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[color=tomato]"There will be no repercussions for past actions, there will be no repercussions for past actions, there will be no repercussions for past actions…”[/color]

[color=888888]— Suki Oyama[/color][/center]

Tsubomi had been invited to hang out at the Arcade.

Haruna had been notified of her success. 

The nice yet spooky nightmare lady had also been notified. 

Everything was going smoothly. 

Yet Suki was fidgeting like it absolutely was not going to go smoothly. Her foot tapped the sidewalk while she waited. She wanted to pull out a cigarette, but knew that she’d have to put it out as soon as she went inside. Even as a delinquent, there were certain places where you had to respect the rules. To smoke or steal from the arcade would be like smoking or stealing from a church.

Everyone should be here shortly. Everyone but Tsubomi. She wasn’t the sort to arrive anywhere first. That would give the three of them some time to form a battle plan, but there wasn’t much to plan. Suki wasn’t even sure if she was going to bother playing any games. It wasn’t like they ever brought Tsubomi any joy. 

Was this even the right thing to do? Maybe Tsubomi would get kidnapped again. Before she started panicking she decided to wait for the others. It had only been a few seconds since she called Haruna, but Suki suspected she would be the first to arrive. 

[hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/8mKDpEy.png[/img]

[center][color=fff79a]"Here goes nothing..."[/color][/center]

[hr]
Sure enough, about half a minute after Suki called her, a telltale streak of light in the air announced the light girl’s imminent arrival. The alley between the arcade and the next building became an impromptu runway, before a freshly un-transformed Haruna scurried back out and up to Suki. [color=fff79a]"Hi,"[/color] she said, giving the blood witch a short wave. [color=fff79a]"So what’s the plan?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"I’m not sure."[/color] Suki sighed, her foot didn’t stop moving. [color=ff6347]"The important thing is that I talk to her. But I’m kind of having second thoughts about everything. Like was it a good idea to go to an arcade? In hindsight it’s a normal activity we do together but I’m going to ask her why she wants to kill herself, which is really going to bring down the mood. But she can’t feel emotions, so there’s no mood to bring down. But if she’s not bothered by anything, then why does she want to off herself?"[/color] She sighed again before placing her hands on her hips. [color=ff6347]"We gotta wing it. I can’t plan for how she’ll react. I mean, I guess Tsubomi’s behavior has been pretty consistent, just not her thoughts."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Yeah, there’s not really a good way to broach that topic, is there?"[/color] She didn’t exactly sound eager to do so in any context. [color=fff79a]"We have to, though. I don’t want her to keep suffering because she doesn’t even know its happening."[/color] Haruna shook her head. [color=fff79a]"I guess we just shouldn’t overthink it. All we have to do is ask what’s going on, and see if we can help with it, or at least be there for her. Right?"[/color]

[center][color=#FF0000]"[/color][color=#FF2E00]N[/color][color=#FF5C00]o[/color][color=#FF8B00]b[/color][color=#FFB900]o[/color][color=#FFE700]d[/color][color=#E7FF00]y[/color] [color=#8BFF00]s[/color][color=#5CFF00]a[/color][color=#2EFF00]i[/color][color=#00FF00]d[/color] [color=#00FF5C]t[/color][color=#00FF8B]h[/color][color=#00FFB9]i[/color][color=#00FFE7]s[/color] [color=#00B9FF]w[/color][color=#008BFF]o[/color][color=#005CFF]u[/color][color=#002EFF]l[/color][color=#0000FF]d[/color] [color=#5C00FF]b[/color][color=#8B00FF]e[/color] [color=#E700FF]e[/color][color=#FF00E7]a[/color][color=#FF00B9]s[/color][color=#FF008B]y[/color][color=#FF005C].[/color][color=#FF002E]"[/color]

[url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019aae20-bac4-7418-a44c-7e5f185cb739.webp][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01978fe7-cfea-76fc-8e2a-e03460e0c2cd.webp[/img][/url]

[color=#FF0000]N[/color][color=#FF1F00]o[/color][color=#FF3F00]b[/color][color=#FF5F00]o[/color][color=#FF7F00]d[/color][color=#FF9F00]y[/color] [color=#FFDF00]s[/color][color=#fff79a]a[/color][color=#DFFF00]i[/color][color=#BFFF00]d[/color] [color=#7FFF00]i[/color][color=#5FFF00]t[/color] [color=#1FFF00]w[/color][color=#00FF00]a[/color][color=#00FF1F]s[/color] [color=#00FF5F]g[/color][color=#00FF7F]o[/color][color=#00FF9F]i[/color][color=#00FFBF]n[/color][color=#00FFDF]g[/color] [color=#00DFFF]t[/color][color=#00BFFF]o[/color] [color=#007FFF]b[/color][color=#005FFF]e[/color] [color=#001FFF]t[/color][color=#0000FF]h[/color][color=#1F00FF]i[/color][color=#3F00FF]s[/color] [color=#7F00FF]w[/color][color=#9F00FF]a[/color][color=#BF00FF]y[/color][color=#DF00FF],[/color] [color=#FF00DF]e[/color][color=#FF00BF]i[/color][color=#FF009F]t[/color][color=#FF007F]h[/color][color=#FF005F]e[/color][color=#FF003F]r[/color][color=#FF001F].[/color]
[/center]

Just when Haruna asked her question, Tsubomi came within eyesight of the arcade. Still her usual slow self, it seemed like it would take her another minute or two to get to where the duo stood. For her part, she hadn’t thought anything was different than normal when meeting at the arcade. But she still hadn’t written the letters she wanted to, though now wouldn’t be a time to do so.

