The Diclonius Research Institute was in havoc. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Director Kurama's death had driven doubt in the employees of their Chief's unshakeable resolve to control the subspecies.
Not to mention the rumors that Lucy was still at large. That drove fear into their hearts. The merciless cruelty of the Diclonius Eve was legendary. There wasn't a single person anywhere in the building that didn't know of her power, and of the list of confirmed deaths caused by her Vectors.
The Chief's silence meant that the Institute would have to deal with the problem of the open slot of Director on their own.
"Katsuragi-sama." said a woman, dressed in the uniform of the Head of Research.
The boy, who looked only barely of age, standing before him grinned, pushing a strand of his fairly long hair out of his face. "Please, Tatenashi-sensei. Call me Adamu." he said, laughing. "You haven't called for me in a while, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."
Tatenashi tsked, looking him over as she always did when she saw him. "I highly doubt anybody could forget you, Katsuragi-sama." she said.
Katsuragi Adamu was, in a few words, pretty average. A little tall at exactly 183 centimeters, dressed in casual jeans and a t-shirt with the cover image of some anime involving nekomusumes on it. If anything, he looked more like some regular citizen than a member of one of the most secretive organizations on the planet. The only thing odd about him was his hair.
Anybody who saw it would be reminded of the odd creatures he frequently interacted with. Bright red, almost pink, and it always seemed to grow too quickly for him to cut it. Even now, it was past his shoulder, giving him an almost feminine appearance, though his obviously male body shape could prove that wrong. His hair was choppy at the ends, a messy line going across the ends. Evidently, he'd tried to cut it himself at some point and given up on the unruly strands.
He wasn't exactly the most athletically-built person working here, but he wasn't the weakest either. Not really muscular, but he was obviously not in any way unhealthy, if a little on the thin side. Average, as Tatenashi would say. Absolutely average. If not for the hair that he proudly called his "Nagato Uzumaki impersonation", he would be passed up as just another person.
"In any case, have you heard the news on the voting for the new Director?" Tatenashi asked. Katsuragi nodded, tilting his head.
"Yes, I did. I haven't heard yet who was chosen, though. I assume that was told to you and the other higher-ups?" he asked.
Tatenashi nodded. "Naturally, you had to be told who it was." she said.
Katsuragi nodded. "Why is that? Surely I'm not important enough to know prior to everyone else."
One of Tatenashi's eyes twitched. "You know very well that this place would fall apart without you." she said, a tone of irritation coming into her voice. "You've been named as the Director, Katsuragi-sama."
Katsuragi blinked. "I have?" he asked. "Why?"
A simple response from an even simpler person. Tatenashi thought in annoyance. "I just told you. Everyone here knows it, you should have been Director years ago. This place is only still standing because you've been here to suppress the experiments."
Katsuragi finally showed the first sign of emotion, a quick flash of light in his red eyes that was gone in an instant. "What have I told you about calling them 'experiments'?" he asked calmly, but there was an edge to his voice.
Tatenashi sighed, waving a hand. "I know, I know. I don't pretend to understand your crazy views on them. In any case, do you accept your role as the new Director?"
Katsuragi grinned, nodding, his eyes closing as he did so. "No worries, I accept. So I guess that means I outrank you now, doesn't it, Tatenashi-sensei?"
Another twitch of her eye. "I suppose it does, Katsuragi-ue." she said, obviously not happy to be using the higher-ranked honorific.
Another maddening grin from the young man. "Well, that was quick and simple. You know just how I am, don't you, Tatenashi-sensei?"
"Yes, I do. You're an annoying little brat to me, but now you're an annoying little brat with more power than I do." she said with annoyance.