The students filled in for history class. Most of them have expressions of indifference, a few of dread. One girl, however, was absolutely beaming.
Kaorin felt like she didn't have a care in the world as she walked to her desk. She felt her heart beat quicken as Miss Yuri walked in.
"Good afternoon, class."
"Good afternoon, Miss Yuri!" Kaorin shouted with energy, unlike the half hearted reply her fellow students gave.
"Well, I guess someone's eager to learn" said Yuri. Some of the other students laughed, but all Kaorin cared about was that once again, Miss Yuri had noticed her, acknowledged her. Her day was made, and class had only just-
"Kaorin?"
Of course something would spoil her good mood. She turned to face Sakaki. Prior to her recent awakening, it had seemed a godsend that her seat was next to her. Now it was just one more little thing for life to taunt her with.
"Kaorin, I lost my pencil, can I borrow one?"
"Oh, you forgot your pencil? So naturally you felt you deserved mine. Did you consider that this might be my only one? Did you think about me having to go through class not being able to take any notes? That I'll fail the next test? That I'll fall behind and fail the class? And then I won't be able to get into college, and I'll end up on the streets turning tricks simply to afford to eat!"
Sakaki stared at Kaorin for a moment.
"Chihiro, can I borrow a pencil?"
"Yeah sure."
"Thank you."
Kaorin glared at Chihiro.
Some "best friend" you are.
As class began, Kaorin forget her anger and became absorbed in watching Miss Yuri. It was such a wonderful arrangement; Kaorin always had to be careful sneaking her looks at Sakaki, always making sure they weren't too long, that she wasn't noticed. But she was expected to pay attention to the teacher. She was able to take in every aspect of her, her beautiful face, her wondrous legs, her well toned butt.
She observed the way she moved, graceful, like a deer. And the compassion she exuded when she answered questions. Truly, this was what a teacher should be, not like that brutish Yukari or meek Kurosawa.
Her trance was suddenly broken by the ringing bell.
"All right, class is dismissed, the test will be on Monday so be sure to review your notes."
Notes? Test?!
She looked down at a completely blank sheet of paper. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, realizing she had been so absorbed by Miss Yuri's beauty and grace she hadn't even paid attention to anything she said, let alone taken any notes.
Okay, Kaorin, calm down. You can ask Chihiro for her notes. Hmm, her's are never as detailed as mine though. Maybe I can ask Miss Yuri...I can ask Miss Yuri to go over things with me alone...
Again, Kaorin's heart went faster.
Yuri was packing up her things in class when-
"Miss Yuri-"
Yuri gasped and jumped a bit from Kaorin's sudden appearance.
"Oh, how can I help you, uh…?"
"Kaorin, miss."
Kaorin smiled. How coy of her teacher, pretending to not know her name.
"Anyway, I've been having some trouble understanding the material lately. I was hoping perhaps, you could give me some private tutoring..."
Yuri checked her grade chart.
"According to this, you're already one of the top students in the class."
"Well, yes, but I want to reach my full potential. Who knows, it could be the difference in whether I get into Tokyo University or not."
"I see...well, I'm afraid I don't really have the time to help students out individually. But maybe another student can. Let's see...oh, Sakaki is the highest scoring student here, I'll ask her to tutor you-"
"NO! I mean, I wouldn't want to bother her. You know now that I think of it, I think I got history mixed up with one of my other classes. Bye!"
Yukari tossed her books onto her desk as she entered the teachers longue, where Nyamo was finishing up some paperwork.
"Ah, another week with those smelly brats over and done. So, you want to go to that place and have some crab tonight?"
"Uh, I can't go tonight, Yukari."
"Oh come on, it's Friday night, you don't want to just stay home and watch tv; you'll have plenty of time for that in a few years when your looks go."
"I have a date, Yukari."
"Oh Christ, when you are going to stand up to your mother and tell her to stop setting you up-"
"She didn't set it up, Yukari, I did. I'm going with Domon."
"Him!? Look, I understand wanting to see someone your intellectual level who won't use big words, but someone with head trauma will have a funnier story to tell! I mean you just met him."
