A/N:
Hello everyone, welcome to Prologue Number 5 of Morning Hope Academy. Now with most of Class 24 introduced, we have Class 79A of Hope's Peak Academy left to introduce. This part is going to be mostly in Jonathan's Point of View. I was actually thinking of doing it in First Person, but I haven't written one of those in such a long ass time, I didn't feel confident with myself. So it shall be in Third Point of View for a bit. Though I may do it in First Point of View from time to time, maybe to show Mei-Ling's emotions a bit better, same with Jonathan, who is the main male lead of this story.
Also...I'm sure you know already, but Veruca is from the United Kingdom, Buckinghamshire in fact. It's a bit difficult to write a British Character as an American. I did my research, and I do know their mannerisms and speech patterns. They speak with a bit of a regal tone, and make their speech a bit flowery, that's the description from the article, not from me, I don't mean to offend. They also said to write it in a way that adds a lot of clauses to sentences, instead of getting to the point like Americans do. So I will try my hardest to convey that with both Veruca and Lucy. I feel like I'm not doing their characters justice because I'm not writing them properly. This is training for the future I guess. I am going to study on accents, as I also feel like I'm not portraying Mei-Ling well enough, and she's a girl of Chinese Origin. This may not seem important, but to me I just want to convey the best possible character I can make. So if any Brits out there wish to give me pointers, I would definitely appreciate it, since there are various accents in the United Kingdom. The article I read was written by a man from Yorkshire, who used a lot of slang, and I want it to be a bit proper since Veruca is a rich girl.
Anyway, I'm not sure when the final prologue part will be posted. I'm working on various things at once so it is making it a bit hard. So do be patient, I promise I shall deliver when I can! Shout to pokemansuperallstar for his OC, Dan Arche. I got only a couple more OC's to introduce in the next part, which will be by far the longest. Writing for 40 characters is gonna be a challenge, but it will be a welcome one. Hey, I'm 8 off from Crit's own story. If he can pull it off, so can I dammit! It's gonna be a lot of fun to write these characters and explore how they all come to grips with what is currently happening. One final question...who do you think will die first? You might be right, you might be wrong, or it call all be a lie, who knows? See you all later peeps!
Morning Hope Academy's
New Semester of Killing
Prologue to Despair
New Semester (Part 5)
(Jonathan's Side)
Jonathan cringed a bit the moment he stepped outside. He held a hand up, blocking the sunlight that was hitting him in the face. It was a bit hot outside, much more so than inside where he was a bit more refreshing. He lowered his gaze a bit, looking around the area, taking in the sheer size of the courtyard. He looked around, noticing several things at once. The first being the large outdoor deck that was attached to the cafeteria. He could see a few people there he had never met before, confirming the presence of more people within the school. He also noticed the lawn on the other side of the building, near what he assumed was the school's Weight Room. The courtyard extended further ahead, for two city blocks, a large brick building being visible from where he stood. There was a fountain in the center of the yard, in the likeness of George Washington. The final thing he saw in the courtyard was a large outdoor stage, the one he had seen in the pamphlet. He walked forward for a few feet, turning around, seeing the sheer size of the academy building behind him. Morning Tower rose high above them, towering over the courtyard, having the same number of stories as the building. He also noticed all of the windows were sealed with iron plates.
"How peculiar...the windows are sealed from the outside." Veruca said softly, her silver blue eyes looking at the building.
Jonathan said nothing as he continued to look at the building. He found it odd that all of the windows were sealed up, yet the courtyard was open for everyone. He glanced toward the front side of the building, seeing the brick wall that once surrounded the school had been knocked down, in its place, were iron plates that had an unnatural upward curve.
"H-hey Ruca...look over that way...see those iron walls? They have an odd curve. Look at how they meet the sky, it doesn't look natural." he said, pointing at the iron plates that were rising from the ground. Veruca frowned at the use of her unofficial nickname, but decided not to say anything.
"That isn't a natural skyline...that looks more like a projection. The sun is in the center of the sky, at 8 in the morning. It is unnaturally hot, there's no breeze, despite us being near the beach." she said, listing the things that she had noticed. She fanned herself with her hand, a pout on her face.
"It...looks almost as if a dome had been placed over the academy. Now that I look at it, it looks like the area around the front entrance was made to specifics. As if the front section of the school had been cut off, maybe that's why there's a blast proof door. There's a huge dome over the school." he said.
"A dome? Do you hear yourself Jon? You sound like one of them conspiracy theorists. There is no way in bloody hell someone could put a dome over this academy." Veruca said firmly, dismissing what he was saying.
"Well there has to be an explanation for what is going on here. The windows are boarded up with iron plates, and there's a blast proof door in the front entrance. It doesn't matter, I'm sure they'll explain it soon. We should go talk to those people, get them to the gymnasium." he said, earning a sigh from the girl.
"Very well...come, that girl there seems interesting." she said, gesturing to young woman, who was dressed a maid.
She was a rather tall young woman, with pale sandy blonde hair, a long strand blocking one of her eyes. Her hair had a bit of a green tint to it, and was shining slightly in the light. She had fair, almost pale colored skin, a black frilly bonnet was tied to her head. She was wearing a white dress, that reached down past her knees. Over it she was wearing a black apron, with a few white markings on it. She was wearing a pair of black pantyhose and some black heels, her hands being covered by black gloves. She looked directly at them as they approached, making Jonathan become quite unnerved by her stare. Veruca however seemed to smile, standing firm as the woman gave her a bow.
"It has been quite a long time Miss LeGume. I wasn't expecting to meet you here."
"Neither did I, last I heard of you, you had been working for the Togami Family. It truly is wonderful to see a familiar face."
"Whoa...wait you two know each other?" the black haired boy asked, earning a sigh from the brunette.
"Yes we do. If you must know, this young lady here was once my servant."
"O-oh...that's fucked up." Jonathan said, rubbing his neck in embarrassment and confusion.
