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]

[And each child in the world thanks their lucky stars.]

So everyone else gets to fill that void for you? [She sighs, but she's smirking.] I think you're overcompensating.

[protectandselfserve]

Well, it's not like I just give kids nicknames, you know. No one is safe, including the local judge, who...

...

...feels kind of eternal, honestly! I have no idea how old that man is!

[heritrix]

[But okay, good. Everyone's getting this treatment then. She wasn't going to complain earlier, even if it was silly, but she feels better about the nickname now.]

Is he older than you? [She looks Gant up and down.] You look pretty old.

[protectandselfserve]

...Like I said, he feels kind of eternal, honestly. I can't actually remember if he's older than me or if he's the same age... probably older?

[heritrix]

I follow you. [She nods.] After a certain point old is just old. Like 50.

[protectandselfserve]

I'd argue 70. It's definitely 70.

[heritrix]

That wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you're a man in his mid-60s, would it Gant-san?

[protectandselfserve]

Oh, none whatsoever! I mean, everyone does say that 60 is the new 40. I'm just keeping with the times!

[heritrix]

So is that tan natural, or spray on?

[protectandselfserve]

It's one hundred percent natural! I hope I don't come out of here looking like I've been living in a basement for a year.

[LIKE YOUR DAD]

[heritrix]

[HE GOT GREAT RECEPTION DOWN THERE, OKAY]

I think you have a good two years before you'll need to worry about that.

[protectandselfserve]

Hmmm.... maybe I should spend some time trying to tan by the windows, though. Just to be sure.

[heritrix]

Just so long as you're not in a speedo! No one wants to see that.

[protectandselfserve]

Well, no one under twenty, anyway.