"The last thing I remember before awakening in this new world," V said as he dropped down to sit against the wall and beside Griffon, "was confronting Urizen after Dante had defeated him moments prior."
"Really?" Griffon frowned. V gandered at it. No longer limited by the form of a bird, Griffon was now capable of conveying much more expression than simply through his words. "I remember you and Urizen fusing back together. You didn't need us – me, Shadow, Nightmare – anymore, so we forced Dante to kill us."
"I was successful?" V asked in surprise. If that was true, then V should have been reconstituted as Vergil instead of appearing elsewhere. "Wait. From your perspective, Vergil returned, then, but you somehow outlived me? As you were bound to myself, I had been sure that you would also have returned to Vergil."
Griffon formed a melancholy smile. "Why would Vergil need us? Remember, we were born from his nightmares."
V honestly thought Vergil would have done V's familiars more justice than to let them be slaughtered by Dante. Born from nightmares and wrought with pain, yes, but they had served V well during the terror raged by the Qliphoth.
"But hey," Griffon went on, getting more upbeat, "look at us now! We're both alive! I mean, I didn't expect for us to become teenagers living Japan, but that's better than not existing at all!"
"True enough." V did appreciate maintaining his self-awareness and his continued existence, but at what cost? "Do you have any idea how we've become so fortunate? A devil's hand may be at work. This supposed blessing may in fact be a damnation in disguise."
"I've got nada for ideas on why we ended up like this," Griffon said. He stared at his hands. Lightning flashed between his fingertips. "It feels weird, though. I don't just mean being in a human body, with a bunch of memories and flashbacks ingrained my head because... well, because it isn't my head. It's also my powers. I can't fly for shit – trust me, I've tried – but my powers are feeling pretty wonky."
"How so?"
"Well, you remember how Vergil doing all his fancy trick shots with his Summoned Swords could sometimes drain his demon battery? Enough to the point where he couldn't pop his Devil Trigger?"
V did remember. In his quest to claim more power through his demonic heritage, Vergil had also studied methods to assume his Devil Trigger form indefinitely. His encounter with Arkham and the events that followed had prevented Vergil from researching further on the matter.
"Using my powers feels kinda like that," Griffon went on. "I can shock people and stuff, yeah, but if I fry out too much in one sitting, the tank's gonna run empty. Then I gotta wait a while till it refuels and recharges. Feels like it's on some random timer to build back enough demon power, or depends on how tired or energized my human body is. Haven't completely tested out the kinks yet."
Interesting. "So while you retain a portion of your demonic powers, they've been notably diminished in strength and longevity, yet not completely erased or useless. That's more than I can say for myself. As far as I can tell, I am unable to call upon any remnant of my demonic abilities, aside from some entrenched reflexes."
"What? But you just almost kicked my ass right now!"
V smirked. "Don't underestimate the tenacity of the human spirit. I may have been the one on the ground looking up to you during our first encounter, but there was good reason for why I was the master in our contract." Despite V's playful taunt, he discreetly slid a hand against his lower torso, still feeling the sting of Griffon's tackle moments earlier.
Griffon was pouting now; an adorable expression, V had to admit. "Yeah, yeah," Griffon said, "laugh it up. Remember that our contract's null and void at this point, what with me in a human body now. You're lucky I'm not the type to hold a grudge."
"How fortunate," V said, with only a hint of sarcasm. "After your apparent death, how exactly did you rouse yourself in your new body? This body had received a fatal stabbing in the back, seemingly by a random mugger. I spent the next few weeks in a hospital, recovering."
"Got stabbed in the back, too," Griffon said, "about a month ago. Guy even stole my wallet. Healed pretty quick, though, probably cause I've still got demon power. It was a trip getting used to having toes and apposable thumbs, let me tell you."
"Do you have any other recollection of your attacker?"
"Not really. I pieced together a few things from Ooka's memories, though." Griffon's eyes were drawn to V's bag slung over his shoulder. "How exactly did you get your book back? Did it spawn with you when you woke up? Or did someone give it to you?"
"A friend returned it to me, but the one who first gifted it to –"
V cut himself off. When Griffon opened his mouth to question V's abrupt pause, V struck Griffon's face with his cane. Griffon instinctively bit onto the cane, effectively silenced. Predictably, Griffon was startled and flailed his arms in an attempt to free himself, but before he could make too much of a noisy scene, V motioned for him to be still.
