Deliverance guaranteed

The silence that surrounded the majority of their walk was not entirely intentional, on Taiki’s part. Thoughts could so easily pull him out of touch nowadays, and the organizer lately had mountains of such thoughts to occupy him. Even now, despite the greatest of efforts on his part, he couldn’t stave off the lingering familiarity that clung to him whenever he looked at the courier. Those honeyed eyes, the delicate dexterity of his hands, the turn of his smile, he knew such thoughts were unfair, but that did nothing to fully silence them. 

Just like Kato-san and Yukimura-san said, if it’s him, I’d know, right? It’s pointless to think about things I have no proof for, it would only hurt his feelings. 

The pun was, admittedly, unexpected. It was funny enough to warrant a giggle from the organizer, causing him to naturally turn and prepare a response of his own. Somehow, the comment reminded him of a fonder memory, one that had been replaying in his mind from time to time over the past few months:

“Paper won’t be the only thing folding under my hands, darling.” “Hahaha, I don’t doubt that. But I suppose we’ll have to do some rearranging first. I assure you, my list of priorities puts you…at the top.”

Suddenly, Taiki burst into a short fit of pure, uninhibited laughter. He couldn’t begin to fathom why it came upon him so suddenly, especially when his mood was still so grim, but he had no desire to question the outburst right now. Perhaps it was partially forced, perhaps stress was getting to him more acutely, perhaps being reminded of simpler times had done something, or perhaps he was simply thankful to have a friend right now. The clear sound echoed through the halls briefly, while he attempted to bring himself under control. This was, perhaps, the sort of catharsis he needed today. It wasn’t likely to last, but even temporary comedic relief such as this was something to be cherished. 

“Hahaha! Well, I wouldn’t want to stay boxed into one material, right?”

The courier jumped at the sudden burst of euphoric release. Shunjirou was not one to expect any sort of joke he could conjure to receive a positive reaction from anyone. A joke borrowed from someone else was barely a step above considering his delivery of the substance, so it was definitely a surprise to find the organizer so vehemently joyful at the courier’s little quip.

Tightening his grip once more, Shunjirou silently wrung the straps until the fabric burned his palms. The courier could feel his face swelling up, and that unusually uneasy feeling that bubbled up in his stomach around the other came again. It’s almost as if the laugh of the other was such a foreign feeling brought forth from actions of himself caused an allergic reaction. Hives to something so intoxicatingly comforting...

Caught between a grimace and a grin, the flurry of whatever the courier was feeling smeared its rosy presence across the boy’s face. An awkward puff of noise somewhere between a chuckle and a hacking cough spit its way out of Shunjirou’s mouth, and again he quickly tightened back up.

“H-Hey...Taiki-”

With a sharp, sudden silence, the courier quickly pulled back, a distance call ringing in backgroup.

A city of lights, life, and despair awaits…

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Akedo City Despair is a closed, submission-based Danganronpa OC roleplay group, set in an alternate Danganronpa universe! 18 incoming Kibogamine Academy students are invited to attend an introductory seminar, showcasing what the fruits of their talent can achieve at the nation’s critically-acclaimed school for the gifted. This is an introduction to what awaits these hopeful students for the what may be the rest of their school lives; it’s an experience some would die for…

APPLICATIONS OPEN: 01/27

ATTENTION DANGANRONPA OC RP COMMUNITY:

Are you looking to spread despair? Hoping to bring about a school life of mutual killing? Well look no further! Akedo City Despair is a closed Danganronpa OC submission-based group looking to accept mods and further our influence over despair. Interested in being a mod? Artist? Mini-mod? Come on and apply to join our small, friendly group of moderators! 

Akedo City Despair will open player applications in the near future, as planning and development are near completion, please stay tuned!

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Mod Apps close: 1/27/2017

Taiki had been caught up enough in his musings that he, at first, didn’t notice how quickly Shunjiro jumped to his aid. As he observed the other carrying his belongings, he thought for a moment to insist on taking them himself. His job was to help others, not to be helped, after all. The courier’s explanation, however, swayed him to the contrary. It was not his place to deny his friend the opportunity to do his job. So, he offered Shunjiro an encouraging smile and led the way out of his room.

“Oh, why thank you, Satokura-san, I appreciate it! He should be parked just outside of the main entrance, so we should hurry.” 

