KS: Here's another one. Don't have much to say, honestly.
Hachiman and Ayame were in Shibuya, walking towards the destination they were given. Not a word has been exchanged between the two since they arrived in the city, until Hachiman took it upon himself to break the silence.
"Alright, we've been quiet for a while since we got here, so let's make some conversation," he said. "What do you think will happen when we meet this guy?"
"So far, I've come up with three scenarios," Ayame replied. "The first is that when we get there, we'll be up to our necks in DS members and will be carried off in an instant, which means that we'd be walking into a trap. The second is that some other unsavory group is planning to strong-arm us into their ranks to do their dirty work under the threat of revealing our hidden identities."
"And the third?" Hachiman asked.
"The third is that we meet who we're going to meet with no strings attached," Ayame answered. "In short, it's the safe option."
Hachiman sighed. "I guess we're on the same wavelength. Whether this is a trap or something worse depends on when we get there."
It took some time, but the two finally reached the Reg-On Diner. The exterior looked humble enough, as expected of a diner.
"Looks like this is the spot," Ayame said.
Hachiman got in front and opened the door for her. "After you, Madame."
Ayame stared at him for a moment, then snorted.
"To think, they say that chivalry is dead," she commented, walking into the diner with Hachiman following her.
It was a small place on the inside with a fair amount of tables and chairs. On each of the tables were an assortment of condiments. There were also some cooks seen in the kitchen, grilling hamburgers or cooking fries.
"Man, I'm getting hungry just standing in here," Ayame said, wiping away some drool from her mouth.
"Remember that we're here on business," Hachiman replied.
Ayame waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway, judging from how they look, those people must be who we're meeting with."
She pointed towards two people who were seated near a window. There was a short, freckled boy with short blond hair and golden eyes. He wore a black suit and pants with a tie. The girl seated next to him was pale-skinned, had red eyes and silver hair tied in two braids that were secured by ribbons. Like the boy next to her, she wore a suit.
"Best we greet them," Hachiman whispered.
"Yeah," Ayame whispered back.
They walked towards the table where the two people were seated. The boy immediately noticed them.
"Hachiman Hikigaya," he said in a blunt tone. "You are 10 minutes early arriving here."
"That I am," he replied. "And to who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
The boy stood up. "My name is Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu. I'm sure you've heard that name before."
"Kuzuryu?" Ayame eyes widened, then grabbed Hachiman by his shoulder. "Excuse us for one minute."
She dragged him a few inches away from Fuyuhiko and his bodyguard until they were out of earshot.
"Hachiman, those two are yakuza," she whispered.
"Yeah, I noticed when he brought up his name," he replied dryly.
"I'm serious," Ayame hissed, taking out and opening her phone. "The yakuza are not to be fucked around with. Personally, I would sooner be caught in a gangbang with some gang members and the Decency Squad, although considering what the latter group is known for, I find that unlikely to happen."
Hachiman stared at her blankly. "Boy, you'll pick any moment to be a degenerate, won't you?"
"Just watch what you say around them," Ayame pleaded. "We piss them off even the slightest bit and we're both up shit creek with no paddle."
"Fine, I'll play nice with the mobsters," Hachiman drawled.
Both of them returned to Fuyuhiko and his bodyguard.
"Okay, I see you two are done with whatever you were gossiping about over there," Fuyuhiko deadpanned.
"Basically," Hachiman said, sitting in front of the two with Ayame following suit. "Anyway, this is Ayame Kajo. She's my lady friend."
Fuyuhiko stared at Ayame for a few seconds, then turned towards his bodyguard.
"What do you think of her, Peko?"
The girl, whose name was Peko, took some time to look at Ayame.
"She's out of his league, Master," she said bluntly.
Hachiman looked offended, while Ayame snickered loudly.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked.
"It was," Peko said in the same tone. "A girl like her deserves better than a miserable-looking hacker such as yourself."
"I'll have you know that I'm a very talented hacker," Hachiman shot back. "I could run codes around any Blume desk jockey if I wanted to."
"I'm sure you could," Fuyuhiko said dryly. "Which is why I have called you here today."
"Yeah, that reminds me," Hachiman said. "How were you able to contact me?"
