A/N- Welcome to chapter 3!
Disclaimer: 1) My name is not Miho Obana so I do not own Kodocha. 2) My name is not Robert Cormier, therefore The Chocolate War also isn't mine.
~Crossroads~
By Burnt Rice
Chapter 3: The Meeting
Sana Kurata stood in the center of the Vigils. A dingy bulb in the corner was the only source of light in the damp room, causing long shadows to creep across the wall. The tall girl could not see many people, maybe four or five, but she could feel the presence of many more. Even knowing this, she felt as if she were alone in the the room, as if this was it's desired effect. She stood facing one other in the center, who looked as if he were right at home.
"Name?", said Akito. He had a way of saying things that made his questions sound more like statements.
"Huh?"
Akito repeated his question, slower this time, as if Sana were a small child. "Your name, please."
Sana looked dubious. "I sit behind you in class, remember?"
A sneering voice came from the shadows. "He asked for your name, Kurata."
Sana placed her hands on her hips. "See? Even a total stranger knows my name......."
Akito mockingly smirked. "She's right, you know. I mean, who wouldn't know her name? It's the ever-famous Sana Kurata." Laughter erupted from the rest of the Vigils. Naozumi banged the gavel against his desk. The laughter stopped."Why don't we get down to business?"
"Right, you mean giving me one of your so-called assignments?", Sana sarcastically retorted. "I've already heard all about the Vigils. The infamous group of dorks (she put emphasis on that word) who use their power to instill fear among the students? Even so much that even the teachers won't mess with you? It's sad, really."
Akito leaned back into his chair, an amused look upon his face. "So you've heard of us? Well then, there shouldn't be any trouble. Saves Tsuyoshi here the trouble of spelling the system out for you. Here is your assignment."
"Do you really think that I would follow your stupid instructions? What do you take me for, a monkey?"
An audible gasp came from the Vigils. No one, repeat, no one, ever defied Akito's wishes. The assigner chuckled. "So that's how it is, huh? As you probably already know, this is a tradition here at Crossroads. There is absolutely nothing personal about these assignments. And of course, I make sure that nobody gets hurt."
Sana's voice rose. "You call what you did this morning harmless?! Are you blind?!"
Akito responded calmly. "Is anyone dying? No. Besides, I didn't do it. Junichi Katagawa did."
"Yeah, but you forced him to!"
"No one forced him to do anything. I didn't even threaten him."
"Well, I'm not scared of you! I'm not going to do your stupid assignment!"
"No one's forcing you. You can leave now if you want."
"FINE!" At that, Sana stormed out of the room, frustrated that Akito hadn't shown any traces of guilt. I'll show him!, she thought. I'm going to.....I'm going to make him pay for what he's doing!
~~
Tsuyoshi stared at Akito, obviously stricken by how Akito had reacted to Sana's defiance. "Why'd you let her go, Akito?" The room was now emptied of the Vigils, and only the assigner, Naozumi, and Tsuyoshi were left behind. "Don't worry about it.", replied Akito. "I expected this reaction."
"So what are we going to do?", inquired Tsuyoshi. Akito closed his eyes, and leaned back into his chair as if he were trying to think up some plan. But Tsuyoshi knew better. He knew that if Akito had indeed expected this reaction, then he had already thought up a solution. Secretly, though, he was relieved that Sana hadn't listened to Akito. He was afraid that Akito was gaining too much power, that someday that power would leak out into the boundaries beyond Crossroads. And if the famous actress Sana Kurata herself were willing to do his bidding, well.......then what was left? What else was Akito capable of? Tsuyoshi knew that he himself could not go all-out against the Vigils. They had too many followers. Plus, he knew that Akito could read anyone like a book. Tsuyoshi knew that he couldn't lie well at all. The only other person who felt as he did was Naozumi. What could two guys do against a whole organization? He hoped that Sana would change all that. Destroy the system. Be the catalyst.
After a few moment's silence, Akito finally spoke up. "I'll tell you what we're going to do." His eyes went blank. "We do nothing....."
Naozumi glanced at Akito, confused. "Nothing?"
Akito wasn't done speaking yet. "......to her." Naozumi's eyes went wide in realization. He fully understood what Akito meant. Do nothing to Sana. Don't touch a single hair on her body. But get her friends. Her new friends, the ones she had just made. Do things to harm their reputation. To make them avoid Sana. And in the process, get the whole of Crossraods Academy to ignore her too. Fill Sana with merciless regret. Let her guilt overflow. Maybe it will affect her work, maybe not. Who knew the possibilities? Naozumi had seen Akito pull off stunts like these countless times. It never failed. All who had suffered in this way always crawled back to the Vigils, begging forgiveness. And Akito would forgive them, but would make his next assignment to him or her personal. Humiliating. Naozumi was sickened by the thought. He knew that the students at Crossroads were easily swayed, and that the Vigils could pull this sort of stunt off on just about anybody. He looked over at Tsuyoshi, scanning for his reaction. Tsuyoshi stared back at Naozumi, with a pained expression on his face. In that moment, he felt helpless, disgusted with himself. How could he, or anyone else for that matter, stand for this?
~~End Ch. 3
Alright, you know what to do! (And for those of you who don't............REVIEW!!!!)
