>>41808425
Forgot the trip, but it's really me!

>>41808425
>Sit down next to the girl.
Sure.

>>41808425
>>Stay away from her; try to wake up.

>>41808425
Avoiding her seems like it'd just be putting things off to no benefit. We have the time to deal with this now, so.

>>41808425
>>41808566
>Sit down next to the girl.
I guess I can clarify that I'm voting for this while we wait for other anons.

>>41808425
>Sit down next to the girl.
It's time to deal.

>>41808425
Well, Clarissa being in a good mood didn't last long.

>>41808669
Now now anon, Clarissa is fine, it's just her subconscious mind trying to drag her down while she's unconscious!

>>41808425
Hmmm...so if she's putting on a show to trick Clarissa it's pretty straightforward, but I dunno where this'll go if it's not a trick. Sad Aiko doesn't seem likely to help her mental health either, but of course this isn't ACTUALLY Aiko, just Clarissa's mental block, so...

>>41808425
Voting over, writing!

>>41808851
Time to get cracking on Clarissa's Issues.

Hope you've had a good week, Mushroom.

>>41808872
It was pretty cool!

>>41808962
Good, gotta stay cool during these warm months of the year!

>>41808521
>>41808635
You slowly breathe in and out, mustering up courage. You don't allow yourself to linger around for any more than that, and force yourself to step forward. In a few more steps, the rain no longer batters against your black umbrella; you set it aside and sit down on the bench. She stays still, as if still unaware of your presence. You try to relax in your seat. ...It's surprisingly easy to do. There's hardly any wind and the air is pleasantly cool.

You suddenly realize that the girl is trying her best not to move. She stifled even the sobs which shook her frail shoulders, and stopped moving the hands covering her face. She's most certainly noticed you.

This scene feels... nostalgic. You remember Aiko freezing up just like this girl as soon as she realized that you were there, like a wary cat scared of humans. At the time, you had known each other's names, but you weren't anything more than acquaintances or at the very least, that's what you thought. You were in different classes and only rarely met at school; hardly talked even then. Whenever you've asked anyone about her, they told you that she preferred to spend her free time all alone at home. And... you always heard a hint of disdain in those words.

Aiko was extremely shy. At the same time, she was naive and kind. When people inevitably took advantage of her, she never protested or fought back. There wasn't a reason for them to stop, so they persisted. Nobody protected her, and she didn't have friends.

Perhaps it was only natural that she preferred to spend her free time indoors, safely locked away from abuse. But unfortunately, it didn't take long for even that haven to begin crumbling - her mother lost her job, and her father never had one in the first place. Aiko's parents bickered and argued over their problems, teetering on the verge of a divorce. Even her beloved and peaceful household grew bitter and stressful, just like her school life.

(1/2)

>>41810036
Her apparent depression only provoked more abuse from her classmates. After several months, her mother found a new job - outside of Karakura Town. At that point, Aiko was simply too worn out to see that decision in any sort of positive light, as anything more than just a stressful hassle of leaving things behind and having to get used to entirely new conditions and people. She didn't have a shred of doubt that nothing would change - a different school just meant that the faces of her harassers would change. And to make matters even worse, she had a reason that made her want to stay in this specific town and study at that specific school, even despite everything that was haunting her there.

Aiko was desperate, and she wanted to run away. She had grown tired of enduring misfortunes that she was neither responsible for nor capable of preventing. She wanted to be left alone - truly alone - for as long as she could. She wanted a bus to take her out of town, to a place where no one knew her; she wanted to hide somewhere no one could find her and get away from the things that caused her unhappiness.

You found her waiting for that bus, and... you convinced her to stay. You became her friend, and you kept her safe. You've built up something like a reputation at that point, and no one was brave enough to go against your 'request' to leave her alone. No one considered it as anything strange, and no one even assumed that you were 'friends' or otherwise close - Aiko wasn't the first person you protected that way.

And in a series of fortunate miracles, everything worked out.