Fuyuhiko smirked. "You'd be surprised how many hackers are employed by the yakuza. We pay decent funds for their services."
Ayame tilted her head. "I thought the yakuza were in a tough spot when the Law for Public Morals and Healthy Child-Raising were put in effect."
"We were not put into a 'tough spot' as you put it," Peko replied with a narrow gaze. "When the laws were put in effect, the government immediately cracked down on all yakuza-owned businesses that involved sexual-related entertainment. There were many who resisted, but they were arrested."
"Yeah, I remember that," Hachiman said wistfully. "It was all over the news. The government used the yakuza as an example of what would happen if their laws were not followed without question or complaint."
"Most of us barely escaped," Fuyuhiko grumbled. "The remaining yakuza decided to go into obscurity to avoid any further prosecution and pool whatever resources we have left."
"But…?" Ayame started, expecting the young scion to continue.
"But there's been no shortage of disagreement as to how we should proceed," Fuyuhiko continued. "One group simply wants to lay low and slowly regain the power and respect we've lost since this dumb law was put into effect, and the other wants to gather more personnel and resources to- and I'm sad that I lack the talent to make this up- attempt to wage war of the Decency Squad."
Both Hachiman and Ayame's jaws gaped from hearing that, looking as if they would hit the table soon enough.
"Yeah, I had that same expression when I first found out," Fuyuhiko sighed. "Anyway, since everything is connected through CtOS, the personnel the yakuza are hiring happen to be hackers, as I've mentioned earlier. We've heard quite a lot about you, Hikigaya. You were one of the top editors of Deviant Nation before it got shut down and you took the fall for everything."
Ayame turned to Hachiman in surprise. "You were part of Deviant Nation?"
"I was," Hachiman said bitterly. "Up until we got sniffed out and I was made into their scapegoat. I was pariah in my hometown and my own family could barely look me in the eye." He gripped the sides of the chair he sat on. "And everyone at school treats me like I'm the spawn of the devil. Like my reputation wasn't bad enough."
An awkward silence fills the air, which was broken by Peko clearing her throat.
"Master, we should mention the matter of why we have brought Hikigaya here," she said.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot," Fuyuhiko replied. "Hikigaya, we need you to steal a flash drive from Blume."
"Sounds basic enough," Hachiman said. "What's on it?"
"Rumor has it that it contains a virus that can shut down surveillance systems for an hour," Fuyuhiko explained. "We need it to take over one of the opposition's base of operations for our own."
"I'm guessing the opposition is the group of yakuza who wants to wage war?" Ayame asked.
"The very same," Fuyuhiko answered. "We really don't need to give the government anymore reasons to tighten our collective nooses."
Hachiman shrugged. "Fair enough. When do you want me to do it?"
"We'll give you more details next week," Peko said. "How you retrieve the drive is up to you, but we would appreciate it if you could keep collateral damage to a minimum."
"Noted." Hachiman stood up and walked out of the restaurant with Ayame quickly following him.
"I trust he will be of great help to us," Peko said. "The opposition is getting bolder with every passing day."
"Which means we'll need all the help we can get," Fuyuhiko added. "And that guy will be the one to do it."
"Still, that girl he was with," Peko mused. "She appeared familiar. Have we met her somewhere before?"
Fuyuhiko shrugged. "Beats me."
Hachiman was silent as he and Ayame rode the back. She sat next to him, taking a look at the frustrated expression on his features. She had always found herself to be intelligent, but her intellect had its limits when it came to knowing the true feelings of others.
"I bet you would like to know more about my background," Hachiman said, breaking the silence.
Ayame was surprised, but didn't let it show. "I'm surprised that you're bringing it up now. I mean, I already told you my backstory, and decided not to pry into yours…"
"Well, you bared your chest to me when we first met," Hachiman explained. "It would only make sense that I return the favor. Plus, in the short time that I've known you, I realize that we're not that different from each other. Well, we both have different ideologies, but they're towards the same goal."
Ayame stared at him, then chuckled in amusement. "Not that I don't appreciate the comment, but I think you're getting off topic."
Hachiman snorted. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, I was hacking into CtOS when I still lived in Chiba. I was part of a hacktivist group that the system to uncover the misdeeds of others."
