Spirit Pulse : Mugen No Sekai [IC]

[Airen]

Logan Starbright
Starnberg Lake - Germany
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Afternoon

"Something unexpected gained sentience...?"

The girl blinks, her ever shimmering hair falling around her shoulders as she sits up a bit higher in place. Her expression is a complicated one, like that of someone who had been about to dismiss the idea outright before realizing that it just might actually be a feasible solution, before...

"I guess that's possible, although if they wanted similar power, it'd have to be something that most of the World uses... The reason my sisters and I were chosen for the theoretical project is because we have high affinity with everyone-"

...Her voice falls quiet, as she sees your predicament.

"..."

Or rather, the predicament her words had put you in, with your head between your knees.

"..."

Only Amelia sees...

The sight of what was more or less a youth model visibly panicking, looking left and right and up and down as if searching for someone or something to alleviate the accidental suffering; it's the panic of a young woman who doesn't know how to handle this sort of thing, childish innocence interfering with what was turning out to be a surprisingly empathetic nature, but-!

"..."

Eventually, she nods her head decisively, moves over to where you are with a raised hand and-

“So thank you, Rice. Whether it’s looking for an access terminal or finding a dream specialist or navigating dimensions or breaking into an NWAB officer’s laboratory, I’ll do what I can.”

-only manages to place it on your head because you raise it up yourself-!

For a moment, only silence answers these words, the hand on your head that was so light you can barely feel it all, then-

"T-That's good!"

-the hand retreats, snakes back in obvious embarrassment, the floating girl spinning in place as she looks away from you again, as if she couldn't quite work up the nerve to look you in the eyes.

"..."

Although eventually, after a painful pause...

"Gah I can't just say nothing-!"

She whirls back around-!

"You're too hard on yourself! Way too hard on yourself!"

---Instantly.

Floating back in front of you again-!

"Everything will be fine! We'll beat the bad guys! No need to fall into your knees every couple of minutes!"

She huffs.

"You're the brooding type, I can tell! Well that stops here bucko, we'll have ourselves a fun adventure! No time to mope! I'll send you back to reality with a smile and a song in your step! You'll catch up to your sister no problem! I'll coach you myself!"

She nods.

Her clear voice is surprisingly determined...

"Don't worry about the legal stuff, worse comes to worse I'll take the blame!"

She crosses her arms, and a flicker of a satisfied grin crosses her face.

"Alexia isn't the type to get mad anyway! She'd think it's funny!"

A pause, then:

"Probably."

[Zurvan]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Evening

Despite the sudden nature of Fujimoto Chiyoko's arrival and nigh instant glomp, the action is met with nearly no resistance.

Perhaps this is unsurprising, given that Ludwig had sort of expected her appearance, yet all the same... was she always this affectionate?

Well, regardless, it didn't exactly feel bad to receive this kind of reception.

The boy's expression doesn't shift as his hair is aggressively ruffled, remaining calm and collected, even in a situation that certainly doesn't seem to call for it.

"...You're right. I am being evasive. Remember what Astra said before, how hidden truths can be dangerous. While I disagree with her on how such matters should be handled, she's not exactly wrong on that front..."

The rejection on the offer too, was expected. Even under normal circumstances, it would not do for someone to fish out secrets from the ship's captain. Adding to that how the person snooping around would be someone from a branch family, as well as how the ship's engines only very recently had mysteriously ceased functioning...

It doesn't paint a pretty picture, even if Anna were to trust Ludwig not to do anything malicious.

However, he no longer has the time to explain the situation as well as he could. He certainly wishes he could tell her, explain to her how the World had become a mess, how he had gained insight and acquired impossible knowledge, from a being he should never have been aware of in the first place.

...But he won't. At least, not yet. There's much more to be done and learned first.

Still... leaving things as they are wouldn't feel right either.

"If you've got some time later, maybe we can talk more. There's something urgent I need to ask of Chiyo, or at least Lydia certainly seems to think you're the one to talk to."

Internally, the ever joyful COMP AI throws in her own input, aiming for something that even Ludwig understands would be ripe for misunderstanding.

Oh oh Lud! Tell Anna to meet you outside, you can bond together while star gazing!

However... maybe it'll work out better that way?

"How about tonight? We can talk, maybe grab some coffee, see the lake at nighttime..."

It should keep Astra off his back, in the ideal scenario where she's satisfied with this outcome. Anna too would hopefully meet this offer with some understanding, probably aware that Ludwig isn't particularly fond of being evasive, and Chiyoko...

...When did she stop ruffling through your hair?

Taking the opportunity to manifest properly once again, Lydia quickly interjects:

"Chiyo~~~ Think we can chat in the café? I'd love to meet your special someone, hihi."

...Maybe this approach was a mistake after all.

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

Am I supposed to know this person…?

That was Eva’s first thought in response to the nonchalant way their assailant had just addressed her, but she quickly dropped the idea from consideration. Who it was didn’t matter. Someone who just shoved a friend of hers through a wall was no friend of Eva Ellet, regardless of what their memories might say.

To pretend otherwise was a farce she had little intention of entertaining.

She didn’t know what they were hoping to accomplish, but it seemed like they had given up on running away. Fortunately, really- Eva didn’t fancy running out further in this bizarre weather. It was unsettling.

Still…

This response to being caught red handed was a little unexpected. Eva had been prepared for more of a struggle of sorts, so this… she wasn’t quite sure what to do.

“…”

Deciding that their question wasn’t worth entertaining, she made her stance clear.

