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✦✦✦ THE WRITER IS LAZY: PART II ✦✦✦
(Or: What do you mean the plot is "on vacation"?)
[INT. HYPERION CAFETERIA – MIDDAY]
[Everyone's gathered around a table with a half-finished storyboard taped to a tray.] Theresa (holding a red pen like a dagger): "This... this isn't even a plan. This is a doodle of a duck holding a sword."
Bronya (analyzing): "The Bronya detects no tactical merit in this waterfowl."
Captain (flipping pages of the "script"): "Scene 8 says 'Kiana punches reality until it behaves.' That's not how physics OR plot works."
Kiana (snacking on chips): "Worked last time."
Mei (sighing, arms crossed): "Page 10 is just a single sentence: 'Insert emotional moment between Mei and ???' …I have questions."
V (leaning back, sunglasses on indoors): "At least you got a scene. My last line was literally 'V says something cool and exits mysteriously.' That's not dialogue. That's laziness."
[INT. WRITER'S ROOM – MEANWHILE]
[The Writer is curled up on a beanbag, surrounded by energy drinks and 47 sticky notes labeled "Important".]
Writer (mumbling into a notebook): "I was gonna write the next arc... but then I took a nap. Then I dreamed about space sharks. Now I kinda want that to be the arc."
Theresa (appearing in the doorway like a judgmental chibi warlord): "Do you think this is a *game*, Writer?! People are waiting for development! For depth! For trauma!"
Writer: "...I mean... it *is* technically a game franchise."
Theresa (slamming pointer stick on floor): "NO EXCUSES. WRITE."
Mei (appearing behind her): "If you don't start progressing the plot, I *will* give everyone unresolved parental trauma. Including Bronya."
Bronya (eyes glowing): "The Bronya already has five trauma subroutines. She does not require more."
Kiana (grinning): "Actually… do me next! Give me a cool breakdown scene in the rain!"
V (raising an eyebrow): "...This is why you're the main character."
Captain (yelling from the back): "Can we focus?! Boss fight scene has been buffering for two weeks! I've aged!"
[Writer, sweating, spins chair slowly to face the screen.]
Writer: "Fine. Here's your update."
[SCREEN UPDATE – GLITCHES SLIGHTLY BEFORE LOADING] -------------------------------------------------------------
Mission Objective: Stop the Flaming Cabbage That Eats Dimensions.
Plot Progression: Emotionally unavailable.
Side Quest: Find V missing coat (again). -------------------------------------------------------------
Captain: "...Is this punishment? Are you punishing us?"
Theresa: "Where's my battle strategy?! My wine-fueled tactical monologue?!"
Mei (reading closer): "It says the villain's motivation is: 'He just really hates Tuesdays.' What IS this."
Bronya (deadpan): "The Bronya will uninstall herself if this continues."
Kiana (smiling): "Hey, you gotta admit—'Dimension-Eating Cabbage' has *vibes.*"
V (arms crossed): "That cabbage stole my coat last draft. I never forgave it."
Writer (already half-asleep again): "Good luck. I'm going back to bed. If the cabbage wins, it's canon now."
[The screen flashes: NARRATIVE ERROR 404. The background music is now just soft meowing.]
FINAL SCREEN: Writer Status – Offline Plot –
Tied to a rocket labeled "CHAOS ARC"
Kiana – Too enthusiastic
Captain – Done with everything
Theresa – Scheduling a performance review
Bronya – Downloading fanfic AI replacements
Mei – Plotting revenge with a spreadsheet
V – Still missing coat, but somehow still the coolest
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Another day had passed.
Captain lay sprawled across Bronya lap, utterly drained, while she casually played a handheld game console, her expression calm as ever.
Kiana: "Captain, what's wrong with you? You don't look so good."
She asked with genuine concern.
Captain: "It's nothing serious. Just tired from work, that's all."
He sighed deeply.
Kiana frowned, unconvinced.
Captain: "By the way… where are V and Mei?"
Bronya: "V left early this morning to meet a friend. Mei went out shopping."
Captain: "I see…"
His voice trailed off.
Kiana: "Speaking of that guy, he told me you need to pick something up from his room."
Captain perked up immediately.
Captain: "From where exactly?"
Kiana: "Uh… his room. Weren't you listening?"
Captain: "Right. I'll go grab it now—"
His sentence was cut short by the sudden ringing of Bronya's phone.
Bronya: "Sorry. It's V."
She quickly answered the call.
Bronya: "What is it, V?"
V (voice over): "Bronya, I need you here now. Bring the deep-dive Stigma equipment. Hurry."
The line cut off right after a location ping popped up on her screen.
The room fell into silence as Bronya, Kiana, and the Captain looked at each other, confusion in their eyes.
Captain: "What… the hell is going on?"
