Decided to try another chapter for this experiment series. Not so comedic this time, this one takes place after the time Lady Comedy attacked the school a second time and shot Hachiman.

Again if you have not read 'The Dark Knight of Chiba', I suggest you do so first to understand this story's context.

Please enjoy.

Have you heard the news?

Bad things come in twos.

But I never knew

'Bout the little things.

Every single day

Things get in my way

Someone has to pay

For the little things.

Danny Elfman - The Little Things

Chapter 3: The Ruiner

Miura Yumiko did not realise the bead of tear welling in her eye until it was too late. She felt it rolling down her cheek to her chin. She blinked in surprise and wiped the tear off her face.

It has been a week since Yumiko had her second encounter with the psychopath that attacked the Sobu High, Lady Comedy.

She was currently at school, in the bathroom locked up in a cubicle. She bit her lip for a second, "Dammit." She could not help the horrid picture coming into her head of that warehouse, Yumiko getting attacked by a bunch of lowlifes, their hands holding her down against her will.

And just in time, she was rescued by the Dark Knight of Chiba. The Huntsman.

Yumiko did not know who he was, but he gave her a chance to escape and she was thankful for that. After that terrible encounter, Yumiko committed her time in training herself to be fitter and more capable. To be able to defend herself should the need arise.

However, Yumiko still had that pain in her after that incident. She stepped out of her cubicle to stare at herself in the mirror. As she rinsed her hands, her mind drifted back to the one regret she could not change.

Yumiko could never stop that naïve and foolish girl from stepping into that warehouse in the first place.

She gritted her teeth and shook her head. "Strong…strong."

Yumiko stepped out of the bathroom and her friend was waiting for her, Yuigahama Yui. The two joined up together beaming a smile to each other. They needed to submit their Modern Japanese assignment to Hiratsuka Shizuka. On their way towards the faculty office, neither of them took note of the glances Yumiko was getting from the other students.

They drew the door open and stepped into the faculty office. And as soon as they stepped in, their teacher was seated at her desk, looking a little red on her face, however. One hand was holding her phone while the other was yanking her fringe, Shizuka kept her eyes on her phone.

Yumiko and Yui gave each other a confused look. Yui took a step forward, "Uh, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

The teacher let out a yelp, "Ahh, uh Yuigahama, Miura."

"Is something the matter sensei?" Yumiko asked. "Something on your phone?"

"Miura." Shizuka said and handed her phone to her. "Look at this." Yumiko took her phone and inspected the photo on display, immediately her eyes burst out wide.

It was a photo of Shizuka knocked out and carried by a stoic Hikigaya Hachiman on his way to the infirmary, behind him were Yumiko and Hayato injured by Lady Comedy. Yui looked over Yumiko's shoulder and saw the photo herself and her cheeks flushed as well. "H-Hikki?!" Yui squeaked.

A message suddenly popped up in Shizuka's phone and Yumiko read it out dumbfounded. "Bet you were really comfortable in his strong arms. From Yin Etsudo."

Shizuka got even more embarrassed, she quickly took the phone from Yumiko. "Ahh you stupid cousin…" The teacher mumbled while typing a reply.

"Sensei what is this?" Yumiko asked.

"A-Ahem." Shizuka cleared her throat. "Someone has been spreading this photo about that attack." Shizuka explained. Yumiko took the chance to spot the other teachers and students in the office looking their way.

"U-Uh sensei?" Yui then asked, "Why was H-Hikki carrying you?"

Shizuka's cheeks flushed again. Yumiko had to answer the obvious, "Because she got knocked out…duh."

"Oh, r-right." Yui scratched her head.

"Who took this shot?" Yumiko asked the teacher.

"I don't know, the sender was anonymous." Shizuka sighed, "Some other teachers and students have been getting it too." She caught a glance of the teachers and tried to hide her face from them.

Yumiko saw what would come if this persists, rumors and false claims. Shizuka, Hachiman, Hayato, and Yumiko had been thrown under a bus by whoever took and spread the photo. This so-called blacklisted Sobu Trinity will be getting more heat again.

