Cut Precision

Why was she was getting so emotional? It was a mystery, but she pressed her face into her shoulder, beginning to sob.

“.....This is only proving my point. Even now I’m making you feel worse because I can’t figure it out. What do I do to make people like me?... Now it’ll probably be just like home. Always alone, never knowing if even my own family wants me. It’s no different here. You always seem nervous around me. I always thought it was because you were just trying to make me feel better....” Kato finally looks over at Ayaka, and sees how worked up she was about him. With that, something in Kato’s head seemed to click back on.

“.....y-you really meant it then. All the nice things you’ve said to me. You really meant it?...I...I let myself believe no one cared about me....and now I...I....” He grabbed her hand back.

“What? Kato, that’s n-not true, don’t say that-”

Shaking, Ayaka tried to get to her feet, reached out for her roommate, stumbled, grabbed his hand.

@shslmovieeditor

A long time passed before the raconteur stumbled into the room she shared with Kato, shoulders shaking, eyes blank. She didn’t even look at him as she crossed the room, sitting down hard on her bed.

She stared at the floor for a long time.

“…the people I care about keep dying,” Ayaka finally mumbled.

He was sitting on his bed almost motionless. It looked like someone had just stolen his soul or something, with his eyes completely empty.

Sitting down on her bed, Ayaka looked over to Kato in silence. She gently reached over to the dresser and placed the disco ball and mixtape on the surface. Then she turned once more to the movie editor.

“I… I know it’s not much. But, h-here.”

The raconteur passed him the unopened deck of cards, hands trembling ever so slightly.

“Thanks....you know...um....”

He was trying to bring up their recently deceased roommate. It’s a bit difficult for obvious reasons.

“Hey, Kato?”

She pushed open the door to 3B, calling for her roommate. Ayaka continued when she spotted him, thankful she hadn’t spoken to an empty room.

“I was talking to one of the other students, Brandon Park? He’s the Ultimate DJ… and uh, he says he doesn’t have a room. He’s sleeping in the laundry room. I was wondering if it was okay with you, if uh, he stayed in here with us?”

The raconteur hesitated, then added on, “Trouble’s got his own sleeping bag and everything, and he’s fine sleeping on the floor, but if you have a problem with that then that’s okay too!”

“Huh?....Oh, yes! I’ve met him before. He seems like a nice enough fellow, so, I don’t see why he can’t stay with us.”

“Ah, a storyteller. That must be nice.”

“......”

“Crud, what do I say now? She’s nervous as all heck, but why? Is it her talent? Is she embarrassed by it? Is it our situation? Maybe....C’mon...what can i say to make her feel better?”

Movie editor, though? Shit, man! That sounds sooo cool!

“Oh uh...thanks ehehe....”

“Oh but...the films I worked on... I don’t know, they’re all like those independent art-housy films that no one ever talks about...I don’t even remember the names of half of them.. Oh well, comes with the territory I suppose...”

He had been walking down the halls, in hopes that his shit was in his room, when he heard someone speaking. Blinking, he turned around to face the speaker. 

“Oh, uh, H-Hi V-Viktor...I-I’m Kato..oh wait you already knew that uh...”

Yoooo Kato!

The DJ yelled back and waved a little. He made his way over to the other student with glee, at least he seemed like a friendly face! There could never be harm in introducing yourself. Times like these meant making friends! .. Well, maybe..

Name’s Brandon Park– But you can call me Trouble, yeah! Ultimate DJ, nice t’meetcha! 

“Oh, H-Hi Mr. uh.. Trouble? That’s an interesting nickname hehehe...” He’s clearly not comfortable talking like this, but at least he’s putting in the effort.