The screen opens to reveal the baseball field of the Angen's Middle School.
"Yakkyu (Baseball), the great American pasttime! Too bad everything here is owned by someone else..." Kia's voice is heard and the screen shows a baseball.
"Now?" Aisha can be heard whispering.
"YES, NOW!" Kia yells.
"Our school baseball team lost to the Southtown team in the last match...um..." Aisha abruptly stops. Apparently, they are doing an editted retake of their last news attempt.
"Well, here's the news! Our team SUCKS!" Kia moves the baseball away from the screen to reveal Kia and Aisha in cheerleader uniforms and holding pom-poms.
"But we could still cheer them on to do better next time, right? That's why we are in these to—" Aisha slightly shakes her pom-poms.
"NO! WE ARE NOT!" Kia yells so loudly, it would feel that the earth has shaken, "We're here to cheer on our football team!"
"Huh?" Aisha gives a quizzical look.
"I've given up on our football team!" Kia places her hands on her hips and turns away.
"But that's not nice!" Aisha yells.
"Who cares?! They lost to muscleheads! Intellectual and political abilities should win every time!" Kia turns to the camera and yells.
"Kia-chan, we're reporters! We're suppose to be neutral!" Aisha tries to convince Kia.
"My ass!"
"Um..." Aisha moves closer to the camera, "I'm sorry. My partner is still mad about getting a 92 in pre-algebra."
"WHAT?!" Kia turns red instantly.
"She wanted to keep her average at around an A, but now—"
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS THAT?!" Kia runs behind Aisha, grabs her cheeks, and stretches them.
"WAA!!! PLEASE STOP!" Aisha manages to cry out.
"THIS WILL TEACH YOU TO EMBARRASS ME IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA!!!" Kia continues to out stretch her cheeks.
"W-W-W-" Aisha whimpers. Tears begin to form on her eyes.
"Uh...Kia, please stop! CUT! CUT IT OUT!" Mick yells off-screen.
"HELL NO!" Kia continues torturing Aisha.
"STOP IT!" Mick jumps on Kia and knocks her down. In the process, he also knocks the camera down. Now all that left to see is static.
"PERVERT! LET GO OF MY SKIRT!" Kia can be heard yelling. Following that, a sound of a slap is heard.
"OW!" Mick can be heard yelping.
"OW! Um...we're having a few...a lot of disfunctional difficulties right now! Please come back later!" Aisha can be heard saying.
After a few hours at the White Forest, Akira can be seen cheerfully carrying his packages and bags back to the clearing, where the Sky Noah happens to be.
"Itadakimasu! (I'm back!)" Akira cheerfully approaches the entrance of the Sky Noah.
"Harima-sama, we shall manage the rest," a bearded man greets Akira, then he and a group of men take Akira's packages and bags into the Sky Noah.
"Arigatou! (Thanks.)" Akira thanks and enters the Sky Noah.
"Harima-sama, Bernstein-sama is requesting your presence," a girl's voice from the PA announces.
"Uh…Which Bernstein-sama?"
"Bernstein Rose-sama, she is requesting your presence at the living area."
"Arigatou (Thanks)," Akira quickly turns right into another hallway but returns to his previous position and asks, "Which way is the living area?"
"Problems again, Akira-k— Harima-sama?" Megumi giggles from behind Akira.
"WAA!!!" Akira screams in response and turns to Megumi, "Must you do that all the time?!"
"…My apologies, Harima-sama," Megumi bows then walks to the direction Akira is. "I shall guide you to the living area. Please follow me."
"Uh, Megumi-chan…" Akira follows her. "Why does she insist on acting so…overly politely?"
Meanwhile, in Hinako's limousine, Hinako is casually relaxing. Kasumi is trying to get that past incident out of her mind. Malin is enjoying a taste of Hinako's rich-lifestyle.
"Kasumi-chan, are you still sulking about what happened at McDonald's?" Hinako asks.
"I think she is!" Malin comments as she lies on the very comfortable couch-like car seat.
"Uruse! (Shut up!)" Kasumi yells in response.
"Come on! You totally hated that guy! And for what reason?" Malin retorts.
"A person like that is not very trustworthy…" Kasumi replies.
"Harima-san seems very nice! Why can you not accept that?" Hinako asks.
"Because he has the look of a complete pervert!" Kasumi answers.
"As I said before, he looks more like the kind of person who would faint from shaking the hand of a girl…; or according to that experience, he would apologize for about five minutes…" Hinako considers.
