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[color=9a8c9a]"I find you worthless greedy lot quite interesting…"[/color]

[color=888888]— Black Gate[/color][/center]

Maybe it was how dreamlike the day felt. Maybe it was the lack of problems. Maybe it was the excess of fortune. Maybe it was how different this Michi was from her lethargic self. Maybe it was something more subtle. Maybe it was that Black Gate wore dream catchers on her horns. Maybe it was her obsession with stuffed animals one might take to their bed. Maybe it was that the stumpy monkeys that followed her around shared many similarities with classical depictions of nightmares. Maybe it was that her banner was a dream catcher. Maybe it was that she had a banner and Regina did not. Maybe it just made sense that the new dark girl would be the one to stir up trouble this time. It didn’t really matter. Most of the club understood something was wrong, and Michi had something to do with it. 

The rule keeper, brash and direct as usual, initiated an attack with Tsubomi’s lunchbox. Not with the box itself, but its contents. Michi didn’t even raise her hand, and allowed the contents to tumble down her hair and the front of her dress. The grains of white rice stood out against her abyssal black gown. She was far more adverse to being touched, however, and shoved Roche’s hand off to the side when she went to clean the girl’s outfit. To get as close as Roche wanted, to deliver the message, she had to lean over the table. Michi leaned back slightly as she spoke. 

No later did Roche drop the napkin in Michi’s lap did Hotaru start mouthing off. Like the crony of some mob boss, if Roche were the head of the mob. Ember interjected, and then they began arguing. By this point Suki, Haruna, and Acid Drop had departed. Ember, Hotaru, Evil eye, and Roche were the only ones that had remained. Meanwhile, Michi rose from her seat.  With a swing of her hand, the incoming lunch box bounced off her arm as she stood up. And then with her outstretched arm, her fingers coiled around Ember’s wrist. 

When Evil Eye took off, she didn’t get far. Even untransformed, Michi seemed to be more than capable of holding Ember near the table. If Evil Eye wanted to depart, she would need to leave Ember behind. Even the table flip wasn’t particularly effective. With Michi’s close proximity and her hand latched around Ember’s wrist, there really wasn’t a lot of room for the VIP table  to soar. 

[color=9a8c9a]"[i]I[/i] overstayed my welcome?"[/color] Michi scoffed. [color=9a8c9a]"That is an [i]interesting[/i] observation from someone who’s willing to work with [i]Ashbringer[/i]."[/color] She pulled on Ember’s arm until she was over the table. [color=9a8c9a]"You know I’m not making this up, Ember. You saw Regina and Roche [i]together[/i], and she knew [i]exactly[/i] what she was getting into. Why it’s okay to befriend and help someone who wants all of your friends [i]dead[/i] is beyond me."[/color] Her attention returned to Roche. [color=9a8c9a]"Even if she changed her mind, you’d been chasing her for [i]months[/i] before that realization. Perhaps you wouldn’t be a good fit for Suki, but you’re not a good fit for Sylvia [i]either[/i]. I’m sure they’re looking for [i]loyal companions[/i] that won’t [i]disgrace their honor[/i] to satisfy their [i]humiliation fetish[/i]!"[/color] Michi released Ember and stepped away from the table. [color=9a8c9a]"Why do I even [i]bother[/i]? I thought Kiyo or Haruna might appreciate one good day, but no. We couldn’t even make it past lunch without finding [i]some way[/i] to be upset about [i]everything[/i]! Is there no one in this world that isn’t [i]selfish[/i]?"[/color] Michi balled her hands into fists. [color=9a8c9a]"You want to fight? Drive me away? [i]Fine[/i], but I’m taking the toys away if we do."[/color] she pressed her fingers together like she was getting ready to snap, and waited. 

The supposed danger that Evil Eye may have noticed didn’t seem to trigger. Yet. 