"The Chiba 99," Ayame mused. "A hacker group with such finesse and determination that they have been compared to DedSec."
"We wish we could be on their level," Hachiman said. "By the way, them blowing up parts of London is total BS. They've been set up."
"Of course they've been set up," Ayame replied. "Terrorism has never been their style."
"But back to what I was saying earlier, we got an e-mail from Deviant Nation, an underground news group that poked holes in the logic of the moral laws. I joined up with them as a liaison for the 99, and offered to throw in my two cents about them." Hachiman's expression grew bitter. "But then things took a turn for the worst."
Ayame looked concerned. "What happened?"
"What happened was that someone leaked our location to the Decency Squad," Hachiman spat out. "We tried to get away, but we were all caught. What's more was that everyone present sold me out, telling me I threatened to flood their inboxes with spam if they didn't obey my every command."
"That's horrible!" Ayame exclaimed. "Didn't the 99 use their connections to bail you out?"
Hachiman shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Ever since I got busted, I received no word from them. My thought is that they left me in the lurch after the arrangement with Deviant Nation went south for the winter."
"Wow," Ayame said, taking out her flip phone. "What a bunch of jerkoffs."
"Indeed," Hachiman sighed. "My trial was an absolute spitshow as well. I was found guilty of cybercrimes, intimidation and volunteering in cyberterrorism. Luckily, my family hired a top-notch lawyer, and I only got six weeks of community service. But… my reputation at school was at rock bottom. I was basically Public Enemy No. 1 over there."
He fell silent afterwards. Ayame decided not to press him further.
(Playing: "'Till I Collapse" by Eminem)
Anna delivered a flurry of punches and kicks to a punching bag in her living room, breathing heavily. She does this every night after school to let out steam after doing hard work for the student council. But tonight, she had a lot more to blow off. Twice over had she and the school had been brought low by the terrorist. First it was the flower, followed by that greatly inappropriate film presenting flies, then the pictures found in hidden places. Whoever they were, they were testing her resolve and patience.
But she'll be damned if this or anything else breaks her.
"I can't let this continue," she said, delivering another strike to the bag. "The physicals are approaching soon and we'll be exposing ourselves to them. Blue Snow was enough of a problem, but now there's another terrorist seeking to destroy our morally conscious society. Are they working together? I have no idea."
She continued striking the bag, with more ferocity than usual.
"It's all irrelevant. All that matters is making sure that the physicals are conducted and completed without any issue whatsoever."
As Anna delivered another blow to the bag, she was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
(End song)
"Hmm? Who could that be at this hour?
Grabbing a towel and wiping the sweat of her toned, porcelain body, she walked towards the intercom near the door. She tapped the screen, and it showed a woman with short black hair and dark red eyes with a mole underneath one, along with long eyelashes. She wears a black suit with a white buttoned shirt underneath, black pants and shoes.
"Hello, Ms. Nishikinomiya," the woman said. "May I come in and have a word with you?"
Anna blinked, then looked at her current attire. She wore a black sports bra and matching shorts. On top of that, she was dripping with sweat. Not the kind of appearance anyone should have when expecting visitors.
"Could you give me a few minutes to make myself presentable?" Anna asked. "I'm afraid my current attire is inappropriate."
"Very well," the woman said. "Take as much time as you need."
Anna bowed. "Thank you very much." She walked off to take a much needed shower.
20 Minutes Later
Anna was now dressed in her nightgown as she walked towards the door. She tapped the intercom to see the woman still waiting.
"I have returned," she said. "Forgive the delay."
"Think nothing of it," the woman replied. "I understand that a woman should make herself presentable in front of guests. Anyway, may I now come in?"
"You may." Anna unlocked the door and allowed the woman to walk inside and take off her shoes.
"Thank you. My name is Izumi Shimomura, head of security of Blume Japan."
Anna was surprised to hear the woman's surname. "Shimomura? I heard a lot about your family's name. Your lineage has served the JSDF for many years."
Izumi smiled. "I'm surprised you knew. Not a lot of people remember the Shimomura family being deeply involved in the JSDF."
"I pay a lot of attention to our country's history," Anna replied proudly. "I remember the JSDF assisting the Decency Squad apprehend those abhorrent radicals developing remote controlled bombs… who were they again?"
