CHAPTER 2

[faentasy]

CHAPTER 2

monday

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thursday

The first chapter was over. The stakes and mechanics of the system you're in have been shown to their full extent, and regardless of how you feel about the Samidare and Zola's deaths, the story must go on.

Clean-up is done with a perfection that'd make you wonder if there ever was a murder on that rooftop in the residential district. Everything is spotless and repaired, making it look like nothing ever happened. If it wasn't for the absence of two people among your number, you'd think it had all been a bad dream. But it wasn't. The brutality of the incident and the execution make that plainly clear.

Now, with the opening of a new week, something else opens. Lands beyond the area you spent seven days in. What will the new week bring? Will it be another murder?

Keep turning the pages and find out.

[[Welcome to Week 2! Feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. However, please try to keep investigations to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday! You can also privately contact Hamelin at your leisure.

In addition, a reminder that any Murder Proposals for this week are due by Tuesday 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST! However, please note that you have the option of submitting murder proposals for a later week as well.]]

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Comments

[warmthbringer]

[ It's too late! Tenn really is a tsundere--

Riku takes another bite of food, then looks like he's considering something. ]

Hey, Tenn-nii....

[ He trails off, glancing sideways at him. He's stalling here, but... ]

[incompletely]

[ He looks up at Riku curiously. It's not unusual for Riku to pause like this, but Tenn knows it's because he has something on his mind. ]

Yes, Riku?

[warmthbringer]

When we get back home....

[ When. When, as if it's not even a question. Because Riku is unfailingly stubborn once he puts his mind to something. And this-- well. Riku refuses to fail. He refuses to go home without Tenn.

He looks at him. ]

What's it gonna be like?

[ Between us, he means. He thinks he doesn't have to say that part. Tenn's smart; he'll know. ]

some i7 spoilers from here on out, ig?!

[incompletely]

...

[ Asking the hard questions, aren't we? Tenn lowers his fork and looks at Riku, trying to maintain a neutral expression. He's not sure if it'll crack at any point, but he can't afford to be too vulnerable when faced with a question like this. ]

I'm still going to be Kujo Tenn.

[ Slight emphasis on Kujo. He can't return to the Nanase family, but he's going to leave it at that.

He's not done yet, though. ]

However... Your resolve here -- that you're still smiling even after what happened last week -- it's more than what I was expecting. And if you can stay strong here...

[ His look turns a little more serious than he intends it to. ]

Then I have faith in your ability to face challenges head on back at home. You've surprised me, Riku.

[warmthbringer]

[ Riku can't hide the hurt that crosses his expression. Of course he knows he's still going to be Kujo Tenn. Things are-- they're better here, because they're the only ones from their world. But still... there are some things that still sting, still cut deeply.

Riku's hand tightens on his plate, but then Tenn continues, and he looks at him, eyes wide. ]

Tenn-nii...

[ His throat feels tight. He doesn't like being underestimated, and Tenn... he's underestimated Riku too much already.

That's not why he's standing here, why he can smile in spite of what happened. ]

Of course I can face challenges. [ He looks serious, too. Riku sets his plate down, then faces Tenn. ] It's because-- it's not just for me. Hamelin wants us to turn against each other, just for a wish. But nothing can make me turn against you. I can stand here smiling because Tenn-nii is here with me.

[ He nods to himself, and his expression turns softer. Even if things are hard, even if Tenn's family is Kujo now... ]

Because I love you, Tenn-nii. Nothing's gonna change that, not here, and not back home.

oh god the tl;dr -- spoilers ahoy!!

[incompletely]

[ Tenn is stunned into silence.

The response isn't unexpected, but Riku's honesty and authenticity -- those are reasons why he's so beloved among IDOLiSH7 fans, his group, mom and dad...

...That applies to Tenn himself, too, he's realizing. He always knew he loved Riku, but often times he found himself trying to block those feelings out, to remind himself that he had to be cold and callous and put up a wall between them for his own good. He walked away from the Nanase family because he wanted to keep them safe, and he thought that if he ever opened up to Riku in the way that he used to again, Riku would be the one who'd have to suffer for it.

Here, though, that doesn't work. Here, where Riku needs someone most, Tenn doesn't have it in him to keep those same walls up.

He wants to be Riku's brother. As much as he told Sami they're no longer related, Tenn knows and has always known deep down that Nanase Riku is his beloved twin. There is no one else who can take that spot away from him. And if there is anything that this cruel, wicked game has done for Tenn, it's that it brought him and Riku closer together again, as family. As brothers. It's reminded him that this -- being beside Riku again -- is where he really, truly wants to be.

His expression softens. The words slip out from between his lips -- he can't help himself. He can't bring himself to hold them in anymore. ]

I love you too, Riku. And I hope you know that I always have.

[warmthbringer]

[ Riku's eyes widen when Tenn says it back.

Of course some part of him knew. Tenn's his brother, his twin; even despite everything, nothing can change that. But he-- he hadn't realized, until now, just how much he needed to hear Tenn say it. Riku's eyes are wide for a few moments more, before he hugs his brother close. ]

Heh... [ If Tenn hears a sniffle... well, surely that didn't come from Riku. ] Yeah... Of course I knew!

[ He's so happy, he feels like his heart could burst. ]

Tenn-nii, despite everything... [ He pulls away, and a tinge of guilt enters his expression. ] Is it okay to be happy right now...?

[incompletely]

[ He's surprised that Riku hugs him, especially since it's here in the open -- a part of Tenn hopes nobody walks by, but it doesn't matter so much anymore, he's finding. Gently, he hugs Riku back -- but he frowns when his brother pulls away and asks about his right to be happy.

Tenn gives this a moment of thought before a fond smile appears on his face. He places a hand on Riku's shoulder. ]

It's okay to find reasons to be happy, even when bad things are happening. That's part of what we do as idols, anyway. When rumors, scandals, and other people try to tear us down, we find reasons to smile anyway. To make our fans see that we won't give up.

It's the same thing here. Being sad over everything that's happened while also finding happiness in different places isn't bad.