[ he'll take her arm for support! off to the bench they go. he'll take a seat and try to catch his breath, though it's surprisingly not helping ]
Are... you okay?
[ like is she having no problems breathing? it doesn't seem like it but he should ask. also his foot is getting really itchy?? is it rude to take off his shoes in front of someone?? maybe his socks are not on properly (also wet socks are the worst but does it matter when you're completely underwater? these are the real questions) so he will actually start to untie one of his shoes right now ]
I'm fine. [ Besides, she's so worried about Naegi that if her breathing was a little off it's not something she would notice right away. But for now, she feels okay. Being here doesn't feel so different from being back in the city, at least with this air bubble.
She watches him untie one of his shoes, and a million different possibilities run through her mind. Did he sprain an ankle? Did something get in his shoe? Both would be unlikely given where they are but still... ]
[ as he finishes untieing one of his shoes, he begins to take it off to inspect his foot ]
It doesn't really hurt. It just feels really weird but I'm sure it's nothing tho-- uwaaaah!!
[ he yells mid-sentence and he practically throws his shoe into the air (the water?) as he notices that the skin on his ankle has a new layer of scales over it. he hesitantly peels back his sock to reveal more scales over his foot. it is gross and he's not a fan ]
[ naegi is normally optimistic about things but he... has a feeling that the people at the hospital might not be able to do much. whenever it comes to regains, non-retrospec users don't tend to really react to them. they go "oh hey that's neat" and then... do nothing else. also, haha, naegi affording to go to the hospital. he'll probably just head to the university clinic instead ]
Um, I'll help you finish up with the shop before I go. Maybe it'll wear off with some time?
[ he kind of feels bad just ditching her to run off. besides, it takes a while to get back to the city so no real rush with all this... ]
[ mike thinks for a second and then rolls one of his shoulders, showing a bit of the large backpack he has on ]
I have a bunch of different art supplies in my bag. Do you want any of them? I don't really know how to use them so I can give them to you if that'll help.
[ they're mostly just paints but there are at least sketchbooks and nice pencils for richie to use (naegi will later remember how much these supplies cost and will be exasperated at his memloss self not realizing how expensive the things in his bag were. he is okay with lending them to friends but imagine if he lost them without realizing their price...) ]
Even so, that doesn't seem wise. How do you even know if I'm trustworthy? [It's starting to irritate him - this stranger being so straightforwardly trusting.
Still, Byakuya will reach for the backpack and look over some of the supplies as he mulls it over.]
...I suppose that I'll have to prove myself worthy.
I guess I don't really know if you're trustworthy but I'd like to believe that you're telling the truth.
[ mike might have forgotten his au memories but he still has his ou memories and personality. if he can blindly trust people not to murder him in a murder school and murder headquarters, he can blindly trust someone in a random forest ]
I hope these will help you! I'd like to see your animated short once you finish.
[...This is getting too touchy-feely with his tastes. Byakuya quickly averts his eyes as he advances onwards.]
...Honestly? I haven't put much thought to it yet. I've figured that I should save that until I find my way back to the city. Of course, there's one topic that I have been heavily considering: myself.
[ the smile still remains on mike's face as he follows along. it's okay, he can be the sappy touchy-feely person during all this but he's slightly confused when richie gives his answer ]
Yourself?
[ like... based on the memories of his other life?? ]
[He folds his arms, and now his smile turns to more of a confident smirk.]
That's right. I may not remember much, but what I do remember of a life I may have lived... it's quite impressive. The grand tale of struggling against adversity to claim supremacy over countless rivals, as a Super High School Level Heir!
It sounds like quite the inspirational narrative, doesn't it.
[ mike repeats this to himself as he puts a hand to his chin. why does that sound so familiar? it can't be from his memories in this world or life since he just lost those so was it from his memories in that other life? hmm, he thinks about it for a moment, falling silent rather than reacting right away to richie's description of his animated short before his head shoots up and he realizes why that title sounded so familiar ]
Ah! I think I knew you! In the other life I've had!
[ mike stops in place and he rubs the back of his neck, suddenly being put on the spot ]
Ah, well, I don't really remember much. It was only in one memory and you looked... different. [ aka skinny and you had glasses ] But you were saying about how you weren't just a Super High School Level Heir and that it wasn't just your bloodline. Your mind, figure, and physique are all Super High School Level and you were really insulted when I tried to compare my talent to yours. You really held yourself in high regards.
Hmmm... Interesting. [Byakuya smirks.] That doesn't sound so unreasonable. Given what memories I can recall associated with being a Super High School Level Heir and how that title was earned, it seems like a very logical conclusion to consider myself to be on a level beyond other talented people. While being insulted may have been taking things a bit too far, I otherwise see no problem with recognizing my own self-importance.
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APRIL ➟ EVENT LOG
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Thanks, Kaede.
[ he'll take her arm for support! off to the bench they go. he'll take a seat and try to catch his breath, though it's surprisingly not helping ]
Are... you okay?
