2025-11-26: Escalation
- Log: 2025-11-26 Escalation
- Cast: Jun Kashihara, Tatsuya Sudou
- Where: A train on the way back to Sumaru
- OOC Date: November 26, 2025
- IC Date: August 16, 2012
- Summary: While riding the train from Iwatodai to Sumaru City, Jun's new 'friend' approaches him again--and this time in a far more unsettling way than back in Rengedai Ward. Telling him about Strega's intimidation may or may not help much either. Aspen flowers, like Aquarius, are associated with the element of air...
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Generally speaking, Jun is content to hang out around his home of Sumaru City without going too far astray. Part of why he chose to attend Kasugayama High was because it was easy to walk to, in fact. With friends who are spending their summer in Tatsumi Port Island, however, Jun's had cause to visit them every so often by train. He's not unhappy about it. It's actually interesting to travel and see different sights every so often, and Port Island, as a manmade island, is such a fascinating place.
But no need to go into too much detail. Currently, Jun is on the train back to Sumaru from Port Island. Several trains, technically, given all the transfers necessary, but he's already crossed over at Tokyo and now sits by himself, reading a French novel, as the train pulls away from the station. He's wearing a green, pinstriped button-up shirt with a sprig of lavender in the breast pocket, and black slacks belted at the waist. His beautiful face is as ever partially veiled by the sweep of his long bangs, and his legs are crossed.
He hasn't marked who else might have just gotten on the train with him. For all that Jun has been approached by shady characters recently, he doesn't expect that to happen in such a crowded place, right on a train, and so he doesn't have his guard up.
This might be a mistake.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
The train stopped and the usual shuffle of feet come on and off the train. The chatter fills the air of the train car. The presence of people are everywhere.
That is until it isn't...
The train car appears to have emptied out, how, why, who is to say. Oh wait the sounds of steps can be heard walking down the car, slow, meaningful. An approach that has purpose. This person stops and sits across from Jun.
Sudou's voice echo's in the now empty train car, "Hello there!"
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Though caught up with his reading, the sudden quiet registers to Jun. It's underscored by the hefty, deliberate footsteps of someone heading down the train car and sitting opposite him. It echoes too much for a car that should have people in it. Jun doesn't look up at first, though dread builds as his dark eyes fail to take in any of the words. It's instinctual more than anything else, for all his intellectualism. He only looks up when he's greeted.
He knew it already from the voice, but the face too is familiar. After all, they met only a few weeks ago. For better or ill, Jun lacks interest in social media, and he's yet to be told about a certain video that went viral recently that mentioned him by name. This doesn't help. After all, a pair of detectives told him about who he'd really met that day outside Seven Sisters High School.
"Oh... S-Sutoh-san, wasn't it? What a coincidence," Jun says, forcing a smile. Fear lances through him like poison, but he must at least try to act normal at first. What will happen if he betrays he knows who this actually is?
"How have you been?" he continues, keeping his tone calm and polite. He sets the novel down on the seat next to him so the shake of his hands doesn't betray him. "As I recall, you mentioned before you were on a... vacation from business...?"
Looking up, he can see more clearly that the car is suddenly empty save for the two of them. Where did everyone go...? Getting up and losing himself in the crowd is already immediately not an option...
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou tilts his his head at the name for a moment. Who was...OH! A chuckle and Sudou leans back, "That's right I am Taka Sutoh." A tilt of his head and the smile changes from a smile of one who is bad at lying to seeing something that caught one's eye, or in this case, a scent of something.
The fear from Jun, it wasn't there last time, Sudou looks at the kid infront of him, does he know? The decision for now is to act like Jun doesn't know cause even if he does he is playing along and if Jun is playing Sudou definitely wants to play and would hate to be the one to ruin the game.
"Yes I had the day off, and I finished work early so I caught the train today and did some sight seeing on..." Sudou looks at some signs to see where the hell he even is, " the beach."
"How about yourself, how are you doing Kashihara-san?" The name is said as if Sudou finds something funny about it. "You know, I've been thinking about you and the lilac you gave me. I even did some reading on some flower meanings, it was quite interesting. The lilac was for memories, like the fond ones we made bumping into each other."
Sudou settles back into his seat, "I look forward to seeing if this chance encounter sprouts more lilacs."
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
'Taka Sutoh.' Jun smiles and does not point out that it was Tatsuya Sutoh last time. Whatever doubt they had lingering after talking to their various detective acquaintances, it's gone by now.
It's not exactly a game he's playing now. It's simply self-preservation. Who knows what the serial killer will do if he realizes Jun knows his true identity?
...Sudou doesn't make it easy, though. He had the day off and he finished work early? Jun decides to ignore the contradiction. "Ah, the beach is lovely, isn't it?" he says, following his look towards the signs. What stop should he get off on? What does he do if Sudou follows him? Is it better to wait for a stop that isn't his so he doesn't follow him all the way home? His parents might be in danger too...
Sudou waxes on about lilacs. Jun's heart thuds on his ribcage. Yes, fate truly won't let him simply walk away.
"I'm glad you liked it. I gave it to you because you'd told me about your old friend from before," they reply politely. Jun Kurosu--the name he'd might have had if his mother had had to raise him alone. Was it just a blatant lie all along? Was he really making a smokescreen for Jun Kashihara, that name he says like something's so funny? Why is he so interested in him?
Reminded of Strega, he watches for his reaction and adds, "I'm sorry if I seem a bit on edge right now, by the way. I was recently cornered by a trio of ruffians and it's made me jumpy."
Takaya and the others indicated that they didn't trust what Sudou had told them about him. How much about that does he already know?
