Chapter 29
6:30pm after school
Mizuchi "Where is he…"
Tora "Told you this was a bad idea! He's not gonna show!"
There's a tap on the window.
Yuzumi looks over and jumps "What the?!"
Natsu opens the window "How did you… Chiba this's the third floor!"
Chiba climbs through the window "The campus is not deserted and this was pretty easy."
Natsu sighs sitting in the floor beside him "And why can you scale a three story building like nothing?"
Chiba smirks laying on the floor "E-3 classes get boring. Rock climbing is fun."
Yaku "Chiba you're an idiot. You need to go to your classes."
He shrugs sitting up "It's fine. So the gig this weekend? We only have 3 days…"
Mizuchi nods "Right. So I was thinking? We need songs we all already know?"
Yuzumi "Lets do these ones? I mean we have the sheets here for review?"
They gather around to look at the music
Mizuchi "That works?"
Natsu "It's easy enough."
Yaku "Why not…"
Tora "Fine…"
Chiba shrugs "Whatever."
Yuzumi smiles "Then let's get to work!"
Meanwhile Hayami
Hayami's at Fuwa's house
Fuwa "Hayami you didn't have to come? I can handle the twins."
Hayami shrugs spinning Fuwa's little sister "No. I needed a distraction… Besides! Oka and Yuki are amazing!"
The girl, Oka, giggles "Yup!"
The boy, Yuki, stays quiet sitting in the corner.
Fuwa "A distraction? From?"
Hayami sets Oka down "Did you notice? Chiba was being really weird about Reckless X… He knows something…"
Fuwa nods "Right… but what does he know and how… We can ask Sugaya?"
Hayami shakes her head "No! No asking Sugaya!"
"I'm already calling him."
Sugaya "FaceTime. Now. Really Fuwa? I'm kinda busy?"
Fuwa waves it off "Doesn't matter. Go where I can see you."
He groans coming into view with wet hair "I just got out of the shower. What do you want?"
Fuwa moves the phones so Hayami's visible "We were wondering? Does Chiba have any connections to Reckless X."
Hayami "Don't get the wrong idea."
Sugaya flinches a little and moves a piece of his wet hair "Chiba? Have connections to Reckless X? Haha that's crazy! What gave you that idea?"
Fuwa "Well for one thing? He was really nervous talking about them."
Hayami "But he knew a lot…"
Fuwa "And you're doing that thing you do when you lie."
Sugaya sighs "Fine. Chiba does have SOME connections to them. Ao Kiyomi and Midori Hebi were in our class last year. The three of them also had the same club… But you can't tell anyone! Chiba doesn't want people to know he knew them…"
Hayami nods "Ok. Thanks. Bye Sugaya."
"Wait was that-"
Hayami ends the call.
Fuwa "Well?"
Hayami sighs sitting down "Something just doesn't sit right…"
Fuwa shrugs "We can stalk him for a bit? On the day of the concert. Follow him or something."
Hayami shrugs "Maybe…"
The week continues normally. Less akumas but Kuro and Ladybug still patrol.
Kuro "My lady? All week you've been weird? Everything okay?"
Ladybug nods "Yeah… just thinking."
"Well… there's that Reckless X concert tomorrow? Are you going?"
She shrugs "Maybe… you?"
He nods "Unfortunately… I'm being forced. Wish I coulda gone with you my lady~"
She flicks his bell "Silly kitty."
"I'm your silly kitty~"
Ladybug smiles softly rolling her eyes "You sure are…"
Kuro blushes "Wha- really?"
She looks away "Don't get the wrong idea. You're my partner. My teammate."
"If you say so my lady~"
He snickers 'She loves me a little right?'
Next day…
Saturday afternoon
Chiba just finishes his hair and looks to Natsu and Mizuchi "Where is he?"
Natsu shrugs "Yaku and Tora are on their way…"
Mizuchi "We REALLY need to replace them."
"They're the absolute worst!"
"Look. I know they're terrible and we hate them."
