The moon shone down on the massive garden, illuminating the plants with its silvery glow. Tokaku was sitting below a large tree in the center, looking down at the ground instead of the starry sky. She was still crying, though not to the same degree she had been earlier. The blue haired girl barely even looked up at the other girl walking to join her.
"Hey, Azuma. Didn't know you liked scenic things like this. How surprising from you~" Isuke said, standing in front of Tokaku. Tokaku sighed in defeat.
"Just leave me alone…" she whispered, barely audible compared to her normally strong voice.
"Oh. Does the Primer being gone have you down? Didn't know you could go into withdrawal from that stuff, though I'm surprised you two were arguing in the first place…"
"How do you know about the Primer?" Tokaku asked, her tone a bit more forceful due to her surprise but still weak. "Did you only come here...to taunt me?"
"Of course not, virgin. I still have a heart, unlike some people here. Anyway, Mama told me about the Primer thing. He's got way more connections than you think. Honestly, it's not that interesting anyway~"
"Why...don't you care?"
"It's kinda pathetic. Ichinose needs some weird pheromones to get people head over heels for her, while Isuke does that with beauty alone~" boasted Isuke, before taking on a serious tone. "But really, Azuma. I wanna...talk." she said, straining the final word as if it hurt her to say it. She sat down next to Tokaku, who gave her a curious look.
"Why are you wearing a bathrobe?"
"Isuke ditched the bath so she could do this, see how much I care? Seriously, we have bigger things to worry about, Azuma…"
"So I assume you heard me and Haru argue. Great. Why would a greedy bitch like you care?"
Isuke smirked. "Because as much as it pains me, I consider you worthy of my respect. It'd be a damn shame if the great Azuma Tokaku, who was actually able to beat me, was brought low by some girlfriend drama. Talk about a disappointment."
Tokaku was somewhat angered now. "Whatever, just shut up and leave…I want to be alone...you don't even know what happened! And if you did, you wouldn't understand! The only things you care about are yourself and your money!" The blue haired assassin tried to look intimidating, but her tears betrayed her expression.
Tokaku received a flick to the forehead, knocking her off guard. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Good. Now I have your actual attention. By the way, wipe your tears and nose, you look ungraceful. I'll just get to the point. You have to stop being such a brat, Azuma. Stop acting like you can do everything by yourself. And quit treating Ichinose as your property too. Me and the other girls can do our jobs just fine, you know."
"Haru is not my prop- I know, you moron! That's what Haru told me! Why bother kicking me while I'm already down?!"
"Because you need to hear it from me, not her. Kinda impressed that she made you cry, twice in fact, but she can only say so much."
"It was three times…" muttered Tokaku. Isuke scoffed.
"When was the first time, hmm? First kiss? Making out? First date? Enlighten me."
"When I...almost killed her. At the end of Black Class." Tokaku admitted before thinking. "It was just me, Haru, and Hashiri. I tried to kill Haru, and...almost succeeded. I wish I could take it back, but it was something that had to be done. To see what was stronger: the Primer, or me. Hashiri tried to disguise as me, but I took her out...and then I stabbed Haru. Luckily she survived. If she hadn't...I think I wouldn't be here either."
"Whoah. I kinda understand that, but...you're really paranoid, Azuma. No joke. Which proves my point."
"What point?"
"Like it or not, your classmates, me included, are here to stay, and you're gonna have to trust us. We're not gonna stab you or Haru-chan in your sleep or anything like that. Hell, we're getting rewarded to guard you two. In fact, Haruki won't even let me kill people. It sucks, but we all make sacrifices for love…"
"So? You wouldn't understand me and Haru's love. You treat Sagae like your pet, you're only in this for the reward...why should I listen to you?"
Isuke gave her a disgusted face. "Might not look like it to someone as paranoid as you, but I really do love that idiot. You're the one who doesn't understand, since you're so narrow minded and arrogant. No better than me. But despite that, I guess I could call…you...a...friend." she said, the last few words coming out as if she were vomiting.