Yumiko took out her Modern Japanese homework and handed it to Shizuka.

"Did you bring this up to the police?" Yui asked.

"They won't be able to help." Shizuka shook her head. Yumiko played it quiet, but she will take a shot of investigating herself, since she was in the photo as well.

As soon as the two girls left the office, Yumiko started walking like she was on a mission.

"U-Uh Yumiko where are you going?" Yui asked as she followed.

"Shutting this nonsense down." Yumiko said. Yui noticed the drastic change in Yumiko's demeanour, it got a whole lot darker.

"Uh, Y-Yumiko?" Yui asked, "Are you upset about this?"

"Upset? No." Yumiko turned to Yui, letting her see her crossed brows. "I'm pissed."

Soon after the two were at the corridor were the picture was taken. Yumiko moved to a certain spot, positive on where the photo was taken. Yumiko aimed from the spot, "The photo was taken here, at Hikio's one o' clock."

Yui watched as Yumiko acted the detective. Yui tried to give her insight, "Was the photo crisp and clear? Maybe whoever took the photo had a camera ready then?"

Yumiko gave her a look then just pointed, "The shot was from here. Right in front of this classroom door. So…whoever took the photo was probably from this class." She stared at classroom 1-D. She wasted no time, Yumiko slid open the door and entered the class 1-D.

Every student in 1-D was caught surprised as the Fire Queen got inside the classroom, Yuigahama Yui nervously followed her friend inside.

"Excuse the intrusion." Yui softly said, Yumiko made no such greeting.

"Go dark style, dark style." Yumiko said in her head, putting on a cold look. A page she had taken from a certain dark knight.

"Miura-senpai?" The class male representative approached them. "How can I help?"

"U-Um," Yui did not know what to start with. Yui did not even know she was starting to hide behind her friend.

"Let's get right to the chase," Yumiko stepped forward. "Who's the one here who took the photo of Hiratsuka-sensei unconscious?"

"Huh?" The class representative stumbled in his words. "I d-don't really know-"

"Hah? Oh yeah, you do." Yumiko leaned forward hissing so only he could hear. "That photo's been spreading around, hasn't it? And the shot was taken from right outside this classroom. So my guess is that someone in this room took the shot. Someone here fits a photography enthusiast. Now tell me who is it? Who's been spreading photos? I won't ask again."

The intimidation Yumiko was giving compelled the class representative to turn his head towards a student at the front row. It was a girl with brown hair reaching the base of her neck, with a camera strap around her neck. She kept her gaze to the blackboard, clearly hiding her face from Yumiko and Yui.

It did not matter, Yumiko had her sights on her prey. "Photography club?" Yumiko whispered to the class representative, and she crossed her arms for effect. An anxious nod was the class rep's reply.

"Well anyway. Thanks for your time. We'll be going now." Yumiko greeted the class representative and left with Yui scurrying behind her.

"Criminal masterminds, these people are not." Yumiko said to herself. She and Yui passed through the corridors shoulder to shoulder. Yui was starting to pay attention to the murmurs from the other students as they carried on, especially the first-year students.

"Hey it's her right? Miura-senpai. She was in that photo."

"She along with Hiratsuka-sensei right?"

"Yeah then that creep was carrying her. Gross."

"Yeah that creep."

"But then why was Miura-senpai with him too? And Hayama-senpai as well?"

"Ehhh? What's going on with all of them huh?"

"Is Miura-senpai friends with that pervert?"

"Gross."

Yui on her part was put off by the comments they have for her friend, making her check on Yumiko out of concern. "Yumiko? Are you ok?"

"Just wait…" Yumiko gave a vague answer.

Time had passed, and the first year photography student was rushing over to her clubroom. She was Shion Mira, she was one heck of a camera wizard. Entering her clubroom however, showed a different side of her.

On a corkboard, there were pinned up photographs. All of them were pictures of Hiratsuka Shizuka. Pictures of Shizuka in the cultural festival, Shizuka in the faculty office, Shizuka having a smoke, Shizuka leaving the girls bathroom, and the photo of Hikigaya Hachiman carrying her.

