A/N: Important A/N at the end ^^

Mystic Messenger AU

Chapter 4: Malicious Mysteries, Part 1

Tsukiku stared at Yoosung in shock as she processed his words, he was talking about the festival. Though Tsukiku wasn't a member of the Student Council or the RFA, when Michiko asked she never minded lending a helping hand. She was especially needed for the festival being organized by the council and RFA as a heavy lifter and general helper, so she was more hands on for this project of theirs then she had been before. Tsukiku supposed it made sense he would come to her to let her know.

"What happened?" Tsukiku frowned and crossed her arms, paying intent attention to his explanation.

"I-I don't really know…" Yoosung looked down in dismay, "I entered the club room to check on all the supplies we made, but everything looked broken and...and spray painted on...I think this was done on purpose."

Tsukiku was again taken aback by this, baffled by why someone would do that, and angered that someone would tarnish all that hard effort she and her friends had put in together.

"Show me." Without delay, Tsukiku rushed ahead to reach the club room. Not really surprised by Tsukiku's abruptness, Yoosung could only call out for her to slow down before running after her.

~8~

Tsukiku skidded to a stop before the club room door, paying no mind as Yoosung accidently bumped into her with a yelp. She pulls open the room door and marches in, Yoosung scurrying after her, and Tsukiku is appalled by what she sees.

Boxes of important equipment torn open and smashed, colorful banners and decorations shredded and sprayed with black paint. Wooden boards they planned to construct stands and a stage with broken in half and splinted across the room, even chairs and tables simply belonging to the room upheaved, books and bags with their contents also strewn about the ground. The room was a complete mess.

What made Tsukiku's blood boil were the scrawls of chalk and marker on the black and white boards, nasty comments about the Student Council, RFA or someone in particular she wasn't sure. Comments Tsukiku wouldn't dare repeat.

"A-are you okay, Tsukiku-ssi?" Yoosung looks at the strong girl in concern, seeing her fists start to clench.

Tsukiku simply lets out a sigh and unfurls her fists, before giving Yoosung a small smile that makes his heart skip a beat. Tsukiku turns to him fully with a confused expression, and a question on her mind.

"Yoosung-ssi, if you just found out what happened, why not find Jaehee-ssi or Michiko? I'm not apart of the council or RFA like them, wy did you come to me first?" Tsukiku stared at him curiously as his cheeks began to redden and he fidgeted with his hands.

"I-I saw you outside in the field, so I went to you first," He made the excuse and Tsukiku nods in acceptance, she didn't really feel like asking further for the moment, "Do you know where Michiko-ssi or Jaehee are?" Yoosung continued.

Tsukiku frowns and shakes her head, but before she can continue, they both turn to hear the room door slide open. Jaehee and Michiko were chatting as they entered. Tsukiku and Yoosung stiffen as they knew what would happen next.

They step to the side as Michiko and Jaehee freeze in place and take in the scene before them, their eyes widening in surprise. Jaehee stays still but Michiko takes trembling steps forward to the centre of the room. She reaches down and gently lifts the tatters of their former welcoming banner, stomped on and slathered in black paint.

"W-what happened…?!" Michiko almost whimpered in bewilderment, clenching the torn fabric in her fist.

Tsukiku is the first to come to her senses and places a hand on Michiko's shoulder in comfort, leaning down to reach her.

"We don't know, but we'll find out, and make sure it doesn't happen again." Tsukiku looks on sadly as Michiko stands, dropping the small piece of cloth. She startles when she hears a sniff come from the red-haired girl, usually such a cheerful and optimistic person, it's rarely that she's ever heard Michiko cry.

"I'm sorry...I should go." Michiko turns and runs from the room, Tsukiku and the others calling after her.

Tsukiku lowers her arm and looks down, feeling guilty she hadn't managed to cheer Michiko up. Jaehee places her own hand on Tsukiku's shoulder with a polite and reassuring smile.

