Pitter…Patter…

Matt rushed out of the common room and Near followed shortly behind; they were heading outside to play. The albino put his hands to the side of his head just in case his extensions fell off. Minors ran around in joy, playing hide and seek or tag.

Pitter…Patter…

"Have you been outside Whammy's yet?" The redhead questioned, taking out his cigarette from his lips and a storm made out of smoke along with it.

Near shook his head. He was the type to be inhumanly silent.

Matt grinned in response and gestured the white-haired boy towards him. "So hurry up!"

Pitter…Patter…

It wasn't what he expected; he assumed that the outside would be extremely noisy and irritating due to the fact that many children were unnecessarily loud…But it wasn't.

It was peaceful.

Yes, there were children's screams, but they were mercilessly drowned by the dancing wind. The grass was as soft as a bed and the air was intoxicating; emerald trees surrounded him, leaves floating around. The rest he could see is the blue, blue sky and the innocent clouds.

It was never like this in the busy city of London, where the headquarters were. The city was cramped much like a farm with the poisoning scent of smoke all over the place. No Isolation - cameras were laced everywhere - tracking every one of your moves.

"We're almost there!" Matt commanded.

Pitter…Patter…

"You're the new student! Nathalie, right?" A brown haired girl with pigtails too approached them in a friendly yet flamboyant manner. The redhead sighed in frustration and began to smoke. The scent of nicotine was beginning to irritate Near.

'Hm…Might as well make use of my new alias.' The albino had nodded. "Yes."

"Nice to meet you! I'm Linda if you didn't know yet. " Mello was correct. Her voice was uncannily high-pitched and it made him slightly wince.

"Same with me."

Matt blew out a puff of smoke, minding his own business. They ignored L

Black eyes spotted a patch of blonde over all the green. It was Mello, munching on a chocolate bar and a chess board was in front of him. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of two white pigtails.

"Y'brought Near?"

"Yeah, I thought that I would be nice."

"'Kay."

They set up the chess board and were about to play.

It has been fifty minutes and the blonde had won against Matt thrice in a row. The redhead scratched the back of his head as Mello seized his King. "CHECKMATE, MOTHERFUCKER!"

"Uh…Why don't we let Near verse you, hm?"

The blonde placed his hand under his chin and contemplated. "Hm. I guess it's alright, but I don't expect him to win the first time." Arrogance radiated off of him.

They rearranged everything back to its original state and now the albino was facing the Chocoholic and twirled his hair in thought as he was about to make the first move.

TAP!

…

It had been thirty minutes and the white-haired boy had won against Mello quintuple times in a row. The blonde had fire burst out his ears as Near had gently grasped his King. "I win, Mello."

"DAMN IT!" The Chocoholic gripped his locks in frustration. "Why won't you lose!?"

Matt snickered as he blew a puff of smoke and continued to fidget with his video game. "Ha, you got owned by a girl."

Near internally frowned.

Mello was angry. No, he was beyond angry.

He was fuming.

He was furious.

"YOU!" He shrilled (a storm brewing around him) pointing towards Near in a threatening demeanour. The albino simply stood still and spoke nothing, though he did tilt his head slightly in curiosity.

"I have never had anyone beat me in anything! Sports, tests, social life…I was on top! How dare you defeat me!" His azure eyes glowed with determination, much unlike the white-haired boy's empty black ones.

The environment had drastically changed; fire was surrounding the boys and Nathalie could sense nothing but passionate fury. There was no longer a peaceful environment. There was no longer silence. There was a battlefield.

"WE'RE RIVALS NOW!" The blonde screeched out.

This was war.

The white-haired boy scoffed internally. 'Or just an extremely one-sided competition where one of us just rages 24/7 and the other ignores absolutely everything. I am one-hundred per cent sure that you have already chosen your role - judging from your behaviour -, so I shall fit into mine.'

The blonde stole Near's King (despite the fact that his own was already taken before) and tossed it aside.