2026-02-04: It's All Wrong
- Log: It's All Wrong
- Cast: Shinichi Nagisa, Kazusa Motojima
- Where: Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome, Tokyo
- OOC Date: February 04, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012 (After Classes)
- Summary: It's Kazusa's turn for trash duty in the cafeteria... which Shinichi expects means it's really *his* turn. But to his surprise, Kazusa agrees to do it, asking if he wants to help so it gets done faster. The two chat as they work, but Shinichi is increasingly unnerved by how the 'new' Kazusa is acting...
- Content Warning: Kazusa's Homunculus exhibiting radical personality changes compard to her old/real self
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
It's the end of the day.
And as the Class Representative for 2-E, Shinichi Nagisa directs the class by saying, "Stand. Bow." It's done in a well-practiced act by everyone, performed for years.
Despite that, it hardly means he's respected. He was chosen as Class Rep because nobody else wanted to do it, so he was nominated by a lot of the class.
The class begins filing out after, with some few staying to talk, as Shinichi Nagisa glances at the calendar on the wall.
Yep, today was her day alright.
Which means it was really his day. And so, he walks up to Kazusa after class, internally steeling himself.
"Same as usual right? You didn't ask earlier but you know..." He rubs the back of his neck and looked away, "... it felt like a safe assumption."
What he means is that today is the day their classroom has trash duty for the cafeteria.
All he's looking for is an affirmation before he'd head off to just do it.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa has been... a lot different since she got back from break. A lot nicer, softer, kinder... well, mostly. (She's less intentionally malicious, at least.)
Still, some people seem to get a weird feeling of the hairs on the backs of their necks standing up around her.
Kazusa is humming a quiet little song to herself as she packs up her stuff at the end of the day. She's about 5'2", has a gymnast's build, long straight dark hair and purple eyes. And she's ditched her usual silver bracelets for a pink headband.
She looks up as Shinichi approaches. "Hmm? Didn't ask about what...?" She looks... more confused, than dismissive.
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Shinichi really hasn't noticed, to be honest. Why? He gives her a wide berth really. It's not because he minds tasks being heaped on him. It's just...
... she gives him a hard time for quitting Lacrosse...
And while he's good enough at beating himself up, he doesn't seek out other people doing it to him.
Her response though fully startles him, "Uh-" Did she just forget? It's possible, he supposes, "-looks like today's your day for Cafeteria Trash duty. And well, you've got better things to do than that, right?"
He even preemptively sought her out because he thought she'd be more angry at him later if she just ended up forgetting - and he was already gone.
"So I thought I'd just, you know - our usual arrangement for things like that, so you can put in more practice time."
He expects to get chewed out anyway, enough that despite the response not being hostile, he's still bracing himself.
Girls can be pretty cruel when they want to be, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
It's honestly a pretty fair reaction to give Kazusa a wide berth.
Kazusa looks at Shinichi blankly for a moment before something seems to click. "Oh! That's right! Thanks for reminding me, Nagisa-san." And then Kazusa...
Smiles. Cheerfully. At Shinichi.
But she pauses as he brings up the normal arrangement. "Oh, that's okay. I can just stay late a little bit to make up the practice time."
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
'Oh! That's right!'
"So I should-"
'Thanks for reminding me, Nagisa-san.'
Shinichi freezes at a glimpse of that cheerful smile. Was he suddenly like in a strange alternate reality, like three years ago?
Maybe she was just smiling because she wanted to lure him into a false sense of security before biting his head off.
"Wait - really, you're sure?"
He has the sudden urge to check her for a fever. But he knows that wouldn't go over well. Besides the 'back of the hand method' is not really accurate anyway.
"You're not feeling under the weather or something right?" He asks as if suddenly anxious in another direction, "If you want to go get checked out by the nurse, I can take care of it for you."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa could be lyring Shinichi into a false sense of security... but she's usually more direct.
Usually.
