Forum Thread

Amelia Rivera's POV

“Ooh ooh ooh. Newcomer! Hello, uh…Amelia? Yeah? That’s your name, right? Well, this here is a robot. Their name is Bubbles, and they are my robot companion, helper, manager, ehhhhh whatever ya wanna call them. They do a lot of things for me. I made it. I had several more models before them, but I eventually decided on this one. Supercool, eh?”

This person was even more energetic than Kei was, having a rather sporadic and passionate energy that Amelia was unsure what to make of at first. She had to admit though, the robot was interesting.

She nodded, admiring the metallic creature's movements. It was almost like a sort of pet. What fascinated Amelia most was that this had probably been done merely out of mechanical parts, no outside assistance of a ritual whatsoever. At least... As far as she knew. Was Bubbles alive?

"Yes. That's correct. Your companion is most fascinating."

If I were to cut it, would it bleed?

Robots, like humans, could be damaged by weaponry. She wondered if it had a defense system.

“See. Latest model MVS-5296.83. Equipped with high tech sensors, x-ray vision, heat maps and a bunch of other things. Runs on the latest AI module I programmed. Intellectual capabilities through the roof, IQ of 230. The model’s named after Marilyn Vos Savant. Wouldn’t call her a sentient being, but she can definitely hold a decent conservation with you. Or at least better than Mr Grumpy Swear-Mouth over there. Cool, right? Yeah??”

She nodded. "Yes. Very cool." Her voice still maintained its level tone, but there was a spark of interest upon her face. Quite a lot of abilities this robot possessed, if its creator was telling the truth. It could very easily prevent -- or cause -- a murder. Or perhaps its creator wanted others to think they'd have no chance at killing them. Either way, this was a clever invention. Not only was it deeply fascinating but very useful and practical.

"Killing Game? Eh. Potato, tomato, game’s just a game. You die if you die. It’s very upsetting, but I don’t see how we can get out of this situation anyways. Might as well just play along. Best case scenario we all get out alive.”

Amelia shrugged. "There might be a way out of it. A lot remains to be seen here." It was a curious matter, how casual this girl seemed about the whole thing. Her companion (no, not the robot) seemed deeply uncomfortable.

Personally, Amelia had a feeling someone was going to act out, and take the life of someone else here. Heck, it might even be her. But there was no point in approaching it with a mind of defeatism rather than rationality. The game had barely started, and they weren't even close to checkmate.

"It's a pleasure to meet you and your friend Bubbles, Miss...?" she queried, reaching for an answer.

She couldn't help but absentmindedly look in her other companion's direction. They had seemed stiff and uncomfortable at the idea of the Killing Game situation. How very, very interesting.

---

Wei En grinned. “Yayyyyyy! I’m so glad you like it!” She noticed she was still carrying Bubbles, so she proceeded to fling Bubbles in the air, clapping her hands gleefully. “Ehe~ Isn’t that great, Bubbles?” The robot looked rather pissed with her, to have been flung so unceremoniously, but otherwise nodded, bowing to Amelia in thanks. It became more obvious now, after several obvious rounds of Wei En manhandling the robot, that it did not possess any defense system. Only a bit of attitude.

"There might be a way out of it. A lot remains to be seen here."

“Maybe. Maybe not. That bear is cutely terrifying though, I must say. And if we’re here, then someone must have caused it, naturally. Ohh..right. One of us is a traitor! Yeahhhhhhhh! But if we stick together thennnnn that should minimise the chances of dying. Then again…we haven’t scoped out the compound yet. Hmmm…would the MVS model be best suited for that…or”

She dug into her jacket pockets, before pulling out a small, square microchip, accompanied by a scroll so long it rolled out on the floor and hit Amelia’s foot. The scroll was littered with messy formulas, complex code and sketches, all accompanied by a crazed scrawl near impossible to decipher. “Oh. Sorry Amelia…now let’s see…”

“Wei En. That’s Nightrekra, in case you were wondering. Say, you’re pretty cool yourself, eh? You don’t speak much, you just think a lot. Hey. I haven’t told ya my talent yet, have I? Well. I’m the Ultimate Hacker. Nice to meet you.” She bows.

Amelia Rivera's POV

“Yayyyyyy! I’m so glad you like it! Ehe~ Isn’t that great, Bubbles?”

Amelia would have rolled her eyes a little at the girl's excitement, but her face was too controlled for that. She almost laughed but her face merely gave a slight jolt, possibly hinting at a bit of a reaction but not fully committing to one either.

