View source for 2025-09-29: The Deck Was Stacked From The Start

*'''Log: The Deck Was Stacked From The Start'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Tsubasa Seki]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Shinjiro Aragaki]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasakan Safehouse
*'''OOC Date:''' 2025-09-29
*'''IC Date:''' Wednesday, July 18 2012
*'''Summary''': ''After Tsubasa finally wakes up in the safehouse, Shinobu and Shinjiro come to help them out... and talk more about the conspiratorial web coiled around them.''

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[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        Tsubasa was busy sleeping through Tuesday, but they're awake ''now.'' And since they've woken up, they've started trying to work out the connections between everything, grabbing a sheath of printer paper and getting to work. Tragically, the table soon ran out of room... so they just started taping the paper to the walls with that fabric tape people left for them for their wound dressings. Amongst less consequential junctures -- and several ''numbers,'' arranged like entries in a spreadsheet -- are notes on people:

        Denji Inoue: Lying to cover up the Joker Killer. Lying about the fire. What was the purpose of the ECT?

        Hanzou Seki: Positively known to Sumaru PD. Probably made mom call that hit in. Getting a promotion. Who's his boss? Who does he answer to? Who noticed him?

        Sergeant Ezoe: Sumaru PD. Knows my father. Already blaming me. Who benefits?

        Their uniform was burnt up when they were thrown into that burning building -- though their ''binder'' was fine, presumably because it was under their uniform??? -- so they've thrown on some of the clothes which were in the closet here, a hoodie and sweatpants. Someone yesterday got them a spare beanie to cram on their head, given how distressed they were to show their horrific patchwork hair which couldn't even ''grow'' through the scarring on half their head, so of course that's firmly on their head too.

        They've already seen the news, talking about the guilt of the Arsonist of City Hall; for that reason, they haven't opened the door since they woke up.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu tried on and off to check in on Tsubasa the other day, but they've been asleep each time. She doesn't blame them - the other day was... A Lot. Anyone would want to sleep forever after that.

This time, though, she hears them up and moving around, so she approaches the door and knocks.

"Hey, Seki. ...Tsubasa." Shinobu decides and corrects herself. "It's Shinobu. How're you, uh... holding up? Mind if I come in?"

She steps away from the door and waits for an answer. If they don't want visitors right now, she won't pressure them. She ''is'' worried, though, so she hopes they agree to it.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has had a Week. First, he gets in a fight with Myunghon, and then Tsubasa gets attacked by the Joker Killer while he's trying to calm down from it. His temper is bad, a little bit emotional, but he does need to make sure the latter is okay, and has any support they'll need now that they're apparently a fugitive.

He's got a large tupperware container under his arm as he closes up on the little apartment complex, spotting Shinobu, who gets a clearly anxious nod. What's that about?

Once he reaches Tsubasa's door, though, he calls out too. "I'm here too," he immediately says, not using Tsubasa's name out of a reasonable paranoia (though Shinobu makes that moot). He looks on both sides of the door, which clarifies no one is watching, and...

"You okay?"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        The peephole slides open; Tsubasa peers out. Apparently, they were at least with it enough to remember whoever told them to ''check'' before opening the door, though they get to unlocking it once they've confirmed that it is in fact Shinobu and Shinjiro and not also ten surprise cops behind them who put them up to it.

        "Sure," they say, either to coming in or being okay, their laconic nature makes that ''really'' unclear. ... they're pretty obviously not okay, though. Even leaving aside the conspiratorial nonsense taped up on the walls, they look absolutely haggard.

        "Good as I can be under the circumstances," Tsubasa locks the door after them, once they get in. "'Pparently they reckon I did it. So."

        The cops 'just want to talk', and Tsubasa has a bridge to sell them.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu spots Shinjiro, and offers him a nod of greeting back. She can see that he's clearly anxious. She has a ''little'' context thanks to her talk with So-young, but she doesn't know the full story, or just how badly it went. She'll have to grab him sometime and find out...

...but for right now, they need to be here for Tsubasa.

They say 'sure' in a non-committal way without directly answer either question, but they ''do'' open the door. Shinobu nods a greeting as she enters, and her eyes turn to the papers covering the walls.

...They're a lot. Frankly they make her head spin just ''looking'' at all of them. She doesn't know what's important and what isn't, but there are some major ones she can make out.

"...Yeah. Figure that's fair." Shinobu replies with a shake of her head. She can see they're not okay. Who would be, in this situation? She snorts, then. "And that's bullshit. They've already made up their mind..."

