exsilium | [Video] Monster Warning

[Kousuke appears on the screen, covered in dust and sweat and blood. If you look closely, you can see the trails his tears have left in it. But he gives a wan smile anyway. Anyone who's seen his real smile could tell what a pale imitation this one is.]

Uh... Hey, hey everybody. I'm Kousuke Nitoh. I, uh. I'm calling you on my way back from the outskirts of town. I gotta tell you something important...

[He sighs heavily, leaning up against the wall of a half-ruined building.]

There's a monster in town, a Phantom. It, uh, well, the easiest way for me to explain it is that it... killed Haruto.

[He looks immediately despondent, having said those words. He quietly repeats it.]

Haruto's dead. The Phantom stole his body, and it's walking around lookin' like him. So if you see him, don't talk to him. Phantoms usually don't kill people, other than the ones they're inside... But he'll try to feed off your despair.

[He starts walking again, looking around awkwardly.]

It's my responsibility to kill him. I gotta do this. But if anyone could help me keep people back while I fight him, or like... Just help me out. I have to deal the final blow, though. My life kind of depends on it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Guess who ran into her old friend before seeing this message? This gal, RIGHT here. Well she doesn't normally check the network when she's out shopping so she can't be blamed, right? Right? Still when she gets home afterwards and sees this ... it takes her a while to be able to be able to respond, shock written over her face. ]

Ha...Haruto is... he..'s ..

[ Not to worry, she's not going to make him say it again. But she saw Haruto just recently - well the REAL Haruto, and they went out for coffee and donuts and everything! She ...supposed this explained a lot though. ~~Or will once that log is finished hrrhrr.~~ ]

I... I'm so sorry.

[ A moment after that, she composes herself, taking a breath. ]

Did you know him well?

Yeah.

[He walks forward purposefully, trying to keep his composure. Then he turns back to the camera he carries in his hand.]

I did, yeah. We knew each other from back home. He's my eternal rival!

[For a minute he seems almost like his old self. Then his face falls again.]

We're roommates here, too. I mean, he came from before he met me, so he didn't know me that well, but...

[He runs his fingers through his hair.]

Anyhow, hey, nice to meet you.

[ The comment about eternal rivals crack a smile on Lucy's face briefly, but she manages to swallow back the laugh - which would probably have been a bit too high pitched anyhow. ]

I-- I see. I didn't know Haruto.. had someone from home here. I'm glad though - even...even if you two ...were rivals. I've known Haruto as long as he's been here.

[ She's silent a moment, glancing away from the feed briefly, before turning back with a ghost of a smile. ]

... it's nice to meet you too - any friend of Haruto's is a friend of mine. My name is Lucy.

.. I wish it were under better circumstances, meeting like this.

It's no big thing, bein' somebody's rival. Rivals gotta have each other's backs you know. You can't get better if there's no one to be better than, right? That's the kind of rivals we are.

[He thinks for a minute about his usage of 'are' rather than 'were,' and he feels good about it. Still...]

But yeah, I been around. I was sick... Yeah, look, don't worry, I'll take care of this. And then Haruto will be back, good as new. Then we can hang out.

I know... I have two good friends who say they're each other's eternal rivals too. It's actually a little funny.

[ She notes the use of 'are' as well, and... well anywhere else it would be strange. She just hopes Haruto will be back. She's going to give him the biggest hug. ]

Did you have the plague that was going around? ... I'm glad that you're feeling better. ...

[ She'd offer to help but... she didn't think she could ever bring herself to fight one of her friends. Even if he wasn't himself. ]

I'd like that. You can come to Fairy Sanctuary. We'll have a party.

Well, I'm dead serious! Haruto's my rival cos I gotta work as hard as I can to be better than him! And I...

[He deflates, suddenly.]

Well, I haven't been a very good rival to him lately, but whatever. I'll fix it. I've gotta fix this.

...Yeah, I had the plague. Haruto was taking care of me...

[He bites his lip and then takes a deep breath in through his nose.]

All right, when Haruto gets back, we'll have a welcome back party. With doughnuts!

[ She smiles wanly. ]

I believe you. Natsu and Gray are the same way - they're always challenging each other. Although...Gray isn't here.

[ She brightens a bit more at the last, nodding firmly. ]

I'll look forward to it! ..Good luck.

Maybe I'll get a cake. It's gonna be a great party, I promise.

[He nods]

Must be tough for him to get along without his rival. Wish him luck for me. And thanks for the moral support, Lucy.

[ Lucy grins at that. ]

Well between you, me, and the rest of my friends, I'm sure we'll be able to make it a welcome back for Haruto that he won't forget anytime soon.

[ Especially if table surfing is involved. ]

I think it is, a little - but Erza is here too, and neither he nor Gray have been able to beat her. I'll tell him you wished him luck though - and you're welcome. Although the thanks aren't really necessary~!

Haha, I hope not.

[He pauses for a moment, looking genuinely moved.]

It's nice, though. To know that Haruto's got some other people to come back to.

Hn.. I think I know what you mean. But he's a great guy, and a good friend. I know he must have a lot of them here - friends I mean. And there's you too, right?

You have people here you'd be able to come back to, if your situations were reversed.

Yeah... He's just been in such a crummy mood... And I've been so-

[He cuts himself off.]

Nah, nah, okay... Yeah I got a lot of people who'd be sad to see me go. But I'm not going anywhere! I promise!

You've been so...?

Wait, he's been - Haruto was? But he seemed cheerful when I spoke to him last... what happened?

[ Lucy stop being nosy. She instead grins a little at the latter. ]

Good, I'm glad. You'd have to answer to all of those people if you did go somewhere. [ Or got hurt. ]

I'm, uh... Well, I was sick and stuff. I've been kind of a burden on him for a little while.

Haruto's pretty good at hidin' stuff, I just felt like he's been acting weird lately, but I didn't know what to say...

[He looks down, his face disappearing under a shuffling mop of hair.]

I'll be fine, though. It'll be okay. I just gotta do it.

Oh right...the plague, huh? But you're friends, and friends aren't ever a burden on each other. [ Because for Lucy, Friends tend to be rivals too sooo... ]

Maybe... [ Well, no sense in making sense of the maybe's. She can always ask Haruto if...WHEN ..he gets back. ]

I know... but please be careful, Kousuke..

Yeah, and some other stuff.

I'll be careful. I'll see you later. It'll all work out.

[Video] Monster Warning

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