And she's still smiling as she says, "Of course! That's what you came over to tell me, right? That my name was on the calendar?"
Did she just... forget their normal arrangement...?
She's kind of acting like she forgot.
She is a bit unwell, but probably not in the way Shinichi would expect. "No...?" she says quizzically. She feels her own forehead--that's definitely not how that works. "I feel fine... why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Oh, but you don't have to do that, Negisa-san. That's what the calendar is there for, to make sure it's fair for everyone, right?"
That's either really naive or overly optimistic.
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Indeed that's why this is eerie to him.
Yes it could be a trap! Yes it could be a girl trying to manipulate him for some cruel prank! But - it's not like her.
"Uhhhh- I mean, yeah. Kinda? Usually you approach me earlier about it..."
He says, as if fumbling on the idea that she may not be trying to get him to do the usual. What's going on here?
"Uh.." 'I feel fine... why does everyone keep asking me that?' "No I mean it's fine- if you're feeling alright, just... you're not acting your usual self, I guess?"
He tries to explain awkwardly, still wondering if he's in some alternate reality. "Like hey if you're trying something new, that's none of my business but..."
'fair to everyone, right'
He freezes up at the idea she thinks anything would be fair to him.
That that's actually a consideration for her, "Oh, okay." He clears his throat, "Do you, maybe want a hand? I don't mind, really."
It'll maybe be super weird doing that, but for some reason he's a little curious. Something doesn't add up. If she were doing something new she'd just say it, right?
Like a self-help book, a resolution - some life event...
... but she's acting like she doesn't remember anything of what it was like before, talking to her.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Oh yeah, I do, huh...?" Kazusa seems to consider that. "Well, I should have told you I was going to do it myself so you wouldn't have to worry about it. Sorry, Nagisa-san, I guess that was pretty inconsiderate of me."
Wait is she... apologizing? To Shinichi?
(... she doesn't sound very apologetic, or at least, only on a very shallow level.)
Not acting her usual self. "I know. This is my new usual self!" she declares. "I'm just... trying to focus on the things that matter, you know?"
Shinichi offers to help, and Kazusa lights up. "Sure! That way it'll go by faster. Good thinking!"
Good thinking from a practical standpoint, but that's definitely going to make things more awkward in just about every other way.
If one is looking for an event, there's a rumor going about the school that Kazusa got caught by her father cosplaying at a convention... does that seem like either version of Kazusa, though?
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Shinichi looks at Kazusa like she just sprouted a second head as she apologizes. Then he looks around the room to see if anyone is filming this...??
But no, the few people still chatting aren't even noticing them. And there's no one crouched in the hallway.
"Ah nah, I mean- not at all. I honestly should have asked earlier anyway?" He says, as if trying to distract from the whole idea that she has anything to apologize for. It's too weird for him to deal with.
Too weird for him to accept it.
"Your... new usual self. Oh like-" He nods, sounding relieved, "-got it. Yeah that makes sense."
He's too relieved to get away from the apology, and too mired in self-loathing, that he doesn't think about how little sense it makes for her to apologize for that.
And not the rest of her behavior towards him.
"Alright then. So, I guess we can head down together." As he grabs his bag. Rumors fly about the school, he's not usually someone people gossip to though. He did hear it though, kinda indirectly.
Maybe her father chewed her out hard enough that she decided to change herself? Man, he's not sure how to feel about that...
If this is her trying to act like a 'proper' girl because her Dad is forcing her to behave that way... yeah his face scrunches up.
"So, what all made you decide to, go for this 'new usual'?" He decides to comment, as the two head in that direction.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
There definitely aren't any cameras around. (People might even be trying to avoid Kazusa, since... well, 'Demon Queen'.)
"Well... at least now we're both on the same page, right?" says Kazusa brightly. But are they, though...?
"Yep!" Kazusa picks up her school bag and nods. "Sure! I'm ready to go." She seems a lot more... relaxed, as she walks down the hallway. Like she's just a normal person walking and less like a force of nature who expects everyone to get out of her way.
