A/N: I know that it's been more than a month since the last update, and I apologize for that. My laptop breaking down and having to be repaired, writer's block, and exams were one of the few factors for that.
On the bright side, I did some minor edits on Chapters 1-9, mostly fixing up some misspellings and grammar issues. I also added an extra bit of dialogue on Chapter 2.
Anyways, on with the show!
So far, practicing for their exams went off without a hitch. Hajime could tell that there weren't any problems among his classmates when it came towards their talents. But once the guidance counselor focused his gaze towards Natsumi, it immediately reminded him that not everything is all fine and dandy. As far as he saw, Natsumi was still avoiding Mahiru like the plague, and if the chance came that they would interact with each other, he could sense hidden hostility within the yakuza.
Along with that, the girl has been acting unpredictable lately. One moment she's silent and keeps to herself, and then the next thing you knew, she gets ticked off at even the smallest things. Not even Peko, her bodyguard, was spared from the young mistress's fury.
She's still grieving about her brother; that's understandable. But that doesn't excuse her current behavior towards everyone in the slightest.
With that in mind, Hajime began to knock on his classmate's dorm that night. "Kuzuryuu, are you in there?"
Her answer was immediate. "Go away, Hinata."
The yakuza's voice sounded tired and ragged, lacking the fire that she usually has from the past. It sounded wrong to him. Trying again, he then said, "Kuzuryuu, I only want to talk to you. If you really don't want to, just tell me and I'll leave you alone; it's fine."
Hajime was fully expecting for his friend to turn him down, to yell at him to leave her alone or to slam the door in his face; he's prepared for that. Instead, the door was slowly opened, revealing Natsumi's glare boring onto his very being.
"Get in and hurry the hell up." She snapped. "I don't want any misunderstandings between us, got that?"
Nodding, the boy got inside. He shouldn't screw this up if he wants things to get better.
Like their inhabitant, Natsumi's room is messy at the moment. It wasn't terribly bad, but he could see that there are a couple of wrecked glasses on the floor. The boy cautiously stepped inside, being careful to not step on them.
The girl took a seat on her bed, and crossing her arms, said to Hajime, "Alright, what do you want? If you're just here to waste my time, then I'm going to sic Peko on you."
Clearing his throat, he replied, "Kuzuryuu, I'm afraid that I'll have to be blunt. I know that you're still grieving, but that doesn't give you the right to just lash out at anyone when you're in the wrong mood."
"Is that all?" She asked; her glare intensified.
He shook his head. "There is still one more thing. It's frankly none of my business, and we know that you and Koizumi have had some history together, but don't you think that it's time to let go? Sure, I have no idea what happened between you two, but I think that it's kinda childish and maybe unhealthy to keep your feud going on after so much time has passed."
Natsumi didn't respond to any of that. Hajime supposed that it's alright. Turning away from her, the boy stepped his way onto the door. Before he left, he turned his head back to her.
"Of course, in the end, I have no right to tell you what to do. But, I still want to make sure that you're okay."
With those words said, the door closed, the boy leaving her alone once again to ponder in her thoughts.
Crowds of people are currently seated inside the school's gym. It's no surprise to see so many of them gathered inside; after all, today is the yearly exams every Ultimate student must take and pass in order to continue their stay at Hope's Peak Academy. The exam is simple enough; an Ultimate must showcase his or her talent after cultivating it for the past months they've been doing so and impress the judges.
If any Ultimate fails in the exam, then he or she would be expelled from the school. It might sound harsh, but it's necessary in order to keep the ultimate students at their feet and do their very best.
The judges and the audience weren't the only ones witnessing this big event; several reporters could be seen lounging around in front of the stage, some even having cameramen with them. It would be too easy to say that they were broadcasting it throughout the country.
In other words, it's all but a glorified talent show.
So far, every ultimate student has done spectacularly in showing off their talents. From Soshun Murasame's heartfelt speech to Ruruka Andou's new concoction, the judges were certainly impressed with how far the talented youths have come. The data they've gathered for years would finally be put to good use.
When the time for Class 77-B came, the audience watched eagerly from the edge of their seats, enjoying how each of the students performed and showcased their talent. In particular, they were impressed with the buffet prepared by the Ultimate Cook in only a matter of minutes.
As the show continued to go on with a literal bang, a red-haired girl took a small peek from the back of the stage, taking in the numerous amounts of people within the area. She heard how they gave her energetic classmate a round of applause at the end of her performance.
Before she knew it, her name was called.
"Next up, the Ultimate Artist: Mahiru Koizumi."
That was her cue. Giving one last, solemn look behind, Mahiru walked up towards the stage, and after giving a small bow towards her audience, began to to sketch on the canvas provided for her. Her fingers meticulously worked their way throughout the lines as the artist focused her attention towards her work. All the while the people watching her tensed in anticipation.