"I know, but, I've been thinking about it for a bit, and, well, after what happened yesterday, I realized anything can happen. The girls were almost killed. We could have been killed. We can't take anything for granted. So last night I called him up and asked if he was free, and he suggested that soba restaurant everyone's taking about."
"That's what you took from what happened? To go out with whatever meathead you last met?"
"You know, this is why I didn't want to tell you, you always badmouth every guy I go out with!"
"That's because you have terrible taste in men! I'm surprised you never went out with Kimura!"
"Look, I know he's a bit rough around the edges, but I can tell he's a sweet, caring guy underneath. Although, I do feel like he's hiding something…"
"Oooh, you think he's a serial killer? You know, I always thought we would make a great pair of crime solvers, me the brilliant and beautiful detective, you my dumb but loyal assistant-"
"He's not a serial killer!"
"Did he tell you that? Because that's exactly what a serial killer would say!"
"Look, this isn't a discussion, Yukari. I don't have to get your approval to go on a date. I'm going, and that's final!"
Yukari was silent for a moment, then angrily turned away.
"Fine, go on your little date. But don't come crying to me when he kills you and makes a crappy chair out of your crappy body!"
Nyamo sighed.
"Look, why don't you come over on Saturday, I'll make dinner, they're showing one of those specials about animals attacking people."
Yukari sniffed.
"Is it the one with the circus elephant that goes on a rampage while people are still riding its back?"
"I believe so."
"Well, as it happens, I have a date myself that night. With a neurosurgeon. Who also plays in the NPB. But if for some reason that falls through then sure, I'll be there."
"Great. I'll see you then."
Nyamo gave her friend a tight hug before leaving. When she was gone, Yukari chuckled.
Oh, Nyamo was so innocent and naive. She supposed that's why she cares for her, for all her faults. And undoubtedly this was why this Futoshi Matsunaga was into her, recognizing her as a dumb chicken ripe for plucking. But he didn't count on one thing: this dumb chicken had a brilliant best friend who would go to any lengths to protect her.
At Tomorrow Research, Yuri was telling Tatsuya of her day, her experiences with one student in particular.
"And I feel like she's always watching. I think she may be working with the Londerz in some way…"
Tatsuya laughed.
"What?"
"From what you're telling me, I think it's more likely this Kaorin has a schoolgirl crush on you."
"Really?" Yuri groaned. "God that's so much worse. I really hope we finish this thing soon."
Sion then walked in, went right up to them, and stood with a wide smile.
"Sion, are you-"
"I bring you grains of truth!"
Both Tatsuya and Yuri looked at their young teammate confused.
"Dig this: did you know rice is the most popular grain in the world?"
"Oh. That makes sense" said Tatsuya.
"No, you're…heh heh…you're supposed to say…haha…"
Sion struggled to contain his laughter so as to deliver the punchline.
"That…that ain't no grain of truth, that's the truth about grain!"
Having managed to spit it out, Sion started laughing uproariously.
"That's a good joke" said Yuri without enthusiasm.
"Osaka told it to me. She's really funny!"
Ayase then entered, carrying groceries.
"Ayase! I bring you grains of truth!" he said as he followed him into the kitchen.
"I'm concerned about Sion. I think he's forgetting he's in that school for a mission, not to socialize" said Yuri.
"Well he never went to school, did he? Not with peers, anyway. It's only natural he's excited to have made a friend his own age."
"He's not going to be going there once we stop whatever the Londerz are doing, though, and the more fun he's having the harder it's going to be for him."
Tatsuya frowned. He hadn't considered that. His thoughts were interrupted as Sion came back into the room with a well dressed and loudly laughing Domon.
"Grains of truth?! That's hilarious. And that Osaka girl taught you that? Hold onto her, she's a keeper."
"What do you mean?" asked Sion.
"Well, I have to get going. I have a date with Minamo."
"Can you at least ask her some questions regarding this case, see if she knows anything that could be useful?"
Domon was barely paying attention to her.
"Well I can't make any promises but if I see an opportunity to bring it up naturally I'll definitely ask her if she knows anything about why everyone in that town is fighting each other."
