[ His head shakes in answer to that question. Ahhh, one of them seriously did something that hysterical and he didn't get to see it…? Hopefully it was the bum from a moment ago. That would have been perfect — wait, never mind, he takes that back. Hopes it wasn't. Because then Denji's bland, whittled expression would turn to one of genuine upset in a snap, and he doesn't have the strength to pull through all that without giving himself a headache. ]
Nuh-uh, you're the kid. The kiddest of all kids.
[ He only saw him play early in the game, but the memory of Aki energetically bounding from one side of the field to the opposite with such focus, like he was having fun, is superimposed into his mind's eye. Reminds him of when they were younger, when he could actually run alongside him and not feel his chest desperately trying to wring the air from his lungs.
Batting Aki's hand away he rubs a palm across his face, not realizing he's smudging it, spreading the mark to his other cheek. As soon as he's finished with that, he takes one look at his palm, a little darker than it was before, presumably from the dirt, and cleans against Aki's own cheek, the contact nothing too aggressive. Almost like a caress by how his fingers curl into his face, sweeping down his jaw. In the background, there are sirens blaring, fast and far. Denji doesn't pay them any mind.
A satisfied humph comes from him once he's pulled away. Aki was already grimy before from the game, but now Denji feels like he's really done his part. ]
'kay, let's go. [ Pushing himself up, he drags his bag over his shoulder with him. ] Wasn't there a place close by?
[Aki's up on his feet as Denji rises and tugs on his shirt as they begin to walk toward the road. He nods to his question, digging out his wallet and checking - he still has a few hundred yen on hand. More than enough for that.]
It's on the way home. [He really does feel kind of good, still. The sirens usually would make him anxious but he barely notices them. Even if that guy had made him feel strange with that question, it's easy to bounce back after you actually get to have some fun. Maybe Denji is right, that he should stop and smell the flowers sometimes, that things like this are worthwhile...?]
[But then he stops on the sidewalk, reaching out to grab Denji by the backpack before he can get too far. He's reading a sign posted on the window of a construction shop, temp work often posted by the door but usually out of his league in terms of how well he can pass as an adult. This, however, is an urgent request for someone to help in a warehouse over the weekend when a large shipment is due to come in. The pay isn't stellar, but better than nothing. Aki tugs the flyer off the window and folds it up, pushing it into his pocket. He'll call the number when they get home.]
[The taiyaki place isn't much further, just a sweets shop he remembers had them last time they went. He wasn't planning to, but now that he might have a job this weekend Aki orders one for himself as well. When he hands Denji's to him, he makes sure to add,] Don't tell Power. She'll throw a fit.
[Yeah. Compared to an hour ago, things already feel a lot better. No weird door talk, no Denji pouting at him, no health trouble with Denji... Just some taiyaki and some extra money after the weekend.]
[ Sirens are normal. Lots of times they're just false alarms, a response to someone elderly who popped a hip getting out of the bath, a stove left on a little longer than intended. There's stress from the event, sure, but they're normal things normal folks can come back from. Even yesterday's circus feels farther away, for all the disorder and tedium that whole thing caused. And the more distance there is from them, the closer it is to being an open-and-shut story they'll hardly remember a year from now.
So much like Aki, he's unbothered. Tries to keep the roll of his eyes at his brother's interest in taking on an odd job to a minimal, but it's hard to completely control his disapproval — it's something he does every time he's got somewhere else to be besides home, and regardless of how much he's sure Aki wants him to grow out of that clinginess, he's not sure he ever will. Because, c'mon, can't he see the extra free time as an opportunity to hang out with him and Power for once?
…Whatever, at least they're having taiyaki. ]
Aw, but rubbing stuff in her face is so funny. And, y'know, the last time we had some, she stole my piece! S'only fair.
[ The red bean filling melts in his mouth, the perfect ratio of sugary paste to fried batter. The outer edges are browner than they really need to be, but he's always liked an extra crunch to his desserts. He considers stopping at about the halfway point, to save the rest for Pochita, but, eh, his body's small, so maybe a third of the sweet is more than enough. After wrapping what's remaining of his taiyaki, he shoves the piece into his pocket.
The train isn't as packed on the way home, the two of them only just missing the after-work rush, meaning they're able to snag seats this time. No one pays any mind to the fact that they're both dusted in dirt and grass stains, maybe because the fragmented sunlight softens their features, making them look younger than they really are, so they can get away with it. Or it could just be that they look exactly their age.
Either way, right before their stop, Denji briefly looks away from the scenery that's kept them company for so many years to glance Aki's way, his gaze bright. ]
We should make sure to have days like this in Tokyo, too, don't ya think?
[Usually when Denji hoards some food, Aki tries to shake him out of it, remind him there's no need to do that, he can get him more later. He's long suspected it to be due to however he grew up before they met, maybe even long before, but whenever he catches sight of it, it's like a thorn in his side reminding him he hasn't solved everything just yet. Such a small act, in his view, is a reminder of the type of home he can still create for all of them.]
[His own food already eaten, Aki watches the evening lights flicker on outside the train when Denji asks that. He wonders what "days like this" mean to Denji - days where they do something important in the morning and then have the rest of the day to laze around and do whatever they want? Days without a timeline, without a schedule? Or days where nothing bad happens? Likely, he means the second one, Aki decides.]
There's a lot more to do in Tokyo, you know... I don't think you'll be able to get bored. [He's never been there. It's just what he has to imagine from the brief period he lived in Hokkaido, prior to being shuffled here.] I bet the food is way better too. No burned taiyaki. [Not that he complained, but seriously, the bottom of his was nearly black. Of course Denji didn't seem to mind.] And we'll have a ton more money. ...A lot more money. [He corrects himself with a frown. Sometimes Denji rubs off on him in the stupidest ways.] It'll be way better than this place.
[When they finally make it home, Aki goes to the shower first, figuring Denji will be busy with Pochita for a bit so he can wash off. He leaves the job notice on the fridge to call in the morning. Even if the day started out stressful, cramped, and nervewracking, even if they nearly yelled at one another in the afternoon... It feels like everything ended just as it should have.]
[ Denji follows him all the way home, a question sticking to the recesses of his mind, looping on and on like an petal-sharp pinwheel in an otherwise dark haze — has this place really been that bad to them? So, alright, the taiyaki's burnt, and sometimes they're low on cash, but still.
