(HE CLOSES HIS EYES and have you ever seen a guy want to disappear on the spot so bad? It isn't the same aggravated pettiness or outright dislike from the weekend (or even... half of last week) but instead, he just looks
Embarrassed.)
Don't mention him. (There's no anger, no bitterness. Really, he's just embarrassed,) I don't know what happened.
(Ugh, he closes his book and sets it down on his lap,)
I almost wonder if someone used a stone on us... really, the two of us are fine now. I'm sorry for troubling for everyone so much. Really.
Please, don't apologize. I know what happened wasn't your fault.
[That said... She shifts a little, wringing her hand.]
Actually, I wanted to speak with you because I feel like you're owed an explanation. I asked around a little, and I think... I know what happened. And it wasn't a stone at all. [It's fine? It's fine.] Um, where to start...? Have you heard of someone receiving a strange message on Monday? Or have you received one yourself?
And here I was, planning on how to shake everyone down for their stones.
(SAYS THE GUY WHO... actually didn't answer the question at trial about his own stone, oops. But this is interesting and it helps him recover from his s h a m e,)
A message on Monday? (He tilts his head curiously to the side and sits up,) No. This is my first time hearing anything about this.
Well, Shima-san received a message like that last week. He couldn't describe it beyond saying it was a choice, and he didn't know what the end result would be, but he was asked to offer two names. So... He offered yours, and Hua Cheng-san's. That's why you were acting so strangely.
There was someone I was friends with. He kept mentioning it. It's nothing. (Like, actually, really nothing.) He probably didn't need much of a reason to target me but that's one connection, is all.
Do you know anything else about this message? ... Are other people getting messages?
I'm sorry, I don't know who they are. But I do have an idea of who was targeted by their actions. One was Shima-san, as unbelievable as that may sound, and another was a dear friend of mine. Though, I also suspect Kamiki-san's dream may have been the result of something similar.
So we have an effect that lasts multiple days (Hua Cheng and himself) and an effect that just occurs briefly at night.
(Izumo's dream.)
Soo-won was acting strange too, wasn't he? He had to carry that pillow around with him everywhere for awhile.
The week before that, Izumo couldn't say anything mean to anyone for a few days and... there were maybe some other effects. I wonder if it's all related. And where these messages are coming from, too?
Kamiki-san was affected the other week as well? [Well, that's a surprise.] I didn't notice anything strange until the trial, if I'm honest... But my guess is that this is another product of the Realm. Although, I can't imagine where this was all drawn from.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Hm? (He looks up, setting the book down,) No, you could say I'm taking a break right now.
(Even a nosy, meddlesome lord like himself neesd one once in awhile.)
What's up?
(She looks like?? She wants something?)
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Yoshizawa nods, clasping her hands in front of her.]
This may seem like a strange question, but how are you feeling today? In general, and... in regards to Hua Cheng-san?
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Embarrassed.)
Don't mention him. (There's no anger, no bitterness. Really, he's just embarrassed,) I don't know what happened.
(Ugh, he closes his book and sets it down on his lap,)
I almost wonder if someone used a stone on us... really, the two of us are fine now. I'm sorry for troubling for everyone so much. Really.
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[That said... She shifts a little, wringing her hand.]
Actually, I wanted to speak with you because I feel like you're owed an explanation. I asked around a little, and I think... I know what happened. And it wasn't a stone at all. [It's fine? It's fine.] Um, where to start...? Have you heard of someone receiving a strange message on Monday? Or have you received one yourself?
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(SAYS THE GUY WHO... actually didn't answer the question at trial about his own stone, oops. But this is interesting and it helps him recover from his s h a m e,)
A message on Monday? (He tilts his head curiously to the side and sits up,) No. This is my first time hearing anything about this.
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Well, Shima-san received a message like that last week. He couldn't describe it beyond saying it was a choice, and he didn't know what the end result would be, but he was asked to offer two names. So... He offered yours, and Hua Cheng-san's. That's why you were acting so strangely.
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(And suddenly, something clicks in place and he just looks. Annoyed.)
He's sure got some way of saying thanks. (Tch,)
(A reference... she probably won't get. ) So it was all his fault...
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Did... something happen between you and Shima-san?
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(...)
It's probably because of my relationship with someone, though.
(Some how. In some weird twisted way.)
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Do you know anything else about this message? ... Are other people getting messages?
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And you wouldn't happen to have any idea who they are or what might have come from it?
(He's trying to think... if anyone had anything strange happen to them that week.)
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(Izumo's dream.)
Soo-won was acting strange too, wasn't he? He had to carry that pillow around with him everywhere for awhile.
The week before that, Izumo couldn't say anything mean to anyone for a few days and... there were maybe some other effects. I wonder if it's all related. And where these messages are coming from, too?
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