Hajime shot up from his bed, panting. He rubbed his brow as he sat up in his bed. The screaming in his head dying as the silence of the dorm took over. Judging by the peering light of sunlight from his window, the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. His brother no doubt asleep and himself left with the silence. He slowly pulled himself from his bed, taking slow and deep breaths. His eyes squinted before he reached up to them, removing the contacts from their surface. He pushed the blanket away before making his exit from his bedroom.

The lights of the hall turned on automatically with his movement through it. The dorm for two was the size and make of a mansion. Its walls of tans and spruce wood stretched far, twisted, and turned. The dark green carpet was soft against his feet.

There were many features to the building even though there were only two people ever in it—with the occasional third. There was a home theater, a gigantic kitchen, a dining hall, a bathhouse, several bathrooms, and nearly twenty bedrooms. Though the large building became grating at some point over the past month. It was treacherous at night with its long corridors.

He made his way down the lobby's staircase, "A place this big shouldn't be this quiet…" He wiped his face as he pushed open the doors to the dining hall before flicking on a light switch. The floor and walls matched the make of the rest of the building. There was a large dinner table at its center. Along one of its walls, there was a framed counter, giving a view of the stainless-steel kitchen on the other side.

"I miss the days where I didn't have to worry about school… or assignments…" He made his way into the kitchen, and began to make a cup of coffee before sighing, "I didn't do that homework assignment, did I?" He groaned, "I miss planning airplane flights… and underground… dealings…" He shouted skyward—ceiling-ward, "Which is something I never thought I'd say!" He took a deep breath as he put his face in his hand, sighing.

Izuru pushed open the doors into the dining hall, "Hajime?" He tilted his head, "Was that you yelling?"

His twin shook his head, sighing, "Y-Yeah… sorry…"

"I don't mind." He began to make a cup of tea, "How is the… transaction pending?"

Hajime looked forward, "It won't really be complete till the end of the month. Acquiring more material for… future storage is in-progress." He shrugged, "Business in the other hemisphere shifts without much delay. Though some worrying news has been reported here and there." He poured a cup of coffee, "The invisible wars are coming to an end." He straightened, taking a swig, "We'll have to shift trade-locations and move stock."

The ravenet nodded, "Begin immediately. Send them to the Cove to restock. Lay low."

The brunet nodded, lifting his mug, "Aye-aye."

Hajime rested his cheek in the palm of his hand—his elbow propped up on his desk. His other hand had a mechanical pencil intertwined with his fingers, sketching away into a small notebook. The image wasn't perfect, but it was a nice rendition of the academy's main building. While his hands were occupied, his ears could hear a few of his classmates in their side of the room.

They were all annoying, so he didn't bother to try and distinguish them. "He's been over to the Main Course a bunch of times." The air felt heavy as something swelled around him. "Eh, why does he get to go over there? I've gotten my ass kicked by some security guard every time I look at the place." While they weren't many in on that conversation, the weight of the air told how many stood in agreeance. "Prick must think he's damn special." The side-glances, the judgmental looks, and the envious glares. "I think he has a brother in there." It was grating. "Of course, he does."

The brunet's eyes left his paper when Sato made her way towards his desk, "Hey."

He waved with his pencil, "Yo."

She leaned over desk to look at his drawing, "Oh, that's pretty good."

He smiled, "Thanks."

Sato straightened, putting her hands on her hips, "Mahiru and I were wondering if you wanted to eat lunch with us today."

Hajime nodded, "Yeah, sure." He shrugged, "I actually got around to making a lunch today too. So, you won't have to share or anything."

A bit more force was added atop of his pencil strokes. "She's just as bad." A bite onto his cheek. "What makes those two so special?" His mind buzzed as his foot tapped against the ground. "They can kiss ass better than anyone else." Every day: same sentiment; different mouths. "Should be us."