He pulled his door shut behind them and locked it, picking up a brisk pace, one that he was sure his companion could keep up with, toward the main doors of the building. 

With an almost eager hop in his step, the courier jingled as he paced steps behind the other. It seemed Shunjirou was pleased with his immediate expedience for Hamasaki. It was all well, perfectly well for Shunjirou to be viable in this way for someone as the organizer was its own reward after all.

Though the organizers recognition of his deeds were not a gratification Shunjirou would shirk away. 

“I-I hope that you’ll enjoy your time, r-really.”

Following alongside the bends and curves stemming from the other’s room, the courier found himself content to simply follow along with his companion in silence. Despite his oh so meticulous planning, it seemed short lived and yet, the most impromptu time spent with the organizer had been none the less prized for Shunjirou. 

It seemed funny in a way.

But of course, this way simply his feelings on the matter, and to think the organizer would be fond of his awkward silence. Despite his previous thoughts over Hamasaki’s reserved temperment, it made itself clear how tunneled his vision could come at times, and if anything, Hamasaki deserved to feel the ease he presented himself with.

Perhaps the organizer would enjoy small talk. With another wide stride to pull himself beside the other, Shunjirou gave a dry cough.

“R-Recently, packages have been switched to recycled cardboard, b-but I am in parcel t-to card stock.”

“Well, I’m no expert, but I guess you can say I’m capable. I appreciate the compliment. You’re right, I did a decent job here…”

His hands continued to adjust the ponytail on the back of his head. Once, twice, he gave it a short tug in an attempt to further tighten it. No matter how he adjusted it, there was a constant sensation that the hair-tie was on the verge of slipping and loosening. Perhaps it was time to use a new one. This one may have become over-stretched. 

“Well, once I come back home from seeing the family, we can make some time to watch a couple. I have yet to show someone those movies and have them not enjoy themselves-”

His words were abruptly ended by the sound of an alarming buzz. The sound came in short bursts, forcing Taiki to retrieve his phone and scan the screen with a distinctly worried expression. The ID screen illuminated with the name of his caller, Ken, ushering the organizer immediately to his feet. He turned toward Shunjiro briefly, flashing another smile in an effort to ease any lingering worries. 

“-that’s my brother. He’s gotta be out front by now, so I shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

He likely should have already been outside waiting for him, now that he thought about it. Now Ken would have to wait while Taiki locked his room and traversed the halls. Any small inconvenience such as that should always be avoided. He lifted his suitcase and extended the handle, rolling it across his floor and pausing at his door to hold it open for the courier.

“O-oh, p-please, allow me-”

The sudden buzz had already brought the courier jumping to his feet, not so seemingly alarmed by the alarm, but almost half expecting to take hold of Hamasaki’s belongings.

With the wafting echo of a sigh, the courier was already lifting the suitcase before the organizer. As alert as ever, the honeyed eyed boy hardly had let a quick blink set in.

Knuckles wrapped around handle of the suitcase, and Shunjirou gave gentle cough to clear his throat.

In a blur, the courier stood,haven swiftly taken a hold on the others belongings as if it didn’t weigh anything at all, standing attentively as if on command. With a nod, Shunjirou seemed almost eager to help in this manner.

“T-This... is what my talent e-encompasses after all, I mean.”

His stare set on the other, the chance to display his talents seemed to exhume another part of the organizer, brimming with almost an air of excitement to properly display his abilities for the other.

“Well, when I get home, would you like to see a couple of them? I’d love to show you a few of my favorites, if we could make some time to watch.” 

The courier was shy. He was unsure of himself, and Taiki could tell that he didn’t often hang out with others. He deserved to have a good time, and Taiki was going to remain cheerful and optimistic for his friend, no matter what. A sour attitude from him would surely do the other no good whatsoever. 

He reached back and gave his ponytail a brief tug, maintaining a demeanor of optimism for his lone audience member. For a moment, he recalled the thoughts that had been going through him while he folded those cranes. He recalled the sincerity with which he made his wish, and he felt a small pang of loneliness as the results of that wish remained ever a mystery. Would he ever know just what happened? 

With the organizer’s seemingly wistful reply, the courier was thrown into a whole another scenario that brought him unease. From his own self conscious anxiety to the awkward invasion of Hamasaki, and thought the courier didn’t really understand it, his personal drabbles, it seemed like Shunjirou was simply out of place.