We grew up here, he wants to bring up to Aki's back, in defense of the aged shops and neighborhoods they're passing through. The market they got kicked out of because he kept sneaking bites of fruit they hadn't paid for yet. The street corner Power found Meowy yelling out from a sewer grate. When someone asks you where your hometown is, aren't 'cha gonna say it's here?
That's what Denji would say. Not that other place.
But Aki…
Ultimately, he keeps quiet. Lets the question slope down the drain.
At home, Power catches him trying to feed Pochita part of the taiyaki he'd saved from earlier, and immediately raises a fuss until he offers her some of the candy from the clinic. After which, she happily eases up, clearly satisfied with herself. They have warm-up leftovers from this morning's meal for dinner, which only lives on Denji's plate for about five minutes before he's vacuumed it all in, still hungry, despite being treated to a hearty lunch and a carb-heavy dessert. They leave a messy plate (and messy table) out for whenever Aki's done showering. As soon as the bathroom opens up, the two of them are in-and-out in perfect coordination, making their usual rounds and yelling at the other to hurry up.
The night ends with all three of them side-by-side, murmuring their good nights. The same as last night. The same as every night, really, yet it feels like they fall into place much easier this time.
In the morning, Denji sleeps in. There's no school, no place to get to in a mad bolt. Power steps on his head getting to her change of clothes, but after the initial grouching, he's able to fall back asleep. For 10 minutes.
Then, his phone buzzes. ]
Who the hell…?
[ It's not someone messaging him, though, when he pulls his device out from under his pillowcase. It's a news story.
Missing student's belongings found near grisly scene
SAPPORO — Authorities in Sapporo, Hokkaido, are appealing to the public for any potential witnesses to come forward with information regarding a suspicious incident discovered near a residential area in the Toyohira Ward showing signs of a brutal assault.
The scene was reported to the emergency line at 6:25 p.m. A duffel bag and one sneaker presumed to belong to an unnamed student from Togata High School was collected as evidence.
According to Public Safety, connection to the recent devil attack in the Atsubetsu Ward has not been ruled out.
If you, or anyone you know, is aware of details pertaining to this incident, please call our hotline…
Denji shares the brief article to the group chat. ]
[Wading his way through a sea of pallets, Aki feels his phone buzz and ignores it at first. He talked to Denji this morning, and he'd kind of replied. I'll be working until four. I'll be back home after that. You can make lunch for yourself, there's still stuff in the fridge. Look after Power. He told him those four things and Denji kind of mumbled a Yup as he lay in bed and Aki had thought, good enough. He'd expected the job to be tomorrow, not today, but like hell is he going to deny easy money like this. They didn't even ask for his birthday over the phone. He's taken enough odd jobs that this routine isn't unusual. And Denji ate well at dinner, so all should be fine.]
[...Though he did tell him one fifth thing, too. Message me if you need me. But he always says that, and Denji texts him whatever comes to his mind, so it's probably something like that. Nothing huge. He sits down on his heels and lifts up the flap of a package, staring at the shipping label, then begins ripping it open. It's probably nothing.]
[But of course it's never just nothing. Aki hears someone else mention it, looking at their phone, talking to another temp worker. "...bag had Togata High's logo, I heard." "Poor kid's gotta be..."]
[He moves his hand slowly to his pocket, taking in a breath. He's only been gone for an hour. It's nothing. When he stares at the message waiting for him, that it's from Denji, he's a little relieved - really, it's not like he thought either of them were in trouble or anything - but not so much as he reads the article.]
You should know our school's name
[Start with that. Lighten the mood. He re-reads the article, looks at the map as if it would tell him anything other than the shape of their ward. The siren from the previous night blares in his memory, but - No, sirens happen all the time, right? Were they that close to it? What time was it that they went home? Had any of those boys had duffel bags...?]
You two stay home today. Don't take the devil outside, either. I bet Public Safety is all over the place.
[ …is the LINE sticker Denji sends at the admonishment. What's knowing the name of that place going to do for him in life? Aki's graduating, and they're moving to a new school in less than a year, which means a new address, new directions to learn. New people to waltz in and out of his vision, expecting that he remember their names. That's way too many things to memorize. If Power were there to back him up, he'd pick a pointless fight over it.
…But he's not seeing her read receipt yet. Hm…
Rolling out of bed, he crawls toward the door on all fours to slowly peek his head out — and, yep, there she is. Sitting way too close to the TV set, Power doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything besides her favorite weekly cartoon. Ah, fine, he'll kick it alone. ]
but youre outside
[ Well, that's because he's got work and the news only broke just now… He knows that, but it's like second nature to find reasons to huff at Aki. ]
[ Sent from back under the covers again, Denji having returned to bed instead of forage for something to eat in the kitchen. He refreshes the news article, since usually these things get updated as the police and Public Safety release more information, but nothing's changed in the past few minutes.
Connection to the recent devil attack in the Atsubetsu Ward has not been ruled out — that's referencing them, right? ]
so whatcha think about the news?
[ … ]
you think the kid who went missing is one of the dudes you played with?
[He's not outside, actually. He's decidedly inside, in the warehouse-sized back room of this store unpacking boxes of... What even is in these? Aki flips open the box he was unloading before he answered Denji's text. It's full of kitchenware, cutting boards and graters and whatnot. Does this place furnish department stores...?]
There's food in the fridge.
[And he's ready to leave it at that, but then Denji has to ask the question he's doing a very fine job not thinking about. Aki glances over his shoulder at the other people working but they're all a good distance away. No one seems to be paying him any mind.]
I thought they all went home in groups. It would be weird for only one person to get attacked and no one else to say anything.
[...No, he suddenly remembers. That last kid went home by himself, after asking Aki about Denji. But they left not that long after, right? Wouldn't they have heard... Or which direction did he even go in?]
[Ugh, no. This isn't useful. Musing about which of their classmates had been killed isn't a fun game.]
Don't be so morbid. And get out of bed already.
[He can imagine him lazed around in bed sending him these messages right now.]
