♪ 001. [Video]

[idolizer]

[ Sending a message over the network for the first time after three months of captivity feels awkward, even for a social butterfly like she's supposed to be. But even worse is the fact that she's got to do this after such a weird experience. Then again, this is the best way to catch up on everyone she knows in the Tower.

She can't even fake a smile in this situation. Cue a blue haired girl appearing on the feed, blue eyes nervously looking at the camera. ]

Hello... My name is Sayaka Maizono for those who don't know me. There are some of you who know me certainly, so if you see this, can you please get back to me and tell me if you're alright?

[ A pause, then a sigh. ] I don't really remember much about what I've done while being in that state. What about you guys? It was so weird, and... depressing, too. Does that mean we're going to stay in the Tower for that long of a time? It's scary to think about it.

[ That's not a good impression she's making. Not like it really matters... but then, she adds. ] What do you think these noises from down below are about? It's drilling pretty hard in the lower floors, especially the cafeteria.

Comments

[Text]

[tohko_amano]

I'm alright, Sayaka..but how are you holding up? You don't look well. If you want me to run over to you, I will, alright?

However..nothing happened to me, but for quite a few people, their memories and bodies were altered, making them think that they had been in the Tower far longer than they had. I don't think we'll stay in the Tower for that long though..if most of us did, we'd be dead.

As for the noises..maybe it's where the Administrators hide and they're beefing up the security.

[Text]

[idolizer]

Oh, Tohko-chan... I'm physically okay, but I feel worn out. I haven't slept a very lot, actually. Please don't worry about me.

Our memories and bodies... was this another of their experiment? This is the first time it ever occured to me.

... But there wouldn't be this much noise if they're only working on the security, right?

[Text]

[tohko_amano]

Maybe you should get some rest then..if you're having trouble sleeping, I could bring you some sleeping bills, or a really comforting book!

And it was..I admit, this is an unusual experiment, but it was an experiment nonetheless. I'm sorry to hear that this was your first one..

..And to be honest, I wouldn't really know. It's just a guess on my part. But at least we have a good guess as to where to dig if we ever want to meet up with the Administrators.

[Text]

[idolizer]

Oh no, I don't need that. I still have the books you gave me days ago...

I don't remember anything about it... except my mindset of that time. I'm worried that I could have hurt someone while at it...

Maybe you're right... but it's troublesome all the same. I'll have to bring the food up to my room if this noise keeps up.

permavid

[yougotthatwrong]

...Well, I don't think I changed much, but um...

[AHAHAHAHA oh god he looks so awkward.]

Maybe they're working on something underground? It's a possibility after all.

[idolizer]

You weren't affected then? That's a relief... it was downright depressing as an experience. [ And those "moments" were definitely scary. ]

Working on something? Uh... are they making more floors?

[yougotthatwrong]

Well, that's a possibility, at the very least... But I think it'd be better if we wait until they reveal it.

[And knowing his luck, it'd be something horrible.]

[idolizer]

If we tried to investigate it, we would be punished, isn't that right?

video;

[fish_or_die]

[Oh. It's the cute girl from his first morning in the cafeteria. This is a nice surprise. Jungo's still getting used to using this thing, but he turns on the video to say hi.]

Mm, hello Sayaka. It's been a while. I'm alright, but how're you?

[He can talk about the other stuff later. One thing at a time!]

video;

[idolizer]

Jungo-kun... I'm not very well, actually. But thank you for asking... it's been a while indeed.

[ Twenty years and back, if we're really going in for the joke. ]

video;

[fish_or_die]

[Oh, no. One of his potential friends is feeling down, and he doesn't know what to do about it.]

Mm...I'm sorry. Is it because the noises are bothering you?

video;

[idolizer]

That's the least of my concerns, even if that's really bothersome too.

[Video]

[snowdriftassassin]

Oi! Nice ta see yer okay, well... as okay as one can be in dis place.

Can't say it be dat much weirder dan some o' da oda experiments dis place has undergone but it definitely be trippy.

S'far as da noises? Jus' be soundin' like construction but I didn't know of any basements... maybe they be makin' new floors downwards?

[Video]

[idolizer]

I'm so confused. Is that how the future is holding up for us? Staying here forever? I don't understand.

Perhaps they're making new floors, yes...

[Video]

[snowyvalemaiden]

I dun be thinkin' so. Da future be hard ta predict, especially in a place like dis where tings be changin' always and people can be comin' or goin'. Maybe it was jus' a what if?

New floors hm... but dat make me curious mon... if dey be needin' new floors, den why down? Does dat mean dat dey can't make any more in between?

[Video]

[idolizer]

It felt so real, though... how come we could have that different behavior if it was only our bodies growing up?

... I don't have a good feeling about this, at all.

[surpassthelimit]

It's not that bad, kid. I'm not the person for speeches but you should worry about making your own future than seeing what some place arbitrarily decides to give you.

[idolizer]

[ inspirational speeches 2k13 ]

It felt so real, though... do they always mess with our brains like this?

[surpassthelimit]

Your guess is as good as mine. But the best thing you can do is just tell yourself it's not real.

video

[puppy_lancer]

...Hell if I know.

[This girl is only vaguely familiar to Lancer now that he's back to normal. If she's who he thinks she is, then she looks very different from how she was during the experiment. She's so young. So frail.]

For both those questions. But I'd like to think that there is a way out for people who wanna leave.

video

[idolizer]

[ ... There's something about this person that isn't new to her, but as much as she tries to remember, nothing comes to mind.

Perhaps that's for the best. ]

People can leave here, but then they would be sent to those destroyed worlds... and it's still not on their own terms. It's terrible to think about.

Re: video

[puppy_lancer]

[He raises an eyebrow.]

And where did you hear that? How do they know that the destroyed world they got in is really their world or something that happens to be similar?

[Video]

[forgetbeam]

Could it be that they're adding even more floors, but as basement levels?

[Video]

[idolizer]

Basement levels... [ that doesn't sound good. Why would they do such a thing... ]

Have there been similar noises when they made the new floors above?

[Video]

[forgetbeam]

Well... No... The floors that appeared since I have been here must have already been built... There must be even more above them, blocked off!

[Ugh, doesn't that sound familiar. Well, maybe not to Sayaka...]

So if there are more up above... what kind of place could they possibly need to build in the basement...