Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

[hellahighwater]

It's just a lot of words to say you're the king of secondhand embarrassment, dude. And you know? I'm starting to see why.

[ Painful. ]

[karappo]

[Wow don't call him out like that.]

A-ah...

[Karamatsu takes a breath, steels himself, and lets that comment slide as he puts on a smile again.]

A lot of thought was put into it, clearly. One had to sit down and truly think about what makes Karamatsu Karamatsu...

[Ha........haha....]

There were a few other unusual titles, so at least I am not the only one.

[Like Mediocre. But he's honestly not sure which is worse at this point.]

[hellahighwater]

[ Chloe doesn't mince words, what can we say. ]

Like what? I've only really looked at mine and yours, No Plan Guy. [ He might be a goldmine of teasing potential??? Holy shit??? Chloe starts...scrolling through. ] Maybe instead I should look for a normal one.

[karappo]

[Oi, Oi. He resents that. But he's also too prideful to actually say that he does.]

L-listen! I did not have any input on what was put on here! You did not on yours either, did you?

[hellahighwater]

[ ...Erk. ]

No. But it's true, isn't it? I don't judge, it's not like I got one either other than getting blazed.

[karappo]

Well......yes. Yes, it is true.

[He can't even argue that, he would have told her that without it being written down.]

I simply prefer going through life without worrying about where or how exactly I will make it to my next destination...life is far too short to be spending it fretting over things that have not yet come to pass.

[hellahighwater]

...You don't have to make it sound all deep. I just wanna get out of my shit-town, if you're a wanderer just say it.

[ she thinks he's absolutely a hobo but you know that's fine ]

[karappo]

You....could say that.

[He is absolutely not a wanderer, he's a NEET.]

What is stopping you from leaving your town?

[hellahighwater]

Mom, money, step-douche.

[ Leeeaning back in her chair. ]

A nice little roadblock to end all roadblocks.

[karappo]

[Karamatsu's brows furrow a little.]

I am sorry to hear that. Money is another issue entirely, but...no one deserves to have bad family to deal with.

[It just reminds him how lucky he is to have a mom and dad who haven't kicked him and his siblings out yet.]

[hellahighwater]

Mom's just controlling. [ She instantly feels like she has to defend her, despite just mildly trash-talking. ] She's not bad, except her damn taste in men.

[karappo]

I understand. My family is fortunate in that regard...Mommy and Daddy did nearly split up once, but they ultimately decided that trying to choose with of us to take with them was too difficult a task.

[hellahighwater]

[ ... ]

Dude, did you just say that? How fucking old are you?

[karappo]

Eh? I...I am in my twenties...

[What's wrong with what he said...]

[hellahighwater]

And you call your parents Mommy and Daddy?

[karappo]

Of course I do, why would I not? They deserve respect.

[hellahighwater]

That's not respect, that's what a little kid says, bro.

[karappo]

W-well...it is what I have always called them, anyway. I have not seen any reason to change that now.

[Well, he sure did earn his title, at the very least.]

[hellahighwater]

Ugghh, you're such an easy target, this is actually kind of sad.

[karappo]

W...what do you mean, "easy target"?

[hellahighwater]

To make fun of. You just scream it.

[karappo]

Ah.

My brothers do that a lot.

[Gee, wonder why.]

[hellahighwater]

Guess they see it too.

[karappo]

I...would not say that, exactly. Is that not what brothers do anyway, regardless? You know...sibling rivalry, and all?

[hellahighwater]

Wouldn't know. Only child.