AN: Hey, everybody. It sucks to have to do this but I'm not really in a position to do anything else. I want to preface this by saying that my parents are emotional abusive. That the relationship between themselves and to me and my siblings are toxic and it's hard to really think, write, or talk about any of it without falling apart at the seems. I can't really post like I used to and there's a possibility that I may never. And I'm scared. I really am. For my safety and my sanity. I'm posting the chapters I was able to do and leaving things here.

I want everyone who reads this to understand that they are in no part responsible for me or my situation. The reason I share this is to explain my coming absence and because I do have a responsibility to this story and it's audience. There are those who have invested their time and thoughts into me and my writings.

I want to say thank you for all the words of encouragement and the pushes you've all given in my endeavor to become an author.

Thank you for reading.

XXX

Izuru leaned back in his seat as the seats of the classroom filled with his classmates. It seems like Chisa's effort to bring everyone together wasn't a waste of time. It was the seventh day of them attending in full. The ravenet still found the sight slightly strange. He was in a constant state of debate of whether or not he enjoyed the company of his classmates. Sure, their personalities and quirks brought about some entertaining scenarios, but Izuru had learned to enjoy silence.

The Ultimate Gamer, Chiaki, and the Ultimate Animator, Ryota Mitarai, had their noses down in their respective mediums of talent. Akane was rocking her seat back and forth, snacking on something while picking at her ear with her other hand. Nagito was sitting in his seat with a smile on his face, silent. Fuyuhiko kicked his legs up on his desk while Peko sat silently at hers—much like Sonia. Mahiru and Hiyoko were sharing or talking about something. Ibuki was tuning her guitar, and Kazuichi was tinkering with something on his desk. Gundam was interacting with his hamsters, and Teruteru was peeking at the girls from afar. Lastly, Nekomaru and Mikan were nonexistent—one in the bathroom and the other late.

Chisa stood behind the podium in the front of the classroom, "So, is everyone here?"

The door slid open as the Ultimate Nurse rushed in, "W-W-Wait!" Her foot hooked onto her shin and she stumbled forward, "AH!" Time seemed to slow as Teruteru got very excited.

Though, the Ultimate Team Manager was able to save the girl from an embarrassing disaster, "Careful there." He picked her up with her blazer, pulling her onto her feet.

She looked up at him, "Th-Th-Thank you."

Nekomaru commented, "You should work on your balance, Tsumiki." He grinned, laughing, "I'll detail some regimes for you!"

Mikan nodded, "I-I appreciate that."

Chisa gestured for both of them, "Please take your seats." She sighed wistfully, "Look at all of you… There's no doubt that you'd make memories now!"

Ibuki stood from her desk, making her way over to him, "Hey-hey, Zu-Zu!" She pulled out music and lyric sheets, laying them out before him, "I was able to write out this song." She kneeled next to his desk, "It's not really for Ibuki's voice, but it could be for yours and Hajime's."

Fuyuhiko raised a brow from the other side of the room, "Speaking of music?"

The ravenet pulled the album case from his blazer pocket, "Yes." He tossed it over to him, "Catch."

The blond caught it, looking at its signed cover, "Thanks, man." He tucked it away, "I owe you one."

Izuru murmured, "Certainly…" He turned back to his bandmate, "I'll swing it by, Hajime." He organized the sheets, "Though, he doesn't enjoying singing anymore."

She strummed her guitar, "The flow of music can inspire anyone into motion!"

He nodded, "I'll text him about it." He teetered his head, "We'll have to let him into the building."

She grinned, "Nah, we can have it at your private abode!"

Mahiru raised a brow, "Wouldn't the dorms be a bad place for something like that?"

Ibuki laughed, "Nope! Zu-Zu and Hajime, have a private dorm on campus~."

Izuru sighed, "Mioda…"

She blinked, "Eh?" She pushed her index fingers together, "Oops, was that supposed to be a secret?"

The redhead turned, "Wait, you guys have a private dorm?"

