Chapter 6: OPERATION TORNADO

Rooftop

The sun was setting on the horizon, elongating the shadows of the trees planted alongside the track. People training below started to head back into the school interior, and the air was light with the faint aromas of bread from the cafeteria below.

'This school is Huge.' Hinata said out loud.

'Massive. Nothing but the best facilities for the 'hopes of the world', enlightening the future with their intellect and talent.'

Kirigiri emerged behind the water tanker.

'Alright, Hinata-kun. Shoot.'

He walked beside Kirigiri as they aimlessly circled the rooftop.

'Question one: Who are you guys?'

'We are high school students who have died and passed on into this afterlife.' She said simply.

'Why did you form the battlefront?'

'Because somebody must have been responsible for our lives and consequently our deaths. Dying at such a young age leaves regrets, which leads to resent, which leads to anger, and anger with purpose must somehow lead to change.'

'You can remember your past life?'

'Snippets of it. But only up to a certain point.'

She fiddled with her gloves as she spoke.

'We want to keep fighting, even if it means directly opposing God.'

'God? You believe he exists?' Hinata stopped short.

She considered Hinata's question.

'It is directly against my ethics to believe that which is unknown. However, the very fact that we are here implies that there must be somebody, some force of some sort that controls our lives. Hence, before we get concrete evidence, I believe it is more logical and convenient to assume that he does indeed exist.'

There is some logic to that, I guess.

'Ok then. So do the others also share your views?'

'Most of them do to an extent. A common trait I've noticed amongst the members of the battlefront is that none of them could remember their deaths. Humans, being the curious creatures they are, will of course strive to know the truth before moving on.'

She checked her watch. 'It's almost time for the briefing of Operation Tornado. I'll allow 5 more minutes.'

Hinata began anew: "Why are we fighting against Tenshi? Why her, specifically?"

Kirigiri rubbed the bridge of her nose. 'I consider her to be an anomaly. She doesn't seem to be an NPC-'

'NPC?'

'Non-playable-character. A term coined by our programmer, Fujisaki-san. You would notice students who go with the flow of our normal school program like nothings wrong around us. They are undoubtedly NPCs, devoid of rational or irrational thought like us. I believe they were in this place from the very beginning.'

Hinata suddenly had a vision of an shopkeeper repeating the same line over and over.

'How do they act?'

'Oh. They're typically normal students, who actually try their best in this school as if they were alive.'

'Do they have the same reactions as us?'

'Oh yes. Oh and don't try groping them to prove it, its already been done. Hanamura-kun once tried that on an unsuspecting girl and earned a swift slap to his face.'

So the battalion is full of the crazy ones. Good to know.

'Back to Tenshi then. She attended classes and did well, and her grades were good enough for her to be nominated for the cabinet council. I briefly conversed with her in the rare times she was awake, and my suspicions that she was different was aroused.'

'How so?'

'Firstly, although she actually takes the initiative to apply herself in the school curricula, she is motionless, unsociable and she doesn't talk much, unlike normal NPCs. Second is the fact that despite being able to think for herself, she encourages the students here to enjoy school life and plays her part in enforcing the school rules.'

Enjoy the fact that they're dead, and they still have to go to school?

'Lastly, the fact that she has weaponry unlike that we have seen before.'

'Weaponry? You mean that um… Hand sonic, was it?'

'That's one. She's also highly adept in combat.'

At that, Kirigiri looked at him square in the eye.

'All of this points to a fact: She must be working for a higher power, to encourage such beliefs, and have such weaponry. Our objective is to find out who is that final person to get answers about our past lives.'

Hinata stayed silent. God. Allah. Zeus. Siddhartha Gautama. So one of them does exist. Curious. Very curious.

'Why is she dangerous? I mean, apart from the fact that she's a serial slasher.'

'The people who do enjoy school life under her influence get obliterated.'

Wait, WHAT?!

'The people who don't follow rules first get a verbal warning, then subsequent affairs get them a good stab in the gut. Hence, long story short, don't attend clubs, don't nominate yourself for student council, don't be the teachers pet, because you will vanish and be reborn as a channeled apple snail. Until further notice.'

