Wako's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

You are standing in the middle of the main street of a sizable downtown area.

The early morning sun hangs low in the east. The air is salty and fresh – and oh man is your nose sharp! You can smell the people who came in here with you from yards away! Other stuff smells that strong, too! There is a spring breeze in the air. How do you know it’s spring? You just do. It’s the vibe here. Tropical trees and flowers grow in window boxes and small gardens. There are fairly standard shops (a movie theater! A book store! Small clothing boutiques! And so on), with trucks, cars, and bicycles parked at the curbs. There are no people or animals in sight, but there’s birdsong hanging in the air. It seems to be coming in every direction.

Oh. And you’re dressed like stripper clowns.

(( OOC at #zerotime ))

Comments

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ There is a small earthquake. It feels disappointed.

But the guy disappears in a puff of cherry blossoms, the wind dies down, and the tree stops shedding. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

Oh, he's gone. What was that...

[That was strange, but he decided that he was done there so now to move towards the school doors!]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ When you get closer, you see that it's... a hallway...? ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[He's peeking left and right to see if he can get a better idea of what's in the hallway. Is it still dark?]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ Once you stick your head inside the door, you'll see that it's a short corridor. To one side are windows that somehow look down on the cherry blossom courtyard; to the other are four closed unmarked doors with plaques reading 1-A, 1-B, and 1-C, each spaced out the size of a large-ish schoolroom. At the end of the hallway is a closed set of double-doors with a plaque that reads “Auditorium.” The auditorium doors are chained up... ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Well! There's no use in hitting up the auditorium doors for now since I have the strength of a twig so why not look into room 1-A for now.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ You’re in a large schoolroom with orderly desks. The opposite wall is composed entirely of windows, with a walkway beyond.

On the chalkboard is a set of problems.

1) 1 + 1 + 1 =

2) The sides of a right-angled triangle are 3 and 4. How confused is the hypotenuse?

3) A shooting star hurtles across the sky faster than the eye can blink. Where is it going, and how does it feel about being wished upon?

There is chalk on the teacher’s desk. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[He holds up the chalk and looks at the problems. Is this what students do? I just remember playing around a lot...

After a moment of thinking, he decides to scribble on the board a bit.

1) 3

2) As confused as it wants to be.

3) Wherever the star wants to go obviously. The star's also probably happy because it means the wisher trusts it to help them.

...

adds a star with a smiley face and puts the chalk down, content. Lets go look at those windows and walkway!]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ A memory is beaming into your head!

Wako is walking the same hallway you just came down, singing.

The flowers that dot the hillside
Reach out towards the sun
With their thousands of tiny breaths
The world is reborn

She enters the room – it’s either the one you’re in now or an identical room – and sees a girl with short brown hair and a tennis racket kissing a boy through the glass of the large windows. The boy sees Wako, smiles, and moseys off along the walkway.

Wako: Good morning.
Ruri: G-good morning. You’re early today.
Wako: Is that a racket?
Ruri: Yeah. He gave it to me last week for my birthday. He’s going to teach me tennis.
Wako: Sounds like it’s going great.
Ruri: We’re still in the glass-kissing phase.

Two girls walk into the room, wearing the same green-coat uniform as Wako and Ruri. One has light green hair and enormous boobs. The girl trailing her has platinum blonde hair and a more deferential – or tired – expression.

Boobs, pointing out a hickey on Ruri’s neck: Really? You can’t get this kind of mark through the glass though. Good morning.
Wako, to Ruri: Does that mean you’ve done it?
Ruri: No, we haven’t. But…
Wako: But what?
Ruri: He invited me to come to his house net Sunday.
Wako: H-his house?
Ruri: Yeah. He wants to introduce me to his parents.
Boobs, to Blonde: What do you think?
Blonde: Well, he is likely planning to claim his parents had some urgent business and ensnare her alone in his house.
Ruri: I sure hope so!

Wako and Blonde are speechless…

Boobs: I’m jealous.
Ruri: Aren’t you married, Mrs. Watanabe?
Boobs: My husband is not my boyfriend. I think having a boyfriend is part of high school life.
Ruri: Anyway, sorry, Wako. I can’t come over on Sunday.
Wako: What?
Ruri: Did you forget your own birthday?

Then two boys in uniform walk in. The memory ends with a feeling of confusion, and also affection… ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

Oh...

That felt kind of nice. They must be her friends.

[He's rubbing his own neck a bit, feeling a bit shy all of a sudden, and decided that he should leave this room for now.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ Back in the hallway! The chains on the auditorium door look... severely rusted now. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Oh. That wasn't like that before, was it? What happens if I decided to tug on it?]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ It's still heavy. And locked. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[well, still can't go this way I guess although now my curiosity is piqued. Lets try room 1B.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[You’re in a large schoolroom with orderly desks. The opposite wall is composed entirely of windows, with a walkway beyond.

There is a rotary phone ringing on the teacher’s desk. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Should he answer it? Should he leave it? Which would be worse?

Well.

I guess it doesn't hurt to answer it.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ Ruri! says the voice on the phone. It’s Wako’s voice. Ruri, I’ve had the longest day! ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Oh, it's the voice of that girl!]

Wako?

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ I’m sorry, I must have the wrong number! Wako says apologetically. There’s a click, like she’s hanging up a corded phone, and then:

A memory is beaming into your head!

Wako and the blue-haired boy from earlier are sitting at a small table at a classy café in the afternoon.

Sugata: Lately, it seems like you’re uneasy when we’re alone together.
Wako: That’s not it. I was just surprised. We usually go out for walks and stuff, but actually saying “let’s go on a date” … That’s a first.
Sugata: If we were to get married… do you think Takuto would still come over to hang out? Or if you got married to Takuto, could I come over to hang out?

Wako stares at him, baffled.

Sugata: How was the kiss at the play?
Wako: That was just acting.
Sugata, leaning over across the table and getting into space bubbles: Wako. Won’t you kiss me?

She doesn’t move.

Sugata: Just joking. That was a joke.

There’s a fade. Wako is sitting in a booth at a diner with the red-haired boy while the sun sets outside.

Takuto: So, how did it go? You know, the date.
Wako: It was fun.
Takuto: Must be nice.
Wako: We’re eating together right now. Isn’t it a date?
Takuto: Well, I guess, but…
Wako: Sugata said that since I went on a date with him in the afternoon, I ought to go on one with you in the evening.
Takuto: I don’t get it. What’s that guy thinking?
Wako: What did you do today, Takuto?
Takuto: I met my dad. I gave him a good punch.

Suddenly, the world goes gray, except for Wako and Takuto. Outside, the trees that were rustling in the breeze go absolutely still. There’s a pink glow at Wako’s collarbone, and a blue one over Takuto’s. The memory ends. ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[. . .]

That girl is kind of cute, isn't she?

[Kind of reminds him of Haruhi a bit. Might as well peek at those windows, too, before checking out the next room.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ There's a fading kiss-mark on one window, but they're just big slabs of glass with no way to get out. In the next room, it's pitch black ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Is this safe...

He's gonna feel around for a light switch.]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ Yes! It's easy to find. Switch it on? ]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[pitching]

[Yep!]

Re: SOUTHERN CROSS HIGH (SECOND STAGE)

[dramatispersonae]

[ You’re in a large schoolroom with orderly desks. The opposite wall is composed entirely of windows, with a walkway beyond.

But the students’ desks are covered with scented candles and cherry blossoms, the teacher’s desk has been replaced by an enormous four-poster bed with diaphanous curtains, and there are spinning roses at the edge of your vision.

Also, your clothes have disappeared and you’re stark naked. ]