Someone was approaching. V could hear their footsteps, and he did not want to risk them overhearing anything that would cause V and Griffon undue trouble.
Around the corner arrived Hikigaya Hachiman. He kneeled to pick up the drink can V had used as an improvised weapon. As V removed his cane from Griffon's person, Hikigaya turned his head to see the two sitting in the shade. Bemusement was clearly apparent on his face.
"Something you need, Hikitani?" Griffon asked aloud. So Griffon was acquainted with Hikigaya, and referred to him with a nickname?
Hikigaya gestured with the drink can. "This is a shameful waste of MAX Coffee," he said in a harsh, almost offended tone. He squinted his eyes at Griffon. "Did you spill some on yourself?"
"He did," V said. Griffon made some undignified, insulted squawk that V paid no heed to. "He was drinking that when he tripped and fell. Do you have any napkins or a handkerchief you can lend him? Walking around school drenched like that is a bit too embarrassing for him."
"Embarrassing?" Griffon questioned quietly, confused. He looked down at himself and saw that the wet stains in his jacket and shirt seemed to have seeped down to his pants. Suddenly self-conscious, Griffon turned his back to V and Hikigaya. "Freakin' A," Griffon muttered. "Looks like I pissed myself."
Hikigaya stared on at them. V suspected that he was debating whether or not to continue the conversation. "If you don't have anything," V said, rising to his feet with the support of his cane, "I supposed I'll go fetch him something."
When V was about to pass by HIkigaya, V stopped when Hikigaya lowered his voice and asked, "Why are you out here instead of the cafeteria?" Hikigaya held his phone in his other hand. "Komachi and your sister have been spamming me messages about you taking too long in the restroom."
V was surprised. "You were concerned for my well-being enough to come look for me?"
"No. Don't misunderstand. I told them to just wait for you or to ask someone else to check on you, but I can't see a discarded can of MAX Coffee on the floor and just ignore it." Hikigaya glanced at Griffon. "You shouldn't associate yourself with a wasteful guy like that."
Griffon snorted. "Yui mentioned you like that stuff a bunch, but it sounds like you're into this MAX Coffee crap way too much, Hikitani."
"Crap?!" Angered, Hikigaya took a step toward Griffon. V felt the compulsion to stop Hikigaya from getting into an unnecessary confrontation – another instinctive reaction on Kawasaki Taishi's part – but V was confident that Hikigaya wouldn't actually try to hurt Griffon, or even be successful at it.
In response to Hikigaya's advance, Griffon swiftly stood up and spun around, shoving HIkigaya a few tumbling steps further into the gap between the school buildings. Without missing a beat, Griffon joined V and elbowed his side. "Hikitani's a weirdo," Griffon said. "Don't wanna be hanging out with him around."
Ooka must have a different opinion regarding Hikigaya than Taishi. "That would be difficult for me," V said, "considering that I'm to join the Service Club with him."
Griffon was obviously shocked, from the way he halted and darted his eyes between V and Hikigaya whilst Hikigaya was regaining his balance. Griffon recovered quickly, however, and said to V, "Who cares? I skip baseball club all the time. Besides, we've got more important things to worry about."
While V agreed that discovering the answers regarding their arrival in this world was important, there were still considerations to be had, namely toward V's prior promises to nee-chan and Komachi. "Come to the Service Club after school," V said.
"For what?" Hikigaya called out, walking toward V and Griffon. "Unless he has a request, there's no reason for him to show up. If you want to hang out with your new friends, do it somewhere else."
Griffon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Mister Loner doesn't want any other boys getting in the way of his little after-school harem." Now Hikigaya was very visibly offended and displeased, even straightening his hunched back and clenching his fists. "You do you, man. Let's get out of here, V."
"V?" Hikigaya repeated, raising an eyebrow. Likely reminded of Komachi's parting gift during the hospital visit, Hikigaya turned to V.
"Oh, right," Griffon said. "What's the name you're going by these days, V?"
"Kawasaki Taishi," V said. "You can call me Taishi." Better not let Hikigaya get any more suspicious or curious than he already may be. V turned his back to everyone and began walking away. "The lunch break is nearly over. We should return to our classes, or we'll be late."
"Who gives a crap about classes?" Griffon barked. Ooka must not have close friendships or family members to bear in mind as Taishi did. What would nee-chan say if her little brother skipped classes on his first day?