"A…. friend? But… why? We're only…. allies at best. And after what I did to all of you, why would anyone of us feel like that to the other?"
Isuke blushed furiously. "Really? You want me to answer that? Ugh, fine. Too insecure to even take a guess, sheesh. To be honest...even if we were seconds away from killing each other, even if I only came for the money, I found Black Class... fun alright. I... like you and the other girls. Turns out that it's easy to like people who are just as cold blooded as you are, who understand the shit you've gone through. Hell, even the weaker ones like Kenmochi aren't half bad. So yeah. I hope none of us die, Haru-chan and you included."
Tokaku looked surprised, and directed her face away from Isuke. "Really...you of all people actually care about us? No way, did Sagae make you say this?" Her voice was trying to sound doubtful, but was also carrying a hint of hope in her tone.
"Look, would I lie about this sentimental garbage? It hurts even me to say it. But yeah. It's not just me either. Kaminaga told me the other day that we were her friends too, even if she always acts like such a pedant. I can tell Kirigaya enjoys being with all of us, not just her cute little lion. Takechi hasn't killed us in our sleep, which is always a plus. Banba's probably never opened up to anyone until now, and I'm talking about both of them. Even Hashiri cares. She may be fake as hell, but that little speech earlier was her trying to get us to improve in her own twisted way. So yeah. We may be a death-squad of teenage killers, but we do care about each other."
More tears began to flow from Tokaku's eyes, not out of sadness, but...something else. She wiped them and spoke.
"Hey, Inukai. Why...do you really care about us so much? Coming from you...this is a surprise. No offense."
"Pfft. I don't have to answer that. I already said it~"
"But...there's something more, right?" Tokaku asked, slightly tugging at Isuke's robe to get her attention.
"Not at all! Jeez!"
Tokaku gave her a pleading look, and Isuke sighed. "Fiiiine."
"It's cause...you guys are kinda like my little sisters. Except Shutou and Haruki, of course, but I obviously still care about them. See...when Isuke was a kid, before Isuke met Mama and Papa, I had a brother. My fake parents weren't very nice people. They...let him die. I couldn't save him. It was too late. I don't want to ever be in a situation like that again, I can't. And now that I have you guys...I think I feel the same urge to keep you safe. Ugh. That was so cheesy, can't believe I just said that~"
"...Thank you." Tokaku said.
"Huh? Fine, I'll just go back to my bath, see you…" Isuke said, beginning to walk away, but before she could, she found herself hugged by Tokaku.
"Am I actually getting hugged by Azuma?" Isuke thought in shock. "Her, of all people…"
"Thank you so much…" Tokaku said, crying even more, Isuke returned her hug and patted the other girl on the head. Eventually, Tokaku's tears stopped, and she looked back at Isuke with her usual expression...except this time her eyes were warmer.
"Jeez, Azuma. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing. Just thought you needed it more than I did." Tokaku replied in a joking tone and a half smile. Isuke laughed and walked away.
"Well, guess I'll have to be dealing with this from now on...not that I mind." she said to herself.
Tokaku returned to her room, a bit happier after talking to Isuke. Opening the door, she saw Haru sleeping, Tokaku's phone clutched in her hands. She moved forward towards Haru, but remembering what her girlfriend had said, decided it would be best to give her space. Tokaku considered sleeping outside, but that would worry Haru once she woke up.
She decided to sleep at the edge of the bed, away from Haru, and drifted off into peaceful rest.
Haru awoke the next morning. She looked to her side and saw Tokaku still asleep, a peaceful expression on her face despite the fight they had. Gently moving her girlfriend to the center of the bed, she tucked Tokaku in and gave her a quick kiss on the head before leaving.
After getting herself ready, Haru made her way to the breakfast table. She had woken up early, but a few of the girls were sitting at the table. Suzu, Haruki, Shiena, Chitaru, Mahiru, and Nio were eating breakfast while making small talk.
"Ah hello, Ichinose-san." Suzu said. "Come join us!"