That would be kind of bad, wouldn't it? If some external force were making her act this way?
On the other hand, though, given the result...
Kazusa's newfound cheer seems to diminish a little, and she glances to the side, seeming sorrowful for a moment. "W-well... I just... I just realized I was... wasting a lot of time and energy on the wrong things, that's all."
Not exactly disproving the notion her father is forcing her into this in some way.
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Are they!?
Maybe a little more than before at least!
It is weird as they walk, can someone really change themselves so quickly? Even... his change, it took a while for him to get there.
But she's like another person?
She answers his question though, and he's just, "Ah. Well." How does one handle this? "If you're sure. Alright. It's not my place to tell anyone how to live to their life."
It's especially not his place to tell anyone anything.
"I guess, I dunno. What do you mean by the wrong things, if you don't mind saying?"
There, he decides not to act like he knows what's going on, or is assuming her Dad is being a jerk to her. Like even his Ex-Girlfriend liked some anime? Just see if she feels she can even talk about it and go from there.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Can someone change themself so quickly? That con was like, a week before classes started...
It's definitely weird, right?
It might not be his place, but... Kazusa just gives him a small smile. "I am. But thank you for being concerned."
Kazusa sighs a little at the follow-up question. "Well... you've probably already heard the rumors, so... I was spending a lot of time on things that weren't... beneficial to my future." But there is a small, optimistic smile. "... but my father has helped me get back on track."
That might cinch it, but... she sounds grateful...?
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
First an apology. Then a thank you???
This sure is one day. He's not sure what adjective he'd use for the kind of day it is, but it sure is happening.
"I mean, kinda?" He says honestly, "I heard something happened, at least."
He just didn't figure it'd be so life-changing! Enough that he wasn't even thinking about it when he walked up to her.
"Huh. So, it's about, really buckling down then?" He tries not to to sound negative about it, as he's not... precisely.
Kamoshida really has him looking more for the signs in other people though that something is off.
"What kinda future? Like, training in the hopes of going to the Olympics or something?"
It's at least an in for him to ask. After all, they've discussed sports in the past. As they get to the cafeteria, he puts on a pair of gloves for the staff.
"I'll sort through the burnables, if you want." As he picks the dirtiest job. "If you wanna get the plastics- and the cans and bottles. Last few times I was here, a lot of things got thrown away wrong."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Yeah... I guess word got around..." Kazusa says with a sigh. Whatever she did--cosplay or not--she seems regretful. "Yoshinaga-senpai was asking me about it the other day..."
"Yep! Buckling down."
If this is a Change of Heart... it's definitely not as extreme as what Kamoshida did. (Then again, Kazusa, as far as anybody knows, didn't do anything as extreme, either. Is that the difference?)
"Yep! My father thinks it'll be good for me to pursue it. We're already looking at additional training to get ready..."
Kazusa fixes her hair back into a tight bun (she was going to ahve to do it for gymnastics practice anyway), and then puts on a pair of gloves, nodding to Shinichi. "Oh, thanks Nagisa-san! I'll get the recyclables."
She starts sifting through. "Really? That's so inconsiderate of them..." As she works, she asks, offhandedly and without any malice, "... so is there anything you're working towards?"
She shared her future plans--it's only natural to ask about his, right?
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
"Guess so." He agrees, "People really have trouble keeping out of other people's business." I mean he knows he's getting into her business himself, it's just - he's trying to be agreeable as a part of it.
"Gotcha! Well, I bet you can do it, if you really commit. You're one of the Aces of the team after all."
And he does mean that! He's not just being insincere, it's just...
He also knows the kind of regimens gymnastics athletes put them through at this age, in some ways it can really harm their bodies, especially for girls.
So it does worry him some.
"Thanks." He says to her getting them, as he roots through the garbage, looking at a bottle someone threw into the burnables, "Yeah, but they probably just weren't thinking about it..."
