the general - day zero.

[foxhounds]

THE GENERAL day zero Ivan has told you what you're meant to do in the coming days, and she's also told you that there's an hour before other souls will start washing up on the shores. She has to leave to prepare, but you're all together in the lobby of the mansion. Take it as a chance to meet each other and get to know the people you'll be working with.

Comments

[hopefragment]

Yeah...

[Looking over the others, he wishes he could believe that.

He feels so ordinary, it's painful.]

[unrulyprincess]

Excuse me.

It is incredibly rude to let your attention drift when there is a lady before you, conversing with you.

[She saw that uncertain look....she just doesn't know how to fix it or make him feel better.]

There is no time to be so uncertain, I hope you are aware.

[hopefragment]

Uh-- sorry.

[Immediately turns his attention back to her! What a bossy lady.]

Anyway, you said you were the sister of a "Mage-General," right? What's your name?

[unrulyprincess]

[incredibly so.

This topic makes her feel better, though...]

...Daughter, rather. My father was Mage-General of Etruria, before he stepped down from the position to allow Lady Cecilia to take his place. My brother, Klein, is an acting General of Etruria's forces, however--or, was, or--

[He didn't ask about your brother, Clarine...]

Oh, never mind! My name is Clarine. And yours?

[hopefragment]

Clarine?

[Her little story sounds like something out of a manga, for sure. But introductions, while a little embarrassing, are something he can do! He even gives her a little bit of a smile.]

Uh, my name is Hinata. Hinata Hajime. I'm a student of Hope's Peak Academy.

[He says that as if it's supposed to Mean Something.]

So your father taught you to be a... Mage-General, then?

[unrulyprincess]

Is this Hope's Peak a rather prestigious academy, then?

[Assuming that, from his tone... as for the rest:]

That is... ah, not entirely correct...

[...]

Though also not incorrect... [it's complicated okay] But don't go thinking that I'm useless!

[hopefragment]

Yeah. The Academy guarantees success for its graduates, after all. It's kind of like... being a celebrity, to go there.

[He's so happy talking about it-!! Also he kind of feels like he has the upper hand now, because yeah, he is a Super High School Level. Even if he can't remember what his talent is... he definitely has one.

...Not to mention, it doesn't seem like this girl is as impressive as he'd thought.]

I wasn't saying you're useless, don't worry.

[unrulyprincess]

[Keep your smug brackets to yourself, Hinata.]

Well...!

I suppose you may be more well-suited to this than you first appeared as well, then.

[hopefragment]

...Yeah.

[I don't think I want to be suited to this.]

I guess we'll just have to do our best, huh? At least, we'll have to get some more information.

[unrulyprincess]

More information...

[That...makes sense. She hadn't thought about it BUT IT MAKES SENSE.]

How do you propose we do that?

[hopefragment]

I don't know yet.

[That's the honest answer, as much as he doesn't like it.]

We don't have much time left before the others start arriving, right? Once we get to know more about the kind of people who are being brought here... I think I might be able to get some clues.

[He hopes.]

[unrulyprincess]

Then...we shall have to be careful not to reveal any of this. If we do so, all of this effort will be for naught.

[And they won't even have a chance at this..... whether it's right or wrong.]

[hopefragment]

Yeah, definitely.

All I know for sure is... I want us all to get out of here, alive.

[Whether they're really dead, or just waiting to be killed... either way.]

I won't hold you guys back.

[unrulyprincess]

See to it that you don't.

[A beat.]

Ah, and... I shall not hold us back either. You have my word on that. N-not that it was in question, naturally...!

[hopefragment]

Naturally.

[And a little smile, for her sake, though there's not much feeling behind it. It's hard to smile in this kind of situation, okay, give him a break.]