Chapter 4

Chiba meets up with Sugaya at a local cafe. Both are dejected for the same reason but don't know it yet.

Sugaya orders for both of them and Chiba gives him the money for his.

They sit in complete silence until their coffees arrive.

Chiba mumbles "Thanks… sorry for making you order for me all the time…"

Sugaya waves it off "No problem. I know you have anxiety."

Chiba nods staying silent.

Sugaya lowers his gaze to his coffee nervously

Chiba glances at him "It seems I'm not the only one?"

Sugaya "What? I'm not… I…"

Chiba reaches for him awkwardly "Breathe Sugaya. Breathe."

Sugaya takes a few deep breathes calming himself "Thanks Chiba…"

"You help me I help you… that's how it's been all year…"

Sugaya lowers his voice "Yeah… that might change next year though… you're gonna be alone on the main campus…"

Chiba's eyes widen and he lowers his voice to "Sugaya… you mean…"

Sugaya forces a smile "Don't know why it's a shock… I mean… I've known for awhile I'd end up there…"

Chiba nods "we both knew we'd end up there together…"

"You too?"

He nods "Yeah… you're the only person who knows…"

Sugaya "Same here… not like we have other people to tell…"

Chiba looks at his coffee tracing the side "Just our families and each other…"

"Our… families… I always knew I'd go there but I never imagine how to tell my family…"

Chiba freezes "how… how do I… how do I tell them… shit I'm screwed…"

Both sit in silence wondering how they can tell their families.

Meanwhile across the street

Hayami stares silently at the muffin Fuwa bought

Fuwa "Hey… It's okay Hayami… we have each other. And Kurahashi, Nakamura, Yada, even Okano. We won't be alone."

She nods as a tear falls down her cheek "Still… we're actually going there… you heard the rumor right? About the red devil?"

Fuwa tenses "Akabane Karma… he's gonna be there once his suspension is up… He's a genius but violent."

Both are quiet for a moment

"Have you told your mom yet?"

Hayami shakes her head "I plan to call her today… You?"

Fuwa nods "Yeah… my parents weren't surprised… said they were disappointed but not surprised…"

Hayami nods slightly understanding.

Fuwa smiles "But it's cool! I wonder if there's gonna be any manga fans in our class next year! Ah ha! No need to be bummed!"

Hayami sighs "I'm really not looking forward to this… We know for sure that the school devil will be there… who else…"

"Hey who knows? Maybe there'll be a cute guy in the mix?"

Hayami scoffs "If there is… He's a misfit… No one goes there for no reason."

Fuwa frowns "We're misfits too?"

"…that's true… but still. I'd rather focus on trying to get free from whatever hell hole we find ourselves in…"

Later that day

Hayami's dials her moms number "Mom…"

"Rinka? What is it? I'm working."

Hayami gulps "I'm sorry mom… I… I failed… I'm going to the End Class next year…"

"What…"

Hayami lets tears fall down her cheek as Tikki sits beside her "I'm sorry mom… I gotta go…"

She hangs up crying

Tikki flies into her knee "Rin-chan…?"

"I'm okay Tikki… really…"

Meanwhile at Chiba's

Chiba looks at his plate. His siblings sitting around the table talking.

Rukia "Ryuu? You okay?"

Chiba nods "Yeah… Yeah… I'm fine…"

Senna "Ryuu-nii??"

Chiba hangs his head with his hands in fist shaking "Actually… I have something to say…"

Tadashi 'Weird?'

Rukia "What's wrong…?" 'If something's bothering him he usually talks to me in private? I have no idea what this's about though?'

Chiba gulps keeping his hidden eyes locked on his plate "I got a letter yesterday from the school… about next year and… and I… I…" he clenches his teeth shaking.

Rukia "Ryuu? Breathe…"

Tadashi "Ryuu-nii?"

Senna looks at him confused

Chiba "I'm sorry… I let you down… I'm going there next year…"

Rukia freezes "You don't mean…"

He nods "Tadashi… I was looking forward to walking you to school and being able to embarrass you at school next year… but not like this… I'll warn you now Tadashi. If people find out we're related, especially that we're brothers, you'll go through hell too. Please… for your own sake… don't let people know…"

Tadashi tilts his head not yet knowing of E-3 "Why? What's happening? Ryuu-nii I don't understand?"

Chiba gulps "Nee-san… can me and Tadashi be excused…"

Rukia nods "Yeah… I'll tell Senna what it is…"

Chiba nods "Tadashi… lets go upstairs to the balcony…"

Tadashi follows him up confused.

Chiba leans against the railing when they get there and sighs.

Tadashi "Ryuu-nii?"

Chiba "You're starting middle school next year. Let me give you a quick rundown of how things work."

Tadashi nods

Chiba sighs "First year. Make sure to keep your friends close but be careful. Stay on your studies. It's fast pass so write short mini notes. Quality not quantity. They don't check notes unless you don't pay attention. Always pay attention. If you don't understand something ask a classmate you trust. Not the teacher or anyone you don't really know. And…"

He looks up at the night sky "There's a place… up the mountain… you can never go… it's called E-3… The E as in End Class. It's specifically for third years. Misfits end up there. Bad grades, violent behavior, rule breaking, mouthing off, cheating, distracting or disruptive behavior, etc…" he turns to his little brother "It's a fate worse than death Tadashi. Anyone there is shunned by all on main campus. If you know anyone in E-3 pretend you don't."