"Domon that was back in April, it's not what we're-" began Yuri, but Domon was already out the door.
Yuri groaned in frustration.
"Am I the only one who remembers we're trying to stop the Londerz, not to hook up!?"
"Well" said Tatsuya, "I didn't want to tell you, but I met the cutest girl in administrations..."
Yuri's face grimaced in horror for a moment, before she noticed Tatsuya struggling not to smile.
"You're joking."
"Had you going, didn't I?"
Yuri playfully smiled as she hit Tatsuya with a rolled up newspaper.
Yukari was putting on her wig when she heard a knock on the bathroom door.
"Yukari, you've been in there for awhile now. Did you eat at that cheap sushi place again, you know it always gives you diarrhea."
"No Mom, I'm putting on a disguise! Nyamo's going out with a serial killer and I have to save her!"
Yukari gave herself a final check. She was dressed in a short black dress, a white mink coat, dark sunglasses, and a pink wig.
Yukari took a moment to admire her work. The only similarity between her normal appearance and this was being breathtakingly beautiful.
She headed out with purpose. Nyamo certainly left a lot to desire as a friend, but she couldn't let her become this pervert's latest victim.
"You know honey, your father and I have always known how fond you are of Minamo" her mother called from the hallway. "If there's anything you wanted to tell us, we hope you feel you can-"
"There is! We're out of beer, pick some up when you go the store! Bye!"
Domon sat at the table, trying to calm his nerves. In his head, a thousand disastrous scenarios played out, from being called away to fight the Londerz to loudly farting.
He opened his wallet to once more check to see he didn't forget his credit card when a photo fell out. He tried to pick it up without looking at it, but it was no good.
There she was, Honami. He looked at her cheerful smile, her cute chipmunk cheeks...
It was strange. In the 30th century, he avoided monogamy like the Reda Virus; he made it a policy to never go out with a woman twice, so they didn't get any ideas. But little over half a year in the 20th century, he had found not one but now two women for whom the idea of settling down, having a family, actually seemed appealing…
Maybe it was him adapting. It's hard to use being a sports star to pick up women when your sport hasn't even been invented yet. With the exception of Honami and Minamo, 20th century women did not like him. That bothered him at first, but now…well, maybe there was something to be said for quality over quantity.
He looked at the picture again. He had to admit to himself, as much as he cared for Minamo, if Honami were to walk in here right now, tell him she loved him…
Well, it didn't matter. She didn't love him. She loved Ayase. He had known that for other a month now. He told himself when he found out he would tell his teammate, so they could be happy together. So why hadn't he done it yet? Maybe if things went well with Minamo, doing so wouldn't feel like tearing his own heart out.
"Domon!"
Domon looked up to see an elegantly dressed Nyamo. He quickly put the photo away.
"Minamo! Glad you made it here all right."
"This place is supposed to be really good. How'd you get us a good table at such late notice?"
"Oh I'm friends with the owner."
"Really?"
At that point, a thin nervous looking man dressed in a chef's uniform came up to them.
"Hey, Kihachiro!" greeted Domon.
"Kihachiro Sugawara? The owner? You know Domon?"
"Oh yes, Mr. Domon is a very kind man. Without him this restaurant would have closed months ago, and my wife would never have come back to me..."
In a cramped corner, Yukari peeked above the menu to look at her friend and her date. How pathetic, getting the restraunt owner to vouch for him. Hell, it probably wasn't even the real manager, just some bum he hired. God Nyamo was lucky to have her watching out for her.
Kihachiro soon left, and Domon and Nyamo began their date in full. They talked about the usual, school, their families. Nyamo was having a good time for the most part, but something was bothering her. There was customer in the corner she swore kept looking at them. She looked familiar, but…no. Even she had more sense than that. Right?
Nyamo was forced to admit the truth, however, when the customer's sunglasses fell off.
"Yukari?"
"Hmm?" said Domon.
Panicked, Yukari quickly put the sunglasses back on, looked away, and tried to look non-chalant.
"Oh God..." she moaned, putting her hand over her face in embarrassment.
