Hi all! Me again, with another roleplay. Through Discord I found another RP partner, so this is strictly 1x1. It is a College AU, though it has some canon tidbits included.

 

Please refrain from posting in this topic, but feel free to read along and join us for this journey!

 

Thanks!

 

Hoshi, take it away!

Edited July 24, 20187 yr by Forever Love

"Roxas is right," Naminé added, "The posters are gone, and if there's any issue at all, we'll be here for you." She didn't want Kairi to feel alone. Not again. They were a team. Her, Roxas, Riku, Lightning, and Sora. Naminé just hoped they could find whoever had done this sooner rather than later...

 

Sora stumbled forward a little and rubbed the back of his head. He didn't know what would happen when they entered the cafeteria today, but the boy knew that whatever happened...he wouldn't let Kairi be hurt again. "We'll find out who did this," he vowed quietly, "I can promise you that." 

Kairi's smile remained at her friends' promises. She nodded to them in gratitude. She hoped whoever the culprit was became clear soon enough; she had no idea who would post such an awful thing about her. She didn't even really talk to anyone besides her group of friends. It didn't make much sense.

The line in the cafeteria was long and nearly every table was filled with prying eyes as Sora and his friends waited to buy their lunches. Sora brushed his hand against Kairi's in an attempt to console the red head. His own gaze was kept forward, expression betraying nothing. "You okay?" Sora whispered. 

Kairi fought the urge to grasp Sora's hand when she felt it against her own. At his whisper, she set her eyes on the lunch line and nodded. "Yeah," she answered softly. She could handle this. These people were nothing compared to heartless or nobodies; not life-threatening in the least. She would be fine...

Naminé handed Roxas a lunch tray and kept her voice quiet as well. "Where are we going to sit? I think we already have an audience..." Which the blonde, being as shy as she was, didn't like at all. She much preferred when their group was able to sit near the window undisturbed. 

Roxas grabbed some fries from the bar and looked toward the window. Their spot near the window was taken. Outside, he saw a few places on the patio under umbrellas. "We'll go outside. Fresh air is good, especially since it's so stuffy in here," he mumbled. What was the deal? It was obviously a fake poster, edited by an amateur. And if anyone actually knew Kairi they'd know it wasn't true. Small minds, he guessed.

"A picnic then!" Naminé said with a cheerful nod. The fresh air would do them some good. Kairi especially. I'm afraid they'll stare regardless of where we are, but at least outside you don't end up feeling so trapped. 

 

Sora grabbed a burger and a bag of chips and headed towards the register to pay. From the corner of his eye, he saw a group of students watching them with a special keenness. One of them, a girl with her hair slicked back into a glossy ponytail, waved in his direction. Sora nudged Kairi. "Do you know them?"

Kairi looked over her shoulder slightly. She saw the group of people staring at them. "Yeah," she answered softly, eyebrows furrowigng. "They're in a few of my classes." A few of them were models that she saw in passing too. But the girl...she recognized her most. Veronica, the girl who didn't hide her distaste when it came to Kairi.

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by Forever Love

"What about the others?" Sora asked, gesturing subtly towards the other girl and jock beside her. Sora might have seen the jock around campus, maybe even in one of his own classes; but there was nothing that made the other girl familiar.

 

Naminé had to hide the small gasp that escaped her lips. Alexis. Roxas's 'fan' was there too, eyes glinting green daggers trained on her. The  artist averted her gaze to her shoes. 

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by aoi hoshi

Kairi faced the bar again, staring down at her tray. "Veronica," she said softly. "She's another fashion major. She's...not my biggest fan." As for the guy...? "I think the guy with her is a photographer. His class came to mine to get pictures for the school paper." But why were they glaring? She didn't do anything to them...

 

Roxas looked to Namine after he paid for his food, lifting an eyebrow at her sudden change in behavior. "What's up?" he asked, keeping his voice low so no one else heard. Did he miss something?

Sora furrowed his brow. This Veronica...she sounded jealous of Kairi. Hmm...and her friend is a photographer... "School paper? Did someone...take your picture?"

 

Naminé tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, trying her best to gesture secretively to the group. Or rather Alexis. "Alexis is over there," she whispered, "You remember her, right?"

Kairi shrugged. "I guess so. They were just candids, I think," she admitted. There was no posing involved. "I think that issue of the paper was supposed to be published today." She knew where Sora was going with this. Could they be behind her poster fiasco?

 

Roxas frowned instantly. "Unfortunately," he replied with a sigh. "Just ignore her. She's looking for a reaction out of you." She's jealous of you, because you're with me. He had to admit, if he saw Namine with another guy, he would be jealous too. But to be jealous over him? That was...strange.

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by Forever Love

"What picture was used of you?" He didn't have a copy of the poster on hand, but he remembered that it hadn't looked like anything Kairi had knowingly been part of. A stolen moment.

