Hidden From Hope

by 1Glimmershine

The last 16 ultimates of the world, that have yet to perish during the 2nd tragedy or become corrupted by despair, have been taken to an underground facility for their protection until the tragedy ends and all roots of despair are taken care of. Unbeknownst to them, they were only heading to their fates in the grip of despair.

11. Chapter 2-2: Cemetery of Stars

-Omezo's room-

*knock knock knock*

The sound of banging at the door woke me up in a haze. I let out a tired sigh as I approached the door.

I have a distinct feeling that it's Norito behind the door.

Opening the door, I was greeted by a brightly smiling Norito, as expected. "Hey hey, Ace! Hope you got a good night's sleep in after all the rancid events yesterday," he said, rubbing his shoulder.

"Luckily, I managed to relax well enough, free of headaches," I responded, my fingers picking at the corners of my tired eyes. "I presume you are here to remind me of the plans we had developed with Sukey."

"That's right! I have a little something planned for y'all. Come on down with me to the theatre!" the chipper janitor requested, gesturing me to follow him outside.

I offered a half witted smile. "I'll be right there with you, just let me get dressed first. I don't want to look like a bedridden maniac in front of the others."

---

-Theatre-

My eyes found themselves on the cleaning supplies that were lying on top of the metallic stage. "Where did you get all of this stuff? It doesn't seem official," I questioned, scratching the back of my neck.

A prideful grin splayed across Norito's face. "That's because it's my own concoction. Those cleaning companies don't quite understand how to give that shining effect with their products. I almost suspect that they are working for the enemy… 99%, cannot trust them!" The cherry haired boy answered with extra ardor.

I'm not an expert on chemicals or cleaning supplies, but I'm 99% percent sure there's some scientific reason for things not completely eradicating germs.

"What is it that we will be doing though?" Sukey asked with intrigue laced in with her voice.

"Today's bonding activity will be through assisting, I, the Cleanliness Hero, in cleaning this dusty theatre!" Norito answered, enthusiastically regarding the theatre with open arms. "With teamwork, this will be done in a flash!"

"I sincerely doubt that you needed help in the first place, considering your track record," I remarked, dragging a palm across my forehead.

And I honestly don't really feel up for cleaning an entire theatre this huge.

Norito offered an infectious smile. "All heroes could use a sidekick or two! You will be known as Bleach Boy, annihilating bacteria one drop of sodium chloride at a time!" he exclaimed, then he turned and dramatically pointed at Sukey. "And you, my sweet girl, shall be dubbed as Lady H2O, washing away scheming grime back to the dirty depths they arose from!"

"I presume these titles are respective of our jobs," I predicted, rubbing my jawline.

I would object to my new herioc identity, but I have no will to try nor do I expect it to end in my favor with his sheer passion and all.

He bounced a pointed finger at me with a proud expression. "Ah, you got a good head on your shoulders, Bleachboy, very perceptive, you're indeed correct," the heroic janitor said, before swiping up a broom. "You will wipe down everything with bleach, and after I sweep up some dastardly trash, Lady H2O will follow suit with her mop of cleanliness!" He tossed his trusty mop to Sukey, who was able to elegantly catch it mid air with both of her hands.

I let loose an amused puff of air. "He's really getting into the act now," I commented, running my fingers through my hair.

A warm smile spread across Sukey's face. "I don't mind it, it's quite charming," the band director remarked, then she gave me a playful grin as she twirled the mop around in her hands. "But, what are we waiting for, Bleach Boy? We have a job to do!"

I see that she's raring to go...

I palmed half of my face with a single hand with a weak smile. "You've also been consumed by this hero charade as well…" I noted in clinical response to her enthusiasm.

Norito placed his hands on his hips, eyeing me down with a judgmental expression. "Is that disinterest I hear?! We can't have none of that! Show me your unadulterated enthusiasm, Bleach Boy!" he demanded with encouragement.

I cleared my throat. "I'm um... ready to kick some dusty metaphorical ass! I guess..." I exclaimed with as much ardor I could muster while clenching my fist in a heroic-like pose.

Not my proudest line. My excuse is that I am just too tired for anything better.

Norito tapped his chin as he soaked in the line, then he lightly shrugged. "Eh, your lines need some work, no matter! Let's get to it!" he commanded, sounding quite excited.

Norito quickly began sweeping the stage with swift and precise strokes, Sukey following behind him with her mopping. I nabbed the bleach, some rags, and a bucket of water, then set out over to the theatre seats. It took me a few minutes before I had wiped down each of the first row seats, making sure to be as thorough as possible.

This is going to take forever...

"Quick! Lady H2O, swing that mop to the right before that terrible gum solidifies itself!" I heard Norito shout up on the stage, I looked to see him pointing a finger at something on the metal floor of the stage. Sukey looked surprised for a moment as she rushed over to the spot he was pointing towards and began aggressively mopping it.

I resumed my bleaching duties for a while longer, making decent progress. I stopped for a moment of relaxation, wiping some sweat off my brow.

Kind of unfair that they get to work together, meanwhile, I'm over here working my ass off on my lonesome.

"Bleachboy! Don't let that sinister stain escape in the shadows on that far left chair, second row!" Norito commanded, his voice booming towards me.

Figures...

I made my way to the chair he informed me about, and sure enough, there was a small, black stain I didn't completely remove on the seat cushion. As more time passed and I had finished 5 rows of the seats, I began to feel quite weary from the fast work I had been pushing myself to do. I cleared my face of sweat and stretched my tense limbs. I watched Sukey and Norito sweep and mop the metal floor that was situated between the seats and stage. They looked like a great team as they worked.

"Hurry, pass me that bucket of water! This stubborn muk is resisting my efforts!" Sukey requested, sounding almost worried at the situation.

Norito hopped up over to a bucket of water nearby himself effortlessly. "On the double!" the janitor assured, sliding the bucket straight to her.

At least they are seemingly bonding with one another over there. Well, back to slaving away.

Finally, I managed to reach halfway through the 7th and final row, however, a certain stain just wouldn't dissipate no matter how much force I applied when trying to wipe it down with my bleach soaked rag.

Just my luck, things have to get more difficult. Better ask Norito what I should do, but I can't forget to stay in act...

I ran up closer to Norito, heaving out of breath, leaning forwards with my hands on my knees. "I need a plan of action on how to handle this… diabolical stain, as it just won't um... perish!" I informed the janitor, shaking my head.

"Take this ultra scrubber extraordinaire! Combine it with your bleach of justice to create the ultimate stain killer!" Norito exclaimed, throwing me a scrubber with bristles. I thanked him and returned to scrubbing down that stubborn stain.

This was way more work than I intended to do today. I suppose I'm enjoying it somewhat.

After finishing all the rows and the rest of the carpet, I was left with only one spot I had noticed before.

Now how did that get up there?

I scratched the back of my neck as I stared up at the curtain that covered one of the walls of the theatre. "I'm afraid that I'm way too short to reach that spot up there on the curtain," I told the others.

"Do not fret, we shall stack on one another to reach that worthless scum!" Norito proposed as he and Sukey finished up their jobs. "I'll be our base support, Lady H2O can be the center balance, and you get the top."

"This seems like it won't end well…" I doubted, rubbing the back of my neck. "None of us are Ultimate Cheerleaders you know?"

"Don't lose hope, Bleach Boy! That's what the stain wants you to think! You must show that it's high ground doesn't mean it's over!" Sukey encouraged with an infectious smirk.

If I break something on my body, he's paying my medical bill if we get out of here, and while I lay in bed, I want him to give me a dinner-in-bed service pronto.

Norito positioned himself below the dirty spot, I got up onto Sukey's shoulders and then Norito hoisted us up onto his. I was able to reach the spot well enough, and hurriedly wiped it down before we all ultimately lost balance.

Just as I got rid of the stain, I felt Sukey begin to shake and waver. "Ah cra-!" My heart skipped a beat as I yelped in shock once we began to tumble. Luckily, I was able to get a grip on the curtain before falling any further. Sukey wasn't as lucky.

"Agh!" Sukey let out a short scream.

*thud* *splash*

Thank god for the strange design choice of wall curtains.

I stole a glance down below to see that Sukey was lying down on her back. She was staring at Norito whom managed to somehow not only spill all the soapy water from a bucket, but the bucket remained on his head as he sat up. He lifted it up enough to reveal his face that was wet with water, and soap bubbles were sliding down his face.

"..." Norito just blinked rapidly as silence took over the room.

"..."

"Ahahahahaahaaha!~" They both suddenly burst out laughing, finding amusement in the event.

