Shino sighed and stretched out along the sofa, with Hatsumi curled up on the other end. Things were coming along nicely, with Mawa and Teruya being amongst the ones heading off, as soon as the latter had recovered from the fight. For something that Shino or the others hadn't orchestrated, it had proved an incredibly effective strategy, even if they were still wondering exactly what had happened. They had a suspicion that somehow, it could have been their glitter spider that sparked it, but if the police had incorrectly assumed that it had something to do with Sho and his buddies, who were they to oppose that? There was no way they'd go from the actions of a group of vaguely delinquent boys to someone like them.

Either way, things were going well. They were down to a few students, including Minah's other two friends (naturally, they'd be getting her to help with them, when the time came) and soon they would have to kick things off. Soon, they'd all be disappearing.

So of course, the next step was to make sure that their disappearance would not go noticed.

Riku Matsushita: I mean, if there are people going missing anyway, surely they won't notice a few more?

Mizuki Teranaga: The only trouble is that it has been in dribs and drabs, and no Reserve Course students either. Additionally, they'll notice that those things stop when we're gone too.

Shinonononono: Soooo, we could hire hitmen?

Mihoko Sakurai:…

Shinonononono: That was a joke.

To that end, they were simply bouncing ideas on the 'Shhh!' chat, what with various outside obligations that couldn't easily be evaded, and the very reasonable point by Sosuke that them all meeting up in a noticeable manner could now potentially be suspicious given how disparate they all were. Shino'd never been a fan of admitting that Sosuke was right but in this case, he was.

So, texting it was. At least they could talk with Hatsumi while typing.

"We will actually be meeting in person once we have a plan, right?" Hatsumi asked.

"Yeah, yeah, relax. It won't be that long till you wander free again."

"Good, because I really want the chance to rock this look!"

Shino looked up from their phone, giving Hatsumi a sideways glance, but the girl only grinned and flicked her curls in a old-timey-movie-star sort of motion.

"Anyway, tell 'em I said what about all the other crap." Hatsumi ordered.

"You can tell them yourself," Shino joked. "Here, have the phone."

"Awwwwwww, but Shinoooooooo…."

Hatsumi fluttered her eyelashes, and Shino shook their head before obligingly typing.

Shinonononono: Hats says that the other stuff could be a smokescreen.

Kaneda-sempai: She is right! But all this other stuff is only build-up, is it not? Our game is the true climax…but I don't think they would realise that from what's been happening now. It is not savage enough.

Azuki: I dread to wonder what exactly your definition of savage is by that criteria.

Azuki: Will anything ever be enough for you guys?

Kumori Kurogane: When they have paid.

Mizuki Teranaga: Once we have seen this through, and the world can start again.

Kaneda-sempai: Yes, at the moment they are all flailing around, right, trying to evade their own responsibility. It will only be enough once they stop doing that.

Azuki: Well then I'm not sure if anything is gonna make us happy really, is it?

Shinonononono: Don't be such a downer, you!

With a laugh, Shino showed the phone to Hatsumi so that she could read the messages.

"Seriously, this guy. I mean, why is he even here? What do you think, Hats, kill him for one final last hurrah."

"Naaah, he's useful. Who's gonna do the broadcast?" Hatsumi shrugged. " Besides, it's mostly hot air."

Hatsumi bit her lip briefly, and Shino stared hard at them. But just like that, the moment passed and her eyes lit right back up again as she looked over and nodded.

Moko(michi): Essentially, the goal's to just cloud the circumstances of our disappearances as much as possible, so that it buys us time.

Riku Matsushita: Does that mean that they don't realise that we're specifically missing, or that they do not realise specifically when we are missing?

Sosuke Mori: Both would be preferable.

Keiko Usui: So we need a mass disaster, right? Something that makes it hard to count whoever is there.

Mihoko Sakurai: Like the fires and bombings that have been happening.

Kaneda-sempai: yes, exactly, exactly!

Mihoko Sakurai: People are practically expecting that sooner or later, it will be Hope's Peak in the firing line anyway. They're anticipating it. Otherwise, what would be the point?

Sosuke Mori: Are you suggesting that we do that, then.

Mihoko Sakurai: Sure, whatever.

"Huh." Shino said aloud.

At this point, the two of them had ended up migrating to the middle of the sofa so they didn't need to stretch out to show the phone screen. Hatsumi simply raised an eyebrow at Shino.

