"Himiko, you can't!" Tenko cried, holding Himiko down in place.
"I'll be okay, Tenko." Himiko replied, trying to calm down her friend.
"But it's Kokichi! Not only is he a degenerate male, but it's clear as day how notorious of a liar he is!" Tenko yelled. Tenko was trembling at the fact Himiko is listening to a liar's claims of a magic sighting. Kokichi apparently spotted something mysterious and magic-like that he figured who is better than the Ultimate Mage to investigate. While out on a jog, Tenko spotted Himiko alone walking towards the marshland and stopped her to learn what her friend is up to.
"Nyeh, even if it supposedly is a lie, I'll cast a spell that pulls his pants down!" Himiko declared.
"Himiko…" Tenko spoke softly, tears beginning to fill her eyes.
"You can come with me if you're so troubled," Himiko uttered. But Tenko couldn't express another word. The aikido master was in disbelief that Himiko is following Kokichi. Tenko stared weepingly at the sidewalk they stood on, chilling thoughts and scenarios raising through her skull. Himiko wasn't sure what to do, so she turned away and trudged to the marsh Kokichi directed her to go, leaving the distressed aikido master behind.
"Why if it isn't the magician herself!" Kokichi cheered with a wide grin.
"I'm a mage," Himiko corrected.
"Right, right," Kokichi sarcastically said. "I'll tell you, Himiko! You're in for a real treat today!"
"Are you sure this isn't another one of your schemes?" Himiko questioned.
"Of course not! Do I look like the type of person to pull something naughty?" Kokichi fired back.
Himiko was getting a little annoyed with Kokichi's words by this point.
"Can we please get this over with? Just talking to you is a pain…" Himiko groaned.
"Yes! Yeeessss! Let's get going, my little friend!" Kokichi shouted with optimism. Though Kokichi wore the face of a happy go-lucky child, Himiko could read through beneath that mask as a face of lies. After their exchange, Kokichi turned and walked down the path visibly placed along the grass. Himiko, with mild reluctancy, followed the purple-haired leader through the marsh, though she still kept in mind what Tenko told her earlier and held up her guard.
Himiko never explored this marsh before, so getting a glimpse of the landscape intrigued her, but only slightly. She just wanted to be done with Kokichi and see what this supposed magic sighting smuggled among the swamp was about. Kokichi eagerly skipped through the field like a free spirit while Himiko observed the surroundings of an open marsh with a few trees surrounding the area. However, the further the duo traveled deeper into the swamp, the more of a rotten, bad feeling filled Himiko.
Himiko braced for any surprise Kokichi would lob at her. They were already deep in the marsh and traveled for about 10 minutes and Himiko was about ready to turn back and abandon the supreme leader. That is until beaten, wooden sign caught the magician's attention. Himiko stood in place, comprehending the words scribbled onto the worn-out post. In bold, legible, red words displayed "DANGER!" The sign appeared something else written beneath the warning, however, Himiko could not decipher the words inscribed as they appeared to be scratched out. Unnaturally scratched out at that.
"Nyeh? That's not right," Himiko thought. Then Himiko gently crept closer to the sign to get a better idea of what was supposed to be there. All this did however was cause the question marks spinning in her brain to spin fleetly. The only readable words allowed Himiko to translate the scraped out message to, "..ic...nd".
"Nyeh.. of course it wouldn't be that easy," Himiko groaned. The magician got back on her feet, asserting distinct irritation toward Kokichi. "I've had enough of that clown's tricks!" she declared. Kokichi continued walking as Himiko took a pitstop, so Kokichi was no longer in view. On top of that, beyond this point excluded no trail to string along. Growing more annoyed, Himiko ran in the direction Kokichi took and psyched up her confrontation of this purple-haired cretin.
"Tenko was right. This was nothing but a waste of time. What a pain…" Himiko grumbled. For once, Himiko wasn't slacking off and Olympic sprinting to Kokichi. That is until her dash was interrupted as Himiko began to slow down because the ground below her began to make way and absorbed her feet.
"Nyeh?" Himiko said, confused. The magician girl looked down to see herself ankle deep in black, gooey mud. At first she didn't think it was much of a problem and merely a slight inconvenience, but she'd quickly learn how wrong she was. While the morass blooped and blipped, Himiko attempted to pull her right foot free from the surface. However, no success came out as the wet slurry stretched and clinged to her foot like glue and refused to let go.
"Now isn't this a pain…" Himiko thought. With further effort, the girl pumped and thrusted both her legs to release them from her sticky situation. Unfortunately for Himiko, yanking herself from the mire wouldn't be as straightforward. What made matters worse, her struggles caused her to plunge deeper into the soil.
