test drive 1

[brain_empty]

[Ryoko Otonashi, Ultimate Forgetful Girl (maybe?) was walking through Hope's Peak Academy open square. Dorms, class buildings, and cafeteria and convenience store all accessible. She didn't particularly stand out at all except...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She checked her notebook, nodded, then kept going, for about another minute before...]

...Why am I walking here?

[She peeked down again. Some students nearby tried to wave, but they were ignored. She had a problem and any distractions would delay her more than what was already happening.

Unfortunately for Ryoko, it was a terrible problem that was stopping the traffic more than it reasonably should've, and soon people learned just not to walk behind her or around her at all.]

Comments

[brain_empty]

You want to ask Yasuke if I'm faking it?

[lieindespair]

No thanks. Sheesh, lighten up, can't you tell when someone's just fucking with you?

[brain_empty]

No, I just thought... it might be a fair question. I can't explain what's inside my own brain, can I? I myself don't remember not remembering things, until I realize there's some sort of discrepancy in what's happening around me from what I'm doing. But, from your point of view, it might look like I'm just a big liar who's... constantly keeping track of things.

But... that's not true, right? You were just fucking with me, right?

[she looks down, to her notebook.]

Am I a fraud...? No... if I was a fraud, then what happened to the rest of my memories...?

[lieindespair]

[ He considers for a moment on how to answer. Sure enough, he gives her a big grin. ]

Duh. It's so easy to fuck with the naive, you know. And a LOT of fun, too!

[As to whether or not he actually believes this truly... is a mystery. ]

1/2

[brain_empty]

[Despite his admission she looks down, as if she's having a true existential crisis. Her face a twisted expression of shock, horror, and... anger. Slowly growing more intense...]

[brain_empty]

[...until it disappears utterly when she looks up again.]

Um. [She flips back.] ...Yes, I guess I really do think that, Kokichi. That you treat me like just another human being.

[She smiles back.]

[lieindespair]

[ What was that look on her face? Did he say something weird? Say something to upset her? He watches her carefully and takes another drink from his soda, saying nothing for the time being. ]

Well you are, aren't you? I don't see a crown on your head or a parade of monks following you or anything. Why shouldn't you be treated just like everyone else?

That includes being fucked with. Expect it some more.

[brain_empty]

...Right. That's right! So it's not a crazy thing at all.

[she's back to writing]

Oh yeah? Well... then you'd better expect it right back!

[lieindespair]

Please. As if you'd actually be able to fuck with me like that. I'm the king of fucking with people. Being able to actually get me like that is gonna be quite a task, you know. Ask anyone, they'll tell you exactly what they think about me when it comes to that.

[brain_empty]

Okay, I'll go ask.

[She starts to stand up.]

[lieindespair]

Huh? You're actually going to do it right now?

[ He snorts and laughs out loud. He's sure she won't like any of the answers she hears but hey, he did suggest it, and there's really nothing he can do to stop her. And he'd be silly to think he doesn't have a reputation, after all. ]

[brain_empty]

[She glances between the three groups, then approaches the boys who were snickering at them both earlier.]

Hey! Can I ask you something...?

[They get weird expressions on their faces. As if a goldfish had come up to them and started talking to them. But, it seems they answer a little bit, while Ryoko's pen moves to take notes..]

[lieindespair]

[ Kokichi watches with a vague interest, already having a fairly good idea about the type of things they're going to say about him, very few of them nice if any. It's not an uncommon thought amongst his peers, he knows. And that's okay. He doesn't mind it all that much. If it makes him harder for other people to approach him, then all the better. ]

[brain_empty]

[The talk doesn't take long. Less than a minute. But, Ryoko makes her way back and retakes her seat.]

--I'm reminded now of why I don't usually talk to people.

[lieindespair]

[ When she rejoins him, he raises an eyebrow at what she says, surprised she wasn't gloating about him being terrible already. ]

That bad, huh? They hit on you or something?

[brain_empty]

I would've reacted much stronger than that!

They just got nervous and made excuses that aren't worth remembering. They are clearly spineless worms and unworthy of your organization, Sire.

[lieindespair]

[ Well, he might be the king of fucking with people, but even he's not immune to compliments and flattery. In fact, he looks quite smug about it. ]

Yeah, recruiting is pretty strict. We won't take just anyone, you know. I require a certain amount of... intellect from those in my employ. I'm very particular.

[brain_empty]

Wait a minute...

Are you trying to subtly recruit Yasuke for you?

Oh my God, it would make so much sense... No one's smarter than Yasuke!

[lieindespair]

Well, there would be no one better to do it, don't you think?

[ Truthfully, he can't see a use for someone like him, but it's fun to give her a bit of inflated importance. ]

After all, someone like him could help me create the perfect soldier, don't you think?

[brain_empty]

This is blowing my mind...

All the pieces suddenly fit.

I knew your organization was evil, and an organization, but I didn't know it was that level of an evil organization!

[lieindespair]

[ He stares for a long moment, blinking, trying to see if she was messing with him at all. Again, he has a reputation to maintain. ]

Of course. What exactly did you expect from someone like me?

[brain_empty]

...A game of othello.

[lieindespair]

Othello?

[ Well now, that catches him off-guard and he breaks out into another raucous bout of laughter. ]

Yep! That's it! You solved the mystery! Good job!

[brain_empty]

[she smiles and laughs a bit too.]

We should try it sometime! I'll do better than you'd think.

[lieindespair]

You think so? You like to play board games? That could be interesting.

[ He does enjoy a good strategy board game, so something like that could be fun to play with her. ]