Well, Yasuhiro seems to be pretty nice, and Makoto isn't too bad.
I shook my head frantically, as I assessed my situation.
Okay, loneliness is the least of your problems here. You are trapped in a school with fourteen other oddball students. Some of whom have quirks that make them by default dangerous to you. You fainted for an hour, heard a weird voice in your head, woke up elsewhere, walked through a strangely renovated school, and there's enough dakka in this room to slaughter a whole battalion of men. To make things worse, you have to introduce yourself to these fourteen others while being stressed out and having no real experience with social interaction in public.
This has to be a bad dream! It has to be!
So, I slapped one hand with my other. "Ow!" I yelped in pain.
This is definitely real.
A headache started to throb in my head, while my eyes ached from fatigue. My frail body slumped slightly, before I rubbed my eyes out.
Goodness, I'm feeling worn out. Is it the lack of sleep or is it the lack of caffeine? I could really use some iced tea or a soda.
And, my mouth still felt as dry as the Sahara.
Why...Why can't I just get breakfast?
I felt weaker and weaker as my eyes fluttered, while my body shifted slightly from side to side.
This isn't normal. I usually don't have a huge appetite. In fact, it's usually the opposite. So, this is why you never skip on breakfast...
When I finally paid attention to my surroundings, a girl wearing a purple, cropped suit-jacket and a black, pleated miniskirt was walking up to me. Every step was quite audible from the pitter-patter of her high-heeled boots, which reached up to her knee. Her extremely long, silvery hair hung down to her upper thighs, while she had a single braid on her left side which was tied with a black ribbon.
Two features, however, stood out the most. The first I noticed was her studded, black gloves.
Gloves? I mean, she must have fainted before going inside, but we came here at the tail-end of summer. The weather was pretty hot today actually. So, why wear gloves?
Then, something struck me more than any other feature on the girl. It was her lavender eyes.
Lavender eyes?! Wait...
It then dawned on me. The last memory I had before I fell into this rabbit hole.
The headmaster! But, no! It has to be a coincidence! They couldn't be related. Human beings don't naturally have lavender eyes, after all. The two just wear contacts of the same color.
I gulped on my throat and was about to figure out a theory behind this, but the silver-haired girl was already right in front of me. "My name is Kyoko Kirigiri," she greeted me with a neutral expression.
I never heard of this name in the thread. There were even discussions of me in there, and I kept myself hidden, only posting anonymously.
Then again, students have the option to remain anonymous until the day they enter the academy. Maybe, I should have chosen that option. It would have spared me a lot of trouble.
"U-uhm, my name is Chihiro Fujisaki," I replied, trying to go through the motions, "And, uhm, I'm the Ultimate Programmer."
Wait, she didn't bring up her ultimate?
Her face stayed blank, as if she had no emotion. All she said in response, "I see.."
Did a competitor steal my code and created a robot from it? Because, she has less emotion than what a real AI would have. Well, the most likely explanation is that she's just that reserved, with even more of a poker face than Celestia. I...should be cautious of her.
And for what seemed like half a minute, we simply stared at each other. The two of us scrutinized every detail of each other with our inquisitive eyes. It was as if there the walls we constructed prevented us from seeing each other's true intentions. No, the truth was that it was more like we were staring at each other from opposing sides of a demilitarized zone.
North and South, East and West. All I see in her is distrust, and all she sees in me is fear.
Our staring contest started to wear down on me as I started to tremble with anxiety. "I should go and finish my introductions. No point to staying in a conversation that is going nowhere, after all," Kyoko noted before walking off to do exactly as she stated.
As she left, I barely caught glimpse of a slight smirk and heard what could barely be construed as a chuckle. Her heels tapped with every step, most likely taking her to the next student to coldly and briskly introduce herself to.
How many of them are left? There were fourteen oth-
My eyes widened as my post-fainting haze dissipated, which revealed a certain discrepancy.