"This could be a problem." She murmured. Anxiety began to invade the magician once the mud seeped into her boots, quickening her descent because they became heavier.
"N-Nyeh? Why am I sinking? Am I really… s-stuck in some stupid mud?" Himiko stuttered. "I don't have time for this! I need to cast a mute spell so Kokichi doesn't have to tell me or anybody else anymore of his lies!" At that moment, Himiko heard a roar of laughter that was all too familiar to ignore.. She looked in all directions in search for the source of sound.
"Howdy-hoo!" The voice spoke again. It dawned on Himiko the words came from above. The magician tilted her neck upwards and spotting the man himself, Kokichi Oma, staring upon her atop one of the shorter trees of the swamp.
"Now what do we got here?" Kokichi rhetorically asked as he crawled down the tree. "It would appear Himiko has gotten herself in quite the predicament!" Kokichi joked.
"It's all your fault, isn't it!?" Shouted Himiko.
"Hey! Don't act so reckless in front of me! I can't stand when people yell at me…" Kokichi replied, forming a face of fake tears. Himiko saw through the facade.
"Well, it *is* your fault! You're a liar, after all! Let me guess, there was no magic out here too!?" Himiko roared, reaching out her arms for Kokichi, to which Kokichi took a step back.
"Just because I'm a liar, doesn't mean everything is my fault. I had nothing to do with this, lil' Himiko…" Kokichi sneered, a sinister, wide smile displayed across the boy's face.
"That's a lie within itself!" The gig is up! Just tell me why you brought me out here already!?" Screeched Himiko. Himiko fumed with anger and just wanted a substantial answer so she can go home and forget about today.
"Nee-heehee! Seems you figured it out, huh? I should've known you were so clever, Himiko!" Kokichi stated.
"What? What is that supposed to- " Himiko was interrupted mid sentence before Kokichi explained what the ordeal was.
"Truth be told, part of this situation IS the magic I confided in you!" Kokichi proudly announced.
"Nyeh? But that doesn't make any sense! What's so magically about me being trapped in the marsh?" Himiko sternly asked. After Kokichi crossed his arms and stared down Himiko for an uncomfortable 10 seconds, Kokichi said, "Himiko, you're sinking in quicksand."
Himiko's eyes widened the moment the words barely escaped his lips. The puzzle pieces finally connected after learning the situation.
"The sign!" The magician thought to herself. The sign was informing her of the quicksand surrounding the area, but Kokichi must've crossed out the words so she'd be none the wiser. Himiko's expression of fear became eroded by anger once the dots connected.
"You mean to tell me you dragged me all this way here just so I can blunder into your stupid quicksand trap!?" Himiko questioned. Kokichi's wide grin only grew wider.
"You got it! Man, you're on the detective level of Sherlock Holmes! Even Shuichi would be so proud of your deduction skills!"
"But why? What do you want from me? If you wanted your own magic abilities, you're not getting any of it!" Himiko defended.
"Bummer… I wanted to watch you use your magic to help you escape. Kokichi whined. "Ya know…levitation and junk? That sorta thing?" He wanted Himiko to use her magic? Was Kokichi out of his mind? The girl knew levitation was impossible because her MP is limited. Himiko and Kokichi locked eyes and said nothing to each other, the purple-haired boy keeping quiet of how deep Himiko had sunk in the quagmire. Though he quickly got bored of the staring contest, he cut it short and began to walk away in the opposite direction.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going!?" Demanded Himiko.
"Anywhere but here. Don't wanna become a stick in the mud, either!" The supreme leader giggled. Himiko was confused that Kokichi was leaving like that, not even taking the time to help her out when he's responsible for this mess.
"What did you say!? I'm stuck in here because of you! You've had your fun! I just wanna go home already!" Himiko yelled. Kokichi turned away and locked eyes with the magician once again.
"You think I know how to get you out of this? I was expecting an escape with a magic act! And now you're treating me like I'm some quicksand...tologist... if that exists," Said Kokichi. "But even so, one thing I can tell you is you might wanna get out of here soon." Himiko was so focused on Kokichi's antics, she almost forgot she was still mired in a pit of quicksand. The girl looked down to a horrifying sight. At the beginning of their exchange, Himiko sank to about her calves, but now the mire engulfed her waist, Himiko exhaling a distinct gasp at the sight.
"You can't just leave me here, Kokichi! Everybody will know and you won't get away with this!" Himiko said, twisting her hips in an attempt to escape.