[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/aef3087a-5b67-4c7a-b700-3c45c3052f60.png[/img]

[color=tomato]"I feel sad, but not custom banner art sad."[/color]

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

[color=ff6347]"Hrmmmm…"[/color] 

Suki’s eyes were looking at the floor. She could see her pigtails draping into her vision, and her netted, malnourished legs carrying her forward. Her head was empty, just repeating Michi’s tirade like an echo bouncing around in her empty skull. It was all so obvious, so intuitive, that it felt like Suki should have known it if she thought about how anyone had felt for any amount of time. Michi’s points were really, completely, totally unable to be argued with. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Tsubomi talking about her, and it wasn’t until Acid Drop said something that she looked up. [color=ff6347]"Oh uh, the goth cutie?"[/color] To call her a baddy was tempting, but… [color=ff6347]"I don’t think she’s an antagonist, heh! Antagonist."[/color] Suki mulled on that word. [color=ff6347]"An antagonist opposes the main character. I uh, I think believing I was the main character or anyone’s primary love interest is the problem, Rainbow."[/color] She placed a hand on Acid Drop’s shoulder. [color=ff6347]"Boy. You have your own body, and I didn’t even think to comment on it until now. Heh..."[/color] 

It while she was looking over Acid Drop that she became aware of a third person among them, and turned to face Haruna. Of course, it was obvious why she had decided to come this way. [color=ff6347]"Uh, look, it’s okay."[/color] Suki scratched the back of her neck while still holding Acid Drop’s shoulder. [color=ff6347]"Michi’s right. Expecting you guys to want to hang out with me is kinda selfish. I uh, I got Acid Drop’s shoulder to cry on and a whole lot of people to hang out with if I want to. I’m just… Uhhhh…"[/color] Her eyes scanned the room. [color=ff6347]"...Not really sure who to go with. You could say I’m spoiled for choice, heheheh!"[/color] She sniffed. [color=ff6347]"It’s uh, It’s kind of hard to make a choice when I know so few of them. I’m sure I’ve asked all of them out at one point but-"[/color]

Suki’s wandering eyes landed on Misoka, who was sitting in a booth. Unlike how she’d been looking yesterday and for several months now, she seemed to be strangely optimistic. She wore a big smile and had the most gorgeous feast laid out in her bento box. None of that would have mattered, but a blue ribbon had been woven through her flaxen hair, and a full set of silver cutlery was organized beside her box. In her hand was a silver fork that brought a plump strawberry to her lips. 

[color=ff6347]"...But, I never did anything with this one."[/color] With a sigh, Suki seated herself across from Misoka without saying a word. It wasn’t until the honor student finished swallowing her strawberry that she noticed who was seated across from her.

[color=90ee90]"Suki?"[/color] She tipped her head. [color=90ee90]"You picked me?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"Yea."[/color]

[color=90ee90]"Are you okay?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"No."[/color]

[color=90ee90]"Did you want to talk about it?"[/color]

[color=ff6347]"Not really."[/color]

[color=90ee90]"Hmmm…"[/color] Misoka looked at the other two girls, or maybe the only girl, as non-magicals couldn’t see magical girls. 

[color=ff6347]"It’s okay guys."[/color] Suki sighed. [color=ff6347]"You don’t have to feel sorry for me."[/color]

[color=90ee90]"But if you want to sit with us, there’s plenty of room."[/color] Misoka slid over and patted the seat. 

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[color=deeppink]"Talk about a broken record. That’s why I play all of my music live."[/color]

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

Willow hovered over to Tsubomi and Sylvia [color=ff1493]"Humble priestess? You’re aware that ‘humble’ is described as ‘meek, modest, and low in rank’ right?"[/color] With a shrug, she hovered closer to Tsubomi. [color=ff1493]"So what’s the game plan? I’m pretty sure she can’t be made to feel more optimistic until you’ve raised her flag. But if you’d like I can tackle her and then we can drag her off. Just don’t tell the others that I did anything weird, okay? If people think I’m Oros MK II because I tussled with someone I’m demolishing you."[/color]


[hr]

Norika’s tiny frail fingers pressed against the side of the maid’s neck. Her skin was still warm, and, for better or worse, she still had a pulse. 

