dafwregf`a` fucking hate my internet T.T


"Hey, Angie?" Tenko awkwardly twists her hair as she avoids her companion's gaze. "Do you... Am I..."

"You shouldn't worry too much about what Himiko says." I give her a smile. "She does care. She's... She just needs space, sometimes."

"Do I bother her too much?" Tenko frowned softly. "Do I bother you too much? Maybe I bother Tsumugi too. This whole hangout was my idea..."

"You don't. Bother me, that is. I think that it's both of your personalities. You're energetic to like, inane degrees, while Himiko's the literal opposite. No need to change anything. You're still getting used to each other, so it's natural there's some trouble."

"Hah, that makes sense!" Hopping to her feet, Tenko grinned widely, all traces of sadness dissipating. "I'm going to go find H-" She cut herself off, hesitantly shaking her head. "...I'll go to my lab. Maybe... maybe I could see i-if Maki's interested in joining me?"

I blinked. "Maki?"

I'd never seen the two interact.

"I mean, she'd be a good opponent to blow off steam with, right?"

Thinking on it a bit, I shrug. "Sure."

What could go wrong there?


"Oh no, oh no, oh no." Tsumugi sprints down the halls, nearly colliding into Ryoma, who dodges her at the last second.

"Whoa, what's up with you?"

"Ryoma!? Oh, thank you! I was plainly starting to get worried. Have you seen Himiko?"

"No, why? What's going on?"

"We agreed to meet up in front of the dining hall hours ago, and I still can't find her!"

"Hey, calm down. I'll help you look for Himiko. Alright?"

"Truly?"

"Yeah, just... tell me what you two were doing. We can narrow down where Himiko is that way."


"Oh! Hello Shuichi, Kaito!"

"Whoa, where'd you come from?" Kaito chuckled, patting Gonta on the shoulder as he joined the two on their walk around the courtyard.

"Gonta is trying to catch bugs!"

"That's... nice." Shuichi mustered a strained smile as his body shuddered.

Bugs. Shuichi never wanted to step foot into Gonta's lab ever again.

"Huh, cool." Kaito clicked his tongue. "So, you ever train?"

"Ah, sorry?"

"Well, being the Luminary Of The Stars, I like to train! 'S also a great passtime!" Kaito gave a thumbs up. "Recently got my sidekick to join in, so I was wondering if you'd join us tonight?"

"Ah, Gonta..."

"You don't have to, just a thought." Kaito scratched his head.

"No, Gonta would like to join, but... Gonta wishes to only spend time with friends and relax! More... talking?"

"Oh, you more into relaxing, ey?" Kaito winked at the duo, grin widening as Shuichi chuckled. "I can respect that, my man. It's almost time for that dumbass announcement, so we should go find Maki, then start!"

"Maki?" Shuichi questioned thoughtfully.

"Hmm, oh yeah! Was thinking she should join us too! She's been having a hard time lately."

"That is very gentlemanly!" Gonta smiles.

"That's one word for it," Shuichi mutters.


*ding dong bing bong*

"This is an official announcement from the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles."

"It is now 10 p.m. Nighttime officially starts now."

"The dining hall and gym are now locked."

"sweet dreams!"

"...BEDTIME-URSINE!"


I freeze, hand hovering inches from the door.

Nighttime.

I'm still in my lab.

Alone.

Oh no.


"You built her a grave?" Kokichi's voice was so faint, Keebo nearly dismissed it as nought but the wind.

"Is that not appropriate?"

"It's fine, I guess." Kokichi huffed, crossing his arms as he averted his gaze away from the grave. "Kinda figured we'd build the graves when we got out of here, but, each to their own, or whatever the saying is."

"You... wish for us to build them graves?" Keebo queried, turning away from the grave.

"Wow, rude!" Kokichi twisted his hands into the fabric of his scarf. "As the leader of a super-duper evil organisation, I know all about respecting the dead. Ya know, we even had a mission where I posed as a consultant for a funeral parlour once!"

"That sounds rather interesting." Keebo unconsciously smiled. "Perhaps once we all leave here, you could help me with the graves."

"Tch, obviously. Like a hunk a metal like you is gonna know the ins and outs of this stuff."

"Thank you, Kokichi. You sincerely do have moments where you are a kind person."

"Hey! Don't say stuff like that." Kokichi pouted as his own flower joined Keebos on the grave. "You're gonna ruin my image! A supreme leader needs to act consistently to sell the act!"

"Do you ever act consistent, Kokichi?" Keebo's gaze drifted to the box near Kokichis feet.

"Hmm, course I do! If you wanna pretend to be human, Kee-boy, you gotta learn to understand patterns."

"I'm not sure I understand..."


It's not that hard, right?

I tap my chin as I pace in front of the door to my lab.

I have to open the door, walk into the hallway and then... run for my life?

That's how it's supposed to go, I think...

With a determined nod, I stalk towards the door.

Then again, there's a good chance I'll kill myself on those stairs.

Hand inches from the handle, I turn away.

Maybe not.


Ryoma grimaced as he scanned his lab. That was the second floor cleared. No signs of Himiko.

Considering Tsumugi hadn't come to find him yet, she still hadn't found her either. She was probably searching outside now...

Heaving a sigh, Ryoma gripped the racket in his hands, a jolt of familiarity passing through him. It was for a good cause.


"...Why?"

"Eh, I already told you why!" Tenko laughed happily. "C'mon, It'll be fun!"

"You won't leave me alone until I spend time with you, will you?"

Tenko's grin faltered. "I mean, I don't want to... BUT, I think it'll be good for both of us to let up a bit."

Maki let loose a sigh as she closed the door to her lab behind them. "Fine, but don't come back later."

"No promises!" Tenko jogged ahead a bit, keeping a constant stream of chatter up enough for the both of them.

For Maki, this could be an... acceptable situation.


Golden eyes gleamed in the shadows, disappearing just as swiftly as they'd appeared.


"Aw man, guess I didn't think this out." Kaito chuckled, walking out of Maki's lab. "Say, Shuichi, could you show Gonta where we train? Maybe, uh, check the dorms while you're there."

"Why didn't you ask her this morning?"

"Ahah, live life in the moment? I'll catch up later."

Maybe she was over by Ryoma's lab?


The door to the Ultimate Artists lab clicks open.


ding dong, dong ding

"..."

"A-BODY-HAS-BEEN-DISCOVERED."