Shorter chapter today, but I'm splitting this into 2 different parts to give myself some time to get back to work on my original novel. I've already started writing part 2, but I've also took a break from writing my original novel, so that needs some attention too. But I'd just like to say that I actually reading my story.

What I mean by this is that I actually went back to read every chapter that I've uploaded and I'm impressed with myself. Yeah there are errors here and there that I miss, but I enjoy reading it. I didn't think I would like it since I don't tend to like most of my work, but I genuinely do like this story and I hope this transfers to all who is just now finding this story. Anyway, we have a major climax happening in the second part. Something that might catch all of you off-guard. Have fun with that!


Natsuki stared at the large convention center while holding a foil tray. She backed up into Tridon who caught her. She turned to look at him before turning back to the convention center.

"We'll do fine with our submissions." Tridon reassured Natsuki and squeezed her shoulders lightly, "We worked our butts off to make the perfect submission for this and I know for a fact we'll be in the top 3."

"I know. I'm just nervous. We didn't make it last time because of those bullies. Now that they have a pass from a Robert..."

"Hey," Tridon put his arm around Natsuki and smiled, "we worked hard on this. I'm not gonna let a bunch of 20 year old perverts who don't have anything better to do with their lives than to harass a bunch of high school kids mess with you."

"Haha..." Natsuki chuckled lightly and took a deep breath, "You're right. Win or lose. We have to show up and show 'em who's boss!"

"That's right!"


Once the two were inside and waiting in line to sign up, Natsuki that there were certainly a lot of females at the competing. In fact, it was almost nothing but females at the convention center to watch or participate in the competition.

Natsuki then noticed that a lot of the girls were very pretty and ogling Tridon, but he was too dense to see it as he was observing the other participant's baked goods.

Natsuki stepped closer to Tridon, but stepped too close and ended up stepping on his shoes.

"Oh sorry Natsuki." Tridon scooted over a little and got back to observing the competition. Natsuki frowned and faced away from him.

Once they were signed up, Natsuki and Tridon setup at their respective table. Tridon, however, continued checking his phone. Or what seemed to look like a phone.

Natsuki grew worried and asked, "What do you keep looking at?"

"Tiffany had me do a big adventure for practice and it got a little unstable. She said a side effect are random changes in our reality. So I'm using this device she gave me," Tridon took out what he was looking at and showed it Natsuki, "to keep track of something that's a little too much to explain right now."

"It's fine. I can get the gist of it." Natsuki stared at the tin foil trays she sighed and leaned on the table, "Do you think we'll win?"

"Win is a stretch." Tridon answered, "I would like to win, but with everything that's happened so far, I'm fine with just being here with you."

"O-Oh..." Natsuki blushed and rubbed her arm, "Thanks dude..."

"No problem. What are friends for?"

Natsuki expression changed when she heard Tridon use the term 'friend' so casually to describe their relationship. Natsuki let out a soft sigh and sat down. She rested her head on the table while Tridon still observed their competitors.

"Tridon I..."

"Hold that thought Natsuki." Tridon interrupted her and said, "Trouble down ahead." Tridon pointed in front of them and the girl and her boyfriend were seen walking around, "They don't have the whole group, but it's best to be cautious."

"Tridon..."

"Don't worry. There's too many people for them to try anything."

"Still. They have the pass from Robert. He might just hit 'em with a pardon."

"Doesn't matter. They try something, he won't help them because that would make him look bad. It'll be their ass if they try something that'll harm the public while they target us."

"I guess you're right."

"Plus, Tiffany is on the sidelines ready to assist if she needs to."

"Okay..."

"Just focus on the competition..." Tridon slowly grabbed Natsuki's hand and smiled at her, "Focus on us."

"Y-Yeah..."

"Hey Natsuki." Natsuki turned around to see it was the girl she helped at the bake sale last year.

"Oh. Julie. Hey there."

"I see you've gotten close since I last saw you two together." Julie stared at the two holding hands, "Finally asked him out huh? Or did he finally make his choice."

"J-Julie!" Natsuki jumped up blushing while trying to hush her friend.