"Kasumi, you hate every guy I hang out with, if he is around my age!" Malin pouts.
"It is only for your own protection! I see you as my little sister, and I do not want anything bad to happen to my younger siblings!" Kasumi retorts.
"Well, there is my mansion now," Hinako points towards a large golden gate that is normally in front of a famous abode, "Maybe I should have painted the gate white…"
"WOW!" Malin's eyes sparkle.
The gates open as if by magic, as the limo crosses through the gate. Soon, they reach a mansion that only millionaires (or better) could afford.
"THAT IS YOUR HOUSE!?!?!" Malin and Kasumi yell in unison and shock, as their faces are glued to the window.
Megumi and Akira enter the living area to see Rose, who is seated on a divinely decorated couch. On her lap, lies Prince, who is being petted by Rose.
"Yo…Rose-chan…" Akira bows to Rose.
"You may leave now," Rose orders Megumi, who complies. "Akira-san, welcome back. May I have my credit card back now?!" Rose yells angrily but somehow keeps her cool and calm composure.
"Oh, yeah," Akira complies as he searches his right pants pocket. "Are?" he begins to sense as if something were wrong, as he searches through all his pockets.
"…Akira-san…" Rose is apparently not amused by his antics.
"Hold on for a minute!" Akira responds.
"Akira-san…" Rose responds in an annoyed tone.
"Oh! I remember now!" Akira takes his wallet out and finds Rose's credit card inside.
"Please return it to me now!"
"Um…here?" Akira hands the credit card back to Rose.
"Thank you."
"Um…what did you want to see me about? And where is Nee-san?"
"Oh! Ayumi-nee-san is assisting the servants with cooking and preparing for the dinner."
"Oh…"
"Actually, Ayumi-nee-san asked me to ask you something."
"And that would be…"
"'Did you have fun on your shopping spree to buy items that we already had in the Sky Noah?'"
"WHAT?!"
"I said, 'Did you have—'"
"I heard the first time! So I spent my morning doing something pointless?"
"Unless you had fun."
"…Oh, I remember! I invited three people whom I just met today to the banquet. Is that alright with you?"
"Of course! We must make sure Onii-sama will be happy about his guests, though."
"How- how has he been?"
"Onii-sama…went to the study after you left. He has yet to leave the study."
"What could he possibly be doing there?"
"I know not. You know, you could help Ayumi-nee-san right now, or you could flirt with the maids!"
"HEY!"
"It is so fun to tease!"
"What kind of lady are you?!"
Inside Hinako's huge mansion, a maid can be seen guiding Malin and Kasumi to what Hinako called 'her closet.'
"Psst! Kasumi, why are we going to a closet?" Malin whispers to Kasumi.
"I don't know! Maybe it's because you had to open your big mouth and tell Hinako that you didn't have any formal wear!" Kasumi snaps back.
"Then, why are you coming with me?"
"Don't you remember? You went into a state of shock, which snapped out of very quickly. In replacement, you went into a state of admiration to all the expensive-looking things Hinako had on display in her mansion!"
"Oh, yeah…What does that have anything to do with your coming with me?"
"Hinako insisted that I go take a look and borrow a dress, if I liked one."
"Okay…A thought just popped up."
"What is it?"
"We should bring extra clothes with us…just in case we get Hinako's dresses dirty."
"Good idea! It would be very embarrassing to walk around with food stains on your dress!"
"Unless your dress matches the color of the food stain!"
"True!"
At one of the hallways, Akira can be seen stomping as he wanders through the airship. Apparently, he is embarrassed and angry from Rose's teasing about his gestures to the maids were attempts at flirting.
"Rose-chan, that was plain evil!" Akira screams in his head, actually angry for once.
"Something wrong, Akira— Harima-sama?" a voice from behind Akira asks.
"JII!!!" Akira jumps forward and turns around to see Megumi. "MUST YOU CONSTANTLY DO THAT?!?!"
"W-s-sorry, Harima-sama! It shall never happen again," Megumi bows to Akira as she apologizes.
In response, Akira realizes what he has done and apologizes himself, "N-no, I should be the one apologizing! That was rude and uncalled for!"
"It may not be in my place, but may I ask you something, Harima-sama?" Megumi tries to not make any eye contact as she asks.
"Yes?"
"Why do you treat us servants this way?"
"What way?"