"Not to worry young man, I understand you may be confused, so I'll introduce myself. My name is Kirumi Tojo, and I happen to be the Ultimate Maid. My talent revolves around attending to the needs of my masters. Miss LeGume was once my Mistress, but after my work was done, I was dismissed and left Buckinghamshire for a new place of work."
"Ultimate Maid huh? So you actually like cleaning after others? And taking care of whatever needs they want?" Jonathan asked.
"Indeed, I shall accept any and all requests in order to make my masters feel at ease. There are things people do not enjoy to do, and I will gladly do them."
"She can cook, she can clean, she can handle your groceries. If you need someone to wash your hair, she's there for you. Despite being our age, Kirumi was one of my closest friends, and one of the people that helped me out at Daddy's factory." Veruca replied, earning a nod from Jonathan, who gave Kirumi a small smile.
"Well...seems like you are the perfect woman to have around in a sticky spot. Say...do you remember how you got here? It's weird but...me and Veruca here woke up inside some lockers. Neither of us remember getting to the academy." Jonathan said, causing the woman to frown. She placed a hand on her chin, eyes narrowed in thought.
"I do recall being called to Hope's Peak Academy. Class 79A transferred to Morning Hope Academy to spend a semester here. We were taken to a program before orientation, where we all refined our English. We all worked separately, but I had knowledge of a few students of my class. However I cannot recall ever getting here." the maid said, earning a frown from the top.
"Damn...we were hoping you knew something. Regardless, Kirumi orientation starts soon. Would you mind heading to the gymnasium for now? I'm sure your calm demeanor will help the others. Maybe you could prepare tea for all of them." Veruca said, earning a nod from the woman.
"Yes, that sounds like a fine idea...do either of you want anything? Tea perhaps?"
"Chrysanthemum tea please." Jonathan and Veruca said in unison. The two of them shared a look, with Jonathan giving the girl a sheepish smile.
"It helps with my vocal chords...gotta keep them in top shape for when I sing...hehe." he said.
"I see you've found someone you share something with Miss LeGume. Perhaps you'll get many more friends in the future."
"I didn't come here to squander my time making friends Kirumi. Go on, before orientation starts, two lumps of sugar will suffice." Veruca said, brushing the woman away. She gave the two a bow turning to leave, pausing after a few steps.
"It was nice meeting you, Master Jonathan. I look forward to getting to know you, good seeing you again, Miss LeGume."
"Call me Veruca, you aren't my maid anymore." the brunette said.
"Of course, whatever you wish Veruca." Kirumi said, heading toward the cafeteria instead of the gym.
"She seems nice...must be hard dealing with everyone's things all the time though."
"Trust me Jonathan...Kirumi is the best of the best. It was thanks to her that I was able to perfect my software. Without her, my daddy's company wouldn't be where it is now." she replied. She sighed, reaching for her parka, shrugging it off her small frame. She folded it, holding it out to Jonathan who just looked at it awkwardly.
"What?"
"Hold this for me. You are a gentlemen right? Or would you rather I crack your nuts?" she asked, giving him a firm look.
He shuddered a bit, taking the parka from her hands. He draped it over his arm, trying his hardest not to look at her. The dress she was wearing was sleeveless with a low cut collar, which showed quite a lot of her cleavage. He looked away, spotting another teenager not far from where they were.
"Let's go over there, talk to that guy right there." he said. The girl nodded, remaining silent as they walked. The boy frowned a bit, not knowing exactly what he was going to say to the man.
He was standing all and firm next to the George Washington statue. He was wearing an army uniform. It was a dark pea green color, and was firmly pressed and free of wrinkles. He had various medals pinned to his left breast, all of them glimmering brightly in the light. He was wearing a pair of dark green pants, and polished boots. He had no visible hair, the hat he wore atop his head was a Green Beret, which had the crest of the United States Marine Corps on it. Jonathan and Veruca came to a stop before him, the young man saying nothing.
"Uh...hello there, I hope we aren't bothering you. We would like to ask you a couple of questions. Uh...do you remember how you got here?" Jonathan asked curiously. The man remained silent, staring into the distance, unblinking.
"Uh...sir?"
Again...he remained silent, not moving at all. Veruca rose her hand before his face, snapping her fingers a few times. He didn't even stir. The Ultimate Songwriter shared a look with the Ultimate Nut Specialist, who just shrugged not knowing what to say. A small smile worked its way onto her glossy lips, already thinking about something.
"Oi prick, are ya just gonna stand there looking at the distance? I thought the Marines recruited humans not statues."
"Uh...Veruca, maybe you shouldn't."
"The United States Marine Corps recruits low lives and turns them into killers. Young ma'am if you do not wish to receive a verbal lashing, I recommend you take your leave. That is an order do you understand?" the man said firmly, his eyes shifting to meet Veruca's.
"Excuse me, but I am not a cadet in your beloved corps. I just want an answer to our query, is that so hard to understand?"
"Cadet I gave you an order and you will obey my command. The next time you speak, I better hear the word Sir leave that glossy red pie hole of yours. Is that understood Cadet?" he shouted angrily.
"Whoa man...I get that you are a soldier but you better not fucking yell at her like that, okay?" Jonathan said, getting a bit defensive. The man pulled his fist back, thrusting it into Jonathan's chest, knocking the wind out of his lungs. The man looked down at him, a look of anger on his face.
"You little scumbag! I got your name, I got your ass! You best not believe you'll be getting away from me Shit Stain. I do not discriminate against Cocksuckers and Whores. And from where I'm standing, that little bitch is going to get more than ten inches from me."
"Oh you did not just call me a whore!" Veruca shouted, Jonathan stood up, grabbing a hold of her wrist.
"Let's go...fuck this guy." he spat, pulling the girl away, still clutching his chest.
"Grr...just you wait asshole, you'll get yours!" the girl shouted, shaking her fist at the soldier who went back to standing at attention. Jonathan rubbed his stomach a bit, concentrating on his breathing.
