Uncertain [YTTD]

[2 - Awkward Introductions]

[Name] watched as Keiji headed to the loud sound from one of the passages. Before he could enter, a gaudy-looking guy came out of the hall, carrying a girl with the same uniform as him in his arms.

"Ah, Sara's here, so I'm not taking her place...thank God. Dunno what I'd do under all that pressure."

He put the girl down near the back of the room before joining the group, not saying a word to Keiji.

"Damn, so he is pretty wary of him. Pretty understandable, that was my first impression of him too, aha." [Name] stifled a laugh. "The same can't really be said for the fangirls and fanboys, though..."

Shortly after, the original protagonist woke up and started to look around the group, making [Name] avert their eyes. She finally spotted her friend and ran up to punch him, calling out his name.

"Ah, so she took the 'run up and punch Joe' choice." [Name] mumbled quietly, wincing. "That must've hurt. Definitely don't wanna get punched by her."

"Alright, everybody, listen up." The blond man announced, making the group quiet down. "I bet we're all thinking the same thing. What is this place? Why was I brought here? And about all you know is who you are."

"What are you getting at, I wonder...?" A man in a suit pondered out loud.

"How about we give introductions? Should ease the suspicion a little, at least." He suggested.

"Introductions, you say...?"

"Not a whole lot else we can do. Am I right, Sara?"

The mentioned girl blinked. "Huh...? You're asking me...? I'd prefer if you didn't immediately get on a first-name basis with me..."

The blond man shrugged. "All the more reason to introduce yourself. 'Cause I've got no other basis to use. Okay, once you're ready, it's introduction time. Just tell me when, Sara."

"Way to go Keiji, passing the authority to a high school girl who literally just woke up and has no clue what's going on." [Name] rolled their eyes.

Keiji coughed to get everyone's attention once more. "Ahem...so then, I think we should all get to know each other a li'l more."

"Myeow so?" Cat boy spoke up next to [Name]. "Mom tells me not to give personal info to strange guys I don't know, woof!"

"Stupendous! A level-headed child who does as his parents teach him! Yet, this is indeed an emergency...hrmm." The suit man snapped his fingers. "Then we must prove that we adults are not suspicious characters...mwahaha..."

"Waugh...super suspicious, woof." At his words, [Name] looked over to the pink-haired girl, only to see that she was biting her lip, clearly trying not to say anything.

"Nothing for it. Well, where should we start?" The man in an apron asked.

"Hey, you can keep it simple. Name and occupation...just take turns sayin' em." Sara nodded, making Keiji grin a bit. "That's the ticket."

Joe stood next to Sara quietly. Noticing, Keiji easily understood.

"Mm, got it. The wary ones can be for later. Raise your hand if you don't mind blabbin'."

"...And now we start introductions, I guess. Kinda wish I could see the screen like before, but I guess this is an interesting twist too. Get to interact with the characters and everything." [Name] smirked a bit. "I sure am lucky, huh..."

Everyone continued to introduce themselves, so [Name] tuned them out until the duo walked over to their small group consisting of Gin, Sou, and themselves. After Sou and Gin did their introductions, Sara turned to face them.

"Oh, guess it's my turn, huh? I'm [Name] [Last Name]...also a high-schooler."

"I'm guessing you were wary like Sou and Gin over here then? You didn't bother speaking up at all." Keiji asked.

"So that's their names? I see...yeah, I was. Not the type of person to just talk to anyone on the streets, aha. Nice to meet you, Sara, and...?" [Name] trailed off.

"Keiji Shinogi, your friendly policeman." He stuck out a hand to shake. [Name] hesitantly shook his hand back, struggling not to laugh.

"Pfft, friendly policeman, it's like he's spiderman or something..."

"Actually, I wanted to ask, you don't go to my school, right? I don't recall seeing you..." Sara noted.

"Nope, sorry. Don't know any of you guys." [Name] shrugged, looking around the room again. "Did you wanna ask anything else?"

"Yeah, do you remember anything that happened before you got here?"

"Crap, gotta make an excuse."

[Name] closed their eyes, pretending to be in thought. "Uh, I think I was at a library finishing up my homework. It was getting late, so I walked home, and welp, got kidnapped from there, I think. Some people shoved me into a car, pretty scary, not gonna lie."

"Well, the homework part's not a lie. I did just finish my homework before loading up the game."

"Ah, I see." Sara nodded. Keiji stared at them, as if observing their expressions.

"Something wrong, Keiji?"

"...Nah, it's nothin'." He replied after a moment of silence. "We should check up on that other kiddo, maybe she'll wanna talk now."

The two walked away towards Kanna. Once [Name] was sure they weren't looking, they let out a huge sigh.

"Fuck, Keiji's perceptive as hell. He probably noticed I was hiding something...with that shrewd vision of his. Makes that sound kinda inappropriate, to be honest. Anyways...I gotta be more careful. Maybe I can ask Shin for tips, ahaha."

"Yeesh, that policeman's kinda sketchy, woof. He stared you down like a creep." Gin walked over to them again, surprising [Name] slightly.

"Heya Gin, whatcha' doing here?"

"Nothing much, meow. You seem trustworthy, like big sis Sara, woof!" He seemed to be smiling as his eyes closed, forming slight crinkles.

"What an honor. Thanks, bud." [Name] held out a fist bump as he softly returned the gesture.

The two were cut off as an ear-piercing scream cut through the room, startling everybody.