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]

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. ]

[brain_empty]

I have never once played a board game in my entire life.

[lieindespair]

Huh? Really? How do you know? What if you're secretly a chess grandmaster or something? You could have a super secret hidden talent and not even know it!

[brain_empty]

...

Let's try it.

[lieindespair]

Try it? What, Othello? Chess?

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

Weren't you supposed to go see your boyfriend or something?

[brain_empty]

[time to check her notebook!]

No, that's tomorrow. And... he's not my boyfriend. He's just... an important person.

[lieindespair]

Well, if you're gonna recruit him for me, you should tell me more about him. I'll be honest, I don't really have much reason to get my head checked, so I don't really get to talk to him all that often.

You however see him a lot. You must have some idea of what he's about hm?

[brain_empty]

Of course I do! I know everything about him!

[...does she?]

[lieindespair]

Oh? Is that so?

[ He folds his hands behind his head. ]

What kind of food does he like? Do you know his birthday?

[brain_empty]

... I'm his best friend in the world from childhood! Not his cook or... birthday reminderer!

[lieindespair]

Huh? Seriously? Didn't you ever go to a birthday party or get him a gift for his birthday? Talk about your favorite foods even once? That seems pretty suspicious to me.

[brain_empty]

...I don't remember it.

[she blushes, not in a hurry to admit it]

But that's fine. I can remember my feelings about him so that's just small stuff.

[lieindespair]

I guess so. But can you reeeeally love someone if you don't know a thing about them?

[brain_empty]

Yes! Of course you can!

[lieindespair]

But you don't actually know them. You just know how they make you feel. It's no different than being smitten with a serial killer in passing. Is it really love? Or just infatuation?

[ He pauses. ]

Do you love him?

[brain_empty]

...

[there's a pen tap against her lip.]

Some of the happiest times I have are when I go to the neurology room. While he waits for me, Yasuke lies down on the seat I'm going to lie down in for my treatments. So I get to just be... enveloped... by his scent.

I worry he'll cure me because then I wouldn't have to go or see him.