"Ugh...that bastard hits hard...who the hell does he think he is? This isn't the army."
"He looked like a Drill Sargent to me...I took a gander at the forums before I left home. There was talk of an Ultimate Drill Sargent, along with an Ultimate General. He might be one of them." Veruca said, earning a sigh from the boy.
"Well...this is gonna be a fun year." he said, straightening up a bit. He placed a hand on top of Veruca's parka, feeling something inside. He reached into the pocket, taking the girl by surprise.
"What the hell are you doing? Trying to steal money from me?"
"No...did you have anything in here?"
"No...my wallet is in my purse...which I am lacking at the moment." she said. He pulled out a white device from inside the parka, holding it outward. It looked almost like a phone to him, but had the emblem of Morning Hope Academy on the back of it. He looked it over for a second, pressing the side button until it turned on.
"Is that a cellphone?"
"I don't think so...I think this is some sort of ID. Look it has your name on it." he said, showing the screen to the girl.
"Hmm...so it does." she said, frowning when she saw her full name. He looked at it, eyes widening a bit.
"Veruca Almendra Dewitt Bukator LeGume? Gee girl, how many times have you been adopted?" he joked, earning an elbow to the side from the girl.
"You bloody idiot! I'm not adopted! If you must know, LeGume is my father's name. Dewitt Bukator is my mother's name. She comes from some fancy high class rich folks."
"Hmm...the name Dewitt Bukator rings a bell though...I feel like I've heard it before." he said, earning a frown from the brunette.
"My great grandmother was a passenger on the Titanic. The name was listed on a registry for her missing daughter, my grandmother. My mother didn't get along well with my grandmother, and took off somewhere else. She ended up marrying my daddy and I popped out shortly after." Veruca explained earning a surprised look from the boy.
"Wow...a descendant of a Titanic survivor...that's pretty cool."
"Not really...Great Grandmother told me her story before she passed away. It honestly sounded like a dreadful experience. We should focus more on this device and what secrets it holds for us." she said, taking the Student ID from the boy. He started checking his own pocket, slipping his hand into his back pocket, pulling out a similar device.
"Whoa, I got one too...lets see...oh there's a map of the school." he said, once the ID had booted up.
"Hmm...the map of the first floor is the only one that's accessible. The Weight Room has been darkened out though. Now that I look over there, the doors look chained shut." Veruca said, glancing at the nearby building. Jonathan glanced up from his ID, noticing the same chains.
"They probably chained those doors because they're remodeling. It make sense...that or someone was killed in there." he said jokingly. Veruca turned to face him, giving him a firm glare.
"Do not even joke about that. Dear me Jon, you truly are a ruffian aren't you?"
"Oh hush up, it was just a joke. Better to find someone dead in the Weight Room than floating in the fountain." he said. He clicked the profile tab on his ID, seeing his own student profile, along with his picture.
"What the hell...my hair is half white in this picture." he said. Veruca glanced over his shoulder, looking at the picture on file. She looked back at the young man, a frown on her face.
"Seems to me like you don't remember dying your hair. It would fit in with everything that's going on here. Let us not focus on this for now, how about we go speak to those two people there?" she said, pointing toward a blonde girl, who was chatting with a boy wearing a baseball cap.
"Yeah...after last time, I think I'll just let you take the lead." he said, pocketing his ID, tugging on his bag straps. He really didn't want to get punched in the gut again.
Veruca kept a firm look on her face, walking toward the two teenagers. She wasn't at all frightened by them or their situation. Jonathan was thinking about everything that had happened. So he was wary about everyone around him. Especially after that guy socked him in the gut, he didn't want to get hurt again. He had to admit it, Veruca was firm and confident in herself, it was most likely what lead her to become the general manager of her family's company. She glanced over to him, a frown on her face.
"What's with the silence?"
"Huh? Oh I'm just thinking about...well how confident you are. After taking a punch to the stomach, I've grown a bit...well not trusting of our peers." he said.
"Heh...you're taken with my natural charm and charisma? I see. That is quite splendid, I do have that effect on people. Though it isn't natural confidence, trust me I am wary as well. But I would rather hurry up and get through this than stand around doing nothing."
"I suppose."
"Don't be a wuss Jonny, come on. The faster we do this, the better." she snapped, pushing him forward. He didn't say anything, deciding to just heed her words.
"Are you sure you're okay Shuichi? Waking up inside a locker can't be that fun."
"It's fine Kaede...I'm more concerned about what's going on. I find it odd that Hope's Peak Academy would send us to this place."
"Excuse us...hope we aren't a bother." Jonathan said, grabbing their attention. The blonde girl shook her head, giving him a small smile.
"You aren't a bother at all. Let me guess, can't remember how you got here?"
"Yes, I take it you are the same then?" Veruca asked, earning nods from the two.
Jonathan looked closely at the two students, vaguely recognizing the girl. She had short neck length blonde hair, her bangs being held in place by pink musical pins. She had a thin ahoge coming from the top of her hair, a common trait among some of the students, he mused. She was wearing a long sleeved sweater vest, pink in color, emblazoned with the emblem of Hope's Peak Academy on the left breast. She wore a matching pleated pink skirt, with musical staves and notes printed on it. Short white socks and pink Mary-Jane shoes adorned her feet.
The young man was dressed drastically different, wearing all black. He wore a plain white shirt, with a long sleeved black blazer over it. He was wearing a pair of black pin stripe slacks and knee high leather boots. He had pale colored skin, light colored eyes and a fairly emotionless look on his face. He was wearing a baseball cap on his head, his hair being short and black in color.
"Hmm...I don't recognize the boy but...I do recognize her. I think she's that girl that played for the Kin of Novoselic not that long ago. Veruca seems to be handling herself fine." Jonathan thought, having remained silent as Veruca introduced herself.