Tadashi nods "Alright? But I don't get it? I don't know any 3rd years other than you?"

Chiba looks away pained "Exactly… Tadashi… I'm going to E-3…"

"I… don't understand…?"

"I don't mind though… I mean… I probably won't get as much work, it'll be easier, I should have more time on my hands now…"

Plagg's out of Tadashi's sight and looks at the two brothers.

Plagg 'Oi… Chiba… you didn't tell me what E-3 is…?'

Chiba puts a hand on Tadashi's shoulder "I'll be okay. So will you but only if at school you pretend not to even know of my existence."

Tadashi shakes his head "You're over exaggerating Ryuu-nii. It can't be that bad?"

Chiba sighs "I tried to warn you…"

They hear an explosion

Chiba "Tadashi get inside and hide I think there's an akuma again…"

Tadashi nods hiding inside.

Chiba sighs "Hawkmoth better have a good reason for this shit. Plagg Claws out!"

Plagg sighs being sucked in "Whyyyyyy…"

Post akuma

Ladybug smiles having the officer take the victim home "Another job down. Pound it?"

Kuro holds up his arm "I still have sticky stuff on my claws shouldn't the magic Ladybugs fixed this?"

Ladybug laughs bumping his arm with hers "They fix things caused by the akuma. Not the akuma's fault you stuck your hand into caramel."

He pouts "My lady you're cruel sometimes…"

She smiles "I know. But would ya look at that? 3 paws left. Better scrat kitty? Don't wanna reveal your secret identity now would you?"

"Mmm… not like this… My lady? After we both recharge… can you meet me at the Skytree?"

Ladybug looks confused but nods "Meet you there in half an hour?"

He nods "Until then my lady~"

Kuro detransforms around the corner and smiles stupidly sinking down

Chiba looks at the sky "I hope she really comes…"

Plagg "Ughhh barf! I need cheese!"

Meanwhile a few alleys away

Ladybug sighs sinking against the wall "Spots off…"

Hayami hands tikki a cookie "Eat up Tikki."

Tikki takes the cookie "Rin-chan are you gonna meet Kuro-kun tonight?"

Hayami nods "Its been a pretty shitty day… and I wanna thank him for yesterday."

Tikki nods "Kuro-kun can be really caring."

"We're hero's. It's to be expected."

Tikki nods

Half an hour later

Kuro's sitting on the ledge with his feet hanging off the tower looking over the city

"Hey?"

He smiles and his ears perk up "My lady!"

Ladybug sits beside him at arms length "Did you need something?"

Kuro shakes his head "Not particularly… Sorry… did you have other plans tonight?"

She shakes her head "Not really. If anything probably eat and watch Netflix."

He laughs lightly "Same. Hey… would you… I don't know… maybe… um…"

Ladybug "Kuro? Are you okay?"

He nods biting his lip "I'm fine… I was wondering… we're already out… would you… want to maybe… get something to eat? Nothing fancy or anything. Just you know… Get to know each other better?"

Ladybug sighs "Kuro we've been over this. We can't know about our person lives. It's for our own good. Not to mention our families and friends and all of Tokyo maybe even the world…"

His ears wilt "I understand… but still… we're together a lot these days my lady. Hawkmoth's been akumatizing people at least once every day or two. I just… I wanna get know the amazing girl I save Tokyo with…"

Ladybug stands up "I'm sorry Kuro…"

Kuro "Wait! Can we at least get something to eat? I didn't really get a chance to eat cause the akuma and really don't wanna do dishes when I get home."

Ladybug laughs lightly "Sure. One of us will go somewhere, get food, then come back here."

He nods "I'll go. Be back Bugaboo~"

"Don't call me Bugaboo, Kuro."

Kuro snickers jumping off the tower smiling as the wind blows through his messy black hair 'Can't believe she agreed!! Wait… is it just cause I'm paying?!'

Kuro lands besides a fast food place and detransforms

"Hide Plagg."

Plagg flies into his shirt "Better get me something too."

Chiba sighs "Fine."

Meanwhile on the tower

Ladybug lays back "Kuro probably thinks this's a date… I'm hungry and don't wanna go home."

She sighs closing her eyes while she waits.

A few minutes later Kuro shows up again

"Hey Bugaboo? You awake?"

Ladybug opens her eyes looking up at him "Don't call me Bugaboo Kuro."

He sits down beside her "Alright Ladybug. Here."

She smiles sitting up

Kuro feels his heart jump 'She's so beautiful…'

Ladybug looks in the bag he brought "So what ya get?"

He smiles "Just basic. It's late not much is open."

She nods accepting the food.

Kuro bites his lip "So… did things work out?"

Ladybug blushes softly and nods "Yeah… I'm sorry about yesterday…"

Kuro shakes his head "My lady I'm here for you. I know we can't know much if anything about each other but I'll still protect you."

Ladybug looks at him confused "You don't even know me though… for all you know beneath this mask is-"

"The most amazing person I've ever met. Ladybug I don't need to know who you are beneath the mask… I already know."

"What?!"

He smiles "You're the most miraculous girl in the world."

Ladybug sighs "Kuro…"

He snickers playfully "Hey I was spot on right~"

"Kuro…"

"You know you love my puns~"

Ladybug shakes her head with a slight smile "Your puns are clawful."

"Wait… was that a pun?" He lights up "Did my lady just make a pun?! Best day of my life!"

Ladybug looks away continuing eating "…shut up Kuro."

Kuro smiles 'I've never been more proud.'

End chapter