"The Chishiotetsu Workshop," Izumi replied. "Like many groups, they opposed the Law for Public Order and Morals in Healthy Child-Raising, but were much more brazen about it. They actually planned to go to war with the Decency Squad with the weapons they constructed, which included rifles and bombs. With the self-defense force's assistance, the Decency Squad was able to apprehend a majority of their members before their dark machinations could be put into work. Unfortunately, the rest escaped and nobody knows where they are."
"Well, regardless of where they are hiding, I know for certain that justice will reign once more," Anna said proudly.
Izumi couldn't help but chuckle at Anna's bravado. "I wish most young women were as passionate as you, Anna. You're definitely Sophia's daughter."
"As I've been told, "Anna said, guiding Izumi to the living room and gestured her to sit down on the couch with her. "Anyway, what do wish to see me for?"
"I came here per the request of your mother to lend us your aid," Izumi said in a serious tone.
"Aid for what?" Anna asked.
"For developing a task force to combat those who would dare break the laws," Izumi replied.
Anna stared at her in surprise, wondering what she meant.
At the café, Hachiman and Ayame were planning on their next move.
"Well Hachiman, have you come up with any good ideas for dirty terror attacks during the school physicals?" Ayame asked.
"I hate to admit, but I've been drawing more blanks than a colorless marker on that front," Hachiman sighed.
"Well, since they're for new students such as yourself, your body will be thoroughly examined," Ayame said in a serious tone. "Now that I think about it, you may actually go ahead and start warming up your loins."
"And for what reason, pray tell, should I consider playing five on one?" Hachiman asked.
"'Cause you'll be nude," Ayame explained. "When I say thorough, I'm talking about them poking their heads and fingers up in every nook and cranny. And since you're such a pervert, the mere thought of that must have you harder than trig."
"Alright, first off, there is nothing in this world apart from calculus that is harder than trigonometry," Hachiman argued. "Second, I've had physicals in the past and they are in no way sexually arousing. All they do is measure your-"
"Dick with a ruler?" Ayame teased.
Hachiman grew a tick mark. "Height and weight. God, are you physically incapable of keeping your mind out of the gutter for five minutes?"
Ayame ignored him. "Yeah, but dick measuring might be a good idea for gender equality. Otherwise, it's so not fair that girls have to measure their tits."
"Hell will freeze over before that ever happens," Hachiman snapped.
Ayame smirked. "Well, well, Hachiman, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you've got a tiny secret you're trying to hide. Dick sizes often counter the slack in the sack. I assume then, with your teeny peeny, you've big bouncies."
"They're normal sized," Hachiman shot back. "And there's no chance I'm discussing their function with you."
"Well… I understand that there's a margin of error due to different methods of measurement." An idea soon popped into her head. "Let's sabotage the physicals by adding protein to the urine samples."
Hachiman cringed at the idea. "I know I'll regret asking, but why?"
"To get the faculty quaking in their undergarments, of course," Ayame said. "Imagine the scandal if test tube after test tube was full of pee with the protein of a New York strip steak. They'd be sweating like you watching Anna pick up a pencil."
"What the fresh hell would that even accomplish?" Hachiman asked.
"Protein in the pee-pee samples would indicate that all of the new boys were jacking off in the shower each morning before coming to school," Ayame explained, making a stroking motion with her hand.
Hachiman sighed. "Why I go along with your degeneracy, I have no idea."
"Come on!" Ayame exclaimed. "Like those old comedies used to joke about. Guys would say 'jacking it in the shower is the best part of waking up!'"
Hachiman slumped in his seat. "Do I even want to know what those comedies are? On another note, how can the students be educated when they're too busy puking their guts out."
"Oh, that reminds me," Ayame said. "I have an idea about how to turn the vision test into a lesson."
Once more, Hachiman was dreading whatever Ayame had cooked up in her mind. "Which is…?"
Ayame leaned in closer with a sinister look on her face. "You're gonna love this. A way for us to say naughty things without the PMs or faculty ever knowing."
The Next Day
Hachiman and Ayame stood in the nurses office. However, Hachiman was not dressed in his uniform. He was dressed in a heavy brown coat, black pants, black dress shoes, brown gloves, a top hat with goggles and a plague doctor mask.