Haru nodded and sat down with the other girls, serving herself some food. "It's good!" Haru remarked.
"Thanks. Me and Shutou-san made it." Haruki said with a grin. Suzu nodded, slightly smiling.
"Hmm...thank you…." Mahiru muttered, eating her food.
"You should eat more, Banba." Shiena said. "That amount of food isn't really enough."
"It's fine...Shinya says I shouldn't eat a lot…" Mahiru replied.
"Either way, I really like it! You're a great cook!" Haru said.
"Thanks." Haruki said. "I cook for my siblings a lot, ya know."
"Ichinose." Chitaru said with a serious tone. "Is something the matter? You appear to be troubled."
Suzu nodded in agreement. "I know a problem when I see one."
Haru sighed. "Well, um, it's really nothing big, but me and Tokaku had a bit of a fight last night…about what's been going on, and our relationship..."
"It's fine…" Mahiru told Haru with her quiet voice. "I heard it...and it was...for the best... Inukai-san talked to Azuma-san about it...it'll be alright…"
"Whoa!" Nio said. "Inukai helping out Azuma? That's a first!"
"Hey, Isuke-sama isn't that bad." Haruki said. "You just gotta get to know her better."
"Jeez…" Shiena groaned, rubbing her eyes. "We should focus on Ichinose's problems here…"
"You seem on edge, Kenmochi." Nio teased. "Did your little spider get you exhausted last night!"
"It's nothing like that!" Shiena said angrily yet with a blush. "Not at all!"
"Just...why exactly did you disagree?" Chitaru asked Haru. "I'm surprised you and Azuma would ever fight each other."
"Me and Tokaku...I told her that she shouldn't just keep relying on herself, that she should trust me and you guys, and it escalated. We both said some pretty hurtful things that I regret…"
"Azuma-san is indeed too cautious of others." Suzu agreed. "I would say it's one of her biggest weaknesses, even now."
"I told her that, but she really wouldn't listen. I brought up her past after she did the same to me, and I think I really hurt her, she ran out crying…"
"Oh, right!" Nio said, a malicious grin on her face. "I thought you were done fighting, after, you know...Tokaku-san tried to kill you!"
"Haru...is this true?!" Chitaru asked, shocked. "Just like...me and Hitsugi…" Haru only offered a grim nod in response.
"What the hell, Hashiri!" Haruki said. "You can't just talk about private stuff like that!"
"Huh...so it did happen after all…" Shiena muttered.
"Oh dear." Suzu said, genuinely surprised. "I didn't suppose Azuma-san would ever do such a thing. She is more unpredictable than I had expected."
"Yeah! It was really cool!" Nio said, now on a roll. "You see, Tokaku-san was sad and all about Haru controlling her or whatever, so she went and BAM! Stabbed her right in the chest! I was there too. And I also got stabbed."
"You're bluffing." said Haruki. "Azuma-san has a good heart, she wouldn't…"
"But she did!" Nio said happily.
"So that's what happened? Interesting...I really would not have expected this." Suzu said.
"It's all true." Shiena said. "I can tell."
"That did happen…" Haru said. "I thought me and Tokaku had moved past it, but now we're struggling once more…"
"Well," Suzu said. "Maybe it would be best to spend some time away from her and gather your thoughts, if it was that bad. I know how young love works..."
"Yeah!" Shiena agreed. "Couples in the manga I read always go through stuff like this, but after some reflection, they get back together!"
"Really, Kenmochi-san? Using manga as a reference?" Haruki said. "But yeah. Kind of interesting how you stuck up for us, even if it caused the fight...so thanks for that. And sorry about, you know..."
"It's fine!" Haru said in a slight fluster. "I forgave everyone, because that's what the world is about...forgiveness..."
"I understand that." Chitaru replied. "I… I'm still trying to forgive Hitsugi completely, even after everything that happened, even if she's still not letting go of me...but it's kind of hard to do so."