[ Denji yanks his pilow tight against his face and groans, rolling back-and-forth. He doesn't want to! And how did he know he was still messing around in bed? ESP?! That's a scarier thought than all this devil and missing people stuff combined. Redirect, redirect. ]
yeah i guess. but some of em coulda split off later too right? and there was that one uncle kid who left before everyone else…
[ In addition to the very last boy who spoke with Aki toward the end of the match. Hell, even if the description of items left behind doesn't match, maybe it was even one of his student council buds. Anything could have happened, just like with the boy who didn't make it out of the zombie attack. ]
if its another dude from our school maybe the devils got a special connection or hate for brown-noser lookin guys. you better watch out
anyway look scroll down through the comments in the article. youll see other people think so too
[ Even if peoples' live shouldn't be treated as a game, he has to admit… It's a little fun, to follow all the public interest sensationalizing those kinds of theories. And not just that, people get so popular whenever something bad happens to them. Besides the armchair detective hypotheses being thrown around, there are obviously loads of prayers or people claiming to be students who think they know which of their classmates went missing.
I hope it's not who I think it is, he was so nice.
damn thats crazy I used to sit behind that guy in homeroom last year.. nowheres safe anymore. Rest In Peace
weren't he and ide-kun close? at least they're together now
It's so weird. Names that Denji never knew, suddenly, are spread widely throughout the collective conscious. ]
wouldnt it be cool if regular folks wound up solving the whole thing before the pubic safety guys?
[Aki has very little interest in reading the comments on local news articles but Denji seems... unusually interested in this. Is he scared? Does he think something might happen to Aki? Is that why he so calmly tells him to watch himself?]
[But then, of course, it's just because Denji thinks it would be cool if he was the one who saves the day. If he were the local hero who finds the killer. Or in this case, the devil.]
You aren't a detective. This isn't something you should be trying to solve.
[Big words coming from Mr. "I hate when I can't solve something on my own." But whatever. This is Denji he's talking to, not himself.]
If it's a big enough issue, they'll send in Public Safety departments from larger areas. Like Tokyo or something. There's no way you could find a devil before them.
[Especially since...]
You couldn't kill it, anyway. Not with that jellybean.
[ There is an element of self-satisfaction to this, in feeling at the murky center of a layered story, in reliving that power he felt driving Pochita's head deep past long-rotted arteries and organs and feeling good. Strong, where he never has been.
Yet no one's really talking about them the way they are the people who are missing or dead, which rationally, has to do with nobody knowing the full details of how he and Aki were involved, just that they were.
But it's not fair. ]
if its a big enough issue we could be dead before they do that
[ He's finally dragged himself out of bed, standing by the window to peer out the blinds and, sure enough, there are a few familiar suits making their rounds through the streets. ]
and dont disrespect pochita! call him a jellybadass or super jellybean at least. since without him things wouldve been a lot worse for us two.
[The message is sent right before Denji's second message arrives. Annoyance breaking through - He's sick of hearing Denji imagine their deaths. Though that second message isn't much better on that front.]
It would have been fine without you doing that
Those Public Safety guys showed up right after
[He's getting tense and frustrated so his messages are choppier and more to the point. He can't ever hide his emotion through text. Not that he tries very hard to.]
[ It's not like Denji to get cowed by a few overly direct messages, but it's true that they've been over this before. That he knows Aki's stance on the matter and that talking to Denji about it only seems to make him dig his heels in. Stubborn as a dog who refuses to go on a walk.
Before Denji can get a response in, one that'd likely circuit then through their round of arguing, Power interjects with: rejoice, curs! the omnipotent power comes bearing a great gift despite your yappings interrupting my sacred morning rituals. there will be NO school next week! i have decided it, so it shall be. you are welcome
She declares it as if it's something she came up with herself... ]
woah shes only lying about part of it for once
[ You know, instead of the whole thing.
There's an update to the article now. It isn't with anything regarding the case or the devil attack, but just an announcement that school activities will continue to be paused throughout the following week as Public Safety conducts their investigation. ]
[It's not that it's a horrible thing, of course. Aki is about as big of a fan of school as any other teenager. He only does well as a means for the future. But it's so serious that they'll continue putting school on hold? How bad is this devil?]
Power, go get Denji out of bed already.
[To distract them for a bit, he'll sic her on him for a few minutes. Maybe Denji actually did get out of bed by now, but they'll still squabble for a bit and give him some time to think about this.]
[...Seriously, they're still going to have no school next week? Do they think this devil is targeting high schoolers? But why high schoolers? Or what if it's not even the same devil? He can feel a headache coming on when someone suddenly calls out to him - the manager, asking him to help with some heavy lifting. He looks young and spry, apparently. Thanks, he makes sure to say, though doesn't exactly feel complemented.]
[Sending out a quick text, he shoves his phone in his pocket as he hurries off:]
Maybe we can take that beach trip this week.
[Never has there been a better excuse to split town for a day.]
[ Power moves faster than the typing speed of his thumbs, because the door's being abruptly thrown open and she's shouting out some gibberish that could be modeled after some action cartoon ability that, in her imagination, manifests in explosions and limbs flying and a shower of glorious blood. But in Denji's experience is really just her preamble to headbutting him, then wrestling him into a sleeper's hold until he rapidly taps out.
"And the infidel falls!" she proudly narrates with a sputter of laughter, before imitating the sound effects of a large audience, the one that perpetually resides in her head, hooting and hollering in support of her victory. Denji crawls out of the bedroom, leaving his phone behind, like a stubborn ant inching itself toward the safety of its colony even after a palm has already slammed itself atop it, crumpling all six of its legs.
Power holds her phone up. Sends a photo of the pathetic surrender most befitting an underling of his rank. Let this send a message to that other underling: Power follows no one's orders!
(Ignore the fact that she attacked Denji at Aki's request.)
When she glances at the mention of their day trip in their chat, something she vaguely remembers being told of, her simpering heightens by tenfold. Blowing past all that talk of devilry and crime (because if it isn't her own, she has no interest), Power sends the following:
your overlord has an idea... tis time for a beach excursion!
Didn't Aki just say that...?
as my servants, it will be your natural duty to finally make good on fortifying my castle in the dunes! and present me with many a melon to coat my walls in their delicious red innards as warning to any teespassers. ]
[The two of them get no response for about half an hour as Aki works. Works and thinks about this trip. Denji had initially pitched it as a chance to ditch school, so will he be disappointed that they're doing this by the books instead? Still, with this job, they have enough money to splurge on something - Obviously they'll get some watermelons even though it's hardly the season for them, and he already wanted to get them both eel, but what else...]
[When Aki finally has a moment to check his phone, he stares at the defeated photo of Denji for a moment and wonders if he should praise Power or not. But her taking ownership of the plan to go on a trip is kind of annoying. So he decides to simply not comment on it at all.]