"You are very polite to us. Servants are normally treated cruelly or at the very least ignored."
"You want me to ignore you?"
"No! I just want to know why you act that way."
"…May I ask you a question of my own first?"
"…Yes?"
"How does Adel-san treat his servants?"
"He treats them well but never sees us more than people under him."
"Are you so sure? Adel-san told me once that he treated his servants like friends."
"Huh?"
"Maybe, you were too focused on seeing Adel-san as a person you owe your life to, but he actually wants his servants to be well."
"So…why do you treat us like that?"
"I respect other living beings, women especially. I can get mad at people occasionally, but I have never had any hate or resentment towards anyone."
"Is…that…so?"
"Ee…"
Malin and Kasumi can be seen following one of Hinako's maids, until the maid asks them to stop and shows them a door.
"Where does this lead?" Malin asks.
"That room probably has that closet Hinako told us to go to," Kasumi assumes.
"Malin-sama, Todah-sama, please enter the room," the maid opens the door for them.
"I'm in!" Malin runs inside and stops due to being shocked beyond words.
"Malin, what's inside?" Kasumi follows Malin and is shocked as well.
The huge room was filled with almost all kinds of clothes of any occasion— Sunday dresses, formal wear, semi-formal wear, beach wear, and many others.
Malin and Kasumi are still stunned.
At what appears to be a conference room, Akira and Megumi are talking about mostly random things.
"So, what were you doing before you joined Bernstein-sama?" Megumi asks.
"Nothing, I guess," Akira answers, "I was mainly living with Nee-san and had no real ambition."
"I see."
"Whenever there is an anime convention or something of the sort, I usually attend them."
"Hmm…"
"I am an otaku, after all."
"I see."
"Enough about me…um…may I know more about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, I basically know only how you joined Adel-san, but I don't know anything else."
"Um…Is that an order?"
"Huh? No, why?"
"…Um…He's not ordering me?"
"So…"
"No…Sorry, Harima-sama…"
"Oh, well. Oh, sorry in advanced, but I'm gonna have to give you an order now."
"Yes?"
"I…order you to stop calling me 'Harima-sama.'"
"B-but what shall I call you?"
"Hm…'Harima-san,' 'Akira-san,' or 'Akira-kun.' Take your pick."
"…That is highly not recommended."
"I know, but calling me 'Harima-sama' is kind of embarrassing."
"…Harima-san…"
"Thank goodness! Now, it's not as embarrassing!"
In Hinako's "closet," Malin and Kasumi fervently dig through all the clothes to see which suits herself best for the banquet.
"I love this one!" Malin shows Kasumi a long elegant formal sea-blue dress. Just about the only things that it would show are the shoulders and most of one's back.
"You're planning to wear that?" Kasumi asks Malin, then shows her a long beautiful formal ivory dress, which would show most of one's shoulders and back.
"Wow!" Malin gawks at the dress, then tries to swipe it from Kasumi's hands, "Lemme try that!"
"Sorry, Malin! I have my eyes on this baby!"
"Hmph!" Malin pouts. "Uu. What about this one?" Malin shows Kasumi a plain black dress.
"I don't think that would suit you!"
"Really?" Malin looks at the dress, "I think it looks okay…"
"Malin, here!" Kasumi shows her a long lovely flowing-like-the-wind pink dress that would show only the shoulders and upper back.
"I'll take it if there's one in a different color!"
"I'll look for one," Kasumi proceeds to check for one.
"Hm…" Malin looks around and spies a long pink breathtakingly beautiful formal purple dress, which would show one's shoulders and most of one's back and has a long slit for easy movement and more beauty.
"Malin, I can't seem to find one…" Kasumi informs Malin, then turns to Malin and shows her a lovely tan Sunday dress, "but I found this! I should ask Hinako if I could borrow this!"
"I found something!" Malin yells to Kasumi.
"What is it?"
"That!" Malin points to the purple dress.
"Beautiful!" Kasumi is somewhat hypnotized.
"Kasumi, I'll try it on!" Malin proceeds to take her blouse off.
"Uh…Huh? Fine you try it on! Hm…I should try this on!" Kasumi does the same.
Walking through another hallway, Akira and Megumi continue their conversation.
"So, that's how I got this scar on my hand," Akira shows Megumi the back of his right hand.
"It's amazing how playing with scissors would produce a slice that big!" Megumi responds.
"Well, just about anything is possible!"