"Yes, you may just refer to me as Veruca. Anything else and I'm afraid I'll be using your skull as nut cracker. Mr. Silent here is known as the Ultimate Songwriter, if you were curious." she said, glancing to her left. Jonathan cleared his throat, a flush on his cheeks.
"Sorry...yeah, my name is Jonathan Hyles, the Ultimate Songwriter. It's nice to meet you...Akamatsu right?" he asked, earning a nod from the girl.
"Yup, that's me...though you can call me Kaede...we are in America after all. This is Shuichi Saihara, the Ultimate Detective...say hi."
"Um hello...nice to meet you." the boy said shyly.
"Ultimate Detective? So, are you like Sherlock Holmes then?" Veruca asked curiously.
"Far from it. I just happened to solve a case and people believed in my findings. It was nothing really...just mere happenstance. I don't have the proper credentials to call myself a Detective. Not like the Kirigiri Family at least." he replied.
"Shuichi you shouldn't say that...I'm sure you are a fine detective. Perhaps you can start working on the mystery ahead of us. You know...how we all got to his place? I mean sleeping in a locker isn't fun." Jonathan said jokingly.
"A locker? Huh...what are the odds? We woke up in lockers too...on the first floor?" Kaede asked.
"Yes...we awoke not that long ago, fifteen minutes or so. How long have you two been our here?" Veruca asked, a look of confusion on her face.
"Half an hour. When we awoke, it was still dark...however we found out that we aren't exactly in an open air facility. The skies above us are a fabrication." Shuichi said firmly.
"It's a dome isn't it?"
"That's right...the skies were dark and dotted with stars, but after a little while, they turned blue. That light bulb at the very center turned on, and it's been like this ever since. It's as if it's simulating sunlight." Kaede said.
"Bloody hell, that just cannot be. I refuse to believe we are trapped under a glass dome in this school."
"Keep calm Ruca...I'm sure the Dean will explain this to us soon enough. He can't keep us here against our will, we have rights under the Constitution of the United States. Not even those blast proof doors will keep us inside." Jonathan said, placing a hand on her shoulder. She slapped it off, giving him a glare.
"Do not call me Ruca!"
"Anyway...Jonathan, you write more than just lyrics right? Perhaps we can get to know each other better. I would love to write a song with you." Kaede said cheerfully, earning a nod from the black haired boy.
"Sure...provided we find a way out of here. Anyway, orientation is starting soon. Would you mind heading to the gym? It's where we're sending everyone." he said.
"Of course, it was nice meeting you two. I hope we can become friends." Shuichi said, giving the two a bow. Kaede rolled her eyes at how stiff he was being, giving the pair a wave as they started toward the gymnasium.
"You know what I find odd...the fact that transfer students are in our school." Veruca said, turning to face Jonathan, who's brows furrowed a bit.
"Aren't you a transfer student?" he asked curiously.
"Of course, but I came from a private high school in London. Kaede and Shuichi are transfer students from Hope's Peak Academy. Why would they send them here?" she asked, earning a frown from the boy.
"She does make a point. Hope's Peak Academy is world renown. Their students are the best of the best. Morning Hope Academy is a charter school on the Hope's Peak Academy program. I doubt they'd send 16 students here just cause."
"Have you arrived at an answer? Or are you gonna stand there gawking into the distance?"
"Eh...sorry. I was just...thinking about what you said." Jonathan said, earning a sigh from the girl, who brushed her hair behind her shoulder. She fanned herself a bit, glancing up at the sky.
"Those posh buffle brain bastards, blue blooded twats. They'll be hell to pay for making Veruca LeGume spend her day trapped under an incubator. Come along, let us make haste toward the next student."
Jon was trying his hardest not to laugh. Veruca had an interesting manner of speech, not just her accent. She seemed to carry herself well, displaying a bit of arrogance. Yet she wasn't consumed entirely by it. He was impressed with her, being so young and mature. He decided to stay silent, reaching for his Student ID, just as they reached the stage.
There was a young man on the stage, who was currently in the middle of a dance routine. He looked to be a bit shorter than Jonathan, most likely about five feet, seven inches or so, with dyed platinum blond hair atop his head. He had bangs over his eyes, currently moving around wildly as he continued doing various movements on the stage. He was wearing a short sleeved button down shirt with multicolored stars on it. Around his neck he was wearing a Neon Stars scarf, which was bright orange in color, and had neon stars in various colors, red, blue, green and black to name a few. He was wearing a pair of Grey INCERUN Men Harem Pants Baggy Slacks, along with some Redon Move Men's Shoes that are white and shadow dark black with a blue ribbon with some orange long socks. He had fair colored skin, free of blemishes and scars, though he did notice some tattoos on his forearms, more stars in various colors. The man did a backflip, before dropping into a wind mill, spinning wildly around the stage.
There were two other students in front of him, both of them seemingly enthralled with the man's dancing. The first was a violet haired young man, with fair colored skin, who had a small smile on his face. He was wearing a white, button down shirt, tucked into lavender colored slacks and matching shoes. He wore a long violet coat over his upper body, though only his left arm was through the sleeve, the right one hanging down from his side.
The last person looking at the stage was a pale skinned girl, with long strawberry blonde hair falling down to her waist. She was wearing a long sleeved pink blazer over a low cut shirt, showing off quite a lot of her cleavage. She wore a pleated pink skirt, and white pinstripe stockings, along with some black belts on her thighs. She donned a pair of leather boots on her legs, reaching up to the knees.
"This guy's pretty tight eh?" the violet haired young man asked, turning to the blonde who just looked at him.
"Hell yeah he's tight, just like my ass. And I'm not gonna give it to the likes of you fuckhead." she snapped, earning a chuckle from the boy who just rubbed his neck.
"Damn...this guy has some sick moves. With the right song he might actually have a solid routine." Jonathan said, startling the girl.
"Jesus fucking Christ! Don't just walk up behind me like that you rapist!"