Disclaimer: 1) My name is not Miho Obana so I do not own Kodocha. 2) My name is not Robert Cormier, therefore The Chocolate War also isn't mine.
~Crossroads~
By Burnt Rice
Chapter 3: The Meeting
Sana Kurata stood in the center of the Vigils. A dingy bulb in the corner was the only source of light in the damp room, causing long shadows to creep across the wall. The tall girl could not see many people, maybe four or five, but she could feel the presence of many more. Even knowing this, she felt as if she were alone in the the room, as if this was it's desired effect. She stood facing one other in the center, who looked as if he were right at home.
"Name?", said Akito. He had a way of saying things that made his questions sound more like statements.
"Huh?"
Akito repeated his question, slower this time, as if Sana were a small child. "Your name, please."
Sana looked dubious. "I sit behind you in class, remember?"
A sneering voice came from the shadows. "He asked for your name, Kurata."
Sana placed her hands on her hips. "See? Even a total stranger knows my name......."
Akito mockingly smirked. "She's right, you know. I mean, who wouldn't know her name? It's the ever-famous Sana Kurata." Laughter erupted from the rest of the Vigils. Naozumi banged the gavel against his desk. The laughter stopped."Why don't we get down to business?"
"Right, you mean giving me one of your so-called assignments?", Sana sarcastically retorted. "I've already heard all about the Vigils. The infamous group of dorks (she put emphasis on that word) who use their power to instill fear among the students? Even so much that even the teachers won't mess with you? It's sad, really."
Akito leaned back into his chair, an amused look upon his face. "So you've heard of us? Well then, there shouldn't be any trouble. Saves Tsuyoshi here the trouble of spelling the system out for you. Here is your assignment."
"Do you really think that I would follow your stupid instructions? What do you take me for, a monkey?"
An audible gasp came from the Vigils. No one, repeat, no one, ever defied Akito's wishes. The assigner chuckled. "So that's how it is, huh? As you probably already know, this is a tradition here at Crossroads. There is absolutely nothing personal about these assignments. And of course, I make sure that nobody gets hurt."
Sana's voice rose. "You call what you did this morning harmless?! Are you blind?!"
Akito responded calmly. "Is anyone dying? No. Besides, I didn't do it. Junichi Katagawa did."
"Yeah, but you forced him to!"
"No one forced him to do anything. I didn't even threaten him."
"Well, I'm not scared of you! I'm not going to do your stupid assignment!"
"No one's forcing you. You can leave now if you want."
"FINE!" At that, Sana stormed out of the room, frustrated that Akito hadn't shown any traces of guilt. I'll show him!, she thought. I'm going to.....I'm going to make him pay for what he's doing!
~~
Tsuyoshi stared at Akito, obviously stricken by how Akito had reacted to Sana's defiance. "Why'd you let her go, Akito?" The room was now emptied of the Vigils, and only the assigner, Naozumi, and Tsuyoshi were left behind. "Don't worry about it.", replied Akito. "I expected this reaction."
"So what are we going to do?", inquired Tsuyoshi. Akito closed his eyes, and leaned back into his chair as if he were trying to think up some plan. But Tsuyoshi knew better. He knew that if Akito had indeed expected this reaction, then he had already thought up a solution. Secretly, though, he was relieved that Sana hadn't listened to Akito. He was afraid that Akito was gaining too much power, that someday that power would leak out into the boundaries beyond Crossroads. And if the famous actress Sana Kurata herself were willing to do his bidding, well.......then what was left? What else was Akito capable of? Tsuyoshi knew that he himself could not go all-out against the Vigils. They had too many followers. Plus, he knew that Akito could read anyone like a book. Tsuyoshi knew that he couldn't lie well at all. The only other person who felt as he did was Naozumi. What could two guys do against a whole organization? He hoped that Sana would change all that. Destroy the system. Be the catalyst.
After a few moment's silence, Akito finally spoke up. "I'll tell you what we're going to do." His eyes went blank. "We do nothing....."
Naozumi glanced at Akito, confused. "Nothing?"
Akito wasn't done speaking yet. "......to her." Naozumi's eyes went wide in realization. He fully understood what Akito meant. Do nothing to Sana. Don't touch a single hair on her body. But get her friends. Her new friends, the ones she had just made. Do things to harm their reputation. To make them avoid Sana. And in the process, get the whole of Crossraods Academy to ignore her too. Fill Sana with merciless regret. Let her guilt overflow. Maybe it will affect her work, maybe not. Who knew the possibilities? Naozumi had seen Akito pull off stunts like these countless times. It never failed. All who had suffered in this way always crawled back to the Vigils, begging forgiveness. And Akito would forgive them, but would make his next assignment to him or her personal. Humiliating. Naozumi was sickened by the thought. He knew that the students at Crossroads were easily swayed, and that the Vigils could pull this sort of stunt off on just about anybody. He looked over at Tsuyoshi, scanning for his reaction. Tsuyoshi stared back at Naozumi, with a pained expression on his face. In that moment, he felt helpless, disgusted with himself. How could he, or anyone else for that matter, stand for this?
~~End Ch. 3
Alright, you know what to do! (And for those of you who don't............REVIEW!!!!)