"I told you the end result wasn't going to be good," I remarked, still hanging onto the curtain above their heads.

"No worries, I suffered no injuries," Sukey reassured, standing back up on her feet with a wide smile.

Norito stood up and took the bucket off his head. "All I got was a firm soaking, anyways, get down from there, you're not spiderman! You're Bleach Boy!" he commanded, still feeling the effects of his previous laughter.

Well, I'm beginning to lose my grip anyways.

I did as he said, allowing myself to slide down the curtain down to the floor.

"Alright, so did we get everything?" Sukey asked, re-adjusting her dress that was sliding off her shoulder.

Norito's eyes flitted around the room for a quick overview. "As far as I can see, we- is tha- no. NOOOOOOO!" He dropped to his knees in anguish suddenly.

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Uh, what are you screaming about?" I queried, giving him a weirded out glance.

He held his face in his palms in defeat. "Ugh, my worst nemesis, the dreaded, fiendish, Coffee Stain… Always crawls back up from hell," the janitor let out an aggravated sigh, he looked at us with a gloomy expression. "Hrgh, looks like it's not over just yet, however, I request that you two leave before things get rough, I need you safe! Don't let my sacrifice be in vain!"

Is he serious...!?

"But, it's just a coffee stain..." I muttered, dumbfounded by this act.

Norito shook his head vehemently, forcibly pointing to the main doors of the theatre. "GO! I beg of you… before it's too late. You don't understand, its strength is immeasurable," he valiantly pleaded, seemingly holding back frustration and tears.

Yep, he's 100% serious about this. Guess I can add coffee stains to the list of unlikely ludicrous villains for my next novel that'll never come out.

Sukey pulled me over by the wrist. "Come on, Bleach Boy, we must respect our leader's desires," she insisted, clasping her hands over her stomach with a hint of sorrow in her expression.

I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm honestly more conf-" I tried to say, before Sukey silenced me by covering my mouth.

"Shush, I love him too, but we must go before we fall into the clutches of the coffee stain," the multi-colored haired girl instructed.

Now the real question is, was that word of love an act? No, love wouldn't bloom at a time like this.

A weak grin played on my lips. "Sure…" I complied as she began pulling me along as she walked towards the doors.

---

-2nd floor main hallway-

"Do... do you think he'll make it out okay...?" Sukey asked with half lidded eyes, clasping her hands over her chest while looking downwards.

A laugh tried to escape my throat, but I subdued it. "Sukey, we don't need to keep the act going anymore you know?"

"Yeah, I know, but I was having fun for once. I wanted to savor it for as long as I could," Sukey admitted with a satisfied expression. "We were actually properly harmonizing with one another…"

I gave her a reluctant grin. "I'll admit, I was beginning to enjoy it as well. It was just, really strange. I never thought he'd get into such a serious hero role like that."

Minus the whole, scrubbing down each and every individual seat in the theatre, and yeah, it was fun.

"Some people are different when they're in their comfort zone," Sukey said, before pressing the palms of her hands together. "Which is why I hope for something musical related on the next floor, so that I can be at my best when I choose our next bonding activity."

I crossed my arms. "The only way we'll find out what's on the next floor is if someone is killed," I mentioned, frowning.

A look of dejection filled her face. "Don't remind me…"

*Bing bong ding dong*

"It is now 7:00 A.M. meaning if you aren't already up and about, get your asses up an' at em' I want to see some hard killing this time ya hear!"

We actually did all that in thirty minutes, jeez, I worked faster than I thought...

"We should probably head to the cafeteria, I assume the others want to meet up now," Sukey suggested. "Norito will most likely do the same after he handles that stain."

"Right," I firmly nodded in agreement.

---

-Cafeteria-

We arrived just before a certain stoic sheriff did. He looked no worse for wear.

"Sozen! Feeling better already huh?" Kaiya cheerfully greeted the handsome sheriff with a cordial grin.

That lucky bastard, he recovered surprisingly fast. This means that Masakado's days are numbered.

He returned the gesture with an amiable expression in response. "Sure am, and I just finished listening to the news of yesterday," he mentioned, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

I scratched the back of my neck. "You're just learning that? I would've thought Kaiya told you," I commented with a bit of shock.

Kaiya gave a light shrug of her shoulders. "I left that out so that he would rest easy. You know how he is when things get shaky," the secret agent answered, nudging the sheriff with an elbow. The boy's lips simply tightened in reaction.

I can imagine that he would have gone buck wild trying to figure everything out and jumping back into that leadership role.

Juro's eyes narrowed. "Shaky? More like a goddamn earthquake!" the soccer player exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "Freakin' lizards getting lit in the garden…"

"It's clear that it is now imperative that we begin rationing before our food supply thins rapidly," Sozen wisely advised.

"So what, one measly meal a day?" Heikichi inquired with an outstretched palm.

Nene placed a single hand on her rapier. "I'd say, for now, we eat about a quarter of what we normally do," she proposed, then paused for a moment. "Fortunately, there's still a rather generous amount of meat in the freezer."

Sukey looked as if a lightbulb turned on in her head. "That reminds me, did anyone check to see if there were any fruits or vegetables in the kitchen?" She questioned, stroking the side of her neck.

Kaiya let a cocky grin flit on her lips. "Done and done, there was some hanging around, except, only a select few, one apple, three strawberries, two eggplants, one peach, one carrot, and two yellow bell peppers," the turquoise haired girl listed, counting each of them off with her finger.

"And not even all of those can be replanted using their seeds," I remarked in minor disappointment.

"R.I.P in peace, vegetables…" Heikichi commented with a careless shrug.

Leiko stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Eh, I never cared for them anyways, they are quite dull," Leiko detested, before returning to a perky attitude. "All I need is my sweets! And I'll have it no other way! Fruits aren't necessary either! Monotokage cannot beat me!"

"Most of your sweets will be null and void without fruits," the twins pointed out with an uneven frown.

Leiko's eyes widened in realization of the truth in the twins' words. "WWWWWWWHHHHHHHHYYYY! Damn you Monotokage! You beat me after all!" the demonologist exclaimed in rage with a raised and clenched fist, then she seemed to fall into a despairing expression. "How am I supposed to live a fruitful life without fruits!? It's even in the name!"

A strange reason to be overcome by despair, but to each their own I guess.

"Just wait a few months and we'll have a lot more fruit, I'm sure we'll be fine by then…" Heikichi remarked sarcastically.

"That's true, unless this place has some kind of super growth mulch, I doubt we'll get anything going that quickly," Sukey mused with a dispirited frown.

"We'll just have to make do, as long as we play it smart, we'll survive long enough to get the hell out of this hellhole," Sozen explained, his stoic demeanor returning.

Anzai scoffed with a callous roll of the eyes. "I expect the majority of you morons to kill each other off anyways," the genius commented, smirking as he adjusted his glasses. "Then there would be no worry for our food supply. As I said before, the smart decision is to cut down the consumers. Eating like a king would be in our future then."

"Not going to happen, yet, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. If things get dire, sacrifices would need to be made. Losing 3 or more lifes is better than all 14," Nene opposed with mutual agreement.

That's true, we'd need to cut down on consumption at some point. The best way is to have less mouths to feed… Is there even a proper way of handling this situation? We can survive against all odds, but then we still might have to lose lives along the way or we can just attempt to escape as intended… here I go, back into my pessimistic thoughts...

"Let us hope that never occurs! Our determence shall pay off, by my decree!" Arishige declared with full confidence and added flair.

"Lumiose has the right idea, with our determination combined, there's just no feasible way for Monotokage to win." Norito agreed, having snuck into the room unnoticed.

Sukey gave him a vivid smile. "Welcome back, I'm glad that you made it out in the end."

"What are you talking about? Did something happen to him?" Kaiya asked, furrowing a single eyebrow.

"I had a dangerous encounter with a coffee stain," Norito explained, tipping his crooked teal cadet hat downwards. "My luck paid out, so here I am now! Worry no more, Bleach Boy and Lady H2O!"

Why did he have to bring those names up?!

"Who in the fucking damn are Bleachboy and Lady H2O?" Juro questioned in bewilderment.

"They sound ridiculous," Nene commented in a cold tone.

Can't wait for some of the others to bring that stupid nickname up again, Ace is the only one I care for, let that be the main one please.

"Omezo and Sukey's names as my sidekicks," Norito explained, frowning. "And I'd appreciate that you don't insult them."

"Oh, how… cute," Sozen said with an unsure grin.

"Ppppplllffff! Hahahahaha!" Leiko busted out in a giggly fit of laughter. "They sound as ludicrous as Sharkboy and Lavagirl."

