WEEK 4.

[trustwellness]

WEEK 4 Three more have died this past week. Milla Maxwell was killed for breaking a rule, Chiyuki was murdered, and you all had a hand in executing Yoshikage Kira. It seems like this isn't going to stop any time soon. How many more will join them this week? Saturday is given to regrouping and rest; on Sunday morning the clock chimes as it always has, but at least there are no bodies to find today. It seems you're safe for now. The night before wasn't necessarily a peaceful one, however; you'll probably feel a bit groggy when you wake up, and it seems you've regained something that you didn't realize you'd lost... Despite the Wordsmith's reaction to the last trial, it seems as though you've been rewarded once again for a job that was...well, it was done, even if he didn't explicitly say it was well-done. Another door has opened in that stairway, it seems, leading you further down into the building; once again, there are more rooms down there, more things to occupy yourselves with. Or perhaps just more means to get creative with regards to how you take initiative with your fellow Apprentices. APPRENTICES REMAINING: 23 APPRENTICES REMAINING: 22 APPRENTICES REMAINING: 20

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[OOC: Welcome to week four of Trustfell! Feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget to save those threads for coins and the activity check!

If you'd like to get in contact with the Wordsmith, you can do so through letters or the switchboard!]

Comments

[introspects]

[ Orihime only vaguely knows about Rika, but this breaks her heart. She hears the sadness in Hanyuu's voice. She doesn't know what to do except put a hand on her back and rub it soothingly. ]

Hanyuu-san...

[oyashiromama]

Turned back time... That isn't really accurate to say. I jumped worlds. I didn't want Rika to die. Rika didn't want to die. We ended up...in a world above the realm of humans. Maybe... Maybe it's connected to where my people came from. I don't know. I could never do this before.

[Everything sounds almost robotic. Like she's just relaying this horrible tragic tale and...and she can't do anything about it.]

Did you know there are many different versions of the same world? Like different pieces, like... We call them fragments. My power...lets me take Rika, her memories, her personality, everything...and transplant them into a different one. It's nearly exactly the same...but there are some differences. They're impossible to predict...at least so far. A tragedy happens, with a different journey, but the same outcome. At the end of same month of the same year, Rika is killed. That's how it's been...the four times I've lived through it so far, in each different fragment.

[introspects]

...

[ Different worlds, different realities with the same outcome. Rika dies. That's--that's what she's getting from this. She wishes this weren't the case. ]

I'm so sorry.

[ What else can she say? Encourage Hanyuu to keep on fighting? Is that what she wants to hear right now? ]

I...I think--I think Hanyuu-san's courage and determination to save Rika-san is amazing. I hope you'll find the world where Rika-san is okay.

[oyashiromama]

I-I do too. [Her heart lurches, and she trembles.] I-I just... I want her to grow up...a-and I don't...I don't want her to leave me...!

[It...puts her secret in new context now, at least for herself. Hanyuu Furude likes that she's gotten spend more time with Rika than anyone else. What...a disgusting thing.]

[introspects]

She won't. She won't leave you.

[ Orihime understands the secret now, and that's not something she's going to fault Hanyuu for at all. She never did, never has. Rika is important to her. Of course the time they shared is important. ]

I believe you'll find a way to save her and make things right. That's...the kind of person you are.

[oyashiromama]

[It takes some work to keep from crying at that. She can do nothing but lean against Orihime, eyes shut tight.]

All I can do is watch as her life falls apart around her, and take her to another when it does. I just- I just have to keep trying.

[introspects]

[ Oh, Hanyuu...Orihime continues to gently rub her back, allowing the other girl to lean on her. ]

Rika-san is lucky to have someone watching over her like that. You're so strong and brave for trying over and over again, Hanyuu-san.

[oyashiromama]

The only other option is t-to...to give up...and let her die...and be alone again.

[And she says it like that's not actually an option, at least from her perspective.]

...Th- thank you...I- ...I shut myself away but I- ...I'm grateful...for you, and the others who have, coming to ch-check on me.

[introspects]

[ She understands completely. If she were in Hanyuu's position, she would do the exact same thing: rewind time, open up new realities...whatever it took to save the person--or people--she cares about the most. ]

You don't need to thank me. I'm grateful that you trusted me with this; we're all here for you.

[oyashiromama]

...

[A hand finds Orihime's.]

I truly am glad I met you.

[introspects]

And I'm glad I met you, too.

[ She will take Hanyuu's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Her free arm wipes away a few stray tears, and she attempts a smile. ...It doesn't quite take, but she tried and no one can judge her.]

Let... Let me just...have a moment to wash my face, if that's alright?

[introspects]

Yes, of course. Take your time.

[ She'll even leave if you want time to yourself. Just say the word. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Hanyuu won't be long, but if Orihime's inclined to look around, even a little, she might spy something familiar on the desk!

In other words, your hairpin's sitting out there, girl.]

[introspects]

[ Orihime takes a seat at Hanyuu's desk, not wanting to sit on her bed or anything--that'd just be wrong.

So, needless to say, it doesn't take long for her to spot those hairpins on Hanyuu's desk.

Orihime takes them into her hands and stares at them as if they're most expensive of diamonds, the most valuable of treasures--and they're worth so much more than any of that.

When Hanyuu comes back out, Orihime will give her a wide-eyed look. ]

Where did you find these?

[oyashiromama]

[A-ah...?]

I... I got them from that machine, the gatcha. [...she still thinks of it as that rather than "vending machine."] I- d-do they belong to you? I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep them, I-I wasn't sure where to ask-

[introspects]

Yes. These...they're mine...I've been looking all over for them--

[ Oh, gosh; she's holding them close to her chest, now, and it looks like she may break down any moment now. ]

They're--they're from my brother...

[oyashiromama]

Your...brother... [The way she looks, the way she sounds the way that's phrased-

It's Hanyuu's turn to just walk right to Orihime and wrap her in a hug.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, you...come here. If I'd known, I would've given them to you in a heartbeat. In a second.

[introspects]

[ Hope you don't mind Orihime clinging onto her, crying into Hanyuu's shoulder.

It's been a long, hard week. She's tired.

She just wants to go home. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Hanyuu's done it to enough people. She doesn't mind. She holds tight to Orihime.]

It's okay. You can cry. [It's not okay.] I-I'm rihgt here.

[introspects]

I miss my brother, my friends at home--

[ She's practically sobbing the words out at this point, holding the hairpins close to her as she cries. ]

I'm so useless, Hanyuu-san! I can't--I can't do a thing to save everyone!

[oyashiromama]

[Hanyuu fights shaking, the words hit far too close for her, but- but Orihime just did so much for her, so she just. Holds her tighter.]

Y-you can't... You can't but that on yourself. You're just one girl.

[introspects]

I--no, my powers--I could have saved them from getting hurt!

[ Every time she thinks about this, it becomes harder and harder to swallow. The fact that if she weren't stripped of her powers, maybe, just maybe everyone would still be alive. ]

[oyashiromama]

[Oh... Oh- Hanyuu runs her hands through Orihime's hair, tries to get her to look her in the eye.]

That is not your fault! You- you didn't ask for your powers to- there is nothing you can do about that, but-

[...]

I understand. When you can do something...and then suddenly can't, I... I know how hard that is...but it's not because of anything you did.