The story begins on a cool summer morning in Yakushima, Japan. Hope Peak Academy's Class 77-B had taken a trip to this island as a way to kick off their summer vacation. Among the students of their class, Sonia Nevermind, known as the Ultimate Princess, is highly invested in learning Japanese culture and its environment. Learning about this trip thrilled her with enthusiasm. Even weeks before the trip, she researched about the island and what it's like in Yakushima. Now that she had arrived on the charming island, she was more than thrilled to accomplish everything listed on her "must see" list.

Along with Sonia, her rag tag group of classmates would follow suit. There was Gundham Tanaka, the Ultimate Breeder, who said he'll be sure to "fight off demons" and assure her the trip is safe. Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer. She said she was drawn by the gorgeous scenery and wanted to snap some shots for her school scrapbook. And because wherever Mahiru goes, she goes, Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer, would join the trip too, but not because she cared about where they were going. She only wanted to follow her "Big Sis Mahiru" and maybe stomp on some ants. On top of that, there was Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician, who was interested in making the most out of her summer and obtaining inspiration for her next song from the forest's natural beauty. Last but not least, Kazuichi Soda, the Ultimate Mechanic. He claims he is interested in the terrain of the forest, but even the dumbest of morons could tell he was only going for Sonia, who he had a massive crush on, and because of his deep grudge and jealousy toward Gundham, being able to talk to Sonia so casually.

"Alright gang! Let's enter and seek out the wonders of this forest! Ibuki sure is excited for this adventure!" Shouted Ibuki.

"We're already in the forest, you brainiac! We've been walking through the forest for 10 minutes and you've been jump-scaring the birds away before Big Sis Mahiru can take a picture of them like an ignorant moron!" Hissed Hiyoko.

Sonia was not paying attention to the girls and their blabbering and admiring the green cedar forest surrounding her. Kazuichi on the other hand kept a keen eye on Gundham at all times to make sure Gundham didn't act upon Sonia before he could. Gundham was silently chuckling to himself, his Four Dark Devas of Destruction sat among his shoulders admiring the scenery around them. Mahiru, who was leading the group, was about to take a picture of a tree formation before encountering a split in their path, one narrow path that seemed to elevate and one wider path with plenty of colorful, blooming flowers and plants.

"Oh! It's the fork in the road!" She said, recognizing it from the photos Sonia showed her. The group stopped walking, questioning which direction to take.

"So which way do we go, Big Sis?" Hiyoko asked.

"Eenie, meenie, miney, mo! Which path shall the Ultimates go?" Ibuki changed.

"Shaddup!" Hiyoko spat back.

"Ok, I've heard about this fork in the road before. Supposedly we need to take the path on the right. While the left path is obviously wider, I've heard the ground is quite unstable and it could be dangerous since none of us have been here before." Mahiru explained.

The group believed Mahiru and made their way along the narrow path. Along the pathway, the princess made a quick glance to the left and let out a gasp. Sonia's shimmering cyan eyes gazed upon a view of the mountains that seemed to never end. Nothing but endless, green mountains.

"Sure is just as beautiful as you are, Miss Sonia." Kazuichi said, laying his arm on Sonia's shoulders.

"Yeah…. it is quite the sight. Something I would never see in my home country." Sonia said as she gently and silently removed Kazuichi's cold and unbearable hand off her shoulders. Kazuichi knew he would have to try harder than that to get Sonia's interest in him. Compliments don't seem to be working in his favor as of recently. The shark-toothed student needs a new plan.

"Hey… where did everyone go?" Sonia asked. Kazuichi's train of thought screeched to a halt as he looked around. Sure enough, only him and Sonia stood among their area.

"Oh don't worry, Miss Sonia. They most likely went on ahead! I'll be the one to lead you the way!" Kazuichi declared. Sonia having really no other choice but to follow, shuffled behind Kazuichi who was looking confident.

"Ah yes, I can impress Miss Sonia with my sense of direction! Maybe then she'll notice I am the one for her and that we're meant to be!" The mechanic thought to himself.

"Ha! Fuyuhiko will eat his words when we get home-"

"Pardon me, Kazuichi. But I believe we went the wrong way…" Sonia said, interrupting Kazuichi's inner monologue. Kazuichi, now more attentive to his surroundings, realized he ended up dragging Sonia back to the split paths. Kazuichi, still trying to sound upbeat and sanguine that he knows what he is doing,

"No, no, no. I MEANT to bring us back here. The other path will be a shortcut to catch up with the others! I promise ya!" Kazuichi let out a wide grin, gesturing Sonia step forward before he did. Again, she didn't have much of a choice, reluctantly began walking down the wide, yet stunningly elegant path.

"Mahiru said the ground on this path was unstable, did she not?" Sonia questioned.

"What does she know? I actually have experience with this place believe it or not!" Soda spoke. He really was just making us all of this on the spot, none of it being true, but he was determined to impress Sonia on his "knowledge."

"When I was a kid, my parents took me here and the path here is absolutely danger free, with a peaceful ambience. These vibrant colors among us can attest to that."

