This is our fight song

[le_mat]

[Akira wanted to collapse after all that. But... this was what Zombina usually did, and he'll do his best to pick up the slack.

Luckily he's not alone, as Roxy and Max lend hands. And he needs those extra hands, since there's a full pot of curry from the diner that needs to be reheated (day two curry is best curry anyways) and bowls brought down. Not to mention making sure certain people at least make it TO the cafeteria. He'll leave the coffee to Bolton. He leaves those tasks to his helpers while he goes and writes the notes, all tucked under doors like last time:]

There's food in the cafeteria. Please, don't do anything reckless.

[You're one to talk, boyo. Still, as it heats up in the kitchen the smells of curry and coffee at least is a small comfort against the cold empty space outside]

Comments

[titularly]

[Of course she makes him wait, but that's fine. He keeps banging and yelling until she sees fit to show herself, but by then he's exhausted to the point where he's fallen to his hands and knees on the floor, panting raggedly as Rox finally appears.

At least she doesn't have that damn phone, forcing her to give him her full attention.

Osomatsu's face is wet with fresh tears, like he hasn't stopped crying since the trial. He's shaking with his hands balled into fists, and for a moment it looks like he's going to struggle back to his feet and take a swing at her.

...but.]

I can't do this anymore.

[theoverseeing]

[Rox's hackles go up and she almost takes a step back against the now-closed doors but when he doesn't actually move she relaxes, folding her arms across her chest.]

If you mean the experiment, you know the only way to leave.

[titularly]

You know that's not what I mean!

[Osomatsu chokes out, shuddering as he glares up at Rox. He wishes he could find the energy to actually get up to his feet, to face her eye to eye... but every part of him is so exhausted. So defeated.

He can't do it.]

I...I did not think about it, at the time...but...we didn't think...the cameras, you saw everything.

[He throws his head like a caged animal, every part of him shivering uncontrollably.]

You know! You know, don't you!?

[karappo]

You stood there....YOU STOOD THERE- AND LET ME WATCH OSOMATSU DIE!!!

[theoverseeing]

[Rox just smiles.]

[karappo]

[That, more than anything, tears Karamatsu apart. When he finds his voice to speak again, almost unable to from heaving with every attempt to breathe, it's just. Tortured.]

I killed Zombina. I aided in her murder. I am the true culprit! ME. I was the one who deserved to die out there!

AND YOU SAID NOTHING!

1/2

[theoverseeing]

...This is difficult for you. [Rox sighs, a putupon sound, and unexpectedly bends down at the knee to his level.] Losing someone so close, especially a family member, is...hard to cope with.

[A look flashes across her face, one that's strangely...genuinely sympathetic? In fact it's one of the most genuine expressions she's given in the weeks he's known her.]

2/3 i lied

[theoverseeing]

[But as quickly as it's there that sympathy is gone and she straightens back to her full height to loom over him.]

It's hard but you have to understand. You've done nothing wrong...

[theoverseeing]

Champion Waste of Space.

[She attempts a sympathetic smile but it comes off just as cruel as it always does.]

[karappo]

[Karamatsu didn't know what he was expecting, intimidated by Rox getting so close to him.

And then...]

No.

[Karamatsu looks up at her in horror, his heart in his throat and his head throbbing so hard it feels fit to burst. He barks out a hysterical laugh, gripping hard at the front of the red fleece hoodie he made Osomatsu a few days ago.]

Y-you...you can't do this to me. Please, you can't...

[Tears course anew down his cheeks, and his anger has turned into fear and disbelief.]

I am Karamatsu, the p-painful, narcissistic, guilty guy with the long title that e-everyone wants to go away! I killed Zombina!

You...you have to kill me!

[theoverseeing]

Have you broken any rules I missed? [She tilts her head curiously, as if the words he's shouting at her aren't even registering.] Broken a camera, attacked me or Dudely?

[She bends down and touches his cheek with the knuckle of her index finger to wipe away the tears pouring down his cheeks] No? [She curls her hand away only to extend that same long finger and lightly tap him on the tip of his nose. She smiles wider.]

Then I have no reason to kill you, Osomatsu Matsuno.