Mira got to the corkboard and began taking down the photos, all the while cursing behind her teeth. "Muira that stupid blondie bitch. Think she's so hot and all. She's ruining everything. I hate her guts. I hate her. Just drop dead bitch!"

"Well, I see you didn't waste any time."

A voice from behind Mira startled her white. Shion did not even notice Yumiko by the corner of the clubroom when she entered in. Yui too was beside Yumiko and was giving Shion an accusing look.

Yumiko already had her phone up recording the vital evidence, she then put it away satisfied with the amount collected. "So you're Shion Mira, right? The camera girl."

"You recording me? You're a criminal." Mira spat.

"I really doubt you're in any position to call me that."

"What was all those photos with Hiratsuka-sensei?" Yui pointed at her, "And why did you take that picture of Hikki? And why send it around? It's giving trouble."

Mira could only stand there like the cornered culprit she was. Finally, she let out her bottled anger. "He was that creep that told off Sagami-senpai right? That filthy pervert dared to lay his disgusting hands on my dear Hiratsuka-sensei!"

Yui could only step back from that outburst. Yumiko however, had narrowed eyes and a very unimpressed frown. Yumiko motioned towards the corkboard, "Your dear Hiratsuka-sensei eh? Seems like an understatement."

"Hiratsuka-sensei is precious to me, she's absolutely precious. And she should not be wasting her time with someone like him, or you." Mira said.

"So that's why you decided to take a compromising photograph of her with me, Hayato and Hikio in the shot, and spread it around?" Yumiko scowled. "You plan on putting us in a bad light is that it? You were talking about me just now right? Why don't you say it to my face?"

"I'll never forgive you people, every time I wanted to see sensei, she's too busy because of you all. And now look what happened. She nearly got killed by some serial killer! And it happened because of you!" Mira seethed.

"Wha…Y-You…that's not true!" Yui raised her voice as well. Yumiko remained silent and stared right back at Mira unimpressed.

"Now you understand huh? Your very existence is a nuisance. You're a menace, you're a disaster. You are a ruiner!" Mira pointed at Yumiko,

"Ruiner…Ruiner…Me…" Yumiko thought.

"If it weren't for you, Hiratsuka-sensei would not have been injured like that! And you don't care because you think you're better than everyone. You, Hayama, and that creep! But now I've shown everyone that you're really nothing. Nothing at all." Mira's face was twisting into a sadistic smile. "And unless you all stay out Hiratsuka-sensei's life, I'll continue to ruin your lives with everything I can and will do!"

"Enough already!" Yui tried to defend Yumiko, "Hiratsuka-sensei would never approve of this! Please just stop this!"

Mira huffed with that same sadist smile, "Huh, you want me to stop? I want to hear it from this bitch!" She pointed at Yumiko once more. "Say 'I'm sorry Shion-sama, I understand my terrible mistake. Please stop.' Let me hear it then."

Yumiko all this time had been silent, she dipped her head down a little to shade her eyes.

"Y-Yumiko?" Yui started to get worried. "Ne, Yumiko?"

"Come on then bitch say it!" Mira stormed over and leaned towards Yumiko's face. Mira's hand gripped Yumiko's jaw, forcing Yumiko to look at her. "What? Cannot say anything now is it?"

Yui was ready to intervene, "Hey leave her al-"

Then it happened so fast. To Yui, it felt like slow motion when she saw it, Yumiko's fist collided into the side of Mira's face with lightning speed. Yumiko's swift punch sent Mira onto the floor and she was out cold.

Yui was left jaw dropped, she could not believe her friend had just gave Mira such a punch.

Yumiko adjusted her collar spoke in a low voice, "Yeah here's what I understand. I'm faster than you."

The Fire Queen stood tall and turned to leave the photography clubroom. Yui getting out of her shock quickly asked, "Y-Yumiko, what did you do?"

"She threatened me and my friends. I responded accordingly." Yumiko answered and exited the room. "We'll let Hiratsuka-sensei learn about Mira, then she'll take it from there."

As the two left, Yumiko had a certain thought running in her head, "I'm a ruiner? Sure. Ruiner to freaks like you. Gross."