"Excuse me? Who the fuck are you calling a racist you bimbo?" the black haired boy snapped back, causing the girl to shy back, looking rather nervous.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean it."
"That was a shift in character." Veruca mumbled, unimpressed with the girl.
"She tends to grow on ya. It's nice to see new faces though, the name is Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars! Pleasure to meet ya!" the violet haired boy said, holding his hand out. Jonathan gave it a shake, a smile on his face.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too Kaito, my name's Jonathan Hyles. Call me Jon for short. You are a total legend in the US, you were all over the news a couple weeks back too."
"Oh? I've never heard of him, mind filling me in?" Veruca asked curiously. Though Kaito looked a bit hurt, he decided to ignore it, adopting a grin.
"I happen to be the Ultimate Astronaut. I came to the United States to learn from the best of the best. I'm actually the youngest person alive to take the training and become an astronaut too. My dream is to fly into space! I was in Cape Canaveral when I was scouted for Hope's Peak Academy. Before I could even fly there though, they instead told me to go to Morning Hope, and here I am." he said happily.
"Hmm...ah now I remember you. They call you Rocket Boy on Snapchat, I recall seeing a video of you training in the world's deepest pool."
"Ugh...please don't call me Rocket Boy...it's so embarrassing."
"Ahahahaha! I finally got something to use on you, Rocket Boy! Ha!"
"So, who are you supposed to be?" Jonathan asked, his gaze shifting to the loud mouthed young lady.
"I feel almost insulted that you are asking me of all people that. I'm the gorgeous girl genius, whose good looks and golden brain will go down in history! I'm the one, the only, the legendary Ultimate Fuckin' Inventor, Miu Iruma!" she said, jabbing a thumb at herself.
"I've heard of you...you are a foul mouthed crude trollop who loves making sexual innuendos at any given moment."
"Trollop?" Miu muttered, shuddering a bit from the insult. Veruca sighed, shifting her gaze elsewhere, crossing her arms over her chest.
"However, it was thanks to you that I was able to create my Nut Tapping Hearing Devices. I never once met you, but I did see the name Iruma stamped onto the bottom of the boxes. So I do thank you for your work."
"Heh...no problem Nut Princess. Though that stuff is all yours, I signed the patents over to your dad, gave me a hefty amount of money too."
"So wait...she's the one that made those fancy hearing aids for your workers?" Jonathan asked curiously, earning a nod from Veruca.
"My father put me in contact with some genius inventor in Japan. I sent her an email with some specifications and she sent the prototypes to me. I would send her what she needed to fix and would always deliver on time. I was insulted when you declined my offer to join us though."
"Eh...I consider that stuff a failure for me. I mean it was cool that it worked for you and all, but this girl genius only shows up for the big stuff!" Miu said, an arrogant smirk on her face.
"The big stuff? Like what exactly?" Kaito asked curiously.
"How about a gun that teleports underwear off your body? Like what if you are having a rough night. You're all sweaty and shit, and wanted to take off your undies? Well the Goin' Commando Gun will solve that. Or you can use it to steal your girls panties, give them a good sniff afterwards."
"Why the bloomin' hell would anyone want that?" Veruca cried, earning a grin from the Inventor.
"Because sweetie, sometimes you wanna have a quickie. It's way better to teleport your undies off then pull them down. Kills the mood."
"Well...I think Ruca was right when she said you were crude and vulgar." Jonathan said.
"Well, when you're Miu Fuckin' Iruma, you can get away with sayin' all kinds of awful shit! Hoo-yeah! Cuz I fuckin rule!"
"Whatever, mind doing us a favor and fuckin' off to the gym? That's where we're sending all of you." Veruca snapped, an angry look on her face.
"Whoa...what's eating you all of a sudden?" Kaito asked.
"I hate being called Ruca, and this asshole keeps calling me that!"
"Sorry, I didn't think it bothered you so damn much, sheesh. I'm gonna talk to the dancer. You can go ahead and cool off." Jonathan said, earning a growl from the Nut Specialist, who just looked away from him, holding her nose up high.
Jonathan shrugged it off, walking up the stairs onto the stage. The man who had been dancing on it had ended his routine, and was taking a drink from a water bottle. He was panting a bit, wiping his brow with a towel, checking on his wrist watch. He looked up from it, flashing the monochrome boy a smile.
"Hello there, did you like my routine?" he asked politely, earning a nod from Jonathan.
"I did, you got some sick moves. Paired up with the right music, it would have been badass. But I take it you had the music playing in your head right?"
"Yes, that's pretty much it actually. You're Jonathan Hyles correct? The incoming Ultimate Songwriter."
"Huh? Oh yeah I am...how do you know my name?" Jon asked, sounding a bit surprised. The man chuckled, glancing back at the academy building.
"That's because my colleague allowed me to read your profiles. Her name is Alice, though you should know her as Miss Caroll."
"Oh...that crazy blonde from before. You know I was in the middle of writing an important song when she dragged me out of my school? I mean she payed for my food, but still. It's embarrassing to be pulled out of your classroom by a woman you've never met. Especially one who looks like freaking Alice from Alice in Wonderland." the boy said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Ahaha...yes, Alice certainly marches to the beat of her own drum. Get her talking about filing documents and she'll talk your ear off. Though I must admit, she has managed to make our work here in the academy flow smoothly. Especially for the Administration."
"Our work? Wait are you a teacher here?"
"Indeed I am. My name is Dan Arche, Former-Ultimate Dancer, and current Dance Instructor for Morning Hope Academy. I also teach Physical Education here." he said, holding his hand out. Jonathan gave it a firm shake.
"It's nice to meet you then, Mr. Arche. I do hope you go easy on me...I don't exercise often." he said, earning a chuckle from the man.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to force you into anything. Though physical education is good for youngsters like you. It keeps you healthy. Of course you could always take dance classes, I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Have you thought about what you wanna do in life?" Dan asked curiously, causing Jonathan to frown.
