The screen shows the cafeteria of Angen's Middle School and Kia, Aisha, and two other girls are eating lunch.
"Naomi, focus the camera on me!" Kia looks towards the camera and orders the new camera girl Naomi.
"Okay," the camera zooms to Kia.
"All right! It's that time of the day again, guys!" Kia gives a suspicious smirk.
"The same conditions apply?" the camera turns towards a girl with long brown hair and light brown eyes.
"Yep!" the camera returns to Kia.
"I don't like it! I always end up paying!" the camera turns to the whining Aisha. She then looks at the camera and waves.
"Fine! I'll change it for today!" the camera turns back to Kia, who is looking through her bag.
"Naomi, say something to the camera!" the camera turns to a girl with long red hair tied into several ponytails and blue eyes.
"Rika, you shouldn't order Naomi around!" the camera looks back at the girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Cammy, how can she have any fun in this, if she just films and does nothing?" the camera returns to Rika.
"It's her choice," the camera returns to Cammy.
"Kia-chan, what are you looking for?" the camera looks at Aisha and Kia.
"I got 'em!" Kia pulls out five toothpicks, "We'll make this a draw!" She proceeds to mark the center of one of the toothpicks black. "The one who gets the black one pays for lunch tomorrow!" She puts all the toothpicks in her hands and waits for the others to pick a pick.
The camera zooms out and shows Aisha, Rika, and Cammy taking a toothpick.
"Okay, Naomi, we're last!" Kia moves her hand towards the camera.
Naomi's hand picks one, and Kia takes the last one.
"Show them!" Kia yells.
The group shows that all of their toothpicks have some black in the center.
"What's this?!" the camera looks at Cammy.
"Look at Kia's hand!" the camera looks at Rika then at Kia's palm, which has some ink smudged on it.
"Oops!" Kia looks at her hand in embarrassment.
"Okay! You pay for the lunch!" Cammy, Rika, and Aisha say in unison, even though the camera is still focused at Kia.
"What?!" Kia snaps, then looks at the camera, "Naomi, turn off the camera! Our viewers will not like what I'm gonna do to them!" Kia charges at her other friends.
The rest of the group run away, as Kia chases them. Just about everyone in the cafeteria stares at the girls. Kia tackles Cammy and Rika and grabs Rika's right ear and Cammy's left ear, then pulls them outside.
Once Kia drags her two captives outside the cafeteria and closes the door, Naomi is heard emotionlessly saying, "…Turning the camera off…due to lack of characters…"
The screen turns black.
"KISAMA! (YOU!)" the dark figure barks.
"Ha!" the death angel swings her scythe. The scythe is black and has a golden coin hanging on a piece of yarn tied to the end of the blunt side. The blade of her scythe is blue but has some red dye around the point of the blade. It appears sharp enough to split a piece of hair. The attack misses, but the impact of her scythe to the ground brings the ground level down by two feet.
"Kore! (Take this!)" the dark figure lunges his spear forward. The wooden spear is blood black and has a white, blood-drenched cloth tied between where the wooden part meets the metal prong of the spear. The prong of the spear appears to be chipped and blunt due to over-usage and no repairs. His attack almost connects with her stomach by just a hairsbreadth.
"Sore! (Take that!)" the death angel mows.
The dark figure avoids any injuries by dodging; however, the attack slices the hair off his bangs. "Raaa!" he swings his spear towards the death angel.
The death angel blocks the attack with her scythe.
Almost instantaneously, the figure adds more strength to his attack and overpowers the death angel, making her scythe slip from her hands. Seeing the opportunity, he lunges and tries to stab her face.
The death angel ducks, but her helmet is sent flying from the attack.
Young Akira tries to take a good look at her face. Her straight brown hair played by the wind blocks most of her face, but Akira could still see some of her face. She has gentle brown eyes that are now in fear. Her lips are peach and appear soft and tender. Her nose is small, gentle, and delicate. "Kirei…(Pretty…)" Akira says under his breath.
"Chikushou! (Damn!)" while covering her face, the death angel leaps back and disappears in a gust of wind.
"Saa, omae…(Now, you…)" the dark figure grins and turns to Akira.
"A-ano…Shi-! (U-Um…Sh-!)" Akira turns tail and runs away.
"Hehehe…" the dark figure snickers and chases Akira.
Outside the infirmary of the Sky Noah, Adelheid, Ayumi, Kasumi, and Hinako wait until the doctor exits the infirmary.
"So, how are they now?" Ayumi asks the doctor.
"From what I can see, their conditions are improving. Harima-sama, for some reason, is tossing and turning in his bed. He may have sustained trauma from that punch. The other patient, however, seems to be normal. She shows no sign of trauma," the doctor replies.
"…All of this is my fault…If I had not been so stubborn, he would have never planned that dinner. If he had not planned that dinner, he would not have met any of these girls. If he had not these girls, he would not be unconscious…" Adelheid punishes himself mentally.
"How much longer until they awaken?" Ayumi asks.
"It's hard to say, my guess is that Harima-sama may regain consciousness within an hour. As for the other, she will most probably regain consciousness after about two hours," the doctor replies.
The rest of the group stay silent and wait. The doctor walks to the elevator.
"Kusso! (Crap!)" Akira trips over a dead samurai.