She turned to the group, lending them her ear, "I'm sorry, what was that?" The group went silent before separating to their seats. She shook her head as she turned back to the brunet, "Sheesh…"

He chuckled, gritting his teeth, "Yeah…" A guttural sigh left his mouth as the lead of his pencil broke against the paper, "Talking more and more nowadays." He took a deep breath, slapping his notebook shut, "I'm gonna go grab something to drink."

She tilted her head—a look of concern crossing her face, "Mind if I come along?"

He tucked his hands into his pockets, shrugging, "Sure. Come on." With that the two made their exit from the classroom and stepped into the relatively empty halls—with the occasional student.

Once there was a solid distance between them and the classroom door, Sato turned to the Hajime, "Are you okay?"

He took another breath, rubbing his brow, "So much envy and jealousy in one place…" He made his way to a vending machine, "Acting like we don't have the right to choose our friends." He made his selection before leaning against the machine, "You know, it's not just them either. Even some of the staff act like that."

She shrugged as she leaned against a wall, "You just have to ignore them or confront them." She teetered her head, "Some of these guys can't back most of the stuff that comes out of their mouths."

His canned coffee slipped free of the machine and he reached down to take it, "Toothless hounds… The lot of them." He cracked it open, "God, I'm tired," before taking a long swig. "I'm complaining a lot today…"

Sato smiled reassuringly, "Eh, I get it. Sometimes you just need to say stuff—vent."

Hajime swirled his can, "Yeah… Today's just one of those days."

"You like coffee a lot?"

"Love the caffeine. Hate the taste," he said as he downed another swig.

She laughed at that.

He relaxed a little in response, "You know there's a hot spring where you bathe in coffee?"

"I heard about those, yeah."

She added with a smile, tilting her head, "There's another one for wine, apparently." She shook her head, "I mean is that really good for your skin?"

"Hopefully. Sounds like a waste of money, otherwise."

She raised a finger, "You know what else is a money sink? 100,000 Yen coffee."

He blinked, "Heard about that."

"You seem excited."

Hajime's face contorted and his voice shifted into a joking manner, "Just a bit."

Sato laughed, "Just a bit, yeah."

His eyes drifted downward, "Thanks…"

"No problem."

The brunet pushed off the wall, "We should get back before class starts."

She nodded, "Yeah."

XXX

Izuru pulled open the door to the classroom with a bottle of green tea in hand. He made his way down the closest aisle of the desks. Most of the usual suspects were in attendance apart from Mikan—who just hasn't arrived with no telling whether or not she would or wouldn't. Hiyoko raised her head from her arms with a large frown on her face, "God… I can't sleep at all… I just want to skip through today…"

Mahiru looked up from her camera, "I heard taking slower breaths might help you fall asleep."

Fuyuhiko let out a chuckle, "Maybe she needs a bedtime story."

Hiyoko spun to scowl at the blond as Izuru walked up to her, "Yeah, maybe." She turned to face him as he put to fingers on her brow, "Once upon a time." He pulled his fingers downward, closing her eyes. "The end." Her body went limp as a light snore escaped her nose. His hand traveled to the side of her head as he gently laid her on her desk.

The redhead blinked, "How did you do that?"

Sonia clapped, grinning, "That was like a magic trick!" She tilted her head as he turned to her, "Do me!"

The ravenet shrugged, "If you want." He put his fingers on her brow, "Once upon a time," before pulling his fingers downward and closing her eyes, "The end." She went limp, he caught her head, and slowly lowered her onto her desk.

Fuyuhiko raised a brow, "Neat trick." He tilted his head, "How does it work?"

Izuru shrugged, "Think of it as a hypnotic suggestion, I suppose."

The blond smirked, "Think you can teach me it?"

The ravenet tilted his head, "That would probably be irresponsible of me."

The Yakuza shrugged, "Eh, too bad." He reached down into his bag, "Hey… Can I ask you something?"

The Ultimate experiment's eyes narrowed, "Sure…"

He pulled out an CD album, showing it to him, "This you?"

Izuru seemed almost disappointed, "Ah…" He leaned forward to look at the cover, noting the younger looking versions of himself and his brother. "Yes, actually."