Hiyoko scowled, "Why does the boring creep and the bland hedgehog get a dorm to themselves?"

The ravenet shrugged, "Luck, I suppose."

Akane shrugged, "Well, that just makes sense." She looked around the classroom, "Right?" She shrugged again, "He's like the Ultimate Everything, isn't he?" After a bout of processing the information, their classmates nodding with an array of agreement and/or acceptance.

Izuru noted internally, "Thank you, Owari…"

Mahiru raised a brow, "What's it like?"

Sonia gasped, "Could this be like one of those shows where you've been stuck in a haunted dorm-house?"

Gundam laughed, "Are there such fiends in your household?" He posed with his Devas of Destruction, "These beings may prove useful in my worldwide takeover!"

The ravenet shook his head, "I have doubts of such things." His gaze shifted to Mahiru, "As to your question, it's large. It's in a forest on campus grounds."

The redhead blinked, "You're not near anyone?"

He shrugged, "We're quite isolated."

She tilted her head, "That sounds kinda lonely."

Izuru nodded, "Hajime doesn't like the quiet, yes." He teetered his head, "Though, we are able to do more without too much interference."

Fuyuhiko popped open one of his eyes, "Like?"

The ravenet shrugged, "Hajime bought a smoker-grill recently. I installed a slide or two…"

Hiyoko blinked, "A slide?"

Ibuki grinned, "Ooh, ooh, where!?"

He shrugged, "Just on the sides of the main staircase."

Peko raised a brow, "Why?"

Izuru shrugged again, "I was bored, so I asked Hajime to order the materials during class, got them by sunset, and went to work."

Fuyuhiko chuckled, "What? Your main hobby is renovating?"

"I suppose."

Nagito turned in his seat to face him, "That's quite the task, finding all of those supplies." He smiled, tilting his head, "How was your brother able to get all of those materials so fast?"

Izuru's eyes narrowed, "He's a charismatic individual with many friends."

The white-haired teen tilted his head, "Friends with everybody, hm?"

"If you want to word it like that, sure."

Nagito chuckled in response.

Teruteru slipped into the conversation, "I'm sorry for interruptin'. But I heard ya mention a smoker? Even the school doesn't have that."

Izuru nodded, "Yes." He tilted his head, "Hajime put in a brisket this morning. It should be finished tonight."

Akane popped out of her seat, "Brisket!?"

The ravenet nodded, "That is what I said."

She drooled, "Can I have some?"

And the Ultimate Cook clapped his hands together, "May I see it?"

Izuru shook his head, "Not tonight. Hajime doesn't mind guests, but I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate a sudden wave of them." His mind was earnest in comparison to his mouth, "It's best to set up a wall now… Dealing with fifteen individuals trying to see the dorm would be difficult… Especially, if that package arrived…" He gestured to Ibuki, "He assumes that Ibuki will swing in most days."

Nekomaru crossed his arms, "It isn't right to show up uninvited."

The ravenet nodded, "Indeed."

Akane frowned, "Eh? Come on. Smoked brisket!"

Izuru sighed, "One voice… No matter how impassioned, isn't a good alibi… A few more would make tonight easier…" He nodded to Akane, "I'll swing it by him," -and then Teruteru, "and for you too." His mind spoke truth, "Not really, though… You make me uncomfortable…"

Ibuki backed towards her desk, chuckling, "I'll see you when the goddess of music rolls in the thunder~."

The ravenet, of course, took the wind out of her gravitas, "Yes, I'll see you after school." He fished out his phone, sending a quick and simple message to his twin.

XXX

Hajime blinked, fishing his phone from his pocket to view the message, "Company, huh…?" He sighed, turning back to his desk. The wooden desk was graffitied with black marker and quite possibly paint. Messages that told him to 'Die', 'Eat Shit', or 'Go to Hell', etc. Insults that called him a 'Bootlicker' and a 'Loser' with similar sentiments all over the place. He texted his twin back before moving to the cabinet in the corner of the room and picking out cleaning supplies.