"Sounds like you three had fun together," Nene presumed, resting a hand on her rapier's handle.

A sigh escaped my throat. "Just don't dig deeper into it."

Soon after I said that, the cordial and lighthearted atmosphere was shattered by the entrance as a certain sinful man entered the room. We quieted down, most of us either staring daggers into him or avoiding eye contact.

He greeted us with open arms, a fake smile on his face. "How delightful to see my good compatriots in high spirits. I can't believe I missed the brimstone flames in the garden, at the very least, seeing the wasteland of ash and lost hopes was amusing," the cult leader lamented in disappointment.

This man loves to seize every opportunity to seek out rage within us. We'd be better off without him ever souring our lives again. I'd love nothing more but to witness him suffering as he draws a final breath in one of those executions he mocked before.

"Kado, I was wondering if you'd rear your ugly head," Nene remarked with venom in her tone, her grip tightened on her rapier.

His eyes flitted around the room and he seemed almost shocked by our displeased expressions once he acknowledged them. "You are all so spiteful, aren't we all meant to forgive each other for Isoyo?" the sinister man waved his finger slowly, looking on with dissatisfaction. "Tsk tsk tsk, disrespecting the wishes of the dead is such a terrible action. The poor girl must be writhing in her grave… oh wait, she wasn't given the courtesy of a proper burial. Therefore, she must be a very upset spirit watching over us now, trapped forever even in death."

I can't stand that he keeps bringing up Isoyo. I just want to forget what happened to her and Erena… I don't want any tears to return.

"Stop toying around, believe me, I will do whatever is necessary to unify us," Sozen valiantly proclaimed, then he aimed a forceful finger at the cult leader. "Starting with the root of our problems, you."

"Hmm~ I am so honored to be graced with such a title!" Kado responded with clearly disingenuous joy.

Kaiya stepped up to Kado, her hands behind her back. "And as all honored people deserve, here's a one of the kind muffin!" she exclaimed with a forced smile as she presented to him a large, deep brown muffin. The smell of it permeated from the delicious looking treat.

I know where this is going. If it's anything like that cupcake I missed out on, he's not in for a treat. However, would Kado really fall for such a weird trick? He doesn't strike me as the muffin type.

Leiko gasped. "Whoah! Is that a double dark chocolate muffin with a creamy filling?!" she said, frothing at the mouth as she eyed the muffin.

"Why exactly does he deserve such a delight?" The twins queried with distaste in their voice.

Kado blinked in quick succession before grinning. "Oh, how did you know!? That is my favorite type of muffin," the cult leader remarked, overjoyed by the generous gift. "I remember when my servants delivered me such things, guess I know who my servants are now..."

It's like he's playing himself for a fool on purpose, actually, that may be exactly it. At least, I hope it is, he can't be that braindead...

Kaiya shaked her head in slight annoyance. "Yeah yeah, just take your dang ol muffin," she reached out the chocolate muffin in her hands further to him.

"Gladly," Kado said with a smile. He tried taking the muffin, but his hands passed straight through it. He observed the phenomenon as the muffin fizzed out, revealing it to be a hologram. A perplexed expression filled his face. "Huh!?"

Kaiya grinned mischievously at his reaction. Suspecting that something was up, Kado swiveled around quickly to see that Sozen was right behind him, poised to seize him. Kado swiftly pulled out his ornery dagger and attempted a jab at Sozen, aiming for his neck. Luckily, Sozen was able to stop the attack by strongly gripping Kado's arm, causing the knife to fly out of his hands, then forcibly turning Kado's back to himself and pushing Kado's arm to his lower back. Sozen held the arm in place as he took hold of the other and had it meet up with the other hand. He quickly cuffed Kado's wrists and followed up by securing shackles around Kado's ankles, limiting his movement.

Meanwhile, I noticed that Leiko had picked up Kado's knife and pocketed it.

I trust that she wouldn't do anything devious with that knife, this is Leiko after all. I'll just choose to ignore that she has it for now, so that she may enjoy it for whatever she pleases. However, It's imperative that I try to remember that she does have it, should it come into play later.

Sozen brushed his hands together with a proud grin. "Problem solved, there will be no more manipulation from you, Kashiwa."

Anzai let out a short laugh as he put on a monocle. "Tut tut tut, such ill-mannered youth deserve nothing less than cold steel around their wrists." he said, mocking Kado's predicament.

"Hmpf, seems I've been foiled again." Kado didn't seem fazed. "But, this is no way to treat your desired friend."

"Nobody was ever going to be your friend dude," Heikichi remarked, scratching underneath his beanie.

I'd even go as far as to say no one would even want to be part of his family. He probably would've either pissed them off constantly or used them in some fucked up ritual. Unless, his family is composed of sinister human beings, which is a possibility.

"Ah, your words pierce my soul like a spear shattering glass," Kado dramatically moped in an act of despondency. "And I really wished to taste that scrumptious looking muffin..."

I know the feeling, I got screwed out of a cupcake by Kaiya as well.

"Join the club," I folded my arms. "So, what are you going to do with that bastard?" I asked, regarding Kado with a look of ill will.

"I'll keep watch over him, as there's nothing he can say to worm his way into my mind," Sozen said, closing his eyes. "Furthermore, he will remain immobile as I sleep, I'll most likely leave him tied to the balcony railing by that time."

"Mind me asking how I'm meant to consume sustenance with my hands behind my back?" Kado questioned in an offended tone. "Do you propose I eat with my toes like an ape?"

He brings up a good point, I wouldn't want to risk him starving to death on the off-chance that it counts as a murder. Although, who would that implicate? Sozen for arresting him? Better not to think too hard about it.

Leiko happily raised her hand. "I volunteer to feed our pet demon lord!" she exclaimed. "As a resident demonologist, who better for the job!"

Sozen flicked his head to the side. "As you request," he forcibly pushed Kado towards the demonologist, almost causing him to trip to the ground.

"Ha! feed him like the worthless homunculus he is," Arishige ridiculed with a scornful smirk.

"Oooo, goody!" Leiko clapped her hands together as she grabbed Kado by the arm. She led him over to a nearby table, playfully skipping as she did.

Kado however, was less than pleased. "I'm not a toy, if you don't play nicely, I'll have your very own arm as my meal," he warned, attempting to wiggle away from Leiko as she sat him down at the table. "This treatment is not befitting for someone of my stature."

She slid a nearby tray of food to herself.

"Now shush, here comes the choo choo train!~" Leiko sang, slowly bringing a fork with a piece of smoked ham towards Kado's lips.

Kado turned his face away from the food. "Tch- save my dignity at the very least," the cult leader attempted to compromise, galled by the situation. "I would never eat with you spouting language used to comfort toddlers."

Alright, now that… is downright funny. I'll take Leiko treating him like a baby over torture any day, as it might as well count as a form of torment.

Leiko rolled her eyes. "Fine, grumpy head, here comes the delicious souls of all those who oppose your ruling~" she sang in a more menacing tone, repeating the process with an infectious smile.

"Much more fitting," Kado remarked, accepting the food this time.

Leiko's eyes flitted down to his crotch. "You got something down here though, let me clean that off for you," she mentioned as she wiped more than necessary at his lower region. It was almost as if she was stroking her hands along it.

That may be out of hand though. Shows what happens when you leave an overall lusty girl with a fetish for demons to her devices.

Kado kicked himself away from her, moving down the table with as much effort as he could muster. "This is absolutely humiliating, allowing the girl who has an undying lust for me toy with me like I'm a sex slave when it should be the other way around," he then looked at Sozen with remorse in his eyes. "I admit it, all the atrocities I've committed are irredeemable and I deserve a painful punishment. I promise to never be so vile and manipulative. Let us all become well versed in one another so that friendship shall flourish and we can dethrone our host. Then we can all dance in a field of daisies by the sunset!" he exclaimed in a happy-go-lucky tone.

"Nice try, your elaborate lies won't get you anywhere," Sozen denied, not buying Kado's admittance. "You will remain in custody until you can prove that you can cooperate."

Juro was laughing his guts out. "Dude, that is just outright fucking hilarious!"

"I'll bet that he enjoys it anyways," Kaiya commented with a smirk.

Well, he didn't try to bite her arm off. So, I'd say he doesn't mind.

"With that over and done with, you can all spread out and about," Nene announced.

We all then left the scene one by one.

---

-Ultimate dorms 2nd floor-

The ghastly pale twins slowly opened the door, upon seeing me, they gave me a look of intrigue. "Omezo… for what reason hast thou morsel wandered to our domain?" Shuuyo queried.