"Chiba you're the end class. Don't you deal with worse?"
Chiba shakes his head "Believe it or not? E-3 has a goal. Motivation. We work together to achieve it."
Mizuchi groans "Great! The E as in End class has it more together than this band."
The door swings open.
Yuzumi comes in with her hair in a messy bun and wearing an oversized shirt and fishnet tights with black wedges "Guys! Have you heard from Yaku or Tora?"
Chiba "On their way…"
Yuzumi paces "They need to hurry. We start in 20 minutes and it takes at least 15 to get ready. And why aren't any of you?!"
Chiba crosses his arms "These pants are comfier. At least I have the shirt, hair, and makeup."
Mizuchi "I have makeup done. Hair doesn't take long and you can't really see me on stage."
Natsu "I'm ready aside from shirt cause it's tight."
Yuzumi speeds up "What if those two don't show? Is there anything we can do?"
Chiba bites his lip "I can call Sugaya and have him mime playing?"
Natsu "Can't we track their phones…"
Chiba sighs "No. I'll go check outside for them. Back in a sec."
"Finish getting ready!"
He groans "Fine."
Yuzumi covers her eyes while Chiba changes into the skinny jeans.
He quickly pulls on the combat boots "See ya! Call me if you hear anything from them!"
Chiba runs out.
Chiba pulls out his phone "Ritsu?"
She appears on screen "Yes Chiba-kun?"
"Think you can track Tora and Yaku?"
She nods "Sure thing!"
Plagg "Kid I can replace one? Can't you hologram the girl and she can take the other?"
Chiba hisses "Plagg hide! And remember! You're not human!"
Ritsu "You're aware I know about you right? I'm well aware that you're Kuro Neko and of Plagg's existence."
Chiba "Ritsu you- okay was it Korosensei or did you do face scan?"
"Full body scans. I had knowledge of both Kuro Neko and Ladybug prior to E-3 so I made the connection that it's you when you taught me Shoji."
Chiba sighs "We're talking about that later. Anyway. Plagg's not human and you can't hologram."
Plagg "Kid I told you! I can take a human form!"
Ritsu "I have yet to be upgraded to hologram form. However if you plug me into the light systems I might be able to temporarily access that?"
He sighs "Yaku and Tora? Did you track them?"
She nods "Yes! They're just getting into the building!"
He sighs going back to the others annoyed.
Ryuu opens the door "They just got here. I'm gonna shoot someone."
Natsu "……Maybe don't threaten people when we get on stage?"
He flops onto the char "Yeah yeah. But seriously. We need a plan for them."
A moment later Yaku comes in
He looks at everyone coldly "I'm sorry… I'll hurry to get ready…"
Yuzumi sighs "I'll go make sure Tora gets ready. Mizuchi."
He nods "I know. I'll handle it. Natsu? Chiba? One of you come with?"
Natsu stands up "I'll go."
Chiba hangs his head "I'm babysitting really…"
Yaku "Whatever. I need to talk to Ryuko anyway."
The others leave so it's just them.
Chiba "What is it… Riku…"
Yaku starts changing "I want out for real. Now that me and Tora are A class… we can't do this… she doesn't wanna be associated with anyone from the end class."
"And what do you want?"
"Time… I don't have time for the band anymore… Can you tell the others we're done… this… this's our last show…"
Red eyes lock with yellow
Chiba nods "Fine. But. This preformance. Has to be the best."
Yaku smirks "I'm not going down without a bang."
Meanwhile in the crowd outside
Rio "This's gonna be awesome!!"
Fuwa nods "I gotta get this for my blog!"
Okajima "Can't wait for Kiyomi and Hana!!!"
Mimura "Kiyomi and Ryuko are awesome!"
Sugaya "Ryuko's definitely something…"
Hayami nods with a light blush "Mm…"
Sugaya "You know? I'm surprised you came Hayami? Chiba's not gonna show?"
