Hikikomori Quest - Remaking my Life: Part 7

[Tashi]

Daiko:

>"Koishi, I'm sorry for accusing you for stealing the mask to start right off, but Kokoro's masks are really important to her."
>"It would be like if I told you I was making you a once in a lifetime meal, and while I was gone doing something, someone else took it without knowing it was anyone's. Wouldn't you be upset?"

Niji Blue:

>"Eh ?"
>Tilt our head.

> "Maybe..." Koishi replies "But then I would look for other meal from someone."

Bastet-chan:

>"Oh hey there Miss Aya."

> "Hi." She readjusts her coat and hat. "... How are things? Did you found anything new?"

Niji-chan:

>Turn to Wakasagihime.
>"Is something wrong Wakasagihime ?"

> "..." She approaches to you and leans, going out a bit of the lake. "Seeing this fairies so happy to hear about a motherly figure... it sounds so... sad..."

Niji Red:

>"Well... if it's safe for everyone..."

> "It will. Don't worry. We just need to find a mid point to work..." She points to the bulb that exploded. "... and don't let this happen."

>Note to remember that we're still near being poor, and need a way to get money well. Especially with this larger family.

//Since I don't see this is a character-specific command, I will take it as a general one.

> All of you make sure to remember that you don't have so much funds to maintain the family in a long trip. A money entry will be necessary.
> _

[Monarda]

Niji Blue:

>"But what if you could never find that meal again ? And you really wished to ?"

Bastet-chan:

>"Sorta... it seems like the gate to the Fairy World... is uh... closed... not even fairies from that place could return."

Niji-chan:

>Silently. "Well you see Wakasagihime, that's what people don't get, fairies are basically the same as any other kids mentally, be them human or youkai, but..."
>Point to them.
>"We almost always don't have anyone to care for us, to give us affection, to guide us, we are basically alone in life to learn..."

Niji Red:

>Nod.

[Tashi]

Niji Blue:

>"But what if you could never find that meal again ? And you really wished to ?"

> "The one that Daiko made for me? I already said it, I would look for other meal." Koishi smiles.

Bastet-chan:

>"Sorta... it seems like the gate to the Fairy World... is uh... closed... not even fairies from that place could return."

> "What?" Questions Aya, looking away. "No... I'm not here to reach a dead end..." She returns her attention to you. "Is there any way to confirm there's a gateway at the bottom of the lake?"

Niji-chan:

>Silently. "Well you see Wakasagihime, that's what people don't get, fairies are basically the same as any other kids mentally, be them human or youkai, but..."
>Point to them.
>"We almost always don't have anyone to care for us, to give us affection, to guide us, we are basically alone in life to learn..."

> "... It breaks my heart seeing them like this..."

Niji Red:

>Nod.

> Nitori smiles and nods too. "Thank you."
> _

[Monarda]

Niji Blue:

>"Then what if there are none other ? What if that was the only one ?"

Bastet-chan:

>"We already did, now please give us a moment, we gotta take care of those stranded fairies here."

Niji Red:

>"Wait... uh... how will you get enough light bulb to light the whole mountain ? That's pretty... numerous..."

Niji-chan:

>"Hence why fairies steal and prank and such, what else can they do ? They received no knowledge from a school, they have no home, few people give them value..."

[Tashi]

Niji Blue:

>"Then what if there are none other ? What if that was the only one ?"

> "Then I guess I'm gonna starve to death?" She keeps her innocent smile.

Bastet-chan:

>"We already did, now please give us a moment, we gotta take care of those stranded fairies here."

> "Uh... Don't forget we have a mistery to resolve, okay? We have to talk to this Niji about this and see if she can help." Aya adjusts again her coat. "I will follow at the distance. I can't let people see me."

Niji Red:

>"Wait... uh... how will you get enough light bulb to light the whole mountain ? That's pretty... numerous..."

> "That's what tests are for, isn't it?"

Niji-chan:

>"Hence why fairies steal and prank and such, what else can they do ? They received no knowledge from a school, they have no home, few people give them value..."

> Wakasagihime looks at the group of fairies.
> They seem to be talking nicely with your group.
> Hime smiles a bit.
> Yuudachi looks at you.
> _

[Monarda]

Niji-chan:

>Pick Yuudachi up and put her gently back on our shoulder.
>"Hehe, don't think i forgot about you dear, sorry for that."