-
-
Meanwhile, somewhere near the city …
V held a fading Pink hair girl with bunny ears in his arms—Sakura.
Her once-stable body now flickered like mist in the morning light.
V (inner thoughts): (I was careless… too careless.)
Yes, he had been. With everything happening lately, he'd been too distracted—managing the team, fighting off threats, and maintaining stability.
He had missed his regular visits to check on Sakura—visits he'd promised himself to make twice a week.
That gap had given the Herrscher of Corruption time to claw its way deeper into her soul.
Mei: "Is she going to be okay?"
Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained locked on the girl.
It had been a coincidence that Mei was with V.
On her way back from shopping, she'd run into him at a bookstore—he was buying a biography of Saint Karen Kaslana to give to Sakura.
V (inner thoughts): (Bronya should be on her way.)
He had other methods—risky ones—but those came with a terrible cost.
The toll on Sakura soul could shatter her very essence, making it impossible for her to reincarnate—or even continue existing.
V: "Hurry, please… just hang in there…"
Just then, the doorbell rang.
V: "They're here! Mei, get the door!"
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and left the room.
V (inner thoughts): (I don't believe in gods… but just this once, please… give me more time.)
-
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When the others entered, they were met with a somber scene—V cradling Sakura, her body still fading in and out like a mirage.
V: "You brought it, Bronya?"
She nodded without a word and held up the case containing the Stigma dive gear.
Captain: "Wait. Before anything… mind explaining who that is and what's going on here?"
V opened his mouth, but Kiana cut in.
Kiana: "Maybe she's his girlfriend or something?"
At that, Mei's eye twitched.
Mei: "I don't think that's the case, Kiana. Why don't we let him explain instead of speculating?"
Everyone turned to V, who stared down at Sakura.
V: "Fine… I'll explain. But on one condition."
Kiana: "Condition?"
V: "Keep what I'm about to tell you a secret. Especially about her."
Captain: "Why so secretive?"
V: "Because explaining too much won't help. Just know this—she's a synthetic Herrscher."
The room went still.
Mei didn't look surprised.
Other Mei (inner thoughts): (So that explains the odd familiarity I felt...)
Mei: "I see."
Bronya: "So you needed the Stigma gear to dive into her inner world and try to save her."
V: "Exactly. As for how I found her… it was during a solo recon trip. I got permission from Principal Theresa to scout the ruined city of Nagazora. That's when I encountered her."
He wasn't lying. He had gone back—but Sakura had appeared not as a person, but a remnant echo. Something only someone like him could see.
Captain: "I guess that makes sense…"
Kiana: "I don't know everything you're saying… but bottom line is, you wanna help her, right?"
V: "Yeah."
Kiana: "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's do it!"
The others looked at her in surprise.
Captain: "Well… she's not wrong."
Bronya: "I'm impressed that the tuna-brain actually made a good point."
Kiana: "Hey!!"
Mei: "It's true, though. That's just Kiana being Kiana."
Kiana: "Wait, Mei! What's that supposed to mean?!"
V: "Alright. Let's set everything up and begin."
Kiana: "Hey! Don't ignore me!!"
Mei: "I'm going with you."
V: "No."
Mei: "Why not? I can help!"
V: "Because it's too dangerous. If the Herrscher of Corruption latches onto you and take ober your body, I may have to kill you to stop it."
Mei: "I can defend myself. Plus, the other me—inside—can help too."
He was about to argue again when—
Captain: "We don't have time for this. Either way, she's going in."
Bronya: "Agreed. If you keep arguing, that pink fox is going to disappear before we even start."
Kiana remained silent. She wasn't against saving Sakura—but choosing between supporting V or Mei was tearing her apart.
If she sided with V, it felt like she was doubting Mei strength. But if she supported Mei, she might be sending her into real danger.
Then, an idea struck.
Kiana: "Wait! What if you both go? Mei follows V lead exactly. That way V can keep her safe, and Mei still goes in. Genius, right?"
Silence.
V: "...Fine. We're wasting time as it is."
Mei: "Let's do it then."
Bronya: "Great. I've already finished the setup."
Captain: "Alright everyone—get ready."
Kiana: "Let's gooo!!!"
-
-
Meanwhile, in a quiet village…
A young woman clad in a samurai kimono walked calmly along the dusty path. A small bird perched on her shoulder. A katana hung at her waist, gleaming faintly.
??: "Excuse me, could you tell me… where exactly am I?"
A passing villager turned to her with a friendly smile.
Villager: "Ah, welcome samurai. This is Yae Village."
??: "I see… Would you happen to know where I could find a place to stay for the night?"
Villager: "Certainly. Just follow the road, turn left at the fork, and you'll find an inn there."
??: "Thank you."
She bowed politely and continued down the path.
Villager (muttering): "Such a unique samurai…"