Her ears go slightly red and he notices "Dont get the wrong idea. I'm here for Rio and Fuwa…"
"But you still wish Chiba was here~"
The lights on stage come on lighting up the group on stage.
"Ah!"
"It's starting!"
They start playing loudly.
Kiyomi and Ryuko smirk starting to sing.
Hayami 'Something about Ryuko feels… familiar…'
Ryuko 'Shit don't get too close to your friends! They'll recognize!'
The after a few songs they play Good Girls Bad Guys
The fans squeal at the tension mainly between Ryuko and Kiyomi
Ryuko winks to Kiyomi giving fans what they want "So why do good girls like bad guys?; I had this question for a real long time; I've been a bad boy and it's plain to see; So why do good girls fall in love with me?"
All 6 "Whoa ooh ooh, whoa ooh ooh"
Ryuko starts checking her out while Riku checks out Hana
Ryuko "Ooo lala, what lovely curves~"
Riku whistles and both girls roll their eyes dramatically.
Ryuko "Baby I get off by getting you off first; Sorry girl if this is quick; So please just take it in *loud strum* and suck my *loud strum*"
Kiyomi shakes her head and the song continues.
At the end Ryuko and Riku have one of their hands on either Kiyomi's or Hana's hips.
Both girls smirks starting the next song, Take a Hint. The girls push them away and put their instruments to the side during the intro.
Kiyomi points to both the boys "Why am I always hit on by the boys I never like? I can always see em coming from the left and from then right?"
Hana "I don't wanna be a priss; I'm just trying be polite; but it always seems to bite me in the-"
Kiyomi "Ask me for my number, yeah, you put me on the spot"
Hana gestures between her and Riku "You think that we should hook up, but I think that we should not!" Slashes her her hand across her neck to refuse.
Kiyomi "You had me at Hello; then you opened up your mouth"
Bothgo back to the guys and push them "And that is when it started going south!! OH!!!"
The girls make a fist getting more aggressive with each line "Get your hands off my hips or I'll punch you in the lips!! Stop your staring at my- HEY! Take a hint take a hint!!! No you can't buy me a drink; Let me tell you what I think; I think you can use a mint!! Take a hint take a hint!!!"
They two girls go closer to the crowd
Kiyomi puts her hands on her hips "I guess you still don't get it so let's take it from the top!!"
Hana rolls her eyes "You asked me what my sign it, and I told you it was stop."
Kiyomi "And if I had a dime for name that you just dropped!!"
Both "You'd be here!!!! And I'd be on a Yachi!!!! OH!!!"
They continue the chorus and turn back to the boys
Hana "What about no don't you get?"
Kiyomi gestures to the crowd "So go and tell your friends!"
Both "I'm not really interested!!"
Hana "It's about time that you're leaving?"
Kiyomi "I'm gonna count to three and-"
Both "Open my eyes and you'll be gone!!"
The boys shake their heads going towards different ends of the stage
Kiyomi and Hana go in front of them forcing them back to the center
Kiyomi "One."Hana "Get you're hands off my-"
"Two."
"Or I'll punch you in the-"
"Three."
"Stop your staring at my-"
Both "HEY!! Take a hint take a hint!!"
Ryuko and Riku are back to back. Hana pokes Riku and Kiyomi grabs Ryuko's shirt.
"I am NOT your missing link!!! Let me tell you what I think!!! I think you can use a mint!!! Take a hint take a hint!!!"
They finish the last chorus and the crowd erupts clapping.
The two girls smile and the boys in the band come to the front of the stage with them.
Ryuko spins the mic he grabbed "Hope you enjoyed the show everyone!!"
Hayami looks up at him 'His smile… it's familiar…'
Tikki 'Well? He is semi-famous?'
'That's probably it…'
Kiyomi takes the mic and gives it too Hana and Riku.
Kiyomi nods "It's okay…"
Hana glares and takes it before putting her mask back on
Riku smiles
Hana "We'd like to thank everyone here for all the support you've given us. Ladybug… Kuro Neko… if you're there… thank you for saving us… We're grateful to have been able to play again. However for certain reason this is the last show for me and Kiro Riku."
