7th Chapter | Action/Text Backdated on the 3rd

[the_heroine]

[He's been curled up hiding behind one of the curtains in the living room of the Manga House for hours now. Long enough to where now the sunlight blinds his eyes if he looks up. But Mikoto isn't interested in looking outside. His surroundings are unfamiliar and scary. How did he get here? He didn't want to get into trouble. He's heard movement and voices, but he hasn't dared look, trying to stay as quiet as possible. But it feels like it's been forever and no one's found him yet. He accidentally whimpers, and freezes, before trying to make himself smaller. That causes the curtain to move against him.]

[Anyone who looks will find a very nervous seven year old.]

[/Action]

[But he knows how to use a phone and type so maybe he can find out more using the device he found in his pocket.]

[Text]

Im sorry Im lost. Has anyone seen my parents?

Comments

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

[ there's a boy who's maybe a couple of inches taller than him who comes up and pokes him in the side through the curtain ]

.......Are you dead?

[ action ]

[the_heroine]

[he squeaks, scrambling out of the curtains. oh...he was just some kid too. that's not so scary. but he still doesn't know him so he gazes at him warily.]

Who are you...?

[ action ] Mayu is already in Nozaki's icon

[nrgsvr]

[ There's another little boy with black hair. He's just as confused, but confident that his big brother can figure things out. He sticks to his brother's side and silently stares. There's no point in talking.]

[ action ] and he's a wobbly baby

[secretshoujoart]

Nozaki Umetarou. This is my little brother, his name's Nozaki Mayu.

Do you know where the adults are? This looks like a daycare... [ i mean there are cartoons everywhere ]

[ action ] bb mayu

[the_heroine]

I'm Mikoshiba Mikoto.

[he blinks and then freezes, pupils small when he notices the second person. how many people were here? he looks down, intentionally avoiding looking at either of them. his voice is soft and he mumbles.]

I...I didn't see any. [well he hadn't actually bothered to look. he opens his mouth to say something else, but decides against it. he misses the pretty dolls.]

Aren't we too old for daycare?

[ action ] bb mayu

[nrgsvr]

[ Mayu nods when his brother says his name. He shrugs when Mikoto points out them being to old for daycare. Maybe there's a babysitter taking on a bunch of children?

It is a bit scary that his brother doesn't seem to remember how they got to this strange place. His expression is still blank. He offers a hand to the redhead.]

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

You're right, Mayu, we should be nice. He is scared after all.

[ he gives a shrug to Mikoshiba's question ] What else would you say this is? Our parents are probably at work. It makes sense to me... But I'm usually left alone with Mayu...

[ action ]

[the_heroine]

[he takes Mayu's hand. something tells him he can trust him. maybe it's because he's quiet and doesn't speak much like him.]

I'm not scared.

[he frowns.] But...wouldn't they have told us?

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

I don't know... Unless they wanted to keep it a secret.

I wonder if they left us here on purpose.

[ action ]

[nrgsvr]

[ Mayu gives Mikoto's hand a light squeeze. He points to himself to imply that he's scared,so being scared is okay.

He looks around, still holding on to Mikoto's hand. He will move when the others start moving.]

[ action ]

[the_heroine]

They wouldn't do that!

[He blurts out, looking embarrassed. He looks at Mayu, smiling shyly and looking at the floor. Mayu is quiet, so maybe it's okay if he's quiet too.]

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

Our parents would, if they had a reason.

We should at least stay put until someone finds us.

[ action ]

[nrgsvr]

[ Mayu opens his mouth and it might seem like he's about to speak but instead he yawns. Talking is too hard, and everything's weird. At least Mikoto-chan isn't trying to make him talk.]

[ action ]

[the_heroine]

[He isn't sure if anyone is going to find them. He looks troubled until Mayu-kun looks like he's about to speak. Is he actually going to talk?! ...He exhales when Mayu doesn't talk, but yawns instead. He must be tired! He points at the couch where there are nice pillows. If Mayu-kun is too tired, he'll go bring him one.]

[ action ]

[nrgsvr]

[ Mayu moves slowly to the couch. He is still holding Mikoto's hand, though not too tightly.]

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

I think there are kids here... There must be, there's manga books everywhere. [ and he'll just hold this one up, not really even noticing the front says UMETAROU NOZAKI ]

[ action ]

[the_heroine]

[He patiently leads Mayu to the couch. But he frowns and does a double take when he reads the book.]