Pulling out his book, V read, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." V glanced behind him. "Message nee-chan that I'll be returning shortly." V regarded Griffon. "If you have the time, Ooka, do stop by the Service Club. We can discuss your request in full detail then."
"Hey, you technically aren't a member of the Club yet..." Hikigaya's words faded as V hurried away. In the corner of his eye, V could see Griffon shrug and also leave. He went at a brisk pace, likely intending to clean up his stained clothes. Hikigaya also went on his own separate path, probably not in the mood to deal with V or Griffon any longer. He also held out his phone, presumably messaging nee-chan and Komachi.
It was honestly a comfort to V, to know that he was not alone in his plight. Griffon was a good ally to have, especially considering that he can still summon lightning. Just as he proved useful to V ever since their separation from Vergil, V expected Griffon to continue to be of service. Simply having a familiar face with a familiar voice around was also a plus to appreciate.
When V returned to the cafeteria, nee-chan and Komachi were standing near a vending machine. As V approached them, nee-chan gave him a particularly unhappy look. Hopefully, she wouldn't catch on to the faintly sluggish movements V had due to his struggle with Griffon earlier.
"Where did you go?" nee-chan asked flatly.
"A small detour," V answered without straying from his book. "I did make a stop at the restroom," V added a little white lie to appease her. "I just wanted to stretch my limbs for a –" V cut himself off when his book was suddenly stolen from his hand. His fingers grasped at the air before V looked up to meet nee-chan's narrowed eyes.
"At least tell me if you're going to run off on your own," nee-chan said sternly. "Our parents won't be able to afford getting you another phone for a few weeks still, so we had to get Hikigaya to check on you. I'm not trying to be overbearing, but don't make it a habit to leave without telling me anything." Nee-chan offered the book back. V accepted it.
"Duly noted," he said.
"I think it's good of you to be making new friends," Komachi cheerily chimed in, before turning away and muttering, "already doing better than onii-chan when he started out."
V wasn't making new friends so much as he was reuniting with an old one, but he didn't bother correcting Komachi. "The sun descending in the west," V quoted, "the evening star does shine." V folded his book away. "The birds are silent in their nest, and I must seek for mine." Tapping his cane on the floor, he nodded toward the end of the hall. "Shall we go?"
X
Once classes were over, V and nee-chan soon found themselves in front of the room to the Service Club. The faint sounds of conversation could be heard through the door.
"Nervous?" nee-chan asked, equal parts teasing and legitimately concerned.
"Not at all," V said with the self-assurance to back it. With nee-chan looking over his shoulder, V firmly rapped his knuckles against the door. When a voice on the other side gave permission, V slid the door open.
In the center of the room, Hikigaya sat at one end of a narrow table. On the other end sat two girls that Taishi's mind identified as Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui. Komachi was situated between her brother and the older girls. Two free seats were placed across from Komachi. While Hikigaya was preoccupied with a light novel, the rest of the Service Club offered V and nee-chan polite smiles.
"Yahallo, Saki-chan! Taishi-kun!" exuberantly hailed Yuigahama and Komachi.
"Good afternoon," respectfully hailed Yukinoshita. "I trust your recovery went well, Taishi-kun?"
Taishi was vaguely familiar with the older girls. After the Service Club had helped him with his initial request regarding nee-chan, Taishi had on occasion joined Komachi to assist the Club further in other requests. Taishi had enjoyed accompanying and working with the two beautiful senpai, but V shut those feelings away to cordially return the smiles.
"More or less," V said as he and nee-chan took their seats.
"You better make sure you don't let Hikigaya make Taishi do any heavy lifting or unnecessary work," nee-chan said to Yukinoshita.
"But of course. For all that Hikilazy-kun has spouted about his unrealistic aspirations of becoming a house husband, he has proven to be apt at unskilled labor. Should Taishi-kun be unfit, Hikigaya-kun can pick up the slack."
"Oi," Hikigaya said aloud. "I know Taishi is walking with a cane, but he should still pull his own weight if he's going to be participating in this club."
"Hey, don't be so cold to our new member, Hikki!" Yuigahama berated. "Since it's his first day, we should be making a good first impression!" She offered V a countenance glowing with radiance and optimism. "We haven't gotten very many requests since the school year started, but you should expect more in the future."
V nodded his head at her. "I will." He let a hand clutch his trusted book and hold it close to his chest. "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower; hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour."