Whispers spread throughout the crowd.
Riku takes the mic "Don't be upset? We're really sorry… but… the band broke up for a reason. We tried to fix it… but…"
Hana "Bad blood…"
The two bow "We're sorry… please continue to support the band!!"
Touya's jaw is slightly opened and he grabs Ryuko "You knew?"
Ryuko smiles "Please respect their decision. We've worked things out already. Our future shows are still going happen."
His eyes fall to his friends in the front row.
Sugaya smirks and mouths "Do you really have a plan?"
Hebi sees someone and blushes a little hiding slightly "We're gonna miss these two but… Reckless X won't die."
Riku "Hebi we're quitting not dying…"
Touya "Eh… same shit."
Hana sighs "Goodnight and goodbye everyone… Also! For the record!!! Kiro Riku? JUST a friend."
Ryuko winks putting air quotes when she isn't looking.
That got him a slap from Yuzumi…
They all exit the stage.
Yuzumi "You have a plan right?"
Chiba smiles "Not at all. But it's fine. The fans think we do. We just have to work below the radar~"
Mizuchi "That is what we do best."
Natsu "Yaku… Tora… you're really down this time?"
They nod
"We're done with this…"
"Over it."
A few minutes later outside.
Rio "Lets break in. I wanna meet them!!"
Fuwa "Yes!!"
Sugaya sweats "Er that's a bad idea…" 'Chiba will kill me…'
Mimura "Let's just get a quick peak~"
Okajima nods "Yeah! Man I really wanna meet Kiyomi…"
Hayami "Why so you can harass her."
Okajima smirks "Yes! Wait no!"
An hour later
Hayami and Sugaya are waking alone together to the train station
Sugaya "……so? We've never really been together one on one… usually we have Chiba…"
Hayami nods.
Sugaya "Anyways? What'd you think of the show?"
"…fun."
"Who's your favorite band member?"
"Aka Ryuko… you?"
Sugaya smiles "Midori Hebi. Aka Ryuko's really cool though. The tension between him and Ao Kiyomi is really something?"
She nods.
Sugaya pouts "So what do you think about Aka Ryuko? He's kinda hot."
"……Sugaya which way do you swing?"
He smirks "Both~ But in case you're thinking of asking me out~ sorry. You're cute but off limits~"
Hayami sends a death glare "I don't like you in general. I simply tolerate you."
"You sound like Chiba when we first met… now look where we are."
She shakes her head speeding up her pace.
Sugaya matches her having longer legs "I wonder who they're gonna have replace Tora and Yaku…"
She looks at him confused
Sugaya flinches "Shit right. Murasaki Hana and Kiro Riku?"
Hayami "…you know them?"
He shifts "I used too. Chiba was in the same club as them last year and I hung out there sometimes to sketch."
Hayami raises an eyebrow "So? Chiba knows Reckless X?"
"That's one way to put it…"
Hayami takes out her phone going to Chiba's contact
Hayami: Hey
Five minutes later
Chiba: Hey
Hayami: How do you deal with Sugaya for more than 10 minutes????
Chiba: Mental murder and headphones
Chiba: Since when do you two even talk
Hayami: Sknce we go the same way and someone didn't go to the Reckless X concert
Chiba: Sorry but I just…
Chiba: Bad day for me to deal with crowds……
Hayami: Understandable
Hayami: Oh soooooo~~
Hayami: RyukoXKiyomi~~~
Chiba: Sugaya give Hayami back her phone
Hayami: Wym????? I'm Hayami
Chiba: ……what did we talk about during shooting practice Friday?
Hayami: Guns
Chiba: Sugaya give her back her phones or I'm giving that weird girl your number
Hayami: I'm not gonna question this
Sugaya "I'm calling Chiba."
Voice on roof nearby "Don't bother… You're noisy…"
They look over as Chiba jumps down in Aka Ryuko's jeans a black hoodie. He still has his makeup done and his guitar on his back on his eyes covered.