...Why is your name on it?

[ action ]

[nrgsvr]

[ Mayu lies down on the couch. He vaguely recognizes his brother's name, but some of the writing on the book is too difficult. He stares, interested enough to try staying awake.]

[ action ]

[secretshoujoart]

...Maybe it's a common name here or we're in an alternate universe. Maybe we're in Star Wars world.

[senpaisprince]

[Who ordered their best friend?

Very carefully, she pulls the curtain away to reveal Mikoshiba. At first glance, even if he did remember everything, she'd be difficult to recognize--her hair is a good bit longer and ends at her shoulders in a messy bob, her mannerisms markedly more reserved.]

You've been hiding behind that curtain for hours. Don't you want to come out?

[the_heroine]

[He jumps at the first movement, but he has enough time to calm down when he finally sees Kashima. He shakes his head to answer her question, looking to the side.]

Tell me that is Lindo from Dance with Devils in your icon

[senpaisprince]

[Tiny Kashima hesitates, chewing on her lower lip for a few moments. She considers Mikoshiba's response--or lack thereof--and, still holding the curtain open, peeps her head in a bit more.]

Can I come in then? You shouldn't have to hide alone. I promise I'll sit quiet.

It is!

[the_heroine]

[He frowns deeply and tries to make himself smaller. He's supposed to be polite. And she seems nice. He nods once.]

You can...you can sit here if you want.

Literally just watched the *shit* out of that series

[senpaisprince]

[Kashima slips behind the curtain, carefully smoothing the fabric of her smock-like dress over her knees before stepping as far away from Mikoshiba as she can. She'll give him space, since he obviously wants it. Then, she settles on the floor, tucking her knees to her chest.]

Thank you. It is nice and warm back here. [She tilts her head up towards him.] I'm Kashima Yuu. It's nice to meet you, mister. I'm sorry you're hiding behind the curtain. It's really not so bad in the house. There's these cute animal type things I've never seen before--they're fun to play with. I'm sure you'd have fun, if you'd like to come out--

Oh!

I promised I'd sit quiet.

...I'll sit quietly now. Sorry. [Looks like someone used to get in trouble for being a bit of a restless chatterbox when they were a kid and later their parents just gave up]

All the singing

[the_heroine]

[He's grateful. He gets scared when new people get too close to him, and when he doesn't warm up they either give up, thinking he's cold, or he cries and he hates crying in front of people.]

[He nods, a fragile smile on his face. It is warm. Does Kashima live here? Is her room the one with all the dolls?] I'm Mikoshiba Mikoto.

[He's quiet, but he shifts in interest when she mentions animals. He wants to ask her, but she's already moved on to another subject, and the idea of going out there...]

[But he really wants to see the cute animals! He looks upset, and it's not because Kashima is talkative.]

You are a DEVIL I NEED TO EXORCISE YOU but first ~dance break~

[senpaisprince]

[Kashima smiles up from her knees, but when she sees that he looks upset again, her expression changes. It had seemed like things were going so well for a minute there.]

Hiya, Mikoshiba-kun.

[Kashima twirls a piece of hair with her fingers, over and over until the strand gets stuck in a knot like twist. Grimacing at the conundrum she's gotten herself into, she tries to extricate herself as she glances back at Mikoshiba before looking back to the living room.]

D'you...um. D'you wanna play with one of those animals?

I mean. You know, if you wanna come out from the curtain. 'Cause if you don't wanna come out from the curtain that's okay too. That's allowed. Mom and dad say it's okay and I shouldn't bother people who don't want to be bothered, but it's awful lonely back here. At least we could play with the cute weird animals.

---um! They're nice! Nice, cute, weird animals. But nice! They don't bite or anything!

winning by using dance

[the_heroine]

[His eyes widen. He glances at her, careful not to make eye-contact too long, but he finds himself cringing a little because that looks like it hurts.]

[His face reddens a little (something he hates), but he struggles to make a decision anyway. He starts to fidget and he forces himself to nod. He doesn't know what kind of animals she might not have seen before. But it's starting to sound like some books he likes.]

Okay.

[He reaches for the curtain and peeks out first. Just in case. When he doesn't immediately see the animals his face falls and he looks back at Kashima.]