Once again, the courier needed to remind himself that leaders would take charge in such a scenario.

“F-For what it’s worth, I think... y-you are a capable origamist. We c-can only worry about what we can do, and not spare a thought a second thought more t-to anything else. And from that, l-look at what you’ve accomplished here!”

Motioning again to the critically acclaimed jar of folded shapes, Shunjirou gave a restrained nod with his ever so serious expression. Hopefully, this was the sort of encouragement that would inspire the organizer.

Loosening the straps at his messenger, the courier gave a light cough as his expression tilted again to his side.

Instead, he passively acknowledged the jar, finding himself staring at it again. Its pull was magnetic. 

“Oh, were you looking at the jar? I folded all one-thousand of them myself, a few months ago. They’re far from perfect, but I like to keep them around. I never tend to keep too many possessions around so I can avoid clutter, but they’re something I can’t quite bring myself to put away or get rid of.”

Of course Hamasaki would! Shunjirou had read all about friendships the night before in preparation. And step one had been abundantly, if not wholeheartedly stressed in indoctrination to such a fascination ritual.

“Y-Yes, Whibli movies are certainly... t-the best!”

Perfect. Assertation and relatability of interests were key to forming steady and secure friendships, and the courier was certainly on the right track now. Efficiency bonding was what the goal-oriented Shunjirou was sure to attain now. 

Although...

With his tall stand fading, the courier returned to his unsure, mousy demeanor about the whole subject. It seemed certain aspects had not been entirely clear for the boy, after all. Gripping his messenger straps once again, Shunjirou found creases forming again at his frown.

“...I-I haven’t really seen many movies, b-but I’m sure... those movies are very good...”

...Perhaps his preparation would be better eclipsed by small talk.

Realizing his error, Taiki finally stepped away from his cleaning and shook his head, exhaling a heavy breath. Then, as if to finalize his decision to stop cleaning in such a manic way, he promptly sat himself on the foot of his bed, next to his suitcase.

“No, no, you don’t have to help me with any of that, but I appreciate the offer. I should probably stop cleaning so hard, honestly.  I guess you can say I’m a bit of a stress-cleaner, and I can never seem to catch on quick enough to stop myself, ha. I barely realized I was even doing it, but last time it happened I started trying to reorganize the bookshelves in the school library.”

He laughed softly in a valiant attempt to lighten the mood, reaching back once more and tightening his ponytail. Still feeling the crushing weight of disappointment, Taiki couldn’t stop himself from further trying to reassure his friend.

“I’m sorry if I worried you, by the time I get back here in a couple of days I should be a lot better off. The business I need to take care of at home is just kind of daunting, so I let myself get all worked up is all.  It’s nothing I can’t handle.” 

He finished off his statement with a firm nod and a grin, deciding now would be an appropriate time to change subjects to avoid raising any further concerns about himself.

A gentle hum, reverberating in the inner walls. Like listening to the night with a window open. An empty noise, buzzing through the void. 

That was what the courier was experiencing. A strange noise, clawing its way back to bring up something Shunjirou didn’t even realize that had been forgotten. A buzz, almost emerging through the haze.

...

-movies, Satokura-san?

In a moment, void of all sound, it seemed like the courier was resurfacing as the organizer’s words aroused him from his daze, pulling him from the waters.

What was that?

“-O-Oh, movies, yes. I’ve... heard of them!”

The courier hadn’t realized how long his blank stare had been focused on that item, seemingly caught in a stupor over a decoration so trivial. A moment where Shunjirou had frozen up over nothing, and it was too much of an embarrassment to dwell on. That feeling... it was already slipping anyway...

Straightening his posture once again, the courier stood proudly with a sort of military precision, as if he expected to be rated by the organizer himself.

“T-There’s lots of genres that peak my interests, b-but... I have interests in whatever you enjoy as well!”

With an unassuming air of confidence, the courier gave a nod, as if this response were something the organizer was looking for. Surely it must be, as friends have interests that align with each other, as he had so diligently read upon.

“Good, I’m glad I get a chance to hang out with you, honestly. It’s a nice little pre-emptive break from all the work I’m going to come back to, hahaha.” 

He tidied up a handful of small details on his desk before he paused for a moment, staring at the jar of paper cranes that had sat neglected for an unclear amount of time. Reaching into a desk drawer, he pulled out a dust cloth and unfolded it. With an immense amount of care, as if he was handling a museum relic, he picked up the jar and began to dust it off, silently chastising himself for allowing it to remain untouched for so long. 

