A Return!

[despairing_hope]

[Video]

[Komaeda's face is quite up close and personal on the screen before pulling back with a soft smile and a raised hand in a wave.]

Hello, we're home. Has anything interesting happened since?

[For those familiar with Komaeda they might notice that he seems just a little calmer and relaxed in general.]

Are you sure "We're home" is the right thing to say, here...?

[Hinata, meanwhile, sounds exactly the same as usual, hopefully exasperated with his classmate's carefree attitude. His eyes are what stand out more, though; anyone who's seen him even in passing would be able to tell that instead of normal hazel eyes, one eye has inexplicably turned a brilliant shade of red. Like he's wearing one contact like some kind of chuunibyou.]

Well, it's good enough, isn't it?

[Action]

[For him it's felt like a very long time since he's been on the base. Well, perhaps not quite a long time, but there is definitely a lot of things that have happened to him in a short time. Not only did he regain his school memories but he went through quite a lot more afterwards. So, he does not have a particularly strong connection to the events that happened before he left. Such as remembering that he is still not particularly liked by a lot of people. That doesn't stop him from wanting to great the people he enjoys.

Though he will be specifically seeking out Ichinose, Kanaya, Jake and alas, Dirk unless Hinata manages to grab him first, he will hug everyone he comes across tightly with a warm "Hello!" But don't worry, Hinata is close behind him trying to keep any potential conflict low.]

Comments

[lightbulbvampire]

[Kanaya responds quickly, zipping through the hallways to seek out Nagito... and Hinata, yeah, but Moirail takes No.1 priority. She's been keeping an eye on his stuff and likely taking care of Fukurokuju in Nagito's absence.]

Nagito!

[She blinks in surprise at the hug, but is very much returning it, lifting him up slightly in her enthusiasm. Apologies about the gratuitous pale PDAing Hinata. Once that is done and Komaeda is deposited back on the ground, she will turn slightly and raise an eyebrow.]

I thought that the last time this occurred that I asked you to not have this happen again. You had Ichinose quite worried. But some good did come out of what was found searching for you so...

[She shrugs slightly.]

Well, suffice to say, quite a few events occurred in your absences.

[The pitter-patter of clawed footsteps is heard as 13 birdog pups round the corner and huddle around Kanaya.]

Such as the eggs hatching.

[There are so many birdogs.]

[despairing_hope]

Oh! They survived, I'm sure Nanami san would be happy.

[And there's a pause, Nanami... perhaps 9ne day they will find her again, alive and we'll. But, he's not going to let that hold him back.

To shift gears he just smiles again.]

So much has happened on my end as well! I've regained what was lost.

[lightbulbvampire]

Yes... I'm positive that she would be elated.

[Kanaya smiles and gives an encouraging look.]

I am glad to hear that. If you would like to discuss your feelings on what you've regained, I am free for another feelings jam at an moments notice.

[Shes aware time gets weird with disappearing and reappearing people, so he may have already come to terms with it by now, but she'd like to be updated.]

One of the more notable occurrences was actually a result of the two of you disappearing. A search ultimately led to the discovery of an promising lead as to how we are brought here.

[Honestly it sounds like his luck at work to a degree.]

Besides that, I have a few projects in varying stages of initiation.

[....A few of the birdog pupchicks are starting to try and gnaw at the end of your coat... and the zippers on your shoes.]

[despairing_hope]

Oh how fun! I want to see what was found.

[He tugs a bit at his coat, but doesn't mind his shoes.]

And I wouldn't mind talking about it. Actually... there might be something I should talk about.

[lightbulbvampire]

I will show you later then.

[It's easier to see then to explain anyway. She nods and smiles.]

Alright, do you wish to discuss them now or do you have other plans?

[She could probably stack a pile pretty fast. She has enough pillows out at least.]

[despairing_hope]

[He has to think about it a moment.]

Without Hinata kun I think, for now.

[lightbulbvampire]

Ah, right.

[She kinda forgot about him for a minute. Look she has priorities. She picks up a birdog chickpup from the ones crowding around them.]