"Not really...I mean I am the Ultimate Songwriter. I figure I could just write songs for the rest of my life. My mom inadvertently shot me to stardom with my StarShine album. I dunno...I don't think I'm cut out for fame." Jonathan said, rubbing his arm nervously. He grabbed a hold of his bag straps, something he did when he was nervous.
"And why not? You know I was around your age when I started dancing on YouTube. Of course that ended up going sour on me. But I have heard some of your songs and they're amazing. Especially the ones you wrote with Fall Out Boy. Someone like you, who's a true fan gave them the best of the best, and look at how that album turned out."
"Hehe...yeah...I hate to admit it, but they're my favorite band. I'm actually working on their new album. I was recording song number seven on the new album. Patrick had me pick a word out of a hat and I wrote a song with that word. Sadly you'll have to wait until he sings it in order to hear it." the boy said, giving the man a wink.
"Ah...well then I look forward to listening to whatever you are cooking up in your head, Mr. Hyles. Anyway, we have a few minutes before orientation. I do recommend you head to the gym soon. I shall be reconvening with the students there."
"Yeah...I'm in the middle of introducing myself to everyone. Makes it easier you know? I look forward to getting to know you, Mr. Arche."
"Likewise Mr. Hyles. I'll see you later." the man said, giving the boy a wave as he walked off the stage. He followed Kaito and Miu, who were also heading to the Gymnasium.
Jonathan jumped off the stage, brushing his hands over his pant legs as he walked over to Veruca. She was looking at her Student ID, lips pursed as her silver blue eyes scanned the screen. She glanced up briefly, turning to fully face the boy, a look of concern on her face.
"I was taking a look at my ID, it looks like it updates whenever we meet someone. Look, the names and profiles of everyone we have talked too have appeared on it, in its own category." she said, showing him the screen. He reached into his pocket, swiping his finger across the screen, hitting the same tab she had shown him.
"Kirumi Tojo, Kaede Akamatsu, Shuichi Saihara, Kaito Momota, Miu Iruma, Dan Arche. That's six people, seven if you count that asshole that hit me. Then there's yours too, so I've met eight people...yours is in a separate slot though." he said, swiping the page.
"That's right...it seems we have been separated into different classes. Aside from you, I only have Mei-Ling and Calem's profiles on mine. That's mighty peculiar is it not?" Veruca asked, earning a nod from Jon, who brushed some hair out of his eyes.
"It is...I know there are supposed to be 16 students in Class 24, but I'm not exactly sure how many people there are in total."
"That is a worrying thought...before we continue, I'd like to apologize for my behavior. I am a little stressed at the moment. I usually call my daddy every morning whenever I'm away from home. He usually manages to cheer me up in the morning. With my phone gone, I can't exactly call or even text him." the Ultimate Nut Specialist said, a worried look on her face.
"Hey, everything will be just fine Ruca! Once orientation is over, I'll find my phone and you can call him. I'm sure he's looking forward to finding out how many awesome friends you've been making!" he said cheerfully, a smile on his face.
"I'm certain he will be overjoyed. Now stop calling me Ruca dammit!" she screamed, causing the boy to back away.
"Sorry Veruca, I didn't mean too!"
"Whatever...let us be off, there are a few gentlemen over there. Also try not to crease my parka. That's real mink fur you know, quite an expensive little bloke too." she said, giving him a firm look. He sighed, trying his hardest not to ruin the girl's parka.
Jon didn't know what to think about the tall young man standing before the brick building. He at first thought he was another soldier, though upon closer inspection, he was wearing something that looked nothing like a military uniform. He was wearing a long sleeved, pea green button down jacket. It had large round buttons, with small silver chains attached to the spiked shoulder straps. He was wearing a pair of matching slacks, stuffed into dark black boots. His hands were wrapped in bandages, his long black hair falling down his back, being covered by a green cap. Jon also noticed he was wearing a black mask over his face, with a glimmering zipper hanging from the side.
The other young man looked drastically different, wearing a long sleeved, striped blue shirt. He was also wearing a pair of blue jeans and regular sneakers. He had pale colored skin, along with bright colored green hair. Both were lost in conversation about something, though the long haired man paused the moment he saw Veruca and Jonathan approaching them. If he was smiling, Jon couldn't tell. He found the mask he was wearing to be quite eerie.
"I don't know why man...but I get awful vibes from that dude. Almost like he's going to sacrifice me to some god...the other kid looks normal though. Probably an Ultimate Lucky Student or something of the sort...might as well greet them."
"Good day...this is the entrance to the dormitory building, is not?" Veruca asked, earning a nod from the green haired boy.
"It is...however the doors are firmly locked. I remember waking up inside, but as soon as I walked out, I couldn't walk back in. It's a self locking push door. So it only opens from the inside."
"Kekeke...quite curious don't you agree? Us waking up here, no recollection of how we got here? The academy's windows sealed up with iron, a large dome overhead. We've been thrown into quite an interesting predicament." the mask wearing man said, his laugh making Jonathan shudder a bit.
"Might I inquire your name?"
"Of course Miss...my name is Korekiyo Shinguji, and I happen to be the Ultimate Anthropologist. Now, would you mind sharing your names with me?"
"Uh...sure, the name is Jonathan Hyles...I'm the Ultimate Songwriter, nice to meet ya, I guess." he said.
"Veruca LeGume, Ultimate Nut Specialist. What about you, you got a name?"
"Hmm? My apologies, I was miles away. I'll assume you asked me my name. It's Rantaro Amami, I'm the Ultimate Adventurer." he said, giving the two a wave. Jon's brows furrowed a bit in confusion.
"Ultimate...Adventurer? That's a talent?"
"Yup...though young, I've been on adventures all over the world. I was the youngest person alive to reach the top of Mount Everest. Not only that, my own adventures had lead me to discovering various lost places in the world."