That was probably... the beginning of everything.

So... why is this girl replicating that scene?

(2/3)

>>41810036
>Aiko was extremely shy. At the same time, she was naive and kind. When people inevitably took advantage of her, she never protested or fought back. There wasn't a reason for them to stop, so they persisted. Nobody protected her, and she didn't have friends.
Figured as much. And really questioning the validity of her forgiveness.

>>41810078
You've spent a few silent minutes just listening to the sound of the rain. There isn't a semblance of tension left in your body anymore; you've calmed down a while ago. You're quiet because you don't know what to say to her. She isn't Aiko, so you repeating yourself might make her think that you believe otherwise. You're scared of making her angry, and you don't want to hurt her with careless words.

But... if there is any meaning at all to her choosing this specific scene, then she's no doubt waiting for you to say something. Perhaps even something irrelevant will do, as long as it gives her something to think about other than whatever it is that's making her cry.

...

>"I know that you're not Aiko or Kimiko. But... who are you, really?"
>"Did you bring us out here? Why?"
>"What are you doing?"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>41810102
>Did you bring us out here? Why?

>>41810102
>"What's wrong?"

>>41810102
"...I'm not going to forget, you know."

>>41810102
>>41810121
I'll support this to start. Though I'd want to ask all of these really.

>>41810036
>>41810078
Damn, sucked to be Aiko.
If we hadn't already helped start to turn things around I'd almost say dying was an improvement, but that'd be too easy.

>>41810152
Second

>>41810102
>"Do you regret not getting on that bus?"
Feels weird to ask because it's not her, but hey, might as well get a conversation going with our brain.

>>41810152
>>41810202
Forget what exactly? Please clarify, I might misinterpret!

>>41810256
I figured it meant forget her and the time they spent together, but I guess the intention might have been different.

>>41810212
I'm not sure what she is, like she might effectively be our mental projection of Aiko, since so far she doesn't really seem like Kimiko at all.

I don't think it's really a good question to ask, but maybe a better way of phrasing it would be "would it be better if I wasn't here, back at that moment?"

>>41810282
I suppose for the purpose of bouncing ideas around with whatever part of our psyche Aiko is meant to represent, I suppose that phrasing works better.

And it seems to be exclusively Aiko, yeah.

>>41810256
In retrospect, it's probably not a good thing to say, but I was more saying that even if Clarissa stops punishing herself, it doesn't mean she's going to forget about Aiko, or even stop regretting killing her.

>>41810327
And now I can't wait for Arrancar Claybone to have her face because her kind persona somehow rose to the surface

>>41810350
I'm pretty sure souls eaten by hollows are destroyed, but Clay Bone could conceivably be anomalous, in that every time the mask is broken, a different consumed soul shifts to the surface. Seems unlikely though.

>>41810102
Voting over, writing!

>>41810350
Just means we beat him up even harder.

>>41810102
I'm worried that this might upset her, but I kind of would like to say "I'm sorry." Like there's really so much to apologize for, killing Aiko, not acknowledging this projection of her with a name, not stopping Gilgamesh from throwing a sword through her head, creating her to torment us in the first place, and then taking the first halting steps towards moving on just like a couple days later.

>>41810397
You're right of course, but since she's realized this isn't Aiko, Clarissa might not find such sentiments worth expressing. Now obviously forgiving herself is a pretty important thing, but I dunno if she's in a state of mind to do that, especially through a proxy-Aiko like this.

>>41810425
I'd say even if it isn't Aiko, that's still something to apologize for creating her, not even giving her a name, and having Gilgamesh again, throw a sword through her head, even though she's just doing what Clarissa made her to do.

Also, while I'll probably rephrase this later, I deliberately didn't say anything about Clarissa forgiving herself. I don't think she's going to do anything of the sort. -Aiko- forgave Clarissa, and if Clarissa did love Aiko, if Clarissa doesn't want to diminish Aiko's memory even more, then, regardless of if Clarissa deserves it or not, she's going to have to learn to live with Aiko's forgiveness. And she can't live like this.

