2026-08-21: The Deep End
- Cutscene: The Deep End
- Cast:Shinichi Nagisa, Takuto Maruki
- Where: Shujin Academy, Practice Building
- OOC Date: 08/21/2026
- IC Date: 12/18/2026
- Summary: Called upon to intervene in a bullying incident. Doctor Takuto Maruki takes Shinichi Nagisa into his office as a potential research subject, only to learn that perhaps some curiosities in his field are better left alone…'
- Note: This cutscene immediately follows https://www.velvetroom.wiki/index.php/2026-08-01:_Right_from_Wrong
- CW: Homophobia, Assault, Memory Alteration
Shinichi Nagisa walked with the relaxed gait of someone confident they'd done nothing wrong into the Shujin Nurse's Office. Alongside him was Doctor Maruki, bespectacled, with the usual calm, friendly demeanor of a professional at his job.
As he shut the door though, there was just a moment, where he eyed the lock on the door before ultimately just letting it shut without latching it.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice." The Doctor began.
"Well I didn't have much of a choice, did I?" His 'patient' said with a shrug and a sharp tone.
"Ahaha... Well, I wouldn't say that." The Doctor chuckled affably, trying to get that ice broken, "You see I've just been meaning to speak to you about recent developments-"
Shinichi interrupted him. "And so this has nothing to do with what happened in the hall?"
"... Mm, let's just say it's related for now. Don't worry, you're not in any trouble." Dr. Maruki gestures for Shinichi to sit down who with an exaggerated eye roll, complied by settling in on one of the couches in the room, looking bored already.
"Before we start, would you like a snack? I have-"
"Do I look like I'm five to you?" Shinichi interrupted him again as he leans back, propping his elbow up on the side, and hand on his cheek, "This is what I hate about shrinks, always so condescending."
Rather than address that, Dr. Maruki blew right by that, "So you've seen mental health professionals before?"
"Every now and then my parents sent me to one because I was such a sad sack. ...I'm over it now, so it's not like I need this shit."
"Yes, I suppose that's the core of what we're here to speak upon. Recently you've had what your classmates describe as a remarkable shift in personality…" "Heh." Shinichi interjected, but Maruki kept going this time. "... you're playing Lacrosse again, socializing extensively with your peers and have shown an interest in going on dates that you previously didn't have."
"Didn't have?" The 'teenage boy' said with a sense of indignation, "I'm not some fucking okama, sensei."
"I'm not saying-" Stumbling past that, Doctor Maruki began again. "What I am saying is that, for better or worse, you've made extensive changes to your life in a very short span of time. Some might call such a turnaround nigh-impossible... but I wonder..."
"Wonder /what/?" Shinichi asked with a note of hostility, as Maruki continued, "... whether this might not instead be called a change in cognition." Doctor Maruki speculated aloud, as the 'boy' in front of him shifted uncomfortably, suddenly seeming- a little apprehensive, "The shit is that supposed to mean?"
"Well- in layman's terms, it's like you've become a completely different per-"
The man suddenly reeled, holding a hand to his head, tinnitus in his ears, head pounding in the throes of a migraine. Rubbing the bridge of his nose under his glasses with both fingers, he looked again at...
... at...
... the thing in the room with him...
"Who... no... /what/ are you?"
And that's when the thing that had taken on Shinichi Nagisa's skin, stared at him at first in incredulity. Then in the space of a fraction of a second, he lurched off the couch towards the man in the chair, the two falling over, as his athlete's hands sought the man's neck.
"Stupid fucking shrink." The creature said, as the grown man, lacking leverage, tried to fend him off, his glances getting knocked askew the whole time. "You couldn't help yourself. You just had to-" His hands had almost found his neck, when Maruki's hand found the creature's head, palming his forehead.
And there was a flash inside the thing's brain, causing his hands to go slack from his aggressive posture, his eyes rolling back for several seconds, giving Dr. Maruki time to drag himself out from under the monster before-
"Heh- ahaha- AhahahahAHAHA!" It began to laugh as it's body began to spasm, fingers twitching, as the thing fought to get back up outright, "What did you do to me? WHAT DID YOU FUCKING DO?! I'll kill you- I'll-"
He tried to get up, but he fell back over the chair.
"It didn't work." Dr. Maruki said, coming down from the adrenaline rush of the experience but in the tone of a scientist receiving an unexpected result, "It really didn't work. Why didn't it work? Alright..."
Stepping up to him, he put his hand on his head again, his thumb against his forehead.
-=-=-
Shinichi Nagisa had a smile on his face, as he left the office. "Ha. Thanks Doc, I guess I was wrong- you're not so bad after all."
Dr. Maruki shuffled his collar up to hide several scratches upon his neck. "I'm glad it was a pleasant experience for you, Nagisa-kun. You take care of yourself and have a good day, alright?"
As the Homunculus strolled off, the man took a deep breath, and shut the door to the nurse's office slash counselor's office he was within, walking to his desk, and fumbling unsteadily for a tape recorder.
Sitting down heavily upon the chair, he hit record. "Cognitive Psience Research Log, De- what day is it again?" He looked up to search for the wall Calendar, "December 18th, 2012. I think I've... I'm rather certain I've encountered a creature of the 'cognitive realm' possessing one of the students of Shujin Academy. A second year student named Shinichi Nagisa. Recently he'd had a profound change in lifestyle in such a short time frame, that I'd speculated it was a complete change in cognition, of the like performed by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."
Sighing heavily, he took off his glasses, checking to make certain they weren't damaged, before pulling out a wipe and cleaning them as he spoke, "I was wrong. Whatever this creature has done to him, it would seem there are some limits to the abilities I've been granted-" Staring off into the distance for a good half a minute, he finally amended, "Strike that. I believe the only true limitation is my own inexperience..."