Write Me an Endless Song

[It's around nighttime when this video post comes up. A girl in a school uniform with a pair of read headphones on her neck smiles at the camera, seemingly used to this situation and not bothered by it at all. Judging by the scenery, she's already left New Bark Town.]

Hey, wandering around the woods at night like this reminds me of a story. If you're interested, keep listening. After all, no one's ever too old for a nice bedtime story!

[Her smile not faltering, she begins to recount the horrifying tale.]

Okay, so here it goes. Rumor has it that should one ever venture into a forest at night, you'll have the chance of encountering a creature resembling a very tall and skinny man wearing a suit with no face. His arms and legs are so thin and long, that they almost look like wires!  If you stare at him too long, he will take you. But no matter how far you run, he'll always be there when you look back. Just standing there and watching.

Some say that if he doesn't take you away right there and then, you'll start to feel sick from that day on. Not only that, but if you look out your window, he'll be there. Just standing and watching. Until the day you go insane or he finally takes you away. Now, some rumors say that his victims are found a few days later hanging off the branches of dead trees, their internal organs removed and put back inside, only encased in a strange sac of unknown material.

Oh, and the thing about him? The more you think about him, the more likely he'll come to you.

[Without any warning, the face of a Duskull flies towards the camera. A deliberate jump scare. Minato giggles, pulling the Duskull away from the camera and holding him with her free arm.]

Well then! Wasn't that a fun story? I should make this a routine or something! Wouldn't that be nice?

[The video feed clicks on to show... a very unusual-looking hamster. Guess who found an Animal Card, guys? Minami opens her fuzzy little mouth to speak, her voice almost like she breathed in a whole tank of helium:]

Um... So, exactly how long do these card effect thingies stay for? I mean, seeing everything all big and stuff is pretty cool and all, buuuut... It's kinda sorta hard to do things this way too? I really can't cook dinner today like this...

Also, can someone get me a bag of sunflower seeds? For some reason I feel like eating them~

[It was a usual Monday morning. Or at least, that was what Minami expected when she went to wake up her brother nice and early. However, when she found the door oddly unlocked after her futile attempts at knocking...

Empty. The room was devoid of any person, save for the stunned redhead. Maybe he went out without her knowing? It happened sometimes... She tried her best to keep positive, even though she felt like something was wrong with this situation. Hastily, almost desperately, she rummaged through her pockets for her Dreamberry. Contact list... Contact list...

....

Gone. His name, which had always been right under hers on the list, was gone. Soon, the emptiness of the room migrated to her very heart as the realization began to sink in.

Trying her best to keep her hands from shaking, she made a video call. Her expression is unreadable, which could alert most that what she was going say was not her usual silliness:]

For those of you who know Minato Arisato, he's... gone.

[Saying those words made her gut wrench. To her, it was almost as if he died a third time. Despite that, she forces a smile, though her voice becomes shakier the more she spoke.]

Ahaha... I guess this means I have no one to keep me in check, huh? Leaving a few things behind too... That's just asking for me to loot it all... How silly of hi... hi...

[Her quivering smile finally broke as she couldn't hold back anymore. Minami sank to the floor on her knees, dropping the Dreamberry as she cried uncontrollably.]

Soooooooooo...

[The light, airy tone of Minami's voice, as well as her vacant smile could only mean that she was going to say something absolutely ridiculous.]

Y'know how the whole place is frozen over with black ice and stuff? You think it's safe to eat it? And if so, do you think they would taste like either grapes, blackberries, or grapes that taste like blackberries?

[... Her smile never faltered, nor did it show any signs of sarcasm or jest. She was serious.]

I mean, we should make the most of it, right? What better way than turning it into a food supply?

[Flawless logic, indeed.]

[Hey guys, remember that kid with blue emo haircut? Remember how he has a dead younger twin sister? She's on the screen with a smile that totally tells you nothing is wrong. And if you think that there's something wrong, it's obviously just your imagination. It seems like Minami's conveniently reappeared in the room she claimed as her own at Hotel Dusk as well.]

So, like, I woke up today and I'm back here, you know? Last time I checked, it was almost Halloween, but now everything's totally candified! It's super-shocking. Well, I guess it can't be super-shocking since candy's not made of electricity... Oh! But I guess it can be super-shocking if there's some sour candy lying about.

[Even if that line of logic didn't make sense, it did to her. Her stomach begins to growl audibly, and she glances out the window.]

... Well, I'll have to say that this is the first time in a while that I thought the trees outside look tasty.

Helloooooo~!

[Minami cheerfully waves at the camera as she gives her energetic greeting from what seems to the be kitchen of Hotel Dusk. She seems to be doing much better than last time. She motions to the table, where set atop of it were numerous pies and pastries, all consisting of pumpkins and apples.]

Heehee~! Fall produce is the best, especially when baking sweets! I made a bunch, so if you want some, feel free to ask!

[She pauses, as if thinking about something, and adds:]

Ah, yeah, I forgot! How many of you are enjoying school so far? I love it! School's the best way to make new friends~ Plus, I'll probably be three times as smart when I get home! ♪

((ooc: Tags will be late, I have to go to work. :'D))

This has been bothering me for a while... I've actually been thinking about it all day and still can't make sense of it.

........

Why do they call it 'chili' if it's hot...?