She was feared by almost everyone at school. Most students wouldn't even look in her direction. As soon as they saw her coming down the halls, they turned in the other direction. She was feared almost as much as a monster.

That was most people, anyway.

As Osoro Shidesu prowled down the school courtyard, hands in her torn jacket, gang behind her, someone actually had the gall to come up to her.

A Class S hero of all people.

Osoro crossed her muscular arms, towering over the girl in front of her. Ayano Aishi wore a similar tough scowl, arms in her pockets. Her blonde ponytail made her look like she was a part of Osoro's gang. The boys behind their leader glowered at Ayano, but made no move to attack her.

Osoro herself was the only one who had naturally blonde hair. It was unkempt and messy, some of it falling over her brown eyes. She wore the regular female uniform with black shorts underneath her skirt, along with a large torn jacket hanging off her shoulders. She also had bandages on her muscular arms and legs as well as around her ankle. An 'X' shaped scar was on her left cheek.

"Osoro Shidesu," Ayano greeted, her voice harsh and gravelly. "Let me join your gang."

Osoro tch-ed. "Girls like you really get on my nerves. Get lost."

"You haven't even spoken to me," Ayano argued.

"Don't need to," Osoro growled. "I don't associate with you bastard heroes."

The look on her face reminded her of Garou or Sonic. The same discontempt and disgust around heroes.

"I want to be like you," Ayano retorted. "I'm not like other heroes."

"That's what all you heroes say," Osoro huffed. "I'm not buying it. Beat it before I take you out."

"Didn't you win a fight against Metal Bat?" Ayano asked. "And not to mention the countless other rumours surrounding you? Surely you have some connection to heroes."

"So you're here to ask about that crap?" Osoro growled, clenching her fists. It seemed the topic of Metal Bat was a harsh one for her. "You're all the same. How many times do I have to tell you to beat it?"

The male delinquents glared at her, but Ayano was not intimidated, naturally.

"If you really did beat Metal Bat, then…" Ayano smirked. "That's very impressive. You're very strong."

"What are you trying to do, hero?" Osoro asked, her expression darkening. "Get on my good side?"

"I want to join your gang," Ayano told her. "You are, after all… my idol."

Ayano:

Osoro will be my next victim.

Info-chan:

Yes, that's good. She is a threat to you, after all. Do you have an idea of how you want to eliminate her?

Ayano:

I spoke to her and the topic of Metal Bat made her… uncomfortable.

Info-chan:

That's interesting, since I know for a fact that she and Metal Bat were once very close friends. They used to run a delinquent gang together. Some rumours even that state that she might've had unrequited feelings for him. However, they had a falling out of some kind, which caused their fight. It's highly likely she still has some feelings for him. Despite her tough exterior, Osoro is not great at handling her feelings when it comes to romance.

Ayano:

That gives me an idea. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Eliminate them both at the same time. It could tie in pretty well.

Info-chan:

Absolutely, go ahead. I'll give you whatever information on either of them you need, for a price, of course. I want to see both of them suffer, after all.

Ayano:

Thank you. Tell me all about Metal Bat.

Info-chan:

Well, there isn't too much he's hiding. He's known for not being very intelligent, but fairly strong. He's not an S Class hero for nothing. He's quite abrasive, but there is one person he has a soft spot for.

Ayano:

Who is that?

Info-chan:

His little sister, Zenko. He'll do anything for her.

Ayano:

Anything, you say…

Info-chan:

Exactly.

Ayano:

Thank you. I will use this information well. I know exactly what to do…

"Hey, there ya are!"

Ayano waved at Metal Bat as she walked over to him. She gave him a friendly smile. They were in the park in City A, with not many people around. Ayano sat down at a park bench, still smiling at him. Metal Bat had his signature metal baseball bat over one shoulder, and his gakuran over the other. His black hair was styled into a pompadour, and underneath his gakuran he wore a red sweater and black bontan pants. A scowl was also on his face.

"So, what did ya want?" Metal Bat asked, holding out his phone. "Make it quick. I gotta pick up my sis from her piano lesson."

"You have a sister?" Ayano asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Yep," Metal Bat nodded. His eyes suddenly filled up with prideful tears. "She's so amazin'. She makes me proud all the time!"

So he does love her quite a lot, Ayano thought, narrowing her eyes.