Niji Blue:

>"So you mean to say that you will keep this mask even though you don't need it or use it for anything ? That's just so... selfish..."
>Frown sadly.
>"Feels like something an evil person would do..."

Niji Red:

>"Tests don't make light bulbs."

Bastet-chan:

>"Niji-chan is already there talking with them, sorry but you will have to wait for another time before we can get more info from them."

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>"Koishi, can you please give Kokoro her mask? She's really upset about it."

[Tashi]

Niji-chan:

>Pick Yuudachi up and put her gently back on our shoulder.
>"Hehe, don't think i forgot about you dear, sorry for that."

> You pick Yuudachi and put her in your shoulder.
> Yuudachi smiles at you and to Wakasagihime.
> "She's so cute..." Hime giggles.

Daiko:

>"Koishi, can you please give Kokoro her mask? She's really upset about it."

> "Nuh-uh." She looks at you, still with her smile. "It's mine now."

Niji Blue:

>"So you mean to say that you will keep this mask even though you don't need it or use it for anything ? That's just so... selfish..."
>Frown sadly.
>"Feels like something an evil person would do..."

> "I'm not evil."
> And suddenly, the ambient of the place suddenly changes with more pressure.
> "I just don't have anything to worry about."
> Even though Koishi last sentence was at the same tone and didn't seem to be something strange... it just felt differently.

Niji Red:

>"Tests don't make light bulbs."

> "Tests for hand made bulbs, of course." Nitori grins. "I and a group are already at it."

Bastet-chan:

>"Niji-chan is already there talking with them, sorry but you will have to wait for another time before we can get more info from them."

> "Ugh..." Aya sighs. "Okay, fine. I will wait... but can you talk to me as soon as possible if you obtain more information?"
> _

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>"Koishi. This is stealing..."
>Frown.
>"Stealing something serious. You need to give Kokoro her mask back."

[Monarda]

Daiko-kun:

>"So you mean to say that we can also ask Bastet-chan to undo the neko features rvrn if you didn't want to then ? By your logic then it would be so."

Niji Blue:

>"That's something evil to say... does this mean you don't care about anything ?"

Niji Red:

>"Sorry to be skeptical but... if your bulbs are like that mechanical arm... then i don't think they are safe..."

Bastet-chan:

>Nod.
>"I gotta get back home now."

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>Don't say that.

//We'll just wish for the mask to be returned to Kokoro, in one way or another.

[Tashi]

Daiko:

>"Koishi. This is stealing..."
>Frown.
>"Stealing something serious. You need to give Kokoro her mask back."

> "I won't." She giggles. "Why I have to? She was able to live without it."

Niji Blue:

>"That's something evil to say... does this mean you don't care about anything ?"

> "Yep."

Niji Red:

>"Sorry to be skeptical but... if your bulbs are like that mechanical arm... then i don't think they are safe..."

> Nitori fidgets. "P-Please, that was just a miscalculation... It's not going to happen a thing this time. No broken arms or whatever."

Bastet-chan:

>Nod.
>"I gotta get back home now."

> "Fine. Take care."
> _

[Monarda]

Niji Blue:

>"Not even about your friends ? Not even about your family ?"
>Look shocked.
>"D-Do you not care if people suffer as long as you are okay ?"

Niji Red:

>"Miscalculation or not, it would have never happened if you hadn't been careless and tested it on yourself."
>Frown.
>"An proper researcher plans ahead and makes safety precautions so that none get injured in the process."

Bastet-chan:

>Nod and head back.

Niji-chan:

>Stop Bastet-chan.
>"Wait Basty ! Where is Sakura-sama ?"

Bastet-chan:

>"Um... i dunno... been a while since i left the house, why ?"

Niji-chan:

>"Aw... cause i haven't seen her... i really wish i knew where she was..."

Bastet-chan:

>Hm... try making that wish an reality like before.

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>"I'm not cooking for someone like that..."
>Futuresight Satori again.

[Tashi]

Niji Blue:

>"Not even about your friends ? Not even about your family ?"
>Look shocked.
>"D-Do you not care if people suffer as long as you are okay ?"

> "Suffering? I don't see any suffering here, hehe. The mask is mine, and it will be always like that." She says, before standing up. She stretches. "Aaah! Thanks for the food!"

Daiko:

>"I'm not cooking for someone like that..."
>Futuresight Satori again.