“Oh, do I? I’m sorry, Ken’s my older brother.  Him and I don’t always get along, is all, so I suppose I get a bit anxious when the idea of seeing him comes up. I should be fine, though, there’s no need to worry about me..!”

With a curious reply from the organizer, the courier parted his lips as if to say something, a troubled expression painting the creases of his mouth. Due to him never having really implied anything of the sort, it seemed like a puzzling response, begging to be unraveled further. His voice was ready and at the brim, but no sound came from the delivery boy. A statue frozen in place, struck by a ulterior revelation, quickly ended with Shunjirou closing his mouth.

With a gentle shake of his head, Shunjirou simply blew a puff of air, bringing a sigh from deep within his lungs. Some things were better not unearthed without the consent of the relevant. This was the course of action the courier had decided for now...

... 

As the courier continued to idle in silence, he found his brows furrowing at the busybody seemingly scramble before him, now just taking notice of the seeming edge Hamasaki had on him. It didn’t dawn on Shunjirou how high strung his livelihood must place on the organizer until now.

An ignorant response from someone the Hamasaki considers a coworker, less a friend. How utterly pitiful.

“-A-ah, If you need help... cleaning, I’d be more than h-happy, to a-assist, though I can’t really think... o-of what else could be organized.”

The statement left Taiki with a pang in his chest. It was selfish of him to feel so downtrodden by the thought of going home. The weight of it all sat on his shoulders like a suit made of lead, despite his protests. After all, people like Eve had it just as hard. People like Shinju were so far from the place they called home. People like Kieren or Shunjiro scarcely seemed to have a home left to return to, or at the very least, they never seemed to mention their own families. He should consider himself lucky for what he has, as troubling as it is. As Taiki placed another folded garment atop the pile in his suitcase, he unconsciously reached back and gave his ponytail a brief tug. 

“You really think so? Aha, I-I’m sure my mom would be happy to have me home, you’re right.” 

It wasn’t a total lie, on Taiki’s part. His mother would be overjoyed to have him there, were it not for the circumstances. Perhaps that was too pessimistic. Pessimism didn’t suit Taiki one bit. His mother would be happy, he was sure. Half the household was a marked improvement. He smiled at Shunjiro, not wanting to plague his coworker with unnecessary worries for his well-being while he was gone. People prefer it when I smile, and no one should have to worry about me, he thought. Upholding his bright expression, the organizer crafted a folded pile of clothes that lived up to his nearly impossible standards. Then, he gathered the few remaining necessities for his journey and fit them snugly in the leftover space of his bag. 

Though, it didn’t seem to matter. Hamasaki would soon be leaving, likely to a heartwarming homecoming, and it was true the courier was jealous. It must be nice...

“I-It would be a pleasure, H-Hamasaki-san.”

With a quivering sigh through his nose, Shunjirou reverted to his meek gaze wandering around the other’s belongings, seemingly having lost the courage to be too pressing.

It shouldn’t be too hard to make small talk.

“Really? I’m glad to hear that. I was, honestly, really worried I’d accidentally offended you back then. I wouldn’t want to risk a friendship or working partnership by being insensitive or anything.” 

With another deep breath, he finally managed an acceptable fold of his shirt. With a nod of approval he gingerly lowered it into his suitcase, which had scarcely been packed up to this point from an apparent lack of perfection.

“Hm? If I’m not too busy for what..?” 

He began. His coworker, however, rapidly dismissed the subject and returned the conversation to the original topic he had been needing to address. Whatever Shunjiro had been thinking would likely end up lost. The courier had appeared to Taiki as someone who, once he decided he didn’t want to talk about something, it was over with and discarded as quickly as possible. To that end, he wouldn’t pressure for him to complete his statement. 

“Yeah, I need to head back to my house for a couple of days to take care of some…uh, family business. So I’m going to have to put my other work on hold while I’m there, unfortunately, but I can catch up as soon as I get back. No need to worry about me falling behind too far, but I thought I should let you know in case some work comes up while I’m gone. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

The presence of someone like him, it only made things confusing.

Tugging at his collar, Shinjirou let out a hurried puff, quickly vying the conversation geared to accommodate his control of the situation. It was alarming how quickly it could fall through if he didn’t.