Sugaya "Sup emo?"
Chiba sighs "I could feel Hayami's glare and knew you were close."
Hayami "Makes sense…"
She notices the guitar case "You play?"
Chiba tries not to flinch "Ah yeah… a little bit…"
Sugaya smirks "He's really good~"
Chiba elbows him "I'm decent but…"
Hayami looks lost "Hm?"
The street light reveals his soft blush
Chiba "Please don't tell anyone…"
Hayami nods "Of course…"
Chiba fake smiles and looks down "Thanks…" 'I can't let her know… I'm still like Aka Ryuko… if she notices…"
Plagg 'Kid it's alright she won't.'
Chiba's pulse speeds up not hearing the conversation around him 'But what if anyone finds out… stop thinking. stop thinking. Stop thinking!!!!!'
Hayami and Sugaya both notice Chiba's steps becoming unbalanced and him breathing heavier.
Hayami "Chiba are you okay?"
Sugaya "Shit. Hey? Chiba. Chiba? Hello?"
Hayami reaches for his arm "Chiba…"
Chiba stumbles back at her touch "S-sorry… I…"
He gulp being unable to make words.
Sugaya grabs his hand and rubs small circles "Breathe… just breath Chiba."
Hayami 'This hasn't happened before?! Is he okay? Anxiety?? Panic??? He doesn't have asthma????'
Tikki 'If I had to guess I'd say it's anxiety?'
Chiba's shoulders relaxe a little and his voice is quiet and shaking "I'm okay now… sorry…" he sinks a little "I'm sorry if I worried you two…"
Sugaya "Don't apologize."
Hayami "Are you sure you're okay?"
Chiba nods still holding Sugaya's hand "I'm alright. I didn't ta- I'm fine…"
Hayami 'He hesitated?'
Sugaya gasps softly "Chiba!"
They then notice something approaching them.
A loose akuma…
It comes to a stop in front of Chiba.
Chiba gulps taking a breath.
Hayami doesn't realize her and Chiba linked hands 'Dont panic. E-3 is strong. They won't cave. I can catch this.'
Sugaya 'Shit shit shit. Not Chiba.'
Chiba 'Plagg is there anything we can do to get rid of that akuma…'
Plagg 'A cataclysm?'
'…maybe…'
Chiba "Lets… lets get out of here…"
Sugaya "Is to bad I wanna sketch it…"
Hayami "Sketch later… we need a hero…"
The akuma stays in place having their negative emotions vanish…
Once the three get a safe distance away they're calm but still scared.
Sugaya gulps shielding the other two "It's not moving still. But this could still get dangerous…"
Hayami 'Tikki. Can you purify it alone?'
Tikki 'Yes. But you three get out of here while I do!'
Hayami 'Alright…'
Chiba starts talking first "We need to get out of here… fast." 'Plagg. Cataclysm it. I trust you…'
Plagg 'You got it!'
Hayami "Where's close we can hide…"
Sugaya "Chiba? You're place is pretty close… Can we?"
Chiba hesitates then nods "I have three siblings but okay…"
Hayami flinches when he grabs her hand
Chiba "Let's hurry…"
The three start running.
Meanwhile both kwamii's meet up
Plagg "Hey sugar cube?"
Tikki rolls her eyes "You're master sent you to cataclysm the akuma?'
Plagg nods "Yup! But you might wanna take care of this… I can't control my power…"
Tikki nods flying beside him to the akuma that landed on a lamppost.
Plagg stays back a little watchig her "You got this Sugar Cube…"
Tikki flies over to the akuma and puts her hands in front of it then rubs her fingers against it softly.
The dark butterfly changes to the pure white color after being purified.
Tikki smiles "There you go little butterfly…"
It flies away who knows where.
Plagg smirks "You're so cute Sugar Cube."
Tikki pouts "Lets just go back to our masters."
End chapter
Last update of the decade… Happy New Years guys