REDACTABLE - Chiron

[heartablaze]

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WEEK ZERO - SATURDAY - POST-TRIAL

[heartablaze]

[It feels wrong to step back into the planetarium, knowing the evidence that sits on the doorframe, on the knob, on the floor - pieces of a puzzle that they almost didn't figure out. She drifts inside in a bit of a daze, glancing up at the millions of tiny little lights above them on the ceiling, before closing here eyes and wishing, as hard as she could, for someone to answer her.

...

Of course, it doesn't come. Her face falls at the silence, hands drawing up to her chest as she wearily takes a look around--

Oh. Well. Yipes. Giant shadow in the corner means there's an active yelp, before she slaps her hand over her mouth.]

C-Chiron-san? I, uhh... y-you...

Have you been there the whole time????

[antaressnipe]

Yes.

[He doesn't even bother hiding the truth, given that he was, indeed, tucked in a corner with his eyes on the stars, and Hikaru had seemed busy besides.]

Forgive my rudeness, but you seemed preoccupied.

[heartablaze]

It's okay. I should have looked when I came in.

I... um...

I wanted to try to talk to someone. I know Fox-san and the others are busy with Virid-kun, but...

[Her fingers tighten against her shirt.]

I thought that I should try, at least.

[antaressnipe]

[With a small smile]

Do not be ashamed. Yesterday I also attempted contact, though I had been told not to.

[So he is uh, no better in this regard, when it comes to following the rules]

WEEK ONE - THURSDAY MORNING

[heartablaze]

[Normally Hikaru is at breakfast bright and early - to get something in her stomach always seemed to perk her up right away and keep her energy rolling until she eventually needed some sort of snack. She knows how it feels by now - how sad she would feel just cause she was hungry, and how tired she'd become.

But yesterday, she'd been sluggish, like perhaps she'd had a bad night of sleep. Today, she looks like she's practically nodding off at the table, the breakfast in front of her untouched as she stirs the spoon with heavy eyes.

That's normal!

It is absolutely impossible to miss a horse walking through the dining hall, so she'll at least give a respectful nod to him as he passes.]

Good morning, Chiron-sensei.

[antaressnipe]

-- Miss Hikaru, are you alright?

[He understands that sometimes one doesn't get enough sleep, but if that were the case, there's nothing to stop her from sleeping in.

And besides, this seems... excessive.]

Perhaps you should return to bed...

[heartablaze]

Huh?

[She blinks before shaking her head, as though trying to clear it.]

Oh... mmn. Once I eat something. Eating something always kind of helps when I feel a little funny, you know?

[It's said to try and sound reassuring, but she sounds so exhausted that it probably sounds the exact opposite.]

[antaressnipe]

[... Mouth pulling into a frown now, and even despite his size he's going to lean over for a better look at her face]

Perhaps food might help, yes...

[...]

If you do not mind my prying, what were you doing last night to cause such fatigue?

[heartablaze]

[Outside some dark circles under her eyes and her looking generally droopy, she seems fine! No signs of her being ill.]

I don't mind, no. It wasn't anything weird, though... just what I normally do. I went to that, um.... that thing with Cater-san at the virtual rooms, and I talked to a few people, did my kendo training... tried to have some supper...

[She rests her head against one of her hands, nearly nodding off again mid-sentence. Mmn, no, keep it together, Hikaru.]

Sorry, um... I guess I'm not really feeling myself right now.

WEEK ONE - FRIDAY, POST INVESTIGATION

[heartablaze]

[thank god the elevator exists... Hikaru's somehow looking even worse than Thursday morning, curled up on one of the lobby couches with a plushie in her arms, eyes red, drifting between being asleep and starting awake whenever she hears someone walking close enough.

Thankfully: horse.

Hikaru rouses for a moment, blinking up in Chiron's direction whenever he comes into the inn.]

...Sensei?

[wait. waaaait a minute he was hurt and ran off??? WAIT A MINUTE.

She... thankfully, stays on the couch, but she shoots up to a sitting position and raises her voice.]

A-ah-- C-Chiron-sensei, hey...!

[antaressnipe]

[he got beat the heck up and back but frankly--

He takes one look at her and is immediately concerned.]

... Miss Hikaru. Are you sick now?