My class was supposed to have sixteen students. But, there's only fifteen, including myself, of us here at this moment. Where is the sixteenth student?
Before I could think any further on this, a certain redheaded boy stopped my train of thought by standing in front of me. If I had known how he was going to greet me, I wouldn't have stopped the train. If only it were an actual train.
"Hey, what's up 'shy-girl'?" the boy in the white jacket asked me, scratching the back of his head.
Oh god, I'm getting nicknames again!
"I-I'm doing okay," I answered, while my hands clasped onto each other tightly.
"I dunno...You're not really looking so hot. It's like you've just seen a ghost or something," the red-haired guy noted, having seen my near constant trembling.
Calm down, calm down.
"Just don't worry about it. I'll make sure nothing happens to you," he continued with a so-called 'reassurance'.
God fucking damn it!
Any attempt I made in settling myself down was dashed by the boy showing the faintest possibility of being interested in me.
I can't believe I'm saying this. But...I hope you're just being a gentleman with this. Wait, he doesn't even look like that sort.
From his grunge undershirt to his labret, his appearance was almost downright gaudy. He even had two studded belts overlapping each other. Three rings adorned his right, or left from my perspective, hand., while a chain necklace did the same from his neck. It also didn't help that he had several ear-rings on his right ear.
And then, there's the...goatee ponytail? I...never seen that before. I mean, it does look a little cool, sans the piercing.
It definitely was his most distinctive feature. After gulping on my throat for the umpteenth time, I meekly answered, "U-uhm, okay..."
That should work. Actually, I should probably just introduce myself and get it over with fast.
"I-I'm Chihiro Fujisaki. I-it is nice to make an acquaintance of you," I interjected before he could even respond.
He frowned slightly before letting out a tired groan, "Yesh, already rushing the whole shebang?"
I frantically shook my head, even though that was exactly what I was doing.
"Shit, guess you're really that shy," the fiery-haired boy noted before he grinned and gave me a flirtatious wink, "But yeah, I'm Leon Kuwata!"
God damn it, he's flirting with me! This was a bad idea! I am a terrible person! Why did I usher forth the homo apocalypse?!
My little hands clenched into a tight fist, while I quaked with anxiety. Fear drove my heart to beat faster and faster, while I struggled to open my mouth.
"U-uh, you're okay, Fujisaki-san?" Leon asked, with a look of concern on his face.
Just say yes and move on. Just say yes. Just say yes!
"I-I'm okay," I answered quickly, "A-anyways, I s-should probably get going. See you later!"
After that, I bolted away from the situation as fast as I could without running, not even looking back to see how he was reacting.
Okay, so that was Leon Kuwata. Looks completely different from the picture I saw of him online. He definitely looks more like the Ultimate Rockstar than a baseball player. Okay, but that is far less important than him hitting on me. But, calm down, Chihiro. It can't get any worse. It can't get any worse than the possibility of an athletic guy fucking you in the ass, just to rub in how much of a sissy you are. Of course, NOTHING can get any worse than that!
While I was screaming internally, someone took advantage of my mind being distracted from the outside world. Someone who was almost a foot taller than me, which made her large bosom pop right into my face. Whatever she was wearing, the top clearly revealed way more cleavage than what any sort of school code should have allowed for, even showing off her lacey black bra.
Holy cow...
For a moment, my eyes were glued to the pair of breasts which were right in front me, before I moved my head up to see the person they belonged to. She had a make-up laden face with blue eyes and blond, bleached hair that was done in pigtails. One pigtail was secured in place with a bunny shaped hair-clip, while the other was secured with a bowtie.
Wow...Is it weird that I want some for myself? Wait, I know her from the research I did online. The Ultimate Fashionista. Junko Enoshima?
With her hands on her hips and a big, open smile on her face, the girl I presumed to be Junko called me out, "Hey there, Chihirooooo!"
She knows my name?!
