Collaboration Post between Letter Bee and Haha

City Hall, New Amakusa City

Irene Amakusa was the second female mayor in New Amakusa City's history. This job had prematurely wrinkled her face, behind the short, golden-rimmed bifocals she wore as both reading and regular glasses. Rigid in posture and body language to the detriment of her public image, she nevertheless continued to sit behind her desk, going through reports from a living, breathing mass of Humanity and looking over paperwork that reflected the labyrinthine nature of bureaucracy and law with its endlessly confusing terms and twists of phrasing meant to confuse and mislead.

To be taken in was to give ammunition to her political opponents; more to the point, she'd fail her people, and as a descendant of Shiro Amakusa -

She who should not be. From a world that should go back to the Sea of Dreams, and from the Sea, to Nothing.

Voices that denied who she was. Voices that denied her world's right to exist. Voices that denied God and Man.

"I spit at your inevitability," she whispered to herself, before pressing a button. Within minutes entered a young man, barely eighteen, yet carrying the worries of an older age in his eyes. The youth put aside his gun, a gun with no ammunition anyway, and asked her a question whose anxious tone sounded like his true age.

"Mom, are you okay?" Samuru Amakusa, her son, forgot the niceties and etiquette of a mayor's son and a Hunter of Rogue Dreamers in his haste to aid her. She couldn't begrudge him that; they were family.

His only family, considering how his father had been killed while investigating the murder of the kendo champion who had been the pride and joy of New Amakusa City. Though a member of the Haru Family, whose participation in whaling was destructive to the environment, she liked individual members of the Family, and admired how The Champion was just that good at what she did.

And as Mayor, she was obliged to put a stop to the ones who preyed on her citizens... even if whalers. But enough tangents; she had to answer her son.

"For now," her reply was strained, but the strain was due to exhaustion. "What we know as 'Reality' thins; if we don't get a new generation of Dreamers soon, we will be facing the End Times. Have you compiled a list of potential candidates?"

Samuru nodded and brought out, from his jacket pocket, a USB containing data on Masuda High School. His next words were, "We have a mix of potential Arts-users, including a cosplay enthusiast. Good, the more people we have creating magic items, the more we Hunters we can arm and the less chance we have of leaving saving the world to... younger kids."

They were both tired of the constant attrition, how their older, more veteran members were falling, maybe even being directly targeted. And of course, the Dreamers' Organization was facing worldwide issues at the same time reinforcements were... The conclusions were obvious.

"Watch over them, Samuru," she gave her final order. "Do not let them die, but don't die either. Make that your second Vow once you drag a third Icon from the Sea..."

---

Masuda High School

You would think that waking up for school might’ve been a grueling experience. For some it might’ve been, some students aren’t necessarily morning people, but Masuda High did well enough with their student facing communication and social PR to garner a favorable outlook by most. Most mornings began with painstaking rituals; getting dressed, packing your bags with supplies for the day, and making your way out the door.

The entrance was typically packed with fellow students mingling, boys shooting their shot at girls before the first bell rang, friends bantering about what they’d do after school. Of course some would shy away from the social gatherings and make their way immediately to their first class to sit and rest their head before their teacher arrived. Mr. Hagino, one of the school’s prolific but relatively laid back teachers was an oddity that he would often sleep on school grounds— usually in the teacher’s lounge before making his way to the classroom much earlier than his students.

Mr. Hagino however, was also not a morning person and even with a cup full of espresso in the morning wouldn’t be fully awake until ten minutes after his class actually started. The shaggy black haired Japanese man looked perpetually sleep deprived, and no amount of sedatives or caffeine really aided in escaping that eternal torment in which he lived within. The first few students that would arrive to his classroom would often find him hunched over with his head under a red and black blanket hiding from the morning sun— snoring sometimes but even if he wasn’t, the odds of him being conscious before class started was leaning towards unlikely.

Ding
Ding
Ding
Ding!

The final bell for students to get to their classes chimed out from speakers and megaphones placed along the lampposts outside the school. To Mr. Hagino, it was the unceremonious alarm bell that burned on his ears like the heat of the sun. Out from the blanket his mother weaved for him he would crawl out, slithered out really, before making his way to the front of the class. He wore a normal dress code like most teachers did, with the exception of it being very-very wrinkled and the black areas of his suit had accumulated layers of… was that cat fur?

”Alright.. another day in paradise ‘eh everyone? We’ll be turning to chapter twenty six in our books today to learn about the peasants who raised their blades against their leadership, led by a sixteen year old. The Shimabara Rebellion— but before that, let’s get things started with our morning role call. When I say your name, just raise your hand or say [here].”

The teacher would then begin calling out each student’s name in alphabetical order. He plucked the metallic pen from the corner of his suit and unfolded a piece of paper out from his pocket, scratching down who was absent or sick, whilst simultaneously checking and marking a box beside the names of everyone who made it to class on time. In truth, even the late students would be marked that they made it on time, Mr. Hagino hated doing extra paperwork.

@Redking0380@Rune_Alchemist@Haha@Auragreedia@TruthHurts@Courtaud@SilverPaw

Fukushu Haru

---

Bright was the sun today. Such brightness brings out the deeper reds of her orange hair, the sort of day that invites bugs out of their holes to scurry around in warm dirt for all to see. Such was its vibrancy from the window she sat next to.

Fukushu wished she could be out there, to feel the breeze and smell freshly turned dirt. Or go further out to the distant shore and smell the salt and feel something pulling, fighting against her line as the water roars alongside a throat long turned raw in mimicry.