Kirigiri had managed to say that without even blinking. This is one scary poker face.

Suddenly the shrill sound of a bell began ringing.

'That's the dismissal bell. That means its time.'

'So what on earth is Operation TORNADO?'

'Attend the briefing in the principals office. The Password's 11037.'

With that, she turned on her heel and left the area, leaving a troubled Hinata to comprehend the full situation he found himself in.

PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE:

"OK guys. I need your attention people. Pekoyama-san please return the hamsters to Tanaka-kun. Kuwata-kun take your eyes off her for one second and look in front!"

The 20 people assembled in the room momentarily stopped what they were doing, giving Kirigiri their full and undivided attention.

My very first operation in this Battlefront. It better not be anything particularly difficult.

"Right. It's 8:15 People! You all know the drill. In 15 minutes time we will commence Operation Tornado. LETS BLOW THE STUDENTS' FOOD TICKETS AWAY!"

... SAY WHAT?

"So giving out the jobs today: Military Squadron will be joined with new recruit Hinata Hajime, the diversion-division-"

"WAIT. WE'RE STEALING FOOD? FROM INNOCENTS?! THAT'S BULLYING! OH God, this is so disappointing. You're just a couple of hotshots with weapons!"

"You wanna dance again, brat?" The man who beat Hinata up earlier this morning emerged from the corner, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

He swallowed.

"Calm yourself, Hinata-kun. We will never threat normal students with weapons or sheer numbers." The burly voice belonged to an androgynous, highly muscular figure standing beside Asahina Aoi.

"But you just said you were going to steal them!"

"Yes. We are literally going to blow them away." Kirigiri cut in.

"Ok. Repeating the line up for today- Diversion division will include Maizono-san as lead guitarist and singer, Saionji as a back-up dancer, Kuwata-kun on drums, Koizumi on Bass, Sonia on the keyboard and back-up singer and Aoi-san as back-up vocalist. Oh and Fujisaki-san on special effects."

"So during which song will you turn on the turbines?" Maizono asked.

"Wish Ensemble seems like the crowd favorite." Kirigiri mused.

"So's Maizono-san! AHAHAHA! IDOL GROUP GIRLDEMO FOR THE WIN!" Kuwata exclaimed.

"I was under the impression that it was an all girls group when I agreed to participate." Sonia sighed.

"Oh it is. Just view him as an ornament. Or an illustration. Or a red dumptruck." Saionji consoled her.

"Right. Back to the topic at hand: Yamada will sell Girldeadmonster merchandise, raising money for the battlefront. Do you have the new collectible figurines?"

"YES! Priced at 5000 yen each! And Kirigiri-dono, I would like for you to authorize the selling of this doujinshi!" Yamada brought a box filled with comics up to her desk and handed her a copy.

As Kirigiri skimmed through the doujinshi, Hinata noticed subtle differences in her face. At first, it was perfectly calm. Then, she started biting her lower lip. Her eyebrows furrowed, and a vein began pulsing in her left temple.

"So what do you think? It's going to be a bestseller for sure, no?"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

"But-but-but Kirigiri-dono, fan service is all the rage these days! Check it out, there's a lot of cute girl-on-girl action going on around here! It's the nicest thing since Sakura Tri-" Yamada stopped as all the girls glared at him. The temperature of the room seemed to have dropped to an all time low.

"I am not that desperate, Yamada. And for the record, keep your perverted fantasies to yourself." With that, she opened the window and threw the entire contents of the box outside.

"Right. Pekoyama, Tsumiki and Oogami will keep in contact with me for the entire duration of the operation. The rest of the guys will barricade the school gymnasium preventing Tenshi from getting remotely close to it. Questions?"

Hinata raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"What exactly does preventing tenshi from getting to the school gymnasium entail?"

"Shoot her, slice her into minced meat, engage in a fist fight with her for all I care. I doubt it would work anyway. Everyone clear?"

The entire room gave out voices of assent.

"Great. Meeting adjourned. Souda will bring Hinata out to the 3rd floor armory to get him a gun. Decide where you'll have him situated yourself."

