[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]

Ah...! That sounds romantic. [ Look, she doesn't get out much. ] Do you fight, too, Tatara?

[skilful]

Not at all!

[redsea]

Huh!? Why not?

[skilful]

Because I'm not a fighter!

[redsea]

... What do you do, then?

[ What is a gang member, if he is not a fighter? ]

[skilful]

Well, I was one of King's first clansmen so somehow, very naturally, I became a core member!

[redsea]

Oh. [ That makes sense. ] What about Yata?

[ Like, what's his ranking... She is pretty sure there are rankings here. Or something. ]

[skilful]

Yata's potential is really, really high! A lot of the older members look up to him!

[ He's considering it. ] Hmm, Yata would be right after Kusanagi-san, I guess.

[redsea]

Is that so?

[ Kouen, Koumei, Kouha, Hakuei, Hakuryuu, Alibaba. All of them were King candidates. But what made them so? And how were they similar to the kings of Totsuka's world? She had so many questions, but she asks only one: ]

Do you think he has the potential to become a King as well?

[skilful]

[ "A person who's obsessed with something can't become a king."

...but, the power of the red king was. Sometimes, it was still painful to think about.

But, only sometimes. ]

Well, he'd be a good king too! I'm sure of it. What do you think, Kou-chan?

[redsea]

[ She turns her head away, embarrassed to admit what she's about to say next. ]

I'm going to be a king, too, so he better be one!

[skilful]

Kou-chan is...?

[redsea]

Ah! Um! [ Shoot, she forgot she hadn't told Tatara yet. How does she explain... ] Because...

[skilful]

[ Smiling! He'll wait patiently. If she wants to explain or not... ]

[redsea]

[ She's.

About to cry. ]

Tatara... I'm sorry I lied to you...

[skilful]

[ That he wasn't expecting!!

Gently: ] It's okay. You had your reasons.

[redsea]

[ She wipes her tears away with the back of her hand. ]

You see, I'm actually, a princess... I'm sorry! I, um—only the eighth in line... But, Judar said, I was one of his king candidates...

[skilful]

[ He already knows (guessed) the first part. ]

King candidates? [ Curiously: ] To rule the kingdom...?

[redsea]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Mm, I don't know. But it sounds wonderful, doesn't it? When our oracle chose me, he said I was strong... I was really happy.

[skilful]

Well, he was right. You're strong.

[redsea]

Huh? But I haven't even shown you what I can do yet... How can you tell?

[skilful]

There are different kinds of strengths!

[ A dramatic pause; he smiles. ]

The heart to endure and the courage to admit weakness — those are strengths too.

[redsea]

... [ Ah, Solomon said the same thing, didn't he?

She just hides behind her sleeves, because there is no way she can formulate a proper response to that right now. ]

[skilful]

[ He chuckles at her actions -- it's cute how shy she is. He'll pretend to check something up on his tablet so she can be embarrassed all she wants. ]