Grandmother would approve, but it was that same old bat that had her in this position. On paper. She was not nearly foolish enough to believe that spiteful old woman would ever let her go, her own version of overprotectiveness after…

Regardless, Grandmother would rather be available to help should something happen than in prison for something as little as ‘Neglect’ or ‘Child Endangerment’ or ‘44 Counts of Aggravated Assault and Battery’. She scoffs at the memory, Fukushu would not neglect education but sitting in a class with the dull murmur of those around feels…wasted. When there are things out there she could do, people she could find.

The pencil she had been idly twirling creaks in her clenched hand, a notice for a deep breath and to relax back into the chair. She tries to stretch, only for the uniform fabric to catch before any muscles, the small jacket being a size too small for any sort of movement. Another exhalation of breath marks her taking the dark thing off, it was too warm for it anyways.

Maybe is she is lucky the classes will be over quickly.

Masuda High School - History Class, Mr. Hagino

---

Rin sits at the very back of the class, hands shoved into her uniform jacket, a cat-eared beanie on her head. She 'fought' for the right to wear it, explaining her odd temperature regulation and her willingness to take it off whenever asked by teachers if it was too distracting, though she'd never admit to any of this. She shivers a bit, the school jacket a little too thin for her liking.

She scans the classroom. Ah, everyone was older than her--much older. She sinks into her seat, somewhat intimidated. Yeah, she was smart--smart enough to move up a grade or two, but, she didn't think she'd end up so... high up in grades. She grimaces. She wasn't good with kids her age or anyone for that matter, if anything, she hoped she'd never talked to any of them.

... But a friend or two would be a nice. She shakes the thought away and desperately attempts to focus as the tired-eyed teacher calls her for attendance.

Should she raise her hand? Say 'here'? Just stay silent with her feet crossed and her hands in her pockets? A long few seconds pass and she forces her hand upward just as the teacher is about to move on. It stays raised until she's sure she was marked down. Her hand meekly retreats into her pocket, and she prays that no one but the teacher noticed or cared. Being seen as lame was the last thing she wanted--or maybe she would just been seen as an annoyance for taking too long, she really didn't want to bother anyone.

She lets out a quiet groan, pinching her temple in frustration. "Dumb!" She mutters to herself.

Taking a cautious look around the classroom, she spots Fukushu by the window, her jacket off. Rin shivers a bit again--how was she doing that? Today was a cold day... then again, every day was cold for her, and she dreaded coming out of her room for that reason alone _{although, she dreaded it for a lot of other reasons.}

Her head snaps back to the front of the class--didn't want to be caught staring, after all. That'd be awkward.

Too awkward.

---

---

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Featuring new player character options, dozens of added scenes, optional challenges, hidden secrets to uncover, and one brand-new ending for each romance target! Updated concept art booklet available to order now…!

The first episode of the recently announced promotional anime adaptation is scheduled to air on…

---

A loud, persistent beeping shook Ariyoshi out of his coma. “Hwue-rgh?” By instinct, his hand sought out the phone, rote memory guiding its path. He emerged from the cocoon that were his bed covers, and shambled to the bathroom.
A cold shover later he felt…

Well, hell. Like the exhaustion was really setting in now. But at least he wasn’t a fucking zombie anymore. Maybe 30% closer to human?

But did I start at zero or in the negatives?

As he brushed his teeth, sluggish thoughts crawled through his head with all the speed of a confounded escargatoire of snails.

He ventured into the kitchen in his underwear only – an easy indulgence to fall into for a guy living alone most of the time. First things first, he put on a kettle of water to heat up. While waiting, he tapped through the tablet on the counter, randomizing one of his morning playlists. Soft humming followed as he ground his beans, trying to get into a morning mood. He made his coffee by pouring it through a filter; he’d have a cup now, and put the rest into a thermos bottle.

Parts of lyrics were sung under his breath as he put rice into a cooker, and started making omelettes. They were folded into neat little squares to easily fit into his bento box. Then, a bit of steamed veggies, some fresh ones sliced for accompaniment, and pickled ginger and cucumbers for that extra zing.

Ariyoshi looked at the time: 20 minutes left. Yeah, just enough for a quick morning workout. It was a relatively simple routine of warm up, strength exercises, then stretching before he went in for an even quicker shower, threw on his uniform, and grabbed his backpack.

Then it was off to the bus; ear buds and sleep mask in place, timer ready to ring in half an hour, he was all set for his nap. He was knocked out to the muted sounds of Metallica within a minute – a skill he was damned proud to have perfected.

Ariyoshi trundled into Masuda High as a singular particle of the deluge of incoming students. Unlike so many others, he had no reason nor desire to linger outside.

Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Hagino, was a man he empathized with deeply. He glanced at the teacher’s blanket covered form, saying nothing on the way in – no point disturbing the man. It wasn’t the first time that Ariyoshi considered what it’d be like if he had his own blanket.

The pluses? He’d be comfier. A lot comfier. He bet he'd nap so much better.

The minuses? Carrying it around all the time. The hit to his image.

Worst of all? What if he became the kinda person who’d rather sleep over at work? Ariyoshi shuddered at the thought. No matter how little time he had, he’d rather not ever have his workplace become his home, no thank you.

So, as much as he sympathized, he also figured Mr. Hagino had a screw or two loose.

That said, Ariyoshi sat at his desk, folded his arms on top of it, then laid his head down on the makeshift pillow, dozing till class started.

He was just like their teacher in that he moved only when the final bell rang; stretching with a yawn, he removed his earbuds, and placed the book, notebook, pencil case, and thermos in front of him in quick but orderly fashion. He opened their history book to chapter 26 as soon as the teacher said so, and replied with a, “Here, sir,” when his name was called. For all that he had slept before this, Ariyoshi appeared as a proper student should, spine straight, gaze set on the teacher, ready for the lesson.