Sonia actually began listening to what Kazuichi had to say. Admittedly, she still didn't want to hear him ramble, but she felt assured that it seemed like Kazuichi *did* in fact know what he was doing. She did know that Kazuichi was only trying to leave her in awe, as he had been throughout the school year.

"Wow Kazuichi! It seems perhaps you do have quite the proficiency in nature walks!" Sonia didn't exactly mean what she said, she just knew this was something Kazuichi wanted to hear.

Kazuichi smiled at her words, which produced even further confidence for him to make a move.

"So… Miss Sonia… I've always wanted to ask you, but what traits do you look for in a person?" Kazuichi inquired. Sonia hadn't exactly thought about what she seeks in a person. She had to pause her directory senses and conjure up an answer.

"Let's see… The fundamental traits I look for in a person is... Umm…" Sonia uttered out.

This was it. Kazuichi can finally learn what to do and not do to create the Kazuichi that Sonia would fall for!

"Yes?" Kazuichi went.

"Ummm…" Sonia said, sounding distressed.

"Come on… what is it Miss Sonia?" Kazuichi creepily spilled.

"God damn it! I bought these Mary Janes just a few weeks ago!" Sonia shrieked.

Kazuichi, bewildered by Sonia's sudden outburst, looked down. It would appear the princess had stepped into a mud bog among the path which had engulfed her feet up to her ankles, with her red Mary Janes plastered with brown sludge.

"Oh no! It's ok Miss Sonia! I can buy you a new pair exactly like these!" Kazuichi nervously shouted.

"Oh? You can afford these? These are quite the challenge to get a grasp on, but the 5,000 yen is totally worth the effort!" Sonia stated.

Kazuichi's face quickly morphed into a face of hysteria, knowing damn well there was no way he'd have that kind of money on him.

"Ughhh!" Sonia screeched. "Well isn't this unfortunate. It would appear I'm stuck." Kazuichi look a good look at the scene, Miss Sonia was in the center of a large pool of mud that had eaten her shins. The mechanic realized that Sonia was actually sinking into the depths of the muck and showed no signs of stopping. On top of that, a loud, gooey slurping noise derived out of the quagmire.

"Don't worry Miss Sonia! I'm sure if you just… twist your body as much as possible, you'll be free in no time!" Kazuichi actually didn't know if this would work or not. Again, his brilliance was being generated on the spot with little to no reason behind it. Sonia thought she may as well give his suggestion a try and began jostling her body about the liquified earth, focusing on only freeing her legs, which seemed to scarcely budge. As Kazuichi witnessed the struggling, the scene became more clear to him than he realized at an abrupt view of the stage. Sonia wasn't *just* stuck in mud.

"It's quicksand." Soda whispered to himself. Confused that he'd actually encountered the stuff thinking it was just a phenomenon in video games and movies, he recalls that you're not supposed to struggle when sinking in the gunk. Struggling was exactly what Sonia WAS doing and that was because of him. Kazuichi didn't want Sonia to worry by telling her she had been caught up in quicksand, but knew that it would only get worse if she kept up the broad movement.

"This strategy appears to be ineffective." Sonia expressed. By this point, she had sunk to her thighs, though Sonia didn't realize she was in danger. She was more in disgust that the mud was caressing her legs and were getting filthy by the slimy mud. One thing Kazuichi remembered about his knowledge of quicksand is supposed to gently get pulled out with a rope or stick of some kind.

"Hold on Miss Sonia! Stand still for now! I have a better idea!" Kazuichi stated. Sonia listened to his command and clasped her hands together.

"Please get me out of here, Kazuichi! I would love to get out of here ASAP possible!" Sonia shouted. Kazuichi tried to hold back his giggling and looking around the area. To his right hand side was a thin, lengthy tree branch. The pink-haired mechanic lifted the agile branch and firmly grasped the end point.

"Grab on!" He shouted, standing at the edge of the quicksand. Sonia, now submerged to her crotch and hips region, her green dress floating atop the morass, gripped onto the branch as tight as her muscles would allow her and thus, the struggle began. Soda was using muscles he didn't know he had to pull out his precious princess. The ooze had a vigorous grip on the blonde girl's legs. Kazuichi could tell he was in fact making the process, though he was in "awesome land" throughout most of the pulling. Soda was imagining how Sonia would see him as a hero. A hero rescuing a princess from quicksand sounds like a cheesy cliche you would see in a classic Tarzan episode, but that's what it was. By rescuing Miss Sonia, he would be praised by her forever as her hero. Little did the high school boy know that he made a mistake. A grave mistake. The branch Kazuichi collected was a feeble and fragile branch that was dead on the ground. While in the process of pulling, the branch had snapped in half with no warning.

"Woooaaahhh! AHHHH!" Kazuichi screeched. The shock of the branch caused Kazuichi to lose his footing. While trying to regain his balance, he accidentally plopped himself into the quickmud, now in the same predicament as Sonia.

"Well sh*t! Now I'm in the quicksand too!" Kazuichi shouted, slamming his hands onto the mud out of fury.