>>41810102
This, seems wise >>41810121

>>41810488
I guess, it depends on whether she's influenced by the plotrock or other magical powers of Clarissa to be somewhat of her own thing, as it were, or if it's just a 'normal' manifestation of Clarissa's guilt/regrets/fears/etc. Little way of knowing without dealing with her.

>>41810529
Considering she showed up in the plotrock's palace, she's probably not a normal construct, but I'm not sure if that matters in this case.

>>41810582
Well in the latter case, it would effectively just be Clarissa asking herself for forgiveness. As opposed to a distinct, if non-Aiko, entity.

>>41810121
"...What's wrong?"

Your question finally disturbs the peaceful silence. It makes the girl twitch a bit. Her hand slides across her face, and her head turns in your direction. She moves some of her black hair aside and glares at you with a single, bloodshot eye. Her visage is furious and terrifying. It's as if she's silently berating you for even asking such a thing. She's not saying it outright, but... you're fairly certain that's what the girl means.

But... unless she explains it to you, there's no way for you to know. If she's not Aiko, then you don't know her circumstances. And because of that, you can't make amends.

There is a soft noise resembling a wheeze. You realize that the small girl is chuckling, laughing without a smile, as if she finds the situation funny. The unhealthy-sounding laughter stops shortly after it begins.

"What do you think?" She spitefully hisses.

...You were really hoping she wouldn't ask something like that. Is it even possible to answer those kinds of questions correctly? She must not be expecting you to, either.

...

>"Is it because... I didn't stop that sword?"
>"I don't know. There are... too many things you could be mad at me for. I can't help you unless you make it clear for me."
>Drop it. Try to change the subject. (Write-in).
>Other. (Write-in).

>>41811055
>"I'm sorry I didn't stop the sword, by the way."

>>41811055
>"I don't know. There are... too many things you could be mad at me for. I can't help you unless you make it clear for me."
"I guess for starters, sorry I didn't stop that sword."

>>41811055
>"I don't know. There are... too many things you could be mad at me for. I can't help you unless you make it clear for me."

>>41811055
"Is it becuase I won't acknowledge you with a name?"

>>41811055
>"I don't know. There are... too many things you could be mad at me for. I can't help you unless you make it clear for me."

>>41811055
"So you were just baiting me? That's fair I guess." It seems like there weren't even any tears coming from her eyes.

>>41811249
>It seems like there weren't even any tears coming from her eyes.
Does it? I didn't notice anything like that.

>>41811205
I think that's what made her start hurting us.

>>41811298
That might be reasonable. But it's not like she IS Kimiko or Aiko, so we'd need a new name for her surely. Or would she only accept Aiko?

>>41811329
If we used the power of the Hougyoku to replicate Aiko almost as a fucking tulpa, I don't know if it's even fair to deny her that name.

>>41811372
>tulpa
Clarissa confirmed for crazy anon.

>>41811418
Been confirmed.

>>41811055
>>41811209
I guess I'll add
>"Is it becuase I won't acknowledge you with a name?"
seems reasonable.

>>41811418
You've only just realised that clarissa is batshit?

>>41811451
...why did I link the wrong one?
>>41811175
This one I meant.

>>41811055
Voting over, writing!

>>41811453
No that was obvious. Just the tulpa part specifically.

>>41811503
Probably not gonna go well, but I don't know if there really are any right moves in this sitution. At least we might learn something.

>>41811601
At least she's not assaulting us yet!

>>41811642
Yeah that'll last.

>>41811169
>>41811451
"I don't know. There are... too many things you could be mad at me for. I can't help you unless you make it clear for me."

The hateful glare momentarily loses its vigor and gets replaced by a hopeless, eye-rolling kind of frustration. She lowers her head back into her knees, hiding her expression. She squeezes her fingers, and her nails bite into her scalp. After letting out a tired groan, she seems to relax.

