[Hiyori left a sizable box for Bakugo as well as a letter. Here is what the letter says.]
To Baku-kun -
"If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!"
^ That was how I began my last letter. A while back, I was talking with Loki-kun about leaving goodbye notes in case I ever become a statue. So I wrote a bunch, and I began them with, "If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!"
I know that’s not how it works, though. My statue won’t really be “me,” just as Jun-kun’s statue wasn’t Jun-kun. Instead of disappearing, our souls simply leave the resort, right? I couldn’t believe it at first, but that was your theory all along. And since you’re a smart boy, you turned out to be right! That means you deserve a gold star, just like I used to give Till-kun!
[A gold star sticker is stuck to the letter.]
⭐️ Good job!
But anyway. Since I am leaving the resort, I do want to say a proper goodbye. I couldn’t figure out what to write, though, since I know you don’t like hearing sappy stuff. So, instead of writing you a heartfelt goodbye note, I thought: “Why not draw something instead?” Baku-kun likes drawing, and he’s a hero, which meant the perfect thing to draw for you was a “hero comic!” I’m not too familiar with those, but after digging, I was able to find some reference books in the library. So without any further ado, let me show you the hero comic I’ve been working on! Feast your eyes and enjoy!
[True to his word, Hiyori encloses a short comic.
The comic depicts two heroes. One of them is the Sunvenger Aristocrat, drawn to look like Hiyori, with a glowing aura full of sparkles. The other the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite, drawn to look like Bakugo. Hiyori did write out Bakugo's full hero name, despite all the times he previously messed it up. And he also remembered what Bakugo’s costume looked like, since he saw it when they traveled inside the painting of UA. He captures the grenade arms, the black and orange, and the “X” in the front with accuracy.
The comic shows the two heroes engaged in battle. Their first opponents are the four suits, each drawn as giant suit symbols with tiny arms and legs. Remember when Hiyori said he pictured Spades as a giant spade with a cartoon face? Well, it seems that visual persisted in his mind. The Sunvenger Aristocrat attacks the suits with a great blast of light ("Feel my sunbeam of justice!"), and then the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite finishes them off, before moving onto their last opponent: the Golden Peacock itself, represented as a giant bird.
"I'll blast you to hell!" the Murder God yells, striking an action pose. And just like that, the Peacock is consumed by a fiery explosion. There is no gore and no dismembered bird parts; just a big explosion cloud and some feathers floating through the air, just like the seagull lifeguards’ feathers floated on the day that Hiyori met Bakugo at the beach. That, too, was a visual that stuck in his memory.
The comic ends with the two characters posed heroically while the public cheers. The Peacock and the Suits have been deafeated and everyone is free to go home. Though the quality of Hiyori's artwork is middling at best, there's real effort put into the drawings.]
Well? What do you think? For a first-time comic artist, it’s not bad, right? I did my best to make us both look good!
I know such a happy ending might seem out of reach, but I earnestly believe that if anyone can win against the House, it’s you. You’re a hero whose determination is second to none, after all. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard though, so don’t be afraid to rely on others, alright? This place may have its villains, but there are lots of kind, hardworking people you can count on.
And I also want you to have some fun after I leave, so you should remember to make time for that, too! Try to make some good memories. Then maybe when you find a memory you want to capture, you can use the Christmas gift I bought you. That’s the one wrapped in holiday paper, but you’re not allowed to open it until the 25th!
I think that covers most of what I meant to say. There's just one part left. It's going to sound sappy, but it's important, so you're not allowed to skip it. Ready? Here goes!
I had fun chatting with you, playing games with you, going out to eat with you, and visiting the arcade. We experienced lots of things together, from Halloween parties to painting worlds. Through it all, you always shined brightly, and you were always reliable. You dealt with that unpleasant doppelganger, you defended me from ghosts and cupid arrows, you gave me self-defense weapons, and you even got to know my birds in the end. I have nothing but gratitude.