"I guess so…"
"I'm really glad that I can talk to a girl almost 'normally' now! This morning, with Malin-chan, was almost a complete failure. However, I am glad that she encouraged me with that note she left me…Oh! I mustn't forget that I have to pick them up soon…Huh?" Akira thinks then notices a child running towards them.
"Eh? Megumi-san, what are you doing with Harima-sama again?!" the child, who seems to be another maid and has short blonde hair and wide blue eyes, asks Megumi.
"Sara-chan," Megumi replies, "I am just helping Harima-san, um…'kill time.'"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were flirting with him!" Sara teases.
"Sara-chan!" Megumi un-amusedly glares at her.
"Besides, I know that you have a crush on him!" Sara laughs.
"I do not have a crush on him…" Megumi's tone negates the truth of what Sara said.
"Well, he—"
"Excuse me, Megumi-san, etto…Sara-chan, right?" Akira interrupts.
"Hai!" Sara raises her hands.
"Why are you two referring to me in the third person? I'm standing right here," Akira explains.
"Sowwy, Harima-sama!" Sara giggles.
"Ee…" Akira scratches his head. "Anyway, do you want to join our conversation?"
"Yay! I do! I do!" Sara jumps up and down.
"…She seems to be similar like Aki…How old are you?" Akira asks.
"I'm eight-and-a-half!" Sara raises nine fingers towards Akira's face.
"Excuse me, Harima-san," Megumi motions Akira to bring her his ear.
"Yes?"
"I must leave now," Megumi whispers.
"Huh? Why?" Akira whispers, as well.
"Because I do not enjoy being around Sara-chan. She is just too noisy sometimes."
"…Go ahead then. I'll hang out with Sara-chan for…" Akira checks his watch, "…one hour."
"All right," Megumi leaves.
"…She's so rude!" Sara instantly yells out the second Megumi is out of sight.
"Huh?" Akira responds.
"I mean— she didn't even say: 'See ya later' or 'Bye!' or anything like that!"
"One hour, huh?"
Meanwhile, Kasumi finishes putting on the tan Sunday dress. Malin, however…
"Malin, what do you think?" Kasumi still admires the dress she is wearing.
"It looks good on you…" Malin almost pouts.
"What's wrong?" Kasumi turns to Malin, who is pouting in the purple dress, which happens to be too big for her and happens to slip off of her, "…B-B-BWAHAHAHAHAH"
"It's NOT FUNNY!" Malin yells against Kasumi's laughter.
"HAHA! Yes— HAHA— it is!" Kasumi wipes some tears of laughter from her eyes, "You should have at least suspected that dress to be too big for you!"
"Shut up! I'll just take this—".Malin notices that there is no point in taking the dress off the usual way, when she could just walk away, "Nevermind."
"HUM— Ahem, try this one on!" Kasumi shows Malin a baby-blue dress, the hem of which only passes one's knees.
"I guess I'll take that," Malin grabs the dress, "It has less restraint on my legs anyway…"
"I'll take that now. Thank you!" Kasumi takes the purple dress.
Malin sighs, "I hope this would look better on me!"
"Or it could be worse!" Kasumi proceeds to take off her tan dress.
"Thanks for nothing!" Malin snaps back.
Outside the Sky Noah, Akira and Sara continue their pointless conversation.
"That's why I think Bernstein-chan is such a stuck up jerk!" Sara finishes explaining.
"She's finally done?" Akira rubs his eyes, then looks at his watch, "Thirty minutes…"
"So, I really think that I should consider pulling a prank on Bernstein-chan, just to show her who's boss!"
"Her, of course! Well, I'm done killing time! I have to hurry and change so I can go pick up…Malin-chan…" Akira suddenly quiets.
Sara snaps her fingers in front of Akira, "Harima-sama! Wake up!"
"I have an idea! Give Malin-chan and her friends some roses!"
"…Good idea!" Akira claps once.
"While you're at it, give me about one hundred— Where are you going?!" Sara yells at the running Akira.
"Yeah! I'll get some roses now! So, I'll have run! Bye-bye!" Akira runs into the Sky Noah.
"Weirdo big brother!" Sara sighs and strolls into the Sky Noah.
Outside the "closet," Hinako in a formal black dress asks her maid the whereabouts of the guests.
"Shijou-sama, they are inside the closet," the maid answers.
"Thank you," Hinako opens the door and sees a mess of clothes on the floor of the closet.