[Rox stands one last time and turns around to face the door.] CECE, open the door. [The doors to the other side of the ship slide open immediately and she steps through without a word. The doors shut behind her, leaving Karamatsu alone in the cafeteria.]

Open

[karappo]

[...he can only watch, stunned, as Rox says her piece and steps out. Just like that. It leaves Karamatsu at a loss, staring at the doors long after they closed shut.

It's then that he just...breaks down for what has to be one of dozens of times today, allowing himself to slide the rest of the way to the floor. There he curls up, sobbing into himself. Utterly distraught and broken.

He isn't going to be able to get up any time soon, nor does he particularly want to.]

[le_mat]

[he heard that. They all did. He can't possibly understand why Karamatsu and Osomatsu switched... but he does know the younger twin needs help.

Akira approaches, kneeling down, and just... hauling him up. Karamatsu isn't very big, it's not hard]

Come on, not here.

[karappo]

[Karamatsu allows himself to be lifted like a scruffed kitten, unable or perhaps just unwilling to struggle. This is a man who has given up. A man who came to die and got told to deal with the grave he dug for himself.

He doesn’t speak to Akira, unable to look him in the eye, really. But he does stand with his help even as he continues to cry, leaning against him for support.]

[le_mat]

You can stay with me, okay?

[He doesn't trust Karamatsu to survive the night if left to his own devices]

[karappo]

[Stay...? Oh. That’s.

...he’s surprised, because he didn’t think he’d be forgiven enough by anyone to even associate with them after what he’d done. But maybe it’s because it’s Akira that he can believe he would.

That, and he just knew he’d be in a room alone, and even that much is terrifying to him right now.

So he nods, still quiet as far as talking goes.]

[le_mat]

[Maybe he should hate Karamatsu for killing his dearest firend here. And for letting his own brother die.

But if Zombina asked him the same he can't say he wouldn't have helped her too. And... he understands to a degree why Osomatsu might have taken the fall of his little brother. He doesn't have any siblings, but he understands obligation and devotion well enough]

My room is okay, right?

[Seeing their things might be too much for Kara, and honestly it might be too much for Akira, too]

[karappo]

[Again, he nods. Seeing their combined things is honestly part of what made him break.

Though...he does finally say something. One thing.]

I’m sorry.

[le_mat]

I know.

[He won't get onto him or tell him it's okay. Both seem hollow. Nothing Akira could do could hurt him more then he already was]

[quadjumps]

[ yuri's just

speechless.

he's staring at karamatsu in complete shock, in complete horror....and then starts to seethe in anger. ]

You...

[karappo]

[He understands. He expected nothing less.

But he can’t actually say anything to Yuri, now. He can’t even look at him. But he hears that anger, that betrayal in his voice.

And he understands.]

[quadjumps]

You son of a bitch!

[ he's going to punch karamatsu right in the face if karamatsu doesn't stop him. ]

I was ready to die! I wasn't going to vote for you--and you just--you fucking liar!

[karappo]

[Honestly, he won’t stop him. So if Yuri really does intend to get a punch in, he’ll be able to with no resistance beyond a reflexive jerk backwards when he sees it coming.

At that point though he has to look up at the boy, a hard to read expression on his face. Whatever it is, it’s very sad. Deeply so.

But Yuri is also the first he finally does speak to. He feels like he owes him that.]

N-no apology I could give will make up for what I have done.

But...I am sorry, Yuri-kun.

[quadjumps]

[ god. god. he looks at karamatsu with nothing but anger and rage, and now, just seeing karamatsu's face...

yuri leans forward, his forehead landing on karamatsu's shoulder. on one hand, he's selfish and he's glad karamatsu is alive.

on the other hand... ]

Why?!

[karappo]

[He stiffens, as if expecting the worst when Yuri rests his forehead on his shoulder. He wishes he had a better explanation, he really does. ANY epxlanation. But he just doesn’t.]

I never...i-intended for things to be this way. If I had never gotten up that night...none of this would have happened.

[Zombina would be here, albeit in trouble, and Osomatsu...]

I wish I c-could take it all back. More than anything.

[He’d put himself in their places if he could.]