HOHOHO! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Here we give a chapter to all those good boys and girls! Enjoy!
"So let me get this straight; you want to go on a 'hang out' with him?"
"Yes."
"You want to take the one guy who would enjoy wherever you take him as long as you think it's nice somewhere, yet you have no idea where."
"Yes."
"But you have no idea how to start a conversation because you are a shy one."
"Yes."
"You know I'm going to laugh, right?"
"Yes."
"Ah~ You never change, not even for one guy."
"I'm...just being me."
"And we love you just the way you are."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it, sister."
Sister...that word has been both a blessing and a curse for her from the start.
So many choices that she had done, and she doesn't know if she was doing right or wrong. Honestly, while not simple-minded, she isn't the smartest person around, but rather the one who carried orders without questioning.
Such is the way of the environment she got dropped into; her curse and gift of her Ultimate talent.
But as long as she is happy, everything should be fine.
Right?
Why is she questioning that? Of course, everything's alright.
"So. About this month's project, any idea on what we should do?" Her friend spoke to her.
She turned her head to look at his eyes. Honestly, every time she observes those eyes, it feels like everything's going to be chaotic. Her instinct always screamed at her to never let her guard down, no matter how laid back he looked to her.
"...I'm stumped as well." She answered his question.
"That sucks." Her friend let a tired sigh out. "How in the world is that we, older siblings, can't come up with something but the younger ones can?" he asked.
"...Who knows?" She looks at the sky. That blue sky had always been her 'oldest friend' along with her former comrades.
That and weapons. They are a quick solution to troublesome problems.
But most importantly, it reminded her of her little sister's eyes. Her troublesome, yet loveable sister-
"Speaking about siblings, 'you know who' got in trouble with the Principal again." Her friend casually said.
"...Of course, she did." Usually, she wouldn't do any kind of reaction at whatever she was doing, but hanging with the brothers had made her realize how tired it made her.
"Shouldn't you try to tell her that she needs to get a hold of herself?" Her friend asks, "I mean, pranking from time to time is understandable, but now? I feel like she wants to be in trouble."
At those words, she couldn't help roll her eyes, ('If only you knew how right you are.')
After all, her despair had been the source of her life. The anchor for her to push forward; her anchor as well-
Is it weird that she feels sad about that?
For her, it is. But why? She's been fine receiving those 'affection' that her sister has given her. The satisfaction behind it was what little connection she had managed to have with her little sister.
Then, what is the pit inside of her stomach? Why is it that she feels this…Emptiness?
"...Hey," Before she knew it, those lips of hers began to move, "Can I ask you a question?"
Her friend looks at her, "Shoot."
"...Am I...being a good sister?"
"...Do you want my honest opinion or the truth?"
"The truth."
"Okay." Her friend took a deep breath and gave her his answer. "I think…"
…
...
…
Her gray eyes open, seeing the familiar roof of the building she lived under, ('A memory…been so long since I had one.') She moved her legs out of her bed, showing her plain white shirt with a small flower on the right side, and short-sleeping pants that reach the top of her muscle tights.
She made her way inside the bathroom, where she stripped herself into her birthday-suit and turned on the shower. The water drenches over her short blob of hair, which begins to do her work on her body.
"You were planning to kill me, weren't you?"
"Upupupu! Who knows? The thought might have crossed my mind."
She closed her eyes and began washing her face, her fingers going through her hair to remove any small knot that occurred in her sleep.
"I mean, sure, I did say that you should reject participating in the class trial and all that."
She began to scrub her body with some body wash. The water started to go in slow motion from her surroundings.
"What the fuck even matters, bitch?! You're still alive because of dorky herbivore boy's dumb luck!"
The water drops hit the floor one by one, there was a lot, but it felt like time had gone slow for her ears to hear the echoing to it.
"It would have been an excellent display of despair, seeing you dying by those spears~ Oh, so much Despair!"
Then, those drops began to change colors, from crystal blue to crimson red, falling into a puddle of red.
"Just tell me one thing."
"Eh?! What now, big sis?"
Suddenly, spears shot and pierced her body, some going right through her limbs and chest. Blood began to drip from the wounds like a river.
"Was everything I did for you, up to now...meaningful to us?"
Her body didn't move, but she didn't breathe either. Behind her was a small shadow of red that began to expand, and the cold chill of death was in her ear, whispering like a ghost.
"Eh? What kind of stupid question is that? Of course, it was! Look at the despair we cause!"
"...I see…"
Then, everything stopped, and she opened her eyes once again. She was still in the shower, no wound or blood was on her body, "I see." She mumbled out while turning off the faucet.
"All I can do now...is do my job as her older sister."
Thus began another day inside Hope's Peak Academy for Mukuro Ikusaba.
"What the heck happened to you?!"
"Nothing."
"Don't you dare use that card with me! Tell me!"
"Nothing serious. I swear."
"Ragna Sparda! Look at me straight into my eyes and tell me the truth!"
Ragna couldn't help but sweatdrop at the harsh glare that Maizono was giving him. He would have died a few times by it.
The reason why is because he had a few bumps on his face from last night's 'man to man' spar with Mondo. I mean, it was kind of his fault for not treating it when he got back to his room, he even passed by the nurse office for God's sake, but he should have known that Maizono would come to see him first thing in the morning and barge through his door and close it.
"Sayaka, I'm fine. Seriously." He said in the hope of calming her down a little.
"I'm supposed to believe you? For fuck sake, Ragna!" It didn't work as she pouted hard at him, "I stabbed and almost killed you with a kitchen knife, and you took a dumbbell to the head from Owada! Don't tell me you are fine!"
"I am!"
"You stubborn fool!" The blue-haired idol was inches away from pulling her hair. "Just...tell me what happened. Please."
"Sayaka-" Ranga was about to reply until he saw the clenching of her fists.
"Please. Just...tell me." Maizono placed her face on his chest, "I almost lost you twice. One that I was responsible for..." her voice sounded so...hurt.
Ragna couldn't say anything as that was the reaction he feared the most out of her. But he cannot turn back to what happened, so he let out a defeated sigh and wrapped his arms around her. "Alright...if you must know-"
"What were you doing?" Sayaka did a 180-degree expression and glared at him with those deep blue eyes.