 

Naminé bit her lip but nodded in agreement. She couldn't let Alexis see her react. It would give her power much like it had given Marluxia and Larxene power back at Castle Oblivion. Visible weakness was easily exploited. "Right. I just wish...she would't stare like that."

Kairi looked to Sora. "I don't know. I'd have to see the one in the paper," she said. It was a profile. If it was used in the paper, she'd be able to tell for sure. The copy she had of that stupid poster was in the trash bin in her room.

 

Roxas smiled faintly. "Let her. You're beautiful. Why wouldn't she?" he wondered aloud. Roxas caught himself staring at Namine all the time. He just hoped it didn't creep her out if she noticed it too. He just...couldn't help it. Namine was mesmerizing.

Edited October 17, 20187 yr by Forever Love

"Do you still have a copy somewhere? We could compare the two and see." Because I'm pretty confident that they have something to do with it...

 

Naminé placed a hand to her cheek to hide her blush. "You're too much sometimes, Roxas." Did he really think she was beautiful? Sometimes Naminé felt that she really was a ghost--always on the outside looking in, never really visible. 

Kairi nodded. "Back in my room," she said. She wasn't hungry anymore. In fact, she wanted to go take care of this right now. "Should we go?"

 

Roxas chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his head. "It's nothing," he told her shyly. He was just being honest.

"We should," Sora affirmed, setting his tray down and picking up a to-go box instead. "We have to figure this out before anything else happens."

 

She bumped his shoulder lightly. "Well, thank you." It did mean a lot to her. 

Kairi agreed and grabbed a box too. As she filled it up, she looked past Sora to Roxas and Namine. "Guys, we're going back to the dorms. We'll be back in a bit, okay?" They had to settle this. Kairi couldn't focus on anything else at the moment. Not until this was done.

 

Roxas perked up at the words from the redhead. "Uh, yeah, sure." Why were they going back there? Roxas gave Sora a look. Are you finally going to tell her how you feel?

Sora caught Roxas's look and shook his head, coughing. "We have to go grab something important. I think we figured out who did this." It would be just proving it to the Dean.

 

"We'll wait outside the cafeteria for you then," Naminé replied and slipped the sandwich she had bought into her purse. She couldn't handle being around Alexis for much longer. At least Roxas is here...

Kairi grabbed her box and nodded. She then slipped her hand into Sora's. "Let's go," she encouraged softly, taking a step toward the exit. She wanted this mystery solved.

 

Roxas grabbed his tray and turned his attention to Namine. "Well, shall we?" It would just be them for lunch today, not that he minded. They would sit outside and enjoy the nice weather, away from prying eyes.

"Alright." Sora squeezed her hand. They'd get this handled. Sora would make sure of it. 

 

"We shall," Naminé agreed. A picnic for just the two of them would be nice. It would give them a chance to talk away from Alexis and her posse. "There's a nice shady spot underneath the big oak outside we can use too." Otherwise, Naminé's porcelain skin would burn, and one sunburn had been enough of an experience for a lifetime. 

Kairi ventured upstairs with Sora quickly, and once they reached her room, she immediately went for the trash bin near her desk. She saw the crumpled piece of paper immediately and did her best to flatten it. Sora got a copy of the paper on their way here to compare. "Okay, let's see..." she muttered, flipping through the paper for the right page. She hoped this picture of her made it into the paper...

 

Roxas leaned against the oak tree beside Namine, munching on a fry as he tuned his guitar. He brought it with him practically everywhere, in case inspiration struck. He didn't think that was necessarily the case, but it would help add to the peaceful atmosphere the campus provided today.

Sora came to stand beside her, holding out the newspaper. The images matched perfectly. "I think we've found our culprit," Sora noted darkly. But what possible reason, what could Kairi have possibly have done to warrant such behavior? It didn't make sense. 

 

Naminé picked a fry off his plate and dipped it in ketchup. "Who do you think did it? The poster I mean?" she asked between bites.

Kairi's face fell. So it was true. Veronica set this up, and she asked that guy for help. "I can't believe this..." she mumbled. What did she ever do to Veronica to initiate this kind of attack? Kairi was nice to everyone, minded her own business, and did her work. What else could she have done?

 

Roxas strummed a little. "Not sure. Someone with a personal vendetta against Kairi, for sure," he assumed. "But...I don't have any guesses as to why." It didn't make sense.

"I really don't get her problem with you," Sora said. His anger was building again. Kairi didn't deserve to be treated like this! And over what!? "Do you have a better grade than her or something?"

 

"But who could hate Kairi of all people that much?" She could understand herself as someone able to make enemies with relative ease. Her tampering with memories and simply having the ability to see those private moments weren't exactly boons, but...Kairi? The girl whose light helped save the worlds? Save Sora? Naminé didn't understand at all.