Before she then asks him, so is there anything he's working towards? "W-Well, I'm thinking of pursuing a career in healthcare." He answers, it's rather neutral.
If this is some prank, he doesn't want to mention he's thinking of becoming a nurse. Nearly everyone thinks that it's too feminine for guys.
"You know, take care of people and their problems in that way. It feels... right for me."
He does feel good doing it, and it's the only way he can possibly make amends for what he's done...
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"I guess they do, huh?" said Kazusa, completely overlooking that she was definitely making every else's business her business before.
"Eh heh... thanks, but... it's a team effort, you know?" says Kazusa, trying to be modest. And that's true... but only for group routines.
Kazusa knows the strain that'll come with it, but... she seems excited, regardless.
"They'll have to sort it themsevles someday, though..." Kazusa makes a face as she pulls a banana peel out. "You don't belong here..." She glances over to see Shinichi holding a bottle. She holds the peel up. "Trade you?"
But Shinichi does have plans for later. "Oh, that's great! So you're going to become a doctor?"
Neither version of Kazusa is immune from gendered expectations, sadly.
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
He's definitely not going to bring that part up. What she says next, he drops what he's holding, fumbling it, before grabbing it in mid-air.
Is brainwashing a thing!? What the heck, that's the complete opposite of her attitude even towards sports...
How did her attitude change towards sports? The thing she's trying to overachieve in!?
"Uh yeah. 'Course. Teamwork makes the dream work." He says, agreeably, as he just stares into the burnables for a bit, mouthing 'what is going on'
"Definitely." As he hands over the bottle, and takes the peel. Then shifting garbage, takes out a can for good measure.
But then she asks about him becoming a Doctor and - "Well maybe." He says noncommittally. If he just says that he wants to be a nurse, then maybe the illusion will fade, the moment he gives away information people can use against him.
Something really embarrassing.
"I'd... have to really buckle down for that. My grades are alright, but nowhere near good enough for med school. What about you, after the Olympics?"
As he tries to change the subject some. "There's not really any way to go pro in that, so the Olympics and other tournaments are kinda it, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Oh, nice catch!"
How, indeed? She's even started being nicer to the kouhai she spent most of the year tormenting and spreading rumors about!
"It does!" she says cheerfully.
Kazusa will also accept the can, along with the bottle.
Maybe... and Kazusa isn't going to at all read 'actually I want to become a nurse' into that, instead... "Yeah, that must be really difficult to do..." She considers for a moment. "Would you like to study together sometime?"
Okay, Kazusa got the top spot in their year for Spring, but she also, you know, bullied Shinichi her his failure to amount to anything on the Lacrose team.
"Yeah... not really..." Kazusa pauses to give it some thought, frowning a little in concentration. "... I guess when I stop competing I'll get married and start a family."
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Nice catch. It all still feels so surreal.
'Would you like to study together sometime?'
"Oh uh, sure? If you're up for it..." Though now he feels awkward, will people read into it? Will they they're dating? He wouldn't want to attach that reputation to her...
... but...
What she says next? He looks sideways at her. Then, there's a slow nod, "So, from Olympic Athlete to housewife? Hey, if it's what you want, there's nothing wrong with it."
But something about it feels wrong? She didn't seem like the housewife type before.
Like, can he imagine her just calming down and being a housewife? He knows a lot of women do but...
... they wouldn't know it right now. "So sounds pretty planned out. What about like you know, hobbies?"
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Sure! I'll talk to Waka-chan, maybe we can start a study group." That'd be Wakana Oosaka, also in their class, also on the Rhythmic Gymnastics team... and Kazusa's...
... friend? Lackey? She's been treating her better lately, at least...
Either way, she doesn't seem to be concerned for the social ramifications. To be fair, the old Kazusa acted like she was above reproach. This version of Kazusa... seems more like she's just not aware.