Fuyuhiko shrugged, "My sister was a big fan of your little cover-band." He tapped his finger on the cover, "Is that Hajime?"

"Yes." He smiled slightly, "He hated our time as a cover-band." He blinked when he heard the click of a shutter, turning to Mahiru.

She smiled awkwardly, "S-Sorry." She coughed, "You were in the cover-band."

He nodded, "We were the cover-band. Most of our performances were just openings for other performances." He shook his head, "We weren't that impressive."

Fuyuhiko shrugged, "If you say so." He extended the CD case to the ravenet, "Could you and your brother sign this for me?" The ravenet took it while he shrugged, "Thought it'd might be a good gift."

Izuru nodded, "Sure." He then added, "He'll be annoyed that people know, so don't bring it up."

Mahiru raised a brow, "Why does he hate it so much?"

The ravenet shrugged as he leaned against a table, "He was attacked in our hotel room by some crazed fan. She stole his boxers—nearly…" He trailed off, "It was good I arrived so suddenly." He frowned, "She did escape though."

The redhead's eyes widened, "Oh my god."

The blond huffed, "Christ…"

Izuru nodded, "He swore never again."

Mahiru shook her head, "I would, too."

Fuyuhiko rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, shit sounds wild."

The Ultimate Hope made his way to his desk, waving the CD case, "Don't bring it up."

The Ultimate Yakuza nodded as he kicked up his feet, leaning back in his seat, "Gotcha."

The Ultimate Photographer looked at her camera's screen, "I won't."

As the ravenet took his seat, the door to the classroom slid open and a chipper voice rang from it, "Good morning!" A woman, orange haired and green eyed, stepped into the room, wearing a light-blue business suit. She blinked as she looked within, "Wait, only five of you?"

Izuru lifted his bottle, "Story's over," before slamming it on his desk. Both Hiyoko and Sonia snorted awake, lifting their heads from their desks.

Fuyuhiko smirked, looking in the ravenet's direction—who had slowly stood up from his desk.

Hiyoko rubbed her eyes, "Eh? Big Sis, there's some woman here…"

Mahiru raised a brow, tilting her head, "Um, who are you?"

She made her way to the center podium, "Starting today, I'm your teacher, Yukizome Chisa. Nice to meet you!"

The short blonde laughed into her hand, "Heh-heh, this one looks like she'll be fun to break." She left her desk to stand next to Mahiru, "Her social position, her organs, her life, and more!"

Chisa flicked her wrists, showing off multiple pamphlets and booklets in her hands, "Don't worry! Your teacher has lots of life insurance!"

Sonia recomposed herself, "Well, prepared miss…"

Fuyuhiko scowled, "Hold on, where did Kizakura go?! He's our homeroom teacher."

Their teacher responded with the same upbeat manner, "Mr. Kizakura is hung over and vomiting."

The blond sighed, "Again?"

The classroom door slid open once more, "Sorry! I'm late!" and Mikan rushed in, tripping her ankle on the edge of the door and spilling onto the desks—another lewd mess.

Hiyoko scowled, tilting her head, "You do this every morning. Are you a bot? You puke-sticking klutz of a woman!"

Mikan cried out, "I'm sorry!"

Chisa helped free the Ultimate Nurse from her precarious situation, patting her on her back, "There, there." She raised her head, looking around the room, "That makes six."

Sonia turned to their teacher, "This may be everyone for today."

"Huh? What are the other kids doing?"

Hiyoko smirked, "Don't know; don't care."

Mahiru tilted her head, "Besides, attendance isn't mandatory at this school, is it?"

Izuru took a swig from his bottle, "So, long as talent is stoked, and the exams are passed. You can spend your life on the other side of the world."

Mikan sniffled, "I… I was trying to attend class-"

Fuyuhiko shouted at her, "Don't act like such a goody two-shoes!"

She whimpered and cried in response, "I'm sorry!"

