『 001 ✖ video 』
[ There is the sound of a few buttons being pressed while the screen flickers on and off without relent. Then it finally clears up to show the face of a young man -Youji- hunched over slightly and staring at it in confusion. He looks more than a little lost, his eyebrows pinched towards the center and his face screwed up in obvious discomfort while
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... there are. People here, that is.
Are you all right?
[ His ears are off-screen- for now. ]
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Someone is answering, and Youji has to pause for a moment to pull the device free from his pocket while he quickly presses a few buttons to turn it on again. His eyes are a bit wide in surprise, and he still can't tell it's recording his face. But he does see a strange person with cat ears talking to him on the screen.
-A cosplayer?
Fortunately, people wearing cat ears are pretty common where he's from, so maybe it's not entirely strange. It's better than nothing, though for a long time, all Youji can do is stare, trying to figure out what to say since he's never seen this person before. ]
...Hi.
[ He manages to get that much out before swallowing a bit hard. He hadn't meant to sound so angry before, especially when he's not sure who brought him here to begin with. ]
Who are you?
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But actually- there's another reason. It took him a while, but when he heard that voice, it sounded like it was Asato. But Asato wouldn't have said so much, in the end, and while it did crush him a little, he figures it's better to keep going. ]
... Konoe.
[ He does sound better than he did earlier, but. ]
That's my name... you're new, so I guess you would be upset. We're all in the same position as you, so... don't get too angry. What's your name?
[ He's trying to be better about this... humans aren't entirely horrible and perhaps he's just being nostalgic. ]
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It also occurs to Youji that if he can see Konoe, then Konoe can probably see him in return. The thought does make him suddenly even more anxious. Had everyone else seen his face? Maybe he shouldn't have said anything to begin with. ]
...Sakiyama. How many people are listening to this? I didn't think ...that it was public.
[ He blinks for a moment when something else occurs to him -did his ears just move on his own? Surely, it must have been the wind or something. Either that or Youji's seeing things again. He can't tell anymore. ]
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[ He looks sort of sheepish at that. ]
What did you mean earlier... about time moving fast into the future? Was time running differently for you, where you came from?
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Eh? ...That's not it. I left on a certain day then came here, and it's several weeks in the future from when I left. Is that normal?
[ Was he knocked out for that long? The thought starts to weigh on him quickly when he thinks about those back in his world who are probably looking for him about now. ]
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I guess not... come to think of it, with humans around, this place ought to be in the past for where I come from.
[ And his ears lift again, standing up. ]
I'm sorry- I don't know much about that, so I can't help... but you- you gave me one name. Um- are you from Earth, or somewhere else? A lot of people from Earth here give me two names, but you didn't.
[ He's had soooo much confusion with Japanese names. ): ]
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Youji tries not to stare, eyes glancing away from the screen. It doesn't help that the kind of questions Konoe is asking makes it seem like he is a bit insane, which makes Youji grow visibly uncomfortable while talking to him. ]
I have two names, too... Sakiyama Youji, but...
[ No one really calls him by his first name except Makoto. Not that he really minds a lot, but it would feel weird if someone he doesn't know at all started doing it. ]
You said something about people from earth... what do you mean by that?
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Ah... but it'd be- rude to call you by just "Youji", right?
[ He thinks he's getting the hang of this. ]
A human here told me that people from Ja-pan give their last names, because it's polite, but when you become friends with them, it's okay to use their first names. You're from Ja-pan, then?
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... I meant just that. A lot of people here- aren't from my world, or yours- they're from different places. I know it sounds crazy, but- that's the kind of place this is.
[ And he frowns a little. ]
I'm not human, either. So I'm obviously not from earth. It's like that.
[ Why does he get the feeling he's not convincing this human. ]
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He's almost afraid to let himself believe this is real because if he does, it means he's trapped here with a bunch of people who are not human. While he should feel some relief that there are others who are strange like him, he thinks he'd rather be home living his life normally and not... dealing with this. ]
Wait, if you're not human, then those ears are-
[ His eyes move to them again, trying to accept the truth. ]
...they're real. And you are...?
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I'm- of the Ribika. We're cats. My world is called Sisa.
[ Almost on cue, his little crooked tail appears on screen, swaying a little behind him as he ponders this. ]
Look- just. Ask around. We're all in the same situation here, and these Twelve don't look like they're going to stop at any time. Some people have managed to get out though, so... you might be lucky, Sakiyama.
[ His ears twitch a little. ]
... has anyone else from where you live shown up here?
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I don't think so.
[ He'd woken up alone, too, so that means... even Tetsuo had left behind. ]
Is there ...any reason they picked us? What are they looking for exactly?
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[ He'd tell him about the dreams they all had, but- something tells him that might be even more worse received than everything else. ]
Ah- has... anyone explained that to you? You- you should probably look for someone you can trust. If you don't, they might- force you into it.
[ Which sounds ominous but it was terrible for him, okay. Shush. ]
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He doesn't want to do whatever it is. Not if he has to do it with someone and if it sounds like what he's thinking. His expression becomes a bit pained and uncomfortable at the thought. ]
What do you mean? What do I have to do?
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You have to... I don't know what humans call it, but- we go into heat. It feels that way and- you want to mate. That's what worship means here.
[ His ears lower again. ]
Do you have a partner, Sakiyama? Maybe if you do, you won't have so much trouble.
[ Or a lot like him but h e y... ]
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