[WEEK 5: Monday night, close to curfew, room 112; Jay, Yukina, Girge, Tsurugi, Andersen]

[nowyouseeit]

[OKAY SO]

[WE'RE ALL HERE NOW]

[IN KAITO'S ROOM, NUMBER 112]

[discuss things]

Comments

[nowyouseeit]

Your network.

[he says a bit blandly. this isn't the first time they've talked about murder, but it is the first time they've met like this to hash out a full plan, so. . .]

[he's tired]

Who's in your network, exactly? So we know who's off limits.

[nowyouseeit]

[he can't be blamed. they're talking about doing some dirty work, here. it's why he's so detached and. . . mopey. . .]

[Kaito snorts]

Thought so. Yukina ratted you guys out to us once you invited her into your li'l group.

Sorry about Kurusu.

[it's a little late to change that plan]

[nowyouseeit]

. . . I like Hajime's smile.

[it's cute, bright, full of feeling and it never fails to brighten his mood. the thought of losing that. .. ]

[. . .]

[hell, the thought of losing his roommate, the guy who so graciously allowed Kaito to move into his room after Dave and Jason died, hurts too]

[mmm. with a small sigh, he goes to retrieve the Necronomicon he received from Craftly back in week 2. with a quick flick of his wrist, he props it open]

[there are foxglove plants pressed between the pages. he's drying them out]

[nowyouseeit]

[snaps the book shut again and places it aside]

I don't think I can-- [kill Hajime? though to be frank, he isn't sure he can go through with it with Akira, either]

Anyway! I'm focusing on this week. Next week comes later.

[gramps]

[don't let him murder next week]

[nowyouseeit]

I'm focusing!

[deep breaths, Kuroba. deep breaths. have faith in your choices. don't back down.]

[don't lose that spark, that flame of defiance, that hope for a happy ending that keeps you moving forward]

[nowyouseeit]

[oh my god]

[his eyes flash, and he tilts his chin up, fire returning to his expression. he's all defiance and determination now. it's the same expression he wears during trials, when he's hot on a culprit's tail]

Don't you dare knock me out of this group, gramps.

[he stands, towering over Andersen, shoulders squared and gaze narrowed]

I've made a pact with Yukina and Jay. Bound myself by a blood oath with them and Craftly since day one. And I sure as hell am not the only one of us who's pissed off that this is the route we have to take. We three have been through a lot, and I refuse to abandon them now. We're going to see this through, together. I may not like the means, but the end result is something I've striven for ever since I got here.

I'm going to see this through, and no god or eldritch abomination or tiny grandpa is gonna take that away from me.

I've made my choice, and I'll damn well live with it.

[and he almost dares Andersen to try and take that resolve from him]

[nowyouseeit]

Yeah, probably.

[ain't even gonna deny it, but he lets out a huff before he plops back into his seat]

I'm no idiot. The path I've chosen to walk isn't an easy one. But unlike what you said to Girge, I'm not broken. Not yet.

[he's just tired.]

[nowyouseeit]

[ugh!!]

Don't compare me to Hamlet. I told you this wasn't a tragedy, remember?

[ninjay]

[ at hearing his and yukina's names, jay glances over at kaito. he watches the whole exchange, not saying anything, and he'll look away once kaito has finished his speech. hm. ]

[nowyouseeit]

[hm!!]

[if he notices Jay looking at him, he doesn't say anything about it]

[ninjay]

I think Chie is actually more in my network than yours.

[ he smiles. ]

[ninjay]

You sound like Quer.

[ his smile drops slightly at that, but then jay just shrugs. ]

Chie's a good kid [ jay she's a year older than you shut up ] so don't reprimand her, please? She only wanted to make sure Dipper and I are safe.

[ they guilt tripped the shit outta her ]

[ninjay]

I never got along with her.

[ he doesn't sound too upset about it, there's a lot of people here he never got along with. ]

And I know. I'll do it for her, by the way.

[ninjay]

She deserves to hear the truth from me.

[ before he kills her. ]