"You're a very busy hero," Ayano said, making a face. "How do you always manage to pick her up from school and whatnot?"

"Not always," Metal Bat admitted. "Sometimes my friends pick her up instead."

"Ah," Ayano nodded, noting that down. "I see."

There was a brief silence.

"Anyway, thank you for agreeing to come and see me," she said, standing back up again. "It's so nice to see you. Goddess has been very annoying back at school. She thinks I'm a crazy serial killer for whatever reason. Can you believe that?"

"Maybe," Metal Bat said. He stared at her. "Nah, just kiddin'. You are kinda weird, though."

"Maybe," Ayano agreed. "But at least I'm not on your ass like Goddess, right?"

"That's true," Metal Bat agreed. "Man, she's fuckin' annoyin'. Though she did tell that Tornado brat to shut up once. Can't hate her for that."

"I see," Ayano said. She paused. "Do you like being an S Class hero?"

"Only when I get to beat stuff up," Metal Bat replied. He shifted the bat on his shoulder. "Speakin' of that, what the Hell are we doin' again?"

"Ah, can't two friends just talk?" Ayano asked.

"That's so fuckin' cheesy," Metal Bat replied.

Ayano just smiled again. "But it's true, right?"

"Yeah, sure," Metal Bat tch-ed. "Pal." He glanced at her. "By the way, did ya dye yer hair or somethin'...? And get a new look?"

"Why, yes I did," Ayano smiled behind her red mask. "Glad you noticed."

Ayano found Osoro hanging out by the incinerator, her gang surrounding her. She was staring at Taro by the wall, as if she was… worried about him. The boy didn't seem to notice from his lonely spot by the wall. He just sat there, unmoving, like a statue, eyes glazed over.

"Hello," Ayano walked over to Osoro, putting her hands in her pockets.

"You again?" Osoro grunted. "Told you to get lost."

"That's my boyfriend," Ayano told Osoro, pointing to Taro.

"Is he," Osoro said, not as a question. She curled her lip. "Why aren't you with him? Guy looks deranged."

"He's been dealing with some trauma," Ayano replied. "He wants to be alone."

"Didn't you drag him into that Monster Association base thing?" Osoro asked.

"He came willingly," Ayano retorted. "He wanted to make himself stronger… but he became even more depressed. That wasn't my intention." She paused. "But why do you care about him? Shouldn't he be some random guy to you?"

Osoro gritted her teeth, looking away. "Get lost."

"I get it," Ayano said, smirking. "You actually do care about people, don't you?" She winked. "You still love Metal Bat. You want him back."

"You think you can challenge me, trash?" Osoro asked, looming over Ayano.

"I'm only pointing out the obvious," Ayano replied. "You're still enamored with him. Your feelings are so painfully obvious."

Osoro clenched her fists.

"I won't go away," Ayano insisted. "Let me join you. We can work together. And plus, I want to help you."

"I don't want a hero around," Osoro spat.

"I'm not like Metal Bat," Ayano told her. "I won't hurt you like he did."

"What do you know about me?!" Osoro demanded. She reached a hand forward, slamming Ayano into a wall. But it was not a romantic gesture. Her hand was crushing Ayano's neck, keeping her trapped on the wall.

"You're trying to manipulate me," Osoro spat.

"I'm not," Ayano coughed out. "I really want to help you!"

"That's what they all say!" Osoro yelled. "You're not the first to think I need some kind of help! News flash!" Her fist grew tighter around Ayano's neck. "I DON'T! NEED HELP"

"I don't think you need help, Osoro-chan," Ayano said, looking up at her. "I think you deserve it."

Osoro paused for a moment.

"Cut it with the cheesy crap," she growled. "You just want to use me!"

"I would never," Ayano pleaded, smiling gently. "I think you're amazing. I want to be like you." Her lifeless eyes shimmered.

Osoro's breathing picked up. She panted, raising a fist. A fist that could've easily pumelled a demon level threat. Then she let Ayano go.

"Nah," she grumbled. "It's not worth it on someone like you." She tch-ed, walking away. "Now, get lost, before I kill you for real."

Ayano watched her walk away, arms crossed.

"Wait, Osoro-sama," she called.

Osoro glanced over her shoulder, brown eyes narrowed. The scars on her face made her look many years older.

"What?" she spat. "How long is it going to take you to get the damn hint… ?"