"What?" asked Domon, worried he had done something.
"Listen, don't panic or anything, it's just, see that person over there-" she pointed to Yukari. "She's-"
"YOU!" yelled Domon as he suddenly stood up.
"Uh oh" squeaked Yukari.
Yukari was now like a deer in the headlights as Domon angrily marched towards her, Nyamo following.
"Listen, she can be a pain but she's harmle- I mean, she means wel-er..."
Domon grabbed Yukari by her coat and started shaking her.
"What are you planning this time, Lila!?"
"Huh?" replied Yukari.
"What's your problem?! It's not enough that wreak havoc all over the city, you have to bother people having a nice night out!? Just because your boyfriend's a whale man no one else can be happy at love?!"
Domon then noticed the man sitting at the table next to Yukari's.
"I suppose this guy is a Londerz, isn't he?"
He let go of Yukari and grabbed him.
"What are you? A robot who exposes his circuits to women? Some gelatinous blob who embezzled from his firm? A goat man jaywalker?!"
"Domon, this woman is Yukari!" said Nyamo, pulling off the pink wig, sending Yukari's long brown hair flowing out.
"Oh" said Domon, letting go of the man. "Sorry."
Yukari burst into tears and collapsed into Nyamo's arms.
"Nyamo, the mean man yelled at me!" she cried as she hung on to her friend.
"What are you doing here?" Nyamo asked as she patted her back.
"Protecting you, you idiot, what do you think?"
"Oh. Thanks?"
"I'm really sorry, I thought you were someone else" said a sheepish Domon.
"Who?" asked Nyamo. "Wait, do you have a stalker?"
"Oh no...I mean yes, some of those croquet fans can get real crazy, you know. Anyway I really am sorry, Yukari. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, maybe-"
"Invite me to join you two for dinner? Well, if you insist."
Before either Domon or Nyamo could say anything, she marched to their table, took a seat, yelled until a waiter came, and began to order seemingly everything on the menu.
Domon looked to Nyamo, who shrugged apologetically. Domon sighed. Even with the very generous discount Kihachiro gave him, the thought of facing Yuri when she saw the bill made him wish it really had been Lila…
Kagura entered the arcade and scanned for her friends. After what happened the other day, they had decided to unwind and spend Saturday here.
She quickly saw Yomi playing Street Fighter.
"Hey Yomi. Where is everyone?"
"Chiyo and Sakaki should be on the way. Osaka too. Um, she's bringing Sion."
Kagura gave a look, and Yomi shrugged her shoulders.
"Where's Tomo, then? I figured she'd have come with you."
"She did" replied Yomi as she pointed to their friend, sitting alone at a table with papers and a pencil.
"What the hell? We're at the arcade and she's doing homework?"
"I barely managed to convince her to come at all."
Kagura was far from academically gifted, but it didn't take a Chiyo-Chan to tell Yomi was worried about her best friend's uncharacteristic behavior.
"Hey, I'll get her to play. Just watch."
Kagura hadn't known Tomo as long as Yomi, or even the others in their group had, but she was a simple person to figure out.
She slammed her hand down on the desk.
"Hey Tomo, c'mon, let's play Daytona, loser has to buy the winner all the juice they can drink."
"Maybe later, I'm busy right now."
"Oh, what's the matter, you scared?"
"I have more important things to do, that's all."
Kagura frowned. Normally you could get Tomo to jump a bridge by challenging her. She would have to kick things up a notch...
"Hey!" yelled Tomo as Kagura grabbed the paper she was working on. Looking at it, she laughed.
"Wait, did you bring your math homework here?"
"It's not homework! Give it back!"
"Ooh, does the nerd want her homework back?" said Kagura in a mocking tone.
"I SAID GIVE IT BACK YOU BITCH!" screamed Tomo in a viscous tone Kagura had never heard from her. Across the arcade patrons turned their eyes to see what was going on, the younger ones looking afraid.
"Okay okay" said Kagura as she frantically gave the paper back to Tomo, worried the wildcat might actually attack her if she didn't.
