[ IC CONTACT - SIREN'S PULL ]

[topslug]

[ BEEP. ]

"Hi! You've reached Katsuragi Yako. I'm not here right now, but leave me a mesage and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!"

Comments

voice; plaaaaceholder, but-!

[hatesafrica]

So, I understand I'm supposed to call about those rooms that are free in Sector Four?

voice; no worries! sorry for the delay o/

[topslug]

Ah, yes! You've reached the right number. I'm Yako.

We have three rooms available, all of them doubles. You'd have to furnish it yourself, though it does have a closet.

voice; not a problem!

[hatesafrica]

Might I inquire as to who else happens to be living there presently?

voice;

[topslug]

Right now, there's me, Mr. Xerxes Break, and Ms. Sharon Rainsworth. Mr. Break is usually out most of the time. [ Best to assume it's for a job or something. . ]

I'm just a boarder here myself, but Mr. Break said he'd leave looking for boarders up to me.

Voicemail;

[youcandielater]

[Wow. A potentially decent place to live in this place and it's run by someone with the same last name as her? No big believer in fate here, but she'll give it a shot.

And her voicemail just sounds unbelievably chipper. She's putting on a good show for this.]

Hiii~ I'm just calling to see if you still have one of those rooms available. My name's Misato Katsuragi and you can reach me at this number when you have the time, okay? Bye now!

Calling back;

[topslug]

[ Yako's pleasantly surprised by the message that comes in; she hasn't met someone in the city yet with the same surname as she does, and the woman sounds cheerful enough. ... Almost worryingly chipper? But she shakes it off when she calls back.

She calls back sometime in the late afternoon. Once Misato picks up: ]

Katsuragi-san? This is Yako speaking. All three of the rooms are currently still available. There are three people currently living in the house itself, but we've decided to lease these rooms out to anyone who needs the space.

[youcandielater]

Great! I'm in training to get one of those security guard jobs, so I should have some money coming in soon. And I had two roommates back home, so it shouldn't be a problem. You probably won't even know I'm there.

[This. Is. A. Lie.]

[topslug]

[ WEIRDO. SENSE. TINGLING. ... why does Yako have the worst feeling about this, all of a sudden? ]

Well, there are currently three of us in the house: Mr. Xerxes Break and Ms. Sharon Rainsworth are the actual owners. I'm just living there myself.

Aside from the rent, you'll be expected to help out with some of the housework, like cooking and cleaning. Does that sound all right?

Voice

[bornfromdeath]

So how are you holding up? Did the doctors figure out why you passed out?

Voice

[topslug]

Oh! [ And her voice is just a little hoarser than usual, though it maintains its cheer otherwise. ] Yeah, yeah they did.

Voice

[bornfromdeath]

You haven't been eating as much either.

[YES HE SAW.]

Did you develop diabetes or something?

Voice

[topslug]

Not exactly. They told me I should avoid eating too much because my stomach's still, um, upset.

[ Beat. ]

It's okay, though. I mean, I haven't really been feeling that hungry since Friday... [ THE WORLD IS ENDING. ]

[message]

[isitablurred]

Hey, it's Clark. I said I'd give you a call, but I've been a bit busy. Give me a ring when you get this.

[call]

[topslug]

Hey, it's Yako. Got your message.

[call]

[isitablurred]

Hey there! How did everything go? I'm sorry that I rushed out after the talent show, I had some stuff to do before dark.

[call]

[topslug]

It's fine! Everything went all right, and we got to give the prizes out. I know you must be pretty busy yourself, so don't worry about it.

Voice, forward dated to sunset

[bornfromdeath]

Katsuragi-san. Shinji Nishizono and Kazuhiko Amamiya are dead.

[There is silence in the background. Complete and utter silence, as if everything has been buried.

Give up? Lose hope? Shinji had said to retain hope of his return was pointless. He had promised to treat it as he would have in the outside world. But how? This wretched pain... It wouldn't let him think of it like that.]

Voice,

[topslug]

[ Yako had been on her way to the Lux, already dressed up for what promised to be the entire night out (and she wasn't going to be sleeping anyway, was she?). The call, however, stops her dead in her tracks.

Her voice betrays none of the emotion that floods her now: a curious mixture of worry, anger, and sorrow. ]

Ooe-san, where are you?

Voice

[bornfromdeath]

I'm at home. Why do you wish to know?

[Kimihiko on the other hand sounds shaken. Just a little, the fragments of his mask slipping a little further.]

Voice

[topslug]

Because I was wondering if you'd like some company.

[ The sun is dipping below the horizon as she speaks, but sirens haven't sung out, not yet. There's time for her to make it, unless Kimihiko lives that far away. ]