---

Just Another Day in Paradise

---

---

School was bullshit.
It wasn't a passing thought, nor was it some superficial thought that might have dismissed itself once something good happened. It was truly how Sayaka felt. The raven-haired girl had set her bed right up against her desk so she could wake up and shift over to be at her keyboard immediately. It was terrible for her posture, but in truth, Sayaka really couldn't care about the curvature of her spine any less. The tiny digits click-clacked along the keys of her keyboard and she checked the activity of crypto in the morning; her income was purely dependent on how smart she was with the capital she already had so it was natural for her to check multiple times a day on her investments. Only one of the coins were in the red, the rest had been up a few percentages which made Sayaka grow a big shit-eating grin across her face.

The gamer goblin then sighed, slumping her back down onto the pillowtop mattress hard before flipping to the side and grabbing a crumpled up shirt sitting between the bed and the wall. As long as her uniform was being worn nobody would say anything to her, right? The condition shouldn't matter that much, so she didn't think much about it, rolled on some socks, slipped on her shoes and headed out with the expectation of being late. The facility wasn't too far from the small apartment that she called her home, but if she didn't run she might get written up. That thought put some pep into Sayaka's step, sending her swiftly down the sidewalk in the direction of Masuda High School.

Just as the school grounds came into sight, she heard the bell begin to toll.

"Fuck shit, shit fuck, fuck shit.." Sayaka's voice chimed out in a faux upbeat chime, almost singing her grievances to the wind as she bolted past the lingering students at the school entrance and down the hallway.

The girl spotted a few other students booking it down the hallways at breakneck speed, but didn't pay them any mind as Mr. Hagino's classroom rapidly approached and Sayaka's hand outstretched to clasp the metallic handle and swung it open, panting and red faced she slowly made her way to the back of the classroom and sat down at her seat. While students were being marked down as being present for class, she reached down into her backpack to pull out her laptop and sat it down on the wooden desk. The fancy RGB and loud fans humming to life once the laptop was turned on likely flagged Sayaka as a tad obnoxious for bringing in a gaming laptop for school, but how else would she fit the time farming crafting materials into her schedule throughout the day? The girl's eyes would lock onto Mr. Hagino and raise her hand once her last name was called upon, there was some familiarity between the two as she snapped her fingers and pointed at him as if giving him sass to not comment on her tardiness.

"I forgot my mouse." She sighed heavily before blowing some black strands out of her face and annoyedly swiping her finger along the laptop's touchpad.

Masuda High Shcool.

---

Some people, enjoyed school. Some people enjoyed getting out. Some others enjoyed spending time with others and not sleeping all day. Today, though...she was in a very, very bad mood all things considered. Which understandably, made people avoid the pink and black dressed girl as she sauntered down the hallway. In the few days she had been transferred here, she already had taken a bit of a reputation for trouble. Or at least, an irreverent attitude.

And the source of this being in a bad mood?

rumble

"Ugh, goddamn it fuck todays going to suck balls."

She was goddamn hungry for reasons she didn't wanna really think about. Also couldn't sleep well. That wasn't helping, either. A hand rubbed her neck lightly, but her gaze soon fell on a girl walking hurriedly down the hallway - sandwich in hand. Well if the world was offering breakfast on a silver platter...

She passed the girl the same time they were both walking past a stair well. Before her classmate could react or do much, she'd find her arm being grabbed rather roughly, and then her back being slammed into the wall with Rukana standing firmly in front of her. Being taller than most of her peers certainly had its advantages when doing stuff like this.

"Heeeey. Sorry for the interruption." Rukana's hand was placed next to the girls head, open palm resting against the wall. "Well, not really. Look. I'll be honest. I didn't get to eat breakfast and honestly, im in a suuuper bad mood. I'll be taking that."

"H-hwuh?" The girl was more confused and flustered more than anything as she tried to catch up with what was happening. It was easy enough for Rukana to just grab the sandwich from her in the process.

Ding
Ding
Ding
Ding!

"H-hey wait...y-you can't!"

"I just did?" Rukana shrugged, uncaring as she'd proceed to take a bite of the sandwich in question. Her face scrunched up as a sweetness of vanilla and bread met her tastebuds. What...what was this abomination? "...is...is this a cookies and cream sandwich...?"

"...it was new and on sale?"

A moment of silence stretched between them.

"...right. Okay, well I guess someone has more problems the I do."

"H-hey! It was just on sale and I like trying new things!"

"Whatever. Thanks for the breakfast." Rukana dumped some pocket change into the girls hand before lowering her face mask and walking off, biting into the odd sandwich. It was something, at least she supposed.

"H-hey wait! My sandwich!" But Rukana didn't respond, merely turned the corner and continued towards the classroom she was now late too.

But first, a quick text.

"Mooooorning Minnie~ Ugh, new school still feels weird you know? Missed breakfast this morning, too. Today's going to suck big time. Feed me Minnie."

She'd rather roughly open the door to the class room mid roll call. She wasn't giving any excuses, in fact she didn't say anything to the other students. She'd merely plop herself down in her seat, brazenly finishing the last bit of her stolen breakfast.

---

Most sleepy students would have gotten their final Zs in during Homeroom, but most students weren't moonlighting as a secret underground artist.

Hidekichi was operating on autopilot, fishing his history book out of his bag like a zombie, half awake where he sat. There was even some drool out of the corner of his mouth as he caught some 'waking sleep' while their teacher began calling for attendance. But Hidekichi was too far gone to really pay attention to whenever his name came up.

In whatever sorta fugue state he was in, Hidekichi took his pencil to his textbook, idling scratching out lines, angles, diagrams of disparate parts of the project he'd spent all last night working on - an avant-garde picture frame for some random billionaire so he could show off a painting from a different artist. Maybe it was some sort of prank, but whatever. The money was real.