"H-hey, Junko Enoshima?" I asked, my eyes desperately trying to avert gazing at her bosom for too long.
How is she getting away with this and why isn't Kiyotaka screaming at her ears to button up her cardigan?
"You know my name?! I'm flattered!" the fashionista giggled.
"It...It wasn't that hard to look you up. You being one of the biggest fashion models in the country. I'm surprised no one noticed you earlier," I explained, trying my best to keep my composure.
She then turned slightly to the side to pose at me, covering one eye with her opposite hand.
That pose...I think I remembered it from somewhere.
"I am a master of stealth! No one notices me until it's too late!" Junko boasted before letting out a haughty laugh.
You're not stealthy...like at all. People can see you from three kilometers away. In fact, isn't that your job? To stand out and look fashionable?
"And, I don't just stand around and look pretty for the cameras. I'm behind a lot of the products nearly everyone hear wears. Convenient hair dye that needs minimal maintenance? Me! Colored eye contacts that can be applied with no hassle and are affordable without potential eye injury? Me! Skin lighteners? Me! Ludenbrat's hair clips? Me!" she explained in extensive detail before finally breaking her pose.
I guess I stand corrected. Now, I feel kind of bad for assuming that it was other people in the company who were behind the products. I mean, they're not her inventions, but I guess she popularized them.
"U-uhm, I see," was all I could say in response to what I witnessed.
"Sooooo, what was happening with you and Leon?" she teased with a devious, flirtatious grin.
Damn it! Now, people are thinking I'm into guys!
"U-uhm...U-uhm..." I whimpered.
Just say something!
Junko rested her hands on her slightly wide hips as she contemplated, "Hmmm...Hmmm..You were running from him. That can only mean three things."
"W-what are those three things?" I asked, bracing myself for the worst.
"Either you're not into guys with beards, you're playing hard to get, or..." the blonde noted, pausing before she announced loudly, "Or, you're playing for the other team!"
The fashionista went cross-eyed as she stuck her tongue out and wiggled it around the place.
Wait, what?! I mean, she knows?! Or, what?! I don't want the attention, but she thinks I'm not gay. Or, not straight as a girl. Or, fuckmylifethisistoodamncomplicated! FUUUUUUUUUU!
"W-what?" I asked with horror at the apparently insane girl in front of me.
And, why are you sticking your tongue out like that?!
She then made that oddly familiar pose again, "You can't fool me with the way you were staring at my tits. You are a lesbo! A Dutch dyke! My extraordinary analysis skills have never failed me!"
What the fuck is wrong with her?! Is she on drugs?! Is she somehow psychic too?! No...she'd know my secret. Also, psychics don't exist unless I see definitive proof of their powers, end of story! I refuse to believe that they exist without direct, conclusive evidence!
"Your lack of an answer confirms it as the truth!" Junko declared again, before she broke her and spun her eyeballs all over the place.
How the fuck is she doing that?! She's going to make everyone look at us! Abort, abort, abort, abort!
I immediately started to back away before whimpering, "P-please don't be loud."
I can pretend to be girl, and yet I can't even lie about my preferences?!
My hands clutched together against my chest and squeezed on the green fabric of my jacket, before a voice I had heard earlier interrupted Junko, "Hey, stop bugging her!"
Suddenly, my eyes turned to see Aoi standing at a height not much taller than mine, with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a red sports jacket atop a white tank top and blue athletic shorts. The swimming pro stared at the fashionista with determination before elaborating, "I don't know what's up with you, but you can't just go scaring people around."
She's amazing...Yet, this all feels kind of cliché. The bullied nerd getting defended by a kind, sweet girl. This has to be some kind of dream.
"Me?! Bugging her? I'm just playing with her! Right, Fujisaki-chan?" Junko giggled with a big smile.
"U-uhm...I...I wouldn't really call it that," I answered softly.
"Now, you're forcing her to pretend that you're not bothering her?" Aoi grumbled before sighing, "Look, go pick on someone your own size."