Let's go on Tuesday I'll get us tickets. Make a list of what you want to do. No bloodsports.
But Meowy can't come, and unless you can make Pochita look more like a dog, he has to stay home, too.
[There's a brief pause between those messages as he starts to tear open the next package, but then he pulls his phone back out to send a follow up.]
Don't make a ruckus if you're going to wrestle.
[Like he didn't just toss them in the ring together.]
[ His silences during their feuds aren't uncommon at all, which is why the two of them are just as silent in their family chat. Outside of it… Well, at least none of the furniture is damaged.
Out in the kitchen, Denji catches up on the messages he missed while Power bludgeoned his skull. He has two eggs boiling in a pot, set to low simmer; he used to always crank everything to the highest temperature until Aki taught him that doing so overcooked them and made the water overflow onto the stove surface. Besides, like this, he can easily file his first objection to Aki's guidelines for their trip. ]
hey!!!! tuesdays not a school day!!!! thats breaking the rules
[ Or rather, not breaking them. Anyway, moving on to his next complaint. ]
and what if pochita gets hurt? since there's that bad guy devil and stuff out there
like dont some devils hunt down other weaker devils to get stronger sometimes?
[ Oh, wait, didn't he just brag about how strong Pochita was? ]
er not that hes weak!! its jsut if hes alone yknow…
and if hes distracted from havin to protect meowy……
[ At this point that Power yells at him through the bathroom door (she'd retreated to take one of her infamously vile shits, probably), but Denji can't tell whether A) she's agreeing that Meowy shouldn't be left unattended, or B) she's upset that Denji thinks her cat is weaker than his dog. ]
[So he really is married to the idea that they break rules in the process of this trip... Come on, they have the perfect excuse to get out of town and now Denji is quibbling over the minor details like whether or not this is breaking student code?]
No way could a devil break into an apartment. That kind of stuff doesn't happen.
[He can't imagine Pochita having to defend from anything, or if he even would defend Meowy, anyway. Does he even like Meowy...? It seems like all the devil pays attention to is Denji. And Aki if he gives him his food or yells at him for getting in the way.]
[...But if he can maybe give him this win, he might be able to get Denji to agree to the idea of taking a day trip right now as opposed to later when they're in class. He mulls it over.]
How about, you can bring him, but we go on Tuesday
[Like dangling meat in front of a dog.]
The weather is supposed to be nice in Otaru, only 10C
[Based on his weather app. It hasn't gotten bitingly cold, but they're really cutting a beach trip close with the season they're in. Any later and it might end up below 0.]
[ Denji strokes his chin. Honestly, being so near to water, something like 10°C could turn into an jacket-wearing occasion without a problem, at least toward end-of-day. But also, the added enticement of having most of his favorite people there at once, and at a place he's never been to... He may have wanted to skip school for the sake of a "true teenage" experience between them both, but maybe there's still time to revisit the idea later. Meat, whether sliver or slab, still raw at the center or overly dried and shriveled at the edges, all goes to the same place. And this particular mutt just can't resist champing to have a taste. ]
k lets go
lets go lets go lets GOOO!!!!
[ The desire to jump for joy is only stalled by the phone timer that goes off, prompting Denji to rush to tend to his lunch for the day. The eggs scooped up and cooling in an ice bath — ]
meowys strong enough to protect the place on her own probably just gotta put food in her bowl and shes peachy for the day!!!!
[ Denji's double standard when it comes to Pochita... ]
what do we gotta bring? sun screen right? and uhhh towels.... should we bring a weapon in case like the sand devil or something shows up?
[Easier than he expected. Aki can imagine him hopping up and down and bothering their downstairs neighbors with no trouble.]
Read my previous messages. I told you to make a list of what you want to do.
We shouldnt bring any weapons, you can't bring that sort of stuff on public transport. And we're taking this trip to go away from the devils, not toward them
[Did he miss that part...? Regardless.]
Power wanted to smash watermelon, and we can bring towels with us to lay on the sand. We'll get dinner while we're there so don't plan on bringing too much food.
[He still wants to get eel, after all. Some kind of midterm treat, before they go on their trip in a month or so. He still needs to bring that up with Denji again. Maybe he'll tie him to a chair this time first.]
[ Make a list, he says. But what do you do near the beachside that isn't just playing in the sand and swimming with the fishes? Of course he hasn't thought that far out yet… Not only that, but what can he do with Pochita there? Keep him in a bag? Give him dog clothes to wear and hopefully hide that painfully obvious saw poking out from his head? ]
uhh well okay i dont really care… but surfing looks cool? and we could play with fireworks! the big ones that go 💥BAM💥BANG💥FWOOSH💥in the sky
[ There isn't really an occasion or reasoning for that last one. He just recently watched a movie set to the backdrop of some sweet, coming-of-age summer where all of the teenage characters light sparklers at the beach during the summer festival. Though it isn't the season for it, it seems like something they could do, too. ]
and oh i wanna touch a shark or jellyfish or a whale or a penguin to test if theyre as squishy as pochita doesnt matter which. its just something i need to strike off my bucket list!
[Surfing...? How does Denji expect to be able to surf? They don't have a surfboard and surely no one is going to be renting those out in the winter. Fireworks - they probably can't do anything that goes in the sky, but Aki mentally notes to get some sparklers. They'll both probably enjoy anything to do with fire, and there's no worry about them getting hurt when Aki can just shove them in the water.]
[But his wanting to touch a shark (or a jellyfish or whale or penguin) is what fully gets him to stop walking across the warehouse, frozen as he re-reads the message. Is he insane? Is he stupid?]
Are you an idiot?
[He doesn't care how obvious his texting is right now. How much of a dumbass is Denji, seriously?]
You can't just find those kinds of things when you go to the beach. And jellyfish will hurt you, so you shouldn't try touching them.
[Never mind the shark.]
Penguins don't even live in Japan. You know that, right??
ahhh i knrw under that smartiepants costume you always wheare u were megastupid !
[ Trying to peel the eggshells away with one hand, his replies send slowly, in bits, like branches of a thought pruned from a shrub too diseased to be salvaged. Evident from how riddled with mistakes they are. In his multitasking, he also fails to maintain the smooth outer surface of the egg whites, his nails forming cracks and indents in the skin, slivers of residual shell attached as he shoves a whole egg into his mouth, chewing, before splashing some soy sauce into a small dish and tipping that back as well. ]
becuz yeah too do penguins live in japan. you just gotta break em out from water jail. the aquarium? the fish market? you not hear about those before?