_{"Seventeen minutes to cool b'fore applying the second layer... piece together the broken corner... bucket of kitchen grease..."} To his immediate desk-neighbors it'd sound like some nonsense cooked up in a dream, not the ramblings of an artist on a deadline, and his general rep meant that sketching over the illustrative diagrams in the book could be chalked up to classic delinquency. Really, it was almost on luck that he wasn't suspected of being anything more than some punk highschooler.

At some point, likely past when his name was called and ignored, Hidekichi's head slipped from his hand, chin cracking on his desktop with enough force to immediately jolt him back up. "HOO!" He yelped, part surprise and part oh-yeah-I'm-in-class, "I'm up! Here! I'm here!"

Collaboration Post between Letter Bee and Haha

Masuda High School

Everyone was present in class— or rather, everyone that mattered was there. Of course, a few showed up right at the bell, or even a little after, but that didn’t surprise the history teacher. His expression remained indifferent, devoid of color, and he simply waited for the majority of focus within the classroom to be aimed upon him before speaking about the lesson again.

”Now, our lesson about the Shimabara Rebellion, which also covered the Amakusa Islands, where our city stands today.” Mr Hagino would pace his way to the opposite side of the classroom, closest to Ariyoshi, where the light switch for the room was placed.

”The Shimabara Peninsula to our east, as well as the Amakusa Islands, where we are today, were converted to Catholic Christianity by Portuguese and Spanish traders, along with much of Kyushu Island. When the Tokugawa Shogunate took power, they gave the Shimabara Peninsula and the Amakusa Islands to a corrupt Daimyo, Matsukura Katsuiie, also known as Matsukura Shigeharu, who hated Christians and persecuted them, including by boiling them alive in hot springs.

“Fortunately for us, although the Tokugawa were against Christianity as well, Matsukura also taxed his non-Christian subjects heavily, with those who could not pay his taxes being wrapped up in cloaks and burnt alive - Along with their children! - and word of it spread. Then came Shiro Masuda, or as we know him now, Shiro Amakusa, a wandering Ronin who at fourteen was already a talented swordsman and speaker who won not just his fellow Christians, but those of other faiths against the misrule of the Matsukura.

“Our ancestors rebelled and threw out the Matsukura, who fled to the Tokugawa Court’s seat at Edo, and the Tokugawa sent an army to restore them to their lands. We defeated them, but they sent another, larger army, which penned us up in Hara Castle in Shimabara, where our ancestors faced not only superior numbers but also the treachery of the Protestant Dutch, who hated Catholics to the point that they were willing to help the Tokugawa.

“But Shiro stood strong and taunted the Tokugawa with how they had to call on the Dutch and their artillery to help them. The Shogun then ordered the Dutch off. But what really, truly saved us was that Matsukura Shigeharu showed his true colors when a random peasant, one loyal to the Shogunate, was found dead in his tent - The scandal!

“So the Tokugawa Shogun at that time, Tokugawa Iemitsu, decided to negotiate with Shiro Amakusa instead; Shimabara and the Amakusa Islands will be a zone where Christians can practice their faith, and foreign traders will be allowed to, well, trade. If not for Shiro’s victory, Japan would have isolated itself from the Europeans, not keeping up with its technology - A great risk!

“But thanks to him… we are free.”

Click!

The lights go out as a projector glows alight and places the image of a mass of ragtag soldiers in Edo Period attire on the whiteboard. A laser pointer is pulled from a small set of keys hooked through a belt loop, pointing to the weapons on their personage and the lack thereof supplies they held.

”The school would like essays based on who [you] think were the most critical figures in the Rebellion’s success by the end of the month. Yes, I’ll have a Quizlet up with prominent figures organized in flash card format.” The school board likely wouldn’t approve of the lax practices Mr Hagino carried, but so long as his students passed and learned something along the way?— he didn’t really care all that much.

---

Shotaro Shirogane was listening to the lesson, or trying to; he was also looking at Hidekichi and hoping that his stares would not be taken as him being weird. He knew that New Amakusa City was Christian territory, but the older boy was so handsome that Shotaro could not help but want to speak to him, even if nothing more than that would be acceptable. So the young man made sure to listen closely to the teacher, write down notes, and, as the classes proceeded according to the Japanese School System (with some unspecified modifications!), slowly mark the time to lunch.

And when it was time for lunch, Shotaro would approach Hidekichi and ask, "Hidekichi-san, would it be okay if we.... umm... eat at the same table? Please?"

Shotaro knew well enough not to say anything that violated the informal rules of Japanese Society, even though those were relaxed in the Amakusa Islands and Shimabara. He had to be polite, courteous, and above all, not overly forceful or 'weird'.

As for Hidekichi, he may know Shotaro as the rich boy who moved to New Amakusa City just a few years ago, one who lived with his uncle, who just moved there. Others may also know that same thing, especially the others with upper-class origins; they would know Shotaro's uncle was a deadbeat who was consuming Shotaro's trust fund at an extreme rate, but it would be impolite to say it to Shotaro's face, right? Especially not without proof...

@Redking0380@Rune_Alchemist@Haha@Auragreedia@TruthHurts@SilverPaw

Fukushu Haru

---

A bell rings for lunch, and Fukushu is amongst the first out of the door. On one shoulder an old leather rucksack and the other her jacket, still mostly off.

The few lessons imparted little of note. History has fascinating beats, and it always intrigued her to see what waves come from the smallest things. Things that would take a thousand recollections and historians to put together the details of what led to some great event or another.

It's all just idle thoughts, easily disrupted by the heavy double doors opening to the outside. A lot more breathable out here, where the wind blows gently and the artificial heat of the school dissipates.

Fukushu prefers colder climates. A necessity of working on a boat in winter, but a detriment she came to enjoy. Many others would be shivering in this chill, she was still on the verge of sweat. That familiar itch at the back of her neck were moisture clusters with hair to irritate her to no end being proof of such.