But no response comes. You decide to wait a little longer, and turn away from her to look onto the road. There's not a single vehicle in sight, and... you don't think any buses are coming. The world Aiko lived in was large, and not limited to a single city block like this dream most likely is. Even if... you fail to somehow convince this girl, she still has nowhere to go.

"Is it because..." You decide to speak up after all, realizing that she won't respond. The girl stills her breath as she listens. You hesitantly voice your guess. "...I didn't give you a name?"

The slight tension fades from her posture, as though her hopes were ruined. You assume that you were wrong; no, maybe she misunderstood what you meant. "You're not Kimiko or Aiko, so I thought that-..." You try to elaborate, but she interrupts.

"Why?" She quietly mutters and lifts her head a bit. You make a confused noise. "Does that golden man care about his lack of a name?"

She must mean the Hogyoku. No, he doesn't, not as far as you know. He even acted spoiled and criticized the name you tried to give him. But they are two different people. You don't really understand what she means.

(1/2)

>>41812561
"It's not the name that shapes a person... idiot." She berates you with another spiteful hiss. After a pause, she adds something you really didn't expect to hear. "...And I have a name."

"R-really? What is it? Could you tell me?" You ask, but the girl doesn't even look your way, let alone respond. It's like she told you that fact just so that you won't try to call her something else. Maybe she's not even being truthful with that. She keeps her silence until you lose your patience and decide to break it up again.

"Was it the sword? I'm sorry for letting you get hurt like that. I really am." You mumble. And yet her silence remains. Maybe your guess is wrong again. You think she looks disappointed. "I... still don't know what I can do to solve this. I need you to tell me."

The girl harshly grits her teeth, her expression turning regretfully bitter. But still, she doesn't answer.

This is tiring. You don't want to risk annoying her, but... she's hardly responding, leaving you only with the ability to guess blindly. There is no communication, and that's frustrating.

...

>"...Please tell me. I can't do anything otherwise."
>"Is it because... I killed Aiko?"
>"I'm... sorry for whatever it is I did."
>Other. (Write-in).

I can't recall, do we have a zanpakuto spirit? As that might be what she is...

>>41812624
A girl's heart is fragile, Clarissa! Truly your weak attempts are meeting with predictable results!
>"Is it because... I killed Aiko?"
Apologizing would be a bad idea.

>>41812643
What else could she really be?

>>41812643
We don't have a true Zanpakuto though, the Hougyoku can make replicas, but they're empty.

>>41812624
Well, this isn't getting anywhere and guessing right now wouldn't be very impressive anyway, so time to change tacs.
>"So, why are you so talkative now? I'm glad we have a chance to communicate again, even if you're dissatisfied with the results."

>>41812805
Second, Deleting old vote.

>>41812624
>"...Please tell me. I can't do anything otherwise."
"Is it because you don't want to be something I use to punish myself anymore? Or do you think I deserve more punishment but can't grant it? Is it because you're here in the first place? Is it... is it because I'm... still here? Do I have the whole thing backwards and it's not what you want from me, but what I want from you?"

>>41812787
If we were a substitute shinigami, we should have one.

Maybe that's why she's so pissed. We never used her.
And Gil was trying to remove her/stop us from using her.

>>41812881
Would explain why he sworded her so quickly too, but not how sleeping with random women would make her go away according to his ideas.

>>41812881
Not really. When Ichigo was using Rukia's power, his Zanpakuto was in reality just an oversized copy of Sode no Shirayuki, had the same design and everything.

>>41812624
Eh, maybe just sit next to her and try to think it through. Like there does seem to be a "right answer" she's expecting, but she also really wants it to come from us apparently.

>>41812963
Yeah, that might work. Can't imagine it'd be a comfortable silence though, but who knows.

>>41812624
Voting over, writing!

>>41813002
Not sure we managed much of a consensus this time around, but I'll look forward to the result!