Shinonononono: You know what, I like that!

Shinonononono: Do you know what I'd really like to do though?

Shinonononono: Make one final victim out of the advisors.

Kaneda-sempai: oh yes, that's a good idea!

Mizuki Teranaga: Yes, being able to expose the inner workings of the school once and for all would be the perfect thing to do.

Mizuki Teranaga: I'd particularly like the graveyard to be shown.

Kumori Kurogane: I could potentially sound out a few people, and I am sure photographs would convince them too.

Kumori Kurogane: To clarify, these are the people who would have been protesting with me at the beginning of the year, if we had been able to safely do so. Those of us who are still here are still upset about that.

Kumori Kurogane: But, it would need help from Yanagi-sama or anyone who is dealing with that side of things.

"Ooooh, count me in!" Hatsumi said excitedly.

Shino conveyed this over message, and then a few more details were hashed out about Kumori's side plan, before the matter of the advisors was hashed out.

Moko(michi): But if our strongest people are going to be there with the advisor or however many, and Kang will be indisposed, who will be setting the fires?

Sosuke Mori: It will have to be the next strongest amongst us.

Sosuke Mori: But it cannot be all of us, since we do at least need some people to actually get over there to begin everything.

Azuki: yeah, well, I'm not gonna be setting fire to anything so there, at least one.

Shinononono: Mooooooorrrriiiii, does that mean you're volunteering?

Sosuke Mori: Excuse me?

Mihoko Sakurai: This would count as dirty work, would it not?

Sosuke Mori: I suppose it would.

Shino raised an eyebrow. Was he agreeing? Now that was something they had not expected to see at all, and Hatsumi wasn't any less surprised either. A few more messages went back and forth, and slowly, the next stages of the plan were laid out. Arrangements were made for the different groups to meetup later on to coordinate their parts, and then they were finished.

"Nice how it's coming together, huh?" Shino asked.

"Totally! So, I think it's about time for something to eat."

"Sure! Let's go and see what it is we have!"

…

"I was not expecting you to suggest a whole school arson, Sakurai-san."

"Someone would have anyway."

"I suppose that is true."

"Nonetheless, are you going to renege on the agreement?"

"I am not reckless, and neither are you. In any case, you know what will happen if someone tries to use this to double cross me."

"And I could say likewise."

"…"

"What are you thinking?"

"Just that I did not expect you, of all the people, to be the one to suggest something so irreversible. I thought that you were more pragmatic."

"Are you in a position to criticise?"

"Well-"

"Exactly. Exactly. Besides, as I said-if it goes wrong, then you know what will happen. The both of us will have to tread carefully."

"Yes, yes they will. In that case, we shall need to talk tomorrow. Oh, and Sakurai-san…"

"What is it?"

"No, it is not important. See you tomorrow."

After that Mihoko ended up looking at her phone for a long time, the screen's glow particularly glaring in the darkness of her room. Eventually, though, she sighed and switched it off before lying down and staring at the ceiling, knowing that she would not get to sleep.

…

When the disturbance had started up, it seemed that the whole school had become alive with it, and most of the Student Council had been eager to rush off and see what was going on for themselves. To Mizuki's surprise, Sosuke had let them, or at least he had not stopped them. It hadn't even occurred to any of the others that this was not what President Nomura would have done, but then again given that he'd been found dead the night before after mysteriously disappearing from the infirmary, she supposed that sort of fact had escaped them all.

But though everyone else went, they stayed-her and Sosuke, and then Mokomichi, Kumori, and Mihoko. The only ones who knew exactly what was happening, and how, and why. It was better for them to be inside, she thought, away from the fray. Especially where Kumori was concerned, since he'd managed to ask some of his year group mates for a favour, which, combined with the graveyard photos they'd leaked anonymously to the Reserve Course students alongside a few salaciously-worded rumours, had been more than enough to trigger this. At this stage, any of them getting suspicion would be a hardship, but Kumori most of all because of this.

Even with the windows closed, the noise from the outside echoed inside, and Mizuki gazed through at the chaos below. Axes yielded by Reserve Course students chopped and hacked systematically, sending onlookers scattering as they crashed down on the ground. Others contented themselves with lopping branches off. As there always had been whenever there'd been a disturbance, security guards were hovering, but the force of the students with axes was wild, and unstoppable, with one purpose in mind.