That’s how I’ll always remember you, no matter what you said when your suit was acting up. As a strong, smart, reliable kid.
Sorry, that’s not quite right. Let me fix that.
A strong, smart, reliable man. You’ve grown a lot since we first met, and I know you’ll keep on growing, right into the hero you want to be. I’m absolutely sure of it.
Take care, alright?
— Hiyori Tomoe
[The letter ends there, but the box has other stuff in it. A bag of birdseed, for starters, with instructions to NOT just leave the bag open and let the birds dive in and eat like Kleken did. The birdseed is for the bird feeders! Then he includes some Christmas decorations that can be hung in the birds’ treehouse, including tinsel, red and green baubles, and Christmas-themed bird feeders. And then, finally, there's the gift Hiyori mentioned, wrapped neatly for Christmas. The gift is...
A digital camera! And a pretty nice one, too. Hiyori had some currency saved up, and since he's leaving the resort, there won't be any daily expenses left to spend it on. He could afford to do this for Bakugo. Accompanying the camera is another note:]
Well? Pretty nice, isn't it? Yep, I'm sure you're so impressed, you must be speechless!
I know we already have our watch cameras, but this one will take much better pictures. And as your former model, I expect you to do good things with it! Make lots of memories, alright?
[Esikko will receive a package with a wrapped gift and a note inside. The note is actually two notes clipped together. The first one says this:]
To Esikko-kun -
If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!
It wasn't on purpose, of course. But there was nothing I could do about it. Thankfully, Loki agreed to hand out these letters if I ever turn to stone, which means I can leave everyone with some parting words. I never thought a god would become my mail carrier, but that's what happened.
I know becoming a statue isn't the same as dying. Baku-kun seems to think it's no big deal at all, and our souls get sent to our worlds when we disappear. I'd love for that to be true in my case. But even though this isn't "death," I do have some last wishes I want to share.
Firstly, I feel horrible about my sunflowers withering. I remember you said you liked singing to yourself, so why not sing to them in my place? When people turn to stone, their possessions seem to get moved to the first-floor storage room, so that’s probably where my sunflowers are. If you need help breaking in there, I recommend sending someone who can shapeshift and pass themselves off as a staff member, like Loki-kun.
Secondly, please look after Leo-kun. He forgets to eat and sleep, and I know he gets depressed sometimes, so if you could make sure he’s eating at least two meals a day and that he’s not too lonely, that would be wonderful.
And third, don’t forget to look after yourself!
I felt bad when you got punished for going against the House. I know you weren't just doing it for my sake, or even for everyone’s sake. You were doing it because you want to be remembered for your magic, even after death, correct? But I don’t want you to get punished even worse, and I don’t think you should risk your life just because you’re sick, either. This place runs on magic, and you can use it for all sorts of things yourself, so I’m sure there must be some way to deal with your condition. Plus, the clinic here can revive people, so you shouldn't give up! But if you do try something risky again, promise you won't do it alone, alright?
And now for one last thing.
You asked me what a friend was once. It was over the Network a while ago. I hardly remember what I said then, but I'd like to redo my answer now.
A friend is someone you drink tea and eat ice cream with. It's someone you can talk to about all kinds of stuff, and it’s someone you exchange Christmas presents with. It’s someone you’d rescue if they ever got chased by a statue, and it’s someone whose feelings you’ve felt because your senses were linked together. It's someone who's rooting for your happiness, and it's someone who will always remember you.
That clears things up, right? Even Esikko-kun should be able to figure this one out.
— Hiyori Tomoe
[That’s the first note. The second note, clipped to the first one, says this:]
I wrote that all the way back in January. Time sure flies, doesn't it?
I always thought something like this would happen. Ever since Rinne-senpai disappeared, I’ve known it could happen any day. I'm just glad I could choose it on my own terms.
Most of what I wrote still applies, except the bit about Leo-kun. And even that’s still on the table if he ever turns up here again. What I wrote about friendship still applies, too, of course. But I have just a few more things I’d like to add, so listen up, please!