Suki’s face was stricken with worry. [color=ff6347]"She’s here already!?"[/color] The delinquent’s shoulders rose up to her neck. [color=ff6347]"Okay, keep calm, Haruna. We still have time to prepare before-"[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/s30S2AE.gif[/img]

[color=9966CC]"Perhaps these are far too many banners?"[/color]

[color=888888]— Nocnista[/color][/center]

[color=9966cc]"Oh!"[/color] Luckily, [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019ab3a4-6026-71be-8d51-2cf8deb2c797.webp]Nocnista[/url] appeared soon after and carefully scooped Tsubomi up. [color=9966cc]"Right, here we go. Hello, dears~!"[/color] She walked up to Suki and Haruna with a smile, setting the apathetic girl down soon as they were close enough. [color=9966cc]"Will any of you be needing funds, by chance?"[/color] The nightmare-mancer offered. Who knew how long this was going to take? Might as well help keep everyone occupied.

[color=ff6347]"No!"[/color] Suki squeaked out. Haruna shook her head in reply. [color=ff6347]"I think we’re good for now."[/color] She paused and took a moment to eye the woman up and down. [color=ff6347]"That’s, um, a nice outfit."[/color] She blinked. [color=ff6347]"And um, you can probably set Tsubomi down now."[/color] She pushed open the doors. [color=ff6347]"Right this way."[/color]

The arcade was a familiar place to both Tsubomi and Suki, but it was the sort of place you needed to spend some time in to really appreciate its charm. First time comers would notice the cracked sheetrock on some of the walls, and even the ceiling. Most of the overhead fans were working, but there was only one or two that had all of its incandescent bulbs lit up. Most of the machines were older. Some were covered in white plastic that had begun to yellow years ago. Even the newer machines had blemishes on them, but they all worked. 

[color=ff6347]"Alright!"[/color] Suki bounced into the air before turning to look at everyone. [color=ff6347]"There aren’t a ton of four player games, but there are a few. But uh, what’s everyone in the mood for?"[/color] Even though Suki addressed everyone, she was looking at Tsubomi. 

[color=00aeef]"Mm. I think Wave Racer still has four seats?"[/color] There had been a time where one chair was broken, but it was supposedly fixed a few trips ago. Though Tsubomi was just throwing out games that were four player without regard for if they would be fun for her. [color=00aeef]"Does anyone have a favorite game?"[/color] Tsubomi’s head drifted lazily to look at Haruna and Nocnista.

The former shrugged. [color=fff79a]"I haven’t been in here as a customer before. It’s just that one time I walked a clerk home after closing time."[/color] She gave the question a moment of thought. [color=fff79a]"I like games like Raiden, I guess? Where you run or fly around getting powerups and blowing up enemies."[/color] 

Nocnista on the other hand blinked incredulously. Four-player games? She thought she was just here to chaperone. [color=9966cc]"O-Oh, you’re sure you want me to play with you all?"[/color] She tilted her head. [color=9966cc]"I don’t exactly frequent arcades often."[/color]

Suki groaned. This was starting to feel like the Kate date all over again. She peered around the arcade and noticed there weren’t a lot of people walking around. The few people who were here at this hour were in front of the machines, bombarding their every sense with the light and sound that they made. 

[color=ff6347]"In that case, let’s do this instead."[/color] She guided Tsubomi and everyone else towards the older part of the Arcade. The games here were less flashy and only resonated with the arcade’s oldest patrons. Most of the games were made out of wood and if they had any metal at all, it wasn’t for anything electronic. Perhaps to compensate, this was also the most well lit part of the arcade. The overhead bulbs were all working, and it was a bit quieter. Suki cleared her throat. [color=ff6347]"Uh, Tsubomi? Are you okay?"[/color] She moved her hand up to the girl’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. [color=ff6347]"Has something been bothering you?"[/color] 

Tsubomi shrugged. [color=00aeef]"... Are we friends?"[/color]

The words caused Suki’s eyes to fly open. She took a step back, and the hand that was on Tsubomi’s shoulder continued to hang in the air, reaching. [color=ff6347]"Well, yea!"[/color] She retracted her arm and scratched the back of her head. [color=ff6347]"Yea, I-I think we’re friends. We hang out together, we have each other’s back when miseria or light girls show up, heh!"[/color] Her smile was nervous, and faltering. [color=ff6347]"I uh, I worry about you. I don’t uh, I don’t think I’d worry about someone if they weren’t my friend, you know?"[/color] 

--[i][color=0072bc]"You are nothing but a parasite. An unfeeling homunculus that decided to burrow into my body and brain like a tapeworm."[/color][/i]--

[color=00aeef]"Mm. Would we still be friends if I was a worm?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"....Yes?"[/color] Suki responded with a tentative tone. 

