The Principal's Office

[tailor_made]

The door to the principal’s office is open at all hours, although you will only find Hester at the receptionist’s desk from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is primarily where you can have private conversations with her. Though there’s an actual office in the back, it is always closed and locked.

Comments

[mayavericks]

Hester-san.

[Maya is practically throwing the door open.]

Did you know that this had happened before?

[tailor_made]

[Hester just...looks like a deer caught in headlights.]

I- what? What do you mean?

[mayavericks]

Nana. Claudine. My classmates -- My friends! They were in a game just like this one. Angus was there.

[She slams her hands down on the desk.]

Did you know?

[tailor_made]

[Hester flinches.]

I- [She lowers her eyes, her focus turning from Maya to a corner of her desk that looks particularly interesting.] I did. He told me...he told me when we found out about Angus.

[mayavericks]

Where are they? Are they okay?

[The roaring in her ears only gets louder.]

Why didn't you tell me?

[tailor_made]

This is why! I didn't want to upset you and make everything worse for you here. [She takes a breath and lifts her head to look at Maya again.]

Nana and Claudine are fine. Claudine went home after everything and Nana...I'm going to be honest with you, we don't know where Nana is. We just know she left after it all ended and hasn't really shown up since.

[mayavericks]

[And just like that, most of the tension leaves Maya's form. Nana is... concerning, certainly, but being missing is certainly a hell of a lot better than being dead, or trapped in this game.

When she speaks, her voice is substantially closer than the placid tone it normally takes.]

You swear it? [And without waiting.] I-I'm sorry, Hester-san.

[tailor_made]

I swear. [She holds out both hands palm up on her desk. It's a silent invitation but not a demand.] I wouldn't lie to you, Maya.

But don't apologize. You haven't done anything wrong.

[mayavericks]

[Her hands slip into Hester's. She breathes out some of the tension in her chest.]

I didn't need to come in yelling, I don't think. [She tries to breathe in. Her breath hitches but... It's fine.]

Thank you.