title 023 Cousin

(This place is crazy… and the people are even crazier…) (But maybe some of them are nice?)

According to my list of characters that I discerned came in each purchase pack, or lack thereof, the next free-to-play character on the list is Meowkie! Meowkie01 Cousin

(That… cat? Girl? Cat-girl? I think her name was Meowkie. I like cats… Who doesn’t? Let’s see what club she’s in.) Hi! Mind if I sit with you, Meowkie?

Meowkie

O-oh! Not at all! Go right ahead, boss!

Her face is so cute, I’m dying.

Cousin

…it’s ‘Cousin’.

Meowkie

Nyaaah! Of course! Sorry about that! Anyway… It’s sure nice to see a new face around here for a change! As long as you’re not a troublemaker!

Cousin

Eh heh… Aren’t we all troublemakers in here?

Meowkie

NYAAH! Right! How silly of me! Y-you must think I’m a real catnip-head…

Are they… is she calling herself a crack head?

I was just jokin’ anyway… Let’s just forget about that, Boss!

Cousin

Haha! Why do you keep calling me Boss?

Meowkie

Erk… I’m sorry… It’s… …it’s a bad habit, y’know? Runs in… in the family, I guess… It’s what we used to call the Big Cat. Sorry! I’ll try harder Bo- I mean, Cousin!

Cousin

Meowkie! Calm down! You can call me whatever makes you feel comfortable. Er, within reason. What do you mean, “runs in the family”? Like, is it a cat thing?

Meowkie

…You… You don’t know?

Cousin

??

Meowkie

About me, I mean? You don’t know about my family? Nyaaaah… That’s great!

Cousin

(Whoah she seems really excited.) What do you mean?

Meowkie

Er… is it okay if I… tell you about it later, Boss?

Cousin

Heh… sure. (What’s THAT all about?)

Meowkie

Anyway, like I was sayin’… I’m sure you ain’t really a troublemaker! It’s just somethin’ I think about a lot, since I’m… a Hall Monitor and all!

Cousin

(She seems awfully proud of that!) Hall Monitor? Wow! How did the Hall Monitor end up in Detention?!

Meowkie

Cousin

(Uh oh… I hope she doesn’t get mad at me…)

Meowkie

Maybe… we could talk about that another time, too.  If that’s alright with you, Boss.

Cousin

(This Meowkie… she seems like a sweet girl. But she’s a lot cagier than I expected! On the other hand, she is a cat… Omigosh, is that racist?! Anyway, I wouldn’t mind taking the time to figure her out…)

Cousin

(…Or they’re probably all bananas after all.)

__________________________________________________________________ 000 027

Cousin

(Joining a club and showing my school spirit will reduce my detention sentence…) (I wonder if there’s any other students from detention that are taking up the offer?)

Meowkie02 Meowkie

Oh, hiya Boss! Nice to see ya out and about! Have you decided on a club yet? Our school has lotsa good ones!

Cousin

I haven’t picked one yet, no…

I remember you saying you’re a Hall Monitor though, right? I guess that counts as a club, too?

What does a Hall Monitor even do? I mean the title seems obvious but I don’t think I ever had them at my school. They keep kids from messing around in the hall during classes? But why are the Hall Monitors not in classes at those times? The ultimate mystery.

Meowkie

Aw, Boss, that’s sweet… You don’t gotta pretend to be interested in my club, though! I know it’s not as exciting as some of the other ones we got…

Cousin

I’m not pretending to be interested, really! I wanna hear about being a Hall Monitor. Please tell me!

Meowkie

Nyaa… Well, actually… I gotta lot of thoughts about it. Mostly that… Bein’ a Hall Monitor is really, really great! It counts as a club, so it keeps you outta detention… But you also get to help keep the other kids outta detention too! You help everybody, not just yourself!

Cousin

You know, Meowkie, that’s really noble of you!

Meowkie

R-really, Boss?

Cousin

Yeah! You’re making me want to be a Hall Monitor, too.

Meowkie03 Let’s sign up for this magical mystery gig.

Meowkie

Nyaa! Wow, really? You want to be a hall monitor with… with someone like me? Boss, I can’t tell ya what this means to me… D-don’t worry! I’ll show ya the ropes!

__________________________________________________________________ Meowkie04 Cousin

(I’ve decided to join Meowkie as a Hall Monitor. That should keep me out of detention. Plus I get to hang out with an adorable kitty cat! She’s explaning the rules now…)

Meowkie

…So in conclusion, that’s how you blow your whistle to stop rulebreakers! Unless you’re in the library, in which case… You should try to rely on very expressive body language. On account of it’s a library and you gotta be quiet and all. Got all that, Boss?

Cousin

Uh… oh yeah. See a rule-breaker, blow the whistle… Seems easy enough! Thanks Meowkie! Keeping out of detention is going to be a breeze with this!