[Either she is or that lack of sleep is punishing her in the worst ways]

[heartablaze]

[She shakes her head, rubbing at her eyes for a moment. Now that he can actually take a closer look, it just appears as though she's been crying, her eyes puffy and face still flushed.

Otherwise, nah fam she looks the same as Thursday but More Tired.]

H-Hansa-san and Raven-san think's it's, um... something else. N-not being sick.

[more importantly, though - hello, didn't you have an arrow through your torso, sir????]

Are... you okay, Sensei? Chijin said you had to fight monsters... a-and I saw you leave before I could reach any of you...

[antaressnipe]

What are their thoughts? Perhaps I can come up with some medicine to combat whatever ails you.

[Because she's going to make herself sick at this rate, if it's just exhaustion beating her up]

And yes, I am fine. My wounds have been addressed -- [For he has many, many bandages hidden under his washed and stitched-up tunic, and that's to say nothing of the heavy bandages over his right shoulder] -- and have more or less put the matter behind me.

[... Which sounds dismissive, he realizes, and then shakes his head]

But of course I will tell you what happened, but first, I want to make sure that you are properly rested...

W2 || Friday

[antaressnipe]

[At the bottom floor of the inn, Chiron is... busy trying to get his hair dry, frankly, though he has a very flat look about him, as if his calm is only barely held together by years of practice instead of natural effort.

Two more dead... and who knows if a body was missed. There will be plenty of theorizing to do tonight.]

That icon just makes it look like hes checking his nails what a mood

[heartablaze]

[She doesn't appear in the inn for a while. But she needs to eat, and the pub is the last place she wants to be. When she slips into the inn, it's with a slow gait... and with blood on her hands. That's fine, too.

She'll see Chiron on her way to the restrooms and just. Tries to walk a little faster.]

SUCH A MOOD also HIKARU

[antaressnipe]

-- Hikaru.

[his voice, though calm, is still going to carry with a certain weight of authority before she can make it to the restrooms]

... If I could have a moment of your time.

[heartablaze]

[Hrk.

She comes to a stop with a pained jerk, a clear moment of trying to decide whether to listen.]

I...

...

...Yes, Sensei.

[She... tries to keep her hands folded to herself as she carefully crosses to him. Her hair is a frizzed mess, her clothes oddly dried as though they'd been waterlogged, and she unfortunately reeks of fish.

Her eyes stay on the ground, waiting for him to speak.]

W3 || Friday

[antaressnipe]

[Zooms in here. Where is horse dad? we'll see at the bottom level of the inn, resting, though his sightless eyes will open upon hearing the familiar cadence of Hikaru's footsteps.]

Did you wish to see me?

[heartablaze]

[Ah. He heard her.]

Sensei... would you follow me outside for a second?

There's something important I think you need to know.

[antaressnipe]

... Very well.

[he will stand, slowly, and then follow at her request]

Has something happened...?

[heartablaze]

[She doesn't answer until they've made it outside. Sorry, Sensei. Need privacy.

Once they are actually alone, she's guiding him to a halt.]

Did you get anything strange on your PHS after the announcement, Sensei?

[...oh. right. blind horse.]

Um... did you hear anything else come up, anyway?

WEEK THREE - SATURDAY - POST TRIAL

[heartablaze]

[you know what she is still very good at

climbing trees

So she has hoisted herself up a tree to try and get a better look of the forest. How do you even lose a two ton blind horse sensei with a huge bow he should be walking into several trees in hikaru's very expert opinion.]

[antaressnipe]

[HIKARU, PLEASE.

If nothing else she will hear the music of a lyre playing, and be able to pinpoint Chiron's position from that.

Come find him, child]

[heartablaze]

[aha.

Down the tree she goes, skidding and scraping before landing to the ground with a rolling of her weight to catch herself. Where are you, Sensei, she can hear you...

intotheunknown.mp3]

[antaressnipe]

[GDIT THIS GOT LOST

But it's okay speedrunning this.

She will find Chiron in a fairly secluded area of the forest, situated under a tree that's lit by moonlight... and of course, he will stop playing his lyre the moment he hears footsteps]

... Hikaru...?

[Sorry for the name, he still doesn't realize it makes her flinch]