[the first thing heard is a train.

it stands out like a sore thumb, a glowing red train pausing only to let nonresponsive, wobbling, quiet people board on before taking off. it's obviously a subway, dark and filled with whispers from places no one can see. it looks normal now, on a small floor with nothing but a rest stop, but go down the escalator... and things look instantly worse.

skeletal arches make up the walls and train tracks, veins stick to the brick and pulses as if it's alive. heavy smoke hangs in the air, the whispers and groans are louder, but there is still no one in sight. the tracks go in any which way and no sense seems to be made by whoever created it. but that large creature does notices an intruder after a turn into a hall.

it hurries in a faster pace than someone could expect, immediately splitting into two enemies that are already on the attack.

good thing akira followed the noise, already running forward.]

Who are— get back! Attack Moloch's head! [which one is moloch!?]

[the teacher tells you to quiet down because everyone's taking their exam. she hopes you studied.

so what can you answer: what event did emperor nero add to the olympics so he could participate? who do you think is the origin of the term "magistrate's patronage"? what is the origin of the English word "talent"? what's the least number of colors needed to paint japan so no two adjacent areas are the same color? what is said to be the reason why people began dreaming in color?

you name it, as you scan over the test: math, history, science, japanese...

akira pokes with a pen, quiet, since he's probably in the same boat.]

What's the answer to number two? [whispers.............]

[come on, we're being paid by commission, or that's what your boss says at the flower shop. a customer steps forward, nervously asking for a bouqet that means he wants to stay friends with an ex. why is he gifting an ex with flowers?

the manager turns around, requesting an arrangement that symbolizes friendship. hopefully someone else has a clue on flower meanings, because akira definitely doesn't.]

Wasn't friendship a yellow flower? What kind of... [mumbled to himself, instead tying a lot of red roses together, because he obviously does not care.]

[looks down at his plate of assorted food he just got from the buffet, apparently ready for more. why is he ready for more...? he didn't even touch his plate—

looks over to ryuji, right beside him, and whatever questions he had bubbling to the surface disappear. right, they came here together to celebrate. ann's on the way, just late. it happens.]

... Ryuji, too much meat. Let's find you some edamame. [already reaching for the bin to drop some onto ryuji's plate, not taking any protests.

— but he pauses, looking past ryuji and his gaze focus on kamoshida in line, grabbing food, and he's left speechless as his eyes widen.]

[he's used to whispers as he passes trough the hallways, rough as usual and the students don't mind giving him space as he walks to class. he knows it's because they're cautious about him, and he wishes that wasn't the case, but he knows what a possibly worse decision to fix it could do. best just to be hated for a year, then get it over with.

what does make him stop is when he hears a student whisper: "think that prince's dad will give kurusu a pardon or something?" it sounds pretty great, getting a royal guy's blessing, but he starts to question what the hell's going on as he hears more of it.

and more of it. why?]

— Noctlight? [finds him in the middle of a crowd of students, the whispers only getting louder.]

[he's a veteran on waking up in the velvet room, at this point. it's happened so many times that he feels nothing, just a roll of his eyes as he sits up, gazing at the velvet walls of his cell and letting the heavy metal weigh on his wrists. it's actually comforting, considering everything— thrown from home, expected to fight with people he's never met before, separated from most of his friends, his personal mission put on hold... but this is welcome, this can help.

if only the twins and igor were here. — why aren't they?

sees the empty desk in the middle of the room, standing and gripping the bars that have never opened for him. no one's there. where'd they go...?

hears rustling in the cell beside him, and that's what causes him to jerk in surprise. it's always just been him, stilling to hear any further sounds. a grunt, probably in surprise, the rattle of chains...]

Hello?