GAME OVER (S██'s Palace)

[pointzeropercent]

Comments

MAJORITY VOTE

[pointzeropercent]

[Scruffed and hugged, Teal and Magenta feel the fight leave them. The chains slip away, the desks slowly fall back to the ground, and Teal and Magenta welcome the embrace they had been avoiding.]

A kinder place...that doesn't sound too bad, right?

...mmm.

[A person isn't stagnant. Everything they experience throughout their lives shapes them in unpredictable ways. Nobody can deny the pain and suffering they went through in the death game, those scars will be carried with them for the rest of their lives. But at the same time, they cannot forget who they were before all of that suffering.

A shy yet kind person, one who doesn't forget his traumas, but is able to accept them as a part of him.

Teal and Magenta, while hugging Mafuyu, close their eyes as two halves of a person.

And then he opens his eyes again as one person, made whole by the efforts of a group who chose to care even when they didn't have to.]

[There's still one choice left to be made though. What will we call this person?]

Discussion

[pointzeropercent]

[beathollow]

I don't think the Sou he knew should be immortalized. At the same time, he did reject "Shin". ... Or, Magenta did. Teal seemed emotional earlier, being called that.

[destage]

[Hmm.]

It should be something that's the sum of all of his parts, maybe? Maybe we should ask him...

[pointzeropercent]

I hadn't been called 'Shin' in so long, it probably made that part of me feel happy to hear it.

[finalmix]

[ might as well ask them directly, right? ]

What do you want to be called? I took on a new name, myself, seems like that might be a good idea for you both~

[ shrugs ]

[metagame]

I've said we should use his 'real' name... But I may have been careless. He should get to choose how he's called.

[moodwrecker]

[Oh good, she doesn't have to climb up after all. But- ugh, another decision?

She turns to the boy in front of them.]

Well? What do you want to be called?

There's Shin, or Sou, I guess. [She doesn't sound... super... enthused about that name for some mysterious reason.] Or- you could just go by something else entirely.

Nothing's stopping you anymore.

[pointzeropercent]

...I wouldn't mind going back to my original name, but...does that really fit me anymore? I haven't exactly been truthful.

['Shin' meaning 'truth' and all.]

Vote

[pointzeropercent]

[prozaic]

No name, eh? Choose one for yourself-- you're not the only one here with a multitude of names.

[beathollow]

Shin Tsukimi.

Re: Vote

[moodwrecker]

Shin Tsukimi.

[destage]

Shin Tsukimi.

Results

[pointzeropercent]

[He had his doubts about taking up his old name. After everything that happened, did he even deserve to use it still? Would his parents still be happy to see him knowing how many people he got killed, even if indirectly?

But in the end, what matters the most is that he doesn't feel the need to carry Sou's name anymore. That name can belong to the real Sou Hiyori.

So now, Shin Tsukimi stands whole and ready to face the world. He's still got a lot of healing to do, but now that he's had his soul fixed and reclaimed his name he's on the right path. His heart feels lighter than it's felt in months. Maybe, someday, he'll be able to fully express his gratitude for being saved by everyone. But for now, there's one thing they still need to do.

Smiling, he looks back to the others.]

Ready to go back?

[And with that, they will all be able to leave the palace and return to the entertainment district they had come from.]

YOUR TURN TO DIE SHINE
GAME COMPLETE

[moodwrecker]

...More than ready.

C'mon. Let's head back, Shin.

[With a small, satisfied grin, she's gonna nudge him with an elbow before turning to get outta here.]

[pointzeropercent]

[Nudges her back.]

What food would you have suggested for a name anyway?

[beathollow]

( mafuyu gives a relieved smile, letting the palace wash away.

...

and then, between congratulations and banter and endgame talk, she's gone. )

[pointzeropercent]

[...this is probably alright.]

[destage]

[Ah, Sayaka couldn't possibly be happier in this moment, than to see that guy smile like he means it.]

Yes, let's. I imagine you must be tired after all of that today, huh Shin-kun?

[It's gentle and light, but she does sound proud as hell of him.]

[pointzeropercent]

Very. I think I'll go sleep the rest of the day off when we get back to the dorms.

[He might actually catch a cold from all of this, which is the worst.]

[prozaic]

[Well that was eventful... even if he had little to do towards the end. He was going to leave stealthily and find Haruka (not that he would have been able to stealth away anyway, with that nat1)... but then he remembers something important.

He scruffs the kid again-- Shin, now-- and says solemnly:]

Go get an imaging scan at the hospital. Even an X-ray will do. If the doctors find nothing untoward with your chest, that means you're safe. [Safe from what? Shin is spared having to ask, because Shalem points at the crystals on his neck. He means that thing. Turning into crystal upon death.

Then he leaves.]

[metagame]

Mm.

[Did Atem's actions get through to you, Shalem..? He watches him leave.]

[metagame]

[Ugh, his whole body hurts.

Together they were able to save someone again. Not once did he waver in his belief they could do it peacefully... He looks at his hand in thought. Flexes it.

If only he could help the other person fractured, too... The one he fractured himself...]

Re: Results

[unweathered]

I guess I shouldn't hold your earlier bullshit against you anymore.

[ Shin's kneecaps are safe. Probably. Yoon isn't here to help heal ok]