"Is something the matter…?" Rikako asked with a hint of concern as her eyes fixated on me.

I ran a hand through my hair with a nervous smile. "Um… no, there's nothing wrong, I just wanted to talk, you know… to pass time, if that's alright with you guys…" I stammered.

They stared at me in silence for a bit, until a thin smile pulled at their pale lips. "Hmhmhmhmm~ you must've been struck with a sudden jolt of bravery…" Shuuyo presumed, not expecting this development.

"Very well, we shall converse with one another and sate your curiosity of our woes," Rikako said, beckoning me into their dark room.

---

-Rikako and Shuuyo's room-

The room closely matched the twins' color scheme of deep black and magenta. The magenta seemingly glowing in comparison to the overall dark contrast. Furthermore, the lighting was more in tune to that of a theatre than a normal room, giving it a more showmanship type theme.

I let out the air that I didn't notice as it built up in my throat. "I suppose I'll clear up what has me confused about you two first," I said, fixating my pale blue eyes on the two identical girls. "Why are you recognized as the Ultimate Twins, despite the fact that it's not necessarily a talent per say?"

"Do you know of any other human beings that are able to synchronize every single movement and word with another for the rest of their fickle lives?" the twins asked.

I furrowed my brow in thought. "Uh…" I pulled at my scarf in nervousness. "Not that I know of, but it's not like I have been searching at all."

Rikako slowly closed her eyes. "Whether you had been or not, the truth is that there is no pair quite like us..." the bat-winged girl said.

Shuuyo took up her sister's hand. "We are the exact same person, with the exact same personality…" the angel-winged girl stated with dignity.

"The exact same thoughts…" They chanted on, a neutral expression on their faces as their magenta eyes creepily bored into mine.

"The exact same history…"

"The exact same appearance, inside and out…"

"The exact same likes and dislikes…"

I began to feel unsettled by their repetitive words in that haunting voice they create and their constant, unwavering, unblinking gaze.

"The exact same hobbies…"

"We say the same, are the same…" they paused momentarily to finally blink once. "A near unreal, supernatural, psychological connection with each other has been created. Furthermore, we are performers at heart, showing off our pure synchronization with one another to the world; moreover, we've participated as actresses for some movies, mostly of the horror genre."

"That is what defines Shuuyo the estranged archangel!" Shuuyo proclaimed, posing with her right leg out and her left hand to her heart.

"And Rikako, the dastardly demon!" Rikako exclaimed, posing with her arms crossed, her left hand holding her fingers out straight, and her right hand with her fingers curling.

"As the Ultimate Twins," they finished, topping their spiel off with a light curtsy.

"When you lay it out in such a glorified way like that, I certainly see why you deserve that title," I remarked in understanding, following up with a look of doubt. "But, if there's one thing I know, it's that you can't be completely identical on every single front, since fingerprints are scientifically proven to never be the same, no matter the case."

Unless you chemically burn them off of course.

"What's impossible stays impossible. Such a minuscule imbalance such as that will never impede our interchangeable relation," the sisters said, asserting their claim.

I bit the inside of my cheek as I took in their statement. "Was there ever a time where you two weren't like this? I can't imagine you came into existence with this mindset."

They both gave a solemn nod. "Indeed, there was, and it was a time of uncertainty and dejection that we wish to keep in the shadows," the girls responded in a dismal tone, a quick flash of sadness passed in their now dull expression.

"So, I take it that you haven't considered separating once?"

Their eyes narrowed in response. "Such an aberrant action would never occur, we are forever entwined and we'd never have it any other way," the twins affirmed, stroking each other's hair with grace, smiling. "We live and die together, because we are nothing without our other half."

I felt sweat droplets form on my forehead. "Right, um… sorry if that offended you in any way," I said, shivering a bit with a nervous smile.

"Hmhmhmhmhmm~ Your incessant curiosity will be the end of you if you're not careful, however, all is forgiven..." Shuuyo forewarned with a steely gaze.

"Alas, it is time for Shuuyo to empty her bowels…" Rikako informed me.

You could just say that you have to go into the bathroom or whatever. Normal just isn't in their nature I guess. However, What Rikako just said leads me to think they don't do everything together.

"You… you don't actually go to the bathroom together?" I asked, raising a single eyebrow. "What happened to all the talk about doing the exact same things?"

"Acts like that can be seen as taboo and we do not want anyone assuming the worst again. Lest we risk our image," they explained, Shuuyo gently took up her sister's pale hand and delicately stroked the back of it. "Although, we are aware of the fact that some may see it that way regardless…"

My expression grew uneasy as I witnessed their actions. "Makes sense, a lot of people tend to jump to the worst conclusion and then overblow it without real evidence," I remarked. "I'm not like that though, I believe your love for each other is of the family type."

"And you should never think otherwise or we will have to silence you permanently," they advised, placing a delicate finger over their lips as they thinly smiled.

Shuuyo then sauntered into the bathroom, leaving me alone with her sister, Rikako. We stood quietly as we waited. I felt a chill run through the ever so silent room and then down my spine.

Not able to stand the eerie atmosphere, I decided to break the silence. "Do you seriously never consider being your own person?" I asked, turning my attention to Rikako. "Trying to act like your sister every single second must be taxing. One of the first lessons you learn is to be yourself, is that something you just tossed out the window, the thought never to brush your mind again?"

Rikako's eyes shifted slightly. "What is there to identifying as your very own?" she questioned with an unsure expression. "The thought fills us with nothing more than uneasiness…"

I don't entirely know why, but when I see her alone like this, with that blank look of hers, I can't help but be reminded of me in the past. I don't get why my heart wants to reach out to her like this. I just have to say something, tell her what's on my mind.

"I used to hate not knowing who I should be and what to do, without a sense of self-identity, I didn't value my future," I explained, resting a hand on my neck, trying to recall the times of my childhood. "I was only following what my father told me. Luckily, I managed to grasp some kind of personalization on the way and life was improved overall. Recently, I broke away from him, and started to take control over my own life. There is just so much more of yourself to appreciate when you are not constantly letting someone dictate who you are or not knowing what to do,"

She seemed conflicted for a second as she took in my story. "Why…?" the lonely twin murmured, not understanding my words. "Why have we felt satisfied with ourselves then? You talk of depression without a sense of identity, but we have an identity, a shared one, the times before our joining are synonymous with that of which you have stated."

By that reaction, I can tell I was right to suspect doubt within her. It may not be that strong, but it's clearly there. I probably won't be capable of drawing it out of her.. Regardless, this aching feeling won't falter until I at least try.

I gave her a sympathetic look. "You may feel comfortable now, but many more paths open up when you can make your very own decisions. You'll never guess how great it is just to say "I" for once."

Her pupils seemed to shake, before she shook her head clear, regaining her composure. "We should stop speaking about such things, sis wouldn't approve of you filling my head with fallacious ideologies."

I smiled lightly, understanding her reluctance. "As you wish, however, I implore you to mull it over whenever you feel conflicted about what you are doing. You don't need to be who you are not."

Maybe those words will encourage her in the future, I can only hope. No one should have to live by the rules of another, family or not.

"..."

Silence speaks louder than words, so, I'm confident she's at least considered my advice.

---

-Theatre-

I found myself wanting to visit the theatre, just to see who's there at the moment. Maybe, I could strike up an interesting conversation to pass time.

"Huh, upon closer examination, the design of this theatre makes much more sense," Heikichi mused, tapping his chin as his eyes flitted around the expansive theatre.

"I'm not exactly understanding what you're getting at..." I commented, scratching the back of my neck.

"Well, as you cannot clearly see, there are multitudes of wiring hidden underneath the floor and behind the walls. Furthermore, they all lead up to the catwalks, connected to a control station for stage pyro," he explained, looking up at the catwalk, holding his visor steady.

"Huh, that explains the metal stage, and the space between the front row seats. Far from a traditional theatre indeed," I reflected, rubbing my raw. "Though, since when did you gain X-ray vision?"

I haven't been exposed to much high-end technology, so I may just sound like an idiot asking that.

"It's not exactly X-ray vision that I was using," he corrected, raising a finger. "I guess you deserve an explanation anyways. You see, this holographic visor is not just a fashion statement, it serves many other functions. Such as, allowing me to see any and all types of technology behind anything, other than a few types of material, those being the same ones that stop X-ray vision. Additionally, it also has night vision, heat vision, and X-ray vision. Sadly, I can't see through walls like Superman, technology can only go so far, and it'd be OP anyways."

"I had a feeling that visor served other uses," I remarked, before raising a brow. "Where'd you even get your hands on something so advanced?"