He could hear the murmurs, whispers, and chuckles from his classmates here and there. There were variations in their voices: the sympathetic and the amused.

Another voice caught his attention—a feminine one, "It's right here." Her hand reached past him, picking up a cleaning bottle and a rag.

The brunet blinked as she passed the bottle to him, "Ah, thanks." She, of course, was in uniform. Her short hair was black, and her eyes were a light brown. Her name was Kira Hotaru—just one of the many faces of the Reserve Course.

She smiled, "No problem." She pulled out a rag for herself, making her way to his desk, "This stuff is just… childish."

He shrugged, "Yeah, well, what can you do?" He sprayed his desk before they both started to clean it, "People do whatever they want."

Sato's voice entered the room, blinking, "Hajime?"

The brunet looked over his shoulder, giving a casual wave, "Yo."

She frowned, making her way over to him, "What happened?"

Hajime shrugged, "Petty vandalism mk. three."

Sato crossed her arms, "Is this the third time?"

His face contorted, "I think were hitting ten honestly, but I don't really remember." He smirked, "You see, by mark, I mean that they're escalating in quality, not quantity." His smirk turned into a grin, "That also isn't to say that these 'pranks' are in good quality. In fact, they're garbage."

The greenette blinked before shaking her head, "You're ridiculous."

The brunet jokingly corrected, "I'm… entertaining."

She shook her head, chuckling, "That isn't the word I'd use."

He pointed at her, "Adorable?"

She rolled her eyes, smirking, "Oh please."

Kira smiled, chuckling with the tilt of her head, "You two are close."

They turned to her, blinking, "Eh?"

The ravenette blushed, raising her hands and shaking her head, "N-Nothing!"

Sato shrugged, "Well, I'm sure two people can handle this."

Hajime wiped at the markings, "If we scrub really hard, we can get this done in like a minute."

Kira laughed, "I'll work as hard as I can."

The brunet nodded to the greenette, "Double-checked, by the way. Door's still open."

She smiled, "Thanks."

"Hope Koizumi enjoys the view."

"You should eat lunch with us again. Ask her yourself."

He chuckled, "Been busy, sadly. Most of my lunches have pertained of phone calls."

Sato raised a brow, "Phone calls?"

Hajime shrugged, "I'm basically my brother's… manager." He teetered his head, "People want him to do things; they go through me. He wants something for a project of his; I get it for him."

Kira tilted her head, "Is your brother that talented?"

He chuckled, "Pretty much."

A voice on the other side of the classroom whispered to his friend, "Meh, my brother's so talented~."

His friend replied, "I'm his personal lapdog~. I'm so happy to lick his damn boots."

Sato scowled, "Oi!" The pair spun in their seats, hiding their faces from the trio.

Kira shook her head, "God, they're so damn childish."

Hajime smiled, "They're whatever." He sprayed his rag with the bottle, "Come on, we should finish before class starts."

The ravenette nodded, "Yeah. Forget them." With that, Hajime and herself went to work on his desk, finishing their shared cleaning session.

Mahiru made her way down the hall, stepping into the classroom of her two friends. She blinked when Sato ran into the redhead's arms, squirming and crying out in disgust. The Ultimate Photographer blinked as she took in the current situation. There was a cockroach flying through the air—much to the dismay of the students within. They squirmed and squealed as it soared through the air. There were shouts for someone to kill it or to open a window—cries for something to happen.

Hajime stepped onto a chair, "Ay." He clapped his shoes together, crunching the bug between the heels of his footwear. People still cried out in its death, squirming at the somewhat audible noise. The brunet commented as he dropped from his elevation, "Crunchy." He looked about the room, "Bugs are crunchy." He noticed how everyone kept their distance from him, flinching when he pointed his shoes in their direction. "You guys do not like bugs." He smirked, "I hold so much power, right now…" He adopted a strange gravitas, "Am I a just man or a tyrant?" He went silent for a moment, looking about the room. There seemed to be an air of tension flowing into the room. It quickly broke when Hajime turned serious, "Joke's aside. Anyone have any tissues? I would like to clean the squish from my shoes."