I visibly cringed at that statement.
I don't know what is worse. How cliché that line is or how she's really rubbing in how small I am.
"Wow, even Chi-chan here is cringing at that line! Somehow, you're beating Naegi-kun at the cliché game," Junko laughed before smiling, "But, I like it. We need a girl-next-door type, even if you don't really look the part. Though, I think Fujisaki-chan here might fit the bill even more~"
Chi-chan? Really? I mean, I doubt I'll get an image board revolving around me. Making something with your real-life name on it really is counter to the spirit of those boards.
The swimming pro clenched her fists and stared at the fashionista defiantly. "W-what are you even talking about?! Can you just shut up for a bit?!" she demanded.
"Sorry. I'm just soooo excited at all the Ultimates here. It's like an anime in real life, a dream come true!" Junko explained with an uncannily cheerful grin.
The fuck?
Aoi was just as dumbfounded as I was, not really able to form a response to Junko's excitement. Her blue eyes simply stared and blinked, while the tan-skinned girl's arms now hung loose. Meanwhile, I was similarly shocked, staring at Junko in the same way.
She...wants to make anime real? That...explains a lot. This school. These Ultimates. They're not just oddball savants. Some of these people make up the top positions of our society, and they clearly are using their power to influence it. The world of recent years, where hair-dying has become a practice so common that I don't even stand out anymore, that world...She created it single-handedly. I...can see why she got admitted to the school.
"Yesh, you two are acting like you just watched hentai for the first time," Junko said as she rolled her eyes.
The blonde then pointed at us and yelled, "So, you just gotta deal with it! Just cause I'm a fashionista doesn't mean I'm some vapid bitch with no life goals. This gals got big ambitions. Two big ambitions!"
I don't even know what's weirder. The fact that the person who single handedlychanged the face of Japanese fashion is a lunatic or that she emphasized her breast size to the one person who is bigger in that department than her. Well, there is always the girl who I believe to be Sakura. She...might technically be the biggest.
I was completely flustered, while Aoi had a slight blush to her cheeks, clearly feeling awkward about the whole affair. My eyes desperately fought the urge to stare at the 'assets' around me.
Can you stop thinking about breasts for one minute, Chihiro?!
"None of you gonna say anything? Well shit, this is boring me out. I hate being bored. Fuck it, I'm outta here. Applegirl is fun to tease around, but you're no fun, swimmingtits," Junko blabbered on before walking off, her high-heel boots pattering on the floor with every step.
She wears boots too? That makes...two boot-wearers? I...wouldn't mind wearing tall boots but with flat heels instead. I don't think I can ever walk comfortably with stilettos on.
I winced a little from the thought.
Gah, stop it, Chihiro. You're not a girl. Boys don't wear this kind of stuff, unless they're playing musketeer or cosplaying as a Star Wars character.
"Hey, you're okay?" Aoi called out to me before sighing, "Totally can understand why you'd be like this."
"U-uhm...Yes...Yes, I am okay," I answered her, my eyes looking away from her.
I hope I didn't creep her out.
"Don't worry. I won't bother you like her," she reassured me with a smile.
I couldn't help but smile back at her, while my cheeks turn a bit rosy.
My...crush actually is helping me out? She saved me twice, perhaps thrice. Maybe...Maybe there is hope. Maybe she likes guys like me after all.
"O-oh okay," I simply said, fidgeting my fingers awkwardly.
"So...I'm Aoi Asahina! Nice to meetcha!" the cheerful swimmer greeted me with a big smile.
She's...a lot more...cute than what my 'research' suggested.
My 'secret' became slightly more secret, as I replied, "N-nice to meet you. I u-uhm kind of knew that already."
Oh crap! I just spilled that I was creeping on her! Fuck! I really am a freak...