"I feel really bad about making Tokaku cry, though." Haru said. "I was apparently her first friend, she's never really had anybody until me...she needs me more than I needed her, I get it now…"
"Wow, that's a lot to let out." Nio remarked. "You sure you and Tokaku-san are cut out for each other? You never know, she might ditch you any moment now…"
"That's not true! Tokaku just needs some time to overcome her doubts, I'm sure me and her will make this right!" Haru stated with confidence and even some anger. "You wouldn't understand me and Tokaku...since you're just the Chairwoman's puppet!"
Nio gave a smile which was a bit more strained than usual. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." she said, brushing it off.
"Anyway, Ichinose. I do see how Azuma needs you, in a sense...after all, me and Hitsugi are kind of dependent on each other." Chitaru said.
"Honestly, I really think Azuma-san isn't a bad person." Haruki said. "I'm sure she cares for us, deep inside, and that's what's making this hard for her."
"Right. She was a good friend, while we were in Black Class. Maybe even my best friend..." agreed Chitaru, who was slightly blushing.
"Azuma-san has been deprived of contact for so long...I am aware of how the Azuma Clan treat their heirs. Maybe that's why she is confused as to how she should view us." Suzu said.
"Yeah. Without my family, I dunno how I would have turned out." Haruki added. "They're the ones who keep me going, honestly."
"People need...warmth...light…" Mahiru said, more audible than usual. "Without that...they won't do well..." Hearing this, Nio's smile faded a bit.
"Yep. Azuma understands the darkness. She was born in it, molded by it. If not for you, Ichinose, she would have never seen the light." said Shiena.
"Who are you trying to fool here? Sure she may have seen the light. But she'll always be in the darkness too!" Nio proclaimed. "Once you go in, you can't go out...that's how us assassins work…"
"Hashiri...are you really satisfied with that? Do you really think people are just doomed to live in the darkness?" Haruki asked.
"I dunno. Do you really think your useless family does anything but hold you down?" countered Nio. The blonde girl looked legitimately angry, still smiling but in a forced manner.
Haruki grew angry, hearing her family be insulted. She rose from her seat and struck Nio, who easily dodged the blow. As Haruki was surprised of Nio's reflexes, the latter suddenly rose up herself before kicking her own chair at Haruki's legs to knock the pink haired girl down.
"Come on, try it." Nio taunted. "Let's see what you can do to me!"
Haruki quickly got back up and swung at Nio again, screaming in anger, but Nio again evaded each of her punches. She landed one punch to Haruki's liver area that downed the girl, causing her to cough in pain.
"You're pathetic." Nio said, forgetting her joking facade. Her face was completely emotionless with a slight scowl.
"Stop!" yelled Haru. But Nio looked at the girls, her eyes glowing, and forced them to stay down using her powers. She grabbed Haruki by the hair and sighed.
"Really. You're just pathetic. Bonds like that are just useless. They make me sick. Our only mission as assassins...is to kill. Why get attached to lives when your entire existence rejects the value of them?" Nio said, still remaining cold and expressionless.
"Shut up!" yelled Haruki. She recovered from Nio's attack, and prepared to strike her again...only to see a scared Fuyuka in Nio's place. "Fuyuka…" Haruki said, unable to attack the illusion of her sister.
"Ha!" Nio said. "So I was right. Your bonds to your family...just hold you down." She punched Haruki, knocking her down, then began to savagely kick the other girl.
"How many family members do you have, Sagae? I'll kick you once for each of them. Nah, twice for every single one of them." taunted Nio. Unknown to even her, she was letting out her frustrations with each kick, at everything that she was going through.
"Enough of this crap!" yelled a voice. Shinya rose from her seat, shrugging off Nio's powers, and punched the blonde girl in the chest with immense force. Nio was caught off guard and knocked all the way across the room into a wall, cracking it and causing her to gasp in pain. Shinya helped Haruki up, who glared at Nio in anger.
Nio barely had time to recover before Shinya lunged at her again with frightening speed. Nio tried to use her powers on Shinya, to no avail. She was only affecting Mahiru, but Shinya was in total control. There was nothing Nio could do to influence the second Banba. She barely sidestepped in time, and Shinya's punch left a fist-shaped hole in the wall.