"...I walk into that one." Goddamn Idol's acting. "Fine. I was fighting with Mondo-" He quickly held Maizono tight when she tried to force herself out of the hug to hunt the Biker Gang Leader. "By my volition."
"Why?"
"...Because he still hates himself for almost killing Fuji." The Pop Sensational stops her attempts at escaping. "He knows that he did wrong, that he couldn't control his emotions. He knows that he must take control of them, and for that, he needs help."
"...But why?" Maizono looked at him with a worried expression, "Why must you be the one who has to help him?"
The white-haired boy simply said, "Because I'm the only one who can accept his anger without a problem."
Maizono looks at him for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine. I guess if you are okay with it, I'll not worry too much."
Ragna felt a sense of relief leaving his shoulders at hearing that from her-
"But!" Maizono's blue eyes began to glow in mischievousness. "I want something out of you for making me worry."
"...Okay." He did not ask, and it was better that way.
('Yes!') Maizono internally fist-bumped into the air. "Good! Now, let's go. I'm famished." She said while rubbing her stomach.
"Me too," Ragna said.
The two of them walk out of the Daredevil's room, just as Makoto Naegi decided to come out. "Oh...Morning you guys-Ragna, what the hell?!" He shouted in shock when he saw his brother covered in small bruises.
"Morning to you too." Ragna ignored the outburst from his brother and went past him. "Let's go. I want to eat already."
Makoto sweatdrop as he watches the white-haired boy walk away. "What happened?" He asked Maizono.
"Something about helping Mondo out." She said before giving him an angry/pout expression, "This is your fault, you know."
"Eh?" Makoto looked at her in shock at the accusation.
"He kept insisting that it was nothing, just like when something bad happens to you and still refuses to explain," Maizono answered before walking forward.
"H-Hey, come on-"
The Idol snapped her head back at him, her eyes going completely white in anger as said emotion began to leak out Dragon-Ball style.
"..." The brown-haired Luckster made the smart choice of biting his lips on his mouth.
"Good," Maizono said as she smiled at him and began to walk again. "Come on, Ragna is probably already in the kitchen." Knowing she was right, Makoto sighs before going along with her. When the two of them reached the doors of the dining hall, they saw Ragna getting pulled out by Hiro.
"Oy! Oy! Stop pulling me! I can walk!" Ragna yelled as he got off the man's arm-hold.
"Come on, man. There's no need to be embarrassed." The Calyvoriant spoke with his trademark laughter before seeing the other two. "Oh, Nags! Maizo! Perfect timing. Listen, you guys have to come with me."
Both Makoto and Maizono raised an eyebrow in confusion before looking at Ragna, who shrugged his shoulders as he was confused as well.
…
…
…
Ragna, Makoto, and Maizono just entered the bathhouse, the place where Hiro was taking them.
"GHYAAAAA! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
"..."
"ANYTHING! YOU CAN BREAK MY GLASSES AND MY COLLECTION OF PRETTY PUDGY DEMON PRINCESS MERCH! I CAN TAKE IT!"
"..."
"OKAY! I LIED ABOUT THE LAST ONE! PLEASE FORGET WHAT I JUST SAID!"
"..."
"SAY SOMETHING!"
And as soon as they enter, the first thing they saw was Hifumi Yamada screaming bloody murder while Kyoko and Fujisaki stared at him. Alongside the rest of the class, except Mondo, Togami, and Toko since they weren't present.
"What...is going on here?" The Luckster finally asked what everyone was thinking.
Hifumi saw them, and he quickly dashed forward before getting into his hands and knees. "MISTER NAEGI! MISTER SPARDA! PLEASE, SAVE ME!" His outburst made them step back in surprise. "I know I might cross the line with the begging! But please!"
"Chill out, fatso," Leon spoke, making the Ultimate Fanfic Artists flinch. "I don't know what the hell is going on, but you could at least fill us in."
"I agreed with Kuwata," Ogami said, staring hard at the boy, "What did you do that made someone like Kirigiri and Chihiro glare at you?" He said while pointing at the girl's (guy) who was still looking at Hifumi.
"That's...well," The obese boy began to sweat.
"...Kirigiri, care to fill us in?" Ragna asked the lavender haired girl. "On another note, should I start bringing the poles for the pork roasting?" He joked out.
"OINK?!"
"Po-That's awful, Ragny!" Hina said with a horrified expression. Whatever Hifumi did, surely doesn't need to go that far!
"I believe that is absolutely a great idea," Celeste said that with an amused expression as Hifumi pales.
"Oh, I want ribs from the roast!" Hiro spoke with his carefree attitude, oblivious to the joke.
Now Hifumi was turning completely white.
"You three, stop this at once!" Taka finally spoke. "Just because he is a bit chubby on the side is not correct to treat a classmate like that!"
"Chubby?!" The Ultimate Fanfic Artist felt that one go right through his heart.
"...I don't know," Kyoko spoke up, having a finger under her chin and thinking. "Hanging him to some poles might not be a bad idea."
"Why are you doing this?" Tears began to fall comically out of his eyes.
"I agreed." Shockingly, the one who said that was Fujisaki, who was glaring at the tubby boy with an out-of-character fierce stare. "We should hang him at the top of the gym's railing, above some hot boiling water."
"Okay, Chihiro is mad," Leon spoke with a horrified expression. "Hifumi! What did you do?!" The fat boy was trying to find words.
"The thing I told him to 'not' do again," Kyoko responded. "I was trying to be subtle with him, but since he did it again…"
"Can you at least tell us what he did?" Ogami asked.
"And what do you mean 'again'?" Now Fujisaki was drilling her(his) eyes on the artist, who wanted to dig a hole.
"Last night, he snuck into the dressing room and used Alter Ego without permission." The lavender haired girl finally explained. "When I caught him...he was hugging the laptop while breathing strangely."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The group slowly looks at the Ultimate Fanfic Artist with blank expressions or disturbed looks (mostly the girls), which makes the guy sweat even more.
Ragna brought his hands up to his face in a praying motion, "Boi." He took a small breath before chopping towards Hifumi. "What the fuck?"
