crowspace | call me out v. 14.0

"Hmm, hmm! I see..."

[Tsukasa nods along with this, before he speaks.]

"Is that also part of why you're here? To return the favor from all the things he does to look after you and my brother and everyone else around him?"

No. It's not about favors - I'm just worried and I want to keep him safe. That's what you do for people you care about.

Are you the reason he hasn't come back yet?

[Tsukasa blinks at that, before he proceeds to hover away at a further distance as if anticipating that no matter what answer he gives, it would be best to not be within immediate striking distance of Suga's sword.]

"Let's say I was... hypothetically, of course. What would you do, if that was the case?"

[Probably for the best.]

I don't want to fight you. I just want to make sure he's safe. So in exchange for me having talked to you, please let him go home.

Edited 2021-08-31 06:54 (UTC)

"Is that a wish you would like granted? For him to come back to you safely?"

[Ah, there it is. This is likely what Tsukasa has been angling for this entire time, given that he exists as a wish-granting spirit.]

"That seems kind of boring though, and is a rather short-lived request to make here really. Given that the two of you are going to end up separated in a few years or so, what with your short human lifespan. Are you sure there's not something else here that you want in regards to Spider-sensei, while you've got the opportunity to ask of it now?"

It's not a wish. And I don't have any wishes that I'd ask you to grant.

[He wouldn't even ask a wish of Hanako - definitely not Tsukasa.]

I'll find him on my own if I have to.

"Aww, you're no fun... here I am, willing to make it so that you two could be all lovey-dovey and stay together forever and ever... but you've gotta be so suspicious of me... it really hurts my feelings..."

[And yet, he's still smiling, so his feelings are probably not that hurt by the distrust here. He then floats over until he's hovering right next to past Tsuchigomori that's still frozen in time.]

"I was the one who helped start the rumor that caused this place to act today, but I will tell you this: I'm not the reason he hasn't come back just yet. It's pretty rude you know, accusing me of something that's your fault..."

[And before Suga can ask Tsukasa to clarify why he's saying it's somehow Suga's fault that Tsuchigomori didn't come back yet, he then suddenly leans over and begins quickly whispering something into past Tsuchigomori's ear that Suga won't be able to quite overhear, before retreating back again if and when it looks like Suga is about to try to shoo him away as he laughs loudly.]

"There, that should make things interesting~~!"

[Suga's eyes go wide. He didn't do anything - he knows better than to let what a malicious child spirits says get to him, but-

The sword is definitely out now, and Suga's grip on it is bone-white.]

Get away from him.

"Fine, but only because I don't have any further need to be here."

[Tsukasa starts to float away, as if making to leave, but then he stops and turns to face Suga again--]

"Oh, before I forget... dear brother, I know you're listening here too, so would you like a helpful tip, from one family member to another?"

[There's a pause, and then Hakujoudai, from where it had been hiding by Suga, cautiously emerges to float in open view again as a sign that Hanako is indeed listening in on this conversation in some manner, as Tsukasa speaks.]

"Next time you want to eliminate a problem of this particular nature, do it yourself instead of getting others to do it for you. It makes you look bad as their so-called "leader"... but luckily for you, I'm generous enough to pitch in a hand here. If this ends well, you'll get your Sensei back, but who's to say if this will meet within your expectations here..."

[And with that cryptic comment, Tsukasa finally vanishes, and time seems to move again. Kids walking by, noise from a ball bouncing against a wall outside near the window... and Tsuchigomori of the past has begun walking away again making for the library, without looking back at Suga here yet...]

Edited 2021-08-31 23:03 (UTC)

[Ah. He hates this. He should leave the way he came, try a different door, but, but... Knowing that Tsukasa's interfered with Tsuchi in some way...

He looks down at Hakujoudai and whispers.]

Should I go after him?

("... I don't know.")

[Comes the small voice of Hanako after a moment. He sounds bothered, but then, he always tends to get like this whenever his brother is involved or after having to speak to Tsukasa at all, so that's no surprise.]

("Once he goes through the library door, attempting to go through it yourself will probably throw you right back outside of this memory, and you'll have to try looking for him again somewhere else. If you're gonna talk to him again, it would have to be before that, or we'll just try again in a different memory.")

Edited 2021-08-31 23:22 (UTC)

[Suga nods. He sheathes his sword again - wouldn't do to have it out with a Tsuchigomori who doesn't know him - and falls into step behind him.

He's delivered his message, but... now what?]

[At first, nothing seems to be amiss. A student says something to Tsuchigomori while rushing past, to which he only nods in acknowledgement that he heard it, but otherwise doesn't say anything to them. Another teacher runs up and hands a paper to him, and he gives a clipped word of thanks and a warning that next time he won't be as forgiving if they are late with the report for the school's funding for textbooks next time.

Until, finally, he reaches the library. Thankfully for Suga, he actually gets lucky in that the library door was already open, so he can still keep following Tsuchigomori for a little longer until the other man will likely disappear into the secret passageway leading to the supernatural records of the school. However, Tsuchigomori doesn't go very far as he only steps into the entranceway of the public school library... and then he speaks aloud, but still not having turned around to look at Suga since Tsukasa's arrival.]

