Keiji

Available During Chapter 1:

1st Event

Keiji: This is ludicrous. They can't really be intending to keep us here FOREVER, can they?

What should I do? Should I invite Keiji to hang out?

Invite Keiji to hang out

See who else is around

Keiji: I suppose, if you absolutely must, I won't reject your company. Who do you suspect is behind all of this? Whoever it is, they must have copious amounts of money to spend.

Keiji and I spent time throwing out theories that progressively made less and less sense.

Looks like Keiji and I grew a little closer today... possibly.

Would you like to give Keiji a present?

Definitely!

Not really...

#70 Last Lectures— A tape recorder full of lectures by famous intellectual figures. Each lecture is the final one given before the speaker died. Conspiracy floats around in regards to how this tape only contains last lectures.

Keiji: How could you have possibly found this?! This is valuable beyond belief! Simply fascinating. I must examine it thoroughly.

...

Keiji: ...

Joanie: ...

Keiji: ...

Joanie: ...Riveting. Tell me more.

Keiji: Hmph. Fine. But if we're really doing this, you pick the topic.

Joanie: Agh, it's people like you who make me need to take a smoke.

Keiji: You know, you really should stop that. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer related deaths. More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer, even.

Joanie: Yeah, I know, I know. I guess that's a positive about this situation. I'm kinda forced to quit.

Keiji: Do you not bring any with you?

Joanie: I did. But there's nowhere to smoke.

Keiji: Hypothetically speaking, you could smoke anywhere, if you desperately needed it. Just because there's not a designated area doesn't mean you can't.

Joanie: I don't want anyone inhaling secondhand smoke. I've always said that if I'm gonna fuck up anyone's body, it'll only be mine.

Keiji: See, that's what I don't understand. Not just your specific circumstance, the general viewpoint. That sort of... unwillingness to step on anyone's toes. Nobody ever got anywhere walking on eggshells. Success is earned, fought for. I'd think you of all people would know that. You're in the goddamn entertainment industry, after all.

Joanie: Sure. I get where you're coming from. Exploitation is only natural every now and then. But that doesn't mean that I have to integrate that philosophy into every area of my life.

Keiji: And why wouldn't you? If it's an effective way to get what you want in all circumstances, then what is the point of sacrifice?

Joanie: Acting with compassion just makes me feel good, I guess.

Keiji: Better than if you simply claimed what you wanted through force of personality?

Joanie: If you haven't noticed, my personality isn't really suited for that.

Keiji: I beg to differ. I've studied up on all of you, in the past, since you're all notable figures in your fields. You, Joanie Alexa Moore, a woman who simultaneously script writes and directs, are ambitious, and you take pride in your work. You know what it takes to promote yourself. Your temperament is PERFECT for getting whatever you need. And yet you factor others' sentiments and well-being into the equation, and I don't understand it.

Joanie: I think that says more about you than me.

Keiji: I— That's—! Ugh, fuck it.

He storms off in a huff. I can't help but feel a smidge of satisfaction.

Keiji's Report Card has been updated based on your experience with him.

Event 2

Keiji: Is this selection of books in the office really the only material here? Pitiful. Especially considering I was supposedly going to actually LEARN stuff here.

What should I do? Should I invite Keiji to hang out?

Invite Keiji to hang out

See who else is around

Keiji: Help me alphabetize these. This disorder is absolutely abhorrent, I swear.

I helped Keiji alphabetize the books, which quickly spiraled into organizing the spices and anything else he could think of.

Looks like Keiji and I grew a little closer today... possibly.

Would you like to give Keiji a present?

Definitely!

Not really...

#40 Millenium Prize Problems— These seven important mathematical problems were posted by the Clay Mathematics Institute, with a reward of one million dollars for each one solved.

Keiji: Wow. I must admit that this was a beyond exceptional choice for me. I'll definitely be getting a good amount of use out of this.

...

Keiji: ...

Joanie: We are NOT just gonna sit in silence again.