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou is looking out the window when the topic of the beach is brought up and reacts as if he was listening to a different conversation for a moment. "Beach? Oh yes the beach, very pretty, with the sand and the water. Such a nice time to visit when it is all empty." Sudou smiles nodding his head. At the mention of the old friend Tatsuya Sudou refocuses, "Oh yes Kurosu-chan. I found out recently he is missing and I shouldn't get up hopes that he will return.I guess it is just me and Suou now. " A sullen look is given out of the window for a moment.
As for the ruffians, Sudou in all his infinite knowledge and wisdom knew nothing about the Strega incident, so at the mention of such an act he turns back, truly looking concerned. "Oh no, they didn't hurt you did they? Did you get their names? If so I am sure there is someone you could call and report this to and have something done. Unless...Are you the type that prefers to get revenge yourself?"
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
'Such a nice time to visit when it is all empty.'
Jun, once again, does not point out that it is summer--specifically summer vacation for students like him--and therefore the beach is incredibly popular to visit right now. Of much more alarming interest is how he talks about how 'Kurosu-chan' is missing and it's 'just him and Suou.' Suou? As in Tatsuya Suou...? Assuming that 'Kurosu' is meant to represent Jun after all, what's the connection he's supposed to have with the two Tatsuyas? What does he mean by how 'Kurosu-chan' is 'missing'?
He desperately wants to ask, but he doesn't dare. He's not confident the answer will make any sense anyway. Tatsuya Sudou does not seem to have the strongest grip on reality or possess the strongest sense of a coherent story.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Sometimes these things happen, though. I hope you're able to move on," Jun suggests. Will the implication even get through to him? It's something to fill the air with, at least.
He does look concerned at the news, which is almost funny. "No, no... They threatened me, but they lost interest by the end of the conversation and left me be. Still, it did leave me rattled. There was a tall man with pale hair, a belligerent man with glasses, and an overly-friendly woman with pink hair. They called themselves Strega." Jun smiles weakly. "It wasn't anything so severe that I need revenge for it, really; it was just scary. I'd call it in to the police, but truthfully, I'd really prefer to be left alone."
He wonders how much this gambit will work.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
Sudou nods his head, "I appreciate that Kashihara-san." A sigh is given as he ponders what things would be like if Jun Kurosu was here. Finally he adds with a smile on his face, "Well you know what that voice in your head says, when one window closes you just have to make a new one."
As Jun describes the ruffians he does his best to picture them one by one, using people he knows to sorta fill in the gaps. For some reason as the last one is described he is picture Takaya, Jin and Niko, but why would...oh no according to Jun it really was them. "Huh. Strega you say. What a weird name. Still it's good you are not seeking vengence for the little things. It's totally not worth it. I am sure that trio will leave you alone...maybe. " In truth Sudou could see it going either way, but Jun didn't wake up to find a grenade under his pillow so it is probably fine.
"If they don't leave you alone, let me know. If anyone messes with you I'd be happy to help you handle it."
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
Jun is once again grateful that he was forewarned about the true identity of Tatsuya/Taka Sutoh. If he hadn't been, he would have /definitely/ asked a disastrous question about his incoherent manner of speech. As it stands, voices and windows go unremarked upon. Jun simply smiles and nods.
"Yes. They weren't violent with me, and as I mentioned, they eventually grew bored and left," Jun says of Strega. It is, somehow, not a shock that Sudou is suddenly changing his tune on taking revenge on them. "They implied they might come back... but I ran into them only a day or two after we happened to meet, and I haven't seen them since then."
Well. Not as a group. He's seen Niko, and she clearly wasn't there for him.
"That's very kind of you, Sutoh-san. I'll be sure to remember that if it becomes a problem." Jun picks up his book and sets it on his lap, then looks out the window. "This is my stop coming up," he lies, then smiles back at him. "It was nice to see you again. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day off."
Hopefully it won't involve continuing to stalk him, but Jun's hopes are not high.
<Pose Tracker> Tatsuya Sudou has posed.
"Well then I am glad is all sorted out." Sudou says as he watches the stop come up and then looks at Jun. "I understand, time together is so fleeting sometimes. I just hope you don't end up going missing." Tatsuya Sudou, as if a magician produces a flower from no where and hands it to Jun. An aspen it would appear. "Next time let us speak as friends, who knows maybe even play a game together." The smile is genuine and that may be what makes it all the more creepy.
Jun may have only a moment to choose to take the flower or not as someone shoves from behind, foot traffic is heard, the chatter returns like someone just unmuted the sound. The weirdest thing is that the moment eyes leave Sudoh, he is no longer able to be found in the crowd.
What exactly was done is anyones guess, where did he go and where did the people come from... who is to say.
<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.
It is incredibly creepy. Jun... doesn't think Sudou means him personally harm, but that means very little when he knows he is a literal serial killer. There's no knowing who he will hurt... and he sure as hell doesn't want to play any kind of game with him, as friends or otherwise.
'I hope you don't end up going missing' is not the reassurance Sudou might think it is, either.
Jun hesitates when he offers him that aspen flower. A delicate and pure white blossom, it symbolizes hope, divine purity, and new beginnings, and is associated with the element of air. It's incredibly jarring.
He doesn't get a chance to decide to accept or refuse. Someone bumps into him from behind, and he stumbles into what is suddenly a fully inhabited train car. Jun straightens and looks around in bewilderment, then down at the seat where Sudou was just a moment ago.
He's gone, now.
Jun swallows hard. When the train stops at the next station, he hurries off and keeps to the crowd. Yet again...