"You must feel really special about yourself huh?"
"Veruca!" Jon snapped. Rantaro shrugged it off, a look of amusement on his face.
"I see you are a hard woman to please Miss LeGume...it's alright. I brought something that is specifically for you. Consider it a gift from a rather remote region of the world." he said, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief. Veruca took a hold of it, unfolding it to find a single nut resting inside. It was a small round nut, with no discerning features. Its shell was rather smooth, a dark almost pea green in color. She held it up, looking at it with a careful eye.
"Aleurites moluccanus, derived from the Euphoribiaceae, known commonly as the Kukui Tree. It is a nut of Indian decent, used mostly in India and the Philippines, low levels of toxicity when eaten raw. Mostly used in traditional dishes, and used in various sauces. Ranked 10thin the list of culinary nuts in the world. I say, you've brought me a magnificent specimen. My opinion of you has greatly changed." Veruca said, giving the boy a smile.
"Hehe...thought I would give the Nut Princess of Buckinghamshire a nut fit to be a crown jewel. I was trying to find the rare Dragon Nut, found in the northern parts of Eastern Asia, but I managed to find this one during my recent trip to India. I knew my class was going to come to Morning Hope Academy, and the forum talked about you. Figured I would bring you a souvenir."
"Wow...the kid knows how to flirt with girls." Jonathan said, earning a silent nod from Korekiyo, who was watching the exchange intently.
"This interaction is quite interesting. Bearing witness to how society interacts is quite fulfilling."
"Uh...okay then."
"My apologies, I haven't explained my talent. Anthropology is the study if various forms of culture. From folklore to urban legends, the aim of my talent is to find out about our modern society. Even something as meaningless as a birthday is celebrated in different ways around the world. People do things differently all around the world. I wish to study everything there is to know about our world. Even something as simple as a New Year's Day is done differently."
"That is true...I mean, the United States celebrates New Years Day on January 1st. But China celebrates it on another date. You know, I think you'll get along with one of my classmates. Her name is Mei-Ling, she's the Ultimate Folklore Researcher, I'm certain you two will have quite a lot to talk about." Jonathan said.
"Folklore Researcher you say? Where may I find this young woman? I wish to see her with my own eyes." he said.
"Uh...in the gym most likely. Well, she's actually looking inside the school for other people at the moment. Perhaps you should talk to her after Orientation."
"Yes...a fine idea, it was nice meeting you Jonathan, I look forward to getting to know you." Korekiyo said, taking his leave.
"I should get going too, I have more stories about my adventures. If you'd like we could exchange stories back and forth." Rantaro said, earning a nod from Veruca.
"Sure...especially if it involves foreign specimens like this one." she replied. The boy wave the two a wave, following after Korekiyo toward the gym.
"Ahem...so, you and Rantaro?"
"What are you insinuating?"
"Nothing, you're just so far up on his nuts, I should call you Bond, Gold Bond." he said, giving her a wink.
"Fuck off with you, you fuckin' Yankee dankee doodle shite, fuck you!" she exclaimed angrily.
"I'm just messing with you Veruca, sheesh...would it kill you to smile a bit?" he asked. She tilted her head slightly, giving him a toothy grin, the boy shuddering.
"Jesus Christ, she looks fucking evil."
"Let us go, my enjoyment of this Candlenut has been destroyed by you. You are so insufferable." the girl snapped, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she walked. Jonathan rolled his eyes, following after her toward a pair of girls that were standing near another path, that lead behind the Dormitory Building.
The first girl looked like someone out of an RPG. She was a rather short girl, being around Mei-Ling's height, though the hat definitely added to her size. She had glimmering red hair, neatly cut at the base of her neck, falling straight. She was wearing a dark gray blouse, underneath a brown sweater vest. She was wearing a red pleated bubble skirt, dark brown tights and medieval boots, along with white ribbons tied around her angles. She wore a black blazer around her shoulders, which had dark gray accents on it. Atop her head was a black witch hat. She had dark reddish brown eyes, that were half lidded, leading him to believe she was tired. Though he could be wrong about that.
Towering over her was another girl, who seemed to be fascinated by the shorter girl, who seemed rather tired. She was almost Jonathan's height, being an inch or two shorter than he was. She had fair colored skin and warm green eyes, her long dark brown hair being put into two long lose braids, died by white ribbons. She sported a green pinwheel shaped bow with a floral pattern on her head. A violet diadem held her bangs in place, and was adorned with a white star. She was wearing a rather normal outfit, a double breasted blue sailor uniform, which he was familiar with from seeing in them anime. Hers was a bit low cut, acting more like a crop top due to how short it was. She wore a pleated blue skirt, and long white socks and sandals. Jonathan noticed all of the frills the uniform had, something that he found rather odd in such a simplistic looking outfit. He also noticed she was wearing a bright yellow choker, adorned with a silver bell.
"Oh great, both of these girls scream stereotype to me. One is probably delusional and believes magic is real. The other is probably obsessed with some martial art. I'm willing to bet she'll be the type to dislike men because her master told her some stupid shit as a kid. I better jot that one down for later."
"Nyeh...it's so hot out here. Why is the sun shining so brightly?" the small girl asked, looking rather bothered by the artificial sun.
"If you'd like, I could carry you inside, get you something cold to drink." the other girl said, looking sort of hopeful. She shook her head, tugging on her hat.
"I can just use magic to conjure up some ice. Or better yet, I can make it snow, that way the hot will go away." she explained, earning a nod from the taller girl.
"Sorry to bother you, but Orientation is starting soon. We've taken it upon ourselves to gather everyone up." Jonathan said, grabbing their attention. The taller girl frowned, giving him a sour look.
"You shouldn't have troubled yourself, leave it to a degenerate male to tell a pretty girl when something is."
"Well excuse us for being nice." Veruca said firmly.
"I've been called a lot of things in the past, degenerate is definitely a new one." Jonathan said, chuckling a bit as he rubbed his neck.