Perhaps she should loosen her hair more often? She sets her items down on a shaded bench and examines a sample of hair. Its vibrant locks were done in a hodgepodge of ribbons and braids, one of the few indulgences she has. Hair decoration and care.

She sets it aside for the moment to sit and open up her sack, pulling out a metal tin with clasps that pop open easily. Showing off the portion of fish and rice within. Grandma's Recipe, easy to make and easy to use for any fish.

Simple, but still good food and a thing to look forward do as she bites into a piece.

"Hmm. Still chewy." Fukushu had not yet mastered the recipe completely.

---

Just Another Day in Paradise

---

---

Bzzz..
Bzzz..
Bzzz..

Sayaka's hand sifted down her side into the pocket of her sweatpants to pull out the smartphone vibrating off at the wake of dawn. She squinted her racoon circled eyes as she clicked the black button along its side to reveal the notification, noticing the name she breathes out a sigh of relief. Glancing up as the teacher started to rattle off about world lore, but it wasn't all that interesting to her, likely to her teacher's disdain. So instead she'd pop open the message sent to her from an online friend and respond, as she tapped excitedly along the touch screen to reply to her online friend.

"Morning Ru! I can order you some food around lunchtime if you need? I'm going to chew out Arty during my lunch so just let me know before then. He was supposed to farm out Arcane Crystals for our enchanters and he didn't because [he was tired] so I'm going to tear out his asshole. Anyways, good luck be extra mean!"

The mention of the teacher's Quizlet upload sparked joy in Sayaka's heart, as she threw hands up in the air and clapped once before turning in her chair to focus back on the game on her laptop. The clacking noises coming from the laptop's keyboard were probably mildly distracting, but Sayaka didn't really card nor would she acknowledge if someone voices their opposition to it. For whatever poor soul that sat next to her, they would hear all sorts of profanity in mutterings under her breath. Something about needing to set hotkeys on her laptop so it wouldn't be annoying if this happened again, something else about how she's going to sign into someone's account and sell all of their equipment; a lot of it wouldn't really make sense to a person less familiar with games.

Upon the..

Ding-dong. . .
Dong-ding. . .

Of the lunch bell, Sayaka would close the screen of her laptop and shuffle it back into the protective slot of her backpack. She wasn't in a rush to leave like the others! It wasn't that she enjoyed the classroom and loved staying with her teacher, instead she just didn't enjoy the hustle and bustle of leaving for lunch with the crowds of people in the hallways. So she'd wait for most to leave, let it clear out a bit before she exited through the sliding door. When she was the last student in the room she'd snap her fingers to beckon Mr. Hagino's attention and pointed to her backpack. Not to where her laptop was, specifically gesturing to a pocket towards the front of the black bag covered in small final fantasy-esque sprites of different jobs.

Mr. Hagino nodded to her and waved her off, simply stating in a calm and tired tone. "Just drop the flash drive off before you go home today." She parroted the nod, not bothering to respond with words and simply made her way out of the room and meandered through the lingering people in the hallways to the cafeteria. Once in the very-very crowded zone of lunch time, she'd look for one of the lesser used circular tables that allowed fewer people to sit. An empty one stood out to her and she zoomed as quickly as she could over to it, sitting at a seat that faced a wall and setting her backpack in the chair next to her. Unzip, unfurl, and out of the backpack the laptop came again, setting it onto the table and pulling out her headphones to set upon her head. Some chat application opened up on her screen and she'd click around to join a voice channel with only one other person within it- as soon as she joined Sayaka would begin her assault.

Msuada High Cafeteria

---

@Haha

As she'd head out of the sliding door, she'd finally send a reply to Minnie.

"RIP Arty. I'll get the gravestone ready for him. Tell him he owes us interest now, lol."

That was all she had time to initially send - for the warzone that was the highschool cafeteria was beginning. Heading into the She hadn't been the first to leave, so really speaking, she was last. Unfortunately for everyone else though, Ru-chan did not come in last place when she wanted something.

"Outta the way, jackass." Were about the only words one unfortunate classmate would have before they'd be rather rudely and roughly yanked to the side, followed by her foot hitting someone right on the backside of the knee and sending them stumbling to the ground as she'd slowly work her way through to the front of the line, either through just slipping through the gaps or taking a bit more of an aggressive approach. This of course, only added to the chaos, but she was only focused on one thing and whoever got in the way was just collateral. If anyone so dared to try and stop her, they would just get a bag right to the face and she'd already have moved on.

She eventually, made her way to the front and nabbed herself a bento with noodles, chicken, broccoli and a handful of other vegetables. With the spoils of her victory there was just one thing left. Finding a place to sit. There was some weirdo loner girl that looked like she had more bags under her eyes then she'd come out of a store with, Gal seriously looked like she could do with a serious makeover...but she also looked like the sorta cringe loser that she didn't want anything to do with.

So for now, she'd just find a random spot at an open table.

"Awww, Minnie you do care~

As if I need money tho. That sperm donor who called himself my father left me with more money then I need. My mom was just being a total bitch. left without even saying anything so I didn't have to deal with her. Like, seriously its pissing me off. You up for some raids or something tonight? I need to murder things in the most violent way possible otherwise the next guy that looks at me funny is gonna catch these hands."

She'd sit her bag down onto the table next to her, lowering her facemask so she could properly eat, though she didn't say a word to much of anyone.

Masuda High School - Cafeteria
@Haha

---

A notebook is quickly closed. Rin was diligently taking notes throughout the entire lesson. Though, her upperclassmen seemed much less inclined, considering their... laxness. Was this normal? She was online and home-schooled most of her life, her only classmates were names on a screen. It was way easier to get away with slacking when you could just turn off a webcam. The bell ringing is what snaps her back to reality.

