Crit post is here! I love getting crit, so don't be shy, I won't bite your head off. ♥ Anon commenting is on.

It wasn't that she hid or suppressed things. It wasn't. They were just... irrelevant. Especially now, after the Shadows were gone and life had become slightly less dangerous. She wasn't hiding them, they just never came up, that was all.

She straightened up the living room while she waited for Akihiko, moving things to one place and then another. She had a sense he was going to get it out of her somehow; not because he would pry, because she knew he wouldn't, but because he would worry, and it would bother her deep down in that place that worried when he was worried until she explained.

She was fairly surprised to find she didn't mind the idea very much.

She was shaken, angry, and feeling more than a little vengeful. Minato had died once already, how dare he be placed in a situation where people were apparently being pressured to kill one another? And so she'd channeled it and made it businesslike and purposeful, and organized resources and pressed people for information, but she had been brought up a little short by Karen. She knew what it was like to lose a friend, and she sometimes forgot that Karen was only fourteen.

So she was waiting in the living room of her apartment, already a little uncomfortable, entirely unsure how you were supposed to offer comfort in these situations. She'd have to manage somehow.

At least my last experience with being whisked out of my bed at night taught me to wear more practical sleepwear. Not to mention resume sleeping with my Evoker at hand.

As if I needed any more proof that this community seems to exist solely for the purpose of inconveniencing people. At least the classes I missed these past few days can be made up with a little extra effort.

How is everyone else faring? No one has any permanent injuries, I assume?

I've looked back through the archives a great while, and I was surprised to learn that there have been very few attempts to capitalize on the inter-world aspect of this community for business ventures. It seems as though the large part of any organized attempts were made by the ShinRa corporation, and a monopoly over a sector is harmful to other, smaller ventures... hmm. It would require a substantial amount of red tape, not to mention the difficulty of inter-world coordination; it may be that an entirely new division of organization would need to be created, but... it's something to keep in mind.

this si nor fairt i canmt typeo

i do nit get durnk

it si IRRESPONSIBLE

and i wmant to og to bed

I managed to get all my work done in the morning today, so I took the afternoon off... and found myself at a complete loss as to what I should be doing. I ended up going through some company files anyway, although I did appreciate the chance to do that at home with a cup of tea. I'm looking forward to university classes starting; I'm not used to having to hunt for things to do.

Nineteen, hmm...? It doesn't feel very different so far.



(( If you want you can assume she told you it was her birthday earlier or not as you wish-- she wouldn't have hid the fact but she's not the sort to go around saying HEY IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON GUYS either. ))

"This is the last of it," Mitsuru said as the (most likely Kirijo-owned) movers left the last boxes in the living room and bowed before leaving. It was a much nicer apartment than one would expect for two teenage girls, with a large living room and kitchen, two bedrooms, and plenty of storage space, but she was a Kirijo after all; Mitsuru had sold her father's old penthouse in the city instead of moving in, too uncomfortable at the thought of living in the same rooms her father had. And while she was used to being pampered by maids and cooks on her occasional visits home she was unaccustomed to living with them after years in the dorms; best leave them at the family's estate and live on her own for a little while, at least to see how she could manage it.

Not completely alone, though. Turning to Yukari, she said, "I thought it would be better to unpack our own personal belongings instead of asking some of my family's maids to come by and do it for us. I hope you don't mind."

It seems like only yesterday I moved into the dorm, and I'm moving out come next week. I suppose time really does fly. I apologize to my underclassman; I was outvoted when I put to the school board to keep the dorm open for you. The company will cover your moving expenses if you need, it's the least we can do as a measure of thanks.

[ Filtered to Yukari ]

Yukari, have you found a place to live yet?

Mitsuru was working at her desk in her room, organizing paperwork she needed for a meeting with the board of directors next week. It didn't really need to be done, and if it did it didn't need to be done now; no one would begrudge her for taking a few days off after graduating high school. But work was how Mitsuru kept her mind occupied when unsavory thoughts started to creep in, and so work she did. Other people cried. Mitsuru color-coded.

Minazuki Karen, I need to talk to you.

Now.

There's no point in having a journal and not using it, is there?

It turns out that I did exceedingly well on my entrance exams. I've been accepted into several larger universities, as well as a smaller one nearer to Iwatodai... I haven't decided as of yet which I'll attend, or if I will choose to focus on the Kirijo corporation instead, but it's better to have several options.

Apart from that, I have a suspicion that there's something that I should be doing but I can't quite place it... it must be my imagination. I'll double-check my planner to make sure. nothing out of the ordinary has happened lately.

Tonight will be the end, one way or another. In half an hour we'll begin our fight against Nyx.

Of course I'm confident that things will go well, we've certainly prepared enough, but... well. I should say something, shouldn't I?

Over the last several months this community has become a comfortable feature in my life where it used to be an annoyance. To the people I've met: thank you for your support, your friendship, and in some cases, your guidance.

Karen, I thought you especially should know that over the last several days, I've made some important changes in my life. After Nyx, I'm going to live my own life-- mindful of my responsibility to the company, but not neglectful of my responsibility to myself.

I wish you luck in all your future endeavors, and if all goes well, I will be there to see them.

She'd spent the last ten minutes walking up and down the boys' hallway, rehearsing what she was going to say. It wasn't until she realized it was changing every time that she stopped outside the door to Akihiko's room with a sigh. She hated not knowing what she was going to do, but if she was going to do this, it was going to be now. Only a few days left, after all.

She raised her hand and knocked.

I-- of all the--

This community's viruses become more intrusive with every one that occurs.

I believe I'm going to go for a ride this afternoon. It would be the best way to... clear my head.


(( I'm still tagging on the wagon, just wanted to get a reaction up before shit hill starts ))

I am a Kirijo. I can't let the company down, I can't let my father's memory down. The best way to convince the investors that I'm more capable than they would like to believe is through the merger; an experienced hand on the helm of the company will allow me to gain their respect, and also be a valuable help while I learn the finer points of management.

And yet something in me doesn't like this. I know that I'm capable of leading on my own, and there must be another way to convince them of my skills. Is Karen right, am I being marginalized? I admit he's not my... favorite person in the world, but sometimes there are things more important than personal desires.

...Why can't I bring myself to tell him? He's my best friend, after all, he should know. It's no secret, so why am I making it one?

Today
3:00-4:30 - English
4:30-5:30 - English listening practice exam
5:30-6:15 - French
6:15-6:45 - Dinner
6:45-8:00 - Japanese History
8:00-10:00 - World History

Wednesday
3:00-5:00 - Mathematics
5:00-6:30 - Chemistry
6:30-7:00 - Dinner
7:00-8:00 - Chemistry
8:00-10:00 - Physics

Thursday
3:00-4:00 - English
4:00-6:00 - Chemistry
6:00-6:15 - Dinner
6:15-8:00 - World History
8:00-10:00 - Japanese Literature
10:00-12:00 - Japanese History

Hopefully this much last-minute review will get me through entrance exams... if I do end up attending college I need to have top scores.

Ah, Karen... seeing as you are one of my only female friends, would it be possible to ask for some advice? I don't mean to presume, but...