004. Action for Violet City/Video

[ardent]

[ACTION]

[Perhaps strangely for the late evening hours on a Sunday, there are lights on in the school in Violet City tonight; Ishimaru usually avoids coming here in the evenings for that reason - surely it would look suspicious if someone were to come by and see that, or notice someone wandering around in there through the windows - but he has been coming by here once classes let out for the day once in a while, and tonight...well. It's been a long week.

It had taken him some time to convince himself that being here was okay (it is public property, as far as he can tell, so he's not in danger of trespassing, and surely it can't be breaking and entering if the door is unlocked); he'd run into a janitor yesterday who didn't seem fazed at his being there, and didn't seem to mind as long as he left things as he found them. It isn't as though he does much here, anyway; he mostly just wanders around, enjoying the feel of the place. Schools have always had very distinct feelings associated with them, as far as he goes; even his time in Hope's Peak hasn't managed to tarnish that.

About the only thing it's effected is the way he makes sure to leave the windows open and unblocked by shades while he's here.

So he's clearly visible to passersby, should there be any this evening, though he's got his back to the outside; he's got chalk in his hand, quickly adorning the chalkboard in front of him with words written briskly in steady, straight lines.

Live with simplicity, fortitude and vigor.

The foundation of hard work is the spirit to succeed.

Sacrifice is freely given, not yours to demand; give freely of yourself when possible.

Do what you can with your life; it's the only one you've been given.

Do not tear down when you can build up; do not destroy when you can create.

Respect all life as though it were your own.

They're simple phrases, really; things to be kept in mind, thoughts that he needs to remind himself from time to time. He thinks for a moment before scrawling one more down, and then he steps back, surveying his work.

We are not dead yet.

It had struck him as horribly morbid, when he'd first heard it; it's still painful, but it brings with it a dark sense of comfort. We are not dead yet.

That one gets underlined.]


[VIDEO]

[Well, judging from the background of the video, Ishimaru hasn't quite left the school building yet -

...all right, he's not even in the process of leaving, as several of those lines are still clearly visible on the board behind him, but still. He'll wipe them before he leaves, definitely.

However, for the time being, he has something of a question; it's been bothering him for quite some time now, actually.]

A lot of people seem to have been brought here during times of stress or conflict in their lives - in fact, almost everyone I've seen has been like that! Is there anyone here from a world that's actually peaceful and in order?

[It hasn't quite hit him that this isn't just something you ask people, good lord.]

Of course, even if things are dark for you now back home, the focus shouldn't be on futility, but rather on hope and possibilities! Even if your world is a dark one and your circumstances are unfortunate, it's still nice to hear about the positive times, so if you have any of those, they can be shared as well, if you like.

I hope that today was good to you, and if not, that tomorrow will be better - anything can be overcome with hard work, inner strength and cooperation!

[...again, it's been a long week, and he tends to solve issues with his own sense of spirit by screaming encouragement at others; it usually works, for the most part.]

Comments

[ardent]

Of course it is - why wouldn't it be?

[Said as though it's the most obvious thing in the world.]

The willingness to overcome whatever fear you experience is the essence of courage itself; everything comes down to the spirit to succeed, Fujisaki-kun, no exceptions!

[readapts]

[Heehee. It's nice, to hear it when it's said like that. Chihiro smiles gladly, as though he's relieved, as though he's just come to a decision. He looks down at the floor.]

Right...of course... Even if I'm still afraid, then, it's okay that I am. As long as I don't let it stop me anymore, then I...can probably still... [Change. If he doesn't try, he doesn't know if it's too late or not.

Sorry, Ishimaru, he's dipped into talking to himself, though he's well aware of his classmate still. Shaking his head to snap free of his own thoughts and giving Ishimaru an apologetic look, he knits his fingers together.]

Ishimaru-kun, do you think I could talk to you about...a few things?

[ardent]

Well, I don't see why not!

[His words aren't hesitant, though his expression...sort of is; conversations with his classmates tend to be a little on the unpredictable side when it comes to what may or may not come up. Oowada is particularly mercurial, but even discussions with Naegi have gone a bit unpleasant with next to no warning. But if Fujisaki wants to talk, then he doesn't see why not.]