Tridon could only laugh as he attention drew to Natsuki's bully and her boyfriend. He stared at them and noticed at Natsuki's bully stared daggers at him in particular. Not much so Natsuki, but him specifically.

Tridon stared back and chuckled. He stood up and joined Natsuki by her friend who were talking to one another.

"So he's still trying to make his decision huh?" Julie looked at Tridon and sighed, "Tridon, you should really choose already. I mean, it seems like you got the perfect girl for you right here."

"Julie..."

"I mean," Tridon put his arm around Natsuki and smiled, "she's not all too bad. We have tons of fun when we hang out."

"Ah!" Julie cupped her cheeks and squirmed, "I understand you two are 18, but you're still in high school."

"N-No Julie!" Natsuki tried to stop her friend from saying anymore while Tridon laughed. He turned around and noticed that Natsuki's bully, Chelsea, stood across from with only the table separating them.

"Hello there."

"Why do you play with her like that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Teasing her. Messing with her feelings like that."

"That sure means a lot coming from you Chelsea." Tridon chuckled and shook his head, "Even after all the bs you've pulled our last few encounters." Tridon looked around and noticed her boyfriend wasn't with her, "Where's your boyfriend? You know. That 20 year old deadbeat that used to be my teammate."

"He's in the bathroom." Chelsea sighed and said, "We're not here to cause trouble. After what happened last time, I just don't trust being around you or you being around her."

"Why are you so protective of her now?"

"I know this is stupid to ask, but can I talk to you in private?"

"Not the stupidest thing you've said, but it's still pretty stupid." Tridon looked over at Natsuki who was still talking to Julie, "What do you have to say to me that can't be said in front of everyone else?"

"It's about the deal my boyfriend signed with Robert and what I know about you."

Tridon stared at Chelsea and looked around. He walked from behind the table and said, "Meet me outside in front of the convention center. I'll tell Natsuki I'll be gone for a little bit."

"Outside? In front of others?"

"By the side. Where nobody really is. Now go." Tridon sighed and interrupted Natsuki's conversation with Julie, "Hey Natsuki, I'm gonna be going to the bathroom right quick."

"Oh alright. Hurry back."


Tridon met Chelsea outside and the two stared daggers at one another. Tridon leaned on the wall of the convention center and closed his eyes.

"I'm strapped right now." Tridon lifted his jacket to reveal his gun, "So if you try anything..."

"I'm not gonna try anything. My boyfriend however..."

"I know how crazy that guy is. I did know him in middle school before you probably met him."

"Then you would probably know that it was him that signed the agreement with Robert to give us a pass to do whatever to you and you specifically."

"So is Natsuki suppose to be some sort of sacrificial lamb for you?"

"I didn't want to sign it. I didn't want to deal with you after I met you last year."

"Why is that?"

Chelsea sighed and crossed her arms, "I used to be friends with Natsuki. Ever since elementary school, we've been friends. However, when we got to high school, the stupid hierarchy separated us."

"How so?"

"Don't you remember? I'm on the volleyball team. Natsuki is an outsider who likes reading manga, playing video games, and overall, being geeky."

"Your point is?"

"When you're a 'jock', you can't assert yourself like that or be friends with people like that. It's the high school hierarchy taking effect. I was peer pressured into bad-mouthing Natsuki and it eventually led to me being the head of it."

"Why not stop before it got worse rather than prolonging her torment?"

"I had no choice. High school is a dangerous place to be like Natsuki or anyone who lost what they had. Take a look at Monika. She was number one for the last 4 years, then she loses that and drops to below hundreds. How do you think people see her now?"

"Another pretty face in a see of nobodies..."

"Exactly. The hierarchy can change in the blink of an eye. It's what happened to me and there was nothing I could do."

"So why are you dragging me out here? Did Robert tell you who and what I am?"

"Yes. When I saw you with her, I thought it was weird. The number 2 guy in our class hanging out with her. So I did some of my own probing."

"Probing, how?"

"Let's just say I did spy on your club meetings."

"And you saw me use my power."

"That's right." Chelsea face Tridon and said, "So I went to Robert with my boyfriend and he told us that he wanted you out of the picture. I immediately wanted to say no, but my boyfriend had other plans. He said he wanted to finish some business with you."