“Maybe. Maybe not. That bear is cutely terrifying though, I must say. And if we’re here, then someone must have caused it, naturally. Ohh..right. One of us is a traitor! Yeahhhhhhhh! But if we stick together thennnnn that should minimise the chances of dying. Then again…we haven’t scoped out the compound yet. Hmmm…would the MVS model be best suited for that…or”

At the mention of the bear, Amelia perked up a little. "The bear... Would you say it's another robot? I thought it might be, but..."

She trailed off into silence ever suddenly as the girl reached into her pockets.

"Oh. Sorry Amelia…now let’s see… Wei En. That’s Nightrekra, in case you were wondering. Say, you’re pretty cool yourself, eh? You don’t speak much, you just think a lot. Hey. I haven’t told ya my talent yet, have I? Well. I’m the Ultimate Hacker. Nice to meet you.”

Wei En was certainly excitable. Amelia again didn't know whether she liked that or not. Kei Oshima had at least heavily given off the impression that she would never kill anyone, but, this person, as well as everyone else, would remain to be seen.

Yes, there was most likely a traitor among them. It would make sense that the person behind this, or, one of the people behind this, would lurk somewhere within the school in order to carry out their plans.

But Amelia felt a bit cautious around her. Wei En would be wise to have as an ally, a friend, rather than an enemy. She seemed all too casual about the Killing Game, so Amelia wouldn't be surprised if she turned out a killer. She had this sort of charismatic, flipfloppy air about her, a wild card sort of air, that reminded Amelia of the salesperson.

"Well. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. And you too, Nightrekra."

Something nagged at her. Wei En was a hacker. Interesting. That could prove useful in killing someone, possibly, or maybe fleeing the school. Or... Who was to say Wei En wasn't behind all this? Amelia was only supposing for now.

She knew her talent might make people uneasy should she reveal it. So she decided to come up with a lie that might sound convincing, given her starry attire, general distance from people, and thinking far more than speaking.

"Ultimate Hacker? How interesting. I'm the Ultimate Astronomer. I prefer to view life from afar, just like I do in my work. I apologize if it bothers you."

She blinked and stared at the scroll that had fallen on her foot earlier. "Oh! No, that's alright. You seem quite thorough in what you do, Wei En."

She was unsure whether to shake her hand, shake the robot's hand, or neither. One thing was for sure, Wei En didn't seem like someone she wanted to make an enemy of.

As for Nightrekra... Well, she scarcely knew anything about her. She'd gone quiet. Was she uncomfortable?

It's about to get very uncomfortable here. Very, very uncomfortable.

---

"You have a point there."

Magnus nodded sagely, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Which member of the peanut gallery might you be, newcomer?"

Magnus stretched lazily, yawning.

meanwhile, Artemis was chilling in the corner, just... reading, uninterested in the world around him.

---

"I'm the one who cleans the bodies when the carnival is over." He answered, smiling flirtatiously at the two (honestly, it's his resting face). "Name's Kuraim. And yours?"

---

“Very likely so. Doesn’t seem like it’d be anything else. Hey- you wanna see something cool?” She typed something into her watch, before a garbled, backwards recording played. Tinkering with it for a while, she finally stopped, managing to produce an eerily similar laugh like that of Monokuma’s. “Quite clever, don’t you think?”

“Nice to meet you, Ultimate Astronomer. Tell me more about your talent! D’you explore the stars? Chart astronomy maps?” Wei En, half hugging Bubbles, half fiddling with the watch on her arm. Her expression dipped into a frown- for just a split second, before resuming its usual cheery grin. Should you have blinked, you would not have seen it.

“Obviously. Accuracy is key when it comes to computers and AI. One wrong letter or pattern in the code and your whole system fails- or goes haywire. Just like gene mutations. You know, mismatches and all that stuff.”

She paused, drawing a breath. “I must admit though, you don’t seem like a starchaser. But then again I suppose I don’t seem much like a hacker, if I didn’t have Bubbles constantly floating around me. I s’pose it’s just a matter of appearances. Can’t judge someone based on looks after all.”

Jirou's lips curled into a tentative grin as he watched Magnus nod in agreement. It seemed his attempt to clarify his words had been successful, diffusing any potential misunderstanding. He leaned back slightly, his body language relaxed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Ah, the peanut gallery, huh?" he quipped, his voice carrying a playful tone. "I guess I'm the one here to spice up the show and add some much-needed flair."