What's on your mind, then?

[readapts]

It's about...those "motives". Our secrets.

The ones from back in the school. [He feels nervous. Of course he feels nervous. Afraid. Anxious. Like he's a kid again.

But to be honest...Chihiro's tired of hiding. It's exhausting, day by day, and when he's around his classmates...he thinks, sometimes, he just wants for them to know. And then he can stop worrying and focus on moving forward, becoming stronger. Like he wanted to.

If I can have this courage, then I...]

You said back then we should confess them, and I don't...really know if I'm strong enough now... But I'd like to tell you anyway.

[ardent]

...Ah.

[Ishimaru turns fully away from the blackboard then, lying the chalk in the tray running the length of it and moving to face Fujisaki a bit more directly; his expression is intense, as it always is, that sense of severity never really going away, but there's a definite sort of resoluteness behind it.]

Of course you can tell me, Fujisaki-kun, and it won't leave this room unless you want it to - I can assure you of that much!

[readapts]

For now...please keep it between us? Until I can...tell the others properly myself.

[Though. In one case, tell someone who already knows, and one who he's already told who doesn't know now. He's not sure where to start at this moment, though. No, he'd better just say it before the resolve that's grown in him falters (not like it will, Chihiro's stronger than that).]

Instead of...becoming more manly, he wears women's clothes...

[......]

That was...my secret.

[ardent]

[It actually takes a moment for the words to sink in; there's a large pause inbetween the declaration and his response in which he simply...repeats the words to himself as though trying to make sense of them, as though he isn't exactly seeing where everything joins up.]

He wears...

[...wait.

...oh.

Oh.

Good...ness lord, whatever he was expecting, it certainly wasn't that.]

S-So you're...!

[As much as he'll hate himself for it later, his gaze flicks rather abruptly down to that skirt before he catches himself, returning his attention to Fukisaki's face.]

Of course I won't tell anyone, but that's...certainly unexpected, Fujisaki-kun...!!

[readapts]

Mmhm... I'm a boy.

[Phwah, and it's strange. The rush of relief that comes from saying that. So much so that he doesn't even notice when Ishimaru looks down at his skirt but wow what're you even doing, Ishimaru.]

I'm sorry for surprising you...

[But, somehow...he was inspired. Something that he's been teetering between doing and not doing all this time got a little push in the proper direction.]

But I've...because I'm like this... [Small, scrawny, with that soft voice even.] I never thought I could get stronger. I couldn't live up to who everyone wanted me to be, so... I dressed like this.

[ardent]

[It's nothing lewd, just...very strange, that's all!!

But...hm.]

Well, this...this does explain several things, actually - why you were fine travelling with a group of boys, for one thing, and why you didn't want to train with the girls...and why you saw nothing strange about inviting us all to your room that day in Cherrygrove...

[...actually, that last one is kind of a relief to have explained, because really, if that had happened again he would have had to actually sit down and have the "look Fujisaki I know you mean well but you really look like a strumpet" discussion, and no one wants that sort of discussion to actually be a thing that has to happen.

As it stands...wow, this is sort of a "why did no one notice these things sooner" moment in retrospect.]

I'm glad you could tell me, though, and you have nothing to apologize for! I think you're very strong already, Fujisaki-kun; maybe not in a way that you'd like, at this point, but you definitely are in your own right.

[readapts]

[Oh yes, sure. Sure.]

Y-- Yeah... It was kind of difficult to just come out and say, then...

[He looks apologetic...for the anxiety that he no doubt caused Ishimaru and his strict moral guidelines. Fujisaki may also have forgotten that it would be strange to invite three guys into his room at Cherrygrove 'til Ishimaru mentioned it back then.

No-one ever said he was an expert at hiding his gender.]

You really think that I'm...strong? [He's not so sure. But even so, he feels more courageous than he did. He feels like he's holding onto that determination he'd grasped in the school once more.] I'm...still going to work hard! Because I want to become stronger.

[ardent]

Well, of course you should work at it, if that's what you want! But for what it's worth, I think you're doing well for yourself so far!