Tsubomi nodded twice. [color=00aeef]"Okay."[/color] She looked around at the games, before continuing. [color=00aeef]"What should we play?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"I know you want to kill yourself,"[/color] Haruna blurts, then immediately covers her mouth.

Nocnista’s eyes shot open for a few seconds in stunned silence. [color=9966cc]"........Well!"[/color] She then cleared her throat and put on a [s]rather anxious[/s] smile. [color=9966cc]"Ripping the bandaid off forthright works as well~! Eheh."[/color] She turned to face Tsubomi. [color=9966cc]"I’ve been meaning to do something real quick, my dear, would you allow me to check the condition of your mental state?"[/color] The nightmare witch softly asked her.

Tsubomi’s head tilted in her trademark sign of thought. She looked down at the ground to see that once more, her shoes were still on. Her eyes rose to look at Haruna. [color=00aeef]"Mm. That doesn’t work. I think Tsubomi doesn’t want to die too. Just me."[/color] Then she turned to their club advisor. [color=00aeef]"If you want to."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"Excellent! I’ll try to be careful~"[/color] Nocnista ruffled Tsubomi’s hair, yet her hand lingered. Anyone looking closely would see the faint purple glow of her magic coming from beneath her palm. The club advisor’s nightmare magic meant she could peer into the minds of others and gauge out the best fears to weaponize against them, but with a bit of restraint, she could simply see and attend to the condition of one’s mental health. [color=9966cc]"Hm…"[/color]

It seemed that Tsubomi’s mental state was… normal. Too normal. The only thing that seemed to be off was the presence of magic, Tsubomi’s magic. Everything else checked out to be like that of a person who actually had emotions, albeit with a rather strong rage kept under check.

[color=9966cc]"Oh my."[/color] Nocnista pulled her hand away. [color=9966cc]"You, my dear, have some pent up anger inside you! I’m not sure who it’s coming from, but, if I’m inclined to theorize, it’s almost as if your own magic may be…rejecting you? Grown antagonistic?"[/color] She glanced back at the other two girls. [color=9966cc]"Do either of you know when this started? Or have any idea as to when?"[/color]

Haruna shook her head. [color=fff79a]"No, it was one of the first things I noticed. I guess I should probably explain."[/color] She gave Suki an awkward glance, hoping the blood-themed magical girl didn’t take her lack of explanation up to this point as another betrayal of trust. [color=fff79a]"My magic lets me kinda, I think the best word is hear? I can hear people’s desires. Tsubomi almost always wants to kill Tsubomi. Or. . ."[/color] She frowned, then turned to the subject of the conversation. [color=fff79a]"You implied you aren’t Tsubomi?"[/color]

The apathetic girl’s head raised again. [color=00aeef]"Mm. Tsubomi says I’m not. She’s starting calling me ‘Zassou.’"[/color] Tsubomi’s gaze drifted to a game. She was quiet for a moment before adding, [color=00aeef]"She says she’s why I can’t use my magic anymore. Or hers."[/color]

[color=ff6347]"Wait, from Sumikko Gurashi?"[/color] Suki was a little familiar with the franchise. There was a character called Zassou that was a weed that had aspirations of growing into a flower that could be put in a bouquet at their favorite flower shop. It was a weird thing to call anyone, but it almost sounded endearing. But that wasn’t the most pressing thing going on right now. [color=ff6347]"Wait waiiiiiiiit wait wait wait wait wait wait… Wait… Wait."[/color] Suki placed a hand on the side of her head. She didn’t understand the situation, but she felt like she was starting to understand it enough. [color=ff6347]"If you’re not Tsubomi… Have I ever known Tsubomi, or has it always been ‘you’?[/color]

[color=00aeef]"I’ve been me since before coming here. Tsubomi started showing up more after the beach trip. But I don’t think she’s met anyone yet."[/color] A pause took over again as she let her brain catch up. [color=00aeef]"Or anyone has met her."[/color]

Haruna took Tsubomi(?)’s slowness as an opportunity to carefully consider how she worded her next question, given the girl’s lack of ability to express much in the way of preferences. [color=fff79a]"Is Tsubomi still the right thing to call you?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Mm. I don’t know. If I’m Tsubomi, what should I call her? I don’t mind either way."[/color] 

Suki, meanwhile, was staring at a wall. The lighting conditions were a little dim, but her pupils had shrunk down to little dots. They erratically swirled in her head as she thought back on the beach trip. It had been a weird time for her, she did some things she hadn’t been proud of. Some things that she wished that she never did, but in the heat of the moment found herself impossible to stop. But rather than voicing any of this, Suki just laughed.

