. The Emperor .

Moshe looked around the room with raised eyebrows, as if unable to accept or take seriously all that he is seeing.

“Well, er… I feel as if I don’t know Selena-san well enough to determine whether she will be able to accept herself. But, y'know, she seems nice. I don’t see any reason to sentence her to death so soon. Anyone else got any opinions?”

Oh, don’t get him wrong. He was still the last person to do that. But circumstances forced him otherwise. And it was his pride that refused him to be belittled by a fellow contestant.

There were things that took priority when it came to it.

“It wasn’t easy.”

Miko frowned.

“There were many frog statues,

Where the challenge was

To find the right one,

And kiss that one exact frog.”

His face twisted into a grimace.

“Especially where,

One straight up became

A huge shadow frog.”

The whole conversation that took place in that challenge was still weird in his book. Frogllege? Really?

“Oh my. That sounds rather dangerous. Well, I won’t tease you any more for it then.”

“Although Hikaru-kun kissing frogs is... really something. You two are definitely the people I would give the Least Likely to Kiss a Frog Award, so at least the runners of this show know what they’re doing.”

Maybe he is cursed. Or maybe he’s born with the curse. But either way, Miko doesn’t seem to notice the concern, or that it’s pretty freaky to begin with. He was concerned with other matters.

“I do like cats more,

But this frog’s a… special case.”

Meaning the frog won’t leave him and now he’s gone attached to it, but details details!

“There was a challenge

That involved this guy,

And the Princess and the Frog

Mixed into the thing.”

Miko, that does not explain anything. Mind being more specific?

“I joined a challenge

With Hikaru on finding

The right frog to kiss.

It just so happened,

That it was Prince over here.”

Just gloss on over the fact you kissed a frog, sure.

This raised eyebrows. Okay, sure, it made good television to make cute boys kiss frogs, but Miko seemed like the last person to do something like that. He came across as someone who refused to lower himself to such a thing, but maybe his assumption was wrong.

“So... you kissed this frog? I don’t know if I should be impressed. I mean, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do, I suppose.

“Ah! You found him! Prince!”

Was the first thing that came out of Miko’s mouth, upon seeing the little frog in Moshe’s hands.

“Oh, thank you so much. I thought

I lost him for sure!”

There was relief evident in the boy’s eyes, along with how he grinned.

Any questions on this odd turn of events, Moshe? Feel free to voice them. Because it can’t get any stranger than somehow having a pet frog in a studio that you’re somehow okay with being in, even though this is probably against your will and against every rule involving consent.

So Miko could even speak in haikus when he was worried. This was becoming a little more concerning than impressive. He almost wanted to ask if he’d been cursed by a haiku monster.

“I didn’t know you had a pet frog, Miko-kun. Prince is a very cute name, though. Is that why he has the crown on? You know, I totally took you for a cat person.”

Moshe stood at the entrance to the castle, leaning against the wall and surveying the wilds. All of the trees were fake, so it wasn’t exactly like this was fresh air, but at least it wasn’t so claustrophobic. He tried to keep his eyes fairly close to the ground; if he looked up too high he saw the eyes of the audience watching him and felt disturbed.

As someone else exited the castle, Moshe turned his head.

“Ah, Hikaru-kun.”

The man had mixed feelings about him. He had had the sense he was a nice boy at first, but in the little game show they had done together, Moshe had sensed quite a different personality. Moshe didn’t like liars.

Moshe had never been to Europe, so he had never been given the chance to look around a castle. Especially one as splendid at this. It almost made him forget that this was all fake, and he was certainly not in Europe. (Or was he? Cilestino was European. Who knew where they all were.)

Returning to the main hall, he felt like he could hear something… familiar. It brought him back to those days of running around in shorts and a sunhat, waving his net around to catch bugs and critters. It was unmistakably the sound… of a frog.

He looked down, and sure enough, there was one. A real frog. It had a crown on its head, which wasn’t the weirdest thing he’d seen, but it was weird.

“Poor nar. I almost stepped on you.”

He crouched down and picked up the frog. It ribbited, and Moshe, chanted back, “kero kero kero”.

Hearing footsteps, he turned in their direction, hair swishing like a black waterfall.