Izuru slowly tuned out the conversation of his classmates and his newest teacher. "What a pain… With Kizakura's reliable absence, I was free to operate as I wished… Bringing Hajime here may be spectacularly more difficult than before…" He blinked when Chisa put on a white apron, yelling about rotten oranges and youth. "She's annoyingly eccentric as well…" While the others weren't quite on-board, Sonia was entirely. "Ah… She's threatening Kuzuryu…" He blinked when his eyes met hers, "Fuck…"

Chisa walked up to him, "Come now, Kamukura! Shall we?"

He adjusted his tie, "No. I'd rather not."

A blade stuck into his desk as she tilted her head, "Hmm?"

His eyes shifted between the blade and her, "Well? Do it."

She blinked as she slowly straightened, tapping her chin, "I see that I'll need a better strategy for you." She snapped her fingers, "I have just the thing!" She clapped her hands together, "We'll be back for him."

Mahiru raised a brow, "What?"

Chisa laughed, "We must find ourselves a secret weapon. But, your other classmates first."

XXX

Hajime stared out the window of his classroom, yawning, as the test laid on his desk: completed. Was he certain that he passed with perfection? No. Did he fail? Probably not. Did he do his best? Cute. The student didn't quite care, but that didn't matter. As a knock on the door disturbed the whole class's silence before it slid open. A woman, orange-haired and green-eyed, came strolling into the room.

Her chipper nature brought about a great air of levity to the room, "Pardon, my intrusion." "I'm a teacher from the Main Course. I need one of your students."

The teacher to her, "Oh? We're in the middle of a test."

She tilted her head, "He seems done with it, though." The brunet blinked as he turned to her, "Hello, Mr. Hinata."

Hajime stood from his seat, adjusting his tie, "Hi."

She gestured to herself, bowing, "I'm Yukizome Chisa. I'm here about your brother."

A look of concern crossed his face, "Did something happen?"

Chisa smiled warmly, "I just want him to interact with his classmates." She pulled out a knife, "Mind taking a picture with me?"

XXX

Izuru stared at the picture on his phone. His brother underneath the knife of his homeroom teacher. He shook his head as he found his classmates in the field behind the school—alongside his brother. Hajime blew on the skewer before taking a bite.

The brunet crouched next to the cook. "Man, this is awesome, Hanamura."

Teruteru smirked, rubbing his chin, "Well, please do kiss the chef."

He straightened, walking away, "And I'm gone."

Chisa stepped in front of Izuru, "Ah, how kind of you to join us!"

He glared at her, "You threatened my brother?"

She blinked, "What? No." She pointed at him, "I threatened you. Your brother was a perfectly willing participant."

Izuru looked past her and at his brother, who shrugged, "You need to be more social, little brother."

The teacher stepped out of the way and a larger teen blinked, turning to the ravenet, "Hm?" He stepped towards the smaller, "We haven't met yet." He sucked in air, "I am NIDAI NEKOMARU!"

The ravenet blinked, "Kamukura Izuru."

Nekomaru shook his head, "Your voice is too soft."

Hajime's voice floated in, "Just shout!"

Izuru sucked in air, "I AM KAMUKURA IZURU!" His face then fell flat and his arms laid at his sides. He was quite done with the situation already.

The larger laughed, "HA-HA! You have a good voice."

Hajime turned to the shorter blonde, "You look a bit taller today, Saionji-" He picked up his leg, holding his ankle, "OW!"

She scowled, "Don't use my last name!" She blushed, looking off to the side, "Hiyoko's just fine."

The brunet scratched his cheek, "You look taller today, H… Hiyoko…"

Hiyoko spun away from him, hiding her face, "Hmph."

Hajime blinked, "Oi…" He tried to get a look at her face, "Hello?" He sighed, "Okay…" He made his way over to Mahiru, "Hey-hey."

The redhead smiled, waving a fan to manipulate the smoke of Truter's cooking-fire, "Hey."

The brunet tilted his head, "So, this is supposed to bring in a student?"

She chuckled, "Apparently."