One of his classmates, Arata Soma—if he remembered correctly, extended a packet of tissues, "H-Here…"

The brunet deadpanned as he took the packet, "I don't have the plague." He shrugged, making his way to the trash bin and cleaning the 'squish' from his shoes.

Mahiru patted her friend's shoulders, "Sato? The cockroach's dead."

The greenette pulled away from the redhead, shaking her head, "S-Sorry… God, I hate those things!" She shivered, "They're s-so gross."

A voice in the room scoffed, "Lording over a bug kill."

Another responded with similar sentiment, "What's wrong with that guy?"

Mahiru frowned, "It was just a joke." She pushed out a laugh, "In poor taste, but still."

Kira chimed in, "Y-Yeah."

Arata forced out a laugh, nodding, "Y-Yeah, bugs are gross, Hajime."

The brunet nodded, "They're disgusting."

The ravenette put a hand on her hip, "Then why would you wave it around?"

Hajime smirked, "What? I didn't wave it around." He turned on his heel, dropping his shoes on the ground and slipping into them, "Sato, did I wave it around?"

The greenette breathed a sigh of relief, "Thankfully not."

He gestured to her, looking about the group, "See?"

Sato shook her head, "You're ridiculous-"

Hajime smiled, "Entertaining."

Her eyes narrowed as a smirk graced her lips, "Borderline-"

He tilted his head, "Adorable."

She firmly spoke, "Crazy."

Hajime chuckled, "Harsh."

Sato shared a look with Mahiru before tilting her head, "Wanna join us for lunch?"

He nodded, "Sure."

Arata took a breath, "That being said. Cafeteria's probably running wild, right now."

Kira sighed, shaking her head, "I should just bring my own lunch someday." The pair of Reserve Course students left the classroom to buy their lunches while Sato walked over to her desk to grab hers.

Mahiru turned to the brunet, tilting her head, "Where's your lunch?"

Hajime shrugged, "It's on the way."

Sato blinked, raising her brow, "What do you mean?"

He gestured for them to follow, "You'll see." The trio began to make their way down the hallway for a distant staircase. Though, as they passed a vending machine, the brunet slowed to a stop. He peered around the machine before slyly pulling out a packed lunch.

The redhead blinked, "You hid your lunch?"

He handed her his lunch, "Yep." He crouched next to a nearby air vent, pulling it open and taking out a canned coffee. "Amongst other things in different places." He wedged the vent-cover back into place before standing. "I mean remember the last time I left my lunch in my desk?"

Sato nodded, "Yeah…"

The brunet chuckled, "Don't sound so sad for me."

Mahiru blinked, "Hey, I heard from Kamukura that you have a private dorm."

He raised a brow, "Yeah. Curious about it?"

She tilted her head, "A little."

Hajime shrugged, "Do you two wanna swing by today? A few people are already coming over."

Sato tilted her head, "Are you sure?"

He shrugged, "Plenty of room and plenty of food."

Mahiru tilted her head, "You know, Ms. Yukizome has been pushing Kamukura to invite everyone in the class."

He blinked, "Really?" He scratched his cheek, tilting his head, "I don't think I cook a big enough brisket for… eighteen?" He chuckled, shaking his head, "But, I doubt she'll get him to budge." His phone vibrated before he pulled it from his pocket, tucking his drink underneath his arm. "Speak of the devil." He opened his phone, looking at the message before blinking, "Ah…" He shook his head, speaking slowly, "Never mind…" He texted his twin back, "Well, with Teruteru around, I don't really have to worry about the food." He turned to his classmate, "Sato, you're coming, right?"

She smiled politely, "Uh, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate already."

Hajime shrugged, "Well, I could use a sanity squad."