[b][color=ffffff]"Mmmmmm."[/color][/b] A smile crossed her lips as her head rolled over onto its side. [b][color=ffffff]"Mrs Tsukishima, another push please. I wish to swing even higher."[/color][/b]

[b][color=ffffff]"Mmmmmmmmmmm."[/color][/b] The other maid rolled over onto her side. Some droll rolled out of the side of her mouth. [b][color=ffffff]"I told you Mr Tsukishima, our baby is sooooooooo beautiful."[/color][/b]

They appeared to be asleep.

But something was moving through the quiet mansion. It sounded like half a dozen feet marching. Norika had just enough time to head back towards her room and peek down the hall. She didn’t have time to recover her food. 

The footsteps got louder, if they could even be called that. Then came the hooting and hollering of chimps bouncing down the hall. They came out of a corridor and spotted the sleeping maids. Two of them approached the fallen woman and hopped on top of their stomachs. Immediately the maids stirred. 

[b][color=ffffff]"Nnnnnooooo."[/color][/b] One of the maids groaned. [b][color=ffffff]"Mr Tsukishima, why is our baby crying? I think something’s wrong with him. His shin, it’s-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=ffffff]"Nnnnnoooooooooooooooo."[/color][/b] The other maid lamented. [b][color=ffffff]"Mrs Tsukishima, you’re pushing too hard. N-not that I mind."[/color][/b]

But their voices were droned out by a cacophony of primal screeches that didn’t wake the maids. The other nightmares  continued to move down the hall, bouncing off the walls and floors as their voices grew louder. Soon Norika would have no choice to transform.

Until something ripped down the hall. 

Visually it looked like a series of chromatic rings, as wide as the hallway and ethereally colored like northern lights. But each one sounded like the note of a violin or guitar, and with so many coming down the hallway, it sounded like a chord was being held. But more interesting than how the rings looked and sounded was what they did when they hit their targets. 

The monkeys were blown away, tumbling further down the hallway like pins struck by a bowling ball. Many of them disintegrated on the spot, with just a few managing to pick themselves up. But they were quickly blown away by a second volley of attacks. Unlike the initial power chord, these sounded like simple strummed notes, but did their job effectively. The apes didn’t have time to recover before they were blown apart into black ash. 

Walking down the hall was a boy, but not a normal boy. He could have been a magical boy, if those existed. It would certainly be Norika’s first time seeing one. His outfit wasn’t much different than a Japanese school boys, save for the hat. That could have belonged to a police officer if the badge looked like anything a real cop would have. But what made him look like a potential magical boy was his brass arm cannon and the power pack he wore along with it. He could have been [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c6389-e11b-7168-8c08-0c32b1b57ace.webp]megaman if he was diesel punk[/url]. 

He held his arm up by the side of his head, and a crystal gizmo on his sleeve lit up. [color=daa520]"Fable here. We’ve got a situation at the Tsukishima mansion. Seems to be multiple hostels. Not Miseria, definitely the work of a dark magical girl."[/color] Fable walked over to Norika’s room and peered inside. But by that time, Norika had pretended to be asleep in her bed. After a cursory glance, he leaned back out of the room. [color=daa520]"Negative, no sign of dark magicals. Tsukishima mansion is mostly secure. Neighborhood could be taken over. Please check on downtown and Hibusa High ASAP."[/color] 

Fable shut the door to Norika’s room and ran further down the hall. 

[hr]

Meanwhile, roof Shuuko, [s]because Villa doesn’t have enough characters to post for in an RP that allows 1 max,[/s] Was just vibing on the roof. Why nobody knows. Probably because rooftops are predominantly featured in school dramas despite the fact that pretty much every school roof in Japan is more or less off limits to students. 

Because her eyes were closed, she did not notice [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c6301-0e0c-7692-bbf8-a455380a5d38.webp]a young succubus[/url] was looking around the school roof, though she was totally uninterested in Shuuko. 

[b][color=ffffff]"Where did you go, Finn?"[/color][/b] She sighed. [b][color=ffffff]"Well, he’s not here. I guess this was a bust…"[/color][/b] She spun on her heel. [b][color=ffffff]"Happy Belated Valentines day anyway, Detention Club."[/color][/b]