Yuigahama's face scrunched up in confusion. "Ah, is that supposed to be a line from your poetry? Komachi-chan told us about it, but sorry, my English isn't that good."
"Then maybe Taishi-kun can help you," Komachi said, holding up a workbook. "We might be in different years, but Taishi got a perfect score in English on the entrance exam. I was thinking that we could just have study sessions in the club whenever we don't have requests."
"Eh, but it'd be weird to be tutored by a kohai." Yuigahama paused before quickly making placating gestures with her hands at V. "Not that I'm trying to insult you or anything. I'd just find it weird. That's it."
"Whatever the case," Yukinoshita spoke up, meeting V's eyes, "while I understand that you are still somewhat disabled, I still expect you to work to the best of your ability when the club fulfills requests. It would be a shameful display for any member to give a half-hearted effort." She glanced at V's book. "We were also warned of your chuunibyou symptoms. Though you may have not requested it, as our new club mate, we would be happy to attempt to cure you of them."
V could feel nee-chan emit a lesser version of her killing intent around herself. "What do you mean by 'cure'?" she asked tensely.
Komachi snickered, albeit in a forced manner. "I tried to explain it that Taishi-kun just really likes poetry, but onii-chan exaggerated to make it sound like Taishi-kun's more like chuuni-chan."
Chuuni-chan? Komachi must mean Zaimokuza-san.
"Who? Do you mean... that guy with the silver hair and fingerless gloves?" nee-chan said, the disgust and revulsion obvious on her face.
"I'm sure that Taishi-kun isn't as gross or weird like chuuni-chan!" Yuigahama said quickly. "Remember when Taishi-kun and Komachi-chan helped us on that request during the break? He seemed normal then."
"My brother isn't sick," nee-chan flatly declared. She glared at Hikigaya. "What have you been saying about him?"
Looking away from his novel, Hikigaya with his foul eyes said, "Hey, I've been going out of my way trying to warn him about keeping his new eccentricities in check. Quoting poetry isn't as bad as the things Zaimokuza does, but it can only snowball from there."
"Taishi-kun likes poems. So what?"
"The quoting is only going to confuse people, like it did with Yuigahama. People can also mistake Taishi's quirk as arrogantly flaunting his literary knowledge. They'll think he's some haughty know-it-all or a chuunibyou still developing his identity. Self-assigned nicknames also don't help. Either way, it won't him win any friends."
Komachi sighed. "You're still exaggerating, onii-chan."
Seeing nee-chan about to speak further in V's offense, V spoke first. "I'm flattered by everyone's consideration for me," he said, "but I think I'll carry myself how I prefer for now. Besides, I have a couple of lines from one poem that I believe the Service Club can appreciate."
Opening his book to the correct page, V read, "Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song, or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven among. Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the poor. Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door." He shut his book and smiled wryly to Yukinoshita. "What do you say?"
Yukinoshita adopted a contemplative posture, resting one leg over the other and folding her arms.
Hikigaya stared in puzzlement at V. "Is this supposed to be your idea of flirting?" Komachi snorted at that comment and stifled some snickering. Nee-chan was giving V a vacant stare that he couldn't quite read.
"Nonsense, Hikipervert-kun," Yukinoshita said. She set an icy but not unwelcoming gaze on V. "The 'wise guardians' represent the Service Club, I presume. Then the poor who 'raise to heaven the voice of song' would be our clients who come to us for requests."
"That's one way to look at it," V said.
"Yes, the Club does indeed 'cherish pity', in that we welcome those who are troubled and find themselves in need of our aid. Ideally, our clients become self-sufficient and capable of handling future problems through their own merit and skill after we have rendered our services, but referring to our clients as 'angels' is a bit overdramatic."
"Call them angels or clients," V said. "Either way, the message should be clear."
"I suppose so," Yukinoshita agreed. She had a satisfied look on her face. It vaguely reminded V of Dante's and Vergil's looks of satisfaction whenever they had successfully solved some riddle or puzzle their parents had challenged them to solve. "While I don't have a very strong interest in poetry, I can appreciate the sentiment."
"See, onii-chan," Komachi said smugly. "Not everyone thinks it's weird."
"And you have a fair understanding of why the Service Club exists," Yukinoshita added, "and what it seeks to accomplish. I see that, regardless of any idiosyncrasies you may possess, you intend to be a devoted member of this Club." Yukinoshita glanced at Hikigaya. "I suppose I should have put more faith in Komachi-chan's testimony than yours, Hikigaya-kun. My apologies, Komachi-chan, and to you, Taishi-kun and Kawasaki-san, for being presumptuous."