Keiji: Fine.

Joanie: What are your dreams, dude? Like, all I ever hear you say is how smart you are and how irrational caring is. I don't really know a thing about you.

Keiji: It has ALWAYS been my goal to get a Guinness World Record. If I can get multiple, even better. I won't just stop at one, if I've achieved my initial goal with time to spare. And by that, I mean if I've achieved it before I've died.

Joanie: What record are you setting your sights on first?

Keiji: Most TV quiz appearances. The current record is held by David St. John in the United Kingdom, with thirty-four. He made his appearances between 1982 and 2013. So far, I've made four appearances; once as a preteen, once when I was fourteen, and twice within the past year.

Joanie: Wow, really? Already?

Keiji: You'd be surprised how vast the variety of quiz game shows exist. No matter what your age range, occupation, or status, there will always be a quiz show you qualify for.

Joanie: Reminds me of American scholarship programs. You can get scholarships just for being short. Or a Starfleet fan.

Keiji: Oh, I'm well aware, trust me. I have mixed feelings about American scholarship programs. On the one hand, they can be tailored to very niche talents, benefiting those who provide unique skill sets and add variety to the world. On the other hand, stuff like being short... Essentially, you're being rewarded even if you fundamentally fail to discover and cultivate what you are naturally good at. If you don't know what you do well, you are practically useless, and that shouldn't be worthy of money.

Joanie: I wouldn't go so far as to say useless.

Keiji: I would.

Joanie: Think of it this way. What if someone is still looking? What if someone has been trying out so many hobbies in an attempt to find what they both like and can do well, and they don't find it in time for university? Shouldn't their effort to FIND it be rewarded?

Keiji: "Like?" Why are we bringing likes into the conversation?

Joanie: Wait, do you not think it's important to like what you do?

Keiji: ...

His expression is wary, cautious, as though he's not sure how he's supposed to answer. He opens his mouth, closes it, and silently walks away. What the hell just happened?

Keiji's Report Card has been updated based on your experience with him.

Available During Chapter 2:

Event 3

Keiji: Why are you still hanging around me? I don't understand.

What should I do? Do I really want to invite Keiji to hang out?

Invite Keiji to hang out

See who else is around

Keiji: ...Fine. Do whatever you want. But be careful. You don't know what I could pull next.

Keiji and I spent time analyzing crappy reality TV as he tried to be vague and I tried to pry info out of him.

Looks like Keiji and I grew a little closer today... I hope.

Would you like to give Keiji a present?

Definitely!

Not really...

#8 Brainy Box— A bento box full of foods designed to increase your learning capacity. The branding is a little cheesy, but the actual cheese is high-quality.

Keiji: Wow. I must admit that this was a beyond exceptional choice for me. I'll definitely be getting a good amount of use out of this.

...

Keiji: ...

Joanie: Seriously—?

Keiji: What are you still doing here? Frankly, I'm surprised that you would willingly continue to pester me, given the current situation.

Joanie: I'm too invested. I wanna know what kind of person you really are. I'm fascinated to see what could twist a man to pull that shit.

Keiji: I'm not your science experiment.

Joanie: You were the one to say I had the potential to get whatever I wanted. I just started taking your advice about disregarding people's feelings.

Keiji: Heh. Touché.

Joanie: So. What kind of person do you THINK you are?

Keiji: You've already asked this.

Joanie: Give me another example. Tony Vlachos isn't clear enough.

He seems to think on this for a while.

Keiji: The villain of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Edmond Dantes

Baron Danglars

Fernand Mondego

Joanie: Edmond Dantes?

Keiji: Come on. You can do better than that. He's the hero.

Joanie: I was just kidding.

Edmond Dantes

Baron Danglars

Fernand Mondego

Joanie: Baron Danglars, right?

Keiji: He was certainly antagonistic, but not the main villain.

Joanie: I know. Just playing.

Edmond Dantes

Baron Danglars

Fernand Mondego

Joanie: Fernand Mondego.