"Hi, Hinako-chan!" Malin blushes with glee as she turns to Hinako and shows that the baby blue dress fits her well.
"Hello, Hinako," Kasumi smiles as she hugs the purple dress she is in.
"You…guys…made…a mess…" Hinako looks somewhat mad.
Malin and Kasumi quickly scan the room and find that it is a complete mess. Clothes hangers are all on the floor. Clothes are everywhere. The clothes that were neatly returned happen to be in the wrong section.
"Uh…gomenasai!" Malin and Kasumi bow to Hinako.
"…J-Just…let's go…" Hinako tries to suppress her anger and walks away.
"Right behind you!" Malin yells as she follows Hinako.
"We're still sorry!" Kasumi apologizes again and follows the two.
"Please have this room cleaned up," Hinako tells her maid.
"Of course, Shijou-sama," the maid bows to Hinako.
"Oh, and hurry up. We mustn't keep the driver or Harima-san waiting, shall we?" Hinako continues without even making eye contact to her friends.
"Malin-chan already apologized!" Malin whines to Hinako.
"Just hurry!" Hinako snaps again.
On the forest trail, Akira in a black tuxedo drives a white convertible to go return to Angens. The convertible appears to be a 2000 Toyota, with standard drive. On the passenger seat, three roses— one white, one red, and one pink— lay as separate "bouquets", as Akira put it.
"I'm glad I had Adel-san remodel the Sky Noah a few days ago!" Akira says to himself to fill some sound to the lonely silence of the forest.
"I'm also glad that Rose-chan allowed me to borrow a sweet ride like this! Thank you, Rose-chan!" Akira yells again, as he takes a left at a fork.
Meanwhile, at the Sky Noah at Rose's bedroom…
"Achuu!" Rose sneezes.
"Bernstein-sama, are you catching a cold?" Aya asks Rose.
"Of course not! I'm just here reading and sneezed out of nowhere! There shall be no possibility of me to catch a cold, especially today!"
"Perhaps, someone is talking about you…"
"I'm not superstitious, but if I were, I believe that it would be Akira-san thanking me for the car, which he must never lay a scratch on!"
Back to Akira…
"A-A-ATCHUU!!!" Akira sneezes. Due to the sneeze, Akira took his eyes off the path for a second. As a result, he is on a collision course to an old oak tree!
"WAAAA!!!" Akira made a hard right and misses the oak.
"I have got to be more careful next time; otherwise, it'll be the death of me!" Akira warns himself, as he breathes heavily from that near future-death experience. Akira checks the passenger seat and is relieved to see that the roses have not flown off during the sharp turn. Akira sighs, then looks at the rearview mirror and sees a shadowy figure sitting in the back seat.
"Sorry, I'm not gonna die just yet…" Akira forces a smile, despite his sweating up buckets.
"Whatever," the shadow hisses, then disappears.
"Now, he's after me!" Akira sighs, "If Rose-chan ever finds out about that near crash, she'd kill me! …Or at least have Adel-san kill me!"
Akira recalls what the reason for the banquet is and puts the pedal to the metal! "…HAYAKU IITEKURU!!!"
Inside Hinako's limousine, the three are riding back to meet up with Akira.
"Hinako-chan, Malin-chan apologized, so please don't get mad!" Malin tries to persuade Hinako into forgiving them for the eightieth time.
"I've already forgiven you two. I'm just disgusted at your behaviors an hour ago!" Hinako replies in a stern tone.
"We promise that we won't do such a thing again," Kasumi responds.
"Well, fine. I'll just monitor you guys for about the rest of your lives!" Hinako jokes.
"That wouldn't be nice!" Malin giggles and softly punches Hinako's shoulder.
"How would you monitor us, anyway?" Kasumi asks.
"I would have my people keep tabs on you!" Hinako jokes again.
"No guys, okay?" Malin giggles.
"Okay!" Hinako giggles, then sighs.
A moment of silence occurs.
Malin breaks the silence by asking, "So, what's with the white glove-things?"
Hinako explains, "These? These just make me seem more…"
"Sexy?" Kasumi finishes for her.
"Huh?" Hinako seems surprised.
"Are you hoping that you will find someone at the mini-banquet?" Malin with a sinister grin lightly elbows Hinako.
"Of course not!" Hinako returns.
"Anyway, may I have a pair of those too?" Malin asks.
"I, as well…" Kasumi asks.