[color=ff6347]"Alright, alright, alright."[/color] She turned to Tsubomi with a smile. [color=ff6347]"So ‘Tsubomi’ has woken up, and that’s where the murderous intent is coming from. And ‘you’ are what she’s trying to kill."[/color] She bit the corner of her lip. [color=ff6347]"So! All we need to do is put ‘Tsubomi’ back to sleep! We repeat whatever it was that caused ‘you’ to be born. Would you happen to remember what that was?"[/color]

The apathetic girl nodded once, then shook her head twice. [color=00aeef]"The earliest I can remember is after moving here. I remember… Tsubomi’s aunt and uncle picking me up and putting me on a bed. Not much of it."[/color] A moment of lag passed. [color=00aeef]"But Tsubomi made it seem like she was asleep before that."[/color]

And if the performance in her head was to be believed… [color=00aeef]"The play looked like she might have fallen asleep when she almost got eaten."[/color] The girl wasn’t sure if that was the case, since she couldn’t remember that far back, but that scene being shown more than once gave the idea credibility. [color=00aeef]"Mm. I don’t know if I was there then, though."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Hold on, Suki. If the Tsubomi we know isn’t the original, and the original’s really angry about her being here, then it might be more complicated than that. I don’t think it's fair to choose either one over the other before we know more about what’s going on. There might be a way to let them coexist."[/color] Haruna was clearly anxious about the conflict; it made an already-worrying situation more complex. [color=fff79a]"Um, Tsubomi, or Zassou, I don’t really know which to use, um, if the first thing you remember is being picked up and put on a bed, that might mean that you appeared when the original Tsubomi fell asleep, and you were just normal asleep when you arrived?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Mmm…"[/color] Tsubomi’s verbal tic was elongated in thought. The play had implied that Tsubomi proper had the symptoms of being Zassou before the move, but without concrete memories of it, she couldn’t say for sure that she existed then. [color=00aeef]"Maybe. Can’t remember much from then."[/color]

After another bit of lag, the thought to tell the others more of what had been happening showed itself. [color=00aeef]"She said that she realized who she was when I fell. The day after we came back. I woke up in the hospital that afternoon. Someone there said I had a concussion."[/color] The syrup that was her thoughts slowly oozed their way down her mind. [color=00aeef]"I could still use Tsubomi’s magic for a while after that."[/color] The girl’s face turned towards Haruna. [color=00aeef]"It stopped working when we met Haruna."[/color] The light girl looked alarmed for a brief moment, but it faded when Suki didn’t immediately turn to her with accusations.

[color=ff6347]"I mean is this even really a problem?"[/color] Suki laughed. [color=ff6347]"Okay, past Tsubomi wants to kill our Tsubomi, it’s clear that you guys don’t get along very well, but it’s not like there’s anything she can do about it, right?"[/color] Suki stepped closer. [color=ff6347]"Right?"[/color] She leaned in really close. [color=ff6347]"Riiiiiight? Because, bleh!"[/color] Suki placed a hand on the side of her head. [color=ff6347]"Right?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"I wouldn’t count on that, Suki. If this other Tsubomi is taking over her magic, it's entirely possible she could destroy the Tsubomi we know with it."[/color] Haruna glanced to the side, thinking. [color=fff79a]"Tsubomi, I don’t know what your magic does, exactly. Would you mind explaining it? I might be able to get a better idea of what’s going on here."[/color]

When Haruna’s question was finished, Tsubomi finally responded to Suki’s, looking her partner right in the eyes.  [color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says she’s going to get rid of me soon. Two months or less. I don’t know how though."[/color]

With that said, she registered Haruna’s request and responded. [color=00aeef]"Mm. It’s emotions. Sense and control them."[/color] A pause as she remembered something, rather than her lagging. [color=00aeef]"The night we met you, something weird happened. I couldn’t use magic, but could still transform. When I got bit, it slowed the Miseria down. Then Oros got some in her and it messed with her too. I didn’t know my blood could do that until then."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"If it’s emotion control. . . then yeah, she might be able to just get rid of you entirely if she takes control of your magic all the way. I’m not exactly, like, an expert, but it makes sense. Emotions are core to who you are, even if that core is not having them."[/color] Her expression betrayed no small amount of worry.

[color=ff6347]"Okay, I don’t think this is getting us anywhere."[/color] Suki interjected with a chuckle. [color=ff6347]"We can hypothesize this or theorem that,  but it’s magic, and magic is almost always bullshit, eh?"[/color] She stood in front of Tsubomi, or whoever she was supposed to be now. [color=ff6347]"I’m still not sure what’s going on here, but I know one thing. Regardless of which Tsubomi is the real one and who or what the other one is, I’ve only ever known of one Tsubomi. And that one is always going to be Tsubomi to me. So, ‘real Tsubomi,’ If you’re listening in…"[/color] She clinched her teeth. [color=ff6347]"I think you have a lot of nerve thinking you can just kill someone and expect the rest of us to forget about it. If you kill the Tsubomi I know, there won’t be a whole lot stopping me from killing you either."[/color] She poked Tsubomi’s chest. [color=ff6347]"So, don’t be an ass hole. Two can play at that game."[/color] Suki was able to hold her stern face for all of two seconds before she wiped off her forehead. [color=ff6347]"It’s a little stuffy in here, I think I’m going to head outside."[/color] She excused herself without waiting for a response. 

Haruna watched her go. She clearly considered stopping Suki, but figured the other girl could probably use a little time to cool off. Instead of addressing her or Tsubomi, she turned her eyes to their mysterious club advisor, hoping Nocnitsa had something helpful to say.