"Back off!" yelled Nio. But Shinya wouldn't listen to reason. Both Mahiru and her friend had been hurt by Nio. Shinya, growling in rage, swung her elbow at Nio's head. Nio was hit and stumbled dizzily, trying to gather her thoughts, but Shinya then choked her with a grin and threw the blonde into another wall, cracking it too and sending Nio's body crumpling to the floor.
Nio lay down and tried to pull herself up, but her body ached too much to do so. "Damn it...I'm too weak…" she thought. "That Ono bitch could have taken this...I need to get up…" Nio struggled to stand, bringing herself to her feet. "You bitch...I'll...rip you apart…" snarled Nio. Blood was leaking from her mouth and her ribs were most likely damaged. She coughed a bit and passed out on the ground from the pain and exhaustion, eyes closed.
Suzu immediately rushed to help Nio with a sigh "And here I thought she of all people would not be so violent this morning."
"I'll help." Chitaru said as she finally got up after Nio's powers ceased working. As she makes her to to them, Suzu notices Chitaru still relying on the cane and shook her head "It's fine my dear, she isn't worth that much trouble."
But Chitaru made a half smile as she clipped the cane at her belt and helps Suzu carry Nio anyway "It's alright, I think my body can handle this much for a little while. But please don't tell Hitsugi, I don't want to worry her…" as both girls half carry half drag the unconscious Nio to her room, Haruki watched with gritted teeth and clenched fists. She then sighed and rubbed her battered stomach with a groan "Thanks for assist Banba."
"Come on, Sagae. Let's just blow this off in the training room…" Shinya said. Haruki followed her and they exited.
"Sorry, guys..." Haruki said as she left.
Haru began to tear up, saddened upon seeing the fight that had just happened. Shiena put her hand on Haru's shoulder to comfort her. "It's alright." the brunette said. "It's gonna be alright…"
"Shiena-chan...do I need to get stronger?" Haru asked.
"As much as I hate to say it...yes." Shiena replied as she began to clean up the table and dishes. "I kinda know that you have your own power...but I don't think it's gonna be enough."
"You know about that too? How?"
"Hacked into the Myoujou database. Hashiri almost killed me for it...but I found some stuff. Saw you and Azuma's whole thing in the graveyard. Also got some info about your ability and Hashiri...or should I say Kuzunoha."
Haru helped her clean up, and once they were done Shiena brewed them some tea. They sat at the table with their tea, talking with each other.
"Shiena-chan, I'm happy we never really lost our normal lives, in a way. We never lost track of the light, didn't we?"
"It's not like that. Truth is, I was gonna try and kill you...before Kirigaya stopped me. But now I'm on your side! I fight for justice, after all!" said Shiena, adjusting her glasses as they shone. Haru giggled.
"So...now that you know about my ability...do you think of me any differently?" Haru asked, somewhat worried. Shiena smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Not really. You're a nice girl, even without it. Besides, we were all brought together by you, weren't we? So I can thank you for that."
"Yeah! For example, you were able to meet Takechi-san!"
"I don't like her! What are you even implying?!" Shiena said, somewhat frustrated. Haru smiled at her and ruffled Shiena's hair.
"Good morning, both of you." Sumireko said, entering with her own cup of tea. She sat down with Haru and Shiena.
"Ah! Good morning, Sumireko-san." Haru said. Shiena nodded politely to greet her.
Sumireko smiled. "Pleasant weather today. Perhaps we could go for a walk? I know Ichinose-san needs the relaxation, after yesterday's events, though her strength did impress me…"
"Thanks...but I still feel bad about what I said to Tokaku." replied Haru.
"Don't be." Sumireko said. "I think she needed to hear it, personally. One can never improve without opposition."
"Right." Shiena said. "I'm working harder to improve myself too!"
"You do have your own strengths, Kenmochi-san, in a certain way." Sumireko mused. "A minister or a general has just as much power as the fiercest warrior, after all."