"It's okay...Tenko doesn't like men much. I promised her I would make a shield made of magic to protect her. But the blazing sun is making me weak."
"Magic?"
"You do know magic isn't real correct? It's all just a fabrication, mere parlor tricks."
"Hey Veruca, mind showing a bit of tact?" the monochrome boy said softly. The red haired girl looked a bit hurt, pouting her lips a bit as she looked away from Nut Specialist.
"Magic is real. My magic is just too powerful, so it's being hidden from the world." the girl replied, looking annoyed, though she still had that far off look on her face.
"Um...I uh...well, my name is Jonathan Hyles, I'm the Ultimate Songwriter. It's nice to meet the two of you." he said, holding his hand out to the small girl, who just gave him a half shake.
"I'm Himiko Yumeno, the Ultimate Mage." she replied softly.
"Ultimate Mage? Well I believe Hope's Peak Academy is losing its touch."
"Says the girl who's the Ultimate Nut Specialist." Jonathan mumbled sarcastically. He glanced at the taller girl, who had been looking him over with a scrutinizing gaze. He swallowed, shyly holding his hand out to her.
"It's nice to meet you too Miss." he said. She however viewed it as a threat, grabbing a hold of his arm. Before he even knew what was happening, Jonathan found himself on the floor, staring straight up at the sky.
"Ok...this bitch has royally pissed me off...even more than the drill Sargent. Well dad, time to do you proud." he thought. Though slightly stunned, Jonathan was able to get up, quickly, swiping the girl off her feet, slamming her to the ground, much to her surprise. Himiko and Veruca had backed away, not expecting to see that happen.
"My father is an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. From a young age he was teaching me self defense techniques. I know a bit of Jujitsu and Aikido, so just know I took it easy on you." he said firmly. He held his hand out, the girl looking at it tentatively, before grabbing a hold of it.
"I see...you aren't as much of a degenerate as I thought you were. That sweep was rather sloppy though."
"I'm a songwriter, not a martial artist. I only know a few disarming techniques. My dad is gone for weeks on end, and my mom works for the government, so I'm usually home alone. Sadly, I wasn't able to stop whoever it was that brought me to this academy. Hell I don't even remember how I got here."
"You too?" Himiko said softly.
"It seems to be a common trait among us all. From the gathered students, they all show signs of amnesia. I myself only recall boarding my flight at Boston before waking up in a locker here." Veruca said softly.
"Anyway, I really do hope we can get along miss. If you truly are bothered by my presence, I'll try my best to avoid you. Wouldn't want to step on any toes or anything." Jonathan said.
"Although my normal reaction is to throw degenerates across the room. I find myself intrigued by you. So I shall give you the pleasure of knowing my name. HYYAH! My name is Tenko Chabashira, and I am the Ultimate Neo-Aikido Master!"
"Neo-Aikido? That's the first I'm hearing of this." Veruca said. Jonathan hummed to himself, a pensive look on his face.
"I have heard of it before...it's a few practitioners from an Aikido Temple north of Tokyo Japan. Neo-Aikido is a form of martial arts that was developed by the Master of that temple. Aikido practitioners however claim that the Master of said temple doesn't know what he's doing, that he's just swinging his arms around without direction."
"I'm loathed to admit it, but there are other degenerates out there who speak ill of my master. I wanna find them all and show them a thing or two with my Neo-Aikido! HYAAH!" Tenko cried, throwing a punch before herself.
"Nyeh...My magic is also downtalked by people. I swear I can make real things with my magic."
"Oh...so you're like Chris Angel then? That dude is pretty cool, he's done some really amazing things with magic." Jonathan said.
"No...I can cast real magic. Look, I can make fire out of thin air!" she said, holding her hand out. She flicked a zippo lighter open, a small flame sparking to life.
"Oh my goodness! That is one hundred percent true magic! Can you fire beams out of your eyes too? Summon Bahamut and cast enchantments?"
"Veruca you're being an ass." Jonathan cried, glaring at the Nut Specialist.
"Nyeh...you'll see, one day you'll fear my magic power...I have to go now. I must recharge my mana."
"I'll walk you inside. I have to make sure you are protected by the other degenerate males in this school."
"Hey Tenko, I hope we can get along. I'd love to learn some Neo-Aikido if you are willing to teach me." the songwriter said, causing the girl to stop. She looked him over, eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hmm...I'll think about it." she said, before following after Himiko, or rather racing after her. The smaller girl was actually rather fast. Veruca sighed, placing a hand on her forehead.
"I must say, we are meeting some interesting characters today."
"I agree...thanks for doing nothing while my shit was rocked." the boy said, walking down the path that pointed him to Mirror Lake.
"Oh don't be such a ninny! You weren't even hurt...though I must admit, you showed great skill with that sweep."
"Like I said before...my dad taught me how to defend myself. Enough of that for now, let's see if anyone is by the lake. It's almost 9AM and I don't want to be late for Orientation." he said.
"Right...I wonder if Kirumi is done with our tea, I'd like to relax a bit after the morning I've had." the Nut Specialist said, earning a nod from the boy, who continued facing forward as he followed the path behind Mirror Lodge.
End of Prologue 5
Introduced Characters/OC's
Kirumi Tojo-Ultimate Maid
Ultimate Drill Sargent ?
Kaede Akamatsu-Ultimate Pianist
Shuichi Saihara-Ultimate Detective
Kaito Momota Luminary of the Stars-Ultimate Astronaut
Miu Iruma-Ultimate Inventor
Dan Arche-Former Ultimate Dancer (Current Dance Instructor and Physical Education Teacher for Morning Hope Academy)
Rantaro Amami-Ultimate Adventurer
Korekiyo Shinguji-Ultimate Anthropologist
Himiko Yumeno-Ultimate Magician (Mage)
Tenko Chabashira-Ultimate Neo-Aikido Master