> "Oww... It can't be helped, right?"
> You future-sight Satori again.

> "... Yes?" V!Satori asks.

Niji Red:

>"Miscalculation or not, it would have never happened if you hadn't been careless and tested it on yourself."
>Frown.
>"An proper researcher plans ahead and makes safety precautions so that none get injured in the process."

> "I-I already said sorry, isn't it? I wasn't expecting such thing to happen..."

Bastet-chan:

>Nod and head back.

Niji-chan:

>Stop Bastet-chan.
>"Wait Basty ! Where is Sakura-sama ?"

Bastet-chan:

>"Um... i dunno... been a while since i left the house, why ?"

Niji-chan:

>"Aw... cause i haven't seen her... i really wish i knew where she was..."

Bastet-chan:

>Hm... try making that wish an reality like before.

> You think about conceding that wish to Niji...
> ...
> You don't feel any different at all.

> (Niji) ... Why you now know that Sakura is near the school?
> _

[Neovereign]

Vision!Daiko:

>"Koishi has one of Kokoro's masks and refuses to return it... She's going home now... I don't want her here anymore again unless she's returning it or has returned it. She's acting so cheerful and happy about not giving it up just because she's the one who found it. E-Even after making her something nice and quick to eat because she was hungry, she's still acting like she doesn't care. Now I gotta tell Kokoro and she'll be even more upset and-"
>Sigh.
>"I-I don't know why I'm even telling you this... She's too bent up on keeping it. Just forget I spoke."

Daiko:

>Start heading downstairs again.

[Tashi]

Vision!Daiko:

>"Koishi has one of Kokoro's masks and refuses to return it... She's going home now... I don't want her here anymore again unless she's returning it or has returned it. She's acting so cheerful and happy about not giving it up just because she's the one who found it. E-Even after making her something nice and quick to eat because she was hungry, she's still acting like she doesn't care. Now I gotta tell Kokoro and she'll be even more upset and-"
>Sigh.
>"I-I don't know why I'm even telling you this... She's too bent up on keeping it. Just forget I spoke."

Daiko:

>Start heading downstairs again.

> You start to go downstairs without saying a word.

> "..." V!Satori is silent as she hears you. After you finish, she looks down. "... First of all... I apologize in the name of my sister..."
> _

[Monarda]

V. Daiko-kun:

>"It's not to me she needs to, it's to Kokoro-chan, she is the true owner of the mask, and she almost went to beating Koishi up badly..."

Niji Blue:

>"D-Do you have no emotions ?!"

Niji Red:

>"Then it was an big mistake of yours, every scientist worthy of their name knows that proper planning is crucial."

Niji-chan:

>Weird... wait, maybe it was an shooting star ! Let's try again !
>"Drat... i wish that Miss Kokoro-chan got back the mask that Miss Koishi took..."

Bastet-chan:

>Huh ? What ? Miss Koishi stole something like that ?! And i even made her an neko !
>Pout, then focus on making that wish also true with the whole of our will, that should teach her.

Niji Golden:

>Dash towards the village's school in light form !

[Neovereign]

//We can't take an apology from Satori. She didn't do anything. It was Koishi...
Vision!Daiko:

>"I-I appreciate the thought, but I'm not forgiving her like that... Don't let this get in the way of the thing about her going outside though, please. I'm upset about this, but I don't want more problems coming from it..."

[Tashi]

V. Daiko-kun:

>"It's not to me you need to, it's to Kokoro-chan, she is the true owner of the mask, and she almost went to beating Koishi up badly..."

//We can't take an apology from Satori. She didn't do anything. It was Koishi...
Vision!Daiko:

>"I-I appreciate the thought, but I'm not forgiving her like that... Don't let this get in the way of the thing about her going outside though, please. I'm upset about this, but I don't want more problems coming from it..."

> "Please, just hear me a moment..."

Niji Blue:

>"D-Do you have no emotions ?!"

> "I don't." Koishi starts looking around.

Niji Red:

>"Then it was an big mistake of yours, every scientist worthy of their name knows that proper planning is crucial."

> "Hey, no one is perfect. My mistake can be made by anyone, at any time, to any person. Yeah, I was reckless, but it's not the big deal! Geez..." Nitori sighs.

Niji-chan:

>Weird... wait, maybe it was an shooting star ! Let's try again !
>"Drat... i wish that Miss Kokoro-chan got back the mask that Miss Koishi took..."