Mahiru blinked, "Sanity squad?"

He let out a chuckle, "Yeah, with so many eccentric personalities, I might need help with making sure I don't lose any walls… or have it get overrun with animals… or have a truck crash into it…" He took a deep breath, "I'm suddenly very stressed out."

Sato chuckled, "Sure, I'll join your 'sanity squad'."

The buzzing in his mind slowly quieted, "Thanks." He turned to the redhead, "Are you coming?"

Mahiru smiled, tilting her head, "Sure. I can't really miss out on something like this. And I'll help you out where I can."

Hajime smiled out of relief, "Much appreciated." He gestured for them to walk on, "Come on, let's go eat."

XXX

Izuru and Hajime led the Class 77-B down the dirt path through an overgrown forest. Ibuki wasn't too far behind them, playing her guitar while walking in a dance-like manner after the twins. Hiyoko was both happy and upset with abundance of nature. She didn't like the walk, but she was happy with bugs, killing them with her feet. She happily murmured, "Squish" every time she did so.

Sato nudged her middle-school friend, "She's like Hajime," causing Mahiru to giggle into her hand as they trekked on.

Mikan walked on cautiously which was in direct contrast to Nagito's seemingly carefree manner. Teruteru was curious about the forest itself and the possible cooking ingredients that could be hidden within it. Sonia and Gundam were curious about the forest as well, but more about the animals within it and/or monsters. Kazuichi was jealous of the pairs proximity but kept his distance. Akane was drooling excitedly over the prospect of her future meal while Nekomaru was keeping her from going wild. Ryota was worried about his animations, and Chiaki was gaming away on her console, walking without even looking. Peko and Fuyuhiko were the second to last of the traveling party, remaining mostly silent for the trek. The homeroom teacher of the entire class made up its caboose, happily watching on.

Sonia snuck her way to the front of the traveling party, fidgeting while cautiously looking about the forest. The ravenet of the twins noticed this, looking over his shoulder, "You seem discomforted, Nevermind."

She smiled, "Sorry. It's just that I've seen this type of scenario in movies." She kept her hands close to her chest, "A young maiden is led into a dense forest to be killed in a ritualistic sacrifice."

He blinked, "That's very… specific."

"So, there's a dorm-house out here?"

"Yes or would not lead you all here."

She gasped, "Is it haunted!?"

Izuru waved his hand, "I doubt such things…" He went silent for a moment, "Though, I suppose it's possible." His mind continued, "Given the administration's litany of secrets…"

The blonde then asked, "Then do you have salt in your dorm? We must be prepared to exorcise any spirits we come across."

Hajime was the one who replied to this question, "If it makes you feel safe, you can use our salt." "A reasonable amount, please. I'm really tired of bulk ordering things as of late…"

Sonia smiled, bowing slightly, "Thank you."

The brunet blinked when he shifted his gaze to the shorter blonde. The Ultimate Traditional Dancer disconnected their eyes, crossing her arms and looking off to the side, "Hmph."

His face contorted, "Eh?"

The white-haired luckster followed after the talentless of the twins, "You don't seem to understand girls' hearts, Hinata."

Hajime blinked, "Ah, you're Nagito, right?"

"You know of me?"

"I've heard some stories, yeah."

He seemed elated, "My classmates have branded me interesting enough to share stories." He looked at his hand, "How kind of them to waste their mind with remembering me."

The brunet blinked, "Okay…"

Nagito smiled, "They've branded you with that sort of interest as well." He tilted his head, "Your brother seems to respect you quite a bit."

Hajime slowly nodded, "Thanks for sharing."

The brunet blinked when he heard the Ultimate Nurse cry out as she fell forward, tripping over an overgrown root, "A-AAAAHHH!"

He reached out, catching her bicep and preventing her spill onto the dirt. "Careful now."

Mikan apologized as she got back onto her feet, "S-S-Sorry…"

He smiled politely, "No worries."

The Ultimate Nurse tilted her head, "H-How's your back?"