Meowkie

… Uh, Boss… I know it seems easy… A-and it’s okay if you think it is, that’s fine, I get it… but… I dunno… I… I kinda think it’s sorta important… and I try to do a good job? If that’s okay.

Cousin

(It seems like she’s really sure about that… But maybe she’s afraid to show it. I should try to take this seriously if it means that much to her.) Meowkie… can you tell me more about what to do in, uh… A rule-breaking… scenario?

Meowkie

O-oh! Yeah! You got it, Boss! Let me think of a good hypothetical… Nya! Got it! Okay, so chewin’ gum is against the rules inside of the school… but what if the student started chewing gum OUTSIDE the school… And then came in? Is it still against the rules?

yes.

What do you do, Boss?!

Cousin

Uhhhh…

It’s still against the rules!

Meowkie

Y-yes! Boss, exactly! Yes!

Wow, you really get it!

I… if you don’t mind me saying, I think…

I think you have the makings of a great Hall Monitor.

Cousin

(Wow. I didn’t think that kinda compliment would matter much to me, but…)

Thank you, Meowkie.

Meowkie

Cousin

(What’s going on with her? Her fur’s all bristling… Like she’s scared to talk.)

Meowkie

Boss… when I got my Hall Monitor badge… It was the best day of my nine lives.

Cousin

(It sounds crazy that something like that’d be anyone’s best day…

But coming from her, I believe it.)

Meowkie

Y’see… I might as well tell ya. My family is…

Well, they’re… bad guys. Not the main bad guys, just… Goons. Sidekicks.

Y’know, pathetic bad guys like that. My parents used to work for a REALLY bad guy…

I don’t even like to think about his name…

It’s “Nyamco”, or in the English port, “Goro”.

We just call him “The Big Cat” at home.

Cousin

Meowkie…

Meowkie

But see, Boss, my parents… They didn’t want a life like that for me.

They were, um, tired of being evil. So they moved to this town… Just so I could go to Namco High.

Th-they, um, wanted to give me, y’know… A good life.

I wasn’t sure I’d fit in, but…

On the day they gave me this Hall Monitor badge…

I was so proud that they trusted me enough for it.

U-um… sorry if that sounds stupid…

Cousin

Are you kidding? It doesn’t sound stupid at all.

Meowkie

Thanks for saying that, B-… Cousin.

I know that where I come from ain’t supposed to matter, but… I was happy when I heard you didn’t know all that.

Cousin

Well, I’m glad you told me.

So… you’re happy here at Namco High, right?

Meowkie

…Yeah, I am! They always have tuna for lunch…

And King is always real nice to me.

Cousin

(Th-that scary guy??)

Meowkie

So, Boss… I’m sure you like tuna too, right? What kind of tuna do you like?

Spicy tuna. in a dynamite roll.

Cousin

(Fish again?)

Whaaa? You mean like in sushi? Usually I prefer salmon, I guess.

Ewww I’m judging you Cousin.

Tuna’s not my favorite!

This isn’t a matter of opinion, get out.

Meowkie

Th-that’s okay Boss… Nobody’s perfect…

Cousin

(Wow. She seems really crushed by that.)

Whaa! Are you really that mad about the tuna thing!

Meowkie

No, Boss! It ain’t that! I sense a rulebreaker!

You’re about to get your first lesson as a hall monitor!

I-if that’s okay, of course.

Cousin

Rulebreaker? I don’t see anything.

Meowkie

Not yet! He’s coming.

See… even though I’m an evil goon by blood…

Cousin

Meowkie! I don’t think that’s who you are at all.

Meowkie

Oh, you don’t gotta say that. I know that ain’t… really who I am, yknow?

But it’s kinda useful for Hall Monitoring. I got instincts for sniffin’ out people who ain’t supposed to be here.

Nyaa HA! Ho there, student!

Meowkie05

Taira

Whaaa? Wha’d I do?

Are all the free characters going to be the background people in the paid routes? Because I’ve been hurting to see Galaga and them milling around. 

Meowkie

You know the rules! No sports allowed in the hallway!

Taira

But I’m just, like… carrying the ball.

Meowkie

If you need sports equipment, there’s plenty to be found in the gym. There’s no need to carry it in the halls!

That’s practically an invitation for…

for…

horsing around!

Cousin

(Wow. She says that like it’s the worst crime she can imagine!)

Meowkie

Hurry along now, please, student! And don’t make that mistake again!

Taira

Yikes!

Y-yes ma’am!

Taira exits stage left.

Cousin

(Whoah… that crazy-faced guy… Captain of the Wrestleball team…

He just ran off like a dog with his tail between his legs!)

I’m sure Taira’s plot is just gonna be about how he’s a huge samurai zombie weiner.

Wow Meowkie… you’re tough! I’m really impressed!