“You are very funny, my new friend. I don’t think I’ll–I’ll ever be able to forget this!” She giggles, this time more akin to her usual, charming, fake laugh.

“Rosescea isn’t on many maps–it’s a very small country in the Mediterranean. Not many people have heard of it, and even fewer people have been. Still, it is the most beautiful, wonderful place in the world.  You must visit some time… in costume, yes?”

Moshe laughed just a little.

“I think I’ll use that as a testimonial.”

The man squinted inside his suit, trying to think of the Mediterranean area. Perhaps he had heard of a small country in that region.

That man’s hair is ridiculously long, was the first thing that crossed Miko’s mind, ignoring that fact that he also had ridiculously long hair. 

“That’s disappointing.

Would have expected more here,

But what can you do?”

He looked at Moshe, shaking the offered hand.

“Nice to meet you, Moshe.

I’m Miko Fujiwara.

As for what I think 

Of this entire thing?”

He couldn’t help but frown.

“It’s certainly very strange.

Many questions here.

What about you, Moshe?

What do you think of all this?

You just as confused?”

The way that Miko spoke was extremely poetic, but in a way that Moshe couldn’t quite pinpoint. Perhaps he should’ve paid more attention in literature class.

“I am just as confused as you, my friend. At the same time, I just know that we are supposed to be here, and that we have to continue. I don’t really feel worried about it, and not of my own will. Not that I’m complaining, to be honest. It’s certainly easier to get to the bottom of things when calm.

“So, what were you doing before all this? Maybe finding a common link between us all will help us work out why we’re here.”

Numerous questions ran through Miko’s mind. He knew where he was, why he was here, yet… why was it him? Did the others know of this? Did they not? Are they looking for him now? Are they okay? Are they worried for him?

He didn’t know. But he didn’t show his fears. He remained as calm as ever.

Exploring the stage set for them, Miko found himself visiting the one set that looked out of place. It almost made him feel like he was outside, instead of being inside a studio.

(But he knew that wasn’t true; he could still feel their gazes on him, like some sort of plaything.)

He noticed the burning fire in the middle of it all, and he was almost (almost) tempted to touch it. Although the temptation was replaced by something else.

“I wonder if there's 

A book that I can read here 

By this campfire set.”

“Not any that I can find, unfortunately. And no marshmallows either. Not even a guitar to sing campfire songs. Just a little fire in a pit. What happened to showmanship, ey?”

He strode up to Miko, holding out one hand with the other resting firmly in the bend of his waist.

Selena is unable to help herself from falling into a mess of giggles, her eyes even watering. “H-Hello Moshe! My name is Selena de Rosa of Rosescea… I’m a… I’m a… Hehehe! it’s just so FUNNY! You are so strange and delightful, my young friend! Why in Heaven’s name would you put that silly thing on!”

Selena can’t stop laughing for a good thirty seconds, and when she does manage to control herself, her voice creaks with the strain of trying not to laugh. “It suits you,” she teases. “Perhaps you should wear it always.”

Her laughter was somewhat contagious. Luckily Moshe had this big costume on to conceal his smirk and keep his cool image.

“I thought it suits me too. It brings out my comedic side. People tend to forget how funny I am.”

The dull way which he said that probably made it instantly clear why people forgot such a thing.

Selena has always loved clothes. Ever since she was a little girl. Her country specializes in fine, hand-made fabrics and jewelry, and she’s always proudly enjoyed the finest of her country’s work. The clothes in the changing rooms here, however, don’t seem to be exactly of the same high fashion standard.

“He… hehe!” She lets out a genuine giggle as she pulls a giant calculator mascot costume out of the closet. “Who would wear this… this silly thing!”

Selena holds the arms to her body, wondering if it would fit her. Though it would be unbecoming of a Princess to wear it… she could always force someone else to.

Apparently someone was one step ahead of him, though. Almost immediately a big mascot costume was handed his way.

“Um... Okay. This looks quite interesting.”

He stepped behind one of the curtains and got changed into the outfit. It was a little stuffy inside, but he felt comfortable in it. He really did feel like a human calculator sometimes, so it was fitting.

“How do I look?” he asked after stepping back out again. “I’m Moshe Kuronuma, by the way. Pleased to meet you.”