[color=9966cc]"Hmm…"[/color] Having been quietly overseeing the conversation, Nocnista took stock of Suki and Haruna’s theories. But the former had a point, speculation can only go so far without going to the source directly. She turned back to Tsubomi. [color=9966cc]"Is there any way we can talk to the other you ourselves, my dear?"[/color] She cautiously asked.

[color=00aeef]"I've been seeing her and hearing her talk to me sometimes. I don't know how to get her to, though. Nobody else could see her before."[/color]

There was a deep groan that only Tsubomi heard. [color=0072bc]"I am [i]not[/i] going to put myself through trying to talk to someone with you as my interpreter."[/color] 

[color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says she doesn't want to talk with me interpreting for her."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"What did I [i]just[/i] say?"[/color] the original Tsubomi asked. Zassou noticed the otherwise invisible girl out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to look at her.

[color=00aeef]"You said you don't want to talk with me interpreting for you."[/color]

The ghost girl rubbed little circles around her temples with one hand. [color=0072bc]"Then stop doing it."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Mm,"[/color] the physical Tsubomi turned back to the others nearby. [color=00aeef]"She wants me to stop saying what she says."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"I think we’re already talking to her with you as an interpreter."[/color]

Zassou heard a deep sigh. [color=0072bc]"This is a bad idea. But if you're going to be annoying about it, then fine. I'll talk through you, but you have to say exactly what I say, got it?"[/color]

Tsubomi's head nodded once. [color=00aeef]"Okay. Tsubomi says this is a bad idea but she'll talk. I'm supposed to say exactly what she says."[/color]

[color=0072bc]And you've already failed at that...[/color] Tsubomi muttered under her breath. Somehow the other occupant of her mind didn't hear her.

[color=fff79a]"Okay, so, can you clarify any of the information we’ve tried to get? When you two split, and what happened at that time, and maybe why?"[/color] Haruna asked. [color=fff79a]"Figuring out how to resolve things starts with understanding what’s happening."[/color]

The invisible Tsubomi scoffed, turning away from Haruna and towards her own body. [color=0072bc]"'Split,' she says. We didn't 'split,' she is not a [i]part[/i] of me. She's some sort of external entity, as far as I've been able to tell. Definitely not some other personality of mine, I know that much for certain. Which is why I have no intention of co-existing with the thing that stole my life from me."[/color]

After a momentary pause, while Zassou was still readying to relay her words, Tsubomi added, [color=0072bc]"Whatever it actually is, Zassou isn't a person."[/color]

Zassou tried to remember the words she was told so she could properly repeat them, but had some trouble doing so. [color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says we didn't split. I'm not a part of her. She thinks I'm something external, not another personality of hers. She's certain of it and doesn't want to live with what took her life from her."[/color] The words probably deserved some form of sadness or disappointment from her, but Zassou's conveyance was without emotion as usual. 

[color=00aeef]"She says I'm not a person, but she's not sure what I am."[/color]

Haruna’s lips pressed into a thin line as Tsubomi related the verbal abuse she was getting from. . . herself. This was very confusing. [color=fff79a]"We got the part where you want your own life back. What makes you think this isn’t some manifestation of your own magic? I’ve never heard of a magical girl getting possessed or something. And whether it was a split or not, you never explained what was happening when you ended up like this."[/color]

Tsubomi leaned her right arm on her physical body's left shoulder as she spoke to it. [color=0072bc]"If by whatever chance you [i]are[/i] my magic, you're doubly screwed. Because if that's the case, I won't even have to snuff you out, you'll just disappear once it's all back under my control, right?"[/color] The invisible girl waited for Zassou to relay her newest statement.

[color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says, ‘If by whatever chance you are my magic, you're doubly screwed. Because if that's the case, I won't even have to snuff you out, you'll just disappear once it's all back under my control, right?’"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"God damnit, [i]now[/i] you choose to say exactly what I did, the time I'm talking to you instead!?"[/color]

Tsubomi's body turned its head toward her. [color=00aeef]"Mm. Should I not have?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I swear you're doing this to piss me off."[/color] The original Tsubomi took a deep breath, as much as one can without a body at least, and decided to answer Haruna's next question. 

[color=0072bc]"Anyway, I dunno what precisely happened. I only remember up to shortly before getting attacked; there's no memories between then and the first of Zassou's."[/color]

The physical Tsubomi turned her head back to look at Haruna. [color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says she doesn't know what happened. Her memories stop after getting attacked and then there aren't any until my first memories."[/color]

Haruna tilted her head. [color=fff79a]"Attacked?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Mm. That’s when she stopped being a Light Girl."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Oh."[/color] Haruna clearly had no idea how to respond to Tsubomi’s fall coming up. She seemed a touch uncomfortable with the topic in general. [color=fff79a]"Maybe this happened because your magic changed? What was it like before, compared to now?"[/color]

Nocnista spoke up with a curious tilt to her head. [color=9966cc]"Perhaps a spark of your old light resisted too much? Or perhaps one of you actually is the magic made manifest, like a defense system?"[/color] She hummed. 