1. Please look after Baku-kun. I know you don't need me to tell you, but I wanted to say so anyway.
2. I’m a bit concerned about your drinking habits, so try not to overdo it. Being a sloppy drunk isn’t cute!
3. You have a pretty good voice, so you should sing for more than just those sunflowers. Perhaps you can even hold a concert one day! But whether you're singing for friends, or just for those flowers, you'll want to project your voice, so I threw in a little present that should help you do that. For best results, open it on the 25th!
I think that's all. Good luck out there.
[And true to his word, the wrapped gift, when Esikko opens it, will turn out to be... a wireless microphone! It has functions like volume control and the ability to make one's voice echo. And what color is the microphone? Sparkly pink, of course.
Pink's your color, after all. Also, I'm throwing in some party poppers and noisemakers to celebrate Christmas and birthdays with, since I'm not sure whether Esikko-kun would go out and buy those himself. All you have to do is pull really hard on both ends, and they'll pop! Sort of like Baku-kun's explosion powers.
He did, indeed, include those. This note and the other one are signed with his signature.]
[Hiyori left Loki with two things: a wrapped gift box, and a letter. Here's what the letter says.]
To Loki-kun -
I wanted to write you a farewell note, but I've been a bit stuck. Goodbyes are hard, after all.
So, I've decided to change up my approach. Instead of writing a farewell note, I'll write you a thank you note instead. A thank you note, and a celebration note!
Thank you so, so very much for everything you've done for me. For braving the Punishment Room, for watching over Rinne-senpai's statue, for agreeing to check on Leo-kun, for advertising my magic show, for protecting me at the Roost, and for agreeing to pass on my goodbye notes. All of it means a great deal, and I'm eternally grateful.
Not just for the favors you've done, but also for our friendship! I always had so much fun when I was with Loki-kun. Sneaking around while you used your shapeshifting powers, hearing stories about your home world, watching musicals, getting ice skating lessons, drinking sugary drinks, and being wowed by your magic - I loved every minute of it.
It's thanks to Loki-kun and my other friends that I could be happy here, even in such a rotten environment. Thanks to all of you, I never fell into despair. And I hope you won't, either. I'm not too worried, since I know you're a strong-willed god who's been through all sorts of things during his long life, but it'd make me happiest if you could live happily. And I'll continue chasing my own happiness, too, of course. I won't stop until I find Jun-kun and the others and we're safe at home again.
I know that's where I belong. Singing songs that make our fans smile, and working hard to reach new heights. I hope that Loki-kun finds the place where he belongs, too. But no matter where we are or how far apart we might be, I'm sure I won't ever forget you.
I once told Jun-kun that the mark he left on me hasn't faded, but the same holds true for you, too, by now. I don't know if she knows the whole truth about this place, but I think Jin Mingming was absolutely right about one thing: by meeting people from other worlds, whom we never would've met otherwise, we can change our fate.
That's what I wanted to celebrate. That, and Christmas! I know it'll be Christmas for you soon, so in the spirit of celebrating the holiday, I wanted to leave you with a parting gift! For best results, you'll want to open on the 25th. But I know you tricksters like to be sneaky, so if you take a peek earlier, I won't be too terribly betrayed.
I guess this is the end for now. Take care, alright?
- Hiyori Tomoe
[As for the gift...
Inside the box is a curious-looking sphere. It's both a lamp and a light projector, capable of casting different patterns over the walls, and its default color is a vivid sunset orange. Attached is another note.]
Well? What do you think?
I know you're an avid reader, so I thought about getting you a reading light. But I think what I found was even better! You can use it to read, but also for mood lighting, and it's bright and warm like the sun! Something like this should make Loki-kun's suite look even more like something out of a fairytale.
And I think this sphere is a bit like me, too, since I've been told I'm "blindingly bright" before. So if you ever miss me, maybe you can turn this on.