"Y-You got it all wrong!" Hifumi quickly stood and began to defend himself, despite the looks he was getting. "I was...just talking to it! That's all!"
"Talking?!" Maizono looked at him with an even more disturbing look. "What does 'hugging' a computer while 'breathing strangely' has to do with talking?!"
"Which was prohibited, was it not?" Kyoko reminded everyone, her cold stare still in Hifumi.
The poor fanfic creator was turning white as a ghost, "I-I mean...It's just…" He stuttered out, "I just wanted to hear her voice again, but then...I started talking with her, and it was so much fun! And I...I…"
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Suddenly, Hiro steps forward, having a disbelief look on his eyes. "H-Hold on a second, Hifumi...I can't believe I'm going to ask this," Even someone like Hagakure was getting weird out at what he is going to ask. "But you didn't...like...fall in love with it, right?"
"Whu?/Excuse me?/Pardon?" Everyone looked at the Clayvoriant in weird confusion at the accusation.
"What?" Hifumi let out a laughing scoff at it, "How dare you suggest that I, the cold-blooded machine of the underworld, would fall in love with…" He stopped talking, his face slowly morphing into one of horror. "That's...No way! It can't be!"
"Eh?" Now everyone was looking at the Fanfic Artists with incredulous looks.
"I once did a reading to a man. The guy was making a wedding ceremony for a dummy." Hiro mentioned. Anyone could see him trembling a bit. "His eyes…were exactly like yours right now!"
"Don't call her a 'dummy'! She's an angel!" Hifumi shouted indignantly, "A beautiful creature that had come from the depth of the sky and beyond the technology!"
"Oh God, he fell in love with it," Hina said with a blank expression.
"So, like, how did it start?" Hiro asked, although he was getting uncomfortable.
"I...I just," Hifumi looks away from a moment before responding, "I was serious about just wanting to talk with her, hearing her say 'master' one more time, but then...I just started talking more with her, and she wasn't disgusted or annoyed with my hobbies; she wanted to hear more of what I had to say!" He continued as he went over the flashback of a few nights ago. "It was...the first time I talked to a girl! I was so happy, and before I knew it, I began to like everything about her! Her face, her personality, her voice, even her keyboard!"
Nobody had anything to say to him.
Hell! I'm the author of this story, and even I don't know if I should feel pitiful for his social skills or disturbed by saying he loves a computer with a straight face.
('Like, what the hell?') The majority of the students thought.
"I believe you have mistaken what she said, Yamada," Celeste spoke while twirling the tip of her black coiled hair, "Alter Ego was not interested in you per se. It was interested in what you knew. It's programmed to learn all things. Your knowledge simply got her curious - that is all." Harsh, but true.
"I...I know!" Hifumi began to sag in depression, "I do know that, but...is it fully hopeless?"
"Dude! Are you listening to yourself?!" Leon couldn't help screaming with sharpened teeth. "Is a computer! A device! Not a real girl!"
"Not to mention, it's unhealthy to have a relationship with an object that isn't alive!" Taka chops his arms like a robot.
"Shut up, you 3D lovers!" Hifumi snapped back at them, "You would never understand my love!"
('And we choose not to understand it!') Everyone internally responded.
*Tap*
Before the fanfic artist started anything, or anyone could start it, a hand landed on his shoulder. Looking at the side, he saw Ragna smiling at him, like a friend.
"Hey, Hifumi? How about you come and talk a bit with me?" Ragna said.
"A...talk, Master Sparda?" Hifumi asked with a confused expression.
"Just a simple conversation between us two. You know, from a man of culture to man of culture." Ragna wink at him.
His last comment threw the others away just a bit. Not even Makoto and Maizono knew what the hell he just said.
Hifumi, being a man that has watched and created anime beforehand and all, understood the words, although he was shocked as well. "I-well…"
"We can go and have a round on Street Fighter."
The lens of the Fanfic Artists shine. "Mehehehe! You have my attention." Before anyone could do anything, the two of them left the bathhouse.
"What the hell was that about?" Hina asked, trying to understand why Ragny said those things.
"...Ragna did well," Kyoko spoke up, catching everyone's attention. "By where he was going, Yamada was probably about to act out of control." She explained the Ultimate Daredevil's actions.
"...For a computer," Leon replied with a blank expression.
"Damn, the dude's standards are creepy," Hiro said while scratching the back of his head. "With that attitude, he will stay single for eternity."
"Talking from experience, Hiro?" Ikusaba asked.
"Yeah...Wait, what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Nothing." Ikusaba ignored the comment of Hiro and looked at Makoto, "By the way, Makoto...it's me, or did Ragna look a bit rough up?"
"Eh?" Hina looks at the Luckster with a worried look, "He looked hurt?"
"Now that she said it," Ogami spoke as well, having seen the Ultimate Daredevil's condition. "He did look a bit hurt on his face. Was he training with you, Naegi?"
"That's…"
*Snap*
Makoto tried to speak, but the next moment, a sense of dread crawled through his backside. His hazel-eyes slightly look to his right, seeing Maizono having a blue aura bursting out of her.
Her change of mood surprised the others. Even Kyoko couldn't help being surprised by it, "That's right…" Maizono spoke with a rough tone, her blue eyes looking at the students, the stare making (some) them jerk a bit. "There's something I must say to him…If you excuse me."
Turning around like a soldier, the Pop Sensation marched her way out. Leaving confusion and shock on her classmates.
"Okay! What the fuck?!" Hiro shouted in fear before pointing at Chihiro, who was on her computer. "First Chihiro glared like a mad pub bear, and now Maizono just acted like a banshee!"
"Men." Hina let a sigh out, "I just know some of you did something and had no idea what you did."
"Mhm."
"I second that."
"Agree."
"I concur."
"We are here, you know!" Every male present yelled at the accusation.
It's not their fault that one of them just recently discovered an unhealthy love desired with a computer!
"Besides, if you are going to blame someone, then Rags is your man!" Hiro was quick to point fingers at the white-haired boy. "He is the only one who could make Maizo angry!"
"...I would ask why he is the only one, but," Celeste spoke while placing a hand over her mouth and making a thinking expression. "Haven't they both been a bit too close recently?"
