[Inugami] IC Inbox

[theoryandcalculation]

"You've reached Rei Ryugazaki. I'm sorry I missed your call, but please leave your name and number and a message and I'll get back to you as promptly as I can. Thank you."

Comments

[rinsecure]

... huh?

[Okay, that was a weird question. But Rei sounds weird, too...]

Yeah, I'm okay. [...] But you don't sound okay. Something's up?

[theoryandcalculation]

I guess that makes sense... as he had black hair...

[And then, like a flip switching, he jolts back into alertness. He has to warn his friends, in case...]

Rin-san! It was awful. I saw... I went into the restroom, and in the stall there was... there was a boy but he was dead! He was dead and there were chunks missing and- and-

[He has to stop and fight nausea back again. If he ever stops being nauseous it will be a cause for celebration.]

[rinsecure]

[Wait, what.]

Whoa, whoa, hold on a second there, Rei! Breathe! [And... try not to throw up, geez.] You're not making a lot of sense...

[theoryandcalculation]

[He does slow down, take a few deep breaths, and try again.]

I saw a dead body, Rin-san. It had... pieces missing, like somebody wanted the muscles and fat.

[He doesn't even want to think of what for, though he was there for some speculation.]

There... [His voice wavers.] There was so much blood, I've never seen... so much blood.

[rinsecure]

[There's silence on the other end of the line, and though Rei can't see it, Rin brings a hand up to cover his mouth, both in shock and preemptively trying to contain any gag reflexes.]

What stall was this? And where are you right now?

[It's not like he knows what to do, but he feels like Rei should get the hell out of there, if he hasn't already.]

[theoryandcalculation]

I'm back in the auditorium. I couldn't get myself to go to class after that.

[For obvious reasons.]

It was in the boys' bathroom on the second floor. I don't remember what stall.

[rinsecure]

Right, auditorium, got it. Is there anyone else there with you?

[theoryandcalculation]

No. Just me. I really should have called someone... That would have been the logical thing.

[He's still in shock.]

[rinsecure]

Idiot... [Just a whisper. Maybe it's not fair to call Rei an idiot under these circumstances, but Rin's concern is more often than not displayed with a side of anger.]

All right, I'm coming over. And keep me on the phone until I get there.

[theoryandcalculation]

[If Rei hears it, he doesn't protest, just sighs and leans his head back against the wall.]

Alright, Rin-san.

[Normally he would say that Rin doesn't have to do that, but he's scared and would rather be with someone than alone.]

[rinsecure]

I'll be there as soon as I can, but if anyone else outside of our group comes over, just leave the auditorium, and tell me where you're going-- tell me anything that happens, got it?

[Should he try to get the others first? Tell them what's going on? Haru and Makoto should be together, at least, but what about Sousuke and Nagisa? Would they be okay?

He only has his instinct to trust, and it's telling him to get to Rei first.]

[theoryandcalculation]

I will. No one's here right now.

[He takes a few more deep breathes, listening. Rin's straight forward, sensible instructions are helping him keep calm. It's something to grab on to, that makes sense. Something to think about that isn't blood and dead bodies.]

I'm just hiding.

[rinsecure]

[His mind goes straight to Rei, all by himself in that auditorium, hiding, scared, and his feet race faster than his heart. Maybe there's not much he can do, but somehow he just feels like being together will make a difference.]

All right, you stay hidden. I don't know if you can see the doors from where you are, but I'll call out for you when I get there; any other noise will not be me, got it?

[theoryandcalculation]

Understood.

[Rei takes a few more calming breaths, listening intently for Rin coming through the door, and hoping only he comes through the door. After another minute, there's a creak, and he yelps.]

I heard something!

[It's just the building settling (one hopes), but he's so jittery with nerves that he jumps anyway. After another moment of intent listening, he sighs a little, clutching at his heart.]

I think it was nothing.

audio → action

[rinsecure]

[Rin freezes in his tracks when Rei tells him he heard something, but when it turns out to be nothing, he just mentally curses and resumes his sprint. He can't really blame the guy for hearing things, especially not after what he's witnessed.]

Rei! [Give it a few more minutes and Rin is blasting through the auditorium doors, looking around for any signs of his friend.] Rei, where are you?

[theoryandcalculation]

I'm over in the wings, by our mats.

[He says it into the phone, not really wanting to yell. He's relieved, though, now that Rin is here. It feels better to be not alone.]

