Not Again! With Akira

[shortforever]

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[well. now he's studying Chuuya carefully, expression neutral. he opens his mouth, then closes it again. then opens it, then closes it again]

[. . .]

[CHUUYA CAN PROBABLY TELL WHAT QUESTION HE WANTS TO ASK BUT ISN'T ASKING]

[shortforever]

[He can guess, but his guess might be wrong.]

I'm not going to attack anybody, especially not any team leaders.

[survivaltricks]

[oh my god]

[A BREATHLESS LAUGH]

No, no. That wasn't my question.

[shortforever]

What was your question then, huh?

[survivaltricks]

[huffs a little. . . then shakes his head]

One that isn't fair for me to ask when I still wouldn't be able to answer you in return.

[shortforever]

Then ask another question, idiot! Or at least give me something of value in return.

[survivaltricks]

[he pauses thoughtfully at that, before letting out a hum]

I think Shadows' team won this past week.

[shortforever]

This gives me absolutely no new information about the situation, Akira.

[Because Akira already told Chuuya that he's not on grey team.]

[survivaltricks]

Sure it does. If you see anyone carting around an item that's the same as the one you got, or an item that looks equally as useless and not available at the store, then you know they're either on Heart or Winter's teams.

You've been paying attention, right?

[shortforever]

Yeah. My cabin showed off those fluffy things we got this week, but not the prizes or useless items. Everyone's keeping that stuff secret.

[Except Escha, apparently.]

Though I guess they'll slip up eventually. Or I could just start breaking into cabins and looking through people's boxes.

[survivaltricks]

Some people slipped up today when they emptied their pockets. For what it's worth.

[still studying Chuuya carefully to see if he also noticed]

[shortforever]

[I actually had to go back and look at it, I'm crying.]

Several people had bandages. A couple had gems.

...think the gems are the 'winning item'?

[survivaltricks]

[aha]

. . . they could be. I know the kazoos and the harmonicas are the losing items, though I only caught two harmonicas and one kazoo.

[shortforever]

Right. I figured it was one of those two, since I got one of those items too.

But the gems seem more valuable, right? And you can't have gotten them from the store, I don't think. So those must be the real reward.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah, and I'd place my bets on the gemstones over the bandages, since Dazai had some too and you implied he wasn't on Shadows' team. So--

[a beat]

Hey, you have something to write with?

[shortforever]

No, I don't.

[He has to commit everything to memory, sadly.]

I actually didn't spend any of my vouchers yet.

[survivaltricks]

It might be worth it to pick up a pen, then. I still don't have one.

[well, anyway]

Guy and Tonbokiri produced harmonicas. Hikage produced a kazoo. Magnus and Anaido produced gems.

So I think Guy and Tonbokiri are on Heart's team, Hikage on Winter's, and. . . if you're right about the gems, Magnus and Anaido are with Shadows.

[shortforever]

[...oh.

Hearing that explanation, Chuuya's expression just drops like a rock, until he can glance away and regain control of himself.]

You- you might be right, yeah.

[survivaltricks]

[oh. . . what is that face for??]

. . . Chuuya?

[shortforever]

[If it was anyone else, Chuuya would have dodged the question. But it's Akira, so.]

You got it backwards. Harmonicas are for Winter's team, kazoos for Heart's team.

[He'd know, since he got one of those instruments. But since Akira got it wrong, that means...]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . oh]

[oh]

[something seems to click into place in Akira's expression in that moment, mouth falling open as he makes a light oh sound]

. . . hn. No, it seems like they decided not to make it that easy after all.

[he digs into his pocket and. . . pulls out a kazoo]

I was so sure these were for Winter's team, but it sounds like Heart and Winter both got either harmonicas or kazoos.

1/2

[shortforever]

[Chuuya just. Stares down at the kazoo for a moment.]

[shortforever]

[And then he's kicking at Akira's shins with a rather firm kick, because once the shock has worn off he's left with some feelings he'd rather not think about too much.]

Don't scare me like that again, you ass! I was starting to think everyone I cared about was spread out over all the teams!

[survivaltricks]

[OW]

— OW, WHAT THE HELL!! You're the one who made assumptions!!

[shortforever]

YOU'RE the one who made assumptions! I was just sitting here on purple team with a kazoo!