A DR Sideblog for Spoilers & Rambles & Doodles

Her shoulders slumped a fraction despite her smile, and she reached to hit the record button, stopping the take. Only then did she respond. “Are you getting used to your new wardrobe?” She nodded to the accessories littering his hands and wrists. “How do you like them?”

Rantaro paused his fingers, eyes darting down to the rings on one hand, turning one idly as he considered it. He didn’t miss that she avoided answering. “They’re pretty stylish, not something I’m quite used to, adventuring and all. Did they get picked out special for my new talent?”

“Oh, is it not an adventurer thing? I thought elites in the field often wore rings and chains to fulfill their contracts,” she mused with a grin. She waited a moment, but when Rantaro didn’t quip back appropriately to whatever reference, she continued, “But I think they were going for a feeling more than a function.”

“Well, think I’ll be getting anything more functional for it then? Plenty come with tools of the trade, like the calligrapher’s quill or that compass I had last time.” Instead there was something reminiscent of one printed on his shirt. Feeling over function…

“Is that really something you need?” Tsumugi asked, pushing her glasses up, the shine flickering over her eyes dramatically. “You’re a survivor, the achievement itself means all you should need is your wits, right? If anything, these perks are bonus tools.”

“Not so sure about that. I remember the adventurer they made me, still. I think that’s what the audience will see too,” Rantaro pointed out, releasing the ring as he gestured her way, frowning.

“Not to worry, we wouldn’t leave you without your sense of adventure.” Tsumugi set the button down and walked over to the table to lift his other perk that had been alluded to. “A map to your treasure, right?” She laughed, looking at the black and white Monopad in her hand.

The laughter set him on edge, but he did his best not to show it. He put on an easy smile. Time to circle back. “You never did answer what was wrong with that take. You wouldn’t want me doing it again and wasting your time. I know you have a tight schedule until launch.”

Tsumugi was silent for a moment. “How prudent of you.” She tucked the tablet to her chest and walked back his way, skirt pleats swishing against her legs. “You know the rules though. Only the last two people in a killing game can win. You’re a survivor, not a winner. This is a small advantage. We can’t have you talking the ins and outs of how you got in this position, or it’d be too plain easy. Think of the others who want to win.”

“We, huh,” Rantaro murmured. How quickly the ‘we’ became her and the Team, instead of the two of them. “Maybe I should warn him about you then, since your advantage is going to be much bigger, right? Then we can even each other out, for the sake of everyone else. Wouldn’t you like that?” He raised a brow, searching her face.

“I’m hardly a threat, you should know that,” she answered placidly, swiping a long tendril of hair away from the buttons on her lapels. Her gaze met his. “Without these memories you’ll just confuse yourself anyways. Keep it simple, you’re talking to a stranger, after all.”

“New talent, old talent, I’m still me,” Rantaro countered. “I happen to have a lot riding on this stranger. Can’t help him when we’re mincing words because I implied I’m a little less than thrilled to be going back in. It’s a killing game, why would I be?”

“...But you were, once.” There’s no smile on her face, just a distant look. “Or, another stranger was. You see? You really don’t know how he’ll take it all. Really, you should start over from the top. I’m helping so you get something through. The execs could just toss it out or edit it if it’s not approved.”

“And here I thought you just had fun pressing the button.”

“I don’t deny that part. It helps me get in character.” The smile crept back onto her face, but not to her eyes. “You could try that too, you know? Getting into character.”

“I doubt acting is going to make this any more compelling,” Rantaro quipped back. He gestured to the massive safe, the puzzle to be solved to claim the prize being recorded with a dubious expression. “All this effort for something so… how do I put this… Sanded down? Glossed over.”

“Not if you don’t believe it. But you are a survivor now, like it or not. Without the confidence to sell it it’s no wonder you don’t trust your future self to believe in it.” Tsumugi straightened out how the bow at her collar fell, eyes glued to the task instead of him. “Show the side that got you this far. There’s a reason it’s you.”

It was him. Not because he wanted it, though, despite that being exactly what they wanted to tell the next round. It was him, because he would never choose the reverse. Choosing between continuing on and backing down. Becoming complacent. Becoming a we with the enemy that took everything from them. That wasn’t him.

That was her.

“...” Rantaro glanced down at the new clothes he was wearing again. Not a trace of the school uniforms most were saddled with in one way or another, definitely something made to standout. Cool maybe? A survivor… Not a graduate, the winner, but a drop out. Repeating the year before he could get that ticket out.

“...So, from the top?” Tsumugi broke the silence, gaze fixed on him once again when he looked up. A harder stare, then she briskly crossed the distance to stand right in front of him.

Rantaro sat back in alarm. “What are you—”

“It’s caught,” she said simply, reaching to adjust the dog tag necklace that was hung up on the edge of his shirt. He sat still, stiff under her as careful adjustments continued. The drape of his sleeve, the bunching of the bracelets, even a curl of hair that wasn’t camera ready. When she stepped back with a bright smile, there was none of the seriousness left in her eyes, only a giddy excitement. “Now you’re ready.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a declaration. Rantaro Amami the Ultimate Survivor was deemed ready, and he had to show it, or lose this chance.

…Rantaro sighed. “No sense pushing my luck. Yeah, let’s do this.” He sat forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees. Pushing back the doubts, he waited as she returned to the camera, set back the recording.Tsumugi was taking charge of her role, and it was only going to put him at a disadvantage not to do the same. He owed the others that much, didn’t he? Taking a breath, then letting it out slowly, he looked directly at the camera.

“Hey there,” he said, expression serious despite the casual words. “Guess I don’t have to introduce myself, huh?”