"Alright, lay down the plan," he said.
"'Kay, I'll distract everybody," Ayame replied, holding a sign that said 'eye exam, this way' with the arrow pointing left. "When the other students start trickling in, do exactly as we rehearsed."
"Noted," Hachiman sighed.
"Don't worry," Ayame said, patting his shoulder. "Anna and the council aren't gonna know it's you. Not when I'm running interference." She walks off, but shoots him a smug grin. "Also, steampunk? Really?"
"Get going, you letcher," Hachiman said, waving her off.
Ayame laughed as she left the room, leaving Hachiman alone.
"It's game time."
Anna and Goriki stood in front of the examination room, on their guard for anything that may happen. Anna in particular was in deep thought, no doubt about her conversation a few days back.
I came here per the request of your mother to lend us your aid.
For what?
For developing a task force to combat those who would dare break the laws.
To be honest, Anna couldn't stop thinking about it. Was this something her mother had been planning for a while? Was the current situation more dire than she initially believed?
"What is going through your mind, Mother?"
"We have an emergency!"
Ayame's panicked voice broke her train of thought as she turned towards her running to her and Goriki with a note.
"We received another threat from the terrorist!"
She gave them the note.
"I'm spiking all the urine samples with MuscleBuilder 5000, aka protein," Anna read aloud. Naturally, she was confused. "How is doing that a dirty joke attack?"
Even Goriki was stumped. "Well, there is protein in-" He stopped himself from continuing. "Look, all I know is we have to stop this monster."
Anna turned towards Ayame. "Where are we storing the boys' urine?"
"The infirmary," Ayame said.
"We must keep the school's pee-pee protein free!" Anna declared with Goriki nodding in agreement. They ran in the opposite direction, prompting Ayame to smirk.
"Heh… about time you lot had shown up. I've got something special for you."
The students were shocked to see a mysterious figure dressed strangely standing with his back turned.
"W-Who are you?" one of them asked nervously.
(Monkey Island SE OST: Following the Shopkeeper)
More dark chuckling occurred as the figure turned around, revealing his mask.
"You may call me… Kumo."
He a dramatic, menacing pose that certainly did not look like it was ripped off from a certain manga that has been ripped off in every known occasion.
"K-Kumo?!" another yelped in shock.
"That is correct," Kumo replied. "I am the one who shall be responsible for the next portion of your physical: the eye exam. Is everyone familiar with the fly body melding video last week? Yes? Well, we're going to build on that."
The students looked at each other in confusion, while "Kumo" smirked beneath his mask, taking out a baton from his sleeve.
"This eye exam has been developed by SOX, and through, you shall learn the literal inner workings of procreation. Once this information has graced your minds, they shall be free from the shackles this deluded and ignorant society has placed on you.
He proceeded to laugh dramatically, much to the confusion of the students.
"So, should we stay?" one of them asked.
"That laughing…" another muttered.
Kumo continued to laugh.
"This is by far the dumbest thing I have done in a long time," Hachiman thought. "At the very least, I'm making an ass out of myself for a good cause."
Flashback
"Listen up, Hachiman," Ayame said. "It will be your duty to educate the ignorant masses at Tokioka. I will teach you how to teach them how babies are made using nothing but words."
End Flashback (And Song)
"Alright, let's get started," Kumo said. "Boys to the left and girls to the right."
The students proceeded to separate into their gender-based groups.
"Very good. Now, on the boards behind me, there are words that have been separated into syllables. When I point at one, each group will sound off. Got it?"
Everyone nodded cautiously.
(Ace Attorney OST: Pursuit)
"Good. Now, for procreation to occur, the man inserts his penis into the woman's…"
He pointed to the first syllable on the girls' side.
"Va!"
Then to the second on the boys' side.
"Gi!"
"Yes, yes!" Kumo exclaimed excitedly. "All of you are learning well! Now, the final part!"
With gusto, he pointed towards the final syllable on the girls' side. However, it confused them.
"Huh? Uh… what's a vagin?"
The girls looked amongst themselves in confusion.