"Owari ka…(This is the end?)" the dark figure crushes a few bodies as he makes his way to Akira.
"DAME! (NO!)" Akira rushes to get up and runs for his life again.
"Hehehe…Mada mada ka…(Here we go again, huh?)" the dark figure slowly follows Akira.
As Akira continues running, his foot falls on a hole. "K-Kusso…! (S-Shit!)" Akira looks at his left foot and finds that he has twisted it. "Doshite…(Why…)"
"Ima ni omae no tokkyo wa owaru toki…(Your freedom ends now…)" the dark figure appears behind Akira.
Akira thinks as the dark figure comes closer, "Doshite (Why?)……… Tatsukete (Help me)……… Dare…(Somebody)"
"HOLD IT!" five cloaked figures appear nearby.
"Dare…KISAMA…(Who the hell are YOU?!)" the dark figure shifts his attention towards the cloaked beings.
"We shall stop you from interfering…" the middle one raises his right hand towards his face and forms a fist. On both his hands are black gloves inscribed with some sort of insignia.
"The organization has fallen, you know…" the one to the far left slips on blue gloves with the same insignia on both of them.
"Your existence is no longer needed!" the big one to the right reveals a blue gloves with the same insignia.
"So take a hike!" the one to the left shows the same insignia on his shirt.
"Please leave…" the short one to the far right reveals dark purple gloves with the same insignia.
Outside the infirmary, the group stay silent and do nothing but wait. After a few minutes of waiting, Rose with Prince on her arms walks joins the group and sits on a bench.
"…So, how are they?" Rose asks to break the silence.
Kasumi takes a seat beside Rose and lays he elbows on her knees and has her chin supported by her hands. Without looking at Rose, she answers, "The doctor said that they will both wake up in about two hours."
"Is that so?" Rose pets Prince.
"Perfect, huh?" Ayumi stares at the ground, "I'm glad that Akira and his friend are going to recover, but I hope that they won't be any different after they wake up…"
"…They may change?" Adelheid thinks a horrible thought, "Akira and that other girl may never be the same…All because of me…"
"Omoshiroi! Saa, hajimemasho! (This will be interesting! So, let's begin!)" the dark figure dashes past Akira and lunges at the one in the middle.
He dodges. In the process his cloak lifts a little bit, allowing Akira to take a short glace at his face. He has grayish hair and crimson eyes that glared like those of a wild dog. His skin is tanned, and his aura burns like a wildfire. On his shirt, rests a pair of sunglasses; and on his neck hangs a necklace with a silver cross.
"Tsugi! (Next!)" the dark figure sweeps his spear and summons a small gust of wind.
The wind blows on two more of the cloaked people and uncloaks them for a few seconds. Luckily, a few seconds is enough for him to take a good look at their faces. One has white hair (not long, yet not short) and blue eyes. Her aura feels wild and unpredictable. The other has short black hair and brown eyes. His aura feels uncontrolled and full of rage. Akira takes a look at his right arm, which just turned to a drill.
"Kore! (Take this!)" the big cloaked one tackles the dark figure and knocks him away.
"KISAMA! (YOU!)" the dark figure flips before he hits the ground. He charges towards the big one and kicks his face with such force that he is knocked down.
"Chi-! (D-)" he hits the ground.
"SHINE! (DIE!)" the dark figure stabs him, but to his surprise the spear cannot pierce his body.
"Fool!" the big guy grabs the dark figure's leg and throws him away. "By body is not that a human's!"
Akira takes a good look at his face. He has brown hair and tough eyes. His skin is fair, and his aura is impossible to read.
"Excuse me, Akira-san," the short one helps Akira up.
"D-Dare anta-tachi? (W-who are you guys?)" Akira asks as she puts his arm around her. He feels that her aura is cold yet pure.
Outside the infirmary, the group waits for Akira and the other injured one to recover. Ayumi is pacing, Adelheid sitting beside Kasumi, and Hinako and Rose are sitting on a different bench.
"…Kasumi-san, this is all your fault!" Rose snaps out of nowhere.
Kasumi barks back, "AKIRA-SAN, DESERVED IT! However—"
"SHUT IT!" Rose actually seems pissed, "He deserved no such thing! He just tried to prepare a banquet and even invited you, but you had to slug him unconscious!"
"…Hey, isn't that Sara-chan?" in an attempt to cool every one down by changing the subject, Ayumi points towards Sara who is walking slowly to the group.
"I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG TO THAT PEDOPHILE!" Kasumi does not seem to care about Sara.
"Konnichi wa (Good afternoon), Bernstein Adelheid-sama, Bernstein Rose-sama, Andrews-sama, Todoh-sama, Shijou-sama," Sara greets the group as she tries to find a seat in a safe area.
"HE IS NOT A PEDOPHILE!" Rose yells loud enough to hit the Richter scale.
"Sara-chan, why are you here?" Ayumi asks in curiosity.
"PROVE THAT HE ISN'T A PEDOPHILE!" Kasumi yells loud enough for the people in the entire floor to hear.
"I want to wait for Harima-sama, too!" Sara gives Ayumi a depressed expression.
"PROVE THAT HE IS!" Rose yells loud enough for the all people in the airship.
"Sure, sit…um…here!" Ayumi finds a small chair for Sara to sit on.
"HE HAS A MAID THAT'S EIGHT!" Kasumi points to Sara.