[ Is he proposing that they go to the beach… just to go somewhere else? Sorta, but only to prove a pointless point. If Aki actually took them somewhere else entirely just to show him that penguins aren't being held captive at fish markets, he'd be pissed. ]
but fine since you think mt ideas suck so much id like to see what YOU come up with for the schedule
[The aquarium, fine, but - Does Denji think people eat penguins? Would he eat a penguin if they found one...?!]
[...Not that they would, of course. Because penguins don't live in Japan.]
You can't break a penguin out of an aquarium. You'll get arrested. Same with sharks and whales.
[So he just has to keep him away from jellyfish. But that's all Denji gets in reply for a bit, after demanding Aki be the one to make a schedule. He's busy for about half an hour, but it's not wasted time. When the next message does come, it's long and detailed.]
Train from here to Otaru (about an hour)
Have breakfast on the train
Buy watermelon in town, sparklers if they're for sale
Go to canals
Find stuff to make a sandcastle with
Go to beach
Do whatever on the sand, break watermelon, have lunch (bento)
Denji and Power can swim (it'll be cold)
Stay until sunset
Get dinner - seafood (I already planned it)
Light sparklers if we found any
Go home (1 hour by train)
Something like that
[Then, maybe a minute later:]
They have an aquarium, but I heard a devil attacked it a few months ago. Anyway, you can't steal any penguins from there.
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Nuh-uh, you're the kid. The kiddest of all kids.
[ He only saw him play early in the game, but the memory of Aki energetically bounding from one side of the field to the opposite with such focus, like he was having fun, is superimposed into his mind's eye. Reminds him of when they were younger, when he could actually run alongside him and not feel his chest desperately trying to wring the air from his lungs.
Batting Aki's hand away he rubs a palm across his face, not realizing he's smudging it, spreading the mark to his other cheek. As soon as he's finished with that, he takes one look at his palm, a little darker than it was before, presumably from the dirt, and cleans against Aki's own cheek, the contact nothing too aggressive. Almost like a caress by how his fingers curl into his face, sweeping down his jaw. In the background, there are sirens blaring, fast and far. Denji doesn't pay them any mind.
A satisfied humph comes from him once he's pulled away. Aki was already grimy before from the game, but now Denji feels like he's really done his part. ]
'kay, let's go. [ Pushing himself up, he drags his bag over his shoulder with him. ] Wasn't there a place close by?
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[Aki's up on his feet as Denji rises and tugs on his shirt as they begin to walk toward the road. He nods to his question, digging out his wallet and checking - he still has a few hundred yen on hand. More than enough for that.]
It's on the way home. [He really does feel kind of good, still. The sirens usually would make him anxious but he barely notices them. Even if that guy had made him feel strange with that question, it's easy to bounce back after you actually get to have some fun. Maybe Denji is right, that he should stop and smell the flowers sometimes, that things like this are worthwhile...?]
[But then he stops on the sidewalk, reaching out to grab Denji by the backpack before he can get too far. He's reading a sign posted on the window of a construction shop, temp work often posted by the door but usually out of his league in terms of how well he can pass as an adult. This, however, is an urgent request for someone to help in a warehouse over the weekend when a large shipment is due to come in. The pay isn't stellar, but better than nothing. Aki tugs the flyer off the window and folds it up, pushing it into his pocket. He'll call the number when they get home.]
[The taiyaki place isn't much further, just a sweets shop he remembers had them last time they went. He wasn't planning to, but now that he might have a job this weekend Aki orders one for himself as well. When he hands Denji's to him, he makes sure to add,] Don't tell Power. She'll throw a fit.
[Yeah. Compared to an hour ago, things already feel a lot better. No weird door talk, no Denji pouting at him, no health trouble with Denji... Just some taiyaki and some extra money after the weekend.]
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So much like Aki, he's unbothered. Tries to keep the roll of his eyes at his brother's interest in taking on an odd job to a minimal, but it's hard to completely control his disapproval — it's something he does every time he's got somewhere else to be besides home, and regardless of how much he's sure Aki wants him to grow out of that clinginess, he's not sure he ever will. Because, c'mon, can't he see the extra free time as an opportunity to hang out with him and Power for once?
…Whatever, at least they're having taiyaki. ]
Aw, but rubbing stuff in her face is so funny. And, y'know, the last time we had some, she stole my piece! S'only fair.
[ The red bean filling melts in his mouth, the perfect ratio of sugary paste to fried batter. The outer edges are browner than they really need to be, but he's always liked an extra crunch to his desserts. He considers stopping at about the halfway point, to save the rest for Pochita, but, eh, his body's small, so maybe a third of the sweet is more than enough. After wrapping what's remaining of his taiyaki, he shoves the piece into his pocket.
The train isn't as packed on the way home, the two of them only just missing the after-work rush, meaning they're able to snag seats this time. No one pays any mind to the fact that they're both dusted in dirt and grass stains, maybe because the fragmented sunlight softens their features, making them look younger than they really are, so they can get away with it. Or it could just be that they look exactly their age.
Either way, right before their stop, Denji briefly looks away from the scenery that's kept them company for so many years to glance Aki's way, his gaze bright. ]
We should make sure to have days like this in Tokyo, too, don't ya think?
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[Usually when Denji hoards some food, Aki tries to shake him out of it, remind him there's no need to do that, he can get him more later. He's long suspected it to be due to however he grew up before they met, maybe even long before, but whenever he catches sight of it, it's like a thorn in his side reminding him he hasn't solved everything just yet. Such a small act, in his view, is a reminder of the type of home he can still create for all of them.]
[His own food already eaten, Aki watches the evening lights flicker on outside the train when Denji asks that. He wonders what "days like this" mean to Denji - days where they do something important in the morning and then have the rest of the day to laze around and do whatever they want? Days without a timeline, without a schedule? Or days where nothing bad happens? Likely, he means the second one, Aki decides.]
There's a lot more to do in Tokyo, you know... I don't think you'll be able to get bored. [He's never been there. It's just what he has to imagine from the brief period he lived in Hokkaido, prior to being shuffled here.] I bet the food is way better too. No burned taiyaki. [Not that he complained, but seriously, the bottom of his was nearly black. Of course Denji didn't seem to mind.] And we'll have a ton more money. ...A lot more money. [He corrects himself with a frown. Sometimes Denji rubs off on him in the stupidest ways.] It'll be way better than this place.
