punch_illusions_get_harem | 2nd Broken Illusion

[ Action : Mayfield High : Open ]
[ Somehow, he has gotten himself cornered by some of the drone boys from his class, despite wanting to eat lunch in peace. He's just sitting at the end of the table, munching on his sandwich with a bored look on his face while the others yammer on about girls, sports, movies... whatever. Touma can't be bothered to even try to feign interest as he has way too much on his mind from last week's "adventure".

Maybe someone with something to say can save him? ]

[ Action : Neutron Diner : Open ]
[ All done with his obligations for the day, he heads into the diner. He isn't looking for anything in particular; he isn't even that hungry. But he had called Mikoto because he really needs to talk to someone about what's been going on. Touma doesn't know who else can be any closer to the center of this situation than him, and still be someone he can trust.

Guess there's one way to find out -- but he arrived really early, so there could still be time for distractions... ]

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[ Touma sighed. ] Oh yeah, they're loads of fun.

It's sometimes entertaining to mock them, though. Or to just work out ways of escape, if that's more your style?

I don't really want to waste my time talking to them unless I have to. [ And, right now, he doesn't. ]

Do you mean cutting class, or bailing outta Mayfield?

Cutting class came to mind, but if you have any theories on getting out, I wouldn't mind discussing them with you.

Heh, I'd skip if there was anything else worthwhile to do in this town.

As for getting out, well... [ He shrugs a shoulder. ] Your guess is as good as mine.

Fair enough.

How long have you been here?

Month and a half. [ A nod in the boy's direction. ] You?

About four and a half. Not too long, all things considered, but more than long enough, the way we're treated.

I'm starting to get that feeling. Zombie infection outbreaks aren't my idea of a good time. [ Nor a bad time. They shouldn't be considered "a time" at all! ]

Heh. If you ask me, that was the fun one.

Fun? [ Staring. ] Are you crazy? There was nothing fun about it!

[Estonia adjusts his glasses a little.]

Miles better than forced confessions of communistic beliefs again.

--I really don't think you can compare those two events. [ Even if it doesn't sound like it was the first time. ]

Well, perhaps not, but I for one have begun to think of the sporadic events -- sheer horror or otherwise -- here as each being individual demonstrations of the same thing. Perhaps a little less so with the zombies, since they seemed a little haphazard and poorly organized, but the rest of them, certainly.

...you mean they could be related, and not just happening randomly and for no reason? In other words -- a pattern? [ It's ominous but, at the same time, that gives him hope since patterns can be figured out, and broken. ]

Precisely. It's semi-regular, with an emphasis on American holidays, such as the Fourth of July. I've been doing my best to figure out what precisely the pattern is, but there's only so much the people who have been here longer than I have want to talk about the crap they've been through.

[ Touma can appreciate being quiet about things like that but, at the same time, if it could help... ] Did you try asking anonymously? I mean, traumatic events aren't easy to talk about, but if it could help figure this place out and look for a way to break the cycle, people might think it's worth it if it can't be traced back to them.

[ A pause. ] People can be forced to do things against their will here, right? So I'm thinking that people are scared of being judged. But something like that can't stop the hope of escaping.

I've considered it, but I'm so far lacking the dedication, or printer, that I would need to do a thorough census of individual histories here. I'm lucky enough to be fairly close friends with someone who has been here... far too long, so she's told me quite a bit. I don't want to pry when it comes to her, though. [Estonia is actually looking a little bit sheepish just thinking about her. And this is how you know his crush is pathetic.]

Although -- [He clears his throat.] -- people are judged for the things they've done regardless of the extenuating forces. I can imagine there are people paranoid enough to not write down what they've done, even anonymously.

[ Oblivious to the change in the boy's demeanor, because he can only focus on one thing. ] Giving up before you've tried? How hard can it be to get things printed? Sure, they might not take kids seriously, here, but there have to be some adults who want answers badly enough.

When things come up as often as they do, I haven't had time to go out of my way for that. If you're offering assistance, though, I'll gladly take it.

What, you mean with petitioning adults? [ Shrugging a shoulder. ] My "house" is all drones in that department, and I don't know any others.

That doesn't mean you can't meet them. Or help me perfect a plan to collect information anonymously.

I'm not really the type of person you're looking for, for that. [ He pauses, though, and considers his options. ] ...I might be able to put you in touch with some people who could pool together resources like this, though.

Do you know a guy named Sanguinius? Can't really miss him. Huge, gold armor, wings. [ Said with as much seriousness as he can muster. ] I can't believe I just introduced him like that.

[Estonia can't help but chuckle awkwardly at that, shaking his head.]

No, I can't say I have. And I'm sure I'd remember a big guy in wings.

Heh. He would be kind of hard to forget.

[ Touma takes out a notebook and pen from his bag. ] Give me your info, and I'll pass it on. I don't even know if it's something he's already working on, but it's good to check.

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