Tomo began to calm down the instant she got the paper back. She realized everyone was looking at her, and felt shamed about what had happened. That shame increases when she saw the fear and worry in Kagura's eyes.
"I-I'm sorry Kagura, I don't know what happened, I guess I haven't been getting enough sleep or something."
"It's all right, I was being a brat."
In truth, Kagura felt it was pretty hypocritical of Tomo to throw a fit about it, considering how much she messed with all of them. But she didn't want to press the issue; Tomo was always so chipper and upbeat, seeing her angry was scary.
Kagura decided to bring the matter up with the one who knew Tomo best.
"Jeez, I don't think I've ever seen Tomo angry before. You know, actually angry, not just playing at it" she said to Yomi.
"Honestly in all the time I've known her I can probably count the times she's been like that on my fingers."
"You think she's all right? This brain thing she's doing, could it be affecting her mood?"
"Not just that. Have you noticed she's been looking paler and thinner? And her energy level is way down."
"Yeah, you're right. But I guess it makes sense this thing would have side effects. Probably no big deal. I mean, the doctor wouldn't keep doing it if it weren't safe, right?"
"I guess…" said Yomi.
"Trust me, this time next month she'll be back to to her hyper, irritating self, so let's enjoy this while we can, okay?"
"Hey guys" said Tomo, walking up to them.
"Hey. You feeling better?" asked Yomi.
"Yeah, I figured I should give my brain a little rest with something easy and simple, like beating Kagura's ass."
"See" mouthed Kagura to Yomi. Though she tried to hide it, Kagura saw Yomi form a brief smile of relief.
"Well I hope you have something else you can do for that, cause it's never going to ha-"
"Howdy everyone!"
"Oh hey Osak-"
All three were stunned into silence as their friend walked in. Sion was with her, but that wasn't what her friends were focused on.
"Osaka...your hair..." said Tomo.
Osaka's hair was now a bright green.
"Ya like it? Sion told me about how he dyes his hair, so I though ah'd give it a try."
"I think it rules!" said Kagura, giving her friend a thumbs up.
"Yeah, it's totally you" said Tomo.
"It's...nice" said Yomi.
"See, I told they'd like it" said Sion.
"Hey, where's Chiyo-Chan and Sakaki? I really wanted to see what they thought."
"They're not here yet, but I'm sure they'll be here soon."
"Hop hop hop hop bouncing about hello" hummed Chiyo as she waited outside of the public restroom Sakaki was using.
Suddenly, she heard a wailful moan.
Looking around, she spied an odd looking man with a buzz cut and glasses lying on the street, some grocery bags right besides him.
"Are you okay, Mister?" asked Chiyo as she approached him.
"My stomach, it's in such pain...can you help carry my bags to my van?" he asked, pointing to the vehicle.
"Oh, sure!"
Chiyo merrily walked towards the man, when suddenly she frowned and stopped.
"What's the matter?" asked the man.
"I just thought, if your stomach hurts so much, I don't think it's safe for you to drive home. I'll go call a taxi for you!"
The man's expression suddenly became panicked.
"Uh...I don't have the money for that..."
"Oh don't worry, I'll pay for it!" replied the girl, smiling brightly.
"Oh, I couldn't ask, I mean, uh...oh, nuts to this!"
The man sprang up, ran over and grabbed Chiyo, covering her mouth to prevent her calling for help.
As he was about to make his getaway, he felt someone grab onto him. He turned to see a tall raven haired girl holding onto his arm.
"Let her go!"
He tried to break away, but the tall girl was strong. He would have to change to his true form...
His body shimmered and contorted. When the process was done, his shape was that of a humanoid frog, but his skin was white with black and red on its torso, and his eyes looked almost electronic. In other circumstances, Sakaki might have thought it cute.
He raised his free webbed hand and struck Sakaki across the face, knocking her to the ground.
"Sakaki!" cried out Chiyo.
"Stupid girl, thinking she's a match for Serial Kidnapper Nabal!"
Nabal threw Chiyo into the back of the van and shut the door.
Sakaki regained consciousness just in time to see it take off.
"Chiyo!" Sakaki cried out, helplessly watching the van speed away.