Right, lunch.

She stuffs her notebook into her bag. She'd spend most of her lunch writing up an essay draft, Shiro Amakusa seemed the most important figure in the Shimabara Rebellion. Or maybe it was the Shogun. Or Matsukaru Shigeharu? She didn't know. She stumbles her way through the crowded halls, bumping shoulders with other students, though she's quick to flash a mean face. Someone shoves her to the side as they cut their way out of the classroom, Rin barks out an annoyed "Hey!", though it falls on deaf ears.

She makes a quick stop to her locker, dons her signature jacket over her shoulders, and makes her way back to the cafeteria. Technically not allowed, but also not a problem since it was lunch. No teachers or authority to hound her for wearing it; she'd freeze to death otherwise.

Stepping into the cafeteria was an assault of the senses. Crowded. The line for food was long. Lots of chatter. Rin shivers as she tries to find an isolated table.

Well, there was laptop girl who was in Mr. Hagino's class earlier, sitting next to a classmate was a good idea, compared to sitting with a stranger _{even if a classmate and a stranger were technically the same thing considering she never talked to anyone.}

But the girl seemed...

"You lazy fucker! I paid you five hundred dollars to do something simple so I didn't have to, give me my money back or I want those Arcane Crystals in the guild vault by END OF DAY!"

Busy.

She takes another look around: two girls sitting together; one eating a bento, and another eating fish and rice. Also her classmates. They were both sitting quietly, so it seemed like a good study spot, but what if they were friends? Would friends ever sit that quietly in silence? Would it be awkward if she just pulled up to their table and started studying?

After a minute or so of awkwardly strangling her bag strap, she forces herself to sit at Sayaka's table. She had headphones on and seemed engrossed enough in her yelling that she'd probably just ignore Rin if she sat there and worked.

Was it technically a bad study environment? Yes, but Rin grew up with cartoons and sitcoms blasting in the background whenever her mom wasn't home. Which was nearly every day.

She sits a little to Sayaka's left, opening a bento box from her mother, and setting up her notebook to get started on an essay first draft. She shrinks into herself a bit; just avoid eye contact, focus on work, everything will be fine.

---

Even though he was awake, the history lesson passed right over Hidekichi's head. Something about a rebellion and Christianity, sure, sure. His mind raced a mile a minute with all sorts of other topics - his work, his sister, his breakfast, a cool rock he saw on the way to school today, whether Mr. Hagino could beat the principal in a fight (his money was on Hagino), what that girl on the laptop was so busy with, how many ants it'd take to fill up a wine glass - pretty much any new information would bounce off his brain like it was made of rubber.

At some point mid-lecture he noticed the page of his history book he'd scribbled on and began to, quietly, tear it out. Krsht, krrrrsht... shkh- He may have been an eighth of the way awake, but zombie-mode Mamai really cooked on some of these diagrams!

He just had to figure out what that guy meant with the 'kitchen grease'. Hidekichi was sure it'd come back to him eventually.

Soon enough it was time for lunch, the morning lessons having breezed past him with hardly any impact. He was just about to get up to nab his food when that one blue kid came up to him out of... well, outta the blue!

"Aww, Shirogane, yeah!" Hidekichi met his classmate with a wide grin and went for a high dap that more than likely missed its intended target, though he didn't let the dud-five linger. "'Course, man, don't even say thanks about it! I was gonna hit up the café for lunch, you want anything? My treat!" Hidekichi pulled Shotaro along about as oppressively as he talked, elbow locked around the back of his neck, no doubt sparking fresh rumors about how that Mamai, strong-arming Shirogane-san out of his cash!

"Hey, you're new, you think it weird how much of our class is like, weird, ya know?"

Collaboration Post between Letter Bee and Haha

Masuda High School

The cafeteria wasn’t as supervised as the rest of the school. Of course a few chaperones were posted near exits and entryways, but other than that, lunch ladies were the only adult presence in the scouring auditorium set with long tables, small tables, and even an area near the snack like for benches positioned next to vending machines. The head lunch lady, an elderly Soviet immigrant that had moved to Japan and worked her way up the food chain to her current position began shouting to her team.

”Fifteen minutes and we close za’ lines! Make sure all ze’ pots are emptied by zen, no slackers! If we finish in time, I’ll order some pizza for everyone!” She tucked some stray curly red strands of hair into the net that kept all of her messy strands out of her face, and of course the food.

Her staff would unanimously shout in response; ”Yes chef!” and in overdrive begin to rapidly move pots from stoves to the lunch lines themselves, refilling plates and setting them out for students to grab. While many of the students were keen on bringing their own lunch to avoid the wait, they would do their best to make sure anyone who didn’t bring food would end their day with a stomach full of food, as babushka wished. Today it was some form of chicken and dumpling soup with little pan fried pierrogis, next to them, little cups with garlic or red sauce to be dipped in of their choosing.

Within the auditorium, the loud roar of students chattering amongst themselves was absorbed and traveled upward, making it possible for friends to hear each other amongst the clamor of people. Messes were bound to be made as well, but those same hardworking women preparing their food would be mopping the floors and wiping the tables. The day wasn’t nearly close to being over, but the break between classes would be a nice break between the mundane and obvious stress that class would bring with it.

---

Shotaro was smiling as he allowed himself to be walked to the cafeteria; Hidekichi was so close, allowing him a good look at his hair and face. The other, somewhat older boy was so cute that Shotaro could not hide how happy he was to be with him, and even offered to be treated to lunch! But he really wanted to be the one treating him, though?

His smile grew as he replied, “Let’s split the cost! I’ll pay for half, you pay for half! Then we’re both paying! Also… I want cake; here’s hoping the cafeteria has some!”