"Oh! A fan?! I never had fans before!" Aoi cheered while squirming with excitement, "I mean, I was selected for Japan's Olympic swimming team. Someone here's gotta recognize me. Well, Sakura did before you did. She doesn't watch TV much, but she heard that I was selected for the Olympics. It was really fun talking with her about it."
"Oh, I see," was all I said, clearly lacking anything substantial to say.
That's a close call. But...should I really keep this a secret from her? I mean, I feel bad to lie to her about this. I mean, I'm not even interested in athletics, besides making my dad order some exercising equipment when I tried to 'man up' back in eighthgrade. My mom was ecstaticthat day when she heard me. It...didn't work out.
"Hmmmm," Aoi wondered, crossing her arms.
What is she thinking?
"Maybe, I should guess who you are! It'll be fun!"she proposed before offering her first answer, "Maybe...You're...Toko Fukawa! You look really, really bookish!"
I shook my head, sighing, "I'm not Toko Fukawa.."
Aoi then snapped her fingers, "Now, I remember! You're Chihiro Futaba!"
I blinked at her in astonishment.
Does she forget things that easily?
The tanned swimmer frowned at me, "You probably think I'm dumb for getting it wrong so many times..."
I shook my head frantically, "N-no! You're perfectly fine! I mean, you fainted, right? It is perfectly possible that some memory loss may occur. I mean, I thought I remembered someone earlier when he introduced himself to me."
Wow, you made two sentences without stuttering. Good job, Chihiro.
Her eyes widened, "Huh?! Memory loss?! I hope that didn't happen! My memory is kinda bad, especially when it comes to names, but I think I remember things just fine."
"Oh. It's just a hypothesis I came up with on the fly. It's...probably not correct," I explained before holding my head down, sighing.
Why do I keep on jumping to the most extraordinary possibilities for everything? Occam's razor exists for a reason. At this rate, I'm going to be like Yasuhiro and start believing in the supernatural.
"Don't beat yourself up. You have nothing to fear but fear itself after all!" Aoi reassured me encouragingly before asking, "But, uhm...what's your surname? I mean, I hope Chihiro is actually your given name."
Did...she just quote Franklin D. Roosevelt but in Japanese? That...is ironic on so many levels.
"Oh, my name is Chihiro Fujisaki. I am the Ultimate Programmer," I answered.
"Oh, now I remember! You were on the list. All I can really find on you is that cute blog of yours though..." Aoi remarked before snapping her fingers, "Yea, now I remember its you. From that picture. But really, I didn't see anything about programming there besides your computer."
This is what happens when all of your accomplishments are either secret or are collaborations with your dad that corporations slap NDAs all over. You get none of the credit and recognition. People probably are going to be baffled as to why some programmer has nothing to prove his skills. I guess I could have redeemed that here...If I didn't faint and end up in the fucking Twilight Zone!
I sighed, even frowning a bit, before explaining, "I...have nondisclosure agreements. Sorry for not being able to tell you anything."
Like that's going to convince anyone. As far as the world knows, you're either a cute girl with a pretty blog or a weak, worthless nerd. They don't value your skills or intellect. All they want out of men is either their money or muscle. And, the former just makes you little more than a walking ATM.
"Why you're apologizing? I mean, I should've figured that out. It's kinda like having a secret recipe," Aoi asked.
"I mean, I...kind of feel like I have nothing interesting to add to the conversation," I explained, still holding my head down.
"Huh?! I thought that was interesting though. Don't know anything about how programmers and techy stuff work, so it's kinda cool to hear it from you," she said with a perky smile.
"R-really?!" I asked, raising my head back up and perking up in excitement.
Is she really being genuine?
"Yea! But really, you're beating yourself up in nearly every sentence," Aoi said before a sudden burst of yelling made us both jolt in surprise, turning our heads.
"This uniform is not welcome in a school environment!" Kiyotaka shouted at the top of his lungs at Junko.
"You just bitched about my yelling a sec ago. Guess seeing my sexy uniform made you throw that rule in the trash?" the fashionista talked back, rolling her eyes.