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>>41812624
>"It's not the name that shapes a person... idiot."

>>41812963
>>41812805
You stay quiet for a little longer, thinking things over. Pushing her too hard won't lead anywhere. Whether she refuses to tell you, or can't tell you, it doesn't really matter - you'll just make her mad if you persist. You don't want to guess blindly and risk the same result, either. So... it might be better to simply talk about something else. If this particular subject is, for one reason or the other, off limits, you should just change it and hope that you get hints elsewhere.

You let out a bit of a sigh, and look back towards her. "Well..." You begin; she continues to wordlessly stare at the ground under her bare feet. "I'm surprised you're... talking to me now. I'm happy about that, even if you're not satisfied with how this is turning out. But can I ask why?"

"Why am I talking to you?" She confirms your question to herself. Her brows furrow a bit in slight dissatisfaction. "I scared you so much that you refused to see me again for several nights, hiding in that castle... I know I wasn't supposed to go there, but I was scared that you would never come back."

You don't know if pointing out the reason you stopped 'visiting her' would make her angry, so you decide not to. You couldn't take the torture anymore, so you refused to sleep. You're not going to be snide or snarky about it; if she regretted it so much, then why did she do it?

"Stop that, or I'll ask you why you did what you did, too. You can't answer something like that, can you? ...Neither can I. But it's not about that. It's-..." She interrupts her muttering, probably catching herself breaching a subject she isn't supposed to. She places her feet onto the bench and hugs her knees.

"I hate you." The girl says it without a trace of that previous venom tainting her pleasant voice. She says it like a begrudged child would to a friend over a trivial grudge - there's no weight to it and it was spoken carelessly, without the intent.

(1/2)

>>41813909
But she hates you, as she doubtlessly proved over the course of those three nights. Even if what she said might be considered 'playful' to some, you have a hard time shrugging it off as a joke. And yet... that still doesn't explain anything. Perhaps she realizes that, so she adds something.

"...You just wouldn't get it otherwise."

"...I still don't get anything." You blurt out without giving those words much thought; but it's the truth, and probably something the girl has long understood by now. The answer to whatever riddle she's trying to get you to solve might seem obvious to her, but the hints and even the question itself are actually far too cryptic for you to comprehend. She doesn't seem mad at you for saying that, which is a relief.

"Then I'll keep going until you do. Or at least... for as long as I can."

...

>"For as long as you can? Is there a time limit?"
>"I don't get why you can't just tell me, but... I can't think at all because of the pain you cause me. Can you think of a different way?"
>"I want you to stop it. I won't learn anything from it, so it's pointless. If you can't tell me outright, then don't bother at all. I want to sleep peacefully, and I want to live normally."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>41813942
>"Is that so? Well, tonight has been pleasant so I'll be happy to continue in this vein, seeing if we get somewhere."

>>41814014
Second.

>>41813942
>"For as long as you can? Is there a time limit?"
>"I guess I'll just have to do my best, then."

>>41813942
"I feel like... I should be happy about that, shouldn't I? That's what I said I wanted, what I deserved. I couldn't stand how quick my friends were to forgive me, how the 'golden man' just glossed it over, how I was going to get away with everything. So you, looking the way you do, hurting me, the way I hurt her... it's what I have coming to me isn't it? Shouldn't I welcome it? But... I don't want that. And I don't think you do either. So can you please help me?"

>>41814075
Seconding

>>41814075
It's a shitty write-in, but I guess what I'm saying is this person seems to be what Clarissa wanted when she felt like she was escaping justice for Aiko's death, and deserved to suffer, but despite that, Clarissa doesn't seem able to accept the torment, so the arrangement isn't working. Does that make Clarissa a hypocrite that she can't take her medecine, or does it just mean that deep down she really does want to live, which this fury might have made clear?

>>41814137
Why not both?

>>41814120
You probably shouldn't, most of my write-ins seem to go over like a lead balloon, I'm not really great at getting a rread on these situations.