“A-A friendship...?”

...

“I-It will be no problem, n-none at all, Hamasaki-san! P-Please, enjoy time with your f-family.”

With the other’s revitalizing statements, Shunjirou took in a deep breath, straightening his posture in the process. The organizer was entrusting him with the intimate details of his livelihood, and the courier would no doubt take care of it for him. 

This was a situation Shunjirou could be more than prepared to take reign of.

“Really? I’m glad you think so, I guess I can sometimes worry a little much about it. I’m often able to find a lot of little things that bother me in here, and I can’t stop myself from cleaning them up or fixing them in some way. Haha, alright, just let me know if you’d like a bottle of water or something, at least.”

As if on cue, he went over to his desk and rotated one of the pens, ensuring that the clips on the ends were facing the same direction. Truly, even the smallest detail failed to elude him. Exhaling, he finally turned and resumed his attempts to pack his suitcase, making a point to turn toward Shunjiro whenever possible to avoid seeming standoffish. That would be horribly rude to his guest. 

“Right, business as usual. I’ll get to that in a sec, if that’s okay. First thing I kind of needed to say is…well, I wanted to apologize for some things I said earlier. When we were looking for that file a bit ago, and you asked me about working for your company in the future. Thinking back, I feel I might have made it sound like I was ungrateful for the offer, or that I would only take it as some sort of last resort, and I wanted to make sure you knew that it wasn’t what I intended at all. Honestly, I really was and still am touched by the offer, and it’s something I’d be really interested in doing, if you’d still have me sometime down the line. I’m sorry if I seemed kind of defensive or dismissive at all back then, it was really rude of me.” 

“T-Thank you, again, Hamasaki-san...”

Despite his leisurely yet welcoming attitude the courier had become so comfortable interacting with, Hamasaki seemed to have his thoughts else, if not for this regretful spiel the courier found himself perplexed at. His signature organizational skills seemed to be straining at the moment, and for whatever reason, it seemed almost... painful on the organizer. 

With another characteristic knit of his brows, Shunjirou once again felt himself at another troubling situation to handle. Now, more than ever, would be the time to take the lead of such a situation.

As the organizer wistfully trailed off on his apology, the courier interjected tactfully, as if not to cut off whatever  guilt-ridden amendment Hamasaki would once again attempt to continue.

“-T-there is no need to apologize, r-really. I still hold my offer, but... I’ve...”

...

“-I’ve already accepted you, a-as a coworker, and an exemplary person, Hamasaki-san. Please, t-there’s no need to apologize for your choices; to me, or to a-anyone else. You will n-never be less in my eyes.”

With a dry cough, the wrung the straps of his bag a little bit tighter. 

“I-If you aren’t too busy, perhaps...”

Feeling a burning in his cheeks, the courier dropped the subject, deciding to instead focus on Hamasaki’s current line of work.

“Great..! Feel free to come in and sit down anywhere you like.”

He pulled his door open further and stepped aside to allow the courier entrance into his tidy and humble living space. 

“I was actually in the middle of doing some packing and cleaning, so I apologize if there’s a bit of a mess. Don’t worry though, you weren’t interrupting me one bit, haha.”

The ‘mess’ the organizer referred to was, by nearly anyone’s definition, unnoticeable. One could argue that Taiki Hamasaki’s room was perhaps the cleanest of all rooms in Hope’s Peak. Every book, DVD, or picture on his shelves was perfectly organized and aligned in a specific manner. Alphabetical, by color, by size, and there wasn’t even a speck of dust to be seen on DVD cases that he had likely not even touched in well over a month. His desk was no different, as his homework was sorted by subject and priority, placed next to a number of post-it notes meant to keep him on track. Even the notes and the paper were placed on the desk at a perfectly straight alignment, and his pens and pencils lined up flawlessly beside them. 

In fact, the only possible signs of imperfection in his room were the suitcase sitting open on the foot of his bed, the neatly (but not perfectly) folded stack of clothes beside it, and the jar of folded paper cranes that sat on the back corner of his desk, untouched and slightly dusty. 

As Hamasaki spoke, Shunjirou began to relax his grip on the straps of his messenger, as well as the strain on his chest, quickly straightening up and closing lips unwittingly parted in stupor from earlier. They might be well acquainted, but it would be intrusive to act so.