Then he registered Hide’s question, and replied, “I’m weird too… but yes, I noticed. Like, we seem to be something out of an Anime or a North American Young Adult book. I know Ruru-chan, and I have very sad backstories, but, strangely, we have a competitive gamer who games in class here - I heard she’s also a crypto expert - plus a kid who got moved up a couple of grades and someone whose parents got murdered, plus the son of a diplomat and a fashion designer.”

He then wondered, “Wait, what about you? Surely you can’t say you’re the normal one here? It’s okay if you are, though, or if you’re not - Either way is fine!”

Shotaro decided to let Hide see more of his true self than he normally would; then again, the part of him that played to the invisible script of Japanese society is his true self too…

---

While Shotaro, Hidekichi, and the others talked, Sayaka would get an email from one of her contacts.

To: miNERVa
From: (Insert Contact’s Name Here)

Have you heard the news of a new ‘religious group’ roaming around town? The True History Society? They just converted one of our guildmates, and now he’s given them all his worldly possessions… creepy.

@Redking0380@Rune_Alchemist@Haha@Auragreedia@TruthHurts@SilverPaw

Fukushu Haru

---

Another Bell chimes, signaling the return to that stuffy building.

Fukushu can only sigh and trudge back inside with the masses of uniformed students. Sticking out without a jacket, but refusing to put it back on yet.

Weirdly, the classroom seems cleaner than when she left. Not enough worth verbal comments but enough to notice as she slides back into her seat and awaits the teacher.

Then the day is just consumed by boredom until the final bell rings.

Masuda High School

---

Regardless of whether or not the strange computer girl paid her any mind, Rin is quick to pack up her things the minute the bells rang. Her first draft was mostly finished--she'd have to work on it more during her next few classes; she decided that Shiro Amakusa was the most important figure, somehow being the same age as her yet accomplishing so much. She never knew people her age could be so influential. Could she be like him someday? Probably not, the days of the Shimabara Rebellion long over, and honestly? She'd probably cry if she had to speak to so many people.

Rin grips her bag straps after packing away her finished bento. This school wasn't nothing like what she saw on TV, it was kind of weird.

Then again, the whole school was a little weird. Maybe it didn't mean anything, maybe it did. Rin spends a few seconds or so observing the school staff--particularly the head lunch lady, before leaving the cafeteria as the crowd died down. Maybe she'd try the school lunch someday, it'd put less stress on her mom, and it didn't look that bad.

By the time she makes it to class, her usual windbreaker is off like nothing even happened. She crosses her arms and feels a chill; she'd just have to bear with it until the day was over.

---

Hidekichi idly scratched his ear.

"Nah naaah, I ain't the normal one, I think it's that girl in the second row, the one with the bag? Not like I'm sayin' weird's bad! Just thinkin' about it is all, I guess."

Entering the cafeteria, he rooted around his pocket and fished out a crumpled bill and a handful of coins, pushing them into Shotaro's hand. "'kay though, here's all of mine, get whatever ya want. Surprise me!"

He clapped his companion on his back and broke off into the throngs of the cafeteria. "I'll grab us a spot," he called over his shoulder.

Collaboration Post between Letter Bee and Rune

Masuda High School

Rukana mostly kept to herself for the duration of it, when someone did inevitably sit next to her she would end up interjecting and making her presence very well known. After all, couldn't just let someone sit next to her without letting them enjoy her very clearly welcome presence, no? Not that they seemed to enjoy said presence too much, but what did she care in the end?

Lunchtime would come and go, the throng of students crowding the cafeteria would soon dwindle as another bell chimed, signaling the end of leisure time and a start of classes once more. Rukana left her tray on the table, not bothering to clean it up as she'd stretch, send one more text to Minnie and head back to the class room. Maths, sciences. Literature. Whatever it was, Rukana barely listened. If anything, she just wanted to get the day over with so she could head out on a shopping spree. Maybe find some fancy establishment to eat at.

Nah. Best just to shop and head home. Didn't want to deal with the hassle of her mother questioning where she had been.

After Lunch was math. How people liked math, she didn't know. It was so boring. Too structured. Too many rules to follow and keep up with. Honestly tiring. Sciences? Well, she found plants interesting at least. Botany was the only really academic field she was into, if it even counted. Physical education came after that, something she was good enough at, if only because it was one of the few subjects she felt like actually trying in. Truthfully though, like always - school days were a blur except Science and her music electives.

Ding
Ding
Ding
Ding!

"Bwueh?" Rukana shot straight up in her seat. "Jeez...way to bore me to death, teacher..." Rukana grumbled standing up. She had fallen asleep for whatever class was last, but she didn't care to stick around. Arguably the first gal out of the class room as she'd push past everyone else, lazily swinging her schoolbag over her shoulder as she'd head out.

---

It'd be well into the evening by the time Rukana returned home. She spent most time after school out shopping, mostly for some new clothes, looking over some new guitars and checking out a nearby garden and flower store. Texting Minnie most of the time while doing so.

After a quick shower, spending the rest of the night killing some raid bosses and otherwise doing things with Minnie and the guild, she'd log off, stretch...though couldn't help but to take a quick glance at herself in a nearby mirror eyes lingering on her own neck before inhaling, exhaling quietly and putting on her pajamas, throwing herself onto her bed and drifting off into sleep.

---

((Section Solely Written by Letter Bee))

Shotaro got some sandwiches, plus strawberry shortcake and iced tea for himself and Hidekichi, before going to the table that the latter had chosen.

He liked the other boy even more. So after setting down the food, the young man was unable to speak much unless spoken to, not even picking up the dropped conversation topic.

Then he mustered the courage to speak, “Hey, let’s exchange contact info; you’re okay with that, right?”