Bastet-chan:

>Huh ? What ? Miss Koishi stole something like that ?! And i even made her an neko !
>Pout, then focus on making that wish also true with the whole of our will, that should teach her.

> You try to grant another wish.
> ...
> You feel tired again...

Niji Golden:

>Dash towards the village's school in light form !

> You become light and you start heading to the village.
> _

[Monarda]

Kiku-chan:

>What is going on ?

V. Daiko-kun:

>Nod.
>"Okay... i'm all ears..."

Niji Blue:

>"E-Eh ?! B-But... you can smile and frown and stuff..."

Bastet-chan:

>Pant a bit.

Niji-chan:

>"Eh ? You okay Bastet-chan ?"

Niji Golden:

>Keep an eye for Sakura-sama !

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>Continue.

[Tashi]

Kiku-chan:

>What is going on ?

> Nothing so far. Kokoro is away from the group, possibly thinking.
> Mystia and Kyouko are talking with Koa.

V. Daiko-kun:

>Nod.
>"Okay... i'm all ears..."

> "... Koishi doesn't have a mind." V!Satori says, frowning a bit.

Niji Blue:

>"E-Eh ?! B-But... you can smile and frown and stuff..."

> Koishi shrugs.

Bastet-chan:

>Pant a bit.

Niji-chan:

>"Eh ? You okay Bastet-chan ?"

> Everyone looks at Bastet.
> "Something wrong?" Wakasagihime asks.

Niji Golden:

>Keep an eye for Sakura-sama !

> You quickly arrive at the village.
> You can see Sakura, standing near the entrance of the school. It seems she's waiting.

Daiko:

>Continue.

> You continue, arriving at the library short after.
> _

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>"..."
>Sigh.
>"So there's just no getting it from her?"

[Tashi]

Daiko:

>"..."
>Sigh.
>"So there's just no getting it from her?"

> "Eh?" Koa turns to see you.
> And so do the others. Kokoro approaches.
> _

[Monarda]

Kiku-chan:

>Approach.
>"You okay ?"

V. Daiko-kun:

>"W-What ? But... how can that be ? H-How can someone live without a mind ?"

Niji Golden:

>Take physical form and approach.
>"There you are !"

Niji Blue:

>"A-And even then... you still don't respect what Kokoro-chan feels ?"

Bastet-chan:

>"Just a bit tired..."

Niji-chan:

>Look worried, then pet Yuudachi.
>"Yuudachi, this is Bastet, one of the others from the family."

[Neovereign]

VisionDaiko:

>Repeat what we said in realtime, but this time in the futuresight.

[Tashi]

VisionDaiko:

>Repeat what we said in realtime, but this time in the futuresight.

>"..."
>Sigh.
>"So there's just no getting it from her?"

> "Koishi doesn't have a mind, thus she can't judge what is wrong or what is good. She just... do things." She replies.

V. Daiko-kun:

>"W-What ? But... how can that be ? H-How can someone live without a mind ?"

> "She may not have a mind, but she still has her subconscious. As I said, she can't judge how things are, so she can't see if the actions she is taking, by her subconscious, are bad or good."

Kiku-chan:

>Approach.
>"You okay ?"

> You approach.
> "Hm?" Kokoro looks at you. "I'm not-... ...?" Kokoro stops her sentence.

Niji Golden:

>Take physical form and approach.
>"There you are !"

> You turn into physical form.
> "Uh?" Sakura looks at you and smiles. "Hello Niji! How are you?"

Niji Blue:

>"A-And even then... you still don't respect what Kokoro-chan feels ?"

> "Koko is okay, isn't it? She's my friend!" Koishi smiles.

Bastet-chan:

>"Just a bit tired..."

Niji-chan:

>Look worried, then pet Yuudachi.
>"Yuudachi, this is Bastet, one of the others from the family."

> Yuudachi waves at Bastet as you pet her.
> "Y..." She tries to say.
> _

[Neovereign]

Daiko:

>"I couldn't get her to return it... Sorry Kokoro..."

[Tashi]

Daiko:

>"I couldn't get her to return it... Sorry Kokoro..."

> Kokoro seems to be thinking, before the masks orbitating around her do it faster.
> And then, a mask stops in front of her.
> Unlike the others, this one isn't enveloped in a blue flame.
> "... ... My Mask of Hope..." She mumbles, looking at it.
> _