"Thank you, Andrews-sama…" Sara ignores Kasumi and takes her seat.
"SARA-SAN IS OUR MAID! WE JUST ASSIGNED HER TO HIM!" Rose points to herself then the infirmary door.
Nobody notices, but the doctor passes through the group and enters the infirmary.
"You…don't know?" the short one asks.
Akira shakes his head.
"We were part of an organization, but…you are too…" she explains.
"Organization?" Akira asks.
"We are—" she tries to continue but an explosion from where the others are fighting the dark figure makes her scream in fear and close her eyes.
The wind of the explosion blows her cloak away. Akira looks at her face. She has long blonde hair and a childlike countenance like that of someone his age.
She opens her crimson eyes and continues, "We are all part of the organization. Our group composes of experiments of the organization. I am a clone, even K-Dash, K-Four-Nine, and Angel; and Ojisan is an android. Unlike you, we have left the past behind…"
"What does this have to do with me?" Akira asks after another explosion occurs.
She continues, "You are—"
Outside the infirmary, Kasumi and Rose argue up an earthquake. Adelheid still has his face buried in his hands. Ayumi still paces around. Sara and Hinako stay silently seated on their seats. Aya and Megumi, who both have arrived earlier, are leaning on opposite walls.
MARK OF THE GENOCIDER 4
Inside the infirmary, the doctor is finally annoyed of Akira's tossing and turning. She takes a needle (not the kind for medical purposes) and pokes his foot.
Akira instantly awakens and falls off his bed…face first.
"You are awake finally, Harima-sama!" the doctor smiles after having concealed the needle in her lab coat.
"Ee…What was that dream? It felt so real!" the not-in-his-complete-senses Akira gets up and rubs his head, "How did I end up in the infirmary, again?"
"Well—" the doctor tries to continue.
"Harima-sama!" Sara tackles the door open and jumps in Akira's bed.
After that, everyone else outside enters and greets Akira and that that he is finally better.
"I'm sorry, Harima-san…" Adelheid tries to not make any eye contact with Akira.
"It's okay…It's not your fault…" Akira smiles.
"If you have changed, then I must be held accountable," Adelheid explains.
"It's all right. Changing isn't that bad…but why would I change?"
"Harima-sama! I was so worried! I thought you would never wake up!" Sara cries on Akira's shirt.
"'Never wake up'? How long was I out?!" a surprised Akira asks.
As Ayumi is about to open her mouth, Hinako shushes her and says, "You have been asleep for three months!"
"WHAT!!!!!" Akira's jaw drops.
"Kidding! It has only been a couple of days!" Hinako titters.
"Eh?" Akira gives a clueless and confused expression.
"AHAHAHA! Akira-san, your face looks so funny!" Sara's whales become guffaws.
Everyone looks at Akira and laughs their heads out, even Adelheid, Aya, Megumi, and the doctor.
"I'm glad that everyone is glad that I'm awake!" Akira tries to hide his divine wrath.
"Haha…Now, all we have to do is to wait for the other patient to wake up!" the doctor takes the clipboard laying on a table and flips through a few papers.
"'The other patient'?" Akira's anger disappears in a flash.
"Yes, Malin-sama…" using her pen, the doctor points at another bed.
"M-M-MALIN-CHAN!" Akira jumps off his bed and runs to Malin's bed to see a peacefully sleeping Malin.
"She has suffered no critical injuries. She has just passed out from being hit," the doctor continues.
"'Being hit'? By whom?" Akira, still in a shocked state, turns to the doctor.
"When Todoh-san slugged you, your head was forced back and collided with Malin's," Ayumi explains.
"Think of it as a domino effect. Most of the damage was made to her, but, technically, you took two hits," the doctor explains.
"Apparently, your thick skull crashed into Malin's head when you were slugged," Hinako explains.
"…Please leave…" Akira whispers an order.
"Huh? What was that?" Rose asks.
"…Please leave…" Akira says louder, but not loud enough for anyone to catch.
"Please repeat," Hinako requests.
"GET OUT!" Akira explodes, then pushes everyone, including the doctor, out. After doing so, he slams the door and locks it.
Everyone stands outside without saying a word.
After a few seconds of clueless-ness, Kasumi bangs on the locked door, "AKIRA-SAN! DON'T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING TO MALIN! UNLOCK THIS DAMN DOOR!"
"What's wrong with her?" Sara asks Aya.
Aya answers, "I think Todoh-sama is being too…"
"Paranoid…" Megumi finishes for Aya.
Inside the infirmary, Akira ignores the banging on the door and walks to Malin's bedside, then kneels.
"Gomen (Sorry), you got involved between Kasumi and my encounter," Akira says, but tries to not look at Malin's face.
"I should never have met you…" he turns and leans slightly forward to take a better look at Malin.
"If I haven't, then you would not be hurt…This means that I…" he strokes Malin's face.
"…And perhaps, I wouldn't be feeling like this…Feelings full of love and hate…" he stands and turns away.
"Uh?" Malin awakens, but Akira does not hear her, due to the sounds of Kasumi's trying to break the door down.
"…Pathetic…I do like you…A guy is admitting to these emotions…" Akira hits a switch to bring soundproof glass door behind the main door. (The soundproof glass door is available only at the infirmaries, the meditation rooms, and the study rooms.)