[Although there is something about this whole "strength" discussion that's striking him strangely, something that he can't quite leave alone; he doesn't remember exactly what started the fight he'd had with Mondo back on the routes outside of town, but he knows that it had something to do with yelling about strength and willpower - and that fight had led to him getting thrown down and pinned and nearly punched in the face. If something like that had happened to Fujisaki, back in Hope's Peak...]

...Ah, and you said the others don't know yet?

[Let's just. verify that first.]

[readapts]

[Doing well... He can do better, though. He's sure that now, here, he can do better for himself, he can finally prove (if to himself) that he's capable of it. No more hesitating. If there's an obstacle, Fujisaki will just bust right through it...!

He's really quite surprisingly stubborn.]

No... well, not anymore. [Or, well, perhaps that's wrong.] Or, not yet...would probably be better to say.

[Given the discrepancies in time between the four of them. He looks back to Ishimaru questioningly, for the reason for his question.]

[ardent]

[Some call it stubbornness; Ishimaru chooses to call it perseverance. (...unless it's in a direction he doesn't like, at which point it's just stubbornness, yes.)

As it stands, however, that response gets his expression to tighten a little, along with his stance. Ishimaru normally has no clue when it comes to how to navigate complex social situations, and now is no exception to that; this is just particularly difficult because there's an overlying sense that there's a specific way this should definitely not be handled, not that he can see what that is.]

Back home, we just received those motives - my brother and I, I mean! They were given to us a few hours ago.

[ . . . ]

You didn't...tell him about yours, did you?

[readapts]

...

[When he says it like that, it makes Chihiro feel almost as though he's done wrong by doing so. And maybe...it wasn't right, because... His hand lifts unconsciously to his head, though he goes and pats down some of his hair instead, stopping himself midway.]

I told him... He was the first one I told. I thought...if it was Oowada-kun, he'd keep it a secret and...help me to get stronger. And then I'd be able to tell everybody.

[Not...as planned.]

[ardent]

[Ishimaru just kind of twitches at that; he shifts a little, as though unsure of what to do with himself, before returning his attention to the blackboard, picking up the chalk he'd left behind and starting to write again.]

As I've said, that particular incident hasn't happened for us yet - but from what Naegi-kun has told me, and from what you've told me, I think I know most of what happened.

[His hand remains steady as he writes, though his words are strangely subdued; he gives Fujisaki another glance as he finishes the line he's working on.

We acquire the strength we have overcome.]

You don't hate him for it...?

[readapts]

[Fujisaki follows Ishimaru's motions with his eyes, looking at the words he's written. He folds his arms together in front of himself, holding at one elbow with the opposite hand.]

No... [There's no uncertainty in the answer. His hesitation comes from thoughtfulness.] Not at all. I just...don't understand very well what happened...

But if we weren't in that school...if it wasn't for that bear, then...

[It probably wouldn't have happened...would it? Chihiro remembers what he'd felt after Kuwata died, that sense of responsibility for it, and what Naegi told them... It wasn't their fault.]

[ardent]

Were it not for that bear, he would never - !

[Ishimaru's response is immediate, vehement, but he's just as quick to cut himself off; does he really have the right to talk like that, to say such things to someone who had been killed?

But Fujisaki...he seems all right. As all right as one can be, anyway.

The tension doesn't leave him, exactly, but he does seem to settle a little; he seems a little less frustrated, anyway, and he shakes his head after a moment.]

It really must be bothersome, having to discuss all of this so plainly; I won't trouble you with it further! It'll resolve itself eventually, anyway - we'll bring the others here, there must be a way to do it that we just haven't found yet!

We'll save everyone; we'll set things right. I won't let anything happen to any of you.

[readapts]

He wouldn't have done it, because...he's a kind person, [Fujisaki goes ahead and finishes where Ishimaru cut off. He really is okay. He's had a while to think about this, though talking more about the how of his death would probably be too much for him. It doesn't seem as though he'll have to worry about that, though.]

I... I don't mind. I'm happy that you talked with me, Ishimaru-kun. [He feels a little lighter, he thinks. Though he feels a guiltly for asking him to keep a secret about his gender.] Sorry that I asked suddenly before to...

But we'll definitely find a way. If the four of us are here...it wouldn't be right not to try to find how to bring the others here.