"You're looking at him," Heikichi boasted with a smirk.

"Really?" I pondered, my intrigue growing. "You made that visor by hand?"

"Precisely, my very own two hands crafted this nifty tool, as well as my hacking device," he said. "I call it Widget."

"That is rather impressive, I never took you as the inventive type," I commended, admiring the skillful creativity of his craftsmanship.

It must've taken quite the long time to fit all the features in with nothing but his own mind and effort. He has some real dedication to his talent.

"Yeah dude, technology is my bread and butter. I've always enjoyed making homemade computers, slapping motherboards, batteries, etc, together and seeing what I can come up with," he said. "As you can see, My skill grew quite impeccably, not that I'm bragging or anything. There are plenty of other inventors out there that have me beat. That hobby really only started my interest in hacking."

"Did it also start your binary code speech?"

"I'm gonna be real with you, I'm not actually speaking binary when I blurt out all those 0's and 1's. Robots would think I'm a lunatic hyped up on cocaine and heroin if they heard my binary code. It was just a thing I started with my old friends back in the day so that we had a way of talking without people eavesdropping," he explained, reminiscing at the fond memories.

I squinted one of my eyes."So… they do mean something, but aren't the real deal?" I asked, a bit confused.

It's binary code that means something, yet, it's also binary code that doesn't mean what it should… If I were to create my own language, sticking to actual words would be much more preferred, like, "profondo" would mean hello and "Ashnoz" means asshole.

"That's the gist of it, 00110001 001010. What I just said there does in fact translate to a sentence. Except, I won't do it for you," he replied with a lopsided smirk.

I palmed my forehead. "How the hell would I ever be able to figure it out without you teaching me?" I questioned, with a hint of frustration that I'd most likely never know what he said.

He gave an indignant shrug. "Maybe I will, I don't know," he said, shaking his head before offering a cheesy grin. "It's not like it's important. For all you know, I just told you that I thought your breath smells like potatoes wedged between salty ass cheeks."

I can almost smell what he just described, and it's foul.

I twinged in disgust at his description. "Did you have to make it that nasty?"

He punched me on the arm in a teasing manner. "I was just joshing ya, don't take it seriously." the hacker said with a friendly smile.

I rubbed my arm where his fist connected. "Sure... " I replied with uncertainty. "You mentioned some old friends, are those the same ones you spoke of a few days ago?"

His expression turned serious, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Yes, and my desire to explain anything about them remains at zero percent," he coldy answered, crossing his arms.

"I understand," I remarked, acknowledging his hesitance. "Some things should remain in the past, I don't want to bring up any bad memories."

He paused for a second and shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, they aren't entirely bad memories," he clarified. "Anywho, I'm itching to experiment with the pyro in here, so seeya!" He gave me a small wave as he headed off to the entrance to the back of the stage.

"Later."

Why does he wish to hide anything about his friends if it isn't bad memories? Did he do reprehensible things with them or something? If that's the case, then we may be hearing about it eventually from Monotokage once she hands us another secret.

---

-Lounge-

As soon as Kaiya noticed me, a pleased smile grew upon her face. "Ah, Omezo, just in time to assist me in my search for a secret pathway!" her face lighting up with pure determination.

"Didn't... we already go over this room?" I pondered, stroking my jawline.

"Kado stopped us short with his annoying desire to piss us off. So, I want to make a thorough check this time," she clarified, clearing me of my confusion.

And I thought I could stand him then. He's only gotten worse, as if his character development was put into reverse until he drives himself and the rest of us into insanity.

I lightly shrugged my shoulders. "I guess I have nothing better to do."

Me and Kaiya began searching left, right, and center. I didn't try nearly as hard as the nosy secret agent did, as she essentially tore the lounge apart, checking every single nook and cranny. By the time we gave up, the room looked as if a tornado rampaged throughout the place.

Norito is going to have fun cleaning this mess. At least, he actually enjoys it, so I don't need to feel guilty or anything.

Kaiya rapidly tapped her foot with a thoughtful expression. "Nothing... I could have sworn something was off in here…" she let out a grunt of frustration. "There just has to be some kind of hidden entrance to a secret room, every facility has one, just like the agency I worked for."

"Not everything has to have some concealed secret," I reasoned with a weak grin.

Kaiya clicked her tongue in defeat. "I know… it just goes against my inner instincts to assume otherwise."

"If you don't mind me asking, who do you even work for?"

She leaned her hips to one side, placing a single hand on them. "You sure like asking the big questions," she remarked, finding my curiosity amusing. "Not that I care, I already told everyone my talent and true identity, so why not disclose the name of my agency? Ahem, they're aptly named the "Azure Syndicate" stationed far and away from the public eye of course, the main HQ being located inside a dormant volcano."

Yeah, just build your HQ in a prime location where things can go awry in a sudden explosion of lava, whoever came up with that must be the Gandhi of our time.

My eyes widened in surprise. "That seems… ludicrous, to have your HQ in a volcano, dead or not, I doubt it's the best idea to have it in such a precarious location," I pointed out, perplexed by the strange decision.

"It's whatevs, secret agents in general are ridiculous, besides, all secret organizations, evil or not, need a prime way to eliminate them in a glorious and over-the-top fashion, otherwise, it would be a disgrace!" She defended passionately.

I looked at her in astonishment. "You're just treating life like it's a cheesy action movie," I remarked with an amused grin.

"Duh, what's not to love about that?!" she exclaimed, ignorant of the absurdity. "Moving on, the Azure Syndicate had exactly 200 members, me being the top of the line of course. That is, if I still worked for them."

"Way to oust your old company like that by telling me every detail," I judged in a firm tone.

"They're probably not doing too well with the tragedy and all, so I doubt it'll matter when most of them die off," the secret agent said, justifying her straightforwardness.

I was taken aback by her rather dark reasoning. "That's… uh… as good a point as any I suppose…"

Kind of bizarre to assume nobody would be alive in your company that you worked for and probably stuck with for a very long time. I know the Tragedy has resulted in numerous deaths, but you'd think people would be more prepared this time around. That's one of the reasons why I chose to avoid attending Hope's Peak Academy when I was invited. Didn't want to risk my entire life just to further bury myself in this talent I only wanted as a hobby.

"I still have them to thank for many exciting memories though!" the now gleeful girl pulled out her wallet and slid out a small picture. "Like this one!"

She presented me the photo. Kaiya was strapped down to some kind of chair, similar to one you'd see at the dentist. For whatever reason, she had a cocky expression plastered on her face. She couldn't have taken the picture herself in that situation, which was strange to me. Furthermore, my eyes scanned the background to see a table with many objects on it, such as whips, knives, hammers, tweezers, shears, etc. Additionally, I could see a hot poker resting nearby on the floor, plus a tote of water. It most certainly looked like some type of torture room.

"Are you in a torture room in that photo...?" I questioned, as I struggled to grasp how and why she has a photo like this.

If she's there, then who's holding the camera? I don't see why you'd even want a picture of time you were in distress.

"Yup, every agent eventually gets captured one way or another by their rivals," Kaiya replied in an unnaturally cheerful tone given the question.

"But… um... how did you manage to get a picture of that while you were strapped down, and why?"

She wildly smirked in a proud gesture. "I had my torturer do it! He seemed to have a fetish for pain, so I told him that it would last longer if he took a snapshot of me in anguish, which of course, resulted in him being blinded by a flash of light, courtesy of a secret function in my hi-tech cellular device! It allowed me to break free and give him a big ole whooping!" she said, shadowboxing to imitate how she fought him. "Oh, and the reason I like taking pictures such as those, is for the memories you know? That way, I'll always have something to reminisce about when I feel like it."

I shook my head with a slightly entertained expression. "I presume the entirety of your wallet is a history book of your adventures then?"

She nodded, confirming my assumption. "For sure, just about everything is a relic of my past. Believe it or not, this first place badge for an ice cream eating contest is real. I actually had to participate in that to assassinate a target via making him die of a severe brain freeze," the secret agent explained, a sly smile forming upon her face.

"Your life sure has been extremely eventful… I could hardly compare," I remarked, scratching the back of my neck.

She offered me a proud glance. "Ohohoho, you've barely heard half of it!" a lopsided grin fitted to her face. "I've also survived a cargo plane crash on the side of a steep, snowy mountain, while trying to infiltrate a secret radio base. I leapt off just in time with a parachute near moments away from getting obliterated, only to end up having to snowboard away on a piece of debris from the following avalanche of plane parts and snow. Then, I was able to ramp off a slanted rock directly through a window of the base, which was then followed up by me shooting down 4 enemy soldiers. Nothing like a mission impossible to get your blood flowing! Here's a photo to shed any doubts!"