“… If you have an explanation for what you were doing, then you can say it. I don’t believe there’s an acceptable reason for shoving my friend through a wall, but I’m not going to do something without giving you a chance to speak first.”

That would have made her no better than their assailant. Not that she was really interested in what they had to say.

“…At least not until Catherine gets here.”

[Airen]

Cosmos Fairchild
LOVELESS, Rooftop
12/22/2026
Evening

---Prayer.

The idea of a solemn request for aid from a higher being or object of worship. It is a concept that has long-existed within the depths of the human consciousness, while the target of prayers is not always the same, the basic idea behind them remains the same, to plea for aid from something that one perceives as greater than oneself...

Divine intervention.

Miracles.

To hope for something that you believe to be impossible...

To admit you need someone else's help to succeed...

Perhaps that is a cynical way of looking at it? After all, regardless of whether or not the divine truly intervene on behalf of their followers, 'faith' is a form of power all it's own... Faith can be an endless fountain of resolve, an impenetrable shield for the mind, a set of laws and beliefs that can push someone to excel far beyond their peers with or without the direct intervention of a divine entity, that can heal wounds of the mind where all other medicines or vaccines may fail, and yet...

Is that the form of your faith?

---More importantly even, does it actually matter?

Time continues on.

Perhaps more slowly than before?

Is it the adrenaline coursing through your veins? Or just the bizarre clarity that comes with taking an action that might result in your own demise?

Energy bubbles up from beneath you.

Tiny rocks of debris scatter throughout the air, following along in the wake of a billowing cloak and hats as grey skies give way to the horizon, the flicker of stars appearing on the absolute edges of your sight. The world is thus a rampaging nexus of sounds, sights and feelings, of the warmth of family and friends juxtaposed with the cold murderous nature of an entity that would like nothing more than to see you dead, and...

Perhaps that feeling is strongest.

That of the barrel of the massive cannon, trailing your form with absolute certainty.

---To be frank, there was never another possibility of target. This entity had already proven it's desire to destroy you above all other things, it's to the extent where it almost seems like it'd be fine losing the battle as long as you were also destroyed along with it, yes...

The barrel is aimed your way.

Energy accelerates.

Reiki becomes heat as it charges, heat becomes light as it fires.

Light becomes...

Everything?

Light envelops your sight.

Light envelops the world, pure and bright, far too bright actually...

Have you been hit?

Senses do not disappear and yet the world has become a blank canvas around you.

Life has vanished, so quickly, so absolutely, that for a while you are indeed convinced you have perished; perhaps you simply did so so quickly that there was no conscious knowledge of it? An expressway to the afterlife?

But no...

A sound like a wind roars all around you, and-

"---Finally."

-a bizarre image.

A woman that seems exceedingly familiar, but that does not turn back to face you.

"I was beginning to think your mind was a truly fragile thing, but perhaps there is some hope yet. Reckless as this moment is."

Encountered: Preciel (?)

[palad1n]

Cosmos Fairchild
LOVELESS, Rooftop
12/22/2026
Evening

When she saw Chokmah aimed the barrel at her... Cosmos Fairchild has accepted her fate. She has accepted the fact that she'd die, and that she'd leave the rest to Alyx, to Miss Sofia, to Aunt Alisa, and to her mother...

It's not as if she'd given up.

It's not as if she hadn't tried her best.

It's just that... her best wasn't enough, in the end.

Perhaps that's why she could accept it so readily.

Because she had tried her best.

Because there are those who'd finish the job in her stead.

Because she had successfully distracted Chokmah for long enough.

And because she felt the reiki of both her mother and Aunt Alisa.

So when the light consumed everything, and the world vanished into a blank canvas... Cosmos thought that this is it. This is the end of her journey, regardless of whether this is merely a dream or not.

And yet...

"---Finally."

A voice rang out in the supposedly empty world.

A voice that is both alien and familiar.

"I was beginning to think your mind was a truly fragile thing, but perhaps there is some hope yet. Reckless as this moment is."

"--Ah."

She could only see her back, but the moment she heard her voice and saw her form, Cosmos Fairchild knew... that the person standing before her is the one who bears her original name.

Cosmos Semesta Preciel.

For a few moments, Cosmos Fairchild could only stare wordlessly at the back of her other self.

Unlike Cosmos Fairchild, who seemingly doesn't age and remains a petite girl, Cosmos Semesta Preciel is undoubtedly a woman, with long hair tied in twin tails; Her voice is more mature, and she seems much more composed and calm...

And yet, for all their differences, Preciel still wears a hat, and her clothing is still predominantly white.

That fact brought a small smile to her face, somehow.

So this... was how she looked and sounded like in the past...

But soon enough the reality of the situation sets in, and--

"What... is going on...?" Cosmos finally asks. "Did you... save me from Chokmah's attack? Or is this just... something that is happening in my mind?"

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

"...Heh."

---In response to your words, the strange girl only grins at you.

"Well that's sure nice of you."

Her body fades in and out of the shadows, swaying branches casting an otherworldly sort of feel to someone who seems entirely human... Of course, while her voice and body language are remarkably casual for someone who was wandering around hurling your friends into walls, the light in her eyes is razor sharp, an intelligent gaze that clearly doesn't feel like you're being sincere, or at least...

Automatically assumes everyone they speak to has ulterior motives, an ironic sort of disposition, considering how suspicious the girl herself was, but-

"But sure, I totally have an explanation. You should be thanking me really."