Fuyuhiko knelt by the fire, throwing a log into the fire, "Must be hell of glutton."

"I SMELL MEAT!"

Hajime blinked when he saw a tanned girl leap from the roof of the main building, "Holy shit!"

Teruteru's eyes widened, "She's really comin'!"

Chisa threw her hand out, shouting, "Go, Nidai!"

Nekomaru let out a battle-cry as he charged to meet the flying girl. The ground rumbled as the two collided. Clouds of explosive encounters erupted into the sky. The students were enveloped in dirt and smoke as the fight raged on. Hajime pulled Mahiru and Hiyoko together, huddling against the storm. Izuru tackled Fuyuhiko and Teruteru from the fire as the ground erupted.

When the dust settled, the invading girl was stuck in a crater; tied to a cross. Sonia then commented with a wink, "We caught a classmate!"

Hajime straightened, looking at the meat-skewer in his hand, "Everyone okay?"

Mahiru coughed, "Y-Yeah."

Hiyoko stomped, "This is so stupid!"

Izuru helped Fuyuhiko onto his feet, "We're good over here."

Teruteru gasped, "Aw… That was amazing."

The brunet blushed, looking away from the girl who laid fallen in the crater, "Again, Mikan?"

She cried out, "I-I-I'm s-sorry!"

He carefully slid down the crater's walls, holding his meal in his mouth.

The girl tied to the cross threw her body in his direction, shifting the cross but not breaking her ties, "H-Hey! Is that meat!? Give me some!"

Hajime flinched, "S-Sure." He made his way to the base of the cross as Chisa made her way to help the Ultimate Nurse. He noticed the height difference between himself and her face, "Hey, Nekomaru, can I get an assist?"

He scratched his nose, "Of course."

The brunet extended the skewer to the man, but the Team Manager had a different understanding of the request. He bent down, wrapping his arms around Hajime's waist before throwing him skyward. The brunet screamed before his feet landed on the arm of the cross, struggling with his balance for a moment or two.

Nekomaru laughed from below, "That was a pretty good landing, Hajime!"

Hajime smiled nervously, "T-Thanks…" He cautiously kneeled before extending the skewer, "Here ya go… uh…" He pulled it away, "What's your name?"

She drooled, panting, "Owari… Akane…"

The brunet shrugged before letting her eat his skewer, "Well, have a nice meal, Owari." He stood on the cross's arm before walking towards its end before leaping below. He couldn't help but grin as he looked around. "This is…" He shook his head, "This is more fun than anything in the Reserve Course."

Fuyuhiko smirked, "That ain't that surprising."

Hajime tugged at his tie, "Well, I better get going."

Mahiru blinked, "What?"

He shrugged, "Reserve Course, remember? I better get back to class before my classmates get… well…"

Izuru spoke from the top of the crater, looking off to the side, "If you go, I go."

The brunet looked to his brother, "Izu."

Chisa put a hand on his shoulder, "Please do stay." She pulled Hajime to face her, "I didn't mean to invite you for just one purpose." She gave him a thumbs-up, "Youth is important!"

"I…"

Fuyuhiko crossed his arms, "Just fucking come with us already."

Mahiru tilted her head, "You obviously don't want to go back."

Hajime shrugged, "I guess, I'm sticking around…"

Sonia smiled, "Welcome to the hunting party!"

-X-

"What is that thing supposed to be?"

The Class of 1-B stood before a large piece of machinery—with Hajime as well. It's nature was not really obvious nor was its function. Sonia was singled out before the machine before a pink-haired punk poked his head out from within. "Miss. Sonia!" He leapt down in front of her, "Did you bring a snack for me?" She shifted away from him almost immediately. Hilarity ensued with his soul being crushed and noses being assaulted.

Izuru tilted his head, "Nevermind doesn't seem to recuperate his feelings."

Hajime shrugged, "Could just be the smell…"

-X-

Hajime blinked as his eyes never left the animal-based alter before them. Chisa shouted to the student that they searched for before a swarm of animals flew over them. It lofted towards looming clouds that stormed and rumbled. "How the hell did I never notice this place?"

