Caretaker of Hope's Peak Ch.3
Description: See previous chapters.
Notes for the chapter: Reminder, all CoHP chapters are now in the third person.
.o0O0o.
Celeste and Makoto walked out of their research lab arm in hand. The two were walking peacefully, uninterrupted, towards the new Main Building that has been their school for the past few months.
"How has your group's research come along?" The luckster asked the pale girl at his side.
Her pupils moved to the corner of her eye as she recalled their progress, "Fairly well, I would like to assume. Working with Hiro has been... interesting, to say the least. As for Byakuya, it becomes a bit troubling considering his demands. So far it has been decided to be a battle between myself and Byakuya, my natural talent as a luck-based risked taker, against Byakuya's trained knowledge. Hiro has been making predictions and handing them off to a third party, Chihiro.
"So far we have done stock trading, where nothing major happens in either of our stock, but we have also done minor gambles, and yet again about even, as the case is with odds. Hiro's predictions have been accurate as his claims, though it is improving ever so slightly."
The Ultimate Gambler finished thoughtfully, acknowledging her skill, as well as her partners for their assignment. As always, she is completely fine with failing a bet, there is no use in fighting about a lost cause.
Well, that's wonderful!" Makoto cheered, "Ah, there's Gonta, oh and he has Kameko with him. I do hope he has some counteragent for his scent."
The duo walked up to the large underclassman and greeted the giant. "Are you ready, Gonta?"
"Un, Gonta has brought Kameko and books for Toko," the teen replied.
As a group of three, they turned right to head down the stairs, past Class 79's classroom, to the library.
Upon entering the room of knowledge, they spotted the Writer Girl and Fashionist duo at a table with a whiteboard of ideas. Junko was wearing her usual outfit, but her hair was in an updo and wore red-rimmed glasses with a clipboard as she wrote down various words on the whiteboard.
Toko, on the other hand, had stacks upon stacks of literature surrounding her usual appearance. Her hair a bit frazzled. However, it was nothing out of the ordinary for the Ultimate Author.
The three made their way but was stopped by Mahiru, who was in the corner blocked by the large door.
"Makoto!" The photographer called, "I was... wondering if you could spend time with me and Hiyoko later today?"
The Gambler and Luckster paused, before gesturing for Gonta to go ahead and speak to Toko.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mahiru, but today is not a good day," Makoto apologized, "Firstly there's this meeting with my research partners, you remember the assignment, don't you? Then Peko is picking us up to watch her kendo tournament. Afterward, I have to see Kokichi and Miu for their detention for what they did to Ki-bo. Oh, then there's the Elementary student's the council wanted me to speak to, something about Jataro painting the walls, again."
As the lost grew the photographer's shoulders continued to drop. She had really wished to spend time with the Luckster, though it appears he was indeed, terribly busy.
"O-oh... I see," it would be a lie not to say she wasn't disappointed.
"However," he interjected, "tomorrow I am completely free. Would after breakfast be fine with you two?"
"Absolutely!" She said without hesitation. "That sounds great, I'll go tell Hiyoko!"
With that, the redhead sped off out of the library.
Celeste sighed and relieved Makoto's arm. "Honestly, Makoto, dear, you need to stop making so many promises." Makoto made the move to say something, but the gothic put her hand up and looked at him with a serious expression, "I understand that you wish to see to everyone's needs, honestly I regret electing you as class representative if you planned on burning yourself out. You need to rest."
"I will be resting, Celeste, you do not need to worry about me." He retorted calmly with a smile.
However, her expression morphed into a glare, she pointed angrily at the boy, "That right there, is precisely the type of talk I am referring to."
Makoto frowned, "There is nothing wrong with wanting to help people."
"I am fully aware of that, dear, but you need rest. Not physical rest, but mental rest too. You hardly have a moment for your mind to be silent. You worry about the research, even though it's months away, about Peko's tournament, 79's troublemaker's, then Jataro?!