"On it, Kirigiri-san!"

Workshop:

THE FOLLOWING ROOM IS NOT THE PROPERTY OF THE BULLETIME BATTLEFRONT. WE DON'T NOT HANDLE EXTREMELY UNDANGEROUS WEAPONRY INSIDE ANOTHER ROOM. PLEASE GO RIGHT IN! :D

What the flying F-

Souda laughed. "Your face says it all. It was Celestia's Idea. Shes a big believer in reverse psychology and quadruple negatives and so far its worked out fine. Nobody has bothered looking inside ever since!"

"So she's a psychologist?"

"Something like that. Word of advice, never play cards with her. She'll screw you over and you're just going to admire how she does it."

He took out a key from his back pocket and unlocked the door.

"Well, Hinata-kun: welcome to my CRIB!"

Hinata took one look into the room and decided: This had to be the coolest place he had ever been to.

Inside the dimly lit room, guns of all sizes were lovingly arranged onto the walls. Magazines and cartridges littered the workbenches around. In the corner, a large crate of grenades stood, sorted neatly into normal ones, flashbangs, smoke grenades and tear gas canisters.

Jesus. You could start a war with these mob supplies.

"Right. So lets get you a gun. But first lets take a good look at yourself."

He surveyed him top to bottom. Suddenly he grabbed at Hinata's arm. "Well, one things for sure. You cant handle heavy weaponry yet. Recoil takes some time to get used to. So until then, lets get you a basic hand gun."

He opened a drawer in one of the workbenches and pulled out a Colt 1911 Government. Souda weighed it in his hands. "Would you prefer a reliable gun, or do you want me to do some tinkering and fix you one sweet kick-ass firearm?"

"Wouldn't that gun be good enough?" Hinata pointed out.

Souda considered it. The Colt 1911 Government was by every count, a classic. It had served in both world wars, and is still being used today, despite lighter variants such as the Heckler and Koch USP.

"You're right, I can tinker later. From now on this beauty will be your wife!" He said as he tossed the gun to Hinata.

The feeling of cold metal in his grip was different compared to before. Reverence was felt as Hinata acknowledged the danger of the gun, and awe as he realized he had control over such an item.

'You're certain people wont die if I shoot them?' Hinata asked.

'Want to test it out?' Souda finished loading a submachine gun and pointed it at Hinata.

'Ok. Shutting up.'

"Right. Here's a holster and an extra magazine. Chances are you wont need it, but its always fun to be trigger-happy." He grinned.

School Gym: 1st Floor

"Nidai, could you set the drums over there please? Thanks a lot."

The members of the Idol Group Girlsdeadmonster were assembled back stage. The curtains were drawn, yet they could already hear the chants of the growing crowd outside.

The excitement felt familiar to Sayaka Maizono as she applied a soft veneer of foundation over her already doll-like face.

"Starting today, you'll be our lead vocalist for the diversion division! I wish you the best of luck!"

The walkie-talkie on the makeup counter interrupted its usual static: 'Guys we have one minute. Get into your positions, over.'

Sayaka put down her powder puff and gracefully glided to the stage. She laughed inwards as Kuwata saw her approaching and rotated 30 degrees, such that his new earring could be clearly displayed.

"Boys." Koizumi sniffed.

"Girls. What's your point?" Kuwata shot out.

"Places people! AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!" Nidai shouted.

It's almost time. And what an experience it's going to be.

The curtains finally swing open, and I see you all, my fans, my joy, my life, as you scream with excitement to see me.

And I feel it: The tension, the exhilaration, the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

And I hear it: The applause, the cheers, the chants for me.

And I see it: The exhilaration, the elation, eagerly expecting me and my music.

I am not typical!

I am an IDOL!

Somewhere behind the stage, Fujisaki presses a switch, and colored lights shone on the crew.

"Everyone: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING!" Sonia called.

"WE LOVE YOU GUYS!" Maizono winked!

"I DON'T!" Saionji teased!

Koizumi strummed the first few chords. The crowd went nuts as they heard the familiar instrumental introduction of 'Monochrome Answer'.

