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[It's not often that Ishimaru can be convinced to just walk around, 'relax' when he still has to pay off his grandfather's debt. But even he needs to be away from the casino sometimes, a sentiment that Naegi probably understands. They might be seasoned gamblers, but there's something nice just being outside and away from the bright lights and smoke.

And right now, he's just enjoying the fresh air, dressed in rather ordinary clothes, when he hears Naegi's question.]

Huh...? Oh, not yet! It's strange, isn't it?! I've been gambling ever since I acquired the Retrospec app, but I don't remember anything about being a Super High School Level Gambler yet. You think I'd recall something by now!

Hmm...

[ naegi puts a hand to his chin as he thinks. what does that mean...? ]

Maybe it's possible you weren't the Super High School Level Gambler in that other life? I mean, you probably should have gotten something by now so it doesn't make sense you don't have any memories of that just yet.

E-eh...?!

[Is that truly possible?! ...Actually, it might be. Who they were in the past doesn't necessarily reflect who they are now. Still, it is a somewhat disappointing thought, especially since everyone is acquiring knowledge or a skill from their titles--

Wait, what is he thinking?! That's just a lazy sort of thought process! This just further proves that he must hone his own skills without relying on a 'talent.' Sure, it would be nice to draw on experience from his past self, but it seems that isn't in the cards now.]

...I think you're right, Makoto. I-I guess this is what I get for wanting a sudden skill set without working hard for it...

It's not your fault. It's pretty hard to figure these things out without leaving it up to chance.

[ naegi sure feels lucky that his talent was pretty easy to figure out. asides from remembering it pretty early during his retrospec days, he always has had some really weird luck throughout his life. he supposes it's nice that he didn't have to go through this trouble ]

Do you want to figure out what your talent was? I remember most of the talents that were in our class so I think if we just try all of them out, it should trigger something.

[Figuring out his real talent... that could be interesting! Not to mention, he's the only one in their small group that doesn't know so far. And based on what he knows of his friends, the talents of their past selves really reflect on who they are now! Makoto with his luck, Kaede with her piano skills, and Byakuya with his 'heir' or at least leader type personality.

Does that mean his talent will be a reflection of who he is now? He first thought that his past self was just that, his past, but maybe they're more connected than that. They do share a soul, supposedly.]

...Would you help me? [For a moment, he looks uncertain.] It seems important to who we are, even now.

Yeah, of course! I'd love to help.

[ something like this is nothing. for a friend, naegi wouldn't mind doing anything so he pulls his phone out of his pocket and opens his notepad app. he types in it for about a minute before he turns the screen towards ishimaru, showing a list of all the talents in their class (minus shsl despair and shsl soldier) ]

Here. These are all the titles that I remember. Kyouko's was SHSL Detective, Byakuya's was SHSL Heir, and I was SHSL Good Luck so if we take those out, we still have a lot left. Maybe we can do something related to these talents and see which one triggers a memory?

[He looks at the list of talents, his eyes scanning each title to see if he'll remember anything just from that. It probably won't be that easy, but that's why they're going to try right now! So they can eliminate Detective, Heir, and Good Luck so far... and probably Gambler, which leaves 11 talents.

Some will be far easier to test than others. Like Bicycle Gang Leader sounds pretty difficult and what even is Clairvoyant?]

There's some that I can probably try on my own, like Writing Prodigy! [He can probably do swimming or programming on his own too...]

Perhaps we can start with martial arts! We won't need to grab anything! [All he has to do is punch Naegi in the face right? Right.]

[ starting off with martial arts, huh... going straight for the stuff that may possibly hurt... naegi sees how it is and although he guesses that ishimaru can just punch or kick in the air, he doesn't know if that'll help so... ]

... you can try punching into my hand?

[ ishimaru is absolutely allowed to accidentally punch naegi in the face tho if you want ]

[He'll definitely be a terrible martial artist if he can't aim at Naegi's hand. But he nods to the suggestion, awkwardly raising a fist and throwing a couple of fake punches as a warm up. Sure he exercises and everything, but Ishimaru has never actually thrown a punch like this before.]

O-okay, ready!

[He gives Naegi a few seconds before throwing a punch into his hand. There's definitely some level of strength in it, maybe enough to hurt a little, but nothing big.]

...How fast am I supposed to remember? When did you remember your talent, Makoto?

[ naegi's a weakling so even if he gets punched in the hand, it still stings a bit so after ishimaru finishes, naegi pulls his hand back and shakes it. ow... ]

Um... I think it took a couple of months for me to remember but I think Kyouko learnt hers a lot earlier.

[ which probably doesn't install a lot of faith in the whole scenario but... ]

But I do remember that Kyouko once triggered a memory for me by reenacting it and I remembered that almost instantly so maybe that'd happen to you as well? Though I can't guarantee that it'd work.

[HMMMM.]

I see... that makes sense! Then we should try more martial arts to see if I'll remember anything!

[This will go well.]

Okay! I got it! Punch me in the face, Makoto! I'll try to block it!

[Somehow?? He doesn't really know much about blocking moves, but as long as he blocks it, maybe that will still help? If not, he'll just ask Makoto if he can toss him over his shoulder!]

H-Huh?!

[ naegi can understand throwing a few shadow punches. naegi can also understand punching someone else's hand. but what naegi doesn't understand how those two evolved into asking to be be punched in the face. isn't that moving a bit fast?! ]

A-Are you sure? Isn't that a little too much right now?