-if there was one part of her that was honest, it was the sense of self-assurance, the voice that practically dripped with casual, almost bored indifference to the fact that she been run down by you.

"You were putting all sorts of strange thoughts in that girl's head, and she was believing you."

A chuckle.

---Even amidst the rain, you can catch the faintest hint of sulfur beneath the stronger smells of ozone and petrichor; her clothes are getting soaked, soaked to the point where the outlines of something beneath her jacket can be gleamed, but it's unclear what exactly it is...

"Not the healthiest thing nowadays. People with those sorts of delusions wind up falling into em long-term, especially people like her... So I figured I'd give her a good old fashioned knock on the head, see if it reset things in her clearly messed up brain. Kinda like a broken CRT, you know? Percussive maintenance?"

Taking a step back towards the stairs, the girl -who has yet to even blink- sits down upon them, her gaze fixed entirely on you.

"Give em a good whack and they'll work... Most of the time. I think I got her pretty good too, so she may not show up here at all~"

---Unbroken gaze.

Was that a taunt?

It's impossible to say, the words seem designed to incite you at least a little, but the emotion in them is...

Lacking.

"...Think I might have to change my approach with you though, plasma-screen TVs don't work like CRTs."

---A hand that betrays absolutely no motive goes for the pocket of her jacket.

[Airen]

Blaise Pendragon
Soba Shop -Gen- (Trauma Cell)
11/16/2026
Night, Thunderstorm

---Everything goes up in flames.

An azure conflagration that consumes wall, floor and ceiling in their entirety. Explosions rock the house in the kitchen, fires that easily exceed 1000 degrees F overloading their ability to withstand the pressure of the suddenly harsh atmosphere, sending jets of burning liquid and glass scattering throughout the residence. Smoke easily fills the house, the bizarre stone that was encasing everything blunting the flow of oxygen itself as everything falls into the depths of an artificial hell...

Against a normal vampire, a reasonable enough move to make, even from the point of view of a stranger.

Disregarding elemental affinities, one of the traditional weaknesses of undead of this sort was flame; the more one embodies this sort of entity in it's purest form -the idea of the being in the collective consciousness or Common- the more those sorts of weaknesses have a tendency to manifest themselves in the host. This one wasn't a day-walker, she wasn't a vampire that struggled to maintain a connection to her humanity, who continually reaffirmed it, and thus managed to retain some of the traits of humankind, this was...

A pure-blood, manifestation of darkness.

---Fire should deal with her just fine.

Like how a blade that was known to slay dragons might deal serious damage to you regardless of your affinity with the physical, this might just be one of those weaknesses that are 'in the blood,' the price that comes with existence as a naturally supernatural being, but...

This is also no normal vampire.

---Nightmare.

She might have the shape of a vampire, a specific vampire, but that distinction might mean something...

Then again, it just as easily might not.

Nightmares feed off fear and confusion, they assert themselves to the viewer, make themselves known in chaos; in broken writing in mirrors, in manifest traumas, ripping lucidity away and dragging you along in their pace. Of course, dreams have long been thought to have supernatural properties in and of themselves, allowing some a peek at the future or the past as their mind drifts along the sea of the unconscious, the line between life and death that sleep was said to represent, but...

It's not a well understood area, even in the modern age...

In other words...

It's all a gamble.

Still-!

"..."

There's a bizarre... Almost trance-like quality to Fia...

While the girl had seemingly tried to listen to your words, to put on a brave face amidst the flames and the chaos she's like someone who has only begun to awaken from a bad dream; half-asleep, sluggish, conscious enough to cling to you as things get bad, but...

"Ah yes... Think the nightmares away... It sounds so simple, right? So logical? Just be brave! The bullies can't rip you apart if you're not afraid!"

A voice emerges from the flames.

In comparison to the crackles and pops of the fire, of the hiss of steam erupting from pipes and boiling water flowing across the ground, of the whispers of what feels like family members all around you it stands out as something completely inhuman, absolutely grating to the ears.

"But... Fear isn't so simple, right Fia?"

She's standing there, amongst the flames, the eternal cycle of destruction and regeneration. You can't see her silhouette with your eyes, but the radar picks it up just fine.

Completely still.

Staring at you through the fire.

"It's all just an illusion... Until it's not, right?"

The whisper defies reality.

It should not be loud enough to be heard, but it is heard nonetheless-!

"Do you remember? How very real this all was back then? Why you were so happy to see everyone again today? Don't pretend now, I know you remember..."

Low but teasing, the record scratch that accompanies it the only sign of pure malevolence.

"

She

I

got em all, didn't

She

I?

"

---And Fia whimpers in response.

"A little positive thinking just ain't enough kids~ Even if you aren't afraid, there's just so many other sources-!"

"...!"

Something appears in the flames.

A massive wheel (Catherine Wheel?) comes screeching along from behind her to run you down, the sounds of something metallic and clanging joining in on the chorus of cracks and pops as it's heavy metallic frame digs through the walls and ceiling alike-!

It seems like a straightforward attack, but-!

[Verg Avesta]

Blaise Pendragon
Soba Shop -Gen- (Trauma Cell)
11/16/2026
Night, Thunderstorm

"Oh. Okay."

Blaise grunted that in response as he let the flames from his mouth rest, cracking his neck in response to the torrent of malice and terror.

"Guess that means there's no reason to be afraid here then."