Malin's eyes adjust, and she sees Akira pacing about the room. "What did he say?"
"I guess I really want to say that I like you…It's so easy right now, but…" Akira stops but has his back turned to Malin.
"What?!" Malin gets up a little, supported by her elbow.
"However, we've only known each other for less than a day…Which makes it all the more pathetic…" Akira looks at a blank space on the wall.
"He likes me?!" a surprised Malin tries to sit up but has not enough strength to do so.
"A pathetic infatuation…From first sight…" Akira slowly turns around.
Malin quickly lies down and closes her eyes to make Akira assume that she is still asleep. "It's not that bad…"
"…That I am confessing while you are asleep…because I feel most secure this way…" Akira slowly walks to Malin's bedside. Once he reaches her bedside, he moves his hair away to reveal his gentle brown eyes that are full of regret and love.
"What's he gonna do? I wish I could open my eyes!" Malin's act is convincing enough for Akira to be fooled.
"…One kiss…would be all I need from you, so that when I die my life would have no regrets…" Akira leans over Malin, closes his eyes, and brings his lips close to Malin's.
Malin gulps. "WHAT?!!!" Malin opens her eyes in shock.
With his eyes still closed, Akira stops about a millimeter away from Malin's lips. "…but it would not be right to do such a thing to you…against your will…"
"Huh?" Malin moves upward in reaction and accidentally locks lips with Akira.
"MMM?! I'M KISSING HER…!"
"Ah…I—I—"
After a few seconds, they push each other away.
"GAH! WHAT WAS THAT?!" Akira steps backwards and leans on a table but knocks a vase over in the process.
"AH! BASTARD!" Malin turns into a shade of beet red and breathes hard.
Akira breathes difficultly for a few seconds, then completely returns to his senses, "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! My first kiss! B-B-But I-I took advantage of her in her sleep! What kind of guy am I?!"
"YOU SHOULD BE! That was my first kiss, idiot!" Malin snaps but somehow forgets to wipe her lips.
From the outside…
"DAMN IT! OPEN THIS DOOR!" Kasumi begins swearing.
"How much longer 'til she gives up?" Ayumi asks Hinako.
"Never…" Hinako answers.
"I thought so…" Ayumi responds.
"Todoh-san had better not leave a scratch on the wall!" Rose yells to Hinako, "If she does…some bad things may happen to her!"
"I'm sure that won't happen!" Ayumi tries to assure Rose, "That door is made of steel, after all!"
"TIME TO BREAK IT OUT!" Kasumi yells.
"What are you intending to do?" Adelheid asks.
"CHOU KASANE ATE!!!" with a wave of energy, Kasumi breaks the entire wall down!
"Kasumi, that's overdoing it!" a shocked Hinako stares at Kasumi and the destroyed wall.
"Perfect!" Rose yells sarcastically.
Kasumi looks at Malin, who is blushing a little and breathing hard, then at Akira, who is blushing a lot and breathing with less difficulty. "BASTARD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MALIN!" Kasumi charges towards Akira.
"Dog pile!" Sara yells, then everyone else in the hallway and room, except Akira, Malin, Adelheid, and the doctor, jumps at Kasumi.
"What was that?" Akira stares cluelessly at the mound of people on Kasumi.
After some time of being checked by the doctor and watching Kasumi get carried away to the brig, Akira is ruled to have made the quickest recovery that the doctor has ever seen. Malin, on the other hand, has to stay for observation for one more day.
Sara walks through a hallway and notices Akira. She stops and asks, "Akira-san, what's wrong? It's lunchtime and you're just standing outside the back-up infirmary."
"Boku wa— Nan demo arimasen…(I— It's nothing…)" Akira returns to his silence.
"If you're still guilty about getting her unconscious, try to forget about. Besides, that wasn't your fault, anyway!"
"That's not the dilemma right now…" Akira thinks aloud.
"What's 'dilemma'?"
"I am an evil person! I stole a kiss from Malin. On top of that, I took advantage of her!" Akira just quietly stands.
Sara gets bored of waiting and leaves, "Good luck on that, Akira-san!"
"Maybe…this is how Adel-san feels…" Akira speaks to no one.
"He believes that he is evil because he is his father's son. I am evil because of my own acts…That makes me much worse than how Adel-san believes in his being evil…" Akira continues contemplating aloud.
After a while, the PA pages for Akira to go to the meeting room. Akira glances at the door of the second infirmary then looks to the ground, "I…am…" He stops talking and makes his way to the elevator. He stops in front of elevator and gently pushes the button with a sign pointing upwards. The elevator doors open a few seconds later and reveals Megumi inside.
"Harima-san, do you still remember where the meeting room is, or do you need my help?" in concern, Megumi asks Akira.
"…Yes…" Akira enters the elevator.
"As you wish…He doesn't seem to be himself…If he's like this I…" Megumi gently pushes the button labeled "6".
The elevator doors close. Akira still has his eyes looking to the floor, and Megumi has obvious concern for him. The doors soon open, and the two exit the elevator.
"This way, please…" Megumi takes a left.
"Ee…" Akira lifelessly follows her.
"Harima-san, it may not be in my place, but…are you feeling well?" Megumi asks spontaneously.
"…I'm just evil…" Akira says blankly.
