Listen closely and you should be able to hear

[With the current mode switched on, listeners won't have the pleasure of knowing that Haruka has been getting buzzed incessantly since his time limit became overdue.]

[...] I would like to know more about the scientist known as Ace, or "Sweet One."

Also, about any other scientists that have been in contact with the people who were living in this city for over a year. Not for games, but as people.

[He never took an interest before, but... what sing_nonomori was able to tell him about Ace before has him a little interested. Especially considering what has been happening in the city lately.]

[Voice]

[BZZZZAP!] Tch.

[...] Hanami... huh.

[An amused humph.] ...It's hard to think of holding a spring festival in a place where the flowers struggle to bloom and the cherry blossoms don't even exist, Yuuko-san.

[Text]

Wood that has already been cut should be hard to come by. They get used for other things that are more important than stalls. If we can obtain some from the trees in the forest, then that should be fine. Just be prepared for any of the monsters who live there.

Those that are too weak to fight should just stay behind. There are other things that you can do instead.

I would also like to know if there is any sake left, and who would be willing to donate it toward this festival.

[BZZZZAP! Haruka lets out a grunt in pain as the communicator shocks him through his jacket pocket.]

Tch. [It soon goes up, and then down. Right on the ground with an audible clatter. He's been busy, and can do without the interfering spark.]

This is getting old. I guess trying to take this thing apart wouldn't be much of an option either, would it?

[...] I'm running errands for Kantarou, since he feels safer holing himself up in our room with the mistletoe around. Don't ask me why... though I can probably take a wild guess.

Moa-san, I'll be stopping by the inventory soon to pick up a few things. Watch your head.

[[ooc Haruka will be wandering through the high school from his room, and stopping by the Northern Lights for work in case you wanted to get your mistletoe action on.]]

[There is a pause, though Haruka can be heard humming thoughtfully in the background as he examines the karasu tengu mask he received for Halloween.]

... Oi, Kantarou.

You can have this. I have no interest in holding onto it.

[...] I still don't trust eating this thing. What is it, anyway? It's orange.

Hm. About before... Don't people usually appear on those boxes when they start to work like that? Nothing happened this time. Though the air felt different... I'm surprised that I didn't see any youkai appear.

...and what was that scream? I have a bad feeling about this.

[...] I wonder if Bonten predicted that he would be returning home soon through his Heaven's Net.

[[ooc Strikes = thoughts/unhackable]]

[BBBZZAP! Haruka lets out a loud shout. Shocked and surprised. Not such a good combination.] Che...

What an unusual festival... [He seems vaguely amused.] Underdressed. But I guess it can't be helped, in such a place.

[A pause. He can't even believe the words that were about to come out of his mouth.] In spite of it all... it was kind of fun.

[Text]

[...]

A relative of mine has been brought to this city.

Her name is Youko. Please treat her well, or I'll kick your ass.

( Private to Kantarou and Youko; Hackable )

( Private to Kamui; Hackable )

[[ooc Strikes = Visible to everyone but Youko, and hackable to Kantarou.]]

.....

Wait. This feeling...

[...]

Oh, what the hell is this. ...Get out of the damn classroom already! I hate crowds.

The messages in the high school... they've disappeared. No one tried to scrub them away, because there are no markings left behind.

[...]

The revivals... they're chosen. With the ghosts that were wandering through the city, how many of you noticed it?

There had to be a time when death stopped for us. Because they weren't so lucky. It's no wonder that they were acting so restless.

( Private to Shinjiro; Hackable )

( Private to the city doctors; Hackable )

( Private to Kantarou; Unhackable )

[BBBZZAP! Haruka lets out a angry growl, tossing the communicator to one side. It clatters noisily onto the floor.]

Dammit, it wasn't supposed to-- [Stomping around] Aaah! I hate how messed-up this place is! I can remember pouring that tea with enough leaves in it to give it taste, but it ended up just hot water that day when I could finally go back to work!

[Muttering, he goes to pick his communicator back up. The audio mode is switched off with an audible click.]

I'm fine. I just thought that would have more time. Geh. Usually that sensation isn't so unpleasant.

Of course as soon as I am free to go out, another murder makes the city unsafe to travel alone in. If I had them back, I wouldn't give a damn.

[[ooc Aack! I didn't realize that so much time had passed! orz]]

[A thump can be heard as Haruka gives the TV a light smack.] It's still broken. I told you that it would be pointless.

...and would you stay away from me?!

[Text]

Shinjiro, stay down. I never knew many people who believed that getting knocked out was the best and only way for someone to get any rest until I met you. Sorata and I will be able to help manage the bar while you're recovering.

...It seems that I avoided enough of the disasters this time. It won't make me feel that my luck in this world is about to change, however. Maybe.

Kantarou, we still need to find a day to go fishing before something else decides to happen.

[[ooc Haruka is yelling at Watari, who may or may not be trying to attack him with some measuring tape. (I hope that's okay, mun.)]]

These plants... Why are they growing in such strange places anyway?

If they are able to shock and burn anyone who won't follow this idiotic tradition, then they're far from normal.

In any case, I don't care who was put up to this. If I have to take damage for not following up on something like this, then so be it. I'm not that afraid of getting shocked anyway.

...

Hm. Oi. Which one of you is called Fai?

( Private to Testament; Hackable )

( Private to Seishirou; Hackable )

[Switches over to voice mode. The following is spoken in Japanese.]

The scientists have ways of taking people away just as easily as they are brought here...

Kantarou, it seems that you are the only one between us who is able to see youkai now. Watanuki Kimihiro has disappeared from this world as well.