Meowkie

Nyaa? O-oh… it was nothing…

Umm, I hope you don’t think I was being too… hard on him, it’s just…

carrying around a ball that’s s’posed to be for sports only…

It’s just one step away from playing sports in the hall, I think… And that can lead to not paying attention… or getting hurt…

And that’s why… I think it’s an important rule!

…Maybe.

Cousin

No, I think you’re right!

Meowkie…

Not everyone would take this job so seriously. Even I was prepared to goof off!

But you obviously care so much about this… I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but- It’s inspiring.

Meowkie

Boss… Cousin… I…

I’m real glad you decided to be a Hall Monitor with me.

I’ve been a little lonely doing this by myself… But um, I wasn’t sure it’d be such a good idea… if anyone else joined me.

Cousin

Why not? Don’t you sometimes wish you’d joined a more social kind of club? You know, to make friends?

Meowkie

No…

No, I think bein’ alone is better.

Cousin

But Meowkie…

Meowkie

No Boss… I’m really sure of it. Please… don’t make me explain, okay?

Cousin

You’re telling me we spent all that time getting what we have out of your character and it’s just the beginning??????

(There’s something strange in her words. Her answer makes me… a little sad.)

Meowkie

Oh! But don’t get me wrong, Boss.

I like bein’ alone with you.

Cousin

Thanks, Meowkie.

Meowkie

H-heh heh! So anyway. See any other rulebreakers, Boss?

Cousin

Uh… (How would I even start looking for those?)

…Not really.

Meowkie

Nya! That’s good. Once again the hallway is safe!

Cousin

Haha, yeah! Thanks to you, Meowkie.

Meowkie

…Thanks to us, Boss!

MeowkieCousin

YEAH!!!

Cousin

Hey, does this mean I get my own Hall Monitor badge now too?

Meowkie

Nya ha! That’s cute!

You’re thinkin’ of a Hall Monitor badge already?

It takes WEEKS to earn one of those!

…You’re gonna keep coming here, right? You want to earn one, dontcha?

Cousin

Ummm…

Of course I do!

Meowkie

Nya! Boss, that’s great!

Don’t worry, I’ll help ya. You’ve got the makings of a great monitor! I know you can do it!

Cousin

So is that it for the day? We’ve done our duties and the hall is safe.

Meowkie

Haha! Not yet! We gotta pay a visit to a friend of mine, first.

Cousin

(Oh no… Don’t tell me…)

Meowkie06

Of course he was going to have lines damnit I put off making his icon for nothing.

king

 

(HELLO, Meowkie!) ROAR!

Cousin

(GAH! How is she not scared out of her wits of this guy?!)

Meowkie

Hi Boss! Yeah, there was just one rulebreaker today. A student was on the verge of playing sports in the hall!

king

ROARRRR!!!

Meowkie

Aw shucks, Boss! It was nothin’. Just what any good Hall Monitor would’ve done…

Cousin

(What?! Meowkie can actually understand his roars?!)

Meowkie

Erk! Which ain’t to say I actually think of myself as a “good” Hall Monitor or nothin’! I just… do what I hafta do…

king

(NONSENSE!) ROAR! ROARRRR!

Meowkie

O-oh… You don’t gotta say that…

But, thanks. Gosh, you’re always so nice to me!

king

ROARRR!

Meowkie

Hahaha! That’s a good one!

Cousin

(They’re laughing together…)

Meowkie07

Cousin

 

(Wow… a scary guy like King… and Meowkie’s made friends with him.

Somehow, though, I’m not surprised. A girl like that…

Not only is she likable- There’s something about her that’s strong, too.

Stronger than I knew. Maybe even stronger than she knows, too…

But it seems like there’s stuff going on that she won’t tell me. I hope someday… she feels like she can speak up.)

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000

029

 

DigDug

Another day, everyone is here… Remarkable!

King agrees, keep up this excellent behavior!

See you at the bell.

Cousin

(I wonder if anyone joined a club yesterday?)

Meowkie08

Meowkie

Oh, hi Boss! I can’t wait to go patrolling with you again!

…Nya! Er! That is! Not specifically with YOU or nothin’…

I just like patrolling… Haha… oh, jeez…

…You did have fun though, right boss?

Cousin

Haha! Of course I did! I can’t wait to go patrolling with you again, either.

Meowkie

R-really…? That’s… the nicest thing anybody’s ever said to me…

Cousin

Haha… Oh, come on…

Meowkie

No, I mean it… I really mean it.

Wow you two hit it off right away.

‘Specially after I told you all about…

Y’know, where I come from and all… And you haven’t said a word about it against me or nothin’ like that…

You’re… really nice, Boss.

Cousin

Of course I haven’t!

Meowkie, anyone who’d treat you differently because of that is a real jerk!

Meowkie

… Ha ha…

Yeah… you’re right…

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