Jirou's eyes danced with amusement as he exchanged banter with Magnus. He found himself oddly drawn to the enigmatic aura that surrounded the grumpy guy, a kindred spirit in their shared appreciation for chaos and entertainment.

As his gaze briefly wandered around the room, his attention was caught by Artemis, who appeared to be completely absorbed in his reading, detached from the chaos unfolding around him. Jirou's brows lifted in mild curiosity at the sight, the juxtaposition of Artemis' indifference intriguing him.

"Seems like Artemis has found his own little world over there," he remarked, a playful glint in his eyes. "Guess we've got the right mark after all."

Jirou's eyes widened slightly in surprise as Kuraim interjected himself into the conversation, his arm casually wrapping around Jirou's waist. Then his hand found Jirou's chin, and there was entire system reboot in the tennis player's mind. The touch was unexpected, and Jirou found himself torn between amusement and discomfort at the intimate gesture. His brows lifted as he met Kuraim's gaze, twisting out of the grip on his face. Resetting mentally, he tried to act naturally, the corners of his lips quirking in a falsely-amused half-smile.

"Ah, Kuraim, you seem like you're always the life of the party, aren't you?" Jirou replied, his tone light as he glanced at the arm still around his waist. While the sudden contact might have caught him off guard, he was quick to regain his composure, the mischievous glint in his eyes unyielding. This was fine. Totally.

"I'm Jirou. Ultimate Tennis Player, or whatever."

---

Kei maintained her pleasant smile as Ezekiel and Ichika responded, her observations from her conversation with Amelia echoing in her mind. These interactions were all part of the intricate web they were weaving, alliances formed and alliances tested. She nodded in acknowledgement as Ezekiel introduced himself, noting the change in his demeanor. "Hello, Ezekiel. It's nice to meet you," she replied, her tone warm and courteous. She respected his shift to civility, recognizing the nuance behind his actions.

Turning her attention to Ichika, Kei's smile widened slightly as she took Ichika's proffered hand and shook it gently. "Pleasure to meet you too, Ichika," she said, her voice carrying a genuine note of friendliness. Kei was careful to strike a balance between sincerity and the calculated nature of their interactions. "I'm Kei Oshima. It's quite the... unconventional situation we've found ourselves in, isn't it?"

As they exchanged introductions, Kei's thoughts drifted back to Amelia's guidance. Establish connections, lay the groundwork for possible alliances, but always remain vigilant. She assessed the dynamics at play, her observations of Ichika and Ezekiel serving as puzzle pieces that she could arrange strategically to further her objectives.

"And how are you both faring amidst this... interesting gathering?" Kei inquired, her gaze moving from Ezekiel to Ichika, her expression poised and attentive. Her words were carefully chosen, designed to prompt a response that could provide valuable insight into their thoughts and sentiments.

---

Magnus went through his bag, pocketing a small red stone. he zipped the backpack up, slinging it over his shoulder.

He glanced at the other two.

"Magnus Exitor, by the way. Ultimate Alchemist."

Artemis slowly closed his book, placing the pink bookmark between its' pages carefully.

He got up, his hands in his pockets, his posture slumped.

He glanced around for the nearest group of people.

"...are there dormitories anywhere?"

His voice was quiet, almost drowned out by the chatter.

---

"It's... Something. Though I'm sick of the game they're playing. I just want my schedule and dorm number. That's all I really need- I came here to hone my talent, not participate in this joke." He had a scowl on his face, it seemed that it was normal for him, given the lines around the corners of his lips. Ichika smiled ever so slightly and analyzed Kei.

"I'm doin' quite alright myself. I've been fixin' to find a way to leave this darn place, but I'm afraid I'll be at it 'til the cows come home..." She was awfully nervous, despite being around potential allies and friends- and also enemies and possible murderers and victims. Maybe she would become a victim herself.

"Always the life of the party?" Kuraim chuckled lowly. "My dear, I'm the only life of the party. My party consists of bodies, corpses, skeletons- you name it. I do my dances with the dead. Very romantic, no?"

---

Kei listened attentively to Ezekiel's words, her eyes meeting his glower with a calm understanding. His frustration and impatience were evident, and she couldn't help but empathize with his desire for normalcy and the pursuit of his talent. She offered him a nod of acknowledgment, her smile sympathetic yet restrained. "I can imagine this situation isn't exactly what you had in mind when you came here," she replied, her voice carrying a reassuring tone. "It's frustrating to have one's plans disrupted like this, but perhaps there's a way to navigate through the chaos and still find... something."