...How long can they keep them safe here...?


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro doesn't know that Shinobu has *any* context but the paranoia in his brain has told him that Myunghon hates him now, so. But he's got the same thought: this is about Tsubasa, not him.

Once inside, Shinjiro takes a look over the conspiracy tapings. He grimaces especially at Ezoe's, taking a shaky breath, but he doesn't think it's nonsense. He knows conspiracies aren't.

Instead, he moves to set the tupperware down on the counter. "Glad you're alive," is all he can think to say. "Thought you wouldn't be up for cooking, so I made you some tonkatsu. There's gyoza there in well, but it's gonna need to all be reheated, since I had to bring it from Port Island."

Despite all appearances, Shinjiro is an *amazing* cook.

"You need anything else?" he asks, looking around again. "Supplies, drinks, anything at all."

Shinjiro's wondering the same thing about keeping them safe... no one was looking for him, so he could hole up here. But Tsubasa can't even safely leave...


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        All of Myunghon's present woes have gone ''right'' over Tsubasa's head, given the Horrors. They'll feel bad about it later, it's fine.

        "Sweet," they remark, heading over to grab the tupperware. "Like, there's cans and shit in here, I ain't starvin', but... that's cool." For now, they'll put it in the fridge, because of course if something needs to be ''reheated'' it's vulnerable to ''going bad.''

        "Uh, jus' make sure my dog's cool," they add, when Shinjiro asks if they need anything ''else.'' "She'll be, like, worried. Dogs get like that too."

        They pull out a chair, and slump on into it, resting an elbow on the kitchen table. "Pretty fuckin' wild," Tsubasa remarks, drumming their fingers on the surface, "sayin' I did it when the whole point was killin' my ass. Tch... it's whatever," they insist, roughly. "I'm used to it."

        HOW CAN SOMEONE BE USED TO THAT.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro... came pretty prepared. Shinobu gives him an appreciative glance. She's glad he's being the responsible one - she doesn't have much to offer right now except a friendly face and some well-meaning anger.

"Yeah, I'm sure she is..." Shinobu murmurs sympathetically, massaging the back of her neck. It's not like Lance would know all the intricate details of what's going on, even as smart as she is.

She's pretty sure she's spotted her on the train once or twice. How do you even train a dog to do that?

"...Wild's a good word for it." Shinobu agrees, shaking her head. "Bastards. They should be doing their damn jobs ''right''."

She frowns, then.

"...You shouldn't have to be. It's not right. You didn't do a thing wrong." She sighs, looking at the wall again. "...You think your dad's the one who talked her into it?"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Tsubasa appreciates the food, and Shinjiro nods once as they put it in the fridge. He thinks briefly about the request for Lance, nodding quickly. "Yeah, I can do that. What breed is she?" It's curiosity more than anything, a dog lover trying to distract them too.

Shinobu gets a frown. "They're cops, doing their jobs right just means they're abusing us more efficiently." He's never been a fan, and he doesn't know about Shinobu's sister well enough to even think about her in the moment.

And then, about Tsubasa feeling like they're used to it... "What she said," Shinjiro thumbs to Shinobu. "There's a manhunt going on and it's for the wrong fucking person."

A grimace, as he looks over the papers again with Shinobu. "Ezoe's a slimy bastard. The station as willing to take a bribe to get me out..." How did Shinjiro get that kind of money? "Bet he's being paid off by the conspiracy that controls the Old Maid."

It might come to memory that Shinjiro is pretty sure he *identified* the guy, last he and Tsubasa talked about him.

"What are you going to do next?" He asks them pointedly, as Shinobu mentions their dad. "You're not alone."


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        The secret to Lance's training is lots of treats and positive affirmations! There is no gooder dog alive, to hear Tsubasa tell it. "She's a fightin' dog," they tell Shinjiro, "but whoever bred her threw her out for bein' a shit fightin' dog, I reckon. Like, she hates it when ya say the 'R' word," and then they pause and clarify, because Lance isn't here and generally that refers to something ''else.'' "Y'know. 'Runt'. Uh, her name's Lance," they add, "Yeo-sama said they were keepin' dog food at the Cardboard Dragon now, so it should be good, but..." But they're worried about their dog!!!

        (You might think they'd be worried about ''themself,'' in their situation, but nope. Dog.)