"This is an egregious violation of dress-code, even if we're not wearing Hope's Peak uniforms! Button up your uniform at this instance and change your skirt into something decent, Enoshima-san!" the public morals officer demanded, pointing his finger at the gyaru.
"Yesh, so that's why your grandpa only lasted a few months in office," Junko teased with a sly, malicious grin.
Did...did she really have to bring that up?
The normally orderly public morals officer clenched his fists, trying to contain the apparent rage the girl had stirred in him. Tears began to well up in his eyes. "Don't you DARE bring up such personal matters into this conversation!" he tried to yell, though it ended up sounding more like sobbing than anything else.
I frowned at seeing Kiyotaka's distress, clutching my hands onto my chest.
I actually feel really sorry for him now. Seriously, the sobbing...the crying. It all hits really close to home for me.
"Ishimaru-san," Aoi muttered sadly as she had a similar frown to mine.
I guess someone shares my sentiments.
"Then don't go around prudin' on people when we don't even know the rules of the school yet," the blond girl said before giggling and walking off.
I wonder how much havoc she's going to cause by greeting fifteen people. I guess I'm one of the last people she introduced herself to, though.
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, Fu-," Aoi apologized before cutting herself off.
"Hey, uhm, what's your name again?" she asked me.
She forgot already?!
"I-it's Chihiro Fujisaki," I answered, my fingertips tapping on my knuckles.
"Chihiro...Fujisaki," she muttered, repeating my name as she moved her finger on her palm, "Chihiro..Fujisaki...Chihiro...Fujisaki..."
Is she...writing my name on her palm? Should I really poke her on this? Maybe, I shouldn't. It's probably just her way of remembering people's names.
Suddenly, the athlete declared with a big smile, "There, I did it! Now, I'll never get your name wrong, Fujisaki-san."
"That's a good thing," I replied, "I guess everyone has their own way of remembering things."
"Yeah, I always write someone's name three times when I meet them for the first time. I mean, a lot of the names are online, but I need to see their faces personally to really let it stick in," she explained, rubbing her hand on the back of her head.
"I see..." was all I said.
Really, I don't have anything more substantialto add to the conversation?
"Anyways, glad to meet ya!" Aoi cheered with an energetic smile, almost bursting with energy.
I feel dead compared to her...
"G-glad to meet you too," I said before looking at the tall blond boy and the women who I presume to be Sakura.
I d-don't know if I can come up to these two on my own.
Before she can skip off, the swimmer's eyes darted away from me momentarily, seemingly deep in contemplation.
"Maybe...I should help you introduce yourself to the others? I know it's kinda late to help you out with most of the people here, but maybe I can help you out with Oogami-san and Togami-san," Aoi offered to me.
T-Togami?! No! It can't be! THAT Togami?! THE Togami Conglomerate?!
It was then I stared at the blond boy, my eyes searching all over him.
He's...He's eerily familiar.
From his slender form to his black suit, he definitely exuded an aura of wealth, even having a crossover tie and a pocket watch in his suit's breast pocket.
"Oogmai-san isn't as bad as she looks, but Togami-san is bleh! I hate how he talks down to everyone here," Aoi noted, crossing her arms, "He's the heir to a large corporation or something. The guy just said his name and told me to stay away from him."
I hate those pretentiousplayboy types more than anything...Yet, that...that isn't even what's bothering me.
The Togami had blue eyes, skin almost as pale as mine, and seemingly natural blond hair. The only thing that made him look Japanese was his narrow eyes.
His appearance is...odd. Not even in the usual sense. He just looks...kind of foreign. Like me...
I looked at his face again.
That's not it though. Something is familiar about him. Kind of like with Makoto, but even more so. Something is...telling me to do something, but I don't even know what.
My eyes blinked as I tried to figure out the source of this odd feeling.