Anyway, enough talk about missing each other. It's the holiday season, and you ought to be having fun! So my last words to you are:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Bakugo
To Baku-kun -
"If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!"
^ That was how I began my last letter. A while back, I was talking with Loki-kun about leaving goodbye notes in case I ever become a statue. So I wrote a bunch, and I began them with, "If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!"
I know that’s not how it works, though. My statue won’t really be “me,” just as Jun-kun’s statue wasn’t Jun-kun. Instead of disappearing, our souls simply leave the resort, right? I couldn’t believe it at first, but that was your theory all along. And since you’re a smart boy, you turned out to be right! That means you deserve a gold star, just like I used to give Till-kun!
[A gold star sticker is stuck to the letter.]
⭐️ Good job!
But anyway. Since I am leaving the resort, I do want to say a proper goodbye. I couldn’t figure out what to write, though, since I know you don’t like hearing sappy stuff. So, instead of writing you a heartfelt goodbye note, I thought: “Why not draw something instead?” Baku-kun likes drawing, and he’s a hero, which meant the perfect thing to draw for you was a “hero comic!” I’m not too familiar with those, but after digging, I was able to find some reference books in the library. So without any further ado, let me show you the hero comic I’ve been working on! Feast your eyes and enjoy!
[True to his word, Hiyori encloses a short comic.
The comic depicts two heroes. One of them is the Sunvenger Aristocrat, drawn to look like Hiyori, with a glowing aura full of sparkles. The other the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite, drawn to look like Bakugo. Hiyori did write out Bakugo's full hero name, despite all the times he previously messed it up. And he also remembered what Bakugo’s costume looked like, since he saw it when they traveled inside the painting of UA. He captures the grenade arms, the black and orange, and the “X” in the front with accuracy.
The comic shows the two heroes engaged in battle. Their first opponents are the four suits, each drawn as giant suit symbols with tiny arms and legs. Remember when Hiyori said he pictured Spades as a giant spade with a cartoon face? Well, it seems that visual persisted in his mind. The Sunvenger Aristocrat attacks the suits with a great blast of light ("Feel my sunbeam of justice!"), and then the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite finishes them off, before moving onto their last opponent: the Golden Peacock itself, represented as a giant bird.
"I'll blast you to hell!" the Murder God yells, striking an action pose. And just like that, the Peacock is consumed by a fiery explosion. There is no gore and no dismembered bird parts; just a big explosion cloud and some feathers floating through the air, just like the seagull lifeguards’ feathers floated on the day that Hiyori met Bakugo at the beach. That, too, was a visual that stuck in his memory.
The comic ends with the two characters posed heroically while the public cheers. The Peacock and the Suits have been deafeated and everyone is free to go home. Though the quality of Hiyori's artwork is middling at best, there's real effort put into the drawings.]
Well? What do you think? For a first-time comic artist, it’s not bad, right? I did my best to make us both look good!
I know such a happy ending might seem out of reach, but I earnestly believe that if anyone can win against the House, it’s you. You’re a hero whose determination is second to none, after all. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard though, so don’t be afraid to rely on others, alright? This place may have its villains, but there are lots of kind, hardworking people you can count on.
And I also want you to have some fun after I leave, so you should remember to make time for that, too! Try to make some good memories. Then maybe when you find a memory you want to capture, you can use the Christmas gift I bought you. That’s the one wrapped in holiday paper, but you’re not allowed to open it until the 25th!
I think that covers most of what I meant to say. There's just one part left. It's going to sound sappy, but it's important, so you're not allowed to skip it. Ready? Here goes!
I had fun chatting with you, playing games with you, going out to eat with you, and visiting the arcade. We experienced lots of things together, from Halloween parties to painting worlds. Through it all, you always shined brightly, and you were always reliable. You dealt with that unpleasant doppelganger, you defended me from ghosts and cupid arrows, you gave me self-defense weapons, and you even got to know my birds in the end. I have nothing but gratitude.