But at her choosen life path she just says, "Yeah, it'll be nice."
"But after. "Oh, I learn flower arrangement and practice tea ceremonies with my mother. Annnd I can't resist a good shopping trip!" she says with a giggle. "What about you?"
Kazusa stops for a moment and wipes her forehead with her forearm. "You know, this goes a lot faster with two people... if you'd like, I could help you out next time it's your turn."
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
"Well I don't mind, if you're both up for it."
She's not angling to get close to him right!? That would be terrible, terrible for her. He hopes that's not it. But he also has trouble turning down a genuine offer to study together... assuming it is.
Is it!?
"It would be." He agrees on it being nice. Honestly there was a point when he thought him and his middle school sweetheart would go on to marry one day...
... but...
While that was once what he wanted in life, he now knows it's wrong for him to even think of saddling a girl with a guy like him.
"Wow. That's real traditional." He says, blinking as he stares off into the middle distance at hearing her giggling. "I mean, I admit it's a little surprising hearing you like that stuff, but it's not a bad thing? Lots of guys like the idea of a traditional girl, you know?"
He even would have liked it - a few years back, now, he's not so certain. But then she offers to help again!?
"Well... if it won't interfere in your practice. I wouldn't mind..."
Kazusa is perhaps not seeing the little beads of sweat on his forehead, that he's absolutely not wiping away.
Now a lot of guys out there don't know when a girl is flirting with them or not. And Shinichi is one of them! Especially in a situation like this.
His first love just outright confessed to him. But he's seen enough anime to wonder if this girl is- flirting with him like it's out of an anime.
"You're really okay with it... with a guy like me?" He asks cautiously. "You... weren't really a fan of me before." He's sure worried he might break the spell of whatever this was, but if she blew up at him it'd kinda be a relief.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Sure! I'll talk to Waka-chan when I see her at practice... maybe we can invite a few more people from class." Who... who would even go study with her, with her reputation???
And yet she seems genuine... somehow.
Kazusa, meanwhile... has seemingly never been on a date. It might not be that much of a surprise, but... that'd be another sudden change, if she were, indeed, flirting with him.
... She's not, right?
"Well, why wouldn't I like it? They're graceful and delicate, just like my rhythmic gymnastics." But lots of guys... "That's good. My father always says I need to think about being a suitable wife."
This may not do anything to dispell Shinichi's concerns.
It... may also be worrying for why she suddenly changed, too.
But Shinichi accepts the offer of help. "It won't! And with two of us working on it, it'll go by twice as fast, right?"
But then Shinichi brings up a very legitimate grievance: Kazusa's past treatment of him. Kazusa pauses, looking down. "You're right, I wasn't. But I was wasting a lot of time worrying about the wrong things back then, and... I'd like to start over."
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
"A-Alright. Yeah, sounds like an... idea." He doesn't sound negative about it, but he's trying to sidetrack any idea that he's unenthusiastic too by his tone.
At least her inviting others kinda - helps him relax some. Maybe it's not that.
"Well, a lot of modern girls find that thing to be a little stuffy- stifling even, you know." He would have sworn she was one of them. In fact he's sure of it. Like, why would she ever not!?
"I mean... I guess, but you're a little young to be thinking of marriage yet. Like... maybe try to date a little more casually, first?"
He looks away, obviously a little embarrassed he's having to give this kind of advice to a girl.
"Like even if it's an arranged marriage or something you get into eventually, you wanna enjoy your youth some, right?"
It's not weird for women to still be in arranged marriages. It happens all the time, it's just, wow. That's just not how he could ever imagine her living.
And then, as he mentions her past behavior, she- just apologizes!?
"The wrong things... huh?" He trails off, considering what the heck any Dad could ever say to make this kind of a one eighty, this doesn't even feel like her!
People can't change this quickly, they just can't! It's freaking him out.
Did he take her to get hypnotized or did he induct her into a cult!? He just can't think of any other way.
