer room somewhere? Anyway, if we want to tail a guard, we might as well start there.
[There's another option that occurs to him: sneaking into some more staff-only areas. They might just find security there, or even some management offices. But that's obviously more dangerous, so he'll opt to go back to the garage.
He pouts a bit as Jun expresses his dislike for the bribe idea (again)—]
That was just a last resort in case no one's willing to tell us anything! Of course I'll talk to them first.
[—but lets it go, since this is all hypothetical anyway.]
Ah, you were here to shop too, huh? This place does have rather nice clothes, though it also has some over-the-top stuff even I wouldn't wear. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough of those "chip" things for me to buy all that I'd like to buy. I honestly don't feel comfortable buying much of anything, given that food isn't free, either. Which is an absolute outrage, since I never thought I'd have to hold back! If you're going to hold us hostage, the least you could do is feed us!
[He puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head. As though that's the most outrageous thing going on here, and not literally everything else.]
You weren't given more of those "chip" things than I was, were you? I was only given what I might spend during a couple of shopping trips, which isn't nearly enough...
[In reality, he was given a medium payout just like all the new arrivals. Also, what Hiyori spends during the average shopping trip isn't at all the same as what a normal middle-class person might spend, but Jun surely already knows that.]
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