>>41814151
Works for me.

>>41814153
Nah think you hit the nail dead on on this one.

>>41814153
Well it's pretty wordy anon. I do wordy ones sometimes too but I don't expect them to win, since usually brevity is king.

>>41813942
>"I dunno anything about that, but...I hope you get what you're here for, eventually. For my own sake as well."
Well this could have gone worse! Beating herself up about Aiko clearly wasn't working, but this time wasn't so bad. Can hope Clarissa is improving.

>>41813942
"I don't know if this sweetens or sours what's happening now, but this still hurts me you know." Like trying to convey that even if this is a bit more melancholy than horrifying, reliving this moment is causing Clarissa at least some anguish, but a bearable amount.

>>41813942
"Is the time limit for you, or for me?" Like even if Clarissa took one small step forward, she's still in a really unhealthy situation. Also when a really depressed person suddenly gets more energy is when you have to really look out for suicides, because before then they couldn't even muster the effort.

>>41814318
I think as long as Clarissa has saving Kimiko to focus on she probably won't be in danger of suiciding.

>>41814351
Seems like some anons aren't to keen on doing that, since in many ways, saving Kimiko could be seen as a more elaborate and drawn out way of killing ourselves, and I'm still a bit suspicious of how we got to this point in the first place, since I don't remember Clarissa going to sleep last thread.

>>41814418
Well, it's true that this situation is weird. Still, no reason to assume it's THAT bad yet.

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>>41813942
Voting over!

This is all a little splintered, but I think I can do something by using >>41814075
as a base, in addition to asking the time limit question. Please make sure to tell me if you're dissatisfied with what I end up writing - we'll redo the vote with more set-in-stone options if we have to.

Writing!

>>41814562
I'm sure you'll come up with something that's fine!
Still writing, eh. Guess you're going long today then.

>>41814562
That doesn't really sound promising at all, which is why I said it was probably a bad idea to support. But really this whole situation is kind of dissatisfactory, I'm not sure if we're supposed to be just as lost as Clarissa is, or if you actually expect us to put the pieces together.

>>41814562
Sounds good to me.
>>41814666
Pretty sure we're supposed to be as lost as her.

>>41814702
I don't know, maybe. But even if we are supposed to be lost, we probably shouldn't keep saying the exact wrong thing like we seem to have been.

>>41814075
"For as long as you can? Is there a time limit?" You ask the girl, who smiles weakly. "Is it for you, or is it for me?"


"...I don't know. There might be. For either." She vaguely replies, which makes you sigh. You've had to deal with a lot of cryptic crap lately, and it's really getting on your nerves. Worse yet, you don't think you can afford to risk voicing your displeasure to this girl. You stay quiet until your annoyance goes away.

Her not knowing could mean anything. It could even mean that she's just making it up, maybe to get you to think on it more. But that's pointless. This isn't a 'riddle' at all, and she really shouldn't be getting mad at you for not understanding her when it's like this.

...Hogyoku said that the nights you don't spend alone will be peaceful. Is that what she means? When you settle down with someone, or go around doing just like that goldie wants you to - is that when her time runs out?

Talking with this girl is really tiring, but you suppose that you shouldn't complain - you'll take this one-sided and cryptic conversation over another session of skin flaying or bludgeoning any time.

"Are you... something that I made?" You contemplate out loud. The girl finally turns to face you, her bloodshot eyes widening just a little bit; a clear change from your previous guesses. You're a little bewildered at that, but you try to continue as calmly as you can. "I can't stand how easily I was forgiven, and how I managed to get away with everything. Did I... make you to punish me? This might be something that I deserve, but... I don't think I can keep going like this. And I can't keep making you do this, either."

(1/2)

>>41815845
She leans closer, her cold and wet hand settling over yours. You're startled by this, but you force yourself to stay still and let her do as she likes. She places her lips next to your ear and softly whispers. "Remember what Naoko told you."