Hikaru was thankful Moshe didn’t suddenly take his hand. His first instinct would’ve been to slap it away, and he’s sure that wouldn’t have been a great first impression.

But hand-holding… he’d make a note of that for later.

…Oh, this must be a confession room! You know, where people go in and gossip about each other, or, you know, confess things.

I mean… it’s usually just for the drama, though. We don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to.

“Confession room...”

Moshe made a mental note of this room. He wondered if he would ever feel the need to sit in front of a camera and gossip. It was appealing, but... he didn’t exactly wear his heart on his sleeve.

“Let’s keep looking.”

He continued on his search. There didn’t seem to be a single book in sight, though. They walked past a bar, a room with many beds, et cetera. Finally they arrived at a kind of indoor patio with a Jacuzzi and pool.

Hikaru couldn’t help the big grin growing on his face. The guy was actually blushing!

Ah… Kuronuma-san, I’d love too! You’re so kind and sweet, you know? Everyone else has just been , well, rude… But anyways.

Do you think they have a library here or something? I think I’d love a nice quiet place like that right now.

“Oy, really? That’s a shame. It might just be for the cameras, though. And thanks.”

This guy was just piling on the compliments. Moshe would have felt overwhelmed, but he was already blushing, so it couldn’t get much worse. He coughed awkwardly to clear his throat.

“A library doesn’t seem like something they’d put on a reality show. Let’s take a look, eh?”

He almost took Hikaru’s hand - that would have been embarrassing, especially he would have been too stubborn to correct his mistake and let go - as he went in search of a better room.

Eventually they found a small room with a big chair and a camera sat in front of it, taping. Moshe raised one eyebrow.

The squeak of the crocs really accentuated Toru’s essence in this moment, or as others may call it, ‘The Big Mood’.

“Ehhh… you think so…?!”

Relax, dude. You aren’t gonna die here.

Xe couldn’t help but see those… puppy dog eyes and cave under that gaze. …Clearly this was someone who just wanted to see another grown man crush a melon between their thighs. Nothing wrong with that.

So, Toru turned to grab the melon, making weird eye contact while he did so, with that one… focused eye… put the melon there…

…Prematurely lamented his sweat pants… 

Added pressure, and…

CRACK!

Like it took no effort at all…

“… Satisfied… with the results…?!”

Ahh. Xyr poor pants. The melon juice was covering them, and frankly.. maybe xe should have put a towel down first… 

This was... a lot more violent than he had expected. The melon burst everywhere, and Moshe realized now why people thought it looked so impressive. He just about managed to avoid wincing.

Chin cupped, lips pursed, Moshe surveyed the scene. Then he started to clap at an awkwardly slow rhythm that sounded sarcastic but wasn’t.

“Thank you. That’s truly the best thing I’ve seen all week. I feel a little light-headed.”

The man crouched down on the ground and picked up a piece of the broken melon. Standing up again, he took a big bite out of it, juice dripping down his chin.

“Mm. Just reminds you of summer, doesn’t it? Oh, my name’s Moshe Kuronuma. I feel like I recognize you from somewhere. Do you do competitive sports?”

❝Nah, nah, don’t worry ‘bout it! Usually th’accent tips people off, but I can do a mean Brooklyn one when I wanna screw with people!❞

Still smirking, he lightly slapped Moshe on the back, before chuckling. Jak’s in an even greater mood now–he seems to mesh well with Moshe, and he’s glad for it. 

❝Aww, thanks a bunch, dude! I can help ya with it sometime, but it’s kind ovva pain! The jacket took me ‘bout a month t’do, so ‘s not the most practical way of doin’ things, but it is fun! Sure, I can help ya out! But I like yer style already, yanno! Blue suits ya!❞

Blue was his favourite colour, after all. Jak wasn’t the best when it came to fashion, having a specific aesthetic, but a punk one would likely suit Moshe’s appearance, so he was more than willing to help out.

.”Oh really? What does that accent sound like?”

Moshe had only been to the US once in his life, to Disneyworld in Orlando. Needless to say, Florida is pretty much a different (worse) country than the rest of the states; it wasn’t very educational.

“Well, we’ve got time in this place, haven’t we? Not so sure about sewing materials though. I’m glad you like my style. I like to keep things blue, black, and tight on my tuches. I’m going to draw some designs.”