[When they finally make it home, Aki goes to the shower first, figuring Denji will be busy with Pochita for a bit so he can wash off. He leaves the job notice on the fridge to call in the morning. Even if the day started out stressful, cramped, and nervewracking, even if they nearly yelled at one another in the afternoon... It feels like everything ended just as it should have.]
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We grew up here, he wants to bring up to Aki's back, in defense of the aged shops and neighborhoods they're passing through. The market they got kicked out of because he kept sneaking bites of fruit they hadn't paid for yet. The street corner Power found Meowy yelling out from a sewer grate. When someone asks you where your hometown is, aren't 'cha gonna say it's here?
That's what Denji would say. Not that other place.
But Aki…
Ultimately, he keeps quiet. Lets the question slope down the drain.
At home, Power catches him trying to feed Pochita part of the taiyaki he'd saved from earlier, and immediately raises a fuss until he offers her some of the candy from the clinic. After which, she happily eases up, clearly satisfied with herself. They have warm-up leftovers from this morning's meal for dinner, which only lives on Denji's plate for about five minutes before he's vacuumed it all in, still hungry, despite being treated to a hearty lunch and a carb-heavy dessert. They leave a messy plate (and messy table) out for whenever Aki's done showering. As soon as the bathroom opens up, the two of them are in-and-out in perfect coordination, making their usual rounds and yelling at the other to hurry up.
The night ends with all three of them side-by-side, murmuring their good nights. The same as last night. The same as every night, really, yet it feels like they fall into place much easier this time.
In the morning, Denji sleeps in. There's no school, no place to get to in a mad bolt. Power steps on his head getting to her change of clothes, but after the initial grouching, he's able to fall back asleep. For 10 minutes.
Then, his phone buzzes. ]
Who the hell…?
[ It's not someone messaging him, though, when he pulls his device out from under his pillowcase. It's a news story.
Missing student's belongings found near grisly scene
Denji shares the brief article to the group chat. ]
fjmt.tk/bc79d0 dude
we go there dont we
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[Wading his way through a sea of pallets, Aki feels his phone buzz and ignores it at first. He talked to Denji this morning, and he'd kind of replied. I'll be working until four. I'll be back home after that. You can make lunch for yourself, there's still stuff in the fridge. Look after Power. He told him those four things and Denji kind of mumbled a Yup as he lay in bed and Aki had thought, good enough. He'd expected the job to be tomorrow, not today, but like hell is he going to deny easy money like this. They didn't even ask for his birthday over the phone. He's taken enough odd jobs that this routine isn't unusual. And Denji ate well at dinner, so all should be fine.]
[...Though he did tell him one fifth thing, too. Message me if you need me. But he always says that, and Denji texts him whatever comes to his mind, so it's probably something like that. Nothing huge. He sits down on his heels and lifts up the flap of a package, staring at the shipping label, then begins ripping it open. It's probably nothing.]
[But of course it's never just nothing. Aki hears someone else mention it, looking at their phone, talking to another temp worker. "...bag had Togata High's logo, I heard." "Poor kid's gotta be..."]
[He moves his hand slowly to his pocket, taking in a breath. He's only been gone for an hour. It's nothing. When he stares at the message waiting for him, that it's from Denji, he's a little relieved - really, it's not like he thought either of them were in trouble or anything - but not so much as he reads the article.]
You should know our school's name
[Start with that. Lighten the mood. He re-reads the article, looks at the map as if it would tell him anything other than the shape of their ward. The siren from the previous night blares in his memory, but - No, sirens happen all the time, right? Were they that close to it? What time was it that they went home? Had any of those boys had duffel bags...?]
You two stay home today. Don't take the devil outside, either. I bet Public Safety is all over the place.
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[ …is the LINE sticker Denji sends at the admonishment. What's knowing the name of that place going to do for him in life? Aki's graduating, and they're moving to a new school in less than a year, which means a new address, new directions to learn. New people to waltz in and out of his vision, expecting that he remember their names. That's way too many things to memorize. If Power were there to back him up, he'd pick a pointless fight over it.
…But he's not seeing her read receipt yet. Hm…
Rolling out of bed, he crawls toward the door on all fours to slowly peek his head out — and, yep, there she is. Sitting way too close to the TV set, Power doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything besides her favorite weekly cartoon. Ah, fine, he'll kick it alone. ]
but youre outside
[ Well, that's because he's got work and the news only broke just now… He knows that, but it's like second nature to find reasons to huff at Aki. ]
2/2
[ Sent from back under the covers again, Denji having returned to bed instead of forage for something to eat in the kitchen. He refreshes the news article, since usually these things get updated as the police and Public Safety release more information, but nothing's changed in the past few minutes.
Connection to the recent devil attack in the Atsubetsu Ward has not been ruled out — that's referencing them, right? ]
so whatcha think about the news?
[ … ]
you think the kid who went missing is one of the dudes you played with?
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[He's not outside, actually. He's decidedly inside, in the warehouse-sized back room of this store unpacking boxes of... What even is in these? Aki flips open the box he was unloading before he answered Denji's text. It's full of kitchenware, cutting boards and graters and whatnot. Does this place furnish department stores...?]
There's food in the fridge.
[And he's ready to leave it at that, but then Denji has to ask the question he's doing a very fine job not thinking about. Aki glances over his shoulder at the other people working but they're all a good distance away. No one seems to be paying him any mind.]
I thought they all went home in groups. It would be weird for only one person to get attacked and no one else to say anything.
[...No, he suddenly remembers. That last kid went home by himself, after asking Aki about Denji. But they left not that long after, right? Wouldn't they have heard... Or which direction did he even go in?]
[Ugh, no. This isn't useful. Musing about which of their classmates had been killed isn't a fun game.]
Don't be so morbid. And get out of bed already.
[He can imagine him lazed around in bed sending him these messages right now.]
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yeah i guess. but some of em coulda split off later too right? and there was that one uncle kid who left before everyone else…
[ In addition to the very last boy who spoke with Aki toward the end of the match. Hell, even if the description of items left behind doesn't match, maybe it was even one of his student council buds. Anything could have happened, just like with the boy who didn't make it out of the zombie attack. ]
if its another dude from our school maybe the devils got a special connection or hate for brown-noser lookin guys. you better watch out
anyway look scroll down through the comments in the article. youll see other people think so too
[ Even if peoples' live shouldn't be treated as a game, he has to admit… It's a little fun, to follow all the public interest sensationalizing those kinds of theories. And not just that, people get so popular whenever something bad happens to them. Besides the armchair detective hypotheses being thrown around, there are obviously loads of prayers or people claiming to be students who think they know which of their classmates went missing.