Turning her attention to Ichika, Kei returned the slight smile, her gaze perceptive as she picked up on the nervous undertones beneath Ichika's words. She understood the unease that came with the uncertainty of their circumstances, the constant oscillation between potential alliances and hidden threats. "I know what you mean," she responded, her tone gentle and understanding. "It's quite a labyrinth we've found ourselves in, and it's only natural to want to find a way out. But maybe, just maybe, by working together and sharing our strengths, we can uncover a path forward."

Kei's words were carefully chosen, a blend of genuine empathy and strategic encouragement. She wanted to establish rapport with Ezekiel and Ichika, to make them feel heard and understood while also subtly reinforcing the idea of forming alliances. Her own uncertainty and self-doubt were buried beneath the facade of the confident social butterfly, her instincts finely tuned to the dynamics of the room.

"If there's one thing I believe, it's that every challenge holds the potential for growth," Kei continued, her voice carrying a touch of forced optimism. Amelia would be proud. "As an Anthropologist, I'm pretty much required to see both the good and bad in humanity. As a person... well, I'd like to hope it's positive growth. And I'm off-topic again, aren't I? Sorry." She laughed good-naturedly, a faint blush on her cheeks.

As she spoke, Kei's gaze shifted between Ezekiel and Ichika, her expressions and body language designed to convey both warmth and understanding. Her intent was clear: to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie, to cultivate relationships that could serve their collective survival.

---

As Artemis inquired about dormitories, Jirou nodded, his expression a mix of curiosity and confidence. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure there must be dorms somewhere in this place. They wouldn't just throw us into this mess without providing some sort of living arrangements," he replied, his voice casual as he maintained a nonchalant air.

However, his attention was drawn to Kuraim's peculiar response, his eyebrows arching slightly at the enigmatic words. A chuckle escaped his lips, a mix of intrigue and mild discomfort. "Dances with the dead, huh? Sounds like a unique party theme, I'll give you that," he retorted, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Despite his bravado, Jirou was still acutely aware of the arm Kuraim had looped around his waist. It was a physical closeness that left him uneasy, though he tried his best not to show it. Bros could totally be cool with this kind of thing, right?

After a moment of hesitation, curiosity got the better of him, and he cleared his throat before asking, "Uh, just to clarify... When you say dances with the dead, are you being literal, or is that more of a metaphorical thing?" His tone was casual, as if he was merely seeking clarification on a casual topic, despite his intuition telling him that the answer might not be as comfortable as he hoped.

---

Artemis nodded quietly, bowing his head.

"Thank you."

He glanced around. At some point, his hand had wrapped around the heart-shaped locket around his neck.

He gently opened it, staring at the photo for a second.

"..."

He closed it, before continuing his search.

Magnus scanned the two.

"You two are fruity as all hell."

---

"Oh, very literal. Very literal... Perhaps I didn't introduce myself fully," His smile became a mix of charismatic and dark. "My name is Kuraim Hibiki. The ultimate mortician." He smiled and laughed quietly at Magnus' words. "I simply try to appeal to everyone, after all, there's nothing they can hide from me. I know everything about everyone's body, from the tips of your hair," He brought his hand to Jirou's hair, tousling it slightly, then trailing his hand down Jirou's shoulder and arm, tightening the grip on his waist slightly. "All the way to your marrow."

"Bless your heart, you truly are a kind soul." Ichika was much more at ease in Kei's presence letting her guard down over time as she spoke to Kei. Ezekiel, on the other hand, was observing her communication and body language, noticing how stiff she seemed at times. Almost like she was trying to make it a point to appease the crowd. Like she was collecting her own information. He had to make sure to be wary of her.

---

Airi was just chilling, really.

She sat down on the floor, letting out a huff.

She hated it when she wasn't the center of attention.

Airi really was being ignored by everyone, it seemed. well, no matter. She'd just have to slide into conversations per usual.

She creeped up behind Magnus, smiling cheerfully.

"Hello!"

Magnus jumped suddenly, with a yelp.

"Who the-"

---

Jirou's heart raced as Kuraim's touch grazed his hair, then traveled down his shoulder and arm. He forced himself to keep his expression neutral, his muscles tense as he tried not to reveal the turmoil that Kuraim's actions had stirred within him. His heartbeat thundered in his chest, a quickened rhythm that he hoped Kuraim wouldn't notice. He wanted to pull away, but if he pulled away, it would look gay. A dead giveaway. And Jirou was straight. Someone like him couldn't be gay, anyway.