“...I-It’s nice here... “

“...A-an ‘i-immaculate’ room, I-If I may say so.”

Furrowing his brows, the courier silently repeated the word again, the syllables silently strung as they rolled of his tongue. That was the right word, right? He did look it up earlier, after all, just to be sure... 

“T-Thank you, Hamasaki-san, but my diet is... r-restrictive-”

With a turn to the side and an awkward cough, the courier could feel his chest tighten again.

“I’ll be right there..!” He called out, tearing himself away from the shelf he was reorganizing for the hundreth time and hurriedly stepping toward his door. Considering the lack of response, the organizer assumed the guest at the door could be just about anyone. That didn’t keep him from putting on an exuberant smile as he pulled the door open to greet his guest. People did like it more when he smiled, after all. 

To his surprise, his coworker was, in fact, the one who had been at his door. Perhaps, considering the short span of time between him sending the text and the other’s arrival, he hadn’t even received it. Taiki marveled at the chances of such a funny coincidence. 

Perhaps if he ran, he could disappear before the organizer even spotted him. A quick getaway. Shunjirou could watch from the bushes as Hamasaki would scratch his head in confusion at his doorbell ditcher. The courier sweated bullets attempting to plan his route of escape before the other whipped open the door, his ever cheery gaze quick to take notice.

That look made the boy freeze instantly.

“...”

The courier tried to steady his trembling. He hated situations he wasn’t prepared for, much like these. Unplanned intrusions, barging in on others was simply despicable for the boy, even if he was the one committing the act.

It was funny, how nice Hamasaki was being in this case. Well, not that he could really turn down the offer after being noticed by the other. If he simply ran off now, especially after having been seemingly summoned so effortlessly by the organizer, he would certainly come off as a number of things to the other.

“...T-That’s... very funny.”

Taking a deep puff, the courier tried to clandestinely wipe a bead of sweat as he glanced away. If he was here, he should be confident about it. That’s what should be done...

Gripping his satchel with newfound tenacity, Shunjirou gave the other a nod.

As Taiki Hamasaki advanced ever further in his academic career, he found himself assuming more and more responsibilities. From his homework, tests, and classes, to his volunteer work for the academy, his local volunteering, his paid work with clients, and his most recent undertakings with Shunjiro. Naturally, this led to circumstances that made it very nearly impossible to pull the organizer away for any extended period of time.

Nearly.

Taiki breathed a faint sigh as he refolded his shirt for the twelfth time within the past five minutes. Something about each fold job seemed off, and at the moment, the organizer felt as if even the slightest error would render him incapable of properly packing. Perhaps, he thought, he simply needed a few moments away from the task. A distraction? No, those hardly helped one achieve actual work. He would just have to attempt to accomplish something else of importance in order to put himself into a productive mindset. Even a SHSL Organizer could find himself in an organizational rut, apparently.

Breathing deeply, he pulled his phone from his pocket and typed a brief message to Shunjiro, occasionally backspacing or rewording something until it sounded correct.

[Send to: Shunjiro Satokura- “Hey, hope this isn’t too much of a bother, but do you have a spare minute to come by my room?”]

He opted not to explicitly state that he needed to talk to him. Wording like that seemed too urgent, and it only ever served to make the recipient nervous. If the courier could not attend, he would simply have to say his piece through text, however much he would prefer to avoid that.

The courier lingered before the organizer’s door, finger hovering over the buzzer. Knitted brows and pursed lips plastered Shunjirou’s expression as he idled with his thoughts, buffering like an old computer.

Its true, he had been working with Hamasaki for a while now, and despite how backwards all their interactions had been, the courier didn’t find them exactly unpleasant. It had been professional and nothing unnecessary developed; an amiable coworker, or perhaps a colleague could be found in the other. It was... a nice feeling.

...

Maybe... that was too presumptuous.

In truth, the courier found no reason for socialization outside of his work environment, and with so few of other students within his own class, It seemed as if his coworker would be his most established associate. 

But Hamasaki rarely said anything, or ever that would conflict with his own ideals, whether or not they would be beneficial to their current projects. The courier had shortsightedly pegged the other as accepting of him, but never had he consider it was simply in the other’s personality to tolerate people found to be too utterly deplorable to bear by others. Hamasaki certainly held that air around himself...

...

It’s fine. Too many friends would burden him.