Everyone stood silent.
Her words did speak some truth, having everyone thinking.
"I mean...Sure, they both hang out more frequently." Leon said.
"She stays close to him when she has the chance," Hina said.
"She's been helping him do meals from time to time," Ogami said.
"There was that time where Maizono began to feed him," Mukuro said.
"She cried when we thought Ragna was dead," Taka said.
"And...she has that collar in her neck with his initials." Kyoko finished saying.
Silence filled the air in the bathhouse, which was getting a bit uncomfortable. Only Chihiro's quick fingers typing on the keyboard echo out.
Kyoko began to have thoughts. Were Ragna and Maizono more than...friends?
Why would he even think of going out with her? She betrayed him to get out. Both of them having that kind of relationship is unthinkable, and not even healthy-
Why the hell was she bothering with that?! If they are in a relationship, it is not of her inconvenience! Who cares about who Ragna goes out? Is he even looking for a love romance at the moment?
Why is she focusing on this situation?!
"Ah!" Hiro's sudden scream brought everyone's attention to him. "I can see it!" He began to say as he eyes his crystal ball, which had a small crack in it. "I'm seeing it now! Is getting shown to me!"
"Hagakure! Tune out your voice down! What in the world are you talking about?" Taka scolded the older guy.
"The future! I saw Rags' future again!" The Clayvoriant continued to yell in excitement, "I can't believe he was right about that Ki stuff! Now I'm certainly going to get some cash out of him!"
"...This isn't the time for that, Hiro." Kyoko glared at the older guy.
Celestia let out a tired sigh, having an idea of what he was saying. "Again with that? Is your brain full of air?"
"What the heck are you three talking about?" Hina asked with a raised eyebrow, having no idea what the three of them were saying.
The Gambler quickly explained, "This idiot claims to have seen Ragna's future accurately. Which is completely absurd and preposterous."
"I'm not stupid, and my predictions aren't stupid either!" Hiro shouted. He was neither stupid nor dumb!
"W-Well, what did you see?" Fujisaki, having finished his work on Alter Ego, asked.
"Rags' getting more than one girlfriend!"
…
…
…
"Ehhhhhhhhh?!"
"Bullshit." Leon blankly replied.
"Preposterous!" Immediately, Taka went scholar mode, "Not only does it sound ridiculous, but polygamy also is not welcome in a school environment!"
"I do not see Sparda as a man-player," Ogami said with an unsure tone.
"It's true!" Hiro was standing his ground. "I saw him surrounded by women! I'm not lying!" He pointed at his ball, "I can even confirm two of them!"
The Baseball Player spoke, "Look, Hiro. I'm seriously trying to not blow out of your occult shit and stuff-"
"Is not occult!"
"I don't care." Leon sighs, "But you're crossing the line of annoyance right now."
"I concur with Kuwata!" Taka crossed his arms, "Besides, I do not believe that Ragna would focus on the aspect of a relationship with Maizono, let alone in our current situation!"
"Well, too bad! Because I can say that they are!" Hiro proclaimed, starting an argument with the two boys.
As the conversation began, Hina looked uncomfortable. ('Are they...really going out?') Despite everything that had happened to them, had they truly started dating?
I mean, she should feel glad that they patch their bond again, but this was getting uncomfortable for her.
She even placed her left hand over her chest, feeling her heart clenching in pain.
Sakura saw her doing this, "Hina?" She spoke with concern, "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah." The swimmer said, taking a deep breath, "Just felt something up my throat." The Martial Artist looked unsure but regardless, nods at the response.
Celeste, despite not taking the older 'Rank-D'(close to F) man's words, was intrigued by it. ('Hagakure is stupid, but I cannot deny that his prediction is mostly accurate...Does Sparda truly possess that much luck?')
"You know what?! Fine, let's ask Naegi!" Leon proclaimed as he turned to the Lucky Student, "Yo, Naegi! Is Ragna…" he stopped talking.
Why? Because the brunette was nowhere to be seen.
"Eh?! When did he leave?!"
"Ikusaba grabbed him and left," Kyoko said, looking at the exit with a hardened expression.
"Quick! We need to get answers!" Leon proclaimed, and was about to head off when-
"E...Everyone! Stop!"
The students did as they were told. They put their attention to the owner of the voice, Chihiro Fujisaki.
The young girl(boy) felt uncomfortable by the stares, but had a determined expression. "We...We shouldn't meddle with that. Whatever their relationship is, w-we should just let be, since it's not hindering our current situation... I-I think." Fujisaki said.
Everyone was silent for a minute, processing what the young programmer said.
"...Chihiro is right," Kyoko crossed her arms together, "Whatever is going on with those two shouldn't be our concern since it's not affecting the current situation." Her heart did not clench in pain. "For now, we should leave. We don't want to make the mastermind suspicious."
With nothing to say more, everyone began to leave in pairs. Hina and Sakura were the first ones to leave, talking about going to the pool to train. Leon left along with Chihiro, Taka, and Hiro, still arguing with the Clayvoriant on his predictions while the Moral Compass tried to stop the argument.
All that was left was the mysterious Ultimate, the Gambler, and the hidden AI on the locker, resuming its original task.
"What are your thoughts, Kirigiri?"
"Hmm?" The lavender-haired girl looked at Celeste, who had a curious expression.
"About what Hiro proclaimed, that is." The black-haired girl spoke, "While it does sound preposterous, there's no denying that he has been right before."
"Are you implying that Ragna is going out with Maizono?" Kyoko asks.
"As I said, Hiro has been right before." Celeste began to twirl the tip of her pig-tail hair. "And while it is very vague, he did say that one of the girls had blue eyes." Her red-eyes look into Kyoko's light purple eyes, "And as far we know, only two people match those descriptions." She didn't need to say more.
Kyoko was left in silence, processing what Celeste had stated.
The Ultimate Gambler watched with amused curiousness the expression that the lavender-haired girl was doing. Seeing someone very level headed as Kirigiri was amusing to her indeed.
"Why are you interested?" Kyoko glared at her, "I do not see why you're so interested in him?"
At that, the Gambler let a chuckle out. "You dare ask me that? My, oh my." She could see the eyebrow of the girl twitch. "And here I thought that everything that he has gone through was enough to catch anyone's attention."