Izuru shook his head, "Don't look at me." He looked at their newest classmate, "Tanaka the Forbidden One, huh?"

They spoke in-sync, "Chuunibyou…"

-X-

Izuru's drumsticks moved in a blur as he played the drum-set in front of him. Ibuki cried out as she threw her head, strumming her guitar and bringing about bursts of flame from the nozzle of her guitar. "Hormone! Hormone! Love! Love!" She laughed as she grilled skewers of meat with her flamethrower.

She blinked, "Since when did I have an audience?" She spun to the drum-set, pointing at the ravenet, "I knew I heard you! Ah! Zu-Zu, thanks for the assist!" She rubbed her chin, grinning, "You're an excellent bandmate."

Fuyuhiko, Hiyoko, and Mahiru caught a particular part of that conversation, "Zu-Zu?"

Hajime laughed, "I know, right?"

The ravenet sucked at his teeth, looking off to the side.

-X-

Chisa made her way into the dojo, slowly walking towards the meditating girl on its far end. Hajime nodded to his brother, "Ultimate Swordswoman." Izuru's eyes were glued to her back. "You okay?"

The ravenet rubbed his chin, "She's won kendo competitions many of times… I wonder if she has wielded a real sword…"

Peko Pekoyama swung her bamboo-sword at their teacher, only stopping millimeters from Chisa's neck.

Though, the orange-haired woman didn't seem to care, "Pekoyama, class has already started."

Izuru commented firmly, "Dangerous…"

Hajime looked at his brother once more before slowly nodding.

-X-

The Class of 1-B made their way down a sidewalk. Chisa, Sonia, and Gundam led the party. Akane and Nekomaru were still enjoying the leftovers of the metal barbecue. Ibuki was acquainting herself with Mahiru, Hiyoko, and Mikan. Teruteru was following somewhat close to them but was occasionally sent stumbling back by one of the girls. Fuyuhiko and Peko walked close to one another—neither really noticing their proximity. The twins made up the caboose of the hunting party.

Hajime tilted his head, "I think Kirigiri mentioned him once."

Izuru raised his brow, "Really?"

The brunet scratched his cheek, "I think so, but… I don't remember anything in particular."

Kazuichi sat on the sidewalk's railing, "When he's involved, nothing good ever happens to me!"

The screeching of wheels and brakes caught the group's attention as a box truck lurched over the hill. Hajime was the first to move, rushing back to yank the pink-haired teen over the railing. The brunet pulled him to the ground before shielding him with his body as the side of the truck slammed into the railing. The two were showered with glass as the truck swerved off to the side, launching itself off the hill on the other side of the road.

Kazuichi gripped Hajime's arm, "Y-You fuckin' save my life, man!"

The brunet winced as he pushed himself onto his feet, "Don't mention it…"

Mahiru ran over to them as Chisa followed the flight of the truck, "Is everyone okay!?"

Izuru rushed to his twin, "Hajime… You're bleeding." The back of his suit was soon covered with streaks of dampness and darkness. Blood mixed with fabric as the pain reached the brunet's head.

Hajime joked as he wagged his finger, "Note to self, don't take glass showers…"

Mikan rushed over, "W-W-We need to take him to the nurse's office!"

Fuyuhiko shook his head, rushing over, "Don't touch his back. We don't want the glass to dig deeper."

The brunet shook his head, "I'll be fine."

The ravenet picked up his twin's arm, pulling it over his shoulders, "Shut up."

Hajime pulled his arm away, "You're being dramatic—we've been through worse." He smiled at his friends, "I'm fine, really. I can walk on my own."

Mahiru looked at him, worried, "Are you sure?"

He smiled, "Yes. Really." He waved the situation dismissively, "You guys should get back to Ms. Yukizome and tell her what happened. Izu and Tsumiki can take care of me from here."

The redhead slowly nodded, "Okay…"