Assuming that Hidekichi agreed to this, Shotaro let the day pass by in a blur before he returned to his and his uncle’s house, where, after a casual chat at dinner, the young man showered and then put on his pajamas and slept on the fluffy bed filled with plushies of various mythological creatures.

Tomorrow promised to be another wonderful day.

But tonight, he sank further down into sleep than was normally possible, plunging into the Sea of Dreams…

---

New Amakusa City, The Eleventh Hour

Ruhana Kikuhara found herself walking through a graveyard where the scent of upturned earth mixed with sea-salt mist that drifted in from some unknown ocean. She could not remember waking up, wandering off, or even getting out of bed. In fact, she could still feel the blanket and cushions on her body as an invisible presence, even though her mind was awake and her eyes were clear.

She was wearing black and red; no shades of pink here, even as she saw a ghostly pier with a bone-white wooden ship, one favored by the piratical English a century or so after Amakusa’s time, with sails of frayed cloth that shimmered like spider silk.

There was a ramp that led to the ship, and a steering wheel that glowed faintly with green-white ectoplasm. It was a call to her to sail the night sea, lit by a full moon that was just suddenly there. The promise was a key to the mystery if she did; rejection meant failure, and return to one’s mundane and normal life.

A return to a life where she could not be certain that if she died, there was a soul to leave behind, a life where there was always the fear that her father, now dead, was gone forever.

Here, however, she can seek out assurance that Death was not the end, and that bereavement isn’t eternal.

---

Ariyoshi Nagase found himself in a cosplay convention; an oddly cheery and bright and perfect one where everyone was having fun and nothing seemed to go wrong. He ought to remember sleeping, and still felt whatever surface he had slept on, even as his mind cleared and registered where he was, which was in a convention hall that mixed elements of every venue he had been in; from windows to booths to the tilework used for the floors and the memorabilia being sold.

It could almost be a dream come true. It was a dream and it was also real… but something felt off.

At the convention’s exit, which he could see from afar off; he could see his parents, in their finest business clothes, gesturing for him to leave and come back to them, where success and wealth waited, same for respectability.

The next time he turned his head, he’d see a stage, advertising a real-time costume crafting competition; materials provided! There was a table and chair with a sewing kit and bundles of cloth and thread, all of which softly glowed with a pale pink aura.

Will he choose what he belonged in? Or will he choose what others wanted him to be?

---

Hidekichi Mamai was in a forest. Of candy. The road he walked was of yellow marzipan, with shrubs of peppermint powdered with fine sugar. The trees he passed by had trunks of biscuits filled with cream, and grew candied apples surrounded by leaves of spearmint, though unpowdered with anything right now.

And the clouds were made of cotton candy…

Deki Deki Deki Ma, who is our Deki-Ma?

It was a rhyming song, one that was sung by an unknown voice wherever he stopped for more than a few seconds.

We all strive for happiness, you do strive for happiness; we all strive for happiness, you do strive for happiness….

The jingle grew louder, more insistent.

Deki Deki Deki Ma, who is our Deki-Ma?

We all love our Deki-Ma, are we loved by Deki-Ma?

We all strive for happiness; you do too, you do too!

But are we not happy?

Or are we sad?

Do you hate us, Deki-Ma; do you love us, Deki-Ma?

Deki Deki Deki Ma, we do love our Deki-Ma…

But somehow, should Hidekichi turn his will to opposing the voice, or blocking it out, or even going along with it instead of being annoyed or terrified by it, the voice would comply with whatever he did.

Then a small figure waddled up to him; one of his earliest creations, a cute and ugly thing he made for his sister. It held out a hand of sticks, even as it glowed with an aura that changed colors.

If it was rejected, unlike with Ari and Runa, it would not be the end of all chances at a life beyond normal. For the Sea of Dreams respected true purity of heart, and it had a soft spot for those driven by love…

@Redking0380@Rune_Alchemist@Pz Waffel@Auragreedia@TruthHurts@SilverPaw

New Amakusa City, The Eleventh Hour

Fukushu Haru was on the deck of a boat, a whaler's ship that ran on old-fashioned steam and trailed smoke through the air from three great grey smokestacks. It cut through red-orange waves lit up by an eternal sunset - Or was it sunrise? - that made it almost indistinct from blood. But blood was opaque; this isn't, and from the deck, Haru could see fins poking through the water, then the figures of sleek, smooth, darkened creatures just under the water. She would then hear her grandmother's voice from behind her.

"Haru."

If she looked behind her, Fukushu Haru would find that her grandmother was indeed there, accompanying her in this lucid dream that felt like reality, that held the clarity of awakening even though she felt the blankets and bed around her physical body as it slept.

Her grandmother, her wrinkled face lit up by a fixed gaze that betrayed a drive that hinted at obsession, then gave her an explanation of what this all was.

"This is a small slice of the Sea of Dreams, a dimension where all that exists comes from, and all that people think goes to. In this slice, what you think, what you believe, your very self - You - have formed a Private World, a world where you can Quest for one of the concepts that lurk within the depths of the Sea; an Icon, or so those arrogant bastards in the Dreamers' Organization call it."

Grandmother looked at her and said, "You're old enough to handle this; I can guide you in navigating these waters, maybe accompany you to explain what you are going to go through, but only you can get an Icon for yourself; I will not get one for you even if I could - This has to be you."

She stepped closer, a stubborn glint lighting up her eyes, then spoke, "Remember this; your parents were killed. Seek out something that will take the blood of those who took them away from you and me..."

Haru could see that anything she saw, except for her Grandmother, was a potential Icon, from the ship to the air to the harpoons on deck and the ropes and the sunset, water, and the blood in her veins... And the things that swam under the waves.

@Redking0380