        "Maybe Sergeant Suou'll do somethin' 'bout it," Tsubasa shrugs, not sounding entirely confident in that idea, though surely he's one of the few cops in Sumaru PD who ''is'' doing his damn job right. (Well, the job which ''isn't'' doing police brutality, anyway.) And that's because, "... not like he could do much last time, tho'."

        They rub at the back of their neck, as they point out, to Shinjiro: "He's okay. An' my case manager's legit, like. Officer Shimizu put me up in her own-ass home when my father kicked me out 'cuz I told 'em I weren't their daughter no more. Jus', uh... she's from out closer to Tokyo way, different department, so... when I get in shit down here she can't always do shit." Tsubasa shrugs. "They tried to put me in with a local guy, sayin' how I'd run through my parole and all already, but I told 'em to get fucked."

        The terrible revelation here, of course, is that there's an ''Officer Shimizu'' in the family. Awkward!

        They fold their arms, tilting the chair back on two legs as they lean back into it. (Cool guys never just sit in a chair normally. What? Good posture will prevent back aches in their 30s, i.e. old age? That doesn't sound right.) "Yeah," they nod, scowling. "It had to be my father. Mom rang me up the other day, sayin' how she loved me and it weren't my fault and all this fuckin' shit... an' she said how father was up for this promotion at work, too. So -- so it's gotta be 'bout that. Like, I was embarrassin' him, so he figured he'd get ridda me... I mean, he been tryin' a while," they add, kicking at one of the legs of the table.

        "Uh. Like, a month back my microwave got fried, an' my father, uh..." They scowl down at the edge of the table, rather than at either of their visitors. "He weren't happy I was askin' for shit. So he, uh, punched me... weren't like he'd never hurt me before, but that's the first time he'd gone that far." Their voice lowers, as they say it. "But, like, thing is, he -- he was talkin' how I'd never get married and make myself some other guy's problem -- so I should just hurry up an' die so he didn't have to keep takin' care a me. Talkin' like it was gonna happen, company I kept... like I oughta do him a favour and die already, 'cuz I guess waitin' a couple years was just too hard on him. Tch." Their fingers drum, on their arms, against the fabric of the hoodie. "Stupid thing is, he really got in my head... I'd be thinkin' 'bout it. So, like... lookin' back, all that... prolly he wanted me to do it so he didn't have to bother."

        Tsubasa is quiet, for a moment, before they add: "Uh, don't, like, worry 'bout that now tho'. Turns out repeatin' the whole burnin' alive bit is a universal panacea for wantin' to call it quits." It's kind of impossible to describe just ''why'' they're determined to live now, but that's... close enough to the truth, right?


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu has met Lance. She would absolutely believe and agree with that. She listens as they explain her situation. She frowns just slightly, hearing about it. She's glad Lance ended up somewhere she'd be loved, at least.

"Yeah. She's being fed, at least." Shinobu assures.

She shakes her word at Shinjiro's words.

"That's not doing the job right. That's just lettin' the power go to their heads." Shinobu replies, and then admits, "...But there's a damn sight more of that than the other, I guess. Especially around here."

Tsubasa brings up Officer Suou.

"...Yeah. He was there. I'm sure he'll do what he can." She agrees. ...Even if she isn't sure how much 'what he can do' is. Better someone than no one, she guesses. Tsubasa mentions an Officer Shimizu and Shinobu shifts, just slightly - more attentively.

"...Never heard about that last part. Don't blame you for that." Shinobu comments.

She and Shinjiro are in agreement at least on one thing - the search isn't right. She frowns as he explains the situation.

"...Yeah. Yeah, I could see that." She considers.

Tsubasa says it had to be their father. Shinobu frowns as they tell the story of their mother's phone call.

"...The hell?" She says, shaking her head in disbelief. "''Bastard''. Does he think he can just use everyone...? Couldn't even do it himself - not that that'd make it right or anything, but..."

She shakes her head.

She's heard the story about the microwave - but what he ''said'' then is new to her.

"...He doesn't have the right to say that. Not to you, or not to anyone." Shinobu says, her voice going sharp. They've been thinking about it and her expression goes sympathetic - and it only relaxes just slightly when they assure them that they're not thinking about it anymore.

"...Good." Shinobu replies with a nod. "You've got a lot of people who'd be sad to see you go. Me, Reiko-chan... Myunghon, too. Like he said,"

She nods toward Shinjiro.

"You're not alone."


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
"Shimizu, can you ask... them if they can watch Lance if I can't do anything?" Shinjiro asks, suddenly doubting even saying Myunghon's first name. Whatever happened is still weighing on him heavily, and he can't be the one to talk to them.

