June 12th, The Woods, Near midnight

[independent_dollmaker]

[Once again, it comes to this. Not that anyone present would be thinking of it this way.

On a dark night, deep in the woods behind Izumizaki, eight friends sit in a circle around a crackling fire. Holding hands, they look into the fire, its dancing shadows playing tricks on the imagination beyond the circle. Maria's established the rules, all that's left is to kick things off.]

So... on the count of three, then?

Comments

[independent_dollmaker]

Is that what all this was about? Does anyone not know about this, or am I wasting all this effort trying to keep secrets?

[all_onis_are_true]

Please. You know me. Souji is the one who seems to attract the most feminine attention, and that's fine with me. I have an education to tend to.

Now ALICE, on the other hand. Why did you do that?

[loveandwillpower]

Someone had to show her Nui wouldn't bite.

[all_onis_are_true]

By potentially stealing her away should the unlikely scenario occur that Nui accepted your offer?

[loveandwillpower]

One or two people don't know.

[ As for her question about wasting effort... ]

Neither of them is Osaka.

[loveandwillpower]

Stealing her away until she broke up with me, you mean.

[independent_dollmaker]

Osaka found out? How is she not the last one to catch on?!

[all_onis_are_true]

Please do not inform me that step two was trying to get Nui to break up with you by making deliberate relationship missteps.

[loveandwillpower]

Because that would be Nui.

...Either that or she just assumes that everyone is in love with her from the start and then goes backwards from there, that's what I'd do if I was that hot.

[loveandwillpower]

Do you really think I'd have to try?

[independent_dollmaker]

Oh.

[Let's all take a moment to appreciate how well Minako has upended this conversation.]

...Do you think she likes me?

[all_onis_are_true]

[...Er.]

What are you implying about Nui, exactly?

[loveandwillpower]

I can only do so much, you know.

Take the cat by the horns and find out yourself!

[loveandwillpower]

Nothing I'm not implying about half the boys in town.

[all_onis_are_true]

[Hmm...

Hmm?

Wait, is she saying...]

Minako... have you, by any chance been, ah... having troubles?

[Read: striking out.]

[independent_dollmaker]

Cats don't have horns.

[itwasfeyt]

No! [/Screen snap noise!] I mean earlier yesterday, in school!

[flatview]

It's boring standing here....I'm gonna go home now!

[ Said suddenly. ]

[ohmygah]

Maybe its aliens! And they all keep near forests and stay away from cities and towns!

[happyhalloween]

Or witches!

[loveandwillpower]

Then take the bull by the tits or however it goes!

Go! Ask her out! Don't make me break out Plan C!

[loveandwillpower]

NO. I have a perfectly healthy love life!

If you want to catch a fish, you need to go through the tiger's den!

[loveandwillpower]

Or alien witches, why not?

[independent_dollmaker]

Bulls don't - l-look, I don't think Nui needs all her friends bothering her to go out with them in a row. She probably has enough to worry about already!

[loveandwillpower]

[ HANDS OVER FACE ]

[ ...peeks through fingers... ]

You think I overdid it too?