[Go big or go home! Or in this case, punch in the face or nothing at all...]

Don't worry, I'll be fine! [He has the upmost confidence in you, Naegi! You're one of his closest friends... and close friends punch each other in the face! Well, at least they do now!

Ishimaru raises his arms a bit, almost in a boxing sort of pose. Probably the wrong stance, but...]

Oh, and don't hold back! [Maybe he's forgotten that Naegi broke someone's jaw...]

[ the look of doubt is etched over naegi's face because he... he's really not sure about this but if ishimaru really insists, well... he supposes this is what being a good friend is about. ]

A... All right... here goes...

[ naegi takes a deep breath and he pulls his arm back, his hand already balled up in a fist. after he takes a few seconds to get over his hesitance, he throws his punch as hard as he can. i am completely okay with naegi dealing with 2049202 consequences so DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE IN REGARDS TO WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH NAEGI'S PUNCH ]

[You see, Ishimaru thought he was ready. He thought he would be able to block his punch or at least dodge it in time. However, he was not quite expecting how fast a punch can actually go, especially when it's heading straight towards your face. Call it his lack of experience with fighting.

So, the punch lands straight into Ishimaru's face.

With a small cry of pain leaving him, the young gambler stumbles back and presses a hand to his nose, feeling the blood already leaking out.]

N-ngh... that hurt... I think I feel my face becoming sore already!

Edited 2018-07-21 01:30 (UTC)

[ naegi was really really really hoping that ishimaru would somehow block his punch or dodge it so when he feels his fist connect with ishimaru's face, his stomach just drops. ]

K-K-Kiyotaka?!

[ oh my god, naegi immediately regrets everything and he will never punch another person again, even if it's out of self-defense ]

A-Are you all right?! Is something broken?!

[ naegi will literally jump off a cliff if he broke another bone ]

[When Ishimaru pulls his hand away, there's a steady stream of blood coming from his nose-- enough where some is already dripping onto his clothes and the ground. This is probably ranks in the top three dumbest things he's ever done... which is saying a lot.]

I. I don't think so...

[His voice is now quieter and somewhat filled with pain. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to cover his nose again with his hand.]

I-I'll be okay... you have a strong right hook, haha.

[ oh god, that's... that's a lot of blood. naegi goes through his pockets to see if he has anything to help ishimaru's bloody nose but he comes up with nothing ]

S-- Stay right here! I'm going to buy an ice pack and tissues for you!

[ there's a convenience store nearby so with some running, naegi should only take a few minutes to get everything! ]

[Hurry Naegi... before Ishimaru bleeds to death from a bloody nose somehow. Plot twist, Naegi is the first DR murderer of Recolle.]

O-okay, I'll stay put! I won't be going anywhere.

[This sounds like a reasonable plan! Especially since his nose hurts a lot and he doesn't feel like doing anything but sit on a nearby bench. He'll still be on it by the time Naegi returns, sending his friend a... somewhat grateful expression.]

Unfortunately, I haven't remembered anything since you were gone! Perhaps I am not the martial artist...

[ when naegi returns five minutes later, he holds a plastic bag that contains a water bottle, a bag of ice, and a couple of packs of tissues. he immediately places the bag on the bench next to ishimaru so he can go through and use the items inside. god, this is such a shitty start... ]

Maybe not...

[ which is a shame because if you're going to get punched in the face then it should at least be worth it ]

Um, there are still a lot of other talents left. Maybe we should try something that doesn't involve anything physical this time...

[Once the ice is against his face, Ishimaru lets out a small, but relieved groan.]

D-don't worry, Makoto! This bloody nose is nothing, it won't stop me from learning my SHSL talent!

[He's starting to get re-energized again for whatever reason. Maybe the swelling has gone down, enough where Ishimaru feels more like his normal self. Not being in pain definitely helps! Well, there's still some pain, but not too bad.]

We can still do Bicycle Gang Leader! [r i p] ...But I guess we can start with 'Clairvoyant!' [So... predicting the future? That sounds really hard.]

[ ishimaru has... so much energy. it's kind of exhausting but naegi is determined to help ishimaru figure out his talent even if... this might kill him.............. ]

Clairvoyant... [ naegi puts a hand to his chin. hmm, how do they test this in a way that they have immediate results? ] Hmm, how about I go buy a scratch ticket and you predict whether or not I'll win?

[ naegi doesn't tend to spend his money on that type of gambling but hey, he doesn't mind dishing out a few bucks for it ]

[That's probably a good idea! Although, there's one factor that he's worried about.]

Wouldn't your luck affect it though? Unless being a clairvoyant means that everything is already taken into account! And if I was the best at that, I probably would consider every factor!

[Somehow, he's able to say all this rather clearly, even with a cloth against his nose still.] It wouldn't hurt to try at least!

[Unlike getting punched....]

[ this is way less harmless than a punch to the face ]

Mm, yeah, try to consider my luck as well when you give me a prediction.

[ so let him hear it, ishimaru. LET HIM HEAR THAT HE'LL WIN THE JACKPOT ]

I hope you predict something good, haha.

[If he takes into account Makoto's luck, then predicting that he'll win at least something is the right way to go! But no, that's definitely not enough, to be the SHSL Clairvoyant, he must be able to get it right on the nose!

Okay, he'll think of a good prediction!]

I predict... that you'll win $50!! ...No, $50.85!!

[Maybe he should've gone higher so that Makoto can later pay for his medical bills.]

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