There were crowds of people watching, adults and teenagers alike recording on their phones, all of them wondering what was happening, and gasping and shaking when the truth was revealed. Even the security guards were momentarily stopped in their tracks, exchanging looks of confusion with each other. It was more than enough for the tree-cutters to take that cue to leave, rushing through the rest of the forest, disappearing as quick as a blink. Even though it was at this point the principals now came out, out of breath and scrambling, clearly shouting directions, there was nothing anyone could do.

The graveyard was now revealed, and there was no way back from that.

Mizuki sighed and stepped back from the window, turning around to check the room.

"They appear to still be down there." Sosuke told her.

"Alright, thanks."

"I believe now would be a good time to call Kang-san…and then you can get set up with that."

This last statement was directed at Kumori, who looked over and nodded. Mizuki pursed her lips-it still didn't look like Kumori was still 100% after his altercation with Sumi Kishitani. Yes, he was walking normally and his school uniform successfully covered most of the visible injuries, but he was pale, quieter than what was usual for him. But all the same, Kumori straightened with only the slightest wince as he nodded at them.

"Yes, I shall do that. "

Mizuki nodded at him, and then took out her phone, keeping an eye on the door as she called Minah.

"Hello?"

Minah's voice was almost muffled by the background noise around her-a lot of shouting and yelling, a general buzz, amplified by the eerie quiet of the room she was in.

"It's time."

That was all she needed to say, after all, really. It's time, it's really happening.

"Huh? What was that? I'm sorry, I can't hear you."

Mizuki frowned at the phone, then repeated herself.

"It's time."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I can't-"

Mizuki made a noise of frustration when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Glancing over, she saw Mokomichi who mouthed: it's an act for her classmates, before gesturing to the window. Mizuki's eyes widened as she understood, and she returned her attention to the phone.

"Okay, you know what to do."

With that, she hung up swiftly and returned to the window, watching as now gradually, slowly, the crowds started to disperse and head back inside. She spotted Minah amongst them, talking earnestly to her friend and classmate, or so she assumed from the gestures, as Minah's head was slightly inclined and her expression couldn't be seen. Mizuki wondered if it'd be as anguished as she'd been seeing it, or if Minah would be able to hide it well from everyone right up until the bitter end. She'd have to, either way.

For it was beginning at last.

…

As she put her jacket on, Minah paused and looked at herself in the mirror, forcing herself to face her reflection head on and not flinch from it. Though her face was the same as it had always been, she had stopped recognising it a long time ago. Nonetheless, just for a moment, she wanted to remember what she had looked like once. Eventually though, she shook her head and moved away, going to her desk drawer, which she unlocked.

The plane ticket was right at the top of the things in there, and she brushed her fingers over it. If only she was going back home instead, away from all of this. If only. She couldn't, of course, because if she couldn't even look at herself for everything she'd been involved in then how would the people she loved be able to? How could she expect them to?

There was a knock on the door and she startled, looking up at it.

"Coming!" she called.

She looked at the ticket again, touched it again. I'm so sorry, everyone. Then, slowly, she locked it, grabbed her purse and then went to the door.

…

Kumori felt a bit like a vengeful god, or something of that variety, wreaking havoc as a punishment for sins. A slightly blasphemous thought but apt all the same. It was all coming together, finally, at last. The game was ready to begin, and all they had to do was enact the 'getaway' plan. He'd been ordered to get his sleep in preparation for the early morning, but it felt like his blood was fizzing, crackling, lighting up every part of him as if trying to hide how hollowed out he really was on the inside.

That, and the pain didn't help.

Kumori hissed under his breath as taking each step made everything sting. Keiko had done a good job of patching him up the other day, but the girls had also tried to fight back. Neither of them were nearly as savage as Sumi had been, but even Minah had hit out, though whether out of instinct or just trying to avoid suspicion there was no way of knowing. Kumori had suffered for it though, and knew that he couldn't go back to Keiko and certainly could not go to the hospital. No, he'd just have to patch himself up with what he had in his own bathroom cupboard, throw together something quick to eat and then hope that sleep would heal him enough to be able to manage his role in tomorrow's proceedings.

Finally reaching his apartment block, Kumori allowed the waves of relief to crash over him as he clambered the stairs to his. He yawned and relaxed his posture, finally seeing an end in sight.