"No apologies needed," V said, before Hikigaya could say something his defense for Yukinoshita's slight jab against him. "I look forward to participating in further Service Club requests in an official capacity."
Hikigaya sent another look at V. He was an observant boy, likely fully aware of V's intentions in speaking before he could. Hikigaya made some indiscernible murmur and returned to his own book. V ventured that he'll have to be more wary around him, to ensure he wouldn't catch any inklings of V's true nature.
"That reminds me," Yukinoshita said to V, "to make your membership official, we still require your application letter." She held out her hand expectedly, but V had nothing offer it.
"What application letter?" nee-chan asked. V consulted Taishi's memories. He had never joined any clubs in junior high, similar to nee-chan, so Taishi had assumed joining the Service Club would have been as easy as simply strolling into the club room.
Yukinoshita turned to Komachi. "Did you not tell Taishi-kun to prepare one?"
Komachi wore a ditzy, bashful expression, winking and sticking her tongue out. "Guess I forgot to tell him. Sorry!"
Sighing, Yukinoshita rubbed her forehead. "Komachi-chan, really. You take after your brother a little too much sometimes."
"Ah, don't worry, Taishi-kun," Yuigahama said with sympathy. "I forgot about the application letter when joining the club, too."
"Then I'll visit the staffroom and see Hiratsuka-sensei about that application," V said. He lifted himself from his chair and made his way to the door.
He expected nee-chan or perhaps Komachi to insist on accompanying him. Instead, V heard Komachi say, "Go help him, onii-chan. Make up for spreading misinformation about him."
"No need," V called out over his shoulder. "I'd rather go alone."
"You sure?" nee-chan asked. "You remember where the staffroom is?" There was mild confusion in her voice. V had insisted on her coming with him to the Service Club to begin with, but V had other concerns to keep Taishi's teenage insecurities at bay, so he wasn't as worried as before.
"I'll be fine," V gave his farewell as he left the room. "I won't be long."
It shouldn't have taken Griffon long at all to go to the Service Club after classes ended. The staffroom wasn't far from Soubu High's baseball field, so after visiting Hiratsuka-sensei, V planned on searching for Griffon.
V walked down a short hall to the entrance to the staffroom. Near the door was a familiar student sitting on an open window sill. He had a textbook planted on his thigh and was writing on a sheet of paper on top of it.
He was writing with a quill pen, the long feather adorned in bluish-black streaks.
"Where did you get that?" V asked Griffon as he slowly approached. Griffon didn't react, unsurprised by V's arrival.
"Ooka got it as a one-month anniversary present from his girlfriend," Griffon said. "Don't remember her name or her face. Because of that, I'm betting that she's got something to do with us being here."
A girlfriend? "Kawasaki Taishi was also gifted my book, but he also has no memory of the benefactor. This girlfriend may indeed be connected. If you have no memory of her, then I assume you haven't made contact with her since your stabbing."
"Yup."
Griffon said nothing more, engrossed in his writing. V saw that it was an application letter for the Service Club. "I thought Ooka was in the baseball club?" V said.
"Got into a stupid argument with my clubmates and the advisor," Griffon explained with an uncaring shrug. "Told them that I was leaving and joining up with the Service Club, just to get them out of my hair and to try to get to you." He handed V a blank application letter from underneath his own. "Ya need one? Hiratsuka stepped out for a bit, but she'll be back soon."
"Thank you," V said, taking the paper. He pulled out a pen from his book bag and leaned against the wall, using his arm as a foundation to write on. "You should know that I have an elder sister in this world. Kawasaki Saki, in the same year as yourself. She's a protective sort, so to not sow distrust with her, you'd best watch your behavior during our interactions together. When we're alone, call me V. Otherwise, call me Taishi."
"Al–right."
"What do you know of Hikigaya? I am acquainted with him and his younger sister, so –"
Suddenly, Griffon hopped off the window sill, tossing his application and a few other papers folded inside his textbook into the air. Though V was startled, he didn't let it show. "What the hell are we doing, V?" Griffon cried out, pulling at his hair. He began pacing along the corridor. "We're freaking filling out club applications like it's nothing when we still don't know why the hell we're even here in the first place! We should be out there, looking for answers!"