"Um, sure. It's a good thing I have spare gowns and dresses in the limousine!" Hinako pushes a button on the door. Slowly, an array of clothes sets appear behind Hinako.
"…I'm…kinda freaked out that you have something like this inside a limo…" Malin stares at the clothes then at Hinako.
"Just take some and wear them before we arrive at McDonald's," Hinako advises her friends.
"OK!" Malin helps herself to a pair of fitting gloves that extend to the underarm.
Akira finally arrives at McDonald's and waits for the three girls. However, he is looking forward to seeing Malin again. Akira looks ahead and sees a white limousine heading towards his direction.
"WE'RE FINALLY HERE!" Malin yells with glee.
"Look over there," Hinako looks out to see a white car parked in front of McDonald's.
"Wow! Who's that handsome-looking guy?" Malin looks through the window.
"He does seem to look very professional and handsome," even Kasumi agrees.
"A rich guy lives here? He probably has snobby kids that are worse that Rose-chan," Akira thinks as he watches the limousine stop in front of him. "Probably has kids that love McDonald's, too."
MARK OF THE GENOCIDER 3
"Hm…Maybe, they are fashionably late?" Akira thinks as he waits.
"Kasumi, go talk to him! He might be your type!" Malin pushes Kasumi out of the limousine.
"All right, already!" Kasumi proceeds to walk by the white convertible.
"Shouldn't we be looking out for Harima-san?" Hinako asks Malin.
"We're just waiting for him right now, remember?" Malin answers.
Akira is surprised to see such a beautiful and gentle lady appear from out of the limousine, "Uh…kirei!"
"Um, hi?" Kasumi tries to talk to the driver of the convertible, as she leans on the passenger side's car door.
"G-Good evening, Miss…" Akira manages to say to the beautiful lady.
"Um…" Kasumi apparently has nothing else to say.
"Ah…" Akira tries to think of something to say.
"This is getting boring!" Malin complains to Hinako.
"I don't think this will end well…" Hinako comments.
"HEY! KASUMI-CHAN, GET ASKED OUT ALREADY!!!" Malin yells so loudly that everyone within a two-mile radius could clearly hear what she has yelled.
"Kasumi? Todoh Kasumi?" Akira looks closely at the lady's face and finds that she really is Kasumi.
"A-Are you…PLEASE DON'T BE…Harima Akira?" Kasumi steps back, then asks the driver, whom she finally suspects to be Akira.
"Y-Y-Yes…!" Akira answers.
Still inside the limousine, Malin and Hinako have yet to realize that the driver of the convertible is Akira.
"Wow! Something is finally happening!" Malin grins.
"Are you sure, if that is a good thing?" Hinako asks Malin.
"Yeah, it is!" Malin replies.
"Um…where are the others?" Akira blushes slightly, but the darkness hides it.
"In Hinako's limousine…" with her thumb, Kasumi points to the limousine.
"Hinako's family owns a limo?!"
"Yes…and if you are thinking of taking advantage of her wealth, you have another kendo beating waiting for you!"
"I already have someone else's 'wealth to take advantage of', as you put it…"
"Whatever…"
"…Shouldn't we get Malin-chan and Hinako-san over here?"
"You're right…" Kasumi sighs and signals Malin and Hinako to get out of the limousine.
"Huh?" Malin says, as she gets out of the limousine.
"It's Akira-san!" Kasumi yells to the two.
"Harima-san?" Hinako exits, as well.
"Etto…konban wa! (Um...Good evening!)" Akira waves to Malin and Hinako.
"Akira-kun! Shotgun!" Malin runs to the passenger side and somehow manages to jump onto the seat.
"CHI!" Akira grabs the three roses before they get crushed under Malin or before Malin gets hurt from the thorns.
"Tell Father and Mother that I may be gone for a while," Hinako whispers to her driver.
"I'll take the seat behind the pervert…" Kasumi takes her seat.
"Wait for me!" Hinako hurries to the seat beside Kasumi.
Akira is still stunned to be surrounded by so many beauties. "That really suits you, Malin-chan," Akira thinks.
"What was that?" Malin asks.
"Huh?"
"I heard you say my name!"
Akira realizes that he has been thinking aloud again. "Uh, nothing! I'll start the car now!"
"Um…OK!"
"Don't think about doing anything you'll regret!" with demonic eyes, Kasumi warns Akira.
"I wouldn't think at all!" Akira backs the car up too quickly and almost hits a lamppost but hits the brakes just in time.