That’s how I’ll always remember you, no matter what you said when your suit was acting up. As a strong, smart, reliable kid.
Sorry, that’s not quite right. Let me fix that.
A strong, smart, reliable man. You’ve grown a lot since we first met, and I know you’ll keep on growing, right into the hero you want to be. I’m absolutely sure of it.
Take care, alright?
— Hiyori Tomoe
[The letter ends there, but the box has other stuff in it. A bag of birdseed, for starters, with instructions to NOT just leave the bag open and let the birds dive in and eat like Kleken did. The birdseed is for the bird feeders! Then he includes some Christmas decorations that can be hung in the birds’ treehouse, including tinsel, red and green baubles, and Christmas-themed bird feeders. And then, finally, there's the gift Hiyori mentioned, wrapped neatly for Christmas. The gift is...
A digital camera! And a pretty nice one, too. Hiyori had some currency saved up, and since he's leaving the resort, there won't be any daily expenses left to spend it on. He could afford to do this for Bakugo. Accompanying the camera is another note:]
Well? Pretty nice, isn't it? Yep, I'm sure you're so impressed, you must be speechless!
I know we already have our watch cameras, but this one will take much better pictures. And as your former model, I expect you to do good things with it! Make lots of memories, alright?
And of course, ~Merry Christmas~!
Esikko
To Esikko-kun -
If you're reading this, it means I've disappeared!
It wasn't on purpose, of course. But there was nothing I could do about it. Thankfully, Loki agreed to hand out these letters if I ever turn to stone, which means I can leave everyone with some parting words. I never thought a god would become my mail carrier, but that's what happened.
I know becoming a statue isn't the same as dying. Baku-kun seems to think it's no big deal at all, and our souls get sent to our worlds when we disappear. I'd love for that to be true in my case. But even though this isn't "death," I do have some last wishes I want to share.
Firstly, I feel horrible about my sunflowers withering. I remember you said you liked singing to yourself, so why not sing to them in my place? When people turn to stone, their possessions seem to get moved to the first-floor storage room, so that’s probably where my sunflowers are. If you need help breaking in there, I recommend sending someone who can shapeshift and pass themselves off as a staff member, like Loki-kun.
Secondly, please look after Leo-kun. He forgets to eat and sleep, and I know he gets depressed sometimes, so if you could make sure he’s eating at least two meals a day and that he’s not too lonely, that would be wonderful.
And third, don’t forget to look after yourself!
I felt bad when you got punished for going against the House. I know you weren't just doing it for my sake, or even for everyone’s sake. You were doing it because you want to be remembered for your magic, even after death, correct? But I don’t want you to get punished even worse, and I don’t think you should risk your life just because you’re sick, either. This place runs on magic, and you can use it for all sorts of things yourself, so I’m sure there must be some way to deal with your condition. Plus, the clinic here can revive people, so you shouldn't give up! But if you do try something risky again, promise you won't do it alone, alright?
And now for one last thing.
You asked me what a friend was once. It was over the Network a while ago. I hardly remember what I said then, but I'd like to redo my answer now.
A friend is someone you drink tea and eat ice cream with. It's someone you can talk to about all kinds of stuff, and it’s someone you exchange Christmas presents with. It’s someone you’d rescue if they ever got chased by a statue, and it’s someone whose feelings you’ve felt because your senses were linked together. It's someone who's rooting for your happiness, and it's someone who will always remember you.
That clears things up, right? Even Esikko-kun should be able to figure this one out.
— Hiyori Tomoe
[That’s the first note. The second note, clipped to the first one, says this:]
I wrote that all the way back in January. Time sure flies, doesn't it?
I always thought something like this would happen. Ever since Rinne-senpai disappeared, I’ve known it could happen any day. I'm just glad I could choose it on my own terms.
Most of what I wrote still applies, except the bit about Leo-kun. And even that’s still on the table if he ever turns up here again. What I wrote about friendship still applies, too, of course. But I have just a few more things I’d like to add, so listen up, please!