"S-Sure..." He says awkwardly, "Water under the bridge." Some part of him can't accept this apology, not really. He knows he can't, that he doesn't.
That it makes him a bad person that she's trying to change and he holds that kind of resentment towards her.
He trails off and swallows.
"You were under a lot of pressure anyway, right? It's understandable that you'd... make some mistakes."
They weren't mistakes. He knows it.
But what else can he say?
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Great!"
Stuffy-- stiffling, even. Kazusa seems to consider this for a moment. Kazusa seems to consider this for a moment. "I guessss, but... some girls aren't, right? My mother isn't like that." Isn't 'becoming their parents' a thing a lot of people want to avoid? Seemingly not Kazusa...
But when Shinichi suggests she's a little too young, though, Kazua pauses her sorting to look at him in mild confusion. "But... lots of girls want to start a family, right?"
She looks away a little, too. In a soft, quiet voice she admits, "... I've never actually... been on a date. So I guess I've never gotten to enjoy that part of my youth."
This may or may not help Shinichi's dating or flirting concerns.
An arranged marriage is something Kazusa's parents never would have tried to arrange for her before. Now, though... it might be more in the cards.
Hypnosis and a cult might honestly be the less terrifying options compared to the reality of what's going on. Either way, Shinichi is right to be both suspicious and skeptical.
Kazusa, though, doesn't seem to notice any hesitation from Shinichi as he accepts her apology. She brightens and says, "Great! I'm glad you think so!"
"Yeah..." she says sadly of pressure, with a soft little sigh that could never come out of the old KAzusa's mouth. "But from now on I'm trying to do everything right!" she announces with a sort of cheerful determination.
The old Kazusa never sounded that upbeat. Not unless she was mocking someone. (Like Shinichi.)
She looks over to Shinich with another one of those out-of-place smiles. "Hey, Nagisa-san? Thanks for helping me with this." As if she hadn't been gleefully foisting this off on him for the last year or so. "It was really nice havingyou around to talk to, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
Black Fairy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekPaYGVLifY
Kazusa can't see the moment he begins to break out into a cold sweat. He's not responding so much, to the part about what girls want.
Never been on a date... wanting to start a family... is that why she's being nice to him?
He sees her face again
There are tears in her green eyes
Her lips are moving
He can't hear them
She's clinging to him
He's not even there
He
Doesn't
Deserve
To Be
The smile on his face fades gradually, like cracks in a glass.
"That's good." He rasps to the idea she's trying to do everything right. "... Great even."
He's broken out into a cold sweat.
'Thanks for helping me with this'
'It was really nice having you around to talk to, you know?'
"This is wrong." He takes a step back, "It's... all wrong. I..." He says nauseated, before, 'gotta go' his lips make the noise, but no sound comes out, and then, he repeats it, this time audibly, "I've- I've gotta go."
He takes a step back, stumbles into a trash can. "Gotta go." He repeats. And then he doesn't just walk away, he runs.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa blinks and turns to look at Shinichi, oblivious to the depths of his internal plight. "All wrong...?" she asks, uncertainly.
She looks at the garbage she's sorting. "Well, some stuff got in the wrong bags, sure, but... I thought we were doing really good fixing that." She starts to double check the bag she's working on, just to be sure.
But her attention is drawn back when Shinichi bumps into the trash can. 'Gotta go.' And then Shinichi runs.
Kazusa stares after him, blinking, confused. This had seemed like such a nice moment, and she thought they were doing really well getting the trash sorted...
"Okay, bye," she says in a quiet, almost sad, voice that's mostly for herself now in the empty cafeteria. She tilts her head a little, staring at the exit Shinichi took.
"... I guess he had something else to take care of," she finally concludes. Some cheer returns to her voice as she says, "Our class president sure works hard, doesn't he?"
"I should get him a gift to say 'thank you' for finding the time to help me," she decides with a firm nod as she goes back to sorting the garbage.