"By the time we finish your meeting, we'll be on a ride to see Peko, and since we are unaware how long that may last, that means you may have to either think of a detention on the ride or even during the tournament. After dealing with them you need to see Jataro. You know they are half an hour away from campus by car.
"Now, dear, I know that everyone wishes to see you, and you willfully elect to appease them, but please get rest tomorrow. You have already promised Mahiru for Hiyoko, but you need to rest." Celeste said, adamant that Makoto does not run himself into the ground. "This week alone has been very taxing, I do not even want to know how long you have slept for. Honestly, I think last night was your longest in a while, and that was because you were unconscious!"
The Luckster sighed, "I guess... I have been a bit sluggish lately... Okay. Celeste, I promise after I meet Mahiru and Hiyoko, I will head back to our research facility, is that fine by you?" He said with a soft smile.
She gave a sly grin back, "That's probably the best I can get out of you, so yes, this is fine. I do hope you planned on me tagging along and ensuring you wouldn't go back on your promise."
"Never!" Makoto hastily replied, "But... I doubt I could stop you if you did."
A tap on his shoulder alerted him to the presence behind him.
Gonta had, on one hand, a large stack of books. "Makoto-senpai, Junko-senpai and Toko-senpai asked me to get you."
He looked behind the giant of a man and nodded, "I-"
"Oh no, I'll get the door," Celeste interrupted, "you'll be heading over to your group, here Gonta let me help." Celeste made way to the door to hold it open, before shooting Makoto a look that said 'defy me and you will regret it.'
Without a word, the Lucky Student walked over to the table.
"Makoto! Glad that you can join us!" Junko said in mock cheer, "Okay, so far Toko and I have come across a few variations of what to do.
"The first idea is a novelization of our days, which would fulfill Toko's for receiving practice. For us, we would need a deeper understanding as to explain how and why we choose to do what we do on those days. Afterall, hardly anything, even randomness, isn't unconsciously planned."
"Oh that sounds nice, and good morning to the both of you. How are you doing Toko, everything okay right? Byakuya not giving you any trouble has he? I did speak to him about his behavior. Again." The 'for the thirteenth time this week' was unheard by the others.
The bookworm shook her head, "I'm fine Makoto, honestly, I am."
"Good to hear, now before we move on to the second plan, Junko, what did you mean by that last part?" Makoto asked. At this point, Celeste had walked back, "Oh, I hope you two don't mind, Celeste wished to join us."
The duo shook their heads, but their hands tightened around their clipboard and books. Not hard to guess who was who.
"Sure!" Junko quickly scribbled something on her clipboard, "Okay, if I asked you to pick a number, any number of your choosing, between 1 and 10, what would you pick?All of you, oh but say it when I count to three? Okay, one... two... three!"
"Seven/Seven/Nine"
Toko and Makoto had selected seven, whereas Celeste went for a unique answer.
Junko showed the three her clipboard, 'At least one of you will pick 7.'
She pushed up her glasses, where she got them nobody knew, "Let me explain, given that exact question, choosing a number from one to ten, almost half, about 45% of people, will pick seven, but why?
"It's actually simple. Hardly anyone would pick one or ten because, well, they don't seem random. They are at the ends of your choices.
"You also don't want to pick an even number, because they are even they don't seem chaotic enough to be a random number.
"You also don't want to pick five because that's a bit boring, it's right in the middle.
"You probably want a prime number so nine is out, leaving you with three and seven. Well, you don't pick three because it's a bit small and uninteresting.
"So all you have left is seven. Unconsciously you had weeded out those kinds of information. The ends are out, so are evens, five is in the middle, nine is way too close to the end and three is just too low. All you have left is seven." Junko explained.
"So... why did you pick nine, Celeste?" Toko asked a bit curious. The other two followed suit as they agreed.
The gambler gave her staple grin, "Why, for the exact reasons she had just explained. I'm willfully familiar with odds and probability, so I knew when she gave the countdown to intentionally ignore my instincts to call or seven."