[color=0072bc]"As far as I know, the only change in my magic was that, for some reason, now my blood apparently acts like a sedative."[/color] 

Tsubomi paused in thought for a moment. [color=0072bc]"Otherwise it's really just the way it's being used that's changed. Which is expected between a Light Girl and their Dark Girl versions."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says the only changes to her magic were how it's used and the new thing with her blood."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"As for the idea that one of us is magic, I guess it holds water at least. Though again, if that's the case then I don't think I'd even get to remove her, she might just go away on her own when I get control back."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Mm. Tsubomi's not sure if I'd be around after she got her magic back if that's what I am."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"Well, either way, dears, if neither of you can come to a truce of any sort, there must be a way to simply separate you both. Without risking your lives, of course."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Uh-huh."[/color] Tsubomi replied, her disagreement evident in her voice, even though only Zassou could hear her.

[color=00aeef]"Uh-huh."[/color] Zassou replied, completely genuinely in her apathetic tone.

[color=fff79a]"Maybe we can combine some of our magic to do it? Pretty much all of mine manifests physically somehow, and Kiyo can make living creatures, so there could be a way."[/color]

Tsubomi poked her body on the cheek. [color=0072bc]"If they want to waste their time with that, I don't have too much of a problem with it. So long as I get [i]my[/i] body back and not some pathetic imitation, they're welcome to flail about trying to save you."[/color]

Zassou nodded once. [color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says it's okay to try."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Okay."[/color] Haruna glanced between Tsubomi - Zassou? - and Nocnitsa, then nodded. [color=fff79a]"I’ll go get Suki and let her know what the plan is. Not that it’s, um, that much of a plan, at this point."[/color] She sort of shrugged awkwardly before heading for the entrance to the arcade.

The light and sound from the arcade’s main attractions drowned out the others. Several patrons were basking in the flashing lights of their chosen coin devouring machines, but Suki was not among them. That was likely because Suki said she was going to wait outside, but she was not visible through the glass door of the arcade. Nor was the trail of cigarette smoke that one might expect to follow her. Haruna pushed her way outside to see if the delinquent was still around and was promptly greeted.

[color=ff6347]"Heeeeyyyyyyyyyy Samanthaaaaaaaaa!"[/color] 

It was easy to place Suki’s voice, even if she sounded inebriated. Haruna didn’t have to look at the girl for more than a second to know that was the case. She was leaned up against the side of the arcade with a can in her hand. There were about four more cans that had been crushed flat and didn’t make it into the waste bin Suki was standing beside. She belched, and the air was filled with another clue as to what Suki had been drinking. Perhaps the real mystery was how Suki had managed to get so much beer so quickly. 

Suki stumbled over to Haruna, nearly falling into her as she did so. [color=ff6347]"Sam, Saaaaaaaam, ya gotta help meeeeee… Waiiiiiit, did you get arrrrrrrrrested?"[/color] She peaked behind Haruna’s back. [color=ff6347]"Oh gooooooood, that’s gooooooood."[/color] She giggled.

Haruna stumbled back a few steps herself in an effort to evade a collision with the suddenly-drunken magical girl. One didn’t need Tsubomi’s powers of empathy to feel the disappointment rolling off Haruna in waves. [color=fff79a]"Suki, I’m not ‘Samantha,’ and you’re not twenty."[/color] She wrinkled her nose at the rather unpleasant blend of alcohol, stale cigarette smoke, and Suki’s generally poor hygiene. [color=fff79a]"I thought we were supposed to be here to help Tsubomi."[/color]

[color=ff6347]"Awwwwwww."[/color] Suki giggled. [color=ff6347]"You kiiiiiiiiiinda look like Sam though."[/color] She hickupped. [color=ff6347]"But… Maybe if you’re not Saaaaaam, then maybe this isn’t all my fault."[/color] The corners of her lips twitched. [color=ff6347]"Maybe… Tsubomi was always going to do this."[/color] Suki wobbled in place for a moment. The can slipped out of her trembling hands, which she held up to her face. She didn’t look at them long before tears began to roll out of the corners of her eyes. [color=ff6347]"I shouldn’t have hit her."[/color] 

[color=fff79a]"W-wait, what are you talking about?"[/color] Her disapproval faded, much of it replaced with concern. [color=fff79a]"Hit her? What happened?"[/color] After a moment, she added, [color=fff79a]"I promise I won’t judge, it’s in the past."[/color] 

[color=ff6347]"Ahhhhhhh."[/color] Suki looked to Haruna. [color=ff6347]"Well, Tsubomiiiiiiiii made me let go of the catch of my life. Sooooooooo when we had a vacation, I saw a volley ball and-"[/color] She hiccuped again. [color=ff6347]"I thought it might be fun to see how hard I could bounce it off the side of her head. So I transformed and gave it a kick."[/color]

The light girl bit her lip. Suki clearly didn’t need to be told how mean that was. [color=fff79a]"A head injury probably didn’t help her, no, but it also probably didn’t cause what’s happening now."[/color] She also elected not to ask what, exactly, Suki meant by [color=ffffff]"the catch of her life."[/color] It was probably nothing good. [color=fff79a]"We got to talk to the original Tsubomi some, and we came up with. . . well, it’s more of an idea than a plan to solve this."[/color]

[color=ff6347]"It’s prooooooobably better than anything I could come up with."[/color] Suki stumbled backwards, then grabbed a hold of the doorway to steady herself. [color=ff6347]"I can’t fix anything, but you got this!"[/color] Her finger drifted to an area around Haruna. 