I know you're there. Why are you still following me?

Ah, um... I wasn't really told what I should do after delivering that message, and... also I'm worried about you?

[How does he say 'a gremlin of a ghost whispered in your ear while you were frozen in time'. Would Tsuchi believe him?]

I don't need some strange person worrying about me, let alone following me around. It's creepy.

[He says, as he begins shuffling the papers in his hands. For some reason, Tsuchigomori still hasn't actually turned around to look at Suga properly in this entire time...]

You've said your piece, so you can just leave now and go bother someone else. I don't have the time right now to deal with whatever nonsense you're talking about.

['Creepy'.

How many times has he heard that? How many times has he been the person that people cross the street to avoid, that gets whispered about right in front of him, when all he wanted to do is help-

Tsuchigomori has never called him creepy. Not once, even when they were still getting to know each other. And Suga knows, Suga knows he's justified right now - he doesn't know who Suga is, Suga's following him around and speaking nonsense - but...]

Ah... I-I'm sorry, I'll just... Sorry...

[God, why now. Why does he have to cry now of all times? Suga scrubs frantically at his eyes with the heel of his hand. He needs to be at his best, he needs to rescue Tsuchigomori from some other memory, he can't be standing here crying-]

[There's a moment where Tsuchigomori noticeably freezes in response to this, the papers in his hands no longer being shuffled around and instead gripping them rather tightly. It may be hard to tell from this angle but he grits his teeth for a moment, as if waging some kind of internal debate with himself before he suddenly steps further away without looking at Suga still.]

I have other places to be, so if you're done, it would be best if you would just leave already.

[And there he goes, making to leave for the secret entrance to his personal library of fate here in this memory. Abruptly, the door to the public library slams shut on Suga to separate them even further, the force of the door hitting the frame hard enough that there's a sudden spiderweb-crack shaped damage spreading out across the door. As if it's suddenly turned to glass... no, it seems the crack is spreading out and affecting the walls surrounding the door too, and from the cracks begins to drip a black substance like ichor...

Suddenly, Hakujoudai bounces along erratically and begins pushing against Suga to try to tell him that they need to be going, like right now. It's nudging him to see if he can quickly open a different door in the hallway that hasn't been affected yet, that will lead them back outside of this memory into the realm of doors from before.]

[Even an emotional Suga knows when to get the hell out, and black ichor coming from the walls is a good sign. He's moving even before Hakujoudai starts pushing him, near flinging himself through the nearest unaffected door without stopping to wipe his face first.]

[You're back into the realm of doors. Upon closing the one behind you, there's a clicking sound as if it locked behind you.

There's a long pause of silence that stretches in the void here, before a tinny voice emerges from Hakujoudai sounding awkward.]

"Hey, are you... alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

I'm-

[Ugh, he sounds pretty wrecked, and he doesn't want to talk to Hanako about it. Not that he has anything against him, but Tsuchigomori is the only person he's really talked to about how his life has been up until this point.]

Let's just keep going.

[He takes the first door he recognizes: the museum's front entrance. He has a few photos of it that Tsuchigomori has seen, so it's possible Tsuchigomori recognized it too, although he doesn't know why Tsuchi would go here?]

"You know, I think..."

[But then, Hanako's voice stops, and seems to reconsider something.]

"No, nevermind. Let's just find him already."

[Sure enough, when Suga opens the door to the museum's front entrance, he will find that it's based on his memory of it rather than anything to do with Tsuchigomori's memories. What kind of memory does Suga find himself being made to relive as he looks inside?]

[It's a fairly recent memory, as evidenced by when Suga catches a glimpse of himself. He ducks behind the desk, peering out at himself 'talking' to a middle-aged man.

The memory is a familiar one - one that's happened many times - and Suga doesn't care to stick around for it. They'll be able to catch a snatch of conversation - "acting like that is why everyone hates you" - before Suga slips back through the door.]

Should we try a school door again?

[They're not talking about that memory.]

[Thankfully, Hanako does not ask about this memory.]

"I'm not sure, honestly. It depends on how far into the past or future it turns out to be if it's Tsuchigomori's memories... maybe we should try a different one from your memory? Maybe he saw one that he recognized from something you said or showed him."

Mm, alright.

[Another museum door, then. This leads them to a side room of the museum, and the first thing he notices is the patter of rain outside.

...The second thing he picks up on is a woman's voice from the next room over. Shii-chan's mother, meaning that this must be a childhood memory of his, and that means...

This could either be an average memory or the worst possible one, and either way, Suga quickens his steps. Out the museum's back door, and towards the forest.]

[Hanako forgoes speaking, allowing Hakujoudai to discreetly follow Suga to wherever he's going. Sure enough, Suga will find that it is indeed raining when he reaches the outside, and the woods are dark as it rains. Suga will find it is not just an average dark and rainy occasion, and is indeed the memory he thinks it is, because the deeper you go into the forest, you'll suddenly hear...]

"Mother... Mother..."

[It's your own voice from childhood, calling out somewhere lost in here.]

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