♬ 002. The more I think, the less I see.

[idolizer]

Characters: Sayaka Maizono and you. Yes, you!
Setting: Dorms, room 1-05 -> Floor 25 -> Floor 48 -> Floor 14
Format: Actionspamming all the way, but I can match yo.
Summary: It's cold, but the idol won't let it get to her much - that only means more training is a go! It's when she visits the graveyard that something hits her in the feelings...
Warnings: Aside some DR spoilers and sadness, nothing else.




[ Dorms, 1-05 ]

[ It's been less than a month since Sayaka arrived to the Tower, and had to adapt to things rather quickly. Though nothing too terrifying happened, except listening to those audio files, she's got all the more motivation to learn to fight by herself and continue singing even in a place like this. It's a slow process, but she's progressing finely. Whether she's going to actually change her... weapon of choice or not, it's still early to tell.

The cold, however, took her by surprise. Other than her idol outfit and another set of clothes, she doesn't have much she could wear to deal with it. It's unnerving her day by day, along with the nutrition bars being the only damn food available around. Even so, she still tries to keep her pokerface and smile at whoever she meets. It won't be different when her roomates walk in, as they'll find her armed with knitting needles and some wool that she found in the workshop, sitting on her bed and working on this scarf she's doing. There's no way she's going to beg for a spare sweater when she can attempt to make a scarf by herself. ]


[ Floor 25 ]

[ The meadow has easily become her favourite spot, both for training or just chilling. Except that chilly now is more literal, and hanging out there is more ardous because of the cold temperature. But what Sayaka learned with years of showbiz is that if you have to defeat the cold during a concert in the open, you've got to move. And so she'll move, for a couple hours of non-stop powerwalking through the area. This is still part of the training after all. ]


[ Floor 48 ]

[ ... It's a sudden rush of curiosity that pushed her to get to this floor. Call it macabre curiosity, rather, but before we know it, she's in the graveyard, going past each headstone and reading the names on it. Basically they're all names she never heard of... they must be people who disappeared from the tower, but why make a graveyard of them? Are they really all dead, or...?

...

She freezes to a halt when her eyes fall onto perhaps the first and only name she recognizes among those faceless ones. Eyes widen as she read that name over and over.

Leon Kuwata

...

It hits her like a punch in the gut. No, it's not that, it shouldn't feel like that. She should be happy of the discovery! Finally she won't have to deal with him anymore! No more risking to cross paths with him, no more threatening, no more of that stupid loudmouthed redhead who hurt her so much and never regretted it--

...

She should be happy about it, but... even the grudge can't overtake the pity she feels for having him die a second time, and- and she can't bring herself to such a low level. Pity seems to be a fine sentiment in this moment. She can give him that at the very least.

Everyone that passes by will see her stand in front of that headstone for quite the long time, an undescribable expression on her face... like she's got no emotions at all written in it. ]


[ Floor 14 ]

[ After all that walking, the best thing to do is to... well, move some more. And dancing just happens to be one of her favourite activities, a great help when it comes to forget all about whatever bad feelings she had during the day. The music's up, so would you like to join her? ]

Comments

[cutestprogrammer]

[shakes head] It wasn't disturbing me. I see. Mn. It really is getting so cold here... Thank you for taking care of me when I was ill, Maizono-san!

[idolizer]

Ah, don't mention it- I was glad to help... I couldn't leave you alone to your trouble. [ It's especially out of guilt that she did it, but she won't admit it. ]

[cutestprogrammer]

You are such a nice person, Maizono-san! [and he sincerely means it!]

[idolizer]

[ ...I'm not, she'd like to retort, but that would make things very awkward, even if it would mean saying the truth. She's really trying to forget about Leon and that journey in the graveyard, she doesn't need to make things worse.

Although regretfully, she keeps her smile. ]

Thank you Fujisaki-kun, but I'm sure you would have done the same if I was in trouble.

[cutestprogrammer]

I guess I would. But that's just what friends do, isn't it?

[idolizer]

That's true... we're friends, right?

[ She didn't consider that, while they were trapped in the school. And surely she's glad that Chihiro still considers her a friend. ]

[cutestprogrammer]

We are!

[idolizer]

Good. So, are you going to stick around here?

[cutestprogrammer]

Mn. I think so. This is one of the safest places to be when Oowada-kun is not with me.

[idolizer]

I imagine so. There are things that can help us relax, like the music and the movies. Would you like to watch one with me?

[cutestprogrammer]

Sure! What would you like to watch?

[idolizer]

Which kind of movies do you like?

[cutestprogrammer]

Comedies and anything that's not scary.

[idolizer]

Hmm, do you have a favourite movie?

[cutestprogrammer]

Not really.

[idolizer]

Hm... I'll look for one myself then.

[ She'll go rummage through the DVDs available, humming. ] They're mostly american movies...

[cutestprogrammer]

I'll come look too... Hmm... I wonder if they have Japanese subtitles...

[idolizer]

Maybe we can still understand them thanks to the translator device?

[cutestprogrammer]

I guess so... well, we wouldn't know unless we watch one.

[idolizer]

Hmmm yeah. Let's see... ah, this one maybe?

[ She picks up the cover of this movie and shows it to Chihiro. ]

[cutestprogrammer]

Okay. That one looks good. I recognize the names of the actors. They're very funny.

[idolizer]

Great. I watched this once, but it was a long time ago.

[ Satisfied, she walks over to the DVD player and inserts the disc inside. ] Let's see if it works...

[cutestprogrammer]

[waits and the movie appears to start playing] It seems to be working so far...

[idolizer]

[ ... Eventually, the screen turns to the DVD menu. She takes the remote and flips through the options, selecting "play". Then she joins Chihiro on the couch. ]

Ah, I should remember to bring food next time we watch a movie.

[cutestprogrammer]

Mn. Next time perhaps. Since there isn't really any snacks we can eat right now...