"Um…right…You are in no way evil! You are a kind person who has much heart!" Megumi yells.
"Is that so…"
"You shouldn't take so much guilt upon yourself for getting Malin-sama unconscious!"
"…Everyone thinks that is the problem…"
"It wasn't completely your fault! Todoh-sama took out you and Malin-sama!"
"…I kissed her…"
"If it makes you feel any better, she's locked up in the brig of the Sky Noah!"
"…It's okay…"
"…Harima-san, here is the meeting room…" Megumi points to two brown doors with glass doorknobs.
"I'm ready…"
"All right…" Megumi opens the doors.
Akira enters the room and sees a circular table with Adelheid sitting on the master's chair, Rose sitting on the left hand side of the master's chair, Ayumi sitting on the right hand side of the master's chair, and Prince resting on Rose's lap.
Adelheid looks up and sees Akira taking his seat, across from the master's chair. "You are sure that you do not require more rest?"
"Yes…" Akira responds, "What is this meeting for?"
"Let me start from the beginning…" Adelheid begins to explain, "For many years now, there has been something called 'The King of Fighters Tournament'. For most of the tournaments, competitors are in teams of three…"
"…And…" Akira interrupts for the third time in his life.
Adelheid continues, "Rose—"
Rose raises her chin and gives a boastful smile.
Adelheid continues, "…has decided to give us the preempt and suggested that we start a team of our own. Last time, I joined as a single fighter, but failed… During the tournament, I realized that teamwork and reliance give better conditions for victory."
"Get to the point…" Akira still has his thoughts clouded by that event.
"I have decided to form a team…" Adelheid announces.
"I'm the tertiary member of the team!" Ayumi shouts.
"I am the leader…" Adelheid follows.
"That leaves me as the secondary member…?" Akira comments.
"Of course! Now all that is left is to think of a team name!" Rose speaks up.
"Akira, I'm leaving the name of our team to you," Adelheid points to Akira.
"You're joking," Akira quickly stands.
Adelheid puts his arm down and looks at him, "No, I am not…"
Akira sighs, "Why can't you leave that to Nee-san?"
"Rose-chan hates the names that I think of!" Ayumi shrugs.
"Fine…Hm…Desperado?" Akira sits back down.
"Do we look like Spaniards?" un-amusedly, Rose looks at Akira and crosses her arms.
"Rosebud?" Akira suggests.
"I love it!" Rose screams.
"I don't think so!" Ayumi yells.
"Sky Pirates?" Akira rests his head on his right hand and rests his elbow on the table.
"NO!" both Ayumi and Rose explode.
"Uh…What's German for 'graceful'?" Akira asks.
"Not happening!" Rose yells.
"I suggested that too…" Ayumi lays her head on the table.
"Endless?" Akira suggests.
"Like endless energy!" Rose bursts into smiles.
"Try another word," Ayumi requests after staring at Rose's cheering.
"Infinity Team," Akira waits for the others to respond.
"Infinite power!" Rose yells.
"Infinite grace!" Ayumi follows.
"Infinite victories…" Adelheid follows.
"Infinite heart…I hope…" Akira whispers to himself.
"I'll have dinner in my room tonight," Adelheid says after he adjourns the meeting.
"Well, we've all had a long day, I'm turning in!" Ayumi stretches and leaves the room.
"It is 7:00 PM, anyway. I'll need to prepare tomorrow!" Rose with Prince in her arms follows Ayumi out.
"I'm going to go eat…I can't seem to forget…Maybe, something will help me feel better…" Akira leaves as well.
Outside, Megumi waits for Akira.
Upon seeing him, she greets him, "Good evening, Harima-san."
"Ee…good evening…" Akira responds.
"Will you be having dinner tonight?"
"Ee…"
"Where would you like dinner?"
"Outside, I guess…"
"All right. Please wait outside the main elevator of the first Supply Area. I shall bring you your dinner…" Megumi leaves Akira.
"Ee…" Akira heads to the elevator.
Meanwhile, at the second infirmary, Malin in bed munches on her dinner, and Hinako eats hers at Malin's bedside. Standing near the door is another maid, with long black hair that shines beautifully in almost any kind of light, wide brown eyes, and large glasses in front of her eyes. The doctor is not around, since she has turned in a few minutes ago.
"I love this kind of food!" Malin yells after finishing her plate of luncheon meat and steak.
"Meat?" Hinako asks.
"Nope, rich food!"
"If that's the case, why do you not like the food I always brought for us at school?" Hinako glares at Malin.
"That was before I knew you that you're rich and fabulously wealthy!"
"…Right…"
"Don't look at me like that!"
"Hmph!"
"Um…" Malin scratches her head, not knowing what to do, then turns her attention to the maid, "Chitose, may I have another plate of this?"
"Yes, Malin-sama…" Chitose hurries to Malin and takes her plate.
Before Chitose leaves the room, Malin yells, "Can you also tell me how Akira-kun and Kasumi-chan are?"
"…Yes, Malin-sama…" Chitose exits, then slowly closes the door.
"Oh, yeah…Kasumi-chan is in the brig for destroying a wall!" Hinako remembers.