Did I forget something? I really feel like I'm forgetting something BIG here. I mean, I guess not realizing that the Togami conglomerateheir is coming to my school is a huge oversight!
Aoi pouted, "I don't even get what's his problem. How do people even work with him?"
Meanwhile, I was starting to shake a little, staring down at the marble floor. My breathing quickened, as I felt my heart pump faster and faster. I can feel butterflies in my stomach, causing me to rest my hand against it. Worst of all, my hands were twitching and shaking, especially my index finger.
Why...Why do I feel like there was something that I have to do? Something is just surreal about this. Why does the mere mention of his name and seeing his face make me feel like this? It has to just be from me fainting earlier. Maybe, someone used chloroform on all of us?
The mere utterance of that word in my head made me shake even more.
Wait, why the fuck am I even thinking about that?! Chloroform?! No! I didn't get drugged! No one followed me! I can remember that at least!
"You're okay?!" the slightly taller girl asked me with concern, her eyes looking at my pale face with worry, "You look really sick all of a sudden!"
My body slouched forward ever slightly, before I answered, "I-I'm...I'm okay."
She's...concerned about my health? I...like it, not being insulted for showing weakness. Yet, doesn't that make me a burden to her? Why would someone tolerate a wimpy burden like me? I guess it's true. As a girl, I'm treated with sympathy. As a guy, if I was 'weak', I was garbage. I was nothing if I wasn't strong...
"You're sure? I mean, maybe you can just...um...pretend that you introduced yourself to him? I think Ishimaru-san is probably too busy to really care," Aoi suggested to me.
Why didn't I think of that earlier? I could have at least spared myself a lot of stress...
"But...But, wouldn't it be rude to him?" I argued both against her and my inner thoughts.
"Naw, Fuji-san. He probably doesn't want you talking to him anyways. Actually, he'd probably like it if you stay away from him. So, you're doing him a favor," she reassured me, pouting a bit, "His name's Byakuya, by the way."
Wouldn't that make me the same as him? For not wanting to talk to others? I guess...people are comparing me more to Toko now. I guess that means my disguise is working.
"I see...I mean was a bit interested in him, but I'm scared of going up to someone who'd be that hostile to me," I replied, sighing a little.
"Oh, but you should totally meet Oogami-san! She's the best! Super nice despite how she looks!" Aoi said as she bounced a little bit, while my eyes tried to stay away from her chest.
Damn it! I mean, I guess only meeting one of them is better than nothing, but Sakura makes me feel so weird about myself. Like...I'm gay for...for...She's a girl! That means it's perfectly straight to like...her thick arms and...big chest?
Yes! She probably has a breast-size bigger than Aoi's! I'm definitely straight for liking that. One hundred percent! But...But, that doesn't solve the the immediate problem. I mean...I survived Junko and Aoi being together without my 'secret' revealing itself, so I guess it's okay to meet Sakura with Aoi's help, right?
"I'll meet her," I said, nodding slightly.
"Awesome! Lemme take you to her!" the swimmer said with a strangely cat-like smile.
I replied, "Okay..."
And with that, I was taken by one of Japan's top athletes to Sakura, passing by Byakuya. His eyes, which had white-framed glasses atop them, glared at me as we walked past him.
I think he noticed me looking at him. Oh crap, I probably came off as hostile and rude to him, and I probably was.
Sakura loomed over both Aoi and I, her shadow draping over both of us.
If it weren't for the chainguns in this room, I would be absolutely terrified of her right now.
Aoi said, "Hey Oogami-san! This is Chihiro Fujisaki! She's the Ultimate Programmer!"
I heard much about her. She won over 400 matches and a martial arts tournamentin America, having a completely flawless record. Some have called her Ogre though...I guess, maybe she doesn't get off scot-free from being 'different'. Still, she seems to have a pretty successful life ahead of her, and people are more afraidof her than actively hostile.
I waved awkwardly at the Ultimate Martial Artist, "H-Hi..."