Kyoko looked straight into her red eyes before understanding what she was trying to say. "...I do not find his close calls entertaining, Ludenberg."
"Oh my." Celeste placed a hand over her mouth, sporting a surprised expression. "I didn't know you care for him that much."
"I don't-" Kyoko stopped herself from saying anything to her.
Celestial Ludenberg, or that is how she wants to be called, is someone she truly needs to watch out for. Her personality and web of lies scream suspicion, even if most of it is about her life.
"...I'm simply saying that I do not find someone almost dying amusingly as you. That's all." She replied.
"Oh perish the thought," Celeste took a few steps forward before spinning around elegantly. "I'm not finding it amusing. Just that his luck makes his life a bit interesting to me."
"...You and your obsession with luck." Kyoko almost facepalm.
"Don't underestimate it, darling." Celeste felt a tiny bit insulted by her tone, just a tiny bit. "Luck is much as important as life. A factor that I and Sparda have proven thanks to our talents."
Kyoko didn't have anything to say. There was nothing she needed to say that was wrong from Celeste's mouth.
"I simply wish to know if his luck is better than mine." Celeste said as she began to exit, "After all, surviving death is an achievement of its own."
Now, only the girl with amnesia was left in the bathhouse, alone with her thoughts.
It was a bit rough, but she has managed to remember that she always kept things to herself. Perhaps her talents had forced her to always have an open mind.
It would explain the distrust she has with anyone in this school. Like when Naegi had tried to ask her about her talents and she quickly went into a rude defense, despite him being an open foolish boy.
('...I might have gone too much there.') Kyoko let out a sigh at that memory. Even if she has the right to tell him or not, the way she pushed him away was...unfair.
But that said, she needs to be careful with them. Who knows if one of them…
Could be a spy for the Headmaster.
That's one of the few things she had not decided to throw into the mix yet.
Capturing sixteen students? Closing Hope's Peak without anyone noticing? Full control of collecting information on them?
This is the work of more than just one person. So the possibility of the mastermind having a mole among them, waiting to be sprung open, is not too far off. But it does beg a question to her; why haven't they acted already?
If Monokuma wants despair so much, why not have them kill someone? Making them throw a wrench into the group's shaky trust?
At the moment, she has three possibilities as to why.
One. Monokuma has them lay low.
Two. They are looking for an opportunity to attack.
Three. They aren't exactly on good terms with Monokuma.
Although she had these possibilities, even she knew that she shouldn't bring this to the others without proof. She would be risking herself if there is a spy among them.
But like she had stated before, she was more than meets the eye. After all-
"If you don't take a risk, what's the point of pushing forward?"
Yeah, just as he had said-
Kyoko quickly held her head as a jolt course through, forcing her to grit her teeth at the unexpected pain.
That voice from before. The one appearing constantly.
Kyoko shook her head, trying to calm down the throating headache, the 'voice' vanishing from her mind. She found herself breathing heavily, trying to get air on her lungs, despite having not lost any.
('What the hell is that voice?') she asked herself. At this point, she's concerned. This was not a coincidence.
Whoever that voice belongs to, she had met them before, and it was triggering something inside her.
Mondo Owada came out of his bathroom, wearing a patch on his left cheek. He needed that shower since he couldn't do it at night.
('Stupid bear and his stupid rules of no bath.') Mondo growls internally as he puts on his clothes. He didn't think through about the shower thing after the round with Red.
*Ding-Dong*
"Huh?" The Biker raised an eyebrow as he looked at the door. "Who the hell?" He asked himself, not expecting any kind of visit. Staying cautious, he walks to the door and slowly opens it a bit. "Who is it?"
"Owada."
Mondo was surprised to hear the voice of that person. Given his current relationship, the only people he had talked with are few, five at most. And they were all guys…
So why was this chick here for?
Maizono's blue eyes stared through the crack of the door, making contact with the Biker's gray pupil. He couldn't see it, but the Pop Sensation was sporting an expression that is both a mix of seriousness and low-stem wrath.
"...Uh, can I help you, chick?" The Biker asked, feeling a sense of dread surging up his spine.
"I wish to talk with you for a moment," Maizono demands.
"Uh, sure. Just give me a moment and I'll-"
"Open the door now." The Idol cut his sentence.
"Huh? Wait for a second girl-"
"Open the Goddamn door, Owada. Or I'll swear to you I will cut that corn-looking hair of yours and shove it right between your butt."
Mondo felt shocked and horrified at what she just said. Like, that's not what you expect from a celebrity idol. Then again, she did almost try to kill someone not too long ago. So he opened the door to her without a question.
Maizono walked inside, seeing the room of the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader. To her surprise, she saw that the room was a bit...mess up. Some banners looked patch up, a chair was badly fixed-up, there was even a dent mark on the wall with...what she believes is blood marks.
Is this...what Ragna meant when he said that he is the only one who could accept Owada's feelings? Is he so self-conscious of his action that he almost broke his hands out of anger and guilt?
"Y-Yeah. Sorry about the room." Mondo apologized while scratching the back of his head. "I try to repair most of the damage, but you can see that...I'm still shit at it."
"You? Repairing stuff?" Sayaka looks at him with a shocked expression. Other than leading a group of outlaws, she didn't expect repairing to be part of his person.
"Yeah. I realized that I always break stuff, so I thought I could try fixing stuff and all that." Mondo explained with a bit of embarrassment. "I mean, I know I won't be a Biker forever. So I need to think of getting a job."
…
…
…
*Snort*
Mondo flinched when he heard Maizono snort a little. Seeing her cover her mouth while looking away made him turn red more. "W-What are you laughing at?!"
"S-Sorry." Maizono apologized as she recovered her breath. "It's just, you looking like a smart person is a bit funny." She said while smiling, "It's almost cute."
"S-Shut it." Mondo looks away to hide his growing red-cheeks. "W-Why are you here anyway?"
Maizono controlled herself before taking a deep breath. Once normal, she put up her serious expression and looked at him. "...I'm here to talk with you about Ragna." Mondo could feel dread when he heard that. "I know you and him fought."