When he heard the creature talk, the things it insinuated, an odd feeling started to well up within the boy. First of all, the could extrapolate many things, especially what the vampire had implied. From there, it was easy enough to guess what might have been behind Fia's actions today. And thus, a pretty solid theory could be built about this encounter. Just... not in the way that the girl seemed to think and how the shadow before them wanted her to think. After all, there was a crucial difference, a important distinction to make. Something he had to show to Fia, more clearly than anything else.

"... I mean, you're clearly not her," Blaise retorted, surprised by how calm he sounded. "Stop stealing credit from others, fever dream."

As the odd feeling continued to churn, the blonde youth gave a confident smirk to the girl in his arms, even amidst the raging inferno.

"--- Seriously, Fia. Does that thing look nearly strong enough to do anything like that?" He asked with a bit of a chuckle. "What even is that wheel? Kuku..."

As the grinding attack, one destroying both ceiling and floor, barreled closer, the odd sensation with Blaise started to solidify and at that moment, he finally understood what it was. What was the thing that was bothering this whole time. In a way, one could say it was doubt... or confusion. Doubt and confusion. He looked at the situation around them, where they had been dragged into, and at the same time, his mind ran more than a few possible scenarions based on what had happened so far. And...

And...

... This couldn't be it, could it?

There had to be more this. The shadow, the nightmare, it wasn't stupid. Even if it just lived for the thrill, it must have had some sort of backup plan, or rather, a real plan. This, the stuff they were struggling against right now, it couldn't be all that there was. There had to be a hidden, true blade somewhere amidst this all. After all, this nightmare...

... It couldn't be purposefully making itself weaker, could it?

"----!"

With a grunt, Blaise stepped forward, flames covering him from head to toe. At the same time, he lifted up his right leg and slammed it against one of the supporting pillars of the house that had reappered earlier. His COMP whirled alive and Kaguya's processing speed picked up. The boy stared down at the wooden beam as he pushed, setting it between himself and the fast-approaching wheel.

And when he did...!

[Makarakarn!]

Kaguya's mental command rang out, enveloping the beam with a magic-reflecting barrier---!

"By the way. Something I heard from my Ane-san," Blaise said as he calmly gazed at the vampire through the flames. "The three rules of a truly scary horror movie."

He put strength into his leg and pushed, causing the wooden beam to collapse downwards.

"Rule #1..."

The pillar toppled down, crashing straight towards the approaching wheel.

"--- The monster can't talk."

Yes.

That was the odd feeling of confusion that had welled up within Blaise. The realization that the more this fake vampire talked... the less he felt that terror from before that had gripped him. Had it just stayed silent, had it just stalked them, he might have been gripped by similar fear as Fia eventually. But now, by speaking, it already humanized itself too much, and that was why Blaise was sure there had to be something more going on here...!

"-----------!"

And so the Makarakarn Pillar slammed straight into the approaching wheel, meeting it head on---!

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

…annoyed.

If Eva were to describe how she felt about the strange girl’s words, then it would be that.

What the girl was saying was certainly, by some metric, hurtful. Eva didn’t appreciate the insinuations that she was trying to take advantage of Catherine’s mental state, and the girl’s implication that Catherine might have been hurt badly enough that she might have difficulty coming here definitely had Eva a bit worried…

… but that was it.

It was too obviously an attempt to rile her up. If those words had even a tinge more sincerity, then they might have elicited a stronger reaction- but as is, they just slightly increased her desire to do to the girl what she had done to Catherine earlier.

Not that she would act on those impulses, even if the girl was, in her opinion, asking for it.

From a certain perspective, what the girl had done might have been justifiable, as an attempt to escape from two unknown(?) people whose rather sensitive secrets she had just learned- and although that seemed less and less likely with every word the girl said, Eva did not have any intention of attacking her unless she was more certain about what the girl was after, or if the girl herself tried to attack back. That would just be self-defense.

Or if Catherine came by and judged differently. Eva felt fairly certain the girl was just making things up about how injured she had been- there were footsteps earlier in the building that must have belonged to her…

Since violence wasn’t an acceptable option to her yet (though it didn’t seem like the girl intended to keep it that way, if what she was reaching for in her pocket was any indicator) Eva merely stayed on guard to react to any sudden movements the girl made.

Judging by her attitude, the girl did not seem to be some accidental bystander who happened to be listening in on them- there was something presumably intentional about what she had been doing, and she didn’t want Eva or Catherine to know. Her words hadn’t hinted strongly at any motive, but if Eva had to pick something odd…

“… I don’t see how what I was discussing with Catherine should be any concern of yours.”

… the most unusual thing was the girl’s calling what Eva was saying was delusional. Perhaps the girl didn’t know Eva Ellet that well, but it would have been more effective to rile her up by talking about Catherine’s apparent shadow issues. Eva herself wasn’t concerned with personal insults that she knew weren’t true.

Musing out loud, Eva continued.

“… It’s obvious from the way you are acting that you were there on purpose for reasons you don’t want to share. Assuming it’s not a hidden personal vendetta, and since Catherine’s secrets would be relatively easy to figure out for someone willing to break down walls and get violent by simply searching her room…”

Paying close attention to see if the girl would take any action (or any reaction that might hint at what she was there for), she put out her question.

“… the only thing left are my ‘delusions’. Is it a problem for you, miss eavesdropper, if I talk about those with other people…?”

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Night (Thunderstorm)

“… the only thing left are my ‘delusions’. Is it a problem for you, miss eavesdropper, if I talk about those with other people…?”

---Eyes sparkle in the darkness, as a strange sort of smile crosses the girl's face.

