the_campus | [MINGLE]

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[MINGLE]

[Thanks to your friendly neighborhood Vocaloid, a helpful IC FAQ is now written on the whiteboard ~~in the first classroom of the West Wing~~ which has been moved to the Nurse's Clinic.

Gather round and be amazed... and you better not erase anything or she will find you. Or just rewrite it, depending on how long her attention span is.]

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That's right. There's a lot of people here trying, so it can't stay hidden forever.

[...She almost sounds sad about that.]

You don't seem happy about it. Is something wrong?

Ah...

[Well, it's not like he's asking for anything complicated. She never made much of a secret of it.]

...I don't have anything really to go back to. That's all. For me... this place was a blessing, even restricted as it is.

...I see.

[In a way, he can't blame her. Back then, before he'd made the decision to go on and seek his memories, he'd been on the verge on leaving them behind to stay with Yugi and the others. Would it have been a bad decision? Most likely... as good as it would be, it would be little more than cowardice.]

But, Karasu... could you really be happy here forever?

Forever? No, not at all. I know that.

[She freely admits that much.]

But I'm happy here now, and if I went back, I'd be unhappy there. That's what I know, too.

I know it can't last. And... truthfully, I don't want it to. So many people want to go home, back to their friends or family or whatever it was they left behind... it makes me hope that it's found for them.

I'm just... the odd one out.

This isn't where you're meant to be. But there's no shame in being happy here until you leave. If nothing else, you'll always have your memories. And happy memories are worth more than a lot of things.

But the world outside doesn't need to be an unhappy place. If it's unhappy now, then you should try to make it a happier place for you.

...I don't even know if I'll have those.

[Make the world a happier place for her, huh... If only it were that easy.]

And... I don't think I'm the kind of person who can do that.

It's not a matter of what kind of person you are. In the end, it comes down to what kind of person you want to be. It's not easy, but it's always possible, if you're willing to work at it.

Maybe that's true, but... I haven't had much luck alone so far.

You're not alone now.

[He smiles at her.]

Even if your memories fade, as long as you have people supporting you, even from afar... That will give you strength.

[...It's hard to feel gloomy with him smiling at her like that. That's right, isn't it? The friends she made here... Bakura-kun, and Kai-kun... and even Saft...]

Yugi-kun... do you live in Domino City?

Yeah, I do. That was a good guess.

[Who knows? Maybe she's seen him around before and that was why she was so confused at first.]

I remembered recently that I live there too. You're trying hard to encourage me, so I have to ask...

Maybe we could be friends. Both here, and not here.

I'd be happy to be your friend, Karasu.

Then it's official!

[Bakura lives in Domino too... so that makes two people she could turn to, if the timelines lined up.

...she'll assume they do, and not worry about that.]

Thank you, Yugi-kun. Really.

[He gives her a firm nod, a smile twitching at his lips. Things have truly come a long way in what feels like a short time.]

It isn't any trouble.

That's good.

[Huh... she really has changed, coming to this place. She could at least thank the intercom lady for that.

Not that she actually would. ~~Bitch needs to get smacked.~~]

If you need anything, you can always come find me and ask!

Yeah, I'll definitely take you up on that.

[Though he doubts she can answer most of his questions. The only person that could do that most likely wouldn't... As if sensing his concerns, a familiar voice piped up.

At least we're not alone here, right? Even if everyone's waiting back at home, there's still people here that are on our side.
Yes, I agree... And we're going to need all the help we can get. It'll be best to try to build what bonds we can.]

Thank you, Karasu. You've made what could have been a far more jarring experience that much more tolerable.

I'm happy to help! After all, we all have to work together. Or at least live together!

[Though she'd probably help out regardless.]

You can usually find me on the roof, or in the lounge. If you're having trouble, Bakura-kun or Kai-kun probably can find me easily.

Bakura...?

[Bakura-kun's here too?! Yugi's voice exclaims, and he pauses. Well, since she used the honorific and she doesn't seem crazy, it's probably the one they know. Though that does mean the spirit is likely here too. He'll have to keep an eye out.]

I know Bakura. I'll keep an eye out for him. If any of the rest of our group are here, he'll probably know.

Just don't go knocking on his dorm door or anything if you can help it. Malik-kun is a little... [How can she say this politely.] Antisocial most of the time. It's better just to find him out of it.

...

[Bakura and Malik are rooming together? There's an odd couple he never expected. That just sets off warning bells, but he dismisses them. Most likely, Malik was making amends for what his other self did to the other boy during Battle City. He'd leave them to it.]

I don't even know what his dorm room is, so I couldn't do that if I wanted to. I didn't even know he was here until you mentioned him.

Just the same, I figured I'd warn you in case. As for Kai-kun...

[She gives a quick description of him.]

He's a close friend of mine, too, but he's from another world entirely. I am trying to teach him how to duel, though, so don't be too hard on him.

Don't worry. I'll give Malik his space.

[He needs it, after Battle City... Noting the description of the other one - my, it seemed all the white-haired kids were hanging out together - he nods.]

I don't go easy on people. It's an insult to them, to hold back. But I'm sure he'll try his hardest and have fun doing it. That's what's important.

He's not very confident about it, actually. Because he's not from our world, he doesn't really understand what a duelist is, or the pride they have in what they do and the decks they build, win or lose. I think I'm helping him to understand that, slowly, but that's why I asked in the first place.

I never actually thought I'd be seeing it from the other side, though... it's strange imagining people who don't understand that, isn't it?

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