Along with a human body came a tense frown and drops of sweat on Griffon's human face. V was used to Griffon's periodic shrieks of panic and shock, but seeing those feelings of V's trusted companion conveyed through a facial expression mildly disturbed him. Being in Taishi's body was making V softer than he should let it. "We will," V said in what he hoped was a calming voice, "but as students of Soubu High, we have responsibilities and commitments to satisfy."
"Why should we care about Soubu?" Griffon halted his pacing and stared intently into V's eyes. "You were already human. Maybe it's not so hard for you to get into the swing of things around here, but it's not the same for me. I wasn't even a real demon before. I was a memory of one." He let lightning bolts flash with a couple of finger snaps. "Using my powers helps remind me who I am, but sometimes it was easier to just let Ooka take over. Say what he'd say. Be with his friends. Go home to his house and listen to his parents bitch and moan about his life."
"You should continue to do that," V said, "to not draw suspicion to yourself."
"Why bother? Seeing you again, V, with your book and a cane in hand – It's just like old times! Well, those times were more or less a month ago, but with you here, now I'm more than motivated to solve this mystery!"
Griffon was zealous. Understandable, but he had to control his passions. "We are minors in this world," V pointed out, "without the exact same abilities as we had before. Cutting ourselves off from our families, friends, and school life would only lead the authorities to be called and to investigate our truancy, and to keep us from finding our answers. While conducting our investigations, we must take care not to cause undue stress and worry to our families and peers."
"… They aren't actually our families and friends, V," Griffon said after a short silence. "You can call it semantics, but don't try to hide it."
V ignored his application letter and put all of his attention on Griffon. "What are you talking about?"
"Like I said, maybe it's not so hard for you to get used to things around here. You're still human, and maybe that part of you is putting more stock in living a normal human life with that sister and the Service Club instead of focusing on what's important."
Affronted, V stabbed his can against the floor with a resounding echo and straightened his back. Griffon was taller, but V held his head high. "I won't pretend that it's gratifying to experience the love of a family after everything I've suffered," V said coolly, "but make no mistake. Finding our answers is of upmost importance. Because of its importance, we must appease the obligations of our new identities, lest they interfere with our activities."
Scoffing, Griffon went to the window and opened it fully. He climbed atop the sill and crouched, as if to jump off. V raised an eyebrow at the motion. V speculated that Griffon did such acts often, to remind himself of his bird form.
"No one knows how to handle demons like us," Griffon said. "Sticking around with Taishi's family, or Ooka's friends, or the Service Club might be putting them at risk. Demons, or whoever did this to us, come after us, and then they go after them to get to us."
"Then we protect them," V said sternly, "with all of our might."
"Not sure how much might we've got going for us," Griffon said. "Here's my counter-offer, Shakespeare: skip classes and clubs entirely. Forget about Soubu. Focus on actually getting shit done, like the old V I knew."
The old V... V may have remnants of Kawasaki Taishi affecting his thoughts and judgement, but better a human soul influencing him than the original Vergil's twisted demonic half.
"A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees," V recited. "I..."
V could hear someone ambling toward them. He turned to face the newcomer, only to see a vague blur zoom pass him and wrap a pair of arms around Griffon's torso. The newcomer pulled him back inside the building, Griffon yelping in response.
If V recalled correctly, this maneuver was a called a suplex, except Griffon spread his hands and caught himself before his head hit the floor. Griffon hopped to his feet and away from his attacker. He was about to snap his fingers but stopped when the newcomer turned to face him. V recognized her.
"Ooka," Hiratsuka-sensei said in a grumbling voice and with a cold smile that conveyed no sliver of kindness, "did you forget what we talked about this morning?"
"For the last time, I'm not suicidal!" Griffon screeched, forming fists with his hands, presumably to keep himself from summoning any lightning. "Jeez, can't a guy take in a cool breeze without getting grappled for one second? For Christ's sake, I'm not Hikitani!"
"It's still dangerous to crouch on the window like that. And what's this talk about skipping school? After asking me for an application letter..." Hiratsuka-sensei glanced at V. "And trying to turn one of your own kohai into a delinquent, too. I thought you were more sensible than that."
So she overheard some of V's and Griffon's conversation. Only the very tail end of it, fortunately, or V would have noticed her approach sooner.
As Griffon and Hiratsuka-sensei continued to bicker, V returned to his application and set out to complete it.