It's the smile of someone who found you amusing for one reason or another, the smug-sort of grin that only appears when something has gone entirely as they had planned it too... Of course, the obvious smugness in it is obvious, what's more interesting about this person is that the analytical light in her eyes also never goes out, like there was something about you that she was consistently trying to figure out...

Either way, her hand goes unopposed into her jacket.

---Your body tenses up, ready to take action the instant any sort of weapon reveals itself (one of the outlines in her clothes was looking uncomfortably like a gun) but...

"Chill out gearbox, just getting a pack of gum."

The smile widens, like a Cheshire cat.

And indeed, just as she claimed, the thing that she withdraws from her jacket pocket is in fact a pack of gum. You can't tell exactly what brand it is in the rain -or rather, every time you focus on it is seems to say something else- but the girl pops two pieces into her mouth without a care in the world, chewing away quietly for a bit in a way that was almost certainly designed to annoy you, before she finally opens her mouth-

"But yeah, I'd say it's a problem for me. Problem for you too, to be honest."

-to annoy you in another way.

"They have this saying over in... Japan, I believe. 'The nail that sticks out gets hammered.'"

Her voice is light and casual, but the peering eyes remain as focused on you as ever...

As if she was... Searching for something in your expressions...?

"Those delusions of yours make you stick out, if you talk about em, you're gonna get hammered... Get it? Spread em to other people and they'll get hammered too, vicious cycle that way. I was doing you a favor, just like I said... I have a bit of a... Lighter touch, than the hammer..."

She chuckles.

"Guess I am being sort of rude though, name's Liesl. Liesl Karlfeldt, but eh, screw the formalities, right?"

---Definitely a suspicious person.

She reaches out towards you, something in her hand in spite of the rain and...

"Want a piece of gum?"

...This is a joke, right?

[Kuroyuki]

Hiyori
Aoyama, Tokyo - ??? Residence
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Morning

"...That's right, all convenient methods of transportation are down. From what I've heard, even long-distance spatial-manipulation magicks are having much higher error rates than normal when trasporting living beings... No one seems to be able to just leave the city… Almost like... Something is interfering with everything, perhaps? Just a few nudges here or there, a wrench or two in the Pulse Network, maybe some tweaks to the local area's Harmonizer, make it really inconvenient to leave... And a lot of people are going to just stay instead, much easier that way, you see? Convenience is the way of the future."

‘So I guess we would have to fly to the SLEPNIR then… Alexia… Can we use one of those super luxurious VIP flights that the NWAB still do. It doesn’t even have to be one of the cool lunar flights. We can take one of those vintage planes where they give you a personal screen to watch movies and play games!’

It’s always been on my bucket list to do something luxurious from the 2000s. I would say a luxury ocean cruise would be fun if we had the time. But we kind of need to talk to Miss Smug sooner than later. Man why can’t I get one of those cool investigations that require me to be on a luxury cruise liner or some kind of resort island like my animes!

"But you're in luck, Akarana Charlotte... Should be in town later this evening... Well, technically she should already be here, but she'll be somewhere specific this afternoon~"

‘Auuu… I was looking forward to using the NWAB’s super cool plane for the flight too… I mean yay Miss Smug is nearby. Wait, why would she be in a place like Aoyama?’

"Some sort of conference at the JAXA building~ Well, that girl's always liked her aliens, has her hands all over America's space programs, so hearing she accepted a gig as a guest speaker isn't too surprising… Means people are forced to listen to her for long periods of time too, bet she can't get enough of that~"

Okay that makes sense. She gets to stroke her already kingdom-sized ego while someone gets to listen to her confusing yet informative infodump. I mean it should actually be kind of neat to listen to… Assuming you got past the smug, condescending delivery of it all.

‘While I’m sure attending the conference and interacting with her after her panel would be a good plan filled with important infodumps...’

I pause before emulating one of my favorite scenes from anime.

“But I refuse! One of my favorite things to do is to avoid giving smug people satisfaction! Especially when it comes to giving infodumps no one asked for! So instead, I’m going to emulate Rigid Rabbit and infiltrate the convention to meet with her before she has the satisfaction of doing her smug speech!”

I think it over for a second.

‘Well actually, you and Ross can attend normally if you want. Actually, I think Ross would enjoy something like this. She’s always been the super curious, learning type if you know what I mean!’

And that would give me an easier way in too! Since it’s always easier to break in once you’re inside than trying to do it externally. I’m such a genius COMP!

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Naturally, she turned down Liesl’s offer.

“I haven’t forgotten what you just did to Catherine earlier, and I have no intention of getting along with you.”

Eva assumed the offer was more of a joke than anything, done again to annoy her as most of Liesl’s actions appear to have been. Even so, she felt the need to make this much absolutely clear- after all, if she was interpreting what Liesl was saying correctly- and that by itself was quite an assumption, since the girl didn’t exactly seem sincere at all- then…

“However, if you’re serious about…”

‘Helping out’, if she were to borrow the girl’s words, but that phrase was so fake that it was impossible to use.

“… stopping me from talking, then we’re not necessarily enemies.”

Distaste for the idea evident on her face, Eva nevertheless continued. Even proposing the idea felt silly- but she didn’t exactly have any other leads to work off at the moment.

“You know something about how the world’s changed, or else you wouldn’t be running around, ‘hammering nails’, as you like to put it. Me talking about it to other people is a problem for you- one that you want to prevent.”

That much was fairly obvious from how Liesl was talking about the subject. Her words just now were essentially a warning to Eva to stop.