Hajime gestured to himself, "I'm the picture of health." He tucked his hand away, "Thanks again for all of that."

She nodded, "N-No problem." She smiled warmly, whispering, "And I've kept your secret. I haven't told anyone."

He eyed Ibuki as he smiled back at the nurse, "I appreciate that."

The ravenette was distracted with her conversation with the other twin, "Zu-Zu! We have an audience~." She strummed her guitar, "Dinner and a show!"

Izuru looked over his shoulder, "Hajime?"

The brunet jogged over, "Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm… not ready." He smiled, "Remember, I sucked at this stuff."

Ibuki gave him a thumbs-down, "Boo~." She smirked, chuckling, "Heh-heh, of course, we need to practice. Our first performance as a band must be awesome~!"

Hajime gave a broken smile, "You know, Ibuki, I'm a terrible singer. And well…" He rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not really a performer."

She waved him off, "Nah, you just have to try! It's like using a flamethrower!" She strummed her guitar, "Hit the button and go wild!"

The brunet's eyes drifted to the nozzle of her guitar, "How much reach does that thing have?"

Ibuki blinked, shrugging, "I dunno." Hajime went silent, slowing his pace to put distance between himself and musician.

Fuyuhiko closed the distance between himself and the ravenet, "Oi, how far away is this place?"

Izuru tucked his hands into his pockets, "It isn't too much farther."

The short blond rubbed the back of his neck, "You guys walk this everyday?"

He nodded, "Yes. Hajime's been planning on getting us bikes, but the Headmaster would have to approve of us riding them throughout campus." He frowned, "Kirigiri has been too busy to get back to him."

The Ultimate Yakuza chuckled, "Heh, guess it's a pain dealing with kids like us."

The Ultimate Everything nodded, "Presumably."

Kazuichi walked up to the brunet, "Hey, man."

Hajime nodded, "Yo."

The punk-looking individual lowered his voice to a whisper, "So, you uh… aiming for anybody?"

"Aiming?"

"The girls. Mind your answer might cause your alarm clock to explode in your face tomorrow."

The brunet's eyes turned frank, "You're not a violent person, Soda…" He coughed aloud, "I'm not aiming for… anybody."

He shrugged, "Well, that's good news for me." He fiddled with his cap, "I don't think I can handle a rival."

"Right… He has a thing for Sonia…" The brunet shrugged, "Well, you won't have any competition from me."

Kazuichi smiled, "Thanks. You're a real friend." He blinked, rubbing the back of his neck, "Eh, well… I guess we're not really friends yet, huh?"

Hajime scratched his cheek, "Hm, I don't know when people suddenly decide they're friends or not." He tilted his head, "Maybe we can at least call each other comrades."

The pink-haired teen thought for a moment, "Comrades, huh?" A chuckle then escaped from his lips, "Heh… That sounds pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to working together, comrade." He extended his hand before the brunet shook it.

"Working together?"

"Well, you're going to help with Sonia, right?"

Hajime blinked, "My, my… I might've gotten myself into a lost cause…"

The group of eighteen came to a stop in a clearing. Before them there was a two-story building, presumably the brothers' dorm. To the left of the front door, there was a very large crate with a foreign label here and there on its sides.

Izuru walked on, "It arrived."

Hajime followed, seeming almost disappointed, "That it did…"

Ibuki strummed her guitar, "Ooh, box of mystery~."

Mahiru tilted her head, "What is it?"

The ravenet put a hand on it, "Nothing important." He looked over his shoulder, "Nidai or Owari, would either of you mind helping me move this inside?"

The brunet pulled off his blazer, "Teruteru, come with me. We should get to cooking."

The Ultimate Team Manager walked over to one of the twins, "I'll be happy to assist, Izuru."

The Ultimate Cook followed the other, "After you, Hajime~." With that, the class followed the cook and Reserve Course student into the dorm building while Nekomaru assisted the Ultimate Everything.