Once again, she says something cryptic. ...No, her voice makes it seem like she's pleading you to do that. Before you even attempt to grasp at the meaning, those cold fingers leave yours and try to pierce into your throat with their nails, and the hands cut away your air. Her meager weight pushes you down and your neck uncomfortably bends over the edge of the bench you were sitting on; you struggle, but you can't push her away. The strength in her frail limbs is overwhelming, and... you simply can't put up a fight against someone who looks like her.

As you look at her, you realize that her mouth is moving. She's saying something short, over and over. You can't hear the words because she doesn't voice them. Instead of trying to muster up the will to fight back, you try to understand the words.

"I'M NOT AIKO."

...

>>41815886
Well that's not very nice!

>>41815886
You wake up covered in cold sweat and desperately gasping for air. As your heart beats violently, you feel a slight pain in your chest; it stops as soon as you return to a state of relative calm. The lights in your room are on, and you're not currently in bed, but instead, sitting at your desk. You try to remember what you were doing...

...Homework. You fell asleep while trying to solve some stupidly complicated problem. Maybe you let yourself relax a bit too much today. Something good might have happened, but you still need to keep your guard up. You went three nights without sleep, so maybe this was bound to happen.

What... did that dream mean? What did the girl try to tell you? Why couldn't she just tell you outright? ...Maybe that's what you should be trying to figure out instead of whatever it is that girl wants you to say or do. Who knows, maybe one will lead to the other?

You glance at the time - midnight. You should be sleeping right now, but... that's a problem, isn't it?

It's been a while since you last ate, so you should probably get yourself a sandwich or something. Yeah, that's a good idea. You can make one of those without burning the house down. And after you do that, you'll try to finish your homework. Well, you'll figure out what to do after that.

You head downstairs and into the kitchen. There's no point turning the lights on; you can navigate it easily enough. You get some sliced bread, a slice of ham, and combine them for a very plain but sufficiently nutritious nightly snack. It's good enough - don't want to overdo it and get fat, after all.

Your ear twitches as it picks up a squeak of the floor. You turn around, looking around the dark kitchen. What was that noise? It wasn't caused by you. You'd say that it was just your imagination a few of weeks ago, but...

(1/2)

>>41815922
We got mice too?!

>>41815922
...But you don't think that you will ever again in your life mistake the eerie sensation of an unknown observer for just a fit of the imagination.

As your eyes dart from place to place in the room lit by nothing but streetlights from outside and the opened fridge, you spot something unusual - there's a knife missing from the block. A moment later, you spot the thief.

The knife glints in your brother's hand, his dull eyes staring at you without the assistance of his glasses. He does not move, standing perfectly and unnaturally still, his posture undisturbed even with breathing. You feel your chest aching again.

You, too, are yet to draw a breath.

...

>>41815886
I think we might have had a breakthrough? But there's a lot of things Naoko told us, it can't be easy as assuming that it's just to stop punishing ourselves can it?

But yeah, at least she confirmed she isn't Aiko.

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>>41815945
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late!

Next thread tomorrow, but watch out for the unexpected on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any feedback or questions, shoot them my way! But it's late so I actually have to bail asap, but I'll answer them if the thread is still up when I wake up, or on twitter!

Thanks for reading!

>>41815945
Awww man, leave off it bro.

>>41815993
Thanks for running!

>>41815945
God FUCKING damnit Paul.

>>41815993
Thanks for writing Mushroom.
Time to see how Clarissa does solo, perhaps.

>>41815993
Thanks for running, even if she strangled us, I feel like we made some real progress with our tormentor.

>>41815886
Hmmm... since the one thing she told us flat out is she isn't Aiko, maybe next time Clarissa should try fighting back? Like not going all out, but putting up at least some effort and seeing how this lady responds? I hope she's not some cheap trick our mind is playing on ourselves to force us to move on through self-preservation.

Also, I'm getting the idea that the why of it, why Clarissa killed Aiko, might still have something to do with what's happening now.