Meanwhile, at the brig, the brig warden sits on a well-crafted wooden chair and observes the only prisoner— Kasumi. On his table is a cardkey showing a picture of him and his name, Sigfried Shadows. Kasumi is rotting away in a cell. Lying on the bed, she hugs her knees waiting for Adelheid to forgive her…or the sun to rise the next day…whichever comes first…
Outside the Sky Noah, Akira with Megumi and Sara eats some luncheon meat and steaks.
"Harima-san, are you sure this is all right?" Megumi hesitates to eat.
"Of course, it is!" Sara answers for Akira, then takes a big bite of the luncheon meat held by Akira.
"That was mine…" Akira tells Sara off.
"Whoopshi!" Sara swallows her food, "Sowwy, Akira-san!"
"Sara-chan, you're not suppose to refer to our masters by their given names! It's a rule that sometimes I forget, but should always follow," Megumi scolds Sara.
"It's okay! Akira-san, you don't mind right?" Sara smiles cutely at Akira.
Akira sighs, "…It's all right…"
"See?" Sara smiles in victory.
"…Okay…" Megumi gives Sara a concerned look.
"Heheh…" Akira could not help but chuckle a little.
"Harima-san!" Megumi yells in embarrassment.
"EH HAHAHAHAHA!" Akira laughs harder. Soon, Sara laughs as well. Even Megumi ended up laughing!
Carrying a plate of food and a clipboard, Chitose returns to the second infirmary. Before op the door, she puts the clipboard under her right arm to have a free hand. She reaches for the door, and opens the door slightly, but hears her master's guests talking. She decides to eavesdrop.
"So, that's what you've been dreaming about the entire two days you were out?" Hinako titters.
"Well, I can't help it! It's a dream!" Malin giggles.
After a while, the two stop laughing.
"Malin-chan, I've been wondering: why were you and Harima-san breathing hard a few hours ago?" Hinako asks Malin.
"Oh, um…I'll tell you, only if you promise not to tell anyone, okay?" Malin replies.
"I promise."
"You have to really promise! I can't risk Kasumi finding out!"
"I promise, already. So, tell me!"
"Well, when I first woke up, all I could hear was Akira's voice. When I was able to open my eyes, I saw Akira walking around the room and talking about some nonsense. I listened carefully, and I could swear that he confessed his infatuation to me!"
"Wha—?! That seems to be wonderful!"
"…I'm…not done yet…"
"Sorry. Please continue."
"…He turned around, so I instantly acted like I was still asleep. He came close to me. I could feel his breath, and my heart pounded quickly. Then, I don't know what happened…My head moved up, and…"
"YOU KISSED HIM?! Oh, my gosh!"
"Stop it! I'm embarrassed enough, already!"
"So…how was it?"
"I…um…I don't know! I don't know how long we were like that!"
"That wasn't the answer to my question."
"Fine! It was—"
Chitose trips and accidentally opens the door. "Shit!" She made herself look as if she were entering the room normally. "Malin-sama, here is your plate."
"Um…thanks! She was there this whole time, wasn't she?" Malin knows that Chitose was eavesdropping but does not mind.
"So, how are Kasumi and Harima-san?" Hinako asks but does not suspect that Chitose was eavesdropping.
"Shijou-sama, Sigfried-san said that she curled up in the fetal position on her bed…" Chitose answers as she hands the plate of food to Malin.
"O…K…I probably should have told Bernstein-san that I could pay for the damages as compensation for Kasumi's destroying the wall," Hinako responds.
"Harima-sama is eating his dinner outside the Sky Noah," Chitose continues.
"Um…Chitose," Malin says to Chitose.
"Yes, Malin-sama?" Chitose responds.
"Um…what do you think of Akira-kun?" Malin blushes a little.
"Harima-sama? He is a kind and loyal person who is true to his word and wants laughing. That is all that I have heard of him from the other servants," Chitose replies.
"You haven't met him, yet?!" surprised, Malin asks.
"No, I do see him around the ship, sometimes. He greets me occasionally, but I am unsure if he knows my name, at all," Chitose replies.
"So, I need to speak to someone who hangs out with him more…" Malin thinks aloud.
"If you wish to know, the people who spend the most time with him, other than Bernstein Adelheid-sama, Bernstein Rose-sama, and Andrews-sama, are Megumi-san and Sara-san," Chitose believes that Malin is asking her.
"No, it's okay. I'll find out more about him personally!" Malin replies.
"How do you intend to do that?" Hinako asks Malin.
Malin starts to elaborate, "Well…"
After eating, Akira escorts Megumi and Sara back to their rooms. Although Megumi is against it, he insists. After doing so, he greets them good night and heads to his own room. Somehow, he is able to find his way back to his room. Akira heads to the bathroom and brushes his teeth.
"So…that helped…a little…" Akira spits his toothpaste out to the sink.
"Now, to meditate on that dream…" Akira gargles on some water, then spits it out.
Akira takes his soap and washes his face, "A death angel, a shadow, and five people from 'the organization'…"
He rinses the soap off his face, "All are not complete humans…"
He takes a towel on the nearby towel rack and wipes his face dry, "Four are clones, and the other is a cyborg…"
He changes takes off his day clothes and wears his pajamas, "The blonde one said that I am also part of 'the organization', but they have thrown that past away…"
He walks slowly to his bed and sits, "How can I be part of the organization?"
He lies down with these thoughts in mind. Eventually, he falls asleep.