"He doesn't seem too bad, but I don't know if he has any power," Shinjiro shrugs. "Once saw him argue with a bird." It's the truth, even if he's saying it much more mundanely than the reality of the matter.

But Tsubasa talks about their father. His anger comes back on, gritting his teeth sharply. "What a fucking asshole."

A pause, though, as he realizes that isn't helpful. "I'm glad you're not leaving. But... let the Cardboard Dragon help you with this, okay? If there's a conspiracy, they'll find it. If you chase this alone... I don't want to think about what would happen."

He still doesn't know Tsubasa well, but he does care.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        "Cool," Tsubasa nods, when Shinobu assures them Lance is being fed. They give Shinjiro a bit of a weird ''look'' when he stumbles on referring to Myunghon, but they're really not in a situation where they can start a fight about it.

        (Because of course they'd start a fight about it.)

        They're giving him a weird(ed out) look for an entirely ''different'' reason a moment later, though. "Uh." They say, flatly. "... guess I yelled at a seagull for stealin' my chips this one time, so... uh..." Nope, it's still pretty fucking weird. Who the fuck argues with birds.

        They're quiet, for a moment.

        "But like, did he win the argument?"

        Seriously??? Is that what's important here?????

        (They're so distracted by the bird thing that they forget entirely to mention how Reiko was basically the only cop they trusted at that point.)

        Luckily, Tsubasa moves on from the horrors of Katsuya's grip on sanity, because they have to address something worse. "Uh, I mean, yeah," Tsubasa shrugs, when Shinobu asks whether he uses ''everyone.'' "What he says goes... it's that kinda thing. Patriarchial bullshit. Stupid thing is, I don't even reckon he'd be bothered doin' it himself... 'pparently he got friends in the police department, so I don't reckon he'd be that worried goin' that far. So it musta been, like... one a his fuckin' games. Bet he feels real fuckin' powerful makin' my mom call a hit in on me," their tongue hits the back of their teeth, in a derisive ''ch.''

        "... ain't an 'if', man," they add, their leg bouncing as their chair wobbles precariously backwards. "Somethin' stinks. It all goes back to that fire, two years back... they said I set it, but I guess it was one of those 'psychotic breakdowns'. Reckon I know who did it, but... they had to be workin' for someone. Maybe they did it to recruit my father... I dunno. Sure wanted to cover their tracks, if they did."


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro asks her if she'll ask Myunghon to watch Lance. ...Are things so bad between them he can't even ask them himself to look after a dog?

"...Yeah. Don't worry, I can check." Shinobu assures with a nod. She moves 'grab Shinjiro and ask what's up' forward on her to-do list, but it's still not a good time for that.

"...Seriously? Hope it was for a good reason, at least." Shinobu asks, as Shinjiro mentions the time he saw Katsuya arguing with a bird. She laughs a little, despite herself, but the good cheer is only temporary.

She frowns, as Tsubasa explains further.

"Bastard." Shinobu seethes, tapping her foot. How much more can she hate a single man? A lot more, as it happens. "Makes me sick just thinking about him."

She looks between Shinjiro and Tsubasa. She remembers them bringing that up... She frowns thoughtfully, and then nods toward Shinjiro.

"...Yeah. I'm not gonna tell you not to go lookin' into it, but don't go into it alone, alright?" She says. They know who did it, huh, but they had to be working for someone... There's a lot of moving parts to this.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro has no idea about IMPENDING REASSURANCE DOOM or near-fights. How terrible!

About the bird... "It made sense in context. Same context of stuff that the Joker Killer happens in," he admits, not wanting to besmirch Katsuya's reputation too hard. He's talked enough supernatural stuff in front of Tsubasa that it shouldn't be an issue, even if they're unlikely to believe it.

Well, actually. "No, he lost."

There we go, reputation re-besmirched.

Shinjiro grimaces though the talk about their father. "What does he do for a living?"

And about the conspiracy... "Sorry. I *know* there's a conspiracy. I guess I mean... it depends on what this one is. There's another we deal with, one with fingers in every pie... including the Joker Killer. If he used that as his means, maybe they're connected."

The connection makes sense to him. Tatsuya Sudou connects to Tatsuzou Sudou, who likely in some way connects to the NWO based off what Umie and Myunghon have said before. 

He swallows.

"... what she said. ...I was told it was better to have a team."

