come out of hiding, i'm right here beside you

[barehands]

[A while after the execution has ended, everyone will find a simple note slipped under their door.]

If you don't want to be alone after everything that's happening, some of us will be in the dining room. Even if you decide not to come, please remember that you aren't alone here.

[The note isn't signed, but the handwriting is feminine and neat.

For anyone who decides to come, there's a good array of food laid out on the table. There are some small and simple cakes, cookies, and pastries, a healthy amount of okonomiyaki, okayu, and other Japanese dishes (with a focus on rice and eggs), along with curry. In addition, there are pancakes, and a large pot of soup. It looks like a few people collaborated to make enough food for everyone here.

Just like the meal they shared together earlier in the week, the candles from the storage room lend a more peaceful light than the fluorescent lights above.]

Comments

[heritrix]

[It has the word "red" in its etymology, so it sounds like her kind of place!]

I don't think I've ever been to a small place like that. I always wondered what it might be like to live in one.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu likes red too!]

Yeah, it's one of those places where ya know almost everyone. I mean, it's still pretty big, but I've been everywhere.

[heritrix]

Oh yeah? So where are the best spots to have fun?

[relieable]

Depends on your kinda fun. I spend a lot of time at the... uh. The video store. [renting AVs] But you've got bars and clubs, a couple nice parks, an aquarium, lots of shopping centers, an outdoor market. My brother goes to the gym, and is part of a go club, but those don't really sound like fun to me.

[heritrix]

I guess that means we can't work out together.

[But she's just teasing, grinning as she works out imaginary plans on the ceiling.]

You're right, a lot of those places sound like they'd make for a great day out. If they're open at the same time, you could make a date starting at the outdoor market for a freshly made picnic in the park, and end it off at the aquarium.

[She's not old enough for a bar, obviously.]

[relieable]

[AH. . . why is she bringing up dates? is... is she interested in him? don't do it, Rin-chan!]

W-well! I dunno about that! But if you think those all sound like good date ideas, you're probably right!

[heritrix]

[But the face he makes might be funny!!]

When it comes to this, I'm always right. [She puts a hand on her hip and puffs up with pride.] I'm so good at planning dates, there's no hard feelings when I inevitably turn the guy I'm with down for a second at the end of the day. Even when they're disappointed they leave with a smile on their face.

[relieable]

???]

So you're... an expert dumper?

[heritrix]

Do you mean that as a compliment or an insult?

[relieable]

[uhhh...]

Both?

[heritrix]

[Okay, she's actually going to laugh.]

At least you're honest.

[relieable]

[that's good! he meant it as a joke, anyway! he looks down at his food, wondering why he got so much. it's not like he wants to eat it anyway.

then back up to her]

My name's Osomatsu! Osomatsu Matsuno!

[heritrix]

[She's got about half a bowl left of rice on her end here, and his introduction catches her mid-bite.]

Mmph. [Mouth full, she holds up a finger as if to say "one second". After finishing chewing, she sets the bowl down and smiles.]

Rin Tohsaka.

[relieable]

[hehe! cute. Osomatsu waits patiently. nice, he's slowly meeting everyone! it's kind of morbid to think about, but he doesn't know how long he's going to be around these people. so might as well get to know them while he can.

and the name Rin Tohsaka is easy enough to remember, not like Naa-chan's, or Kyu-chan's names... those are weird]

Nice to meet you! Even though we're in this place! If you need anything, you can come to me, all right? I'm not that strong, or smart, but I'll try to help you out!

1/2

[heritrix]

[Wha— He really is honest. Rin apparently wasn't expecting a response as effortlessly endearing as that, because she flushes, suddenly gun-shy.]

[heritrix]

[He reminds her somewhat of a boy she knows, actually. The demeanor isn't the same; even in a time like this, unlike that boy, Osomatsu has smiled more than once.

But admitting so easily that he's weak and offering to help anyways; where do people like this come from? Clearing her throat, Rin finds her voice again.]

If you say things like that, people will take advantage of you.

[relieable]

[yeah, Osomatsu's pretty honest, most of the time]

Yeah, probably. [he rubs under his nose] But I might as well tell the truth! If these, uh... these bad things keep happening, I'm not gonna be much help.

[heritrix]

[She frowns.]

If you value honest, value honest growth. What help people need in a crisis isn't static; you can learn along the way. It's in times like these, you grow as a person.

[relieable]

That's true! People always become stronger when they're put to the test!

[a beat]

...Still, I'd rather be at home in front of the teevee.

[heritrix]

[What a simple guy.

Comments like that remind her of home; Osomatsu is older than she is by more than a few years, but conversations like that are staples anywhere you go, be it among co-workers or high school students. Part of why Rin decided to go to high school in the first place was so she surround herself with the routines of others, and feel part of it.

It was a deal that wasn't meant to go two ways. For the safety of her classmates, she always took care to keep her life separate from theirs so she wouldn't interrupt the happiness of their daily happiness.

That policy makes her frustrated now, standing across from Osomatsu like this. Normal people like him and Rose shouldn't have been brought into this mess.

It'll be hard to be normal again, after this.]

Maybe we'll find one somewhere.

[If she were a better person, she'd promise he'll be home soon, but that's not something she can guarantee. She won't rest until she's found a way out of here, but there's no telling what the timing will be.]

Just when I think I'm going out of my mind and have already seen everything there is in this place, I stumble on something I haven't seen before, so there's hope yet.

[relieable]

[honestly, Osomatsu worried that he wouldn't make it back home alive. he was an idiot, but he was no fool. looking on the bright side of things could only get you so far]

Oh? Like what?

[heritrix]

[Now that she's being asked about it, she realizes it's kind of embarrassing. But she said it like a good thing, so she may as well own it!]

Um. Well, one time I found a highlighter marker!

[That's not as exciting as a TV.]

[relieable]

[eh?

eeeeeeeeeeh?

was that a joke? Osomatsu's not quite sure. should he laugh? it's a hard atmosphere to read!]

...Ah. [he finally says, stuffing some food into his mouth so that he doesn't have to say anything, or laugh]

[heritrix]

I thought it was impressive.

[/sulk-eats this rice.]