"Kumori! Oh my god, what's happened to you?"

Kumori almost stumbled, and a hand reached out to grab him clumsily. Blinking, he looked over and saw Hoshiko standing there, her handbag on the floor.

"Hoshiko-onee-sama?" he asked slowly. "What are you doing here?"

"You haven't answered any messages for days! And you didn't answer your phone! What did you think you were going to do?"

"I…but, Mother…"

"She's out visiting friends, and the sisters are sneaking in their boyfriends, it's fine. But…Kumori, what's happened to you? I can tell by the way you're standing that you've gotten hurt-and why've you got your scarf up like that and the hat pulled low?"

Before Kumori could protest, Hoshiko had yanked the scarf away and taken off his hat, and she gasped. Glaring, she then took off her gloves and proceeded to unzip his coat. Kumori tried to protest about the weather and her hands being cold, but she silenced him with a defiant glare. Eventually she'd taken off his coat, and rolled up his sleeves, and even with that he supposed the evidence must be more than enough. Hoshiko's eyes widened and she gasped as she stared, before glaring at Kumori again.

"Was it someone on the Main Course?" she asked. "Kumori, this is assault! How've you been managing? When did this happen?"

"Onee-sama, please,-"

"No, we need to go to the hospital, get you checked out!"

Kumori stared, reared back at her. Opening his mouth and closing it again, he eventually simply shook his head rapidly, ignoring the throbbing that it caused.

"Why not? Did the school infirmary patch you up, tell you not to say anything?" Hoshiko demanded.

"No…that's…"

"Actually, you know what, come on, get yourself inside."

Since this was what he'd been intending on doing in the first place, he sighed softly and nodded. Fumbling, he found his keys and unlocked the door, quickly opening the door. Hoshiko stumbled in, shivering, and Kumori wondered just how long she had been waiting for him. If something were to happen to her, too…

"Let me get you something to-"

Once again, he was interrupted.

"No!" Hoshiko almost snarled. "Kumori, for fuck's sake. Worry about yourself, please. Can you manage to get changed and cleaned up? Or do you need me to help you?"

"I can manage."

"Good. I'll wait then. Yes, I know I was getting cold-it's a good thing you've arrived then, isn't it?"

Hoshiko gave a sigh and pulled off her shoes quickly before unbuttoning her own coat and undoing her own scarf and hat and heading into his living room. Kumori decided to simply do at least part of what he'd planning. With any luck, he'd manage to get Hoshiko home soon enough, and then after that he'd sleep.

Or so he thought until he finished cleaning himself up and had just changed into pyjamas. About to come out of the bedroom and call out to his sister, he heard her voice, low and muffled, talking to someone. Frowning, he didn't hear another voice, so he eased the door open carefully and took a few steps out to hear better.

"Yes…please….oh, Hime-chan, you're a star! Yeah, just your brother-in-law and his partner should be fine…anyone else'd probably freak him out but…I'll be able to rest easy if they can help. I just don't know what to do."

Kumori froze, understanding immediately who it was that Hoshiko must be calling-if not the person then what they were a part of. No. Oh no, no, no. Kumori leaned against the wall as he felt his head spin. He was sure that they'd take one look at him and realise that he was not a simple victim of assault as Hoshiko so determinedly believed. He couldn't let it happen, he couldn't. He had to stop it. He didn't even have to be the one, he could sneak back into his room, text Kaneda or Shino, or the whole group, they'd come up with a plan…it'd be all over otherwise.

Wait, no, I can't…

He thought he cared about nothing anymore, only revenge, but that was not true, was it? Not when that other something was currently phoning the police on him and he was just standing there, frozen, not doing anything about it. No. No, but I never imagined….I never thought…Kumori rubbed his forehead, looked over to where he was hearing Hoshiko's voice from, and then back to his bedroom, and back again.

It'll all be over if I let her go on.

His head continued to hurt, his body ached. I hate this. Slowly, he straightened himself up, smoothed his pyjamas, and made his move. There was no right choice here, so what else could he do? As he headed in the direction he'd chosen, he only hoped that now, somehow, he'd be forgiven in the end.

Either way, after all, it was over.

*creepy sideways face*

Also damn, these chapter lengths are really varying. But I guess that's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Hope you enjoyed it!