6th Broken Illusion [Backdated to Christmas Morning]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Phone : Drone Filter ]
After all the tricks, does this place really expect me to open a box sitting innocently under the Christmas tree I didn't even help set up, just because it has my name on it?

[ There is a pause as he considers it. ] Right. I didn't think so.


((OOC: Action open to housemates and/or any guests for that morning, or anyone who would reasonably stop by 840 Hastings.))

Comments

oh hi

[heartmaestro]

[There's another small pause.]

Still. You or Arisawa-san could have taken the bike for yourself.

Let's hope I get notifs in GMAIL this time /kicks the entry

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

There's no way we would have abandoned you like that! Not ever, so don't even go thinking that we're those kinds of people. We—[ No. Pointing out the fact they died is probably a bad idea. ] We gave up a lot, but it worked out in the end.

:c

[heartmaestro]

I wouldn't have blamed you, you know.

But...I suppose there's not a real reason to think of alternate outcomes.

They work now :D

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

You could have, because anyone who would have turned away like that is selfish and a coward. [ And while he does plenty of the former, the latter is inexcusable. ]

Right. So don't let it bother you. [ He pauses. ] ...you really kept the bike?

/o/

[heartmaestro]

I did. It's in perfectly good condition, plus I was on the assumption that it was yours. I wanted to return it to you.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Well, it's true I don't have one of my own... I can't even remember what yard I took it from. [ He's a little conflicted. ] I guess I'll take it back if you don't need one.

[heartmaestro]

[Another pause.]

I do do most of my transportation either via walking or via car. So I suppose I don't.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Oh, you drive?

In that case, I'll come get it.

[heartmaestro]

Well, yes. I'm going to be 20 years old in the spring, so it's natural I've learned how to drive...

If you wish. I live at 728 Anderson lane.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

Oh? You seemed younger. [ Could have been the near total lack of words exchanged at that point. At least calling a woman "young" is never a bad thing... right? ]

Alright. I can be over in a little while. I'll just... figure out what's in this box first so I don't just leave it here. [ To explode or do whatever it might do if he ignores it. ]

[heartmaestro]

[She doesn't seem affected.] I've been told that, before.

[A small hum of acknowledgement.] Take your time. But I highly doubt it's anything less than simply something from your world that you've lost.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Easy for her to say. There is a LOT that he has lost, and he has no idea about most of it. ] Nothing "simple" about getting anything back here.

[heartmaestro]

[Well, considering she just got back a 50-pound box of newspaper/book clippings she cut out during her social isolation period....]

I think I understand.

[There's a tiny gulp, almost a sound like she's going to cry. But when she speaks again, her voice is clear.] Be careful.

[And whenever Touma gets there, the porch light will be on, but all the blinds in the front of the house will be closed.]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ He leaves it at that and says his pleasantries before he hangs up and grabs a jacket. ]

[ At the house, he doesn't think anything of the sight, thinking maybe she just likes her privacy. Touma knocks and waits, hands in his pockets. He swears his right arm is tingling, but that has to be all in his head, so he fidgets periodically. ]

[heartmaestro]

[Oh, if only he could tell. Because when she opens the door and gives her customary bow and hello

the house is filled with paper.

Nigh-literally. There are paper clippings on almost every visible surface of the living room behind her. Some in foot-high stacks, some just piled in bunches...and there's also a piece caught in between her hair bobble and hair.]

Please excuse the mess. I've kept the bicycle inside so it would not be dirtied by the snow and salt.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

It's fine, it can't be—[ Staring, Touma eats his words. ]—that bad.

...

[ Now he suddenly feels as if crossing the threshold might not be such a good idea, but if she lets him, he'll enter. ] You look like you've been, uh, busy.

[heartmaestro]

[Blink-blink.]

One of the packages I received this Christmas. [And that's basically all she says, turning around and striding back into the house, towards some place in the back. She doesn't touch the front door, so take it as an invitation inside.]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ He does step in, and discards his boots at the door. Old habit.

Touma can't stop his eyes from wandering as he looks at the sheer amount of items strewn about. What do they say? Why are they up like that? Did she hang them? ] You mean, you received more than one?

[heartmaestro]

[Most of them look like clippings cut out of books, newspapers, and magazines. They all mention someone called "Dr. Ichinose" and seem to be about this person's accomplishments. And no, most of them are just strewn around, stacked from the sheer number of them.]

Yes. This one came in the mail. My dress was under the Christmas tree, but in similar packaging.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Touma picks one up and reads it more thoroughly. Sounds like someone important... ] This town just gets weirder by the day. [ She doesn't seem to mind the mess, though. ]

Did you spread them out or did the box just explode or something?

[heartmaestro]

[Near the back of the house, she pries open a door. It seems to be a closet of some sort. There's standard drone items in it, but clashing horribly is the bike propped up against the side wall.]

I spread them out. I wanted to read them all.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Wow, the bike looks so much better, suddenly. Must be something to do with the town reverting back to the way it looked before everything went to (literal) Hell.

Either that, or she was bored and a gifted mechanic. Perhaps the young woman had obsessive-compulsive tendencies? Looking at the articles, he has to wonder... ]

Why not put them in an album or something? A, whatsitcalled.... "scrapbook"? You could sort them and they'd be easier to page through that way. What if one of these—[ Setting the paper back down. ] —got lost under the couch, or you needed to dust?

[heartmaestro]

[She puts her hand up to her chin, seeming to legitimately consider this.]

That's true. I'd always been used to having them up on my walls at home, though...but keeping them organized might be better.

[There's a pause.]

I don't believe I've introduced myself, either. I'm Kotomi Ichinose.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

That's what I'm thinking. [ A nod. ] Plus, it'd be easier to keep them safe, since they seem to be so important to you. [ And now, with that name (with a name), he can begin to imagine why. ]

Touma Kamijou. Nice to meet you, Ms. Ichinose. [ He steps over to that closet, to pull out the bike. Can he do it without knocking anything else over? Only one way to find out... ]

[heartmaestro]

[She picks out the one that's stuck in her hair, looking at it a little forlornly.]

Please, just Kotomi. I'm not fond of formalities. [There's a few hatboxes (with frilly 40s hats still in them) on top, but other that, the path is pretty clear. ...but this Touma we're talking about.]