"Ultimate mortician, huh?" Jirou replied, his voice a mix of casual curiosity and a feigned attempt at nonchalance. "That's... quite a unique talent." He tried his best to keep his words steady, despite the nervous sweat forming on his brow.

He cleared his throat and adjusted his posture, casting a quick glance around the room as if seeking a distraction. The word "fruity" echoed in his mind, and he felt a surge of defensiveness rise within him. He was NOT fruity, whatever that meant. Kuraim's touch, his confidence, it all seemed to be designed to unsettle him, and it was working far better than Jirou would have liked to admit. He must be targeting Jirou because he knows he's the best competition out here. That must be it.

To divert the conversation and mask his own unease, Jirou put on a slightly exaggerated grimace. "You know, the whole mortician thing kinda freaks me out," he confessed, adopting a playful tone. It was a lie, of course. But he couldn't think of any other plausible explanation for his actions. "Like, dead bodies and all that... Gives me the heebie-jeebies." Smooth. When was the last time anyone had used the word heebie-jeebies in a sentence? Commit to the bit, man. He shivered dramatically, hoping to shift the focus away from himself and his own complicated emotions.

---

Kei maintained her friendly demeanor, absorbing the dynamics of the conversation while staying aware of her own objectives. Ichika's warm response eased some of the tension she had been feeling, while Ezekiel's cautious observation didn't go unnoticed. She was well aware that her behavior might come across as calculated, and she couldn't blame Ezekiel for being wary.

"Thank you, Ichika," Kei replied with a gentle smile. She appreciated the warmth and openness that Ichika displayed. Turning her attention to Ezekiel, she offered a polite nod. "And it really is... nice to meet you too, Ezekiel."

She paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. He didn't like her, she could tell. Well she had overheard his earlier comments. Kei wasn't really a fan either. But Amelia wanted alliances, so...

"If you don't mind my asking, what were your lives like before you found yourselves here? Your talents already indicate that you've achieved remarkable success in your respective fields."

Kei's inquiry was genuine, but her underlying objective was to gather information about her fellow classmates, to better understand their motivations and vulnerabilities. But she didn't want to hurt them. She already knew her fate: she was leaving here in a body bag. She would never be able to bring herself to kill someone. But still, the idea of playing the game was fascinating. She aimed to establish rapport while subtly uncovering any potential alliances or connections that could be strategically advantageous.

---

Airi giggled, watching the two.

"What's going on here?"

Magnus narrowed his eyes.

"Who're you, stranger?"

Airi clapped excitedly.

"Ah, I was waiting for someone to ask me that!"

She giggled.

"Name's Airi Fuji, Ultimate performer! Pleased to meet you~!"

She pressed the tips of her fingers together, smiling widely.

Magnus took a step away, blinded by the performer's blinding energy.

"less cheer."

---

---

Eris Everlast

---

Eris, with no one paying attention, made her way to the gym doors. From her pocket, she draws out a deck of tarot cards...

---

Emika Tenshi

---

Angry with both her discovery and the lack of attention, Emika yelled out. "Does ANYONE here have their personal belongings?! Or possibly take from another?!"

---

Nightrekra Shacordis

---

Nightrekra was in awe at Wei En's abilities and personal assistant. They were so cool! She looked around at the other students, curiosity practically bleeding from her.

---

"I wouldn't try to put up a front of I were you." Kuraim moved close to Jirou's ear- his breath could be felt hitting Jirou's skin. "Your body language is a dead giveaway. I can tell what's going on in that pretty little head of yours, you know." After that, he backed away and let the boy go, giving him his space and chuckling. "Of course, I jest. You really shouldn't take me so seriously. Sometimes." He fixed his ascot.and turned to Magnus and Airi. "Hello there, my dear."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kei! I'm sure we'll get along swell." Ezekiel thought for only a brief moment, thinking about how to go about telling his background..

"I was born and raised in Vatican City, with only the cardinals and archbishops as my teachers. I learned the faith of God and studied accordingly, rising to the rank of bishop as of last year. It would normally take a man years to do so, so I'm naturally the youngest of my kind."

"And I grew up with my meemaw- she owned a flower shop, and we lived on a farm with a bunch of darling little animals! I took over the shop, and learned how to garden."