She showed me another photo, this time one that depicted her snowboarding down a mountain with a bunch of snow and debris trailing not too far behind her. Again, she looked shockingly jubilant in the scene.

"Well then, shit! That's literally something I thought I'd only see in movies…" I praised, absolutely astounded. "You are something else, Kaiya. I think you're quite amazing. I kinda wish I had even a shred of your exciting life in mine."

A pleasant smile flitted to her lips. "Aw, shucks! Normally, people just say that I'm batshit insane, but, yeah, unfortunately, we can't all be crazy secret agents," she said, expressing her gratitude, her eyes fixated on me as she tapped her chin in thought. "Maybe I could give you that shred sometime while we are down here, just to possibly brighten your experience with something worth remembering between all the dread and heartbreak."

"I would appreciate that," I faintly smiled. "Well, I'm going to get going now, later."

"Buh bye!" she cheerfully waved me off as I left the room.

I figured secret agents would have a more exciting life, but I did not think Kaiya's was that extraordinary, to the point where it seems… overwhelmingly eventful. I can't imagine having to be in life or death situations 24/7, as I can hardly handle this killing game, which is about the same risk wise. Except, I can't just quit it like it's a job, that's not an option.

---

-Dressing room-

I entered to witness Leiko relaxing on a chair, brushing her fake scaly, icey blue tail's fluffy white mane with a red comb.

She turned her head to me, hearing the door open. "Lookie here, if it isn't Lord Huej Dick!" the demonologist exclaimed in a teasing manner.

That was a terrible attempt at a play on words. It doesn't even sound like it'd ever be a real name. Regardless, not like Leiko of all people would be capable of coming up with anything clever.

"Is it too much to ask for a normal conversation with you?"

Leiko placed the red comb onto the desk she was sitting at. She then crossed her legs, putting a finger on the bridge of her nose. "Hmmmm…" the ice-armored girl pondered, before a smirk played on her lips. "Leiko grants your request! However, you must allow me to start the subject."

I sat down in a chair close to her. "Fine by me," I told her, motioning her to go ahead. "Just avoid making it personal."

Now that I said that, she will most likely make it personal. Instant regret is an amazing feeling.

A maniacal grin splayed across her face. "Don't worry, it'll be nothing personal, kid, as today's subject is shipping!" she exclaimed with joy, throwing her hands up in excitement.

I found myself face-palming while leaning on the desk. "Oh greeeaaat…" I lamented, regretting my decision to allow her freedom of choice.

I'm being dragged back into my glorious days of fanfiction...

She wagged a finger that boasted a sharp, black fingernail. "You avoided it last time, but there's no escape this time!" the perky girl asserted, pointing at me with a diabolical glare. "I will begin by listing my main ships, SonDam, ClouRoth, and PheoIles. Crackship is SquaLos."

If I'm not mistaken, all those ships involve at least one demon or demon-like character.

"I'm not the type of person who creates or supports ships. So, I don't have anything to share," I informed her, averting my gaze.

She let out a sigh of disappointment. "Oh for the love of Satan! Jeez, you are such a lame-o, not only do you hate fanfictions, but you ignore shipping…" she moaned, sounding like she was in disbelief.

"For your information, I don't hate fanfictions, as I actually started my writing hobby by writing one for Dragon Ball Z, where Goku was an unforgiving hero, and a few others. They are now currently the most popular and well-regarded fanfictions in existence. Not to say that I'm the only one who has made outstanding fanfics, I've seen a few diamonds in the rough. So, I'm not dissing them. As for shipping, romance just is not my thing," I clarified with an honest look.

She tapped her lips in thought. "Now that I remember, I had read your fanfics actually, you wrote some really tasty smut!" the busty babe said, leaning closer to me with her tongue stuck out playfully.

Of course, she remembers only the raunchy scenes, or as they are called in that community, "lemons." Thinking back on it, why is that the word used when lemons are known to be sour, and I don't think people consider sex to be in sour taste. Mango would fit better as they are much more sweet and desirable.

I buried my face in my golden scarf as I felt heat rush to it. "U-uh, l-let's not talk about that…" I stammered, my eyes accidentally stealing a glance of her prodigious bust.

"Oh come on, it was the least cringy sex scenes of all fan-fictions, you have a penchant for foreplay. Tehehehee~" she coaxed with an infectious smile.

I regained my composure. "Look, I appreciate the compliment, but drop the subject please," I requested in a serious tone.

She rolled her sky blue eyes in annoyance. "Fiiiiinne, whiny buttmunchkin…" she pouted, crossing her arms indignantly. "How about I show you my superior shipping skills then!"

I furrowed my brow. "You already told me your pairings, didn't you?"

"I meant, I would tell you who I ship you with! Then, in the future, you'll learn that I was right in who your proper partner is!" she exclaimed mischievously.

"I thought you were the Ultimate Demonologist, not love guru…" I let out an airy sigh. "Whatever, go for it I guess."

"Omezo x Rikako, Rikezo's the name, that's who I believe is the best for you!" the demonologist stated with much pride in herself.

I reeled my head back, dumbfounded. "E-excuse me…? Rikako is one of the last people I expected, that's including the males."

"Why not? She's alluring, mystical, seemingly intelligent, and can scare the hell out of your enemies!" She reasoned. "Sure, she doesn't have big honkeroos, but she's got quite the badonkadonk! Thick as fuck!"

I was as red as a tomato at this point. "Um… w-well, u-hh… you're not… wron- never mind…" I stammered in embarrassment, sweating a bit as I began fidgeting with my scarf. "Why even her when her sister is the same?"

Was she eavesdropping on my conversation with Rikako earlier or something? That's the only reason I can assume she's predicting her to be my romantic partner. Not that I dislike Rikako, I just don't believe I stand a chance with her.

"Rikako has demon wings, which are a plus one in the sexiness factor!" she exclaimed effortlessly, with a teasing smile. "But, threesomes are always nice too."

And with that, I must end this subject before it gets out of hand.

I ran a hand through my hair. "Could we just talk about demonology, you know, your actual talent?" I asked, attempting to change the subject to something more comfortable.

"You must think I'm a pathetic excuse for a demonologist since my signatures are all phony…" Her expression turned to that of dejection.

I frowned slightly. "I wasn't going to mention that, because I don't think any less of you. To be honest, I don't even know why it matters so much to you. I assumed it was related to the same reason people want signatures from famous figures."

"Demons are my idols, but it's also proof of my meetings with them, considering none of them show up in pictures or videos."

"So what if you haven't met one? I imagine you have vast knowledge of all things demon. Otherwise, you couldn't be the Ultimate Demonologist." I remarked.

"I have met real demons though! I just couldn't convince them to gift me their signatures," her lips pursed as she stared daggers into me. "The fact that you assumed otherwise proves my plight!"

I raised my hands up defensively. "T-that's not what I meant, I was just saying that you never needed to prove that to anyone to be who you are now. Even if it does seem absolutely ridiculous when you say that you've met actual demons, I would take your word for it," I said, trying to reassure her.

She looked away from me and harrumphed. "I don't buy it, I can see the deceit in your eyes, it's reminiscent of a nefarious imp," the icy blue haired girl accused. "I bet you just laugh at my nonsense in your thoughts… we're done talking, mister! Shoo fly!" She angrily gestured for me to leave, to that of which I obeyed.

She's way too quick to assume things. It wouldn't make sense to me if people stripped her of her title all because of a few signatures being fake. Then again, I hardly know of her reason for the talent, so maybe I'm wrong about that. Guess I'll just have to muster up the courage to try a one on one conversation with that lunatic girl later.

---

-Fencing arena-

I met up with Nene and Juro at the side of the ring.

"Before we charge headlong into duel, you two must learn at least the basics, so that you may have a minuscule chance rather than none at all," Nene briefed, she motioned over to a rack of rapiers. "Direct your attention to the weapon rack over there. Choose whichever rapier appeals to you the most and then meet me in the training section in the back."

"Does it matter which one we pick?" I asked, stroking my jawline. "There's no skill levels for each of them or anything?"

"Not necessarily, rapiers all function just about the same, the main differences are only the length of the blade, style of hilt, and sometimes the width and sharpness of the blade's edges," Nene answered. "The estoc, for example. Is capable of slashing and poking, while being almost as light as a rapier. However, I personally don't classify it as a rapier, it's also more of a jack of all trades weapon, as it specializes in neither poking nor slashing."

Now that she mentioned it, I can tell that all the rapiers on the rack look essentially the same, with just minor details being different, such as some having a cup hilt.