After a few minutes of silence, the girl breathed out a sigh of relief, and putting the paint brush, presented her finished work. Her finished painting depicted the lovely scenery of a local park: the sky's warm and bright, the park itself accurate to the real one it was based off while still having a unique feeling as poured by its artist, people portrayed as having a fun time together, the painting gave out a feeling of nostalgia.
Of course, they barely paid mind to the passion the artist put in their work. Instead, most of them focused on the painting by its surface, saying things like,
"Wow. That looks just like the real thing."
"As expected of the Ultimate Artist; she never disappoints us with her works."
"I'm not a judge, but I can say that she definitely passes!"
"Woah, that's a painting? I actually thought that was a real photographed picture!"
They all said similar things towards her classmates, so she wasn't surprised in the slightest. Their opinions don't really matter anyway; she only did what was asked. After the judges told her that she passed the exam, the girl stood up and facing the audience, gave a small bow towards them. With that over, she left without saying a word.
Once again, they only saw the talents performed right in front of their eyes without looking at the person right behind them. Not like it totally bothers her, really. For as long as she remembered, it's always been this way even before attending Hope's Peak Academy. Her works were more often than not, received with critical acclaim. People enjoy her works, demand for more, but in the end, only saw the surface, never venturing any further than that.
The backstage has never been this peaceful. Clearing her head, the artist then took a seat on a chair, giving some time for herself to relax. It was quickly dashed when she heard the last person she'll ever think of.
"Huh, you're here too. I guess that makes things easier." Natsumi commented as she approached the girl she once tormented during their younger years.
Looking up, Mahiru narrowed her eyes. She didn't dare to reply, silently hoping that the girl would get bored and leave her alone. The yakuza may have mellowed down in the beginning, but with her grief taking its toll; it wouldn't be a surprise if she started to lash out at her once again.
Noticing her reaction, she sighed and said, "Gee, can't I have a talk without anyone assuming the worst?"
The artist sighed. "Alright, what do you want this time?"
What the yakuza then said surprised her.
"So, what was that painting all about?"
The question caught her off guard.
Cases like this were rare. There was a time where people would often ask Mahiru about her interpretation of her artwork, and in which the artist would enthusiastically respond. However, her enthusiasm eventually faded when they didn't take her words at value, instead shifting their focus towards her art itself and completely ignoring the artist.
Deciding to play it safe, Mahiru then replied, "It's a park-"
Natsumi cut her off. "I know that it's a park, but that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking what it's really all about." Upon seeing the artist's bewildered look, she added, "Come on, I know that you didn't draw a park scenery just for shit and giggles."
"That's true." The artist replied. It's only a small voice within her, but somehow, she felt a bit happy that for the first time in a while, there was someone who asked the inspiration behind her work.
Deciding to humor her, she then said, "Well then, it's also the park where Sato and I used to play in when we were in middle school." She swallowed a lump in her throat at the mention of her late friend's name.
"I remember how she would often get sand all over her clothes, and I would have some sand in my shoes. And then, we would both be scolded by her mother." Mahiru let out a chuckle at the memory. "Sometimes, there would be bigger kids who'll try to take a spot for themselves, but Sato would try to fight them off, like she's a knight. Of course, it ended as well as you would have expected."
Natsumi nodded, listening intently. "I guess it really means that much to you."
"It does." The artist affirmed.
"Now I know why it looks familiar." Mahiru gave Natsumi a questioning glance, to which the yakuza then added, "My brother and I used to play in that park too when we were kids."
"Okay, it might sound less cutesy than your story since I would push him down on the sandbox; A lot." She said with a grin, reminiscing on how Fuyuhiko would then try chasing her after pulling that stunt on him. "I'll admit, seeing those people having fun in your painting made me remember those good old times. It's a good painting, Koizumi."
The artist wasn't sure on how she should react to this, but she supposed that she should at least acknowledge the compliment given towards her work. "I guess so."
Now that was out of the way, the yakuza thought. With a sigh, she looked at her classmate in the eye.
"Look, I'm not asking for forgiveness or for us to go buddy-buddy with each other," She began, "but I'll admit that I put you through a lot of nasty shit back then."
"And I know that you're probably holding it against me, so I can't blame you if that's the case. I'll just say that I think that this has gone on for too long, and it'll get tiring real quickly if I kept on with this bullshit for longer." Natsumi held her hand out. "Now, let's shake hands as two people who mutually dislike each other."
Upon seeing Mahiru's reluctance, she then added, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to. I'm fine with that."
The redhead took the blonde's hand, giving it a slow shake. "I don't really dislike you, though."
Upon letting go, the other girl replied, "That makes us even, then."
"Next up, the Ultimate Yakuza: Natsumi Kuzuryuu."
"Crap, that's my cue." She cursed. Natsumi mumbled a quick apology towards Mahiru before sprinting upstage.
She didn't notice it at first, but the artist then found a smile slowly forming on her face. She didn't care if the other girl is probably too far ahead to hear her. Waving a hand, she then cheered, "Good luck!"