"I guess he didn't like his unconscious body being dragged away by some police officers."

"Tridon, my boyfriend will stop at nothing until you're completely out of the picture. Robert said he would pay him top dollar to see you dead, but I think it's getting to him."

"He's too stupid to realize that Robert is only using him to get information on me and my friends. As for you, why don't you just break up with that idiot and quit the volleyball team."

"I've already quit the volleyball team, but I can't break up with him."

"Why is that?"

"I'm contractually bound to remain at his side until either he dies, you die, or he terminates his contract."

"Sounds like a contract Robert would have him sign."

"I'm not telling you to kill him or fake your death. I need you to force him into terminating his contract with Robert."

"What do I get out of this?"

"I won't bother Natsuki anymore and I won't report your powers to the government."

"Right." Tridon groaned and scratched his head, "Fine. Here's my deal. You get him away from here for today and tell him to meet me at the lake outside the city. Got it?"

"Alright." Chelsea watched Tridon walk off and shouted, "What are you gonna do?!"

"I'm gonna end my beef with that idiot."


Tridon walked over to Natsuki to say, "Hey Natsuki, sorry to interrupt but I gotta go."

"What?" Natsuki turned to him in shock and asked, "Why? What happened?"

"I can't say. It s family matter. I'm sorry." Tridon turned to Julie and asked, "Julie, can you take over for me here?"

"Yeah sure. Is it something serious?"

"Very." Tridon quickly answered, "I'm sorry Natsuki. I know you were looking forward to this day, but I have no control over it. I'll make it up to you."

"Y-Yeah..."

"Good luck Natsuki!" Tridon shouted while walking off, "I know you'll win this!"

Natsuki watched Tridon leave and clenched her jacket. She looked at Julie who looked at her back.

"Will you be fine?"

"Yeah. It's his family. I trust him."


30 minutes later, Tridon waited under the tree with his arms crossed waiting for Chelsea to bring her boyfriend. Tiffany spoke to him through an earpiece while he waited.

"This is very stupid of you. You do know that, right?"

"Of course I do, but it's the only way to finish what I started with that guy."

"Remember, my team is here to make sure he doesn't try anything too big."

"Yup." Tridon looked off towards the trees surrounding the area and chuckled, "Just don't miss or kill them."

"We won't miss and we're using tranq darts. It won't kill them, but it sure as hell will drop 'em."

"Alright." Tridon noticed Chelsea with her boyfriend, but he noticed shadows far in the distance, "You see 'em, right Tiff?"

"Right. Putting 'em down now."

Chelsea's boyfriend walked forward and heard the sound of grass being crushed behind them along with loud thuds. He snickered and stared daggers at Tridon.

"So, you don't have you friends to back you up." Tridon commented, "Your girlfriend's crew isn't here and I have people watching over me and my friends."

"My target is you Tridon." He growled, "Do you know how much he's gonna pay me if I kill you?" He smirked and answered, "1 milli."

"Really now?" Tridon sarcastically responded.

"You got a big bounty on your head that a lot of people want. Robert wants you dead or alive. I prefer dead, so that's what I'm gonna do."

"Alright," Tridon took out his gun and tossed it to the side, "but I have some pent up aggression right now. So I'm gonna make this job for you harder than ever."

"Don't be reckless Pierce." Tiffany interrupted, "Your combat training is-."

"I know enough to put this fool down." Tridon cracked his knuckles and said, "Besides. 5 minutes is all I need."


Meanwhile at the convention center, Natsuki couldn't keep her mind off of Tridon and his abrupt absence. She knew that he didn't leave for a family matter. It was something about Chelsea and her boyfriend.

"Natsuki," Julie started, "are you worried about Tridon?"

"W-What? No. I'm just..." Natsuki sighed and looked around, "I'm skeptical about his excuse."

"Why?"

"I just don't buy it."

"Do you want to get him?"

Natsuki thought for a second and quickly answered, "Yes."

"Alright." Julie put her hand on Natsuki's shoulder and said, "Go to him. Go."

"R-Right..." Natsuki ran off she started to call the others, "I hope this idiot didn't go and get himself into trouble..."