We can go to my room right now if that is acceptable.

[Ditch Hinata? Yes? No?]

[despairing_hope]

I don't mind.

[It's not like he can't see Hinata later? Unless Hinata really wanted to talk to Kanaya for some reason.]

It's quite interesting, all the things that happened.

[lightbulbvampire]

Excellent.

[With that said, she'll start walking to her room, the chickpups abandoning Komaeda's shoes in favor of following Not!Mom. The two zippered shoes live another day.]

Is that so?

[despairing_hope]

[He easily trails behind.]

I mentioned we were all in a simulation, right?

[splinten]

[Dirk is living his ordinary life and not deserving of any kind of misfortune or horror, at all, come on guys. Anyway he sees Hinata which, he'd give the dude a warm(ly monotonous) greeting, but also he sees Komaeda so his expression is monotonous in the bad way here.]

Hi.

[He does not expect a hug. He does not deserve that.]

[hopefragment]

Dirk!

[Hinata grins, at ease in a way he hasn't been for almost two months now. It had been that being around Komaeda would put him on edge, but not now.

...Honestly, Hinata had been a little worried that in the week he and Komaeda had been gone... others of his friends might have disappeared, too. He's relieved to see Dirk at least is still here.]

How've you been?

[He's not. Holding Komaeda back. Yet.]

[despairing_hope]

Dirk kun!

[And his arms are wide, a wide smile on his face. He is going in for a hug completely oblivious to the atmosphere.]

[splinten]

I've been—

[Hinata better pull Komaeda away before Dirk's reflexes have him moving to throw Komaeda across the hall.]

[hopefragment]

[Why this. Hinata doesn't even seem surprised, just exasperatedly resigned as he just reaches out and drops his arm down perpendicular to Komaeda's outstretched ones without missing a beat, knocking the other boy's arms away before poor Dirk can be assaulted like this. ]

Sorry, what were you saying?

[despairing_hope]

[Despite being blocked he doesn't stop talking.]

It's so good to see you again! Have you been well?

[splinten]

[Dirk turns to look at Hinata instead of addressing Komaeda.]

Has something happened to him?

[hopefragment]

Yeah, if you want to call it that... I still can't explain it, but it's like what happened to me a couple months ago, remember? I disappeared for a week, and regained my school memories and then some. It's the same for him.

[Hinata tilts his head as he draws his hand away from Komaeda's arms. giving Komaeda a please behave kind of stare. Said stare with two differently colored eyes, but whatever.]

[despairing_hope]

[Wasn't he already behaving? He was definitely already behaving!]

So cold. The only thing that happened is I got my school memories back and caught up with everyone.

[Of course a few other things happened extra that he was only privy too, but why go into the depths of his psychological traumas?]

Though I suppose that's quite a lot, three years and more!

[splinten]

[Okay three years is something too so that's—Hinata your eyes.]

Okay, so why are you Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way now?

[aspearing]

You left and came back? Such a thing is possible?

[ She knows that a friend from home had left, but... her returning is another story entirely. ]

More than that, are the both of you doing well?

[hopefragment]

Well... kind of.

[Hinata winces and shrugs. He doesn't have a good answer, and he knows it.]

As far as I can tell, it's not something we can do consciously. But it's happened to me twice now; I've vanished from the base and URSULA's sensors for a week, and then come back as if I'd spent time back home. I remember new things, or my body has experienced time passing... stuff like that.

[He glances to Komaeda for confirmation.]

We're doing okay, though. What about you? You've been okay in the past week?

[aspearing]

A friend of my own was sent home, but... she hasn't returned. [ There's a lengthy pause at that before she continues. ] Perhaps it depends on the individual, then. But, I am rather relieved that this hasn't seemed to effect you in a negative manner in any way.

We've been alright here. Rather, it's been peaceful here.

[despairing_hope]

We've been fine! And a few people have gone and returned before, it's rather strange. It's probably related to how some people are from different points on their timeline.

[aspearing]

In that case, did a great amount of time pass in your world before you came back here?