1. Please look after Baku-kun. I know you don't need me to tell you, but I wanted to say so anyway.
2. I’m a bit concerned about your drinking habits, so try not to overdo it. Being a sloppy drunk isn’t cute!
3. You have a pretty good voice, so you should sing for more than just those sunflowers. Perhaps you can even hold a concert one day! But whether you're singing for friends, or just for those flowers, you'll want to project your voice, so I threw in a little present that should help you do that. For best results, open it on the 25th!
I think that's all. Good luck out there.
[And true to his word, the wrapped gift, when Esikko opens it, will turn out to be... a wireless microphone! It has functions like volume control and the ability to make one's voice echo. And what color is the microphone? Sparkly pink, of course.
Pink's your color, after all. Also, I'm throwing in some party poppers and noisemakers to celebrate Christmas and birthdays with, since I'm not sure whether Esikko-kun would go out and buy those himself. All you have to do is pull really hard on both ends, and they'll pop! Sort of like Baku-kun's explosion powers.
He did, indeed, include those. This note and the other one are signed with his signature.]
Loki
To Loki-kun -
I wanted to write you a farewell note, but I've been a bit stuck. Goodbyes are hard, after all.
So, I've decided to change up my approach. Instead of writing a farewell note, I'll write you a thank you note instead. A thank you note, and a celebration note!
Thank you so, so very much for everything you've done for me. For braving the Punishment Room, for watching over Rinne-senpai's statue, for agreeing to check on Leo-kun, for advertising my magic show, for protecting me at the Roost, and for agreeing to pass on my goodbye notes. All of it means a great deal, and I'm eternally grateful.
Not just for the favors you've done, but also for our friendship! I always had so much fun when I was with Loki-kun. Sneaking around while you used your shapeshifting powers, hearing stories about your home world, watching musicals, getting ice skating lessons, drinking sugary drinks, and being wowed by your magic - I loved every minute of it.
It's thanks to Loki-kun and my other friends that I could be happy here, even in such a rotten environment. Thanks to all of you, I never fell into despair. And I hope you won't, either. I'm not too worried, since I know you're a strong-willed god who's been through all sorts of things during his long life, but it'd make me happiest if you could live happily. And I'll continue chasing my own happiness, too, of course. I won't stop until I find Jun-kun and the others and we're safe at home again.
I know that's where I belong. Singing songs that make our fans smile, and working hard to reach new heights. I hope that Loki-kun finds the place where he belongs, too. But no matter where we are or how far apart we might be, I'm sure I won't ever forget you.
I once told Jun-kun that the mark he left on me hasn't faded, but the same holds true for you, too, by now. I don't know if she knows the whole truth about this place, but I think Jin Mingming was absolutely right about one thing: by meeting people from other worlds, whom we never would've met otherwise, we can change our fate.
That's what I wanted to celebrate. That, and Christmas! I know it'll be Christmas for you soon, so in the spirit of celebrating the holiday, I wanted to leave you with a parting gift! For best results, you'll want to open on the 25th. But I know you tricksters like to be sneaky, so if you take a peek earlier, I won't be too terribly betrayed.
I guess this is the end for now. Take care, alright?
- Hiyori Tomoe
[As for the gift...
Inside the box is a curious-looking sphere. It's both a lamp and a light projector, capable of casting different patterns over the walls, and its default color is a vivid sunset orange. Attached is another note.]
Well? What do you think?
I know you're an avid reader, so I thought about getting you a reading light. But I think what I found was even better! You can use it to read, but also for mood lighting, and it's bright and warm like the sun! Something like this should make Loki-kun's suite look even more like something out of a fairytale.
And I think this sphere is a bit like me, too, since I've been told I'm "blindingly bright" before. So if you ever miss me, maybe you can turn this on.
Anyway, enough talk about missing each other. It's the holiday season, and you ought to be having fun! So my last words to you are:
~*Merry Christmas*~!
[Both notes are signed with Hiyori's signature.]