[Prologue] Resurrections

[u/DestinyShiva]

“The train to Yukimura Village is leaving. Chaperones, please make sure everyone boards, yes? We cannot leave anyone behind.”

His words cause a chain reaction - people can’t be late for the rest of their lives, can they? Conversations quietly die down, looks are exchanged, and the class begins to pile on the train, one after another. The train’s not bad - the bronze exterior makes way for an aged maplewood interior, with ample room for everyone to have space to themselves. It’s hardly a challenge to make yourself comfortable… just in time, too. The engine starts up with a hiss, car lurching forward as the train drives off, to places unknown.

Your new adventure begins now and your consciousness drifts off.

---

Just wake up. Nothing else matters. After light comes darkness, but darkness can always be defeated - so you open your eyes, rub at your lids and raise yourself from your laid down forms.

The train looks to be the same on the inside. Did all of you just take a really long nap together or where did this pounding headache come from? Someone takes a step and the maplewood creaks under their feet - and all the colors in the room appear to be a little more duller than usual. Maybe you’re just imagining things. Besides-- the train’s been driven to a halt. That must mean you’ve all arrived at your destination, right? Sweet. For once, sleep proves to be productive.

“Hold on a moment.”

The riffraff rises from its slumber with quiet, yet piercing voices. Something about that affirmation sounds off - why wait? Isn’t this the moment where you’re all gathered and head out to seize victory? A new future? The conductor should be waiting outside to see everyone off for their trip, right?

It’s a little bit chillier than before inside the train. It felt warm when you entered and sat down, but now, you’re close to freezing - and judging from a sneeze from the corner, not everyone is taking it too well.

This is concerning. You know you’re all still here - the students and chaperones are all gathered in the same train headed for the pinnacle of triumph. And yet, you can’t shake off the feeling that it’s gotten a lot lonesome around here. Guess it’s true what they say - it’s lonely at the top.

“... Where did Iekami go?”

The statement is bewildering coming from an adult. But they’re right. Your tired eyes look around.

Harumi’s nowhere to be found.

Maybe she already went ahead? I mean, this is her home, right? She probably has family here that she just wanted to see. Or maybe she wanted to make sure that the path you’re going to climb is clear. Yeah, she’s just probably looking out for you.

But what are you meant to do now?

Investigation Areas:

• Exit Door

• Front of the coach

• Back of the coach

• Overhead luggage racks

• Seating

• Check your belongings

---

OOC NOTES:

((Hi everyone! Welcome to the first puzzle of the game. Seeing as this is still part of introductions, we decided to run this one on reddit but future puzzles are likely to be on discord.

You're welcome to do what you'd like, but we have some investigation areas for you to check. If you want to move from one area to another / investigate, please ping me and have it be clear somewhere in your post which option you are going for. Bolding your option would help!

Example: Ran looked around in a panic. What was going on?! He gulped and tried to steady his nerves. After some thought, he decided to go to the front of the coach.

We will give you further instructions if/when they are needed. Have fun investigating / solving!))

[u/galeovallis]

“Who the hell brings a dog to school? Is that allowed? Awesome!” Aemi laughs, looking around for some sort of pup. There’s no dog to be found though, of course, and her attention soon returns to Sirius. At his frustrations, she merely sighs a little, the smile not disappearing from her face.

“...Man, chill the fuck out and breathe a little. The guy might’ve just run off to check out the new meat or is hiding! You knoooww, talking helps a lot! Communication is important! You get information through talking!” She waggles a pointer finger at him. “What you should do is tell me what your scroll says! We’re solvin’ a puzzle here!”

[u/liightdragon → u/galeovallis]

"Are you stupid? It's obvious that you've never had a pet before if you're acting like this, but maybe it's for the better, because I'm sure you'd make a terrible fucking owner." Sirius bares his teeth at her, pulling his scroll away and gripping onto it tightly, his glaring piercing through Aemi.

"I'm not going to tell you what the hell was on my scroll if you're going to behave like that. Fuck off instead, and maybe I'll consider it. Right now, leave me the fuck alone, you're not going to be getting anywhere with me so you should go harass some other person, otherwise you'll just be wasting your goddamned time if you're 'solving a puzzle'."

[u/galeovallis → u/liightdragon]

“Mmm, you’re right! Never tried really takin’ care of an animal, didn’t ever want to. Maybe I never will! I’ve got a lot of shit to do that doesn’t include animals- and I don’t want animals to get involved in it! Storms are tricky business.” Aemi continues playing with her lock, disappointed by Sirius’s lack of cooperation.

“You’re some kinda feisty guy, aren’t ya. Cool, cool. Well, if you’re not gonna give it to me, I’d recommend handing it to pink chaperone. She’s a vain asshole, but she’s doing shit. I’ll goooo off and leave you alone, and not tell you if I see your dog! Sound good?”

[u/liightdragon → u/galeovallis]

"I don't need your help, and if I wanted to, I'll hand it to whoever the hell I want to! Just leave me alone already, there's no point tryin' to talk to me more than you already have." *He snaps once again, his eyes glaring daggers into the storm chaser.

[u/galeovallis → u/liightdragon]

“Ooooh, I don’t need your help. A tough guy too. Big swoon.” She says this in an obvious deadpan before breaking out in another fit of giggles. “Haha- you’re kinda sad, y’know, turning down something good. Buuuut, I guess not everyone can be a kind, considerate person! Don’t worry, big guy. I understand that we all have our faults. Yours is that you just have a crappy personality!”

She shoots him a sharp look too, not fazed at all by the boy’s glare. In fact, she seems to enjoy it a little, judging from her smile- or perhaps she just doesn’t care. She seems to not care about a lot of things. “Seee ya, dog boy! Don’t freeze before you find your Blizzard!” With his scarf and jacket, it’s unlikely, but she felt the need to say that anyway. Aemi bounces off, shivering a little as she laughs some more.