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

[lieindespair]

So... strictly business then, huh? I mean, has he ever done anything nice for you? Bought you chocolate or a hairclip at least?

[brain_empty]

...Maybe!

Maybe...

[lieindespair]

Maybe? You don't know?

[ He points to the book. ]

Something like that would probably have a whole dedicated page, wouldn't it? Like a diary entry or something?

[brain_empty]

Well... like I said, I can't really take notes while the sessions are happening.

But, I do have this!

[She turns the pages to yet more sketches and writing his name and general hearts and other symbols everywhere. Nothing that actually says "Yasuke did this for me"]

[lieindespair]

Hm...

[ She really is purely lovestruck, isn't she? It's a bit pathetic if he's being honest. He manages a smile on seeing how proud she is of her drawings and the cute little notes that she left for herself. ]

Y'know what? That's real sweet. And I bet he's got one just like that somewhere, but he has to stay professional, you know? He can't let you know. That explains everything.

[brain_empty]

You really think so?!

[She really is stupidly ditzy for Yasuke. HMM...]

[lieindespair]

[ It's an easy lie to tell, one of the easiest for him, actually. Telling people what they want to hear is just stupidly easy, and it gets him on their good side. ]

Sure. I mean, after all, you're Childhood friends! You said it yourself it's practically destiny, and I can't think of anything more romantic. He must focus on other things outside of his work, right? He probably counts the minutes until he gets to see you again... but how tragic it is that he can't act on those feelings. A shame, really.

[brain_empty]

Oh my God, you're so right, Kokichi!

[She's outright back to reading the part where it says: "Remember, he lies!" but he's absolutely right: telling people what they want to believe is the easiest lie to tell.]

He's probably looking forward to our meetings just as much as I am... if not, more!

Ahh.... I'm gonna tell him he can schedule more and more!

[lieindespair]

[ How sad. But hey, if that means that he can get to work curing her condition, then maybe it's for the best, right? ]

Maybe you should. He's probably too shy to schedule them himself. After all, he probably doesn't want you to think that he's weird or anything like that. Maybe he doesn't want to scare you off, either.

[brain_empty]

He could never scare me off.

[She lets out a long contented sigh, easing back in her seat, imagining she's back in the lab...]

[lieindespair]

Well he doesn't know that. After all, he's just a guy like any other.

[ He smiles and pulls his phone out to check the time. ]

Didn't you say you had an appointment at some point today, too? Or were you just wondering aloud earlier?

[brain_empty]

[She flips to her to-do list.]

It's... tomorrow. But, I could go now! I could even bring you to meet him, if you really want!

[lieindespair]

Me?

[ He spreads his hands and laughs a little nervously. ]

No, no. Remember what we said earlier about me having a reputation? I'd hate for it to make him think lesser of you because you spent time with me.

Besides, that's your special time with him! It's sacred.

[brain_empty]

He wouldn't do that! ...Would he?

[blinks. Blinks again. Looks down at her notebook.]

Um... well, there's worse people I could bring?

[lieindespair]

[ Kokichi shrugs ]

In any case, I appreciate the invitation but I think I'll pass. I don't get along well with serious people like that.

[brain_empty]

[If she remembers anything, it's that 'serious' is definitely an adjective that applies to Yasuke.]

Good point.

[lieindespair]

You, however, are sure to be a bright beam of sunshine on his otherwise cloudy and dismal world. In fact, do you think he's eaten? He must work very hard, right? You could even bring him lunch.

[brain_empty]

Hm... that's true. He might appreciate something he could eat without dirtying his work area.

[lieindespair]

See? There you go. So thoughtful and sweet. He's lucky to have someone like you on his side.

[brain_empty]

[Was it a point he was still feeding her lies or just him trying to make her feel nothing but happy emotions?]

No! No, I'm lucky to have him! But... no, he is lucky to have me, too! We'll be the most lucky people in all of... of...

[She stops, skips through her notebook]

...Hope's Peak Academy!

[lieindespair]

[ Something about her pause to look up the school's name makes him laugh. He hopes for her sake that she's right about him, though he's got very little stake in the whole affair to begin with. ]

Well then hopefully you two can have each other. I mean it.

[brain_empty]

[she skips back to the notes about Kokichi and writes: "Kokichi: new best friend forever."]

Forever and ever...