I really hope I never get into her wrong side or have her find out about...'that'. I don't think I'll survive for any longer than one second if I were to incur her-
"Ah, greetings Fujisaki-san," the martial-artist said with a smile, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Huh? She...sounds more gentle and formal than I expected. I...really assumed things about her didn't I?
"Oh, forgive me for not providing a proper introduction. I am Sakura Oogami, the Ultimate Martial Artist of Hope's Peak," Sakura immediately said afterwards.
"N-nice to meet you," I said, having to look up to her to maintain eye contact.
She's so...strong compared to me, yet she is a girl. I am pathetically weak compared to her, yet I am a boy. Her life has been paved with success, yet mine has only been a downward spiral.
"So," Aoi said, "I guess you two have met everyone now!"
All of my work is anonymous. The only reason I got here was due to companies referring to my father and I's work to this school probably. Sakura's...is public. She gets to be the champion, while I'm basically a loser...A wimp...
The swimming pro then gulped on her throat, "I really don't know what's going to happen next. I mean, still really, really confused about everything going on here. I h-hope this is some kind of coincidence."
And now, I'm probably in some sort of hostage situation or even worse. With fourteen other Ultimates, including a notoriousgang leader. And, freaking chain-guns ready to rip us all apart. And, that voice! Everything about this is out of what I'm used to!
I nodded, "Y-yes, I'm r-really scared. I t-think someone might have k-kidnapped us."
Aoi gasped, "R-really?!"
"That is a possibility. No, it is definitely likely considering our similar circumstances. Still, I think we need to stay calm and assess the situation," Sakura noted.
Of course, I wouldn't be used to anything that doesn't involve me sitting in front of a computer screen. Look at Sakura. She's calm and in control. Me? I'm practically helpless.
"R-right," Aoi affirmed half-heartedly.
And, the voice. Mondo. Everything. I c-can't handle this. Sakura probably can land herself with a guy. I know it. Maybe, it was the 'strongest guy in the world'? That guy who looks like the protagonist from Fist of the North Star. His name is even similar. I heard that they are friends.
Their conversation slowly dissipated into white noise as my thoughts took over.
Oh, I know what's going on! I know it! They probably are secretly in on each other! Even the fucking 'Ogre' gets laid, while I, the gender inverse version of her, probably am going to live the rest of my life alone at best and a laughing stock at worst. Gah! I can't do this! I can't treat her like this just from my envy. I can't be any more pathetic than I already am.
"You're...okay, Fujisaki-san?" Sakura asked, clearly seeing me start to shake.
Why...am I so upset at her? At myself? She did nothing wrong!
"Yeah, you're kinda shaking," Aoi said.
"S-sorry..." I whimpered.
"Sorry?" the martial artist asked.
I have to apologize! It's the only way to prove that I'm not bad! That I'm not a jerk!
"I-I'm sorry for...not being able to be calm," I apologized, my eyes starting to get watery.
"That..is nothing to be sorry for," the much taller woman said, astounded at my apology.
I'm...I'm so weak that I melt and apologize for my thoughts...
My little hands clenched into fists, as I squirmed with anxiety.
I need to get out of here! I need to run away from them! From...from everything!
And, I immediately dashed past Sakura and Aoi. I ran away from the turrets, away from the vault door, and away from all the other Ultimates.
All I have to do is push the double door open, and I'll free myself from this shitshow! I don't care what happens! I just want to be alone!
One of my scrawny arms extended outwards to grab onto one of the door handles, pulling it towards me. The door opened, revealing the dark, green-hued halls that spooked me earlier.
Fuck! Even the halls scare me! Shit! Either them or the halls! What to pick?!
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Kiyotaka yelled in the distance.
Fuck it! I rather deal with the halls!
I sprang forward, immediately dashing out into the mysterious hallway as fast as my little legs can carry me.
"No running in the halls!" was the last thing I heard of Kiyotaka before I did just that.