Exorcism Research Meeting

[jumpedtheshark]

[There's notes slipped under everyone's door's that night.]

Meet in the lobby for an research meeting on exorcism. - Shirogane Tsumugi

[Said lobby has stacks of manga on one of the tables, organized by series. There's a lot there. On another table is her sewing machine, supplies, and an assortment of red and white fabrics.]

Right! Some manga and anime refrence exorcism, like Inuyasha, or revolve around it, like Twin Star Exorcists. I've brought out both of those, Gegege no Kitaro, Blue Exorcist, Natsume's Book of Friends, Yu Yu Hakusho, and more. I think that by referencing them... we could find exorcism methods to try. While they are fictional... we are too, so... it might still work, right?

[She nervously fiddles with her tape measurer.]

I'll be working on Miko costumes for the exorcism... but I'd appreciate it if everyone here read through at least one series and wrote down the methods you find, so we can prepare for them.

Oh, and umm... one last thing. If you want to look for more related manga or watch the anime of any of these series... I'm giving you free reign to check the shelves in my room and watch on my computer.

[She's trusting you all to not look under her bed, okay. That's where all the... stranger merchandise she has has been relegated to.]

So... let's do our best to save Niijima-san, Cinque-san, and whoever the Jorogumo is...  okay?

Comments

[jumpedtheshark]

[Tsumugi tenses up, freezes, and after a few moments relaxes in resignation.]

.... How much of that did you hear?

[Oh. Right, he asked a question.]

And... um... it is a common character arc in stories. The heel-face turn. A bad guy becoming a good guy.

[She never considered herself the bad guy, except in the story, until recently though.]

Besides... we were fictional. We just did what we were written to do, right? But now that we're real, we can make our own choices. Our creators aren't our writers anymore. We are. We can be different people than who we were written to be, if we want to try.

[God... when did she turn into Saihara? She can feel the irony of this moment.]

[moonlightbeast]

[He just smiles warmly at that first question.]

Regardless of what you think, I don't see you as a villain, Tusmugi-san.

[And as for the rest...]

I...would like that, I think. To be able to change from that and be a better person.

Major Ndrv3 spoilers

[jumpedtheshark]

I don’t think you’d think anymore if you knew what I did.

[Literally what this entire situation but worse and for entertainment. She actually gets and agrees with the Foundation’s stance on them. It’s just now that she’s gotten attached to people here that she’s starting to reconsider that and her stance on the fictional status of the Ndrv3 characters. She’s still heavily debating the latter, but she’s at the very least agreeing that maybe putting physically alive fictional characters in a death game was wrong, even if most of the population was okay with it.]

I think you have the best chance out of all of us Atsushi-kun. You have a good heart. That’s the plain truth.

[moonlightbeast]

I could say the same thing about myself, you know. I try to smile and be nice, but I've done some pretty bad things. And my 'normal' is so far off that I don't think it can be fixed.

[He's not fishing for compliments here, this is what he truly thinks.]

But I still want to try. And I think you could do it too, if you try.

[jumpedtheshark]

.... We are more similar than I thought.

[Wow, that sounds familiar. A small genuine smile is cracked out of her.]

Hey.... are you sure you're not a protagonist, Atsushi? I think you'd make a good one if you aren't.

[moonlightbeast]

I'm pretty sure I'm not, but we can find my series to check for sure.

[A private conversation, perfect for crushing him.]

[jumpedtheshark]

I guess we will.

[This cannot go wrong in anyway.]