Funny, that Myunghon was the one to instill that into him.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        "Uhhh... ''riiiiight.''" Tsubasa sounds ''deeply'' sceptical of Shinjiro's bird intel, and if it's a ''little'' put on to make it seem like they don't really believe what he's saying, well...

        ... they don't really get how any of ''that stuff'' works, but they know enough to know they're supposed to keep it a secret.

        "He... he weren't always like that," Tsubasa insists, their hands folding a little tighter across their chest. "I mean -- it was always his way or the highway, but -- but back when he was happy with me, it weren't like, he weren't scrubbin' my tan off or nothin' like that." Wait he ''what'' -- "He was jus'... had these expectations, like... y'know, he was kinda a loser, so he'd be pushing us to be bigshot doctors and politicians, like. Y'know. To pay him back." For choosing to have kids??? "So we had to be perfect, or... or it'd just bring the whole mood down, y'know."

        It's hard to imagine Tsubasa being a perfect ''anything,'' but, well, Tsubasa wasn't always Tsubasa.

        "He works for Kimpara Electronics," they add, looking over to Shinjiro. "Used to be he was jus' another salaryman who couldn't net the promotions he wanted, but... it's weird, like. When the arson happened, they demoted him, talkin' 'bout how it 'reflected badly on his moral character' or whatever... but it wasn't long after that he got a promotion, an' then, like, a bunch more, an'... now he's fuckin' ''Seki-senmu,'' shit." The executive vice president, that is.

        "If I just knew who was feedin' that money into City Hall... fuck," they kick the table leg, again. What did the table ever do to deserve this? "Five million yen, man. No name, no organisation, jus'... comin' in and goin' to those assholes' pockets. Had to be bribes, no way it wouldna been with no fingerprints, but they didn't fuckin' like me findin' it... shit," they add, as their chair slams back down to the ground, they hurriedly grab another sheet of paper, and write ''another'' name circled with their pen.

        'Kurou Nagasawa'.

        "Fuck, man!" They exclaim, more animated still. "Why ain't I thought a that?! As if anyone was ever gonna help me out there! I told 'im, an' ''he'' knew to be at the office to drag me outta the fire?! Shit! Fuck!"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
It made sense in context. Same context of stuff that the Joker Killer happens in... Shinobu's brow furrows for a moment. She thinks she gets it - but she's still a ''little'' confused.

She listens as they talk more about their father. He wasn't always like this. Harsh, but not - "He ''what''?" Shinobu does, in fact, vocalize. She shakes her head, though. "...I know the type. So ambitious they lose sight of everything except their goal. Nothing, no one else matters..."

It's not too surprising that it'd lead him to going over that far.

She listens, then, as they explain to Shinjiro what he does... and the path has career has taken. Her brow furrows.

"...The hell? How'd he swing ''that''?" Shinobu mutters. That definitely seems fishy. She watches them kick the table as they cycle through their thoughts.

Five million yen... A staggering about of money coming in.

"...Something up?" Shinobu asks. Something seems to occur to them. Someone who conveniently happened to be there to drag them out of the fire. 'Kurou Nagasawa'... Shinobu frowns.

"Who's he?" She asks.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Shinjiro shrugs. Bird facts!

"...power tends to corrupt." He sighs, before nodding about Kimpara Electronics. "...maybe they have an illegal racket. Something that he became a lynchpin in. If we can find and dismantle that, we might be able to dismantle him."

A pause. Kurou Nagasawa... Shinobu asks who he is, so he'll ask something else. "How did he gain your trust?"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        "He, uh... he thought it was sprayed on an' he could just scrub it off, but like... he was scrubbin' in the kitchen, so..." Tsubasa's voice grows a little unsteadier, as they explain for Shinobu, one hand slipping down to grasp their lower arm. (Mercifully, it's the smooth and unscarred one.) They don't go so far as to explain why his actions would be worse in the ''kitchen'' sink, but, well.

        Maybe Shinobu can imagine it.

        (Tsubasa wonders how much of her mother she can imagine in him, too.)

        "I dunno, man," Tsubasa shakes their head, when she wonders how their father got ''so'' lucky. "Everyone fuckin' loves the guy now. It's freaky. Fuck, wouldn't surprise me," they add, to Shinjiro. "Like, did ya know that you can just fuckin' steal shit, and if yer paid enough it's called ''corporate espionage?''" Tsubasa didn't know that!! It's wild!!!