"Silence!" Kumo bellowed, making them flinch. "There's one more! Witness it, and burn it into the deepest recesses of your minds!" His baton prepared to point to the last syllable, but before he could…
"We're flushing your toilet talk!"
(End song)
Kumo's head swiftly turned towards the opening door, revealing Anna and Goriki.
"I see… you saw through our ruse," Kumo said, putting a finger to his forehead.
"The threat spike all of the urine samples with protein," Anna said, slowly walking towards Kumo. "It was your doing, wasn't it?"
Kumo chuckled. "Yes, it is as you said. I, Kumo, sent that letter as a diversion. Under the orders of Blue Snow, I intended to educate these students about the facts of life."
Anna gasped in horror. "You're working with Blue Snow?!"
"Indeed," Kumo replied, taking out a smoke bomb. "And there is nothing you can do to stop us!"
(Payday 2 OST: Double Cross 2017)
He threw it to the ground, creating a large smoke cloud to obstruct everyone's vision. He went towards the window and quickly climbed down.
"Man, this is the greatest rush of my life- ugh!"
Kumo felt the rope pull up quickly, and saw that Anna was pulling him up.
"No! You! Don't!" she grunted each time she pulled up.
Kumo stopped her by grabbing onto a nearby window, causing Anna to fall down. He jumped through the window and rushed into the halls.
"Time to bail," he said, running towards the stairs, only to hear voices.
"Where's Kumo?!" a teacher shouted.
"Upstairs!" another replied.
"Damn," Kumo hissed. "Has word spread about me soon? Anna works quick."
He ran in the opposite direction, noting that Anna appeared and was gaining on him.
"STOP IN THE NAME OF DECENCY!" she shouted.
"NEVER!" Kumo shouted back, rushing into a vacant classroom, running towards the window and grabbing the rope, climbing like his life depended on it. He climbed until he reached the rooftop, then ran behind the container, panting heavily.
"Alright," he breathed out. "Looks like I'm in the clear."
No sooner had he said that, he heard the door kick down.
"Why do I do this to myself," he grumbled.
Anna walked out with Goriki following her, who was panting heavily
"I know you're here," she said in a serious tone. "Come out, come out wherever you are."
Kumo breathed heavily. "Damn it all to hell."
Anna walked towards the container. "Now, expose yourself!"
Kumo clenched his fist. "This is what it's come to, huh? Time to show what happens when you underestimate a hacker."
Moving near the railing, Kumo typed into his PM, preparing to send a program to Anna and Goriki's PMs.
"I hope you enjoy the sound of high-pitched ringing, Ms. Nishikinomiya."
Before he could complete it, he heard Anna's PM beeping. The girl immediately answered.
(End song)
"Anna, it's a trap." He heard Ayame's voice. "Kumo is nothing but a decoy."
"How do you know that?" Anna asked.
"Because Blue Snow's on the gym roof!"
Anna and Goriki rushed over to the other side of the rooftop. Both of them gasped at what- or rather- who they saw.
(Persona 5 OST: Last Surprise)
On the gym roof, clad in a black and blue tight cat suit and a mask that concealed both her hair and eyes, Blue Snow laughed victoriously, carrying a large sack.
"I'm taking all of the boys' urine with me!" she declared. "I hope you enjoy reading their lab results!"
Laughing once more, she made her escape.
"Save the urine!" Anna shouted, rushing down the stairs with Goriki in tow. Once they left, Hachiman let out a sigh and stepped out of his hiding place.
"Damn... now that's a close shave if I've ever been in one."
He heard his PM beeping, and tapped it. A picture showing Blue Snow making a peace sign in her new outfit was shown, along with a caption underneath.
Love the new look? I know I do~ ;)
Hachiman chuckled as he took off his mask. "To think she'd actually take the new outfit for a test run. Not that I'm complaining."
Little did he know, someone observed him unmasking himself.
(End song)
"Well, well, well… what an amusing thing I just witnessed."
KS: When watching the second episode of Shimoneta, I wondered what kind of training regimen did Anna go through to be able to bust down a door like that. Not gonna bother about her jumping down a flight of stairs with little effort because almost every anime character has done that. Might as well make her the type of character who works out every night after school. I can imagine her being toned for damn sure. No doubt Ayame's gonna simp that. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you next time. Peace.