Keiji: Precisely.

Joanie: Ah, makes sense. A man willing to frame others of treason, or, in your case, take the heat to let a murderer walk free if it means benefiting you. Either way, I find it rather intriguing that you choose a villain who ultimately dies in the end. Now, do you mean the novel or the movie version?

He says nothing.

Joanie: ...Wait a second. You can't be serious. You think you're like the movie version, don't you? A man who had everything but was jealous of someone who was happier with nothing. Did you have... personal stakes in what was going on with Hachi? Did you somehow feel like Hachi, who was spacey and not entirely well-informed, was better off than you because of how unabashedly authentic she was?

Keiji: I doubt that me claiming the alternative will change your mind. Even if I talk about how wonderfully selfish the novel version is, how he was willing to be shamelessly unfaithful, frame a man for the sole purpose of stealing his wife, commit war crimes, and sell a woman and child into slavery, you'll still look at me and see the movie version. Joanie, I'm not one of your characters in a script. You're looking too deep and trying to find something that isn't there.

Joanie: On the contrary. You're the one who's trying to play a stereotypical movie villain. And I see through it. You're trying to make me leave. You don't want me to get my hopes up, do you?

Keiji: Think whatever you want. It won't matter in the long run.

He shrugs casually before walking off.

Keiji's Report Card has been updated based on your experience with him.

Event 4

Keiji: You're starting to get unbearable, Joanie. But I doubt I can get you to leave me alone.

What should I do? Do I really want to invite Keiji to hang out?

Invite Keiji to hang out

See who else is around

Keiji: If you insist on continuously bothering me, then... I challenge you to chess. I assure you, I won't lose.

I played several rounds of chess with Keiji, getting more and more distracted the longer we went.

Looks like Keiji and I grew a little closer today... whether he's happy about it or otherwise.

Would you like to give Keiji a present?

Definitely!

Not really...

#95 Espionage Irises— A pair of contacts that allow the reader to see any invisible ink, regardless of the type. Used in spy work.

Keiji: How could you have possibly found this?! This is valuable beyond belief! Simply fascinating. I must examine it thoroughly.

...

Joanie: I wanna talk about what we touched upon when we discussed scholarships.

Keiji: My answer is no.

Joanie: Huh?

Keiji: You were going to ask once again if I think it's important for someone to like what they do. My answer is no. It doesn't matter. I think people should find that thing that they're naturally talented at and work at it so hard that they're the best, no matter how much they hate it. All that matters is fulfilling their potential, because that is what makes them useful. And if they're useful, they inherently have more authority over others. Can't be discarded if you're useful. They'll learn to love it, eventually. Mere exposure effect.

Joanie: What about you?

Keiji: I've always loved what I do. I've never, ever had a doubt.

Joanie: I have no reason not to believe you. You've committed to this pretty well. But keep in mind, dude... we're in a fucking death game. This might be your last chance to genuinely open up.

Keiji: About what? I'm telling the truth. I know myself.

Joanie: Okay. Fine. I give up. I don't have time to deal with trying to see good in you where there is none.

I turn around and start walking away, biting my lip. After a few paces, he grabs my arm. I turn to look at him.

Keiji: Fuck it. You were right, Joanie. You ARE right. You're the most obnoxiously persistent person I've ever known. And it paid off. But you had better not say anything to ANYONE, or you'll be next.

Joanie: Are you being serious? My worst nightmare would be to have gone through all of this only for you to wind up lying to and manipulating me.

Keiji: I've told you the whole time. Think what you want about me. In the long run, it won't matter. One of us could die, both of us could die, or we could both escape and probably never talk to each other ever again.

Joanie: What record did you ACTUALLY want to break?

Keiji: ...Most published works by one author. The record is held by L. Ron Hubbard in the United States at 1,084 from 1934 to 2006.

Joanie: Why didn't you pursue that one?