---

"Oh, yeah, Jirou. You give off closet gay vibes, honestly."

Magnus yawned, now used to Airi's presence.

"I should know."

Airi peered at Magnus, then at Jirou.

"Oh yeah. Definitely Bi."

---

Jirou felt a shiver crawl down his spine as Kuraim's voice whispered into his ear, his breath sending an unsettling sensation across his skin. His heart raced as he sensed Kuraim's proximity, his own body language betraying his unease despite his best efforts to mask it. The words Kuraim spoke cut straight through his facade, exposing the vulnerability he had been trying to hide.

He stumbled slightly as Kuraim released him, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and frustration. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to regain his composure. "Yeah, well, you're not exactly the expert on people, are you?" he retorted, his voice wavering slightly as he fought to steady it.

Airi's comment only added to the mounting discomfort, and Jirou's panic intensified. He felt like the spotlight was on him, and his mind raced to formulate a response that would shut down the assumption without revealing his true emotions. "You're both so clueless. Just because I'm not all... touchy-feely doesn't mean I'm... that." His words came out more defensively than he intended, his face reddening even more as he stumbled over the last part of his sentence. "It's not... it's rude to just assume things about people like that. It's rude to assume people's... sexualities." Except he couldn't even pronounce the word right. Secs-shaul-tee? Sec-shoo-ahl-ih-tee?

Anyway, moving on. Jirou cleared his throat, his posture straightening as he attempted to regain his usual confidence. "Anyway, it's not the time or place to be talking about that stuff. We've got bigger things to worry about."

He hoped his attempt at recovering his macho demeanor would overshadow the momentary lapse in his composure. But deep down, the encounter had shaken him more than he'd care to admit. He had to maintain his bravado, even if it meant pushing aside his own confusion and discomfort.

---

Kei listened intently as Ezekiel and Ichika shared glimpses of their backgrounds. It was fascinating to hear about their vastly different experiences and paths in life. She offered a warm smile as Ezekiel spoke, impressed by his achievements and the unique life he had led. "It's truly remarkable how dedicated you've been to your faith and studies. Being the youngest bishop must be quite an accomplishment."

Turning her attention to Ichika, Kei's smile brightened further. "Oh, a flower shop and a farm? That sounds like a wonderfully charming upbringing. I can imagine the beauty of the flowers and the joy of being surrounded by animals. It must have been a unique and heartwarming experience."

At the mention of her own background, Kei's expression turned slightly wistful. "Well, my parents were anthropologists, quite renowned in their field. We traveled around the world a lot, studying various cultures and societies. It was an exciting and enlightening experience, but sometimes I did find myself yearning for the stability of staying in one place, like you both have. The chaos of moving from one place to another every month had its charm, but there's a certain appeal to the idea of building connections in a single community."

She was acutely aware of where everyone was in the room. She couldn't help but steal occasional glances in her direction, mind preoccupied with the magnetic pull Amelia seemed to exert on her. It was a familiar pattern for Kei, one she had unconsciously followed many times before. To her, it was natural to dedicate herself to someone she saw as a guiding light, to align her actions with their desires, and to find purpose in supporting them. She had always been a lonely planet, orbiting around her own sun, alway shining brightest when connected to someone else. Some viewed her as subservient, but she liked to feel useful.

---

Nanami watched as Hotaru continued with her enthusiastic sales pitch, seemingly unfazed by Nanami's playful flirting. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at being ignored, but she maintained her composed demeanor. As Hotaru went on about the amazing features of the game console, Nanami decided to interject, her tone casual and nonchalant.

"Wow, that all sounds really impressive," she said, her expression remaining neutral. "But I've heard a few concerns from others. Like the battery life being shorter than expected, and some complaints about the controller's responsiveness. Also, the price point seems a bit steep for what's being offered. Have those issues been addressed?"

Nanami's words were deliberately chosen to poke holes in Hotaru's sales pitch, raising valid questions without outright dismissing the product. She wasn't trying to be confrontational, but rather, she wanted to see how Hotaru would handle these criticisms and whether her enthusiasm would remain unshaken.

---

Airi laughed.

"You're so oblivious, it's adorable, really."

Magnus didn't laugh along. he just crossed his arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow.

Airi continued.

"How could you say you're not clearly attracted to this oddly dashing fellow over here? You ever so clearly are."

She giggled.

"Your face is flushed, your breathing is quickened..."

---