"I'll let Mr. Han know and hopefully we can have everything replaced. Thank you for all you've done even if you aren't apart of the council or RFA, Tsukiku-san." Tsukiku shakes her head tiredly as if to say, 'it's no trouble,' and looks to where Michiko ran from the room.

She knew out of everyone, even if Michiko seemed laid back or care-free at first, that she worked harder than anyone to make this a reality. Late nights and staying behind after school to make sure everything was well organized, not to mention she made sure to give just as much attention to the theatre club as well. Stressed from the work and still worrying about Zen, Tsukiku wasn't surprised Michiko had reached her limit to see all that hard work tarnished so quickly. Though Tsukiku was simply disappointed in herself she couldn't help more sooner.

~8~

Michiko slowed down when she arrived at the courtyard, sniffing and rubbing her eyes. She liked how quiet it was here during lunch, Michiko always liked hanging out with her friends the most, but sometimes when she was overwhelmed she prefered to be somewhere quiet and relax.

She trudged further into the courtyard and slumped over on one of the benches, hugging her arms against her chest, concentrating on her breathing and trying to relax. She wasn't really sure how long she had been there by the time someone's legs entered her vision causing her to look up. She flinched as she recognized who was before her, and his entourage.

"Hirohito...what do you want?" Michiko looked away and wiped her cheeks to make sure there was no sign she had been crying, she didn't want to be seen so vulnerable in front of someone she wasn't close to. Especially if that someone was Hirohito.

She knew him as a former member of the Theatre Club and he seemed harmless enough at first. Just another boy with a handsome face that made him think he was better than everyone else. While she disliked people like that, she didn't really pay him and his friends any attention. That was until she found out he and his friends made a game called 'ten dates' where one of them would chose a girl and get her to sleep with them within the ten date deadline or else they lost, and the rest of them bet on whether or not they would succeed. She discovered this from girls in the club who had been hurt by this, so she decided they should be removed from the club.

She was glad Zen agreed when she brought it up with him, but when she told Hirohito he came hostile towards her and told her he'd 'get her back'. Though she hasn't seen him since until now.

"What's got you so down, Michiko-chan? Someone ruin your pity party?" Hirohito responded with a question of his own, tilting his head and sneered at her.

At first Michiko was ready to tell him to leave her alone, when she realizes the second meaning of that question. She already worked out what he had done, but to hear that coming from him. His sneer and cocky attitude sparked a righteous fury in her. So she decided to stand from where she was sitting and give him the piece of her mind he deserved.

"How dare you ruin the hard work me and my friends put into those decorations!" Her outburst seemed to shock him to take a step back, a response she took a small amount of pleasure seeing, "You can bully me all you want but I won't stand it if you use your grudge against me to hurt the people I care about-"

Hirohito interrupts and rounds on her, "You were the one turning your nose up at me for nothing! My friends and I were just minding our own business when you kicked us from the club! It's only fair you get what you deserve!" Hirohito advances on her a takes the fabric of her blouse in his fist and tries to tug her.

"Oi."

At that moment another hand grips Hirohito's shoulder, hard enough to make him yelp and let go of her. Michiko's eyes widen when she sees who that hand belongs to.

~8~

A/N: Hello again, though it's been a LONG time since I've been here I can't apologize enough. I have to own up to the fact I'm terrible at updating and planning stories. Though I like the stories I've written for this and the characters, the pacing feels very rushed and short, so I feel I should do my best to make it somewhat longer and flesh it out properly. It won't be perfect but I do enjoy writing this story and I'll be glad if anyone enjoys it as well.

My brain is put rn haha, please let me know what you think of the story. Hope it's not so dark! I have a bunch of things planned and I will get to them all, and it will get sweeter after this. This seems the same length as the other chapters but it's longer and broken into two parts! Also who came to save the day?! Poor Michiko, all the pressure is getting to her :( Merry Holidays to all~!