The next day, everyone goes through their morning routine in the Sky Noah, save for Kasumi, who is still at the brig, and Malin, who has no daily routine. At Akira's room and in an attempt to awaken the sleeping-like-a-rock Akira, Sara jumps on him and Megumi tries to shake him awake. At Adelheid's room, Adelheid wakes up on his own and makes his way to the training room. At Ayumi's bed room, Ayumi wakes up and stretches, then falls to her pillow and falls asleep again. At Rose's glorious bedroom, Prince wakes Rose up by licking her face. At Aya's room, Aya writes down the weather of the day for her diary before taking a bath. At the third guest room, Hinako is awakened by Chitose who wears earplugs and uses a loud-as-a-megaphone alarm clock. Griever finishes his shower and, with other crew members, inspects the ship. At the brig, Sigfried practices his swordsmanship and ignores the fact that someone may be watching. Kasumi looks at a blank space on the cell and waits for Sigfried, the kind brig warden, to let her out. At the second infirmary, Anna, the doctor, takes a sip of her coffee while she observes the innocently sleeping Malin.
That afternoon after Kasumi was released from the brig and after lunch at the dining table, Adelheid sits at the master's chair. Rose sits on the chair to the left hand of the master's chair. Beside her sits Ayumi. Beside her sits Malin. Akira sits on the chair to the right hand of the master's chair. Beside him sits Hinako. Beside her sits Kasumi.
"That was great!" Malin says after finishing her lunch.
"Now is a good time…" Hinako taps a spoon on a glass cup, "If I may, Malin has an announcement!"
"I do?" Malin has forgotten the plan she told Hinako and Chitose the night before.
"Training!" Hinako coughs.
"Oh, right!" Malin stands up, "This is out of nowhere, but what would you guys call Akira-kun?"
"Boku? (Me?)" Akira responds, "She's up to something…Most likely, I deserve it!"
"Okay! First, Ayumi-chan!" Malin points to Akira's elder sister.
"Huh? Um…loyal?" Ayumi does not seem to be able to think of anything else to say.
"Mm-hm!" Malin crosses her arms and nods, then points to Adelheid, "Adelheid-san, what do you think of him?"
"…A kind soul, who overdoes his thanking others for favors…" Adelheid answers.
"I DO?!" Akira yells in response to Adelheid's answer. Apparently, he is oblivious to that fact.
"Sou desu ka…(Is that so?)" Malin crosses her arms again and nods, then points to Rose, "Rose-chan, what do you think of Akira-kun?"
Rose puts a finger on her cheek (a thinking pose), "Well, he spends most of his time flirting with the maids."
"I DO NOT!!!" Akira explodes.
"I jest!" Rose giggles. After she stops giggling, she continues, "But he does seem to have a temper towards his friends…"
"Huh?" Akira thinks for a moment, "No, I don't! Well, there was that time that…Then, that time I…But I didn't…She's right! I'M SORRY!"
"I humbly forgive you!" Rose raises her chin.
"Good. Good," Malin does it again, then randomly points to the maid standing close to the door, "You! What's your name, and what do you think of Akira-kun?"
"Ah, my name is Saito Megumi. Malin-sama, I believe that Harima-san is very accepting and a good listener most of the time," the red-haired maid with blue eyes answers.
"Mm-hm!" Malin nods a few times, then points to Hinako, "Hinako-chan, what do you think of Akira-kun?"
"I believe that he is not very masculine sometimes," Hinako titters.
"WHAT?!" Akira bursts again, then remembers what Rose said, "I mean— What?"
"I don't see what you mean," Ayumi remarks.
Hinako explains, "While Harima-san and Malin-chan were still unconscious, you told me much about him. You told me that his mannerisms consisted of placing his hands of his hips, watching some cartoons that had boys blushing when they see other boys, and owning stuffed toys in his room. You even told me he doesn't have any of 'those' things, even though he is at that age!"
"That is not right!" Akira tries to control the loudness of his voice, "I do that sometimes, those are anime— specifically, Card Captor Sakura and Princess Princess, and those are plushies, collectables, and memorabilia! Concerning 'those' things…I'm not really interested…"
"Nice explanation!" Malin crosses her arms and nods, then rests her right foot on the table and her right elbow on her knee and points to Akira, "Akira-kun, this all leads to one thing: You are in need of help! I will teach you how to be more like a guy! You just have to enroll under my free special course, which guarantees that you will be better in one month, or your money back!…"
Upon hearing that, Akira takes his seat and slumps. He is somewhat sad and looks at Malin, "Thanks a lot…I…think…I deserve this…" Akira sighs then looks a little lower and instantly blushes. Since Malin is wearing a short skirt and has her foot on the table, Akira's eyes wander to a certain area…"DAME! (NO!) I shouldn't look! Demo (But)…DAME! (NO!) DAME! (NO!) DAME DESU! (NO WAY!)" Akira slips off the chair and hits the floor.
"Akira-kun, daijoubuu? (Akira-kun, are you okay?)" Malin asks Akira, although she cannot see him.
"Itetetete…E-Ee…daijoubuu…(Ow…Y-Yeah…I'm okay…)" Akira lifts his head from the floor and slowly raises himself close to the table.
"Don't do that! So, you'll join my training program, right?" Malin orders Akira.