        But -- Kurou. "Nagasawa-san was a political aide at City Hall," they explain, "back when -- uh -- look, two years back I were a part-timer there, workin' under Kenta Nakajima. Good guy, really gave a shit 'bout Yongen-Jaya, did most of his work there... but he had principles in politics, right? Makes ya super unpopular. Anyway, uh, one day Nakajima-san has to go attend this big important meetin', so he like, gives me his login deets to put some data in? So I do that, and then, like... y'know, I snoop around a bit. Like, kill me, I was fifteen, an' anyway I ''really'' wanted to know, like, why somma the other guys had such nice shit and we didn't have jack shit. Figured someone was takin' advantage of my boss bein' nice or whatever, but... I found this money that weren't accounted for none, weren't announced, weren't in the reports. Jus' the back end. Like, no one fuckin' checks a spreadsheet, right? So I'm freakin' out, I dunno what to do 'bout that, Nakajima-san's still ''super'' busy and I'd be embarrassin' him in front of some real bigwigs if I forced him out, so... so I asked Nagasawa-san, since I knew him from around, y'know. Figured he knew, like, how shit worked 'round there. He'd talked to me here and there, helpin' me get settled in, he's how I knew the aides were the ones what knew everythin' 'bout everyone. An' he said not to worry 'bout it, jus' go back to the office, keep workin' as normal 'til Nakajima-san gets back to City Hall, but..."

        Tsubasa's fingers tighten, around their arms, again. "I don't remember lightin' the fire," they insist, scowling. "Though they said I was laughin' 'bout it." And here, chillingly, they might recall the way Tsubasa insisted they ''weren't'' laughing, when Sudou locked them in. "And Nagasawa-san was the one what pulled me outta the fire... I mean, if it weren't for him, I'd be dead, y'know? So I never thought... like... fuck, I was stupid."


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"''Shit''." Shinobu exhales, shaking her head with a look of subtle horror on her face that suggests that she can, in fact, imagine it. "I'm sorry."

She nods as Shinjiro voices his suspicions, then listens as Tsubasa recounts what happened.

Obviously she can't blame them for snooping. She's been fifteen before. She would've snooped herself if she had the opportunity - but no one would've trusted her with that kind of information.

It's a lot, though. She frowns, leaning back against a wall and folding her arms in front of her.

"...Well, I don't think you were stupid, for one. There's nothing wrong with wanting to trust someone who saved you. It's his fault for taking advantage of that." Shinobu replies, shaking her head. "Still, shit... it's like the deck was stacked from the start, huh."


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Shinjiro Aragaki has posed.
<poem>
Tsubasa explains about Kurou Nagasawa. Shinjiro contemplates. Could it be supernatural stuff? Is Tsubasa's dad connected to all that bullshit?

"It's possible to look into him. He might be a lead towards stopping your dad. I'll leave that to the others, but I'll help you where I can." Another separation... as he takes a breath. He pulls out his tiny notebook, taking the pen attached and writing on a page and then ripping it out and handing it to Tsubasa. "My number. If you need anything, let me know."

Then, he steps to the door. "I should get back to Port Island before it gets too hectic. Stay safe, alright?" A nod to Shinobu, too.

Then, after any replies, he's gone. He's getting too worked up by his current state of mind. He needs to deal with that to be of any use to Tsubasa, which he'd like to be.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
<poem>

        Luckily, Tsubasa's fake tan and concealer handily covers up how pale they are, relating that story. "Y--yeah," though the way their voice hitches as they nod is a little more telling. "It's -- uh -- thanks." They were gonna say it was cool, but it really isn't cool, huh?

        "Denji Inoue, too," Tsubasa grabs a balled-up wad of paper (an abandoned part of the theory?) and tossing it at Denji's name, up there on the wall. (The paper bounces and rolls sadly upon the floor. ... they'll pick it up later, they're not a ''foreigner,'' c'mon.) "He was my psych, when they convicted me. Really pushin' how I did it... an' he was coverin' up for the Joker Killer, too. I reckon he's in on it." Another lead!

        They nod, when Shinjiro gives them his number. "Cool. I'll do that. You, uh... take care out there, or whatever, aight?" Their farewell is a touch awkward, but they really don't know how fugitives say that kinda thing.

        Which explains how, when he's gone, Tsubasa rocks forward and plants their hands on their knees as they look up to Shinobu with the most freaked out expression known to man.

        "Dude how the fuck does any of this shit work I'm freakin' out here."

        ... and so, Shinobu gets to spend some time going over the finer points of how to keep a safehouse safe, which will at least make sure the two of them ''leave'' at different times.
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