I hope it's not who I think it is, he was so nice.
damn thats crazy I used to sit behind that guy in homeroom last year.. nowheres safe anymore. Rest In Peace
weren't he and ide-kun close? at least they're together now
It's so weird. Names that Denji never knew, suddenly, are spread widely throughout the collective conscious. ]
wouldnt it be cool if regular folks wound up solving the whole thing before the pubic safety guys?
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[Aki has very little interest in reading the comments on local news articles but Denji seems... unusually interested in this. Is he scared? Does he think something might happen to Aki? Is that why he so calmly tells him to watch himself?]
[But then, of course, it's just because Denji thinks it would be cool if he was the one who saves the day. If he were the local hero who finds the killer. Or in this case, the devil.]
You aren't a detective. This isn't something you should be trying to solve.
[Big words coming from Mr. "I hate when I can't solve something on my own." But whatever. This is Denji he's talking to, not himself.]
If it's a big enough issue, they'll send in Public Safety departments from larger areas. Like Tokyo or something. There's no way you could find a devil before them.
[Especially since...]
You couldn't kill it, anyway. Not with that jellybean.
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Yet no one's really talking about them the way they are the people who are missing or dead, which rationally, has to do with nobody knowing the full details of how he and Aki were involved, just that they were.
But it's not fair. ]
if its a big enough issue we could be dead before they do that
[ He's finally dragged himself out of bed, standing by the window to peer out the blinds and, sure enough, there are a few familiar suits making their rounds through the streets. ]
and dont disrespect pochita! call him a jellybadass or super jellybean at least. since without him things wouldve been a lot worse for us two.
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Don't say shit like that
[The message is sent right before Denji's second message arrives. Annoyance breaking through - He's sick of hearing Denji imagine their deaths. Though that second message isn't much better on that front.]
It would have been fine without you doing that
Those Public Safety guys showed up right after
[He's getting tense and frustrated so his messages are choppier and more to the point. He can't ever hide his emotion through text. Not that he tries very hard to.]
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Before Denji can get a response in, one that'd likely circuit then through their round of arguing, Power interjects with: rejoice, curs! the omnipotent power comes bearing a great gift despite your yappings interrupting my sacred morning rituals. there will be NO school next week! i have decided it, so it shall be. you are welcome
She declares it as if it's something she came up with herself... ]
woah
shes only lying about part of it for once
[ You know, instead of the whole thing.
There's an update to the article now. It isn't with anything regarding the case or the devil attack, but just an announcement that school activities will continue to be paused throughout the following week as Public Safety conducts their investigation. ]
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[...Seriously? A whole week off of school?]
[It's not that it's a horrible thing, of course. Aki is about as big of a fan of school as any other teenager. He only does well as a means for the future. But it's so serious that they'll continue putting school on hold? How bad is this devil?]
Power, go get Denji out of bed already.
[To distract them for a bit, he'll sic her on him for a few minutes. Maybe Denji actually did get out of bed by now, but they'll still squabble for a bit and give him some time to think about this.]
[...Seriously, they're still going to have no school next week? Do they think this devil is targeting high schoolers? But why high schoolers? Or what if it's not even the same devil? He can feel a headache coming on when someone suddenly calls out to him - the manager, asking him to help with some heavy lifting. He looks young and spry, apparently. Thanks, he makes sure to say, though doesn't exactly feel complemented.]
[Sending out a quick text, he shoves his phone in his pocket as he hurries off:]
Maybe we can take that beach trip this week.
[Never has there been a better excuse to split town for a day.]
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[ Power moves faster than the typing speed of his thumbs, because the door's being abruptly thrown open and she's shouting out some gibberish that could be modeled after some action cartoon ability that, in her imagination, manifests in explosions and limbs flying and a shower of glorious blood. But in Denji's experience is really just her preamble to headbutting him, then wrestling him into a sleeper's hold until he rapidly taps out.
"And the infidel falls!" she proudly narrates with a sputter of laughter, before imitating the sound effects of a large audience,
the one that perpetually resides in her head, hooting and hollering in support of her victory. Denji crawls out of the bedroom, leaving his phone behind, like a stubborn ant inching itself toward the safety of its colony even after a palm has already slammed itself atop it, crumpling all six of its legs.
Power holds her phone up. Sends a photo of the pathetic surrender most befitting an underling of his rank. Let this send a message to that other underling: Power follows no one's orders!
(Ignore the fact that she attacked Denji at Aki's request.)
When she glances at the mention of their day trip in their chat, something she vaguely remembers being told of, her simpering heightens by tenfold. Blowing past all that talk of devilry and crime (because if it isn't her own, she has no interest), Power sends the following:
your overlord has an idea... tis time for a beach excursion!
Didn't Aki just say that...?
as my servants, it will be your natural duty to finally make good on fortifying my castle in the dunes! and present me with many a melon to coat my walls in their delicious red innards as warning to any teespassers. ]
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[The two of them get no response for about half an hour as Aki works. Works and thinks about this trip. Denji had initially pitched it as a chance to ditch school, so will he be disappointed that they're doing this by the books instead? Still, with this job, they have enough money to splurge on something - Obviously they'll get some watermelons even though it's hardly the season for them, and he already wanted to get them both eel, but what else...]
[When Aki finally has a moment to check his phone, he stares at the defeated photo of Denji for a moment and wonders if he should praise Power or not. But her taking ownership of the plan to go on a trip is kind of annoying. So he decides to simply not comment on it at all.]
Let's go on Tuesday I'll get us tickets. Make a list of what you want to do. No bloodsports.
But Meowy can't come, and unless you can make Pochita look more like a dog, he has to stay home, too.
[There's a brief pause between those messages as he starts to tear open the next package, but then he pulls his phone back out to send a follow up.]
Don't make a ruckus if you're going to wrestle.
[Like he didn't just toss them in the ring together.]