[color=fff79a]"You might be able to help. We’re going to try to build a new body for our Tsubomi using magic, so maybe your blood manipulation could help?"[/color] Haruna offered, more for Suki’s sake than anything else. 
 
[color=ff6347]"Oooooohhhhhhh… That’s not going to worrrrrrrrrrk."[/color] She stumbled forward, but still had a hand on the doorway. [color=ff6347]"I can onlyyyyy controllllll my ownnnnnn blooooooooooood, so unless Tsubomi’s going to inhabit my body, I don’t think I got much to offer."[/color] She pointed at the side of her head and twirled her finger. [color=ff6347]"This all seeeeeems kinda craaaaaaayzy. But if you thiiiiiink I can heeeeeelp, I’ll tryyyyyyyyyy."[/color] The color of Suki’s face started to change. It wasn’t red, but it was turning a greyish green. Like day old hummus or pea soup. 

Haruna, recognizing this, quickly moved out of the direct line of fire. [color=fff79a]"Suki, you should really drink some water. And, um, the trash can is right over there, if you need it."[/color] She pointed at the one in front of the building, which would hopefully contain any sort of [color=ffffff]"rising forces"[/color] the dark girl was about to experience. 

[color=ff6347]"I don’t drink water because of the things… Fish… Do in it."[/color] That was about as far as Suki got before she turned around and talked to Ralph on the big galvanized phone. Haruna was spared from the sight, but not the sound, as something heavy and wet splashed around in the garbage can. [color=ff6347]"Ugh."[/color] She sunk to her knees. One of her pigtails was draped into the garbage can. [color=ff6347]"Got a napkin?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"I’ll go grab some."[/color] She hurried back into the arcade, beelining for a napkin dispenser near the concessions area. After a moment of hesitation, she also filled a small plastic cup full of water. [color=fff79a]"You are going to drink water if I have to pour it down your throat,"[/color] she mumbled to herself. [color=fff79a]"What fish do in it. . . Hydration is important!"[/color] She was just about outside, so her lecturing of the absent Suki was forced to end before it became lecturing a present Suki. [color=fff79a]"Here."[/color] She held out the napkins, keeping the water in reserve until the dark girl finished cleaning herself up. [color=fff79a]"You really shouldn’t be drinking like that."[/color]

After wiping her mouth down, she accepted the cup and sipped it. [color=ff6347]"That tastes kind of funky."[/color] She sipped a second time. [color=ff6347]"I’m not sure how we’re going to make a body, but if Tsubomi needs us we should head back inside."[/color] 

Once Haruna and Suki went back inside, they’d notice that Nocnista and Tsussou had disappeared from where they were grouped up earlier. When they looked around for them, they found the two standing in front of a crane game. Despite her saying she doesn’t frequent arcades often, Nocnista was surprisingly focused, trying to move the crane into the perfect spot before time ran out. [color=9966cc]"You know, in a way, arcades are a less-gambling focused casino. Wouldn’t you say~?"[/color] She idly chatted with Tsussou.

[color=00aeef]"Mm. Only if it's for prizes."[/color] Zassou watched with half-closed eyelids as Nocnitsa worked her magic, perhaps literally. Tsubomi had retreated out of Zassou's awareness, muttering something the one in control of the body couldn't understand as she did.

[color=00aeef]"A lot of gamblers say that it takes skill. Maybe."[/color]

Haruna, not wanting to interrupt, walked up quietly as she watched their advisor play the game. It wasn’t exactly what she’d expected to return to. A part of her was surprised that she hadn’t just transformed and teleported the prize she wanted out. Maybe adult magical girls (magical women? Witches?) grew out of their delinquent tendencies. 

[color=ff6347]"Yea."[/color] Suki sighed as she wandered back inside. [color=ff6347]"There’s a certain prestige that comes from getting a high score, which is all skill."[/color] She was wobbling a bit, but at least she wasn’t slurring her words anymore. [color=ff6347]"I don’t really consider claw games part of the arcade. It seems like most places have them now."[/color] She walked up to the crane game and peered inside. Her forehead was just an inch away from the glass. [color=ff6347]"Whatcha trying to get?"[/color] 

[color=00aeef]"Mm,"[/color] Tsubomi seemed to point at a fuzzy worm plush, though she was actually pointing at a cat behind it. [color=00aeef]"That one."[/color]

The crane slowly lowered over the cat plush, scooping it up in its claws. Nocnista furrowed her brows, watching it automatically move to the prize chute. [color=9966cc]"Come on now…"[/color]

Thunk-!

[color=9966cc]"Ah!"[/color] She knelt down to grab the plush, and after giving it a little dust-off, handed it to Tsusou. [color=9966cc]"Here you go~!"[/color]

Suki raised an eyebrow. [color=ff6347]"Was that the right one?"[/color]

Tsubomi’s hands reached out at their usual slow pace to grab the black and white cat. She stared at it for a moment before nodding once. [color=00aeef]"Yes. This one. It might be friends with the other two."[/color] After a moment, she pulled it closer to get a better grip on it. 