"So you would have picked it top, but because of the countdown...?" he trailed off.
"Correct, the first number that came to mind was seven and only because I, for one, knew what she was after, and two knew what the process was, that I chose something else."
The others nodded, understanding as it was her talent. Odds and probabilities always seemed to be in her favor. Except when Makoto is directly involved, but that is another story.
"Well, besides that, our other idea is we take a collective risk, which would satisfy yours for improvement, after all, luck requires some risk of failure, and create another novel, completely fictional, in a world of fashion, meaning my expertise is required, and Toko's skills to be sharpened," Junko explained her next proposition.
Toko nodded and turned to the others, "T-this one is mostly for my comfort, I-I'm much more used-d to fictional works. It's also a s-subject I don't cross into, fashion, that is..."
Celeste interrupted this time. "Pardon me for interrupting, but I hardly see where Makoto is a part of this plan. Yes, it is a risk, but other than that he doesn't play any real role. It sounds more like it's Junko's story with Toko's expertise, and what does that make Makoto's effort? Submitting it and 'risking' how popular or not it gets? That hardly seems fair to you two, and I doubt it would pass for our instructors."
For the next few hours, ideas were tossed back and forth.
One involved turning Makoto and Toko into fashion models, where Makoto tries to make it big, and Toko documents the occasion.
Almost every idea revolved around some sort of fashion statement and Toko's talent documenting it. It was just incredibly tricky to find one where Makoto's 'luck' was truly in use.
Eventually, they decided to stick to the vague idea of Junko creating a new fashion trend, led by the three. Makoto taking the eye of the public, hence taking the risk of flipping or flopping the trend, and Toko recording it all.
As they were trying to hash out the details, a knock on the library door alerted the four.
Makoto walked up to answer, though it was strange why anyone would knock, it wasn't even locked, Toko still had the key, and it can only be locked from the outside, but can be unlocked from either side as to avoid accidentally locking someone in.
"Hello?" Makoto opened but saw a flush-faced swordswoman at the door, "Ah! Peko, is it time already?" He made a quick effort to check his phone and noticed that it was nearly noon.
"Y-yes," she stuttered before coughing into her fist. "I mean, yes, it is. Fuyuhiko has already got his family car ready for us, are you aware of where it is?"
The luckster shook his head, "I don't recall anything."
"Ah, well... it's at your classmate's family dojo, who graciously allowed for the tournament to be held there."
'Ah, this must be what Sakura was talking about last week about visiting her family dojo for a special occasion. I had thought it was a reunion, not a tournament.' Makoto thought to himself. He gently smiled at her, "Well, I certainly will be rooting for you, will Fuyuhiko be coming along."
"N-no, I mean, he would, but he's serving detention about an hour in with Yukizone-sensei," Peko reminded.
Celeste walked up to the two and held onto Makoto's arms, "I hope you don't mind, Peko, but I will be coming with Makoto, is that okay?"
Peko's eye twitched, but Makoto was momentarily distracted when Celeste latched onto him.
It was as though there was some hidden conversation with their eyes.
'Back the hell off, goth.' Peko mentally hissed. 'He's supposed to spend time with me!' She made a move to reach for her sheathed bokken.
Celeste seemed to respond in kind, 'I'm sorry, did you want my Makoto, dear's undivided attention? Not on your life. You wouldn't want to make him upset that you fought one of his precious classmates, would you?' Peko, seemingly understanding what was being conveyed, reluctantly stopped taxing for her blade.
"Well... shall we go then?" Peko said with a forced smile. She had really wanted to impress him without anyone else nearby.
.o0O0o.
That's this chapter.
The whole random number from 1-10 is real. I used this from "Random Numbers - Numberphile" because I do this myself. If you were to ask me that question I would say seven, and then immediately hate myself because it's not random.
Anyway, next update for Caretaker won't be for a while, but it'll be Peko's tournament and probably some other things.