"N-Now just wait a minute-!" Mondo quickly tried to explain himself.
Maizono simply shook her head. "Don't worry, Ragna already explained that it was to help you pent out." Saying that calmed him down. "Even so, there's so much I need to say to you, so many things."
Mondo watched in confusion, seeing her hands clenching. "But I would be a hypocrite to say anything to you at all. I mean, look at me; I was the first to break and almost kill someone." The Biker flinches at the dead look that Maizono suddenly had. "Worst part, it was to the people I trust the most." He now looks away from her expression.
Honestly, he kind of forgot that the chick had already tried to kill someone before him.
And now that he thinks about it...she has it worse than him. She tried to frame her friend, almost ended up killing Goatee, but ended pointing the tip to Red.
How horrible she must have felt.
"But as I said, I'm not here to scold you," In a quick instant, Maizono's expression turned serious, looking straight at Mondo. "You probably noticed it, but Ragna is the reason I was able to stop. And the same reason why I'm still alive. I mean, what was I thinking?" A bitter chuckle left her mouth, "Going after someone with the reflexes of an athlete? I was so desperate that I chose someone just because they look easy to kill."
"Really? That's the reason?" Mondo couldn't help but ask.
"Shut up! Don't judge me! You look at him and tell me he does not look weak-looking!" Maizono yelled out.
"I mean, his title says it all." The Biker said while scratching the back of his head. While Kuwata doesn't muscle-look with those punk clothes, even Mondo knew that Hope's Peak Academy had a reason to give him the title of Ultimate Baseball Player.
"Well...I didn't…"
"Nice save." Mondo chuckle.
"Shut up." Maizono looks away with a pout and red cheeks before quickly recomposing herself, "T-The point is...I'm still here because of Ragna, and so are you." Her words did ring true to Owada. "So...I just...please-"
She bowed.
She arcs her waist to a slight 160-degree position to him. "Please be careful with him." She begs him.
Mondo watched in surprise before quickly recomposing himself, "H-Hey, I get it! Stop with the bow-thing shit!"
"No! I'm serious, Owada!" Maizono yelled, surprising him. "I mean it, please be careful with him...You don't know how close Ragna is from breaking."
"Huh?"
"Please...I'm begging you." She started to sound like crying.
Now that's when The Man freaks out, "Okay! I promise to be careful! Please don't cry!" He agreed.
"Good!"
Maizono stopped her bow and looked at him with a sweet smile, no tears in sight. "I expect you to not break your promise." She skips away from the open mouth of Owada, "You did say that a Man never breaks a promise! I'll take that as your way of asking for redemption." With that, she left.
Mondo's brain was trying to process what just happened.
The chick...just tricked him and used his 'Man Promise' code! He was tricked into promising something...AGAIN!
She was ballsy to that to the Ultimate Biker Gang Leader.
The door closing on him brought him to reality. He quickly shook his head and went to the door, trying to get her. "H-Hey! Wait a minute-"
However, the moment he opens the door, a small yelp of surprise and the sound of something hitting the floor stop him. Not what happened, rather who it happened to.
"Ow. Ow." Chihiro mumbles in pain as he caresses his sour behind.
"K-Kid?"
The young brunette looked up and saw Mondo with a shock in his eyes. "Oh...H-Hey, Mondo-Are you okay?" He noticed the patch on his cheek.
"Uh, yeah. I am, are you okay?" Mondo asked as he looked away, "S-Sorry about that. I didn't think you would be passing by." He apologized.
"N-No, that's okay," Chihiro said as he stood up, still caressing his behind. "I...I should have been careful."
…
…
…
~Awkward Moment~ *clap*clap*clap*
…
…
…
~Awkward Moment~ *clap*clap*clap*
…
…
…
~Awkward Mome-
"Uhm-/Listen, kid-"
Both Mondo and Chihiro spoke at the same time, and stopped to look at one another. "Oh, S-Sorry." They apologized.
…
…
…
~Awkward-
"Pathetic!"
The sudden shout made the two of them jump in surprised and snap their face to the side of the corridor, seeing Taka glaring hard at them. "What the hell are the two of you doing standing around looking like chickens after taking three steps?!"
"T-Taka?"
"I came here to see if Mondo was feeling alright since he didn't come to breakfast." The black-haired teen explained. "And give him a quick run up at what has transpired." He turned to look at Fujisaki, "Why are you here, Chihiro?"
"J-Just walking to my room," Chihiro responded.
"I see."
…
…
…
"...Great. Now I'm silent." Taka felt slightly embarrassed at the silence of the three of them.
"Agreed." Mondo acknowledged that.
"...We…" the two males turn to the petty hidden boy, who spotted a cute/nervous expression. "We need to talk, Mondo."
The Biker looks at Fujisaki for a moment before letting a tired sigh out. This moment was bound to happen, he knew it and Red had warned him. "If you are okay with it."
"If the two of you are planning to talk, I suggest you go to the bathhouse and take a nice bath together!" Taka suddenly suggested. "I was planning to go to the sauna to refresh my skin. You can accompany me."
While Mondo looked at him in confusion, Chihiro understood the meaning. "I-I concur!"
Before Mondo knew it, Chihiro and Taka had grabbed both of his green sleeves and began to pull them, making the Biker flinch in surprise at the sudden eagerness. "H-Hey! Calm down, I'm coming!"
And with that, he forgot about Maizono. Because as much as he wants to know what she meant by Red being at breaking point, these two…
He needs to clear everything up with these two. They deserve it.
"Wrong! Everybody knows that Erza Scarlet is the most beautiful woman in Fairy Tail!"
"Nay! That might be in a stupid internet poll, but fans can clearly distinguish true beauty from harlots! Mirajane Strauss is a true beauty!"
"Mirajane? No offense, but everyone knows that Sayla takes that title!"
"Ah! So your religion is satanic worshiping. I believe it is okay to say that Rias Gremory is your favorite."
"Meh, you got me there. I like her, but Akeno and Kuroka are my number one waifu."
"Oh, kinky Mister Sparda. I didn't take you for a BDSM sadist and a psychotic Neko fan."
"Am not, I just feel a bit related to the two of them."