“But my goal isn’t to talk with as many other people about this as possible, either. I just want to know more about what’s going on.”

With that said, Eva made her offer.

“So, how about this? If you tell me what I want to know, then I have no more reason to probe around in the dark by asking people I know. You don’t have to monitor me anymore, and I get the answers I’m looking for. It resolves both of our problems.”

Truthfully, this negotiation was pretty unbalanced- if Liesl’s intention was to get Eva to back off from investigating any further, then her threat from earlier was effective. Eva wanted to know what was going on, but not so badly that she was willing to get the people around her into trouble- if Liesl refused, then she was out of options.

Objectively speaking, that was the case. But it didn’t seem like the girl necessarily knew that- and her lack of knowledge seemed to be the only advantage Eva had here. Liesl seemed to be curious, for some reason, about Eva- and that curiosity was the only real card that she had to play.

Careful to speak calmly and confidently so as to not betray her weaker position here, she continued.

“You also want to know why I remember, right? I don’t think it’s a bad deal- unless there’s something you absolutely don’t want me to know?”

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

"..."

For awhile, the girl just stares at you.

Her smile never fades, even as her hand dexterously spins the offered gum across the backs of her fingers and into it's holder in a way that was clearly meant to be overblown and show-offish; your position in this conversation is weaker, essentially a bluff, designed to not have the other girl thinking too much about the fact that her earlier threats had actually gotten through to you, but...

"...Yeah, I guess you could say I'm interested in your... Brain, yeah."

Even as those words come out in a thoughtful way, the girl's smile never fades, in a way...

It almost feels like she's laughing at you...

"But sure, why not, I can throw you a bone if you really want it."

She coughs into a fist, then-

"Someone made a wish on a star, and all the troubles in the world fell away."

-says something ridiculous with a smile.

"...Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, the world would be boring without conflict of any sort, but hmm... I guess you could say this path is happier overall, you've seen it right?"

Her eyes lock with your own, half of her face hidden in the crawling shadows of the night.

"Mommy pulled her act together right? Got yourself a sister, too? And good old yellow eyes back there? Doesn't need to take her pills anymore if she doesn't want to, shadow can't do anything to her. It's a big old fashioned miracle, a dream come true you might say."

She stops blinking entirely.

No...

Her whole body falls completely still at all of this, like a cat readying themselves to pounce, and...

"No need to think about the old days, they're long gone now."

[Airen]

Rossweisse
Aoyama, Tokyo ~ ??? Residence
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Morning

“I don’t think anything romantic would occur between Dr. Xavier and I. If anything, I think I’m more a nuisance to him than anything. Especially since I’m a frequent patient… He keeps saying that I should quit going all out… But I’m worried that I can’t save anyone if I don’t go all out...”

"Ah! But don't you see kiddo? Frequent patients are often the type that doctors fall for-!"

She nods, saying something absolutely ridiculous with a smile-!

"It's a documented phenomena! Florence Nightingale Effect!"

The nodding continues, getting more and more vigorous over time...

Yes.

This person, in spite of her age...

Was acting an awful lot like a high-school girl all of a sudden! Even the tree seems to be a bit weirded out by it, judging by the slow but steady retreat it makes from the woman as her body starts to literally glow with cheerful flames, rampant reiki stirring to life along with it's owners emotions...

"I've seen the medical dramas-! True feelings won't emerge until you wake up in the hospital! He'll have fallen asleep by your side, refusing to leave you while you recover-! Scolding, then the gentle caress of a face and the admission of fear, that you scared him, that he was so strict with you just because he couldn't bear to see you get hurt! It tore his heart apart every time, but it was also the only time he could see you-! A conflict of the heart!"

What was... This...?

It's like watching someone fall into a daydream right in front of you, a fantasy of their own making, playing out inside some bizarre part of her brain...

"He just couldn't admit it because of his vows as a doctor! It's forbidden to fall in love with a patient after all, it's against the ethics of the position, and yet, he swears he can't bear to put up the facade any longer-!"

She really gets into it now, her rantings accompanied by gestures that wouldn't be out of place in a particularly overblown school play; indeed, whether she's playing this up because she's immature, or because she thinks it's the best way to smooth over any questions about her own youthful romances, it doesn't seem like she's gonna stop on her own...

"Doctors are a good catch Rossie, you can't let someone else snatch him away-! Everyone on that ship is secretly lonely, I'm sure of it!"

...Yep.

Not gonna stop on her own...

"..."

As for Xavier, well...

"..."

He seems to have gone somewhat catatonic...

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening


Irritating.

Listening to Liesl describe Eva’s situation annoyed her.

It was true that Eva was sincerely happy that her mother didn’t seem to be on bad terms with her. Overjoyed, even.

It was true that Eva was a little excited to have a sibling. She had originally been an only child, and she didn’t exactly have that many close ties to talk to, so the prospect was interesting…

And while she didn’t know about it in the old world, if as Liesl described, Catherine was really struggling with issues with her shadow originally, then it was most certainly true that Eva was happy that things were better now than they were before. She didn’t truly understand how big a deal it might have been, but if Catherine was happier this way, then Eva was happier this way.

All of that, just as Liesl described, was like a dream come true. And she was happy, truly, that all of it had come to pass.

But listening to Liesl describe all of it to her irritated her, for a reason that could only be summed up in a single sentence.

“… Don’t assume you know what makes me happy.”