With a sigh, the courier was pulling back as a buzz surprised him, his finger hitting the button.

“-ggh!”

DINGDONG

Was your choice the right one back then…? Did you do the right thing for Kieren…? Taiki slowed his search, instead watching his partner’s expressions and mannerisms, a slight lack of lucidity in his gaze. It would seem that the other didn’t much like his responses. In the end, there is only so much Taiki can do to please other people, and sometimes a recovery is all he can hope for. A recovery… 

As he forced himself to focus, Taiki realized how mournful he had allowed his expression to grow in his sudden departure into his thoughts. In an instant, he looked upon the folder in Shunjiro’s hands and brought on a bright smile. 

Though, throughout it all, Hamasaki-san seemed to tolerate this way of living, as if he would be okay with whatever outcome became. Truly, truly baffling for the courier, and to think further on in only twisted in expression in confusion, to think of the organizer only twisted his thoughts in confusion. Thinking of Taiki... only made him feel confused...

With knitted brows and a puff of his cheeks, Shunjirou let out a breathy sigh.

“Y-Yes, I suppose... that would really would be troubling to have lost s-something... s-so important to us...”

With another glance at the organizer, Shunjirou caught sight of that foolish, withstanding smile, and quickly reeled his expressions back in. Whipping the file back into his satchel, the courier had to take a step back. And then another, quickly pacing away.

“W-We can’t help... the way we feel about things, s-so... we must accept that in the end? I don’t agree, b-but that’s what you believe in... so let it be...”

The organizer... Taiki... made him feel confused...

...

“I-In light of things... t-then yes, I think... I prefer you smiling, Hamasaki-san.”

Lingering at the threshold of the entrance to finish, the courier briskly made his exit.

“Irresponsible…?”

Taiki echoed, his eyes flicking up to the courier for a moment before  returning to his search. He didn’t seem offended, based on the eve r-calm tone to his voice; but he did, at the very least, seem to have a very different perspective on these things. Unlike certain relatives of his, Taiki was always one who would be willing to civilly discuss those differing perspectives when he had the chance. 

“I can see where you’re coming from, really. How can I know if my job won’t go under, or if I’ll stop being relevant, or if something…well…awful…won’t happen? The short answer is that I really don’t know, and I won’t ever have a way of knowing. It’d be the smart thing to do to have about 60 back-up plans for when something goes wrong, and it would be responsible, but my problem is that it’s my job to think of what works best, what can go wrong, and ways to solve problems, so if I tried, I could be here all day writing a list of ways my life, job, or way of living could go under, and I could write an extensive list on how to prevent or prepare for it, and I’d still have more to write by the end of the day.”

He finally returned the stack of papers he’d been working on to its original pile, picking up another grouping from nearby instead. 

“I know, maybe not as well as some people, but I know very well how suddenly things can turn around; for better or worse, and that it’s always good to be ready for that turn. But I’ve also learned that you can plan and prepare for 100 different outcomes to something, and somehow still end up facing the one thing you never planned for. Or worse, I think I’m safe and fully prepared and end up causing that one thing I never planned for because I get too comfortable and confident. As for the people I love, or, who care about me…”

Taiki’s expression grew somber for a second, as the short list of people he could think of filtered though it. 

“…honestly, I could spend tons of time preparing for every eventuality. But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to be there for those people if I did that. I know myself well enough to know that I’d never be able to stop, and I’d just get buried in the work I set for myself. I’d rather be slightly less prepared, with a small handful of plans set aside, and able to smile and feel optimistic around those people. If they care for me, then I think they would trust me to make the right move if things went wrong. I hope that makes sense…”

“...”

With a gentle, breathy sigh, the courier listened intently on the organizer’s words, letting the vowels roll off Taiki’s tongue and reverberate through his senses. It seemed as if the words had left the courier fixed in place, abjectly faced away from the source of his troubling developments. 

Stilting his arms onto the pile before him, the courier kept his gaze downtrodden. Shunjirou seemed disappointed, keeping his eyes from meeting the other, or in the very least, pitying to Taiki’s choices. 

“...w-we make the choices we believe to yield the best outcome, Hamasaki-san. Sometimes, t-they are not what we expect.”

Without another moment, Shunjirou quickly turned on his heel, gripping onto a purple envelope. 

“I-I’m sorry, I must have missed this, t-the first time around.”