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Out in the kitchen, Denji catches up on the messages he missed while Power bludgeoned his skull. He has two eggs boiling in a pot, set to low simmer; he used to always crank everything to the highest temperature until Aki taught him that doing so overcooked them and made the water overflow onto the stove surface. Besides, like this, he can easily file his first objection to Aki's guidelines for their trip. ]
hey!!!! tuesdays not a school day!!!! thats breaking the rules
[ Or rather, not breaking them. Anyway, moving on to his next complaint. ]
and what if pochita gets hurt? since there's that bad guy devil and stuff out there
like dont some devils hunt down other weaker devils to get stronger sometimes?
[ Oh, wait, didn't he just brag about how strong Pochita was? ]
er not that hes weak!! its jsut if hes alone yknow…
and if hes distracted from havin to protect meowy……
[ At this point that Power yells at him through the bathroom door (she'd retreated to take one of her infamously vile shits, probably), but Denji can't tell whether A) she's agreeing that Meowy shouldn't be left unattended, or B) she's upset that Denji thinks her cat is weaker than his dog. ]
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[So he really is married to the idea that they break rules in the process of this trip... Come on, they have the perfect excuse to get out of town and now Denji is quibbling over the minor details like whether or not this is breaking student code?]
No way could a devil break into an apartment. That kind of stuff doesn't happen.
[He can't imagine Pochita having to defend from anything, or if he even would defend Meowy, anyway. Does he even like Meowy...? It seems like all the devil pays attention to is Denji. And Aki if he gives him his food or yells at him for getting in the way.]
[...But if he can maybe give him this win, he might be able to get Denji to agree to the idea of taking a day trip right now as opposed to later when they're in class. He mulls it over.]
How about, you can bring him, but we go on Tuesday
[Like dangling meat in front of a dog.]
The weather is supposed to be nice in Otaru, only 10C
[Based on his weather app. It hasn't gotten bitingly cold, but they're really cutting a beach trip close with the season they're in. Any later and it might end up below 0.]
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k lets go
lets go lets go lets GOOO!!!!
[ The desire to jump for joy is only stalled by the phone timer that goes off, prompting Denji to rush to tend to his lunch for the day. The eggs scooped up and cooling in an ice bath — ]
meowys strong enough to protect the place on her own probably
just gotta put food in her bowl and shes peachy for the day!!!!
[ Denji's double standard when it comes to Pochita... ]
what do we gotta bring? sun screen right? and uhhh towels.... should we bring a weapon in case like the sand devil or something shows up?
wait we got pochita for that never mind
hmmmmmmmm
[ 🤔 ]
hey hye hey i know! we need a ton of snacks!
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[Easier than he expected. Aki can imagine him hopping up and down and bothering their downstairs neighbors with no trouble.]
Read my previous messages. I told you to make a list of what you want to do.
We shouldnt bring any weapons, you can't bring that sort of stuff on public transport. And we're taking this trip to go away from the devils, not toward them
[Did he miss that part...? Regardless.]
Power wanted to smash watermelon, and we can bring towels with us to lay on the sand. We'll get dinner while we're there so don't plan on bringing too much food.
[He still wants to get eel, after all. Some kind of midterm treat, before they go on their trip in a month or so. He still needs to bring that up with Denji again. Maybe he'll tie him to a chair this time first.]
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uhh well okay
i dont really care… but surfing looks cool? and we could play with fireworks! the big ones that go 💥BAM💥BANG💥FWOOSH💥in the sky
[ There isn't really an occasion or reasoning for that last one. He just recently watched a movie set to the backdrop of some sweet, coming-of-age summer where all of the teenage characters light sparklers at the beach during the summer festival. Though it isn't the season for it, it seems like something they could do, too. ]
and oh i wanna touch a shark or jellyfish or a whale or a penguin to test if theyre as squishy as pochita
doesnt matter which. its just something i need to strike off my bucket list!
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[Surfing...? How does Denji expect to be able to surf? They don't have a surfboard and surely no one is going to be renting those out in the winter. Fireworks - they probably can't do anything that goes in the sky, but Aki mentally notes to get some sparklers. They'll both probably enjoy anything to do with fire, and there's no worry about them getting hurt when Aki can just shove them in the water.]
[But his wanting to touch a shark (or a jellyfish or whale or penguin) is what fully gets him to stop walking across the warehouse, frozen as he re-reads the message. Is he insane? Is he stupid?]
Are you an idiot?
[He doesn't care how obvious his texting is right now. How much of a dumbass is Denji, seriously?]
You can't just find those kinds of things when you go to the beach. And jellyfish will hurt you, so you shouldn't try touching them.
[Never mind the shark.]
Penguins don't even live in Japan. You know that, right??
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under that smartiepants costume you always wheare
u were megastupid
!
[ Trying to peel the eggshells away with one hand, his replies send slowly, in bits, like branches of a thought pruned from a shrub too diseased to be salvaged. Evident from how riddled with mistakes they are. In his multitasking, he also fails to maintain the smooth outer surface of the egg whites, his nails forming cracks and indents in the skin, slivers of residual shell attached as he shoves a whole egg into his mouth, chewing, before splashing some soy sauce into a small dish and tipping that back as well. ]
becuz yeah too do penguins live in japan. you just gotta break em out from water jail.
the aquarium? the fish market? you not hear about those before?
[ Is he proposing that they go to the beach… just to go somewhere else? Sorta, but only to prove a pointless point. If Aki actually took them somewhere else entirely just to show him that penguins aren't being held captive at fish markets, he'd be pissed. ]
but fine since you think mt ideas suck so much id like to see what YOU come up with for the schedule
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[The aquarium, fine, but - Does Denji think people eat penguins? Would he eat a penguin if they found one...?!]
[...Not that they would, of course. Because penguins don't live in Japan.]
You can't break a penguin out of an aquarium. You'll get arrested. Same with sharks and whales.
[So he just has to keep him away from jellyfish. But that's all Denji gets in reply for a bit, after demanding Aki be the one to make a schedule. He's busy for about half an hour, but it's not wasted time. When the next message does come, it's long and detailed.]
Train from here to Otaru (about an hour)
Have breakfast on the train
Buy watermelon in town, sparklers if they're for sale
Go to canals
Find stuff to make a sandcastle with
Go to beach
Do whatever on the sand, break watermelon, have lunch (bento)
Denji and Power can swim (it'll be cold)
Stay until sunset
Get dinner - seafood (I already planned it)
Light sparklers if we found any
Go home (1 hour by train)
Something like that
[Then, maybe a minute later:]
They have an aquarium, but I heard a devil attacked it a few months ago. Anyway, you can't steal any penguins from there.
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