She wasn’t wrong, of course. But Liesl making that judgement for her annoyed her. Eva never thought of herself as particularly sensitive about the way things were done, and normally wouldn’t have cared much… but the girl had just bothered her that much up until now. She didn’t want to acknowledge that she might be correct.

It was a childish sentiment, really. And so, putting that aside for the moment…

“…well, you’re not wrong that those things matter a lot to me.”

She wasn’t sure what to make of the various gestures the other girl was making, but from the sounds of it, it didn’t seem like the other girl had any genuine interest in cooperating.

Still, she felt the need to clarify her position anyways. Certainly, what she was doing might be foolish- the old days were history, and there was no need to think about them much. If such an argument had come from someone she held in marginally higher standing, then Eva would offer no retort. If it hadn’t concerned her life personally, she would have felt the same way, after all.

However, against Liesl, Eva had no reservations about speaking her mind- and for her, this investigation was anything but pointless.

“But that’s why I can’t be satisfied with such non-answers. If these things can be changed so quickly without any warning, what’s the guarantee that they won’t change again, into something I won’t like?”

Staring directly at Liesl to make it perfectly clear that she wouldn’t accept that as an answer, she continued.

“It’s precisely because these things are important to me, that I can’t just sit back and accept all of these changes without looking for answers.”

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Saint Vivienne ~ Dormitories
11/16/2026
Monday - Evening

"..."

---Tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Standing up to the girl made it all the more clear how like a gunslinger she really was in spite of her jokester attitude; while her sitting pose was casual enough, the way her hands never drift too far from her waist and inner jacket linings hint at a person that's ready to draw on a target in an instant. Eyes are locked on your form, that cat-like stare like before intensifying with a burning sort of clarity, unblinking in the storm, refusing to flinch at the rain falling into her eyes or the brilliant flashes of lightning that seem to fall so close to the two of you now...

---It's not quite killing intent, but it's somewhere close, the opening moments of a wild-west style duel are the best comparison that comes to mind, but...

"...Heh."

...In the end, she just chuckles to herself.

The moment passes, the mood deflates, and the girl goes from somewhat hostile to back to being mostly just annoying...

"Non-answers...? I was quite serious about someone wishing on a star."

She breaks eye contact for a moment and shrugs, water-logged jacket uncomfortably silent in the pouring waters.

"Came with the gap in the Leonids Cycle I think, fell to Earth sometime during the Second World War, but I don't really know or care about those sorts of specifics."

Her gaze returns to you, something like blue flames swirling deep within the iris of her eyes.

"But that last thing you said... That's kinda funny to me." She says without blinking, learning forward from her spot on the stairs and resting her chin on her hands, "Aren't you a religious girl? Don't you already live in a world where some asshole on his heavenly throne can snap his fingers and change everything about your world without warning?"

A question posed with a mixture of annoyance and... Curiosity?

"Since when do miracles have to explain themselves?"

[Kuroyuki]

Rossweisse
Aoyama, Tokyo ~ ??? Residence
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Morning

"Ah! But don't you see kiddo? Frequent patients are often the type that doctors fall for-! It's a documented phenomena! Florence Nightingale Effect!"

“The Florence Nightingale effect?”

As soon as I asked my question, I received the search results about the Florence Nightingale Effect and a quick overview of the Florence Nightingale’s life. I thought the Flame-Haired Woman would’ve noticed my blatant look-up of the term and the person but…

"I've seen the medical dramas-! True feelings won't emerge until you wake up in the hospital! He'll have fallen asleep by your side, refusing to leave you while you recover-! Scolding, then the gentle caress of a face and the admission of fear, that you scared him, that he was so strict with you just because he couldn't bear to see you get hurt! It tore his heart apart every time, but it was also the only time he could see you-! A conflict of the heart!"

...She was thoroughly daydreaming about me with the Doctor.

"He just couldn't admit it because of his vows as a doctor! It's forbidden to fall in love with a patient after all, it's against the ethics of the position, and yet, he swears he can't bear to put up the facade any longer-! Doctors are a good catch Rossie, you can't let someone else snatch him away-! Everyone on that ship is secretly lonely, I'm sure of it!"

I felt like I should say something because it felt really awkward considering that the Doctor was with me right now. I think he was equally stunned by the Flame-Haired Woman’s wild and blatant daydreams… Before it got more graphic and weird, I decided to say something to the Flame-Haired Woman.

“Umm… The Florence Nightingale effect only works as long as the person in question is injured. Once the person stops appearing at the infirmary, the Florence Nightingale effect starts to collapse. And… I haven’t been to the infirmary recently.”

Thankfully, last time during the drone attack on the SLEPNIR, I didn’t get injured at all. If anything, I was surprised that someone sent only an attack of that level to the SLEPNIR.

[Airen]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Evening

"How about tonight? We can talk, maybe grab some coffee, see the lake at nighttime..."

"...Sure."

Eyes still more curious than anything else, it seems Anna's concern over all of these hidden truths -or rather, the way they were making you behave- is enough to blunt her otherwise powerful responses to perceived romantic insinuations-! Eyes flickering from you to Chiyoko (who has retreated one or two steps in that bizarre jump-cut way she does) she seems to ultimately decide not to push you on it too much, instead...

"I'll bring the Blue Mountain coffee, Red Eye style."

...She just nods, smiling in that vague sort of way that always seems strangely common to both butlers and maids, a pleasant smile that is completely sincere, but all the same...

Not entirely complete.

"Good for long talks at night."