"Really? Well, thanks, but I'm really not that special..." Shiena said.
"Of course you are. Not many would have the courage to keep Takechi in check like you do…" Sumireko said with a chuckle. Shiena grew flustered and shook her head.
"Anyway, Hanabusa-san...me and Shiena-chan were talking about if I should get stronger or not. What do you think?"
Sumireko chuckled. "Ah. Allow me to show you something."
She peeled off the skin on one of her arms, revealing the steel underneath. "As you both know, my arms are completely robotic. But not because I was forced to adopt these robotic parts. I purposely had my limbs amputated and replaced with mechanical versions, so that I may become stronger. Strong enough to fight any foe."
"Whoah, what kind of tech is that?" Shiena asked with eyes of slight wonder.
"Top secret prototype robotics, custom ordered." Sumireko said. "But they weren't always this impressive. My first mechanical limbs were quite clunky. Impossible to use well in combat. Of course, they're upgraded now."
"You see," Sumireko explained, "I had to sacrifice some of my humanity in order to protect that which matters. My own life. For without life, how can one have either light or darkness? Too much of one is bad for the soul. I understand how it is to be in both of them, after all."
Shiena nodded. "Yeah. I used to be consumed by revenge and despair...I really get that. I'm still trying to find my way, you know."
"Then...I have to get stronger." Haru said as she looked at her own hands holding the cup of tea. "So I can protect people just like Tokaku does and make sure nobody falls into the darkness!"
"Your determination is admirable, Ichinose-san." Sumireko replied. "I always knew that you, as a fellow queen, were capable of such resolve. Perhaps this is the very drive that defeated me...it's impressive."
"I'm not really a queen, there's no need to call me that…"
"How humble." Sumireko chuckled but her eyes were showing a hint of self-disgust. "I've always viewed you as my rival, you know. Yet you were able to defeat me, despite not even acknowledging our conflict as queens...how silly. Maybe I am simply another girl, playing pretend as a queen and trying to rule the playground. It's quite foolish, don't you think?"
"Well, you can still move on from that…" Shiena said.
"Hah. It was never that simple. To tell you the truth, I've been after you since I was a child, Ichinose-san. The Chairwoman informed me of your existence all the way back then, and I had always wondered who was superior between us two, the girls with the world after them. But I suppose you won in the end, since...I'm jealous of you."
"Is it because...of me and Tokaku?" Haru asked.
"Precisely." replied the heiress. "You let people, especially her, into your life so easily. Trusting them and forgiving them without a second thought. I've always treated humans like pawns or enemies. I never loved anyone...until I entered Black Class. Maybe some of your compassion rubbed off on me. That's why, when I finally found someone...I was too scared to let her in."
"Making friends with them, like Inukai-san, Kaminaga-san and even Kirigaya-san was simple enough, just needed to make the manners and behavior I usually showed at the many formal meetings with more honesty and sincerity….. but she was completely different. What if she hated me? Found me disgusting? I'm sure you know who I'm talking about." Sumireko shivered a little as she continued to explained
Haru smiled as Sumireko applied her artificial skin back to her arm. She placed her hand on Sumireko's, surprising the other girl.
"It's alright, Sumireko-san. Maybe I shouldn't have disregarded you...but we're friends now, right? I'm happy you survived our battle, because it means that you can move on. As my friend, and the friend of everyone in our class! Even though you may not be entirely human...you're still beautiful inside to all of us. Besides, you've always been more of a queen than me, so maybe you've already surpassed me?"
Sumireko was shocked for a bit, silent, before laughing quietly. "Really, Ichinose, no, Haru-san...is that how you won over Azuma? How interesting…"
"It's no-nothing like that! Tokaku and I are…. well sometimes I think for her it was love at first sight. Or maybe smell? She always told me about me smelling different. As for me…. maybe it's because I saw how brave she tries to be and how much she wishes to use all her talents for that special someone. So I think we both charmed each other." Haru said with a slight blush.