Keiji: I fucking suck at writing. Everyone told me so, my entire life. I can't come up with original ideas. Everything I've tried is derivative as hell. The only assignments I've ever failed were creative writing. I could never do what you do. People always told me, "Keiji, you're so smart, just focus on that. You could achieve so much if you just put those stupid dreams aside." So I listened.

Joanie: I... I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to doubt your skill. To be put down. To feel like you need to rely on something else to make something of yourself.

There's silence for a long while.

Keiji: Sure, sure.

Joanie: Keiji... you weren't lying, were you?

Keiji: You think I fail assignments? I told you. You're looking too hard.

He gives me a condescending pat on the head and walks away. I... what the fuck am I even supposed to believe anymore? I'm just so tired. Why did I waste my time?

Keiji's Report Card has been updated based on your experience with him.

...

Event 5

Keiji: H-Hey. I have to talk to you.

Do I seriously want to invite Keiji to hang out?

Invite Keiji to hang out

See who else is around

Keiji: Phew. I was worried you'd say no. And you'd have every reason to.

Would you like to give Keiji a present?

Definitely!

Not really...

...

Joanie: What do you want?

Keiji: Could we go somewhere more private? Like, my room?

Joanie: You're gonna fucking shank me, aren't you?

Keiji: That would be without a doubt the stupidest idea I'd ever have. I would be killing someone who spent a bunch of time alone with me in my own goddamn room. I'm not going to kill you, Joanie. I'll go. You can follow me if you want to. I won't pressure you, though.

He turns away. I watch him get smaller and smaller. Ah, goddammit, I don't ever learn, do I? I must be stupid.

Keiji: ...Thank you, Joanie. I don't deserve another chance, and you don't deserve the way I've been treating you. I'm just... I'm so tired.

Joanie: Ha. That's a mood.

Keiji: Yeah, you'd be the one chief among us to understand that feeling.

Joanie: And? Why should I care?

Keiji: You shouldn't. I just thought I'd give you what you wanted this whole time. Authentic me. And at the end, you can decide what you think and what you feel. If you want to never talk to me again, that'll be okay.

Joanie: Fine. Lay it on me, dude.

Keiji: I really don't know what you saw in me to make you keep coming back. But I have to admit, I kind of... liked it. I liked the fact that somebody believed I could be better. That I wasn't just... "Keiji Seikiguchi, that cocky bastard."

Joanie: If I don't believe that everyone can be better, I don't deserve to believe that I can. You're no exception.

Keiji: How do you do that? How do you keep having faith like that?

Joanie: It's exactly as you said. I'm so fucking tired, man. And I get more and more tired the more I force myself. But then something comes along that's worth it all, and it keeps me going.

Keiji: I... want to be better. But I don't know how. I've been playing at fake sociopath for so long that I don't know how to behave anymore. People expected me to be the bad guy, so I swore to be the best bad guy, but I'm tired. All I know is self-preservation. I told you what my life was like, last time, and then I tried to claim it was a lie. I got cold feet. My ego consumes me because I just wanna prove to everyone that I'm valuable. So I can't admit when I screw up. This would probably be the first time in years that I admitted I screwed up.

Joanie: If you really did like the fact that I thought there was some goodness in you, then you wouldn't have tried to make me stop. You were protecting me, whether you knew it or not. That's a start. In any Hero's Journey, there's twelve steps.

Keiji: Right. Are you saying that I need to "Cross the Threshold?"

Joanie: Ah, see? You COULD be a writer, cause you know your stuff.

Keiji: So, the step before that... "Meeting the Mentor"... that would be you. So... you need to train me! You need to show me how to be better!

Joanie: First step: Ask nicely, dude, that's not so much to ask for.

Keiji: Ha. You're right. Joanie, will you please guide me? Help me be a better person?

Joanie: What the hell. Why not? Let's get started.

I offer my hand to Keiji. He looks up at me and then shakes it firmly. I think we're finally starting to understand one another. It took a long-ass time, but I think I can hesitantly call Keiji a friend.