"I only have one more teeny tiny request," Ayano got on her knees. "Meet me at Nezumi Sushi for lunch tomorrow."

"Why should I?" Osoro grumbled.

"I will make it worth your while," Ayano assured her. She added, "and, if you disagree with me, after tomorrow I will never bother you again. I promise."

Osoro gritted her teeth. There was a long silence.

"Fine," Osoro scowled. "But you'd better keep your word."

Ayano smiled. "Of course."

"I have a question for you."

Metal Bat stared at Ayano, leaning on his bat, and using his other hand to hold a vanilla cone. They were in the park once again, having another friendly meet-up, only a day after their previous one. They were sitting on the park bench, eating their ice-creams. Once again, few people were around.

"Fire," Metal Bat said, glancing at Ayano.

"Your bat is indestructible, right?" Ayano asked.

"Yep," Metal Bat nodded, waving a hand. "Normal ones don't work for me. They all get destroyed in battle."

"And is it true that you fought Osoro Shidesu outside Akademi?" Ayano asked.

Metal Bat tch-ed, casually. "Yeah. I did."

"And is it true that you lost?" Ayano asked.

"No way," Metal Bat scowled. "I don't lose."

"Everyone believes you did," Ayano retorted, tilting her head.

"They're lyin'," Metal Bat asserted. "Like I said, I don't lose. And especially not against her."

There was a long, awkward silence. Ayano wondered if it was Metal Bat's pride talking, or if he was being genuinely sincere. He did not seem like the type to lie. Then again, how much did he respect, or rather, direspect Osoro?

"You were friends with Osoro, weren't you?" Ayano asked, deciding to reserve that subject for later.

Metal Bat licked his ice-cream, leaning back. "S'pose. We ran a gang back in the day. Went to the same school and shit."

"Did you like her?" Ayano asked. "Platonically, romantically, whatever the case."

"She was alright." Metal Bat replied. Somehow, Ayano knew she wasn't getting a more detailed answer than that.

"What's with all the questions, anyway?" Metal Bat jumped in. "And ya haven't eaten yer ice-cream, either."

"Ah…" Ayano had forgotten about it. She glanced at the sticky mess trailing down her hands. "I was just curious. Osoro's a student at my school, after all. And I was wondering why you don't go to Akademi."

"Wouldn't find me dead there," Metal Bat told her. "Nah, pretty sure they won't let me go there, even if I wanted to."

"I see," Ayano nodded. She looked away. "How's your sister going?"

"Amazin'," Metal Bat said, his eyes lighting up with sudden interest. "Hey, wanna see a video of her playing piano?"

"Sure," Ayano nodded.

She peered over her friend's shoulder, glancing at his phone. She saw a video showing a young girl with neat, short black hair and a dress. She had similar facial features to her older brother. She was sitting at the piano on a stage, playing away with a decent amount of skill. Metal Bat's eyes swelled up.

"She's so good," he whimpered. "Makes me so proud."

"She is very good," Ayano agreed. To avoid suspicion, she asked, "What's her name?"

"Zenko," Metal Bat told her.

"What a nice name," Ayano commented. "You must love her a lot."

"More than life itself," Metal Bat agreed, eyes still watering. He suddenly sat up, like he'd been shocked. "Ah, crap, I've gotta go and pick her up from school!"

He shoved the rest of the ice-cream in his mouth, and slung his bat over his shoulder.

"Gotta go," he told Ayano. "See ya later!"

"Oh," Ayano stood up. She gave Metal Bat her untouched ice-cream. "Have this."

"Thanks!" he said, taking the ice-cream and stuffing the whole thing in his mouth. He then ran off, leaving Ayano by herself.

Ayano smirked, pulling out her phone.

Ayano:

Tell me, which school does Metal Bat's little sister go to?

Info-chan:

Ah, I'll find out if you give me something in return…

Ayano:

… Here are some panty shots. Will you tell me now?

Info-chan:

Thank you. I'm not sure yet, but I'll get back to you when I find out.

Ayano put her phone away, gazing at the sky. Her plan was slowly falling into place once again.

A/N: Told you Metal Bat was going to be important. But that aside, the official demo is finally released! That's right, Osana's finally here. I did very recently try out the demo for myself, and it's pretty cool. I haven't actually done all of the elimination methods yet but I want to at some point in the future, but we'll see. What do y'all think of the demo if you've played it/watched a let's play of it?