"You know what they say! It's not a crime until you're caught! And judging by your situation, I don't believe anybody will be able to catch me alive. Let alone YOU alive." Kokichi laughed uproariously before finally exiting the scene.
Now that Himiko's determination was fueled by Kokichi's words, she knew she had to escape her muddy grave and stop Kokichi. With that, Himiko thrusted and wiggled among the mire, while the sludge ripples in response.
"NYEEHH! MMMPH!" Unfortunately, the suction of the muck grew the more movement she made. "This stuff is so sticky. I gotta try harder!" Himiko knew this was not a battle that would easily prevail. Once stored enough energy, she lashed it all out with violent thrashing and clawing against the muck. "UGHH! Let me… go! NYEH!" The swamp didn't do anything to let Himiko free as it devoured her stomach.
The girl became short of breath after a few minutes and had to think of a new plan, especially since the muck was slowly cupping her created. "Surely there's something within reach," the magician thought. Then the lightbulb glowed in her brain after looking back at her surroundings.
"The tree!" She shouted. The tree possessed a long branch dangling partly above the quicksand. Himiko knew this was her only means of escape and needed to act now. With the plan set in motion, the magician clutched the branch and used all her strength to lift her out. Though the mud kept a firm grip, progress in escape was finally being accomplished.
"Nyeehhh! It feels like… mmmphhh… cement…" Himiko uttered. The girl was using muscles she didn't know she had to free herself. Though she freed her once trapped torso, now caked with black mud, Himiko approached her Her limbs were spazzing like a vibration and the sweat from her circumstantial workout was slipping away her grip of the branch.
Dread soaked in and Himiko let go of the branch, panting and out of breath. The result of her letting go launched Himiko deeper into the quicksand, now up to her shoulders.
"I… I-I…" the magician had no words about the situation. This was it. This was the end for her. Kokichi won and she lost. Tears welled up the girl's eyes as she succumbed to the mire and slumped in defeat. All hope has been lost. Until…
"HIMIKOOOOOOOO!" A scream echoed throughout the marsh and Himiko couldn't help but feel like she'd heard that voice before. But it was definitely not Kokichi. It was somebody else. Somebody else she cared about.
"Don't worry, Himiko! I'll get you out of there!" The voice continued. Himiko wiped away her tears and looked up to see her friend bolting in her direction: Tenko Chabashira.
"T-Tenko! Get me out of here!" The magician cried. Once Tenko got close to Himiko, but was sure she didn't step anywhere that would cause her to sink, Tenko inspected the situation in front of her.
"What happened here!?" The aikido master questioned. Himiko knew there was only one word to be said of what was going on;
"Kokichi." Stated Himiko. Tenko had to think fast since the mire was trickling up Himiko's arms and freeing her beyond that point would be impossible.
"Your hat!" Tenko cried.
"Nyeh?"
"Your magical mage hat! Hand it to me!" She demanded. With mild reluctance, Himiko whipped off her hat and reached out to Tenko with hat in hand. Tenko gripped on and an intense struggle between Tenko and the trapped Himiko versus the hungry quicksand.
"P-pull harder, Tenko!" Himiko shouted. Tenko thought she was at her limit, but she wasn't. Tenko unleashed all her power at once and before she knew it, Himiko was finally being pulled free of the mire. Tenko was strong and though it was strenuous to rescue her friend from the liquid earth, Himiko was yanked back onto solid ground after a few minutes of agonizing tugs.
The duo breathed heavily, Himiko finally rescued from the mire and coated in black mud from the shoulders down, along with her boots no longer on her feet.
"Tenko I…" The magician began as she stood up. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you!" Tears streaming down her face and nothing but guilt coursed through her veins.
"No, no, it's okay, Himiko! I'm just glad I managed to get to you on time!" Tenko reassured.
"B-But… I fell right for Kokichi's trap!" Himiko cried.
"Don't worry about that rotten, degenerate male!" Tenko said. "I'm gonna be sure to deal with him the right way after the stunt he pulled today!" She declared. Himiko let out a small giggle and was happy her friend wasn't upset at her.
"Nyeh. I could totally use a long shower…" Himiko said.
"Oh, totally! And then we can seek revenge on that devious boy and rest assure he doesn't commit any behaviors like this again!" Tenko said as she placed Himiko's hat elegantly back on her head.
"Thanks again, Tenko… I'll repay you with my magic someday, okay?" Himiko said softly.
"Ah, yes! I love your magic, Himiko! That would be fantastic!" Tenko cheered as the two girls walked off together, leaving the area and ready to seek revenge on Kokichi.