"Sumimasen (Sorry)…Ha— (Ye—)" Akira tries to look at Malin, but ends up looking at the same place! "IIIIII! (AHHHHH!)" Akira tries to hide his eyes and smashes his head into the table in the process. "Are! (Huh?!)" Then his head hits his chair…and he falls to the floor again…
"That's a 'yes', right?" Malin asks Kasumi.
"Unfortunately…" Kasumi answers.
"Great! Tomorrow is the day, Akira's training starts!" Malin shouts, "Ayumi-chan, help Akira get packing!"
"Nani? (What?)" Ayumi is clueless.
"Akira is gonna move out during the training!" Malin continues.
"But where shall he stay?" Adelheid asks Malin.
"Had better not be where I think it is!" Kasumi seems to be at the brink of exploding.
Malin scoffs and points to herself and smiles, "With me!"
"I'm back!" Akira rubs his head and gets back up.
"SHINE! (DIE!)" Kasumi with a bloody intent charges at Akira.
"WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" Akira runs for his life.
"Their fight could take a while…" Malin's smile begins to twitch.
Chapter 4 End
At the volleyball court of Angen's Middle School, Kia in a couch's uniform and Aisha and Naomi both in a volleyball player's uniform can be seen.
"OK! One more!" Kia yells and tweets on her whistle.
"Kia, why am I doing this?" Aisha pants.
"Because, I want our class's volleyball team to be the best! So, stop dawdling and pick up the pace!" Kia yells, then frantically tweets on her whistle.
"Do your best…" Naomi emotionlessly says as she returns all of Aisha's serves.
"Weird…I thought Naomi is suppose to be the bookworm type…" Mick's voice is heard. Apparently, he is the cameraman for the duration of the practice.
Naomi returns Aisha's serve, and Aisha jumps and spikes it! However, Naomi quickly returns it with such force and speed that it hits Aisha before her feet even touches the ground. In fact, her butt is the first to hit the ground.
"WHA?!" Mick's voice yells.
"Uh…" Aisha lies on her back and is in a daze.
Kia tweets on her whistle, then yells, "Good job, Naomi! You should really join the team!"
"Good job?!" Mick runs into the scene and looks at the dazed Aisha…who has a red, volleyball-shaped mark on her face.
Aisha gets up and eyes begin to shed tears, "WAHH!!!"
"Ah! Calm down! Uh, maybe you should sit over here!" Mick slides his arms under her knees and back, then carries her to the stands.
Kia shrugs and follows Mick, "Oh, well! Naomi, take five! Oh, and bring the camera here!"
Naomi walks towards the camera and picks it up. Due to the angling, all that is seen is the team logo…on the uniform…which—
"Practice makes perfect, but at this point…um…staying alive is more important!" Mick's voice is heard.
"You're just making yourself look cool!" Kia's voice is heard, followed by a patting sound.
"Great…" Mick sounds un-amused.
"Oh, the camera! Turn it around!" Kia's voice is heard.
"Okay…" the camera turns around to reveal Mick and Aisha sitting a step below Kia.
"Well, let's talk about something!" Kia yells.
"You could tell us how you have beaten up two out of the only five friends you have!" Mick gives Kia an un-amused glare.
"Uh…Aisha, talk about something!" Kia tries to forget and change the subject.
"Mm…Naomi, can you think of something to talk about?" Aisha looks towards the camera.
"Yes…" Naomi's voice responds.
Everyone waits for Naomi to start.
Kia gets annoyed and yells, "Well? Start already!"
"Sorry…but I do not wish to talk right now…" Naomi's voice responds.
"NAOMI!" Kia angrily screams.
"We could just play around a bit!" Mick takes the volleyball out from nowhere.
In reaction, Aisha inches away from Mick…or the ball…or both.
"Stupid!" Kia yells.
"Come on!" Mick tries to calm Kia down. Although everyone else in the group knows that Kia's anger is similar to the attempt of covering a small lie— a bigger lie is needed to keep the small lie seemingly valid.
"GIVE ME THAT!" Kia swipes the volleyball.
"Hey!" Mick reacts, then jumps to the bottom of the stands, which is about two steps away.
"Take this!" Kia hurls the ball at Mick.
"Don't think so!" Mick blocks the ball. However, instead of just falling, it is redirected and heads towards the camera. In the end, the ball knocks the camera to the ground; and all that is seen is static.
"Naomi, are you okay?!" Kia's voice can be heard.
"The camera was just knocked out of my hands. I am not injured, although I do not know if the condition of the camera is well," Naomi's voice can be heard.
"KIA, THE CAMERA AGAIN?!" Mick can be heard yelling.
"Mick, please don't—" Aisha can be heard begging.
"AHAHAHAHA! STOP— AHAHAHA— IT— AHAHAHAHA!" Kia can be heard laughing.
"You just don't give up!" Mick's un-amused voice can be heard.
"Turning camera off in 3…2…1…" Naomi can be heard saying, then the screen turns completely black.
Finally done with chapter 4!
Wahoo!
Oh, I've decided to leave the Easter Eggs to the later chapters, since I'm busy getting a headache from boredom.
...For anyone who thinks this work is not good, I'm not a good writer. I know that I need to practice my vividness with the scenes, but I'm still learning.
Either way, you can still torch me for not being a decent writer.
Oh, well...Review please!