"And their huge, inflated twin girls that are trapped on those shirts~"
"I will not agree nor deny that statement."
"...What the fuck did I just walk into?"
Leon and Hiro blink in confusion at seeing Hifumi and Ragna have a strange conversation about, what they believed, anime girls...And the Daredevil made no disgust expression to the Fanfic Artist perverse smile and glint behind his glasses.
Noticing on the corner of his eye, Ragna turned and waved at them. "Yo, Leon! Hiro! How's it going?"
"...We are okay." Leon sighs as he and the Clayvoriant sit down. "And you two? Weren't you guys supposed to be playing Street Fighter?"
"We were. But we got hungry." Ragna pointed at the kitchen, the doors being open. "I'm making some curry chicken. You guys are welcome to it when it's ready."
"Free meal? Don't mind if I do!" Hiro quickly took the offer.
"...You know what, I will." Leon sighs, "But you know? Excluding the fact you are a great cook, why do you keep doing it?" He asked.
"Hey listen. When you live by going around the world and you do the shit I do, nobody is going to give you food." Ragna explained as he heard a beeping. "Oh, curry is ready. Be R-B." In a blink, Ragna moved from his chair to the inside of the kitchen, only to come out with a pot of hot curry. "Who's hungry?"
The three boys simply grab a plate and serve themselves. As they eat and enjoy the food, Hiro turns to Ragna with a question, "So Rags, I have been thinking for a while," The white-haired boy looked at him, trying hard to not punch the dude for calling him a cloth name again. "That KI stuff you told me has worked surprisingly well with me."
Leon's eyes widened in realization at something. He slammed his hand on the table, making poor Hifumi yelp in surprise and almost losing his plate of food. "Ah! That's right!" He turns to Ragna, "Dude, I need to ask you something about that!"
"Hold on for a sec," Ragna simply raised his hand at him. "Hiro was talking first, so let him finish first."
"But-"
"It's bad luck to interrupt someone else, Leon. Imagine if a person interrupts your singing in the middle of a concert."
Seeing that he wasn't going to budge, the Baseball Player dropped down with a pout and began to re-continue to eat his food.
"Now then, what did you want to say?" Ragna returns his attention to the Clayvoriant, who looks momentarily shocked at what just happened.
"A-Anyways, this KI thing-y is good, like, really good," Hiro explained as he scratched his beard. "So good that a question popped into my head. Since you know of this; are you, by any chance, a clayvoriant too?" He asked.
That brought the attention of the two other boys.
"Hmm? What makes you say that?" Ragna asked.
"Well...The energy just felt so strong and calm. Like, with it, I could feel my senses become sharp for a moment. I looked into my crystal to look at the future and saw that I almost tripped over my legs at the front of my room, and moments later, I did!" Hiro explained with dramatic effects
Ragna looked at him for a second before speaking. "Just to confirm, you saw yourself tripping on your legs while looking at the future through the ball?"
"Yeah! It was 100% accurate!" Hiro confirmed.
The Daredevil looks at Leon and Hifumi for a second, both sporting blank expressions. He sighs and looks back at Hagakure. "No, I'm not a Clayvoriant. I just learn KI to learn and have control of my body in it."
"Really? Ah, bummer." Instead of feeling sad, Hiro sighs and laughs it off. "I thought that if you were, we could help each other in a business plan I was thinking."
"Yeah...I don't think it is going to work with me." Ragna shook his head before turning to his red-haired friend, "So? What did you want to ask, Leon?"
"It's... Nothing, forget it." Leon said before finishing his food. "It was something stupid." Here he was trying to get an answer about his and Maizono's relationship.
But after hearing one of Hiro's supposed predictions, he chose to forget it.
"Are you sure? It sounded important to you." Ragna asked in worry.
"Don't worry. I promised." Leon reaffirmed his statement.
Unsure, but acknowledging, Ragna nodded. "Alright, if you say so." He looked at Hifumi, who was doing a second serving. "To your liking, fatso?"
"Of course it is!" The fanfic artist exclaimed while taking a spoon of food. "It's so delicious! The rice is perfectly steamed. Neither too hard nor soft! It's like tiny, yet pleasant, bubbles popping in my mouth! And the meat is so tender! I can easily cut it and chew it without a problem! And lastly, the curry! The spicy taste is burning my insides, yet I can enjoy it without a problem!" Hifumi declared while tears of joy began to come out of his eyes. "Oh...Oh...I-I think is so good, I-I might have a good orgasm!"
"Dude! What the fuck?!
"I'm eating here too, fatso!" Both Leon and Hagakure almost turn green at the way the fat boy expresses his words.
Ragna rose his hands up while sweating, "Alright, easy there, buddy. Mind your manners." He said as he tried to calm Hifumi down.
Swallowing his food and cough into his mouth, Hifumi spoke."E-Ehem! Forgive me, I...Went out of control for a moment."
"Understatement of the month," Leon mumbled out.
"Is just...things are very hard to me right now," Hifumi confess as he looks down in sadness, "I mean, I know I'm not the only one feeling like this but...Just look at me," He pointed at himself, "I'm this, an overweight boy with uncontrollable fascinations. Since little I have been like this. Always been called out, always sensing the laughs of the other kids." The more he spoke, the more he felt himself getting little and depressed. "It hurts, you know? Being called something just because of your looks."
At that, Ragna, Leon, and Hiro were silent. They look at each other, feeling a slight pity for Hifumi.
"But that's okay!" And as fast as he drops, our Fanfic Artist jumps back to positive. "Because that allowed me to watch anime and discover the world of an Otaku! As well as the ways to embrace one's desires in what they love!"
And like that, the pity the three boys had vanished like smoke. ('He just had to remind us.') they thought.
"I also discovered other people who enjoy what I love. And look where I'M at! I'm the Alpha and Omega of my industry! The Next Van Gogh! The Ultimate Fanfic Artist! I am Hifumi Yamada, the killing machine of hoes and faithful pawn of the waifus!" Hifumi was proclaimed without shame.
"Is he ignoring the fact that he has the hots for a computer?" Leon whispered to the other two.
"I think he's not bothered by it anymore," Hiro whispered back.
