Trash Squad Day 1 - GAME START

[chinhotta]

[ Maybe you were going about your business and blacked out, maybe you were dead. Either way, when you come to, you are in what looks like the entrance hall to a school, except for the very well secured front door. Before you can really get your bearings, a voice rings out on an the intercom. ]

Welcome, kiddos! —How does that sound? 'Kiddos'? Too daddy kink? Eh, let's go with it for now. Anyway, welcome to a once-in-a-lifetime chance at romance and passion, with fabulous prizes! Find love beyond the boundaries of time and space! Original concept, do not steal.

Pick up your tablets and get settled in! A little later today, we'll have our first heart-pounding get-to-know-you event!

—Oh, also, no violence allowed! I know some of you kids are into the murder thing, but that's not the kind of game we're running here.

[ In fact, there are several boxes of electronic tablets around the room. When you pick one up, it displays the gameplay and rules.]

---

Game navigation

Comments

[thesystemisdown]

[She's about to make some comment on Battle Royale and weird murder and/or dating games, but-]

I didn't do anything like that! The Literature Club isn't some excuse for getting dates!

[Except it is, it absolutely is. That's all it is, and any wishes Monika might have had for it are irrelevant in the face of that reality.]

I- I didn't even consent to this for myself, much less anyone else!

[dismemberthename]

[smiles warmly and retrieves his hand] It's a pleasure, Yuri-san.

[bestmothercat]

[His eyes widen in curiosity for a split second at the contact before looking intent again at Ike.

He gives a friendly pat on the big guy's shoulder in return. ]

Ah, How I wish we were but I don't think it looks like it.

As much as I'd rather be helping his highness and you not ending up here, I am curious to see how this goes. I don't know about your skills in this department, but your passion should make up for it~.

[slice_of_life]

I-I'm sorry... it was just an idea... Please don't be angry.

[Takes a breath]

Right. Of course, signing us up for this sort of thing... it would hardly be something you could be expected, or want, to do.

[Nods. That settles that.]

But... you have to admit, in that case, it makes this situation rather... fantastic.

[slice_of_life]

T-Thank you.

...I'm... I'm glad we were introduced, finally.

--That is, that we got... around to... introducing ourselves. Before it got awkward, that is. Not that we should have been introduced earlier, I mean.

[thesystemisdown]

That's exactly what someone who's not real would say, though...

[artisticliberty]

[he lets his hands fall]

Of course. Then, please call me Yusuke. You were saying?

[thesystemisdown]

...Yeah, I'll definitely admit that. I really have no idea how we even got here.

[This doesn't feel like part of the game, but it's so weird it hardly seems like reality. Nothing about it makes sense.]

Do you think all the other club members are here too?

[assent]

Ah, yes. [ Her excitement bubbles up again, hands clenched in front of her as she starts talking about her first recommendation. ]

Tatta Hittotsu no Koi is a rather popular drama about the romance of two people from different worlds who fall in love. It is about a mechanic and a rich girl who fall in love and must struggle through the consequences of their actions.

[ It probably resonates with her too given that normally she'd have 0 say in her own love life. ]

[slice_of_life]

[she nods]

Perhaps... not our newest member, but Sayori and Natsuki, yes. I've talked to them as well.

[ignore the time paradox]

Monika... can we please stay together? I mean... it just doesn't feel safe, and there are a lot of suspicious characters about...

I-If this were to turn into a desperate sort of situation, it would only make sense that those with a shared background would be able to trust each other the most.

[artisticliberty]

It is not a manga. It is real life.

[thesystemisdown]

I always try to keep a positive attitude.

[ahahahaha]

Either they've read too much science fiction, or somehow they've really brought us here from across time and space.

[artisticliberty]

Yes. I've dedicated my life to art, and to the pursuit of beauty.

[artisticliberty]

I see. Two lovers, separated by time, space, and societal boundaries... is their love a tragic one, perhaps?

[thesystemisdown]

Of course, Yuri. I was actually going to suggest that myself.

[She's the Club President. She has a duty to her members, despite all resentments.]

We should all stick together as much as possible. Even if this place isn't actually dangerous, it's all kinds of suspicious.

[assent]

You are correct, yes. Ayase Haruka and Erika Toda perform splendedly and the writing is also just as fantastic. I could not sleep and marathoned the entire series in a few days, despite my duties as a Princess. It was... quite shameful.

[thesystemisdown]

[The smile Monika returns is a little bemused.]

Well, I wouldn't say nothing. We've been kidnapped, after all.

[slice_of_life]

[nods again, a mild sigh passing her lips.] Thank you, Monika... I knew we could count on you.

[It was a relief. With Monika to organize them, Sayori to keep their spirits up, Natsuki to keep them focused on the present, and herself to ruminate about and anticipate what could come, it added up to a bright future for the Literature Club.]

Natsuki and I discussed it as well... even if outright violence is outlawed and everyone cooperates, if we're all expected to stay here... there could be a problem with... um... resource scarcity.

[assent]

I cannot deny that, however, there is a group of us that will be able to work together. None of us are alone.

[artisticliberty]

[he chuckles]

There is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to having new experiences. The things you learn from immersing yourself in a work of art are important to shaping who you are as a person.

[assent]

I would like to believe that... yet, I must put my people before my own desires. [ She sighs. ] I already asked for so much by being allowed to study in Japan for a while, it would be rather disgraceful of me to keep requesting more.

[artisticliberty]

You carry a lot on your shoulders... your dedication is admirable, but who will benefit if you deny yourself even simple pleasures?

[assent]

[ Her gaze drifts to the side at that, clearly conflicted. ]

I cannot deny that. Thank you, Yusuke. I will try to bear that in mind. I apologise for bringing up such a dreary topic as well, I am sure you did not wish to hear about my problems given where we are at the moment.

[thesystemisdown]

[Of course. Count on Natsuki to think about food.]

I don't think that's likely to be a problem. They didn't bring us here to watch us starve.

[slice_of_life]

...That is true... though when you're creating a new setting, addressing the question of "where do the people get their resources and how do they maintain a basic quality of life?" is generally the first thing to consider. Otherwise, the world has no foundation... no way to satisfy Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

...Ah, maybe I'm overthinking it...