This is my dream come true!

With that, Sayaka grabbed the mike stand and let her voice soar.

1st Floor Hallway

They ultimately decided to put Hinata outside the Entrance Hall. It was a less common route that Tenshi took, and it would mean that the risk posed to Hinata would be much smaller compared to the others stationed outside Hotel Despair, the school dormitories. But if he did see her, all he would need to do is fire to alert the squadron to his position.

In other words, this is where the risk of me cocking it up is the least, huh.

He shivered as the winds cut into his arms. I should have kept on the doctors' jacket. He diverted his attention to the gym. Girldemo had just finished a song, and he heard thunderous applause and cheering.

As the second song began, a second gust of wind forced Hinata back to his senses. God, its freezing.

It was then that he sensed he wasn't alone.

He whipped around to see the eyes of Tenshi staring blankly at him 20 meters away.

Involuntarily, his legs started shaking. Idiot. Calm yourself and get a shot in. The others will do the rest. Taking a deep breath, he took out the pistol and aimed at Tenshi.

Unfazed, she began walking towards the entrance hall.

So she thinks I'm the weakest link, huh?

18 meters.

Sweat began accumulating in the palms of his hands.

15 metres.

'Don't hesitate and just SHOOT!' Kirigiri's voice rang in his head.

With that, he aimed the pistol towards her right foot and pulled the trigger.

The world seemed to have gone into slow motion. For the first time, Hinata could see things as it slowed down, how he pulled the trigger, how the gun barely produced a sound as Tenshi continued pulling closer. Is this what they mean when people experience the 'superhuman' effect?

10 meters.

SHIT! The Gun's not working you daft bimbo!

8 meters.

As Hinata fumbled with the gun, wondering what was wrong, Sayaka Maizono had finished the first chorus.

'Twinkle twinkle little star~"

Do you know how to use this gun?!

Suddenly, a bolt of inspiration struck Hinata.

The fricking Safety catch, you dimwit.

6 meters.

Hinata quickly removed the safety catch and aimed it once again at the girl. He closed his eyes.

Sorry about this.

BANG!

The bullet struck her cleanly in her thigh. She gave a small gasp of pain as blood trickled in two clean streams down her leg.

Bullseye.

The relief was short lived as the girl stood up. As Hinata watched, the bullet began forcing itself out of her leg. Within seconds, the wound had healed.

That's not bloody fair. Hinata thought as he hoisted the gun again.

'Hand Sonic.' She whispered.

The very same blade materialized out of thin air in her hands.

Panicked, Hinata shot again, but this time Tenshi effortlessly deflected it with a swift swing of the blade.

You've got to be kidding me.

Tenshi began advancing towards him, deflecting each bullet that Hinata fired. It was then that he finally realized how much of a disadvantage he was at.

Wait. Shouldn't Souda and the others be here by now?

As Hinata slowly backed into the entrance hall, he could see no sign of the other members of the squadron.

A cold wave of despair flooded Hinata.

Don't tell me, they were killed in action?!

Well that's bloody brilliant. Now I'm screwed!

GYMNASIUM:

Kirigiri stood in a corner of the gym, silently observing the crowd and its tension level.

"Kirigiri, Tenshi has made contact with Hinata. Over."

She whipped out the walkie talkie in her pocket.

"I hear you, Oogami. Another minute should suffice. Over."

"But there's a slight problem. Over."

"What?!" Kirigiri frowned. I couldn't have made a mistake, did I?

"Half the squadron stationed outside, led by Souda, have found Yamada's doujinshi you threw out. They're reading it eagerly right now."

Kirigiri said a very rude word.

"I beg your pardon, Kirigiri-san?"

"Sorry, it just slipped. Is Togami with them?"

"Negative, he and Tanaka are inside but over this noise I doubt he could hear the gunshot."

Kirigiri thought hard. "Oogami take my place in the gym I'll take her on myself."

"Roger that."

Souda, Hanamura, you and I are going to have a very long talk when I get back.

Taking one final look at her watch, she sped out of the gym.

50 seconds remain.