[ like is she having no problems breathing? it doesn't seem like it but he should ask. also his foot is getting really itchy?? is it rude to take off his shoes in front of someone?? maybe his socks are not on properly (also wet socks are the worst but does it matter when you're completely underwater? these are the real questions) so he will actually start to untie one of his shoes right now ]
no subject
She watches him untie one of his shoes, and a million different possibilities run through her mind. Did he sprain an ankle? Did something get in his shoe? Both would be unlikely given where they are but still... ]
Does your foot hurt?
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It doesn't really hurt. It just feels really weird but I'm sure it's nothing tho-- uwaaaah!!
[ he yells mid-sentence and he practically throws his shoe into the air (the water?) as he notices that the skin on his ankle has a new layer of scales over it. he hesitantly peels back his sock to reveal more scales over his foot. it is gross and he's not a fan ]
W-What's this?!
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No way! What's going on?!
[ She thought she was worried before now she's even more worried!! ]
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I don't know! I've never heard of something like this happening before!
[ asides from regains but he's 95% sure that he wasn't a weird fish-monster in his other life. the murders are enough for him tbh ]
Do you think I should go to the hospital?
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[ Do they even have enough time to get there? She doesn't say that aloud though. Naegi is probably already thinking that. ]
I wonder if they'll know what to do. There's no harm in going, at least.
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[ naegi is normally optimistic about things but he... has a feeling that the people at the hospital might not be able to do much. whenever it comes to regains, non-retrospec users don't tend to really react to them. they go "oh hey that's neat" and then... do nothing else. also, haha, naegi affording to go to the hospital. he'll probably just head to the university clinic instead ]
Um, I'll help you finish up with the shop before I go. Maybe it'll wear off with some time?
[ he kind of feels bad just ditching her to run off. besides, it takes a while to get back to the city so no real rush with all this... ]
no subject
[ She says that almost immediately, frowning at him. ]
I am not letting you help me! If you move around too much, you'll just start feeling worse!
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[ mike thinks for a second and then rolls one of his shoulders, showing a bit of the large backpack he has on ]
I have a bunch of different art supplies in my bag. Do you want any of them? I don't really know how to use them so I can give them to you if that'll help.
[ they're mostly just paints but there are at least sketchbooks and nice pencils for richie to use (naegi will later remember how much these supplies cost and will be exasperated at his memloss self not realizing how expensive the things in his bag were. he is okay with lending them to friends but imagine if he lost them without realizing their price...) ]
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[It's hard for him to imagine someone being so sincerely generous. And yet Mike seems to be fulfilling that.]
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Yeah, I mean, if this will help you get your memories and real name back, I don't mind giving them up.
[ he'll take the backpack off and open it up to show richie the supplies that he has inside while also holding it out for him to take ]
Besides, I don't really know how to properly use any of these or at least I don't remember how to so they're not going to be very useful to me.
no subject
Still, Byakuya will reach for the backpack and look over some of the supplies as he mulls it over.]
...I suppose that I'll have to prove myself worthy.
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[ mike might have forgotten his au memories but he still has his ou memories and personality. if he can blindly trust people not to murder him in a murder school and murder headquarters, he can blindly trust someone in a random forest ]
I hope these will help you! I'd like to see your animated short once you finish.
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...Thank you. When the time comes, I will be sure to treat you to a private audience.
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I'll look forward to it. Have you decided what your short will be about?
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...Honestly? I haven't put much thought to it yet. I've figured that I should save that until I find my way back to the city. Of course, there's one topic that I have been heavily considering: myself.
no subject
Yourself?
[ like... based on the memories of his other life?? ]
no subject
That's right. I may not remember much, but what I do remember of a life I may have lived... it's quite impressive. The grand tale of struggling against adversity to claim supremacy over countless rivals, as a Super High School Level Heir!
It sounds like quite the inspirational narrative, doesn't it.
no subject
[ mike repeats this to himself as he puts a hand to his chin. why does that sound so familiar? it can't be from his memories in this world or life since he just lost those so was it from his memories in that other life? hmm, he thinks about it for a moment, falling silent rather than reacting right away to richie's description of his animated short before his head shoots up and he realizes why that title sounded so familiar ]
Ah! I think I knew you! In the other life I've had!
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What do you mean? Tell me everything that you know! [Maybe getting his memories back will be easier than he thought!]
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Ah, well, I don't really remember much. It was only in one memory and you looked... different. [ aka skinny and you had glasses ] But you were saying about how you weren't just a Super High School Level Heir and that it wasn't just your bloodline. Your mind, figure, and physique are all Super High School Level and you were really insulted when I tried to compare my talent to yours. You really held yourself in high regards.
no subject
Hmmm... Interesting. [Byakuya smirks.] That doesn't sound so unreasonable. Given what memories I can recall associated with being a Super High School Level Heir and how that title was earned, it seems like a very logical conclusion to consider myself to be on a level beyond other talented people. While being insulted may have been taking things a bit too far, I otherwise see no problem with recognizing my own self-importance.