[rinsecure]

Right, got it.

[He flips the phone closed, shoves it in his pocket and runs off to the wings. There's no one else in the auditorium so far, and it's a small comfort for the moment; unless it was one of their friends, Rin isn't sure he would be willing to trust just anybody else.]

There you are! [Another quick jog and he catches up to the other swimmer, making sure to keep his voice to a low-- he needs to stay alert, in case anyone else shows up.] How long have you been here by yourself?

[theoryandcalculation]

[Rei looks up at Rin, uncurling slightly from the slight ball he's put himself in. He feels a little bit calmer now that Rin is here, though no less afraid.]

Fifteen minutes, maybe.

[He pushes back his glasses and rubs at his eyes, though he hasn't been crying. He's still too in shock to cry.]

Thank you for coming, Rin-san.

[rinsecure]

Yeah, no problem...

[He squats down beside Rei, thinks of what to say, then decides to sit instead-- this could take a while. He wants to ask if Rei is okay, but that would be pointless; he's very visibly not okay, and now that they are together, Rin isn't sure what their next course of action should be.]

Do you... need anything? Some water or, I dunno, anything?

[He figures it might be best to ask; isn't communication a beautiful thing?]

[theoryandcalculation]

[Rei gives his head a little shake.] I'll try to drink something later.

[He knows he should, because he threw up, and that means he's probably dehydrated, but he doesn't trust himself with water now, and more than that, he doesn't want Rin to leave him.]

I'm not sure what I need right now, Rin-san. [And he sounds apologetic, because that's not helpful.] I suppose going home would be too tall an order.

[rinsecure]

[Rin's face immediately falls at Rei's suggestion, a scoff that's a blend of morbid amusement and helplessness rising in his chest.]

Hey. [He looks up again, and with his arms straight up bridging the gap between them, he reaches for Rei's shoulders, gives them what he hopes is a reassuring squeeze.] We're all getting out here, you hear me? Just... hang in there a while longer. It'll be all right.

[Maybe it won't, but for as long as Rin is here, he'll do his damn hardest not to let anything happen to the people he cares about.]

[theoryandcalculation]

[Rei looks in Rin's eyes and gives him a small, sad smile. He knows Rin is just trying to reassure him, but he's not stupid. He knows that Rin can't know that for sure.

He'd been hopeful yesterday. In just 24 hours everything has changed.]

There's a murderer on the loose, Rin-san. Right now they're just killing those strange students, but what if they get bored with that?

[He looks down at his hand, smile dropping.] We can't leave, we can't call for help. What are we supposed to do?

[rinsecure]

[It's true, Rin can't know anything for sure. But he's an optimist, sometimes naively so, and he's taken it upon himself to share that hope with his friends, to keep them from despairing, if that's all he can save them from. It's the least he can do for the people he owes so much to.]

We stay strong. [He finally starts, quietly, but still forcing some energy into his voice.] Together, doing the very best we can to stay safe, until we find the way out.

[Rin gives his shoulders another squeeze, and a bit of a shake, too. Look at him, Rei.]

You are not the type to give up, Rei. Not the type to get caught up with your feelings and lose your head. [That's more Rin's territory, not that it needs saying.] Like hell I'm gonna let you start doing that now.

[theoryandcalculation]

[The shaking gets Rei to look up as intended, so he meets Rin's eyes for the last of his speech. It's not that he wants to give up, but this isn't swimming, or a competition, this is real, this is life-threatening.

He's never been this scared in his life.

But as he looks at Rin, here reminding him he's not alone, he feels like maybe he doesn't have to completely fall apart just because of fear.

(Still, he's shivering a little.)]

You're right, Rin-san. I know I need to pull myself together.

[He closes his eyes and breathes in, out. Opens his eyes again. He looks slightly less panicked.]

I just... need a minute.

[rinsecure]

[Whether it's swimming or life-threatening matters, it's indifferent to Rin; he believes in tackling everything full force and going the distance-- and in this case, that means actively trying to find a way out, instead of curling up in a corner and crying themselves to sleep. As long as there is a way to fix this, there is hope.

But Rin is not insensitive, and he's not about to make high demands from Rei-- he can't even imagine what it must have felt like, to stumble upon that kind of grotesque scene. He needs a break.]

Yeah, I get that. [A nod, along with a small smile of his own. He understands.] I know it must have been scary, so take as many minutes as you need. I'll stay here with you, okay?