Juro's eyes flitted to a rapier that had an interesting, and intricate design to it's hilt. "Yooo! This one looks cool as fuck!" he took the weapon off the rack and performed a few amateurish attacks with it. I made distance between myself and him in reaction.

This man needs to take a chill pill, swinging that weapon around like a madman when I was nearby.

Nene gave him a judgmental look as she folded her arms. "I would advise playing with it as if it were a toy. As amusing as it may be, we don't want anyone's eyes getting penetrated from your lack of self control."

"Wait, uh… shouldn't we be using the actual fencing rapiers, not the real deal?" I sensibly questioned with an unsure expression. "I don't want any unfortunate accidents to occur and lose two people because of it."

"The only way to properly learn is to know the dangers. Working under such pressure encourages you to strive to succeed, allowing for faster improvement," Nene reasoned. "The epee, fencing rapier, while dangerous in its own right, does not offer the same satisfying experience as proper rapiers."

I mean, that makes sense. However, when we are in the midst of a killing game, taking risks like that would result in nothing but bad news.

"I get that you probably learned it the hard way, but let's not get too hasty," I remarked, shaking my head.

Juro held out a long shrug. "It's not like we are aiming to stab the hell out of each other, right…?" the spikey blonde mused. "Even though, I think I'd have a shit ton more fun that way."

"As we duel, the goal will be to bring your opponent down to surrender. Depending on who we are fighting, the rules may change," Nene informed in a firm manner. "If you truly wish to thrust your sword into your opponent, then we will take the necessary precautions, such as wearing the suit and using the epee."

A dumb grin found its way onto Juro's face. "Hah, well, you know I would absolutely love thrusting my sword into you," he remarked in a provocative tone, looking at Nene with a coquettish expression. "And I can handle a puncture wound or two."

There he goes, with the coquettish talk… and he even acknowledged his masochism...

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Could we just get to the training lessons please?" I requested, picking up one of the rapiers that had a cup hilt. "I've picked my rapier of choice."

"Come on back then," Nene demanded as she walked towards the training section.

"We shall begin with developing the correct standard combat stance," Nene said as she got into a stance where she kept an upright posture, knees slightly bent, had her side face the training dummy in front of her, and her rapier at the ready. "Try imitating mine."

"Should be hella easy, the only thing I can't replicate is the gorgeousness that I see," Juro commented with a smug look. "I just don't got the hips for it, you know?"

Me and Juro then tried to replicate Nene's combat stance. The fencer closely studied us for a moment, then she approached Juro. She forcibly adjusted his positioning and posture.

Juro looked shocked after she did that. "H-hey! Why the hell are you getting so handsy?" the soccer player asked with a hint of annoyance, then he offered a lopsided smirk. "Not that I have a problem…"

"Your posture was dreadfully lacking, in more ways than what nonsense you mentioned," Nene stated firmly. She looked over at me, scanning my figure. "Omezo, on the other hand, you have it impressively near perfect. You just need to let your muscles be a little more lax. Since, keeping such an uncomfortably tight posture would negatively affect your mobility. While letting yourself relax boosts your reaction speed towards any incoming strikes."

Huh, I suppose I'm not as bad as I thought. Well, it is just a neutral combat stance. I shouldn't get that proud over it.

"Mind me asking why it's necessary to keep your body turned at a 90 degree angle?" I asked, rubbing my jawline.

"That's what I'm saying. I'm not the best at walking like a goddamn crab." Juro complained as he attempted moving around, ultimately resulting in him looking like an idiot trying not to step on hot coals.

"It's a technique that all fencers gain, the competent ones anyways, that drastically improves your striking and dodging. You'll find that leaning backwards and forwards is much easier to do in that stance," Nene explained firmly. "Furthermore, with the way rapiers are designed, having your body face your opponent like you're used to will only make you look idiotic whenever you try to attack or dodge."

I stood in a normal stance, testing how dodging and striking felt like. Suffice to say, it felt quite awkward.

"I see what you mean, this both looks and feels ridiculous," I remarked, pondering for a second. "But, you can't possibly expect us to be able to dodge anything. I'm imagining myself just getting pummeled. Is there any way I can just block?

"These weapons are not meant for blocking, however, they are quite efficient at parrying. I will show you examples of what that looks like in the ring," Nene affirmed, easing me of my uncertainty. "So, do not fret about your lack of agility."

For someone who's usually distant and cold, she is a very good teacher. I was more or less expecting her to be ruthless when we did anything wrong.

"Hell, I can dodge a fuckin' baseball going like 77 miles per damn hour, I bet I'll be able to dance around a pointy stick welding babe!" Juro exclaimed contentedly.

Nene's eyes narrowing slightly. "Would that confidence persevere if I told you my strikes are equal to that of a bullet fired from a rifle?" the fencer questioned in a smug tone of voice.

"I doubt that's actually true. A speed like that is inhuman." I remarked with a skeptical look.

"Admittingly correct, however, my strikes are as quick as humanly possible," Nene boasted, she placed a hand on her side. "I would recommend that you choose to never underestimate my abilities."

Juro scratched his head. "Heh, well, I wasn't fuckin' doubting your skills, I just have a shit ton of confidence is all," he said, offering a modest expression. "Can you blame a guy for holding his pride high?"

No, but you can blame a guy for being a complete moron.

"I can respect that kind of confidence, but you must have a few screws loose to think you stand a chance against me," Nene affronted, bashing his self-esteem. "Moving on. While we are on the concept of striking, why don't I show you an example."

She situated herself in front of one of the training dummies and performed a swift jab with her rapier that was held in her left hand into the dummy's head. The speed was unimaginable, so much so that you might have missed it with a single blink of the eyes.

"Alrighty then, I can give you the benefit of the doubt, your strikes are certainly exceedingly quick," I commenced with nods of approval.

"Hot damn that was like a lightning bolt!" Juro exclaimed in awe.

"I appreciate the praise, but I haven't shown half of what I can do," Nene remarked in a complacent manner.

I raised a finger to get attention. "I have a concern…" I began, scratching the back of my neck. "Am I not at a disadvantage to Juro, as I am far less physically inclined than an Ultimate Soccer Player."

"Rapier users need not have any strength other than enough to wield their weapon," Nene responded, folding her arms. "To explain, it's not just a competition of strength, but of mind games as well. Utilizing the environment, getting into your opponent's head, playing tricks on their mind, luring them into making a fatal mistake, and noticing when you have a valid opening to strike, all while taking your own safety into consideration, is the primary strategy to snatching victory as a fencer or rapier wielder. In any case, playing to your strengths and knowing your weaknesses is key."

"In that case, I might have more of a chance than Juro," I mused, feeling more confident now.

I've felt more enlightened than I have ever been in my life. There really is a lot to learn in this world. I wish I had the chance to go out there and study things like this, it's so intriguing and engaging.

"I would agree, as he isn't going to think anything out, as there is nothing but air in that skull of his," Nene added coldy.

Juro looked offended. "I may not have the biggest of brain meats, but I know how to use my damn ears to hear your smack talk!" Juro exclaimed in defense.

Nene held out her hand to stop the nonsense. "First and foremost, I want to witness what you two can do. Now then, show me your finest attacks," she ordered.

We bagan doing as she said, getting into the combat stance we learned, and struck at the dummies.

"How pathetic…" Nene commented, watching us strike with all our effort at the training dummies.

"You're practically slashing, keep a straightforward motion as you thrust," Nene judged, regarding Juro's lackluster attacks.

He gave a cheeky smirk. "Heh, I know how to thrust like a goddamn professional, so don't worry. I won't disappoint,"

Oh my god, he needs to stop with that crap...

Nene deadpanned at him, then she turned her attention to me.

"Your arms are too rigid as you attack and it is causing your arms to shake rapidly," Nene informed. "If you keep your attack focused, yet relaxed, you will achieve proper and reliable precision. Once you two can achieve 10 perfect hits, we can conclude this training session."

A few minutes of attacking later…

"That's 3 perfect strikes so far, only 7 more to go," Nene counted as she studied our movements. "I'm amazed that you two weaklings are getting it down this fast."

A few more minutes of attacking went on…

"And that makes 10 for the both of you," Nene nodded in a solemn manner. "You may yield now."

"Told you I knew how to thrust masterfully," Juro commented with a grin.

"So, uh… are we duel ready?" I asked with an unsure smile.

I'm still not the most confident about this, as I fear I'll just make a fool out of myself.

"Indeed," Nene affirmed with a single nod. "I shall engage in a duel with one of the robots to give you an idea of how duels are handled and what you should expect. You may also want to take notes, using my performance to your advantage."

