[video] backdated to 3rd December!

[skilful]

[ The feed opens up to one girl recognisable to be Kougyoku Ren looking into the camera, clearly held up by somebody else. ]

So when it starts recording, I should speak to it?

[ From behind the camera, a voice chuckles, sounding amused. ] Kou-chan, it’s already started.

[ The girl gasps and blushes, covering her mouth in surprise. ] I’m sorry, I didn’t... Oh, how do I begin? Um, h-hello... everyone. I mean, greetings! I mean...

[ A whisper from behind the camera: ] Introductions, Kou-chan, introductions~

Yes, you’re right. It’s not like I haven’t introduced myself before. [ She turns her head a few degrees away from the camera. ] I am Kougyoku Ren. I am… eighteen years old. I am from the Kou Empire, and I, I like fashion, fighting and… um... Anyway, I. I am looking for friends.

[ Again, from behind the camera: ] So, if you’d like to be her friend, please reply to this video!

[ Kougyoku immediately smiles and faces the camera after that line. It’s as if her personality did a complete 180. ] Did I do good, Tatara?

[ And, once more, the voice behind the camera chuckles as the feed shuts down: ] Very well done!

[ note; Tags will be coming separately from Kougyoku and Totsuka separately! ]

Comments

[redsea]

Yes! I'm only eighteen. [ She sounds determined to make this clear. Not "I'm already eighteen," which makes you wonder... ]

[maddeninghatter]

You do sound very young.

[ "Only" eighteen, was she coached to answer that way... ]

The young man holding the camera, did he put you up to this?

[redsea]

[ No, she only gets teased for looking older than she is. But that's only by one person... ]

That's right. Tatara said this would help me make a lot of friends. [ She looks so confident in his abilities. ]

[maddeninghatter]

I'll bet he did.

So —

[ In his creepiest of creeper voices: ]

How would one go about making friends with you, hm?

[redsea]

[ ...She doesn't like his tone! So she hesitates before replying. ]

Well, first, they'd have to introduce themselves. Then, we'd get to know each other.

[maddeninghatter]

[ There's candy in the van. ]

I say, that second part sounds nice. How would you go about getting to know somebody?

[redsea]

[ Ka Koubun told her not to talk to strangers. :( "Only eighteen"... but she's at least old enough to Get it. ... Only because Totsuka told her. She hides her faces behind her sleeves, flustered by what his tone implies. ]

C-certainly not in they way you're thinking of, sir! [ SHE'S NOT A LOOSE GIRL ]

[maddeninghatter]

Oooh~?

[ He manages to sound hurt. ]

You don't want to be my friend?

[redsea]

[ And she falls for it. ]

No, that's not true! [ She wants friends so bad. ]

[maddeninghatter]

Ha! Ha! Ha! Don't force yourself. I'm used to it, after all.

[ foreveralone.png ]

[redsea]

[ Oh. :( She actually feels sorry for him. After having no friends for the longest time, she knows exactly how it feels. ]

... I really mean it.

I would like to be friends with you, sir.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Foreveralone.png is a technique specifically taught to him by his patroness, Lady Sheryl Rainsworth, back in the days when he was an awkward young man. ]

Hm, well. I don't know. Having friends is a bother, isn't it?

[redsea]

[ She taught him well.

And Kougyoku is just that gullible. ]

It isn't! Having a friend is never a bother to me, because... because I treasure each and every one!

[maddeninghatter]

I see.

[ A beat. ]

How many friends do you have?

[redsea]

Um... Do the friends in this world count?

[ She sounds too shy to admit it either way. ]

[maddeninghatter]

Of course~! Why wouldn't they?

[ He is beginning to speculate about this girl. Did she spend her life as a shut-in, for instance? ]

[redsea]

[ More like the entire royal family forgot about her, but we don't talk about that! ]

Then... then I have... ten, I think.

[maddeninghatter]

Ten!

Ten friends! Why, that's quite a lot, don't you think? You certainly don't need more in the way of quantity.

[redsea]

Really? Ten is a lot? But... I met most of them for the first time yesterday. Is that all right?

[maddeninghatter]

.....ah.

My dear, those are called acquaintances.

[redsea]

Ah. [ He can hear the disappointment in her voice. ] Is that so... Yes. Yes, of course.

[ She doesn't want to look stupid, but she certainly feels that way. ]

[maddeninghatter]

Hahaha! Why, don't get so upset. An acquaintance is simply somebody who might become a friend, someday.

But as I said, it's an awful bother.

[redsea]

A bother? I do not understand. Everyone must have friends. At least, they must want to have friends. I can't imagine a person who would want to live alone for the rest of their life.