"I see. Thank you for your encouragement, Haru-san." Sumireko said, smiling sincerely. "Even if neither of us may be fully human...I know I love both Mahiru and Shinya with all my heart and no regrets. Just as much as you love Azuma."
"Um, guys...shouldn't we be going to train now?" Shiena asked. "Sorry for cutting in, but…we kinda need to do that if we want to survive with those we love."
"Ah. Of course." Sumireko said. "Come, both of you. I'll show you some defense techniques so you can start joining the rest of us in combat."
Teru sighed as she entered the massive casino. Gold and crimson blanketed her surroundings, and the idle rich were gathered at slot machines or card tables, gambling their money away. But her priority here wasn't to make money. She entered an elevator, and slotting in a special key card, was taken to a hidden floor above the normal casino.
Stepping out of the elevator, she was greeted with a dull grey room that had nothing but a simple conference table, and a desk at the end with multiple large monitors and a rolling chair. Seated at that chair was a small girl with white hair in pigtails, a light purple hoodie, black shorts, and sneakers. Despite her appearance, she was the owner of this casino, and a genius mind renowned by many. Shuri Watanabe turned around in her chair to face Teru, a game console in her hand. She was somehow playing a game behind her without even looking at it.
"Ah, Teru-kun." she said. "Congratulations on your performance. Hopefully the others will take Miyuki-san's fate as a sign of what comes with failure."
"Did we have to go all out on her like that?" Teru asked with a sigh. "Honestly, I'm an assassin, not an artist like she was."
"Yeah, it was gross." said a voice from the corner.
"Really gross! Guess Teru-kun always had that urge in her." said another voice, sounding exactly the same as the other.
"Really?" Teru asked. "I was just following orders. You two...I don't even want to know what vulgar crap you were up to before this."
Teru turned towards the source of the voice. Two girls, who looked exactly the same with their matching short green hair that covered one eye with a purple bang, and wearing white martial arts bodysuits and boots with metallic parts, gave Teru a smirk. The only difference between the twins were the eye that their hair covered.
"How rude…" said the first twin.
"How rude indeed." said the other. "We were in an intense sparring session, not doing whatever you're implying."
"You're more of a freak than us, anyway, right Ami?"
"Yep, Ari." said the 2nd, twin, apparently Ami. "What a freak!"
"Guys, settle down…" said a quiet voice from the corner. It was a girl with light blue hair that almost appeared whitish, wearing a frilly black dress and a collar around her neck.
"Exactly!" said another girl, who had dark blue hair and pink eyes. She was wearing a pure white suit with a pink tie, and was smiling warmly. "Rion is right, it would be in our best interest to cooperate." She leaned down to Rion and whispered in her ear. "Don't make me condition you further...my darling Tokaku-chan."
"Yes...Itsumi-san…" whispered Rion with a tinge of fear.
"Now, everyone. Settle down." said Shuri in a bored yet commanding tone. "I trust that you all recall the details of our arrangement. Should we succeed, the clan will be run by all of us as a united council."
Shuri paused before continuing. "Specifically, each of us will have an assigned position calibrated to match with our goals. The Yata twins will be in charge of leading all combat related assignments. Teru-kun will be assigned to diplomacy and espionage. Rion-san will be able to live a normal life as she pleases. Itsumi-san will be able to do as she pleases with our captives and their corpses, including Tokaku-san once she is dealt with. Understood?"
"Sounds good." Ami said.
"Yeah, but what's the plan?" asked Ari.
"I am glad you asked." Shuri replied with a smirk. "You see, we'll have to draw them to us. Force them to fight in our territory. And I know just the perfect way to bait them in. You see, I have a certain hostage. One who will make those girls use any means necessary to secure them. A person the Black Class would risk life and limb for."
She gestured towards a monitor with her hand, signaling for it to switch on. Displayed on it...was a man in his mid 20s, bound with ropes, blindfolded and gagged, seated in a small blank room with only one overhead light to show his identity. A black haired man with a simple white collared shirt and black pants.
"I've taken their dear Sensei hostage."