Nene brought a robot with her onto the arena. She activated the machine and it got into a fighting stance as did Nene. Then began the battle.

They exchanged multiple strikes, each one getting deflected, as they moved about in the ring. The robot goes for a low jab to Nene's legs, only for the girl to hop right over it and deliver a strike of her own, her rapier making contact with the robot's shoulder.

The machine was not finished as it retaliated with a strong upward strike that knocked Nene's rapier into the air. In an impressive feat of agility, using the metal bars on the edges of the ring, she kicked off the top bar, doing a backflip while simultaneously catching her rapier as it fell mid air.

As she landed on her feet like a cat, she had struck the robot in the back of its neck, causing sparks to fly as it collapsed to the floor in a heap.

That was an exceedingly amazing move she pulled at the end there. I now see what she meant by utilizing your environment.

"Fucking hell girl, you are a real bonafide badass of the 10th degree!" Juro shouted in astonishment.

"I um... never imagined that you had that much skill in duels," I commented, a bit dumbfounded. "It seemed so... theatrical in comparison to most fights I've seen."

She returned down next to us. "When I say that I have superior strength to all, I was not joking around," the fencer remarked, sheathing her rapier to her side. "Now you understand what I mean when I say you wouldn't want to challenge me. But enough about me, I want to witness the two of you face each other. If you wish to remain safe, the suits are over there and you know what weapon to use."

With some convincing, I got Juro to play it safe with me. With our fencing suits and epees, we got up onto the arena and prepared to duel.

The moment we began, Juro immediately went on the offensive, striking multiple times in succession rather aggressively. I was able to defect most of them, almost losing my grip on my rapier. A few snuck past my defense, but I managed to jump back enough to avoid them.

"What's up huh!? Can't read me like those motherfucking books!?" Juro mocked.

Man, my heart rate is through the roof! I need to find a good chance to dodge if I want to counterattack his aggressive play...

On a whim, I spun to Juro's side as he went in for a powerful stab, allowing me an ample opening for a strike. The hit connected into his side, the flimsy rapier bending on impact, unable to puncture the suit. My blood was positively pumping now.

That felt great! I feel like I can actually do this!

Juro was not about to let up. He knocked my rapier to the side with a fast and mighty swing with his own and followed up with a shoulder tackle, knocking me flat on my ass.

With my rapier far out of reach, I surrendered as he pointed me down with his rapier, a smirk plastered on his face.

I'm kind of disappointed that I lost in the end, but that was still just too damn exciting of a fight for me to not have enjoyed it.

"...Impressive job Juro. I hadn't predicted this outcome at all," Nene commented, placing a fist underneath her chin in a thoughtful manner.

Juro fist pumped proudly. "Never doubt the motherfucking Blonde Blazer! I always aim for the gold baby!" he cheered loudly.

I stood up, brushing my dress pants off. "You don't need to brag, I'm not a skilled fighter or anything like that," I remarked in distaste, rather flustered. "It's nowhere near an impressive feat to beat me."

"You may not hold a torch to any warriors I've battled, but you were much more competent in that duel than I had expected," Nene praised, she bowed her head in respect. "Job well done, both of you."

Nene complimented someone... times have changed drastically already.

We then left the arena, meeting with Nene at ringside.

"Thanks, now, I want to fucking fight the badass in the room!" Juro exclaimed, pointing towards Nene.

Nene deadpanned. "Are you positively sure about that?"

"Hell yeah! I don't even need this heavy ass suit or flimsy sword either! We going without any goddamn safety this time!" Juro shouted in full confidence, stripping out of the suit. He grabbed a nearby rapier on a rack. The same one he had picked out before.

He really is a moron, is he really that determined to win her heart?

Nene gave an honorable bow. "Meet me in the ring, oh valiant knight," she challenged, entering the arena. "We'll see how that overconfidence transfers into true immense strength."

"I can go easy on you if you'd want," Juro offered as he strolled onto the arena as well.

"Your easy is synonymous with your hardest," Nene countered, unsheathing her rapier with a stoic look.

Juro scratched his head. "I don't even fucking know what the shit that means, but I just didn't want to ruin that pretty face," He remarked with a coy smile.

"Think with your upper head, would you?" Nene recommended, tapping her skull.

"Hey, two heads are better than one right?" Juro jokingly reasoned, not prepared for Nene's first strike. "Oh shi-!" Fortunately for him, he was able to just barely deflect it.

He threw caution into the wind, suddenly delivering a swift and fearsome spin kick, actually managing to catch Nene off guard. His foot made an impact with her left arm, knocking her rapier to the floor.

"Wha-" Nene gawked in absolute shock.

Dang, that dunce actually did a thing! I'll expect him to lose in a moment's time though.

"Hahah! Got ya!" Juro boasted, beating his chest with pride.

Nene shook her head clear and kicked up her rapier, and in a flash, jabbed the tip of her weapon through a hole in Juro's rapier hilt, allowing her to quickly swipe it out of his hand. She flicked it off the end of her rapier directly into her right hand.

Juro's eyes widened as Nene pressed the sharp tip of her rapier underneath his chin.

"Nevershittingmind then. You already fucked me over," Juro raised his arms to surrender. "Damn!"

"That was like, at least 20 seconds," I mentioned with an amused smile.

To give credit where it's due, he did disarm her once, even if it caused him to let his guard down. Still hilarious though, that he was defeated so fast.

"Close to my usual time of a minute," Nene replied, a bit smug. "Nevertheless, Juro, you did manage to last longer than I thought a weakling like yourself would have. You also managed to surprise me with that quick kick. I find myself pleasantly astonished by your performance."

"Does this mean that I'm finally not a damn pathetic fool?" Juro asked, lacing his hands behind his neck.

Nene stepped up closer to Juro. "You are… above average," Nene rated thoughtfully. "I believe I am fine with being in your presence at least."

"My efforts finally paid the fuck off…" Juro said in relief. He closed his eyes and looked as if he was expecting a kiss.

The fencer turned away. "However, don't get in over your head," she remarked, taking a step back while Juro continued to hold his position. "Your obsession with finding your way into my heart does not end here, there's still much more to venture through till you reach it. Fortunately, you do have sufficient strength to progress forward."

"That is all for today, I quite enjoyed this activity. So, I must thank you for giving me this opportunity," Nene said with gratitude. "Goodnight." She then began walking out the door.

Juro blinked in rapid succession. "W-wait! Fuck! I'm not about to let you leave me hanging like a goddamn wet motherfucking towel like that!" Juro exclaimed, chasing the girl down in a desperate attempt to get his kiss.

I just shook my head and left the room as well.

He has the right idea to not let her go so easily. That's a common mistake people make when a woman or man walks away after showing some kind of affection. It's clear to me that Juro has a speckle of hope for his desire after all.

---

-Omezo's room-

Much to my surprise, this day went rather well all things considered. Those that had their secrets revealed are handling themselves well enough, we have a plan for extending our survival, Masakado is in custody, and I grew closer with most of these people. Tomorrow however, may get gloomy, considering that Monotokage does have a motive she's looming over our heads. Alas, it's time to rest easy for now.

---

Monotokage's nonsensical theatre of nonsensical shit

If there's one thing that I would love to snap out of existence, it'd be the school system.

Seriously, fuck school! That shit is useless nowadays! If you needed to learn or figure something out, all you'd need to do is google that shit right away! And screw math! All I need is a goddamn calculator to do my bidding!

Not only that, but the trash you have to deal with in school is unbearable! You got to deal with some fucking asshole kids who have one sole purpose to make your life living hell! The food is god awful, like eating cardboard! Some teachers are ruthless, smacking you upside the head for doing somethin' wrong! then you have the pestering children who you just want to cave their skulls in with a hammer until they have a face not even a mother could love.

To make matters worse, homework has to budge into your free time, so that you have even less time to actually enjoy life!

Furthermore, just about everything you learn in school flys straight the fuck out of your ears afterwards! At least in college, you can choose classes that actually matter for what you want to fucking do!

Anyone who says they enjoy school is a fucking liar, they've just become delusional from the suffering. I wouldn't be surprised if school has turned people into despairs like the tragedy has!

Lesson of the day, Don't stay in school kid, fuck that shit! Let that crap get flushed out of this dimension!

---

Review responses:

TheRoseShadow21: Monotokage likes to keep it straight up and to the point so that you know what you're getting into. It's a little thing called courtesy (albeit twisted).

Katastic Writer: I do have a blast writing Monotokage because of how ruthless she is. Maybe that makes me a sadistic prick… nah, I'm just getting into character is all.