Chapter 1: Ex-Con Witnesses Horrific Tragedy

opening cutscene

Lyca: Ugh! Quit yapping at me, you moth-eaten Casanova!!

Edward: Ah ha ha ha. If only my days were still so salacious.

Edward: As it is, I can barely muster a fraction of your energy so early in the morning.

Edward: Have you brushed your teeth?

Lyca: Course I did! I just don't come tell you every single time!

You: (Looks pretty lively in there...)

Obscuary's front door stood slightly ajar. I gave it a hesitant knock.

You: Good morning...

Edward: Oh? A fine morning to you as well.

Ed greeted me with a warm smile from his seat on a bench in the foyer.

Edward: Here to collect Lyca, I presume?

You: Yes! I'm supposed to help him get around while I'm inspecting Obscuary.

Lyca: I don't need your help.

Lyca stomped down the stairs, his lips forming a surly pout as he glared my way.

Lyca: I can get to class on my own.

Edward: You say that, but time has proven that you'd sleep well into noon if Rui didn't wake you.

Edward: You have a lovely lady waiting to escort you. It's poor manners to turn her down.

Lyca: Huh?! What's so lovely about her?!

Lyca hopped down the remaining stairs, glaring at an oddly smug-looking Ed from the corner of his eye.

Lyca: What're you spacing out for? Let's go.

You: Huh? Ah...! Lyca, wait for me!

I said a quick goodbye to Ed, then jogged out the door after Lyca.

Edward: Ah...

Edward: To be young.

You: Huff... Huff... Lyca...! Please slow down...!

I gasped my request at Lyca's broad back, struggling to keep up with him as we entered the woods.

Lyca: (sigh) You walk too slow.

You: Sorry...

Lyca: ...We left too late today. If we don't go faster, you're gonna be tardy too, you know.

You: You did seem a little flustered back there. Did you oversleep?

Lyca: No.

Lyca: That blond gigolo left right after he made breakfast, so i was cleaning up and stuff.

You: Now that you mention it, I didn't see Rui this morning.

Lyca: He said he had to do an air rend or something.

You: (Did he mean to say "errand"?)

You: I wonder where he went so early.

Lyca: Why do you care?

[CHOICE] He's always around

You: He always seems to be around when I come by.

Lyca: Huh? Does he?

[CHOICE] Obscuary's different without him

You:

Lyca:

[CHOICE] I miss him

You:

Lyca:

Lyca: Who needs him anyway?

Lyca widened his stride once more.

Lyca: That blond gigolo and that moth-eaten Casanova never shut up.

Lyca: If Neros was here, he'd let me do whatever I want.

You: The time you spent with Neros really meant a lot to you, didn't it?

Lyca: Course it did.

Lyca ...Neros was like family. Real family.

Lyca's mumbled words painted a faded picture of happier days.

You: I hope you get to see him again soon.

Lyca: ...Yeah.

Once we made it to the courtyard, I turned to Lyca.

You: All right. I've got Anomalous Biology first period on the second floor.

Lyca: I'm on the third floor. Ah, wait.

Lyca turned back toward me, seeming to remember something.

Lyca: I'm eating lunch with Suba today. You come too.

You: Okay! Are you eating on the terrace, then?

Lyca: Probably? I'll message you if we're not.

You: Thank you! I'll see you at lunch, then.

Lyca: Yeah. See ya.

Lyca turned, disappearing into the crowd.

You: (He seems to be adjusting to his life here pretty well.)

I headed off to the second-year biology classroom, a smile creeping its way across my lips as I did.