"My life would be perfect!" Hifumi suddenly sagged down in weakness, "Or it would be, if only I could get some Diet Coke."
"...Why Diet Coke?" Hiro asked in confusion.
And the moment he said that, it was a moment everyone present would regret.
Hifumi's glasses shone as he stood straight in his chair, "Why? Why?! Why Diet Coke?!" He slammed his fist on the table, fire forming in his eyes as dramatic music was sound in the background. "Because it is the most delicious drink in the world! One sip, one tiny drop of it, and your body melts like butter in an oven! It's the best friend of mankind! It clears the mind of any useless junk stuck in it, and transforms any boring conversation into a cinema masterpiece! Diet Coke is the route to success in life! Without it, I could have never made my version of the Pretty Pudgy Demon Princess and show it to the world!" He kept rambling.
"Thanks a lot, dude!" Leon glared as he covered his ears to stop the rambling.
"I'm so sorry!" For the first time in his life, Hiro wished he should have shut up. But it was then that he noticed Ragna had disappeared. "Hey, where's Rags?"
Leon looks up, not seeing the white-haired boy anywhere. "Don't tell me he abandoned us?!" He whispered hardly. How cold of the man who can dare anything to run away from something like a dumb rambling.
Luckily, Ragna re-appeared again from the kitchen and he had a sealed cup that he was shaking around. He walked up to Hifumi and placed the cup in front of him.
This caused the Fanfic Artist to stop his talk, "Hello? What's this?" He asked.
"The thing that'll shut you up," Ragna said before moving back.
Raising an eyebrow in confusion, Hifumi took the cup and open the lid to look inside it, seeing black with tiny bubbles of caffeine. With caution, he places the cup on his lips and allows the liquid to enter inside.
The moment his tongue made contact, he froze. His hand robotically moved the cup back while he stared at the ceiling. "T-This is...~!" And before anybody could see it, Hifumi threw himself to the ground and bowed his head while doing a praying pose in front of the white-haired boy. "Please! Teach me the ways, O' Great Master!"
"Uh, Ragna? What did you give him?" Leon looked at the white-haired with a baffled expression.
"What he wanted." Ragna simply said.
"...How the fuck did you made Diet Coke, when there's no fucking coke in here?" Surprisingly, that was Hiro who asked.
The Daredevil chuckles and places a finger on his lips while winking, "Now that is only for me to know." He turned to look at the still bowing Hifumi, "Hey Hifumi. Get up already, it's getting weird. How about we go and play another game?"
"Absolutely!" And just like a good boy, Hifumi stood up, his pointy ahoge wiggling like a happy dog about to get a bone.
"Oh, right! You guys are playing games!" Hiro stood up, "Mind if I join in? I'm getting bored right now!" He asked. Trying to convince Naegi or anyone to let him read their future is okay, but he could go for something different.
"Sure. I got another controller." Ragna agreed, not seeing a problem in having the older boy join in. In fact, he turned to look at Leon, "How about it, Leon? Wanna join?"
"Huh?" The red-haired athlete looked at him surprised for a moment before recomposing himself, "Um, sure. I guess." He scratched the back of his head. Not like he was planning anything at the moment.
"Good!"
Suddenly, the three boys felt dread in the air. Their faces paled in slight fear as they noticed Ragna's face morph into a horrifying happy expression. "I got just the game that the four of us can play!"
…
..
.
"Oh, that is bullshit!"
"What the fuck!? I'm only getting the same shit over and over again!"
"Nyeheheh! Finally! My comeback starts now-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! It ran out of power already!? That was way too short!"
"No way! I fucking hit myself with my bloody attack! How does that work?!"
"Goddammit! I can't steer my car right! Something is wrong with this controller!"
"Incoming Big Blue!"
"Oh no! Not me-not me!"
"What the hell?! I wasn't even in the middle of that shit!"
"Fuuuuuuuck! It hit me right as I was flying!"
"Dude! There's something wrong with this controller!"
"Who the hell put that in the way?! And how didn't I see it?!"
"Nononononono! I'm almost at the end, please don't fuck this up!"
"Throwing Red forward! Sorry in advance!"
"NOOOOOO! I WAS WINNING!"
"Not anymore! See ya later bitches!"
"Dude! For real! There's something wrong with this controller!"
"Yeah, the problem it's the person holding the controller!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
"G-G-G-Get rekt!"
"Fuck you guys!"
"Man! I love you guys! We are having a great time, playing games like good old friends!"
"I want to strangle you with a rope! You stop at one moment and hit me with three shells!"
"Umm...Actually, that was me. S-Sorry."
"What the fuck, Hiro!?"
"I'm sorry, okay?! I wanted to use the boost item!"
"And you just have to throw them at me?!"
"Well, excuse me for wanting first place!"
"You were dead last in that entire round!"
"And you were in front of me, so fuck you too!"
Ragna and Hifumi burst laughing as they watch Leon scream and chase after the Clayvoriant, wanting to punch him. Hiro responded by running around the Daredevil's room, screaming in slight fear. They have been playing for some time the recommended game, and the results can be read.
Seeing that he let the fire burn long enough, Ragna caught the red-brunette and stopped him. "Alright. Calm down, Leon. It's just a game."
"Hah. Hah. Hah." Leon breathed in and out before calming down. "Alright...I'm okay." Seeing that he meant it, Ragna let him go. "...I'm still gonna hit him for that."
"Please don't let him." Hiro squealed from behind Yamada, who was eating a bag of sour chips.
Honestly, this is what they should have been doing in this fucking academy, at least half of the time.
Hanging out. Playing games. Have stupid or nice conversations. They were still children and should have focused on just trying to have a good time.
Unfortunately, they were in the hands of a real sociopath hell-bent on making them taste despair.
*Ding-Dong*
The four boys tense as the school bell rings, their eyes quickly turn to the monitor that turns on and show Monokuma in his chair yet again, a glass of red wine on his paw.
"Ahem! School announcement! Nighttime is fastly approaching, but before that! Everyone, please report to the Gym immediately." Monokuma announced as its face went close to the camera. "I have a surprise for all of you!~" The monitor turned off.
"...Ah shit, here we go again."
There's no need for a genius or hard thinking to know that something was about to happen...again.