Nevertheless, she finishes this statement with a small bow, before retreating back into the cafe (where she is immediately dragged to Astra's table by the girl in question, her silver-hair leaving her figure little more than a briefl streak amidst the warm glow of the cafe's lanterns, the speed with which she kidnaps her friend (?) impressive, and the fact that she is now shamelessly grilling her about what had just happened outside -in full view of you- being even more impressive...

In it's own way.

As for Chiyoko, well...

"Chiyo~~~ Think we can chat in the café? I'd love to meet your special someone, hihi."

"Special someone...?" She stops for a moment, as if unsure who you're talking about, before snapping her fingers in recognition. "Ah, he's here already?"

She smiles, showing no real signs of embarrassment about her relationship with the man in the cafe... Perhaps it's a difference in the level of innate maturity?

The power of an honest to goodness adult?

---Considering the general disposition of Tamers, hard to say for sure-!

"Told him to wait for me outside, but lemme guess... Tall and dark leather jacket wearing guy that walked through the cafe and went off to brood by himself right? Classic Chrono move, guy can't help himself."

Crossing her arms, she sighs to herself as the three of you follow along after Anna, and...

"I don't brood, that's just your out-of-control imagination Chiyo."

...The man in question is already leaning by the door when you enter, all black ensemble just like last time; leather jacket, black trousers, black dress shoes, hair spiked slightly at the front in a way that hinted of an at least passing interest in the maintenance of his own appearance, and...

"Of course you do, you love it! Just like that one show about that vampire with a soul from the 90s! Think it makes you look cool and mysterious right?"

...like an old married couple, they each throw out a few verbal jabs right away.

"I'm not gonna dignify any of that with a real response."

The man chuckles, then...

"..."

His gaze turns to you.

"...Name's Chronos."

Without prompting from his lover (?) the man introduces himself to you, offering a hand to you in a gesture of what seems like good manners...

"...That blunt approach with the barista work out for you?"

...Although the fact that he felt comfortable enough to ask that perhaps says otherwise...

[Zurvan]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Evening

The ESPer accepts the dark-clad man's hand with a grace befitting his usual unflinching expression. Cold eyes stare back at him, filled with a mix of wariness and curiosity.

"Ludwig Karlfeldt... and no. I take no enjoyment in causing her worry. Going to have to think of a way to make it up to her."

Replying to the question more honestly than perhaps is warranted, Ludwig reveals an understanding of the effect his actions had had, even if it was what he had gunned for. Evasiveness that worked as a cause of worry, met with a noticeable desire to confide. Whilst the circumstances around said desire could certainly be viewed as romantic, sadly that was more or less intended as a disguise for Astra, as well as other prying eyes.

Anna in this regard is more perceptive, most likely realizing that the best way of handling the secretive nature of the silver-haired Karlfeldt's is to let him come forward with things himself. He certainly desires to do so, that much should be evident, and yet... the fact remains he didn't voice anything of substance. Needless to say, it's rather worrying, even if the two were only coworkers.

Yes, she had realized the boy's intent and played along... which despite it being the desired result, left the mind reader feeling rather guilty.

Were circumstances different, perhaps the more honest wish to spend time with the ship's captain could be pursued freely...

Lydia seemed to grin mischievously despite what had just unfolded, most likely plotting ahead in an attempt to make the night ahead fun for all involved in her own way, however her schemes are currently of little interest. After all, her mischief had opened up the path to ask a particular question to this duo in the first place. Were it not for her eavesdropping on Adala and Chiyoko in the previous dream-world, she wouldn't have learned of Chronos, nor noticed the strange connection Chiyoko Fujimoto had with time.

Taking one final glance over towards Anna and Astra -who is currently much more animated than Ludwig had ever seen her- the boy sighs. His eyes move back toward Chiyoko and Chronos.

"...Thanks for coming Chiyo, even if what I'll be asking of you will most likely sound insane."

"And thank you for coming too, Kuku~!"

Once again, Lydia rapidly shrinks away any distance that naturally presents itself among strangers. Although, it seemed in this instance it was aimed more so to see any spot reactions rather than getting closer. A baseline that may well be necessary for what lies ahead.

"..."

Left stumped for a moment, Ludwig eventually begins to make his way to the table Chronos originally seated himself at. Taking a seat himself, he invites the pair to join him, before at last asking one of the questions that's been ruminating in his mind.

"Now then, forgive me for asking this out of the blue, but does the time period of 46 billion years mean anything to either of you?"

[Airen]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR
11/16/2026
Monday ~ Evening

"...46 billion years?"

Chiyoko seems surprised by the question, while Chronos -who has withdrawn both cigarettes and a lighter from his jacket pockets- simply seems to be quietly observing both you and Lydia with an inquisitve eye...

In that regard, he really does seem to be the tall, dark, brooding type, just like Chiyoko had implied...

"Well, it's an absurd amount of time."

Ultimately, Chiyoko just chuckles about it.

"An indescribably amount of time really, older than this universe, the sort of timespan that would drive a person absolutely insane if they lived from the start of it to the end of it."

She stirs the coffee in front of her -you're not quite sure when she got it- with an absentminded sort of air, eyes unfocusing as some sort of mental cloud falls over her thoughts...

Some sort of nostalgia perhaps?

"But other than that... Nothing particularly comes to mind..."

Her gaze turns to Chronos, who, after looking back at her for a moment, takes a draw from his cigarette and...

"...Karlfeldt, huh?"

...Finally seems to voice what he's been thinking about this entire time.

"....That grandma of yours send you here?"

He doesn't sound hostile, just...

Curious.

"Awfully specific number you wound up with."