"Wait… YOU M-M-MEAN... I'M IN QUICKSAND!?" Sonia panicked. Kazuichi realized he had made a horrible mistake and now Sonia was more frantic and scared than ever before. It didn't help that he could feel himself sinking into the clutches of the quicksand too. The impact of Sonia no longer being pulled out caused her to sink further than she previously had, now sunk to her chest just above her breasts. Kazuichi on the other hand had a great fall and was stuck to his hips immediately.

"Someone help! Please!" Sonia cried, clawing at the quagmire and thrashing around. She was in utter despair at this point, realizing her danger and inevitable demise was swiftly approaching. Kazuichi had no idea what to do now that both of them were caught in the slurry of earth, sinking deeper and deeper as the mud trickled up their bodies, though he was staring at Sonia with a… grin?

"Please! Somebody! Gundham! Mahiru! Ibuki! Hiyoko! HELP ME PLEASE! I don't want to die in quicksand! Especially with an airhead!" Kazuichi ignored Sonia's indirect insult toward him and his grin grew wider and wider. Something felt great about this situation. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the idea of Sonia crying for her life in the quicksand was so… arousing to him. He was getting even more off on it once the quicksand swallowed Sonia's breasts. Though it didn't take long for Kazuichi to snap back to reality, remembering he was sinking too and Sonia agitating the bog made the both of them sink further.

Sonia only had her shoulders and up above the surface, her hands completely encased in the sand, while Kazuichi had sunken up to his upper chest. Kazuichi was about ready to let out a blood curdling scream for help in the hopes. That is until he observed an orange and white creature that sat atop Sonia's blonde hair with what looked like rope in its hand. Kazuichi also felt something warm and furry moving along his right arm and saw a tan colored hamster had a rope that was wrapped around his right wrist. Sonia noticed the animals around them too and stopped panicking, her tears drying up. Sonia had the same thing done to her, a rope wrapped around her wrist. Though the princess was confused on how the hamster managed to lift her arm above the quicksand when even she couldn't lift it up no matter how hard she tugged.

The hamsters hopped off the duo and toward the sound of evil laughter. Sonia and Kazuichi recognize that voice all too well.

"Fuhahahahaha! Excellent job San-D and Maga-Z! Now then, pull mortals! Pull!" Gundham instructed. Sonia and Kazuichi looked up to see Gundham with Ibuki, Mahiru, and Hiyoko in tow pulling on the rope that had been wrapped around them. After a few minutes of battling the fierce sludge, Sonia and Kazuichi were free.

"Ah! You had us worried sick! Are you alright?" Mahiru said, getting them up from the ground.

"Oh goodness. That was hella scary!" Sonia shouted.

"Wait, but how did you find us?" Kazuichi asked.

"Easy peasy! Ibuki's Musician ears were twitching like crazy! I heard a loud screaming that sounded exactly like Sonia and shared it to Gundham! Ibuki followed the sound of the screams and stumbled upon Kazuichi and Sonia who appeared to be a stick in the mud. Literally!" Ibuki happily declared.

"Though I'm not sure how that freak managed to develop that contraption to rescue you both so quickly. Gundham saw the scene and started talking to his weird furballs and I told Big Sis and Ibuki to find something to pull you dingbats back to land!" Hiyoko said with an attitude.

"Well Hiyoko was just laughing at you guys sinking to your doom, but yeah! I was searching and searching and searching!" Ibuki clapped back.

"Oh Gundham! Thank you for that wonderful performance by your gifted hamsters! You're forever in my debt! I need to give you something as a token of my gratitude. Oh dear, what do I give you?" Sonia said with grace.

"There is no need, princess. Rescuing mortals from entering the nether world is quite uncommon for an overlord such as myself." Gundham claimed.

Kazuichi was looking at the conversation Sonia and Gundham were having, looking dejected. That should've been him, but leave it to Gundham to be the one to rescue her from the quicksand. That was his one chance to win over Sonia and he blew it!

"Hold on a moment! Why did you come over this way to begin with?" Mahiru said, looking stern. "Didn't I say the ground over here was unstable and dangerous?"

"Well, you see, I-" Kazuichi tries to explain before Koizumi interrupts him.

"Unstable as in thick mud pools and quicksand! What else did you think I would be referring to?" Mahiru snapped.

"Well I wasn't expecting there to be a f*cking quicksand pit here for literally anyone to walk into-"

"Let's just say a certain ludicrous, imbecile of a cretin who shall remain nameless got us in this predicament." Sonia states. Everyone knew who she was referring to and everyone's gaze fixed on Kazuichi, looking even more defeated.

"So are we going to continue the stupid walk? I don't know if these dinguses want to walk around caked in mud." Hiyoko remarked.

"What say we call off the nature hike today and go again tomorrow? Let these two take a shower back at the hotel and we can determine what to do from there. Sounds good?" Mahiru asked. The group silently nodded and began making their way back. Gundham let out his hand to Sonia, though Sonia was worried about dirtying his hand thanks to her hand being drenched in mud, but it seemed like he didn't mind. They held hands the entire way back to the hotel, the other girls and Kazuichi following behind them. Though Kazuichi failed harshly today, he wasn't going to give up! He would continue persisting in winning Sonia's heart no matter the situation! Unless of course they end up in quicksand.