After the cat settled, Tsubomi turned to face her partner. Though she didn’t notice any signs of Suki’s drinking, her recent attempts to improve her awareness of others’ feelings drew her to ask. [color=00aeef]"Are you okay?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"Yes."[/color] Suki answered a little faster than an honest person would. [color=ff6347]"How about you? If you’re good, then I’m good."[/color]

Haruna glanced at Suki sharply, but elected to keep her meddling in this particular relationship to just that, for the moment. 

The apathetic girl shrugged, a genuine response even were she able to feel, all things considered. [color=00aeef]"Tsubomi says we can try. She doesn’t think it’ll work. I don’t know if it will work either. If it does, it might be good. Might be bad."[/color] She raised the cat plush to be level with her face, staring into its eyes for a moment before lowering it again.

[color=00aeef]"But we,"[/color] the cat was raised once more, this time to face away from Tsubomi and towards Suki. At the pace she moved it, one would normally be done with their statement, but for Tsubomi there was still enough time between her words to lift it fully to eye level with her partner.

[color=00aeef]"we…"[/color] Something made the girl pause. Given her attempts to be more aware of the feelings of those around her, she decided to lower the cat once more. [color=00aeef]"Mm. We’ll try. Maybe we’ll be able to see what happens."[/color]

Zassou tilted Tsubomi’s head to the side, her usual sign of thinking. [color=00aeef]"If we try, we might win. The Club has been winning a lot, it seems like. So we should just keep going. We’ll reach Rome eventually."[/color]

[color=ff6347]"It doesn’t feel like we’ve been winning."[/color] Suki grumbled, but opted to not pursue that thought any further. [color=ff6347]"Haruna told me what you guys wanted to do, but not how we were going to go about doing it. Beyond, you know, what my role in it would be."[/color] She folded her arms. [color=ff6347]"How are we going to get you a body?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Magic."[/color] The reply hung in the air for a few seconds. [color=00aeef]"Somehow making magic happen with magic."[/color] Tsubomi’s eyes drifted to look at Haruna. [color=00aeef]"Then Haruna went to get you."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Like I said. We’ve got a couple magical girls who can summon things, and a couple others that can mess with people’s heads. There’s gotta be a way to just make a spare Tsubomi if we put our heads together, right? Then there’s no more issue."[/color] Haruna nodded, though truth be told she was reassuring herself more than anyone else.

Suki glared at Haruna, but it was more like a hundred yard stare that she happened to be obstructing. She turned to look at Nocnitsa. [color=ff6347]"So how are we doing this?"[/color]

She hummed. [color=9966cc]"Well I do have a contact of mine that can get us a spare body, artificial or otherwise, though I’m not sure if you’d all want to go down the route of Frankenstein. Then there’s the issue of finding someone that can help carefully extract either Zassou or Tsubomi from the first body and securing them into the new one."[/color] Nocnista thought out loud. [color=9966cc]"My magic can only affect someone’s state of mind however. I swear I’ve seen something like this before, I can try to separate them myself anyways, but this seems more of a soul sort of issue? If that makes sense? Their mind…minds? Well, [i]it[/i] did appear completely fine in spite of their situation."[/color]

Suki looped her thumbs inside her waist band and looked at everyone present. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the situation looked pretty hopeless. Even if they had someone who could perfectly transplant Tsubomi (as Suki knew her) into a different body, then what? She has to live on in some unfamiliar form that isn’t hers? Would she be able to go to school? Would having her own body bring up other problems? What if she suddenly gained emotions, and realized she hated her existence? But they weren’t even at this stage yet. They still lacked the ability to take Tsubomi, whoever and whatever she was, and do anything with her. Maybe the ability to do such a thing was simply beyond everyone’s ability.

[color=ff6347]"Yea uh, I guess we’ll have to find someone who can do that, huh?"[/color] Suki made her way outside. [color=ff6347]"I’ll let you know if I find anything."[/color] 

Nocnista seemed to hesitate for a moment, a glimpse of concern for the delinquent girl crossing her expression, then nodded. [color=9966cc]"That would be quite appreciated, thank you-"[/color] Then something else crossed her mind, causing her eyes to widen. She pinched her nose with a groan. [color=9966cc]"Alright, yep, I really do not want to ask her of all people, but if we have no other options…"[/color] The club advisor glanced back up at Tsussou and Haruna, putting a smile back on. [color=9966cc]"There is someone I can try to convince, but…er…"[/color] She genuinely grimaced. [color=9966cc]"Easier said than done, really."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Is there something wrong with asking anyways?"[/color] Haruna inquired. [color=fff79a]"I’m willing to work extra hard if it means that both Tsubomis can be happy."[/color]

[color=9966cc]"Yes, but-"[/color]

Tsubomi walked over to pat Haruna on the shoulder. Well, to lay her hand on it, at least. [color=00aeef]"Mm… Snapdragon’s teacher?"[/color] Tsubomi finally asked. That seemed the most likely, somehow.

Nocnista tilted her head at Tsubomi. [color=9966cc]"Who?"[/color]