"BAKA! (IDIOT!)" Kasumi thumps Akira.
"Sumimasen! (Sorry!)" Akira responds and turns the car around.
After ten minutes of driving, they finally enter the forest.
"Um…what are the other bags for?" Akira finally asks about the plastic bags the girls brought with them.
"Extra clothes!" Malin answers.
"…W-Why?" Akira shyly asks.
"We might get these dresses stained or something…It would be embarrassing to walk around with food stains on your clothes!" Malin explains.
"I see…Well, we're almost…there now…" Akira tells the three.
"Here I come, food!" Malin yells to herself.
"Be careful, though," Akira warns her.
"You're up to something, aren't you, Akira-san?" Kasumi glares at the back of Akira's head.
"She's glaring at me, with such a cold terrifying stare! I haven't even done anything wrong yet!" Akira thinks as he drives.
"So, what are those roses for?" as an attempt to make Akira forget about Kasumi's glaring at him, Hinako points at the roses on his lap.
"Oh! I forgot!" Akira says as he keeps his eyes on the path, "A…friend of mine, I guess, suggested that I give you roses."
"A girl?" Malin asks as she picks up all the roses.
"…Yes…" Akira replies.
"She must love many colors, since you brought three different colors!" Hinako remarks.
"Actually, I…chose the roses…" Akira tries to say without cracking his voice.
"That's nice," Hinako responds.
"Kaumi-san, take the white rose…" Akira requests Kasumi, "Purity..."
"Fine," Kasumi says as Malin hands her the white rose.
"Hinako-san, take the red rose…" Akira requests Hinako, "Heart..."
"M-me?!" Hinako blushes as Malin hands her the rose and snickers.
"Don't worry. I don't believe that red roses represent 'love'," Akira explains.
"So, that leaves me with the pink rose, right?" Malin implies.
"Ee…Priceless and Irreplacable..." Akira takes a right turn and points towards the red craft, "There it is!"
"W-WHAT IS THAT?!" the three girls somehow say in unison.
"Adel-san's airship— the Sky Noah!" Akira announces as he enters the Sky Noah's new parking area.
In the parking area, many maids and butlers wait for Akira and his guests. "Welcome back, Harima-sama!" the maids and butlers say in unison, as the butlers bow and the maids curtsy.
"Okay…now this is getting weird!" Malin comments to the actions of the maids and the butlers.
"'Harima-sama'?" Hinako asks.
"That's embarrassing…" Akira scratches his head.
"That's just wrong!" Kasumi comments.
"Harima-sama!" a young voice originating from the direction of the elevator greets.
"That's…Sara-chan!" Akira says excitedly.
"Harima-sama!" Sara stops in front of Akira and curtsies.
"How old is she?!" Kasumi barks.
"Eight and a half…" Akira answers, "Right, Sara-chan?"
"Yep!" Sara raises her right hand.
"And she's a maid?!" Kasumi continues barking.
"Yes, but sometimes, I'm not entirely sure…" Akira admits.
Kasumi gives him a "what the hell" stare.
"Um…Sara-chan, your lines!" Akira whispers to Sara.
"Oh! Oops! Um…Good evening, guests of Harima Akira-sama!" Sara curtsies to the girls.
"I was right! Akira-san is a pedophile!" Kasumi whispers to Hinako.
"No comment," Hinako whispers back.
"My name is Raven Sara. I shall be your guide to the dining area," Sara says with false cheerfulness.
"Weird!" Malin whispers to Hinako.
"No comment," Hinako whispers back.
"Now, please follow me, as I shall now guide you to the dining area…" Sara turns around and slowly walks to the elevator.
"I don't like seeing anyone like this!" with his head down, Akira follows Sara.
Kasumi whispers to Hinako, "This is—"
"NO COMMENT! Am I the center of gossip here?" Hinako whispers then follows Akira.
Malin and Kasumi look at each other, then follow, as well.
Once they all arrive at the elevator, Sara lightly pushes the button labeled "5." The elevator door closes, and the elevator starts moving. After about twenty seconds, the elevator stops, and its doors open, revealing a series of hallways.
"Please follow me," Sara walks out of the elevator and turns left. The group follows her.
"She seems weird…" Malin comments to Akira.
"Well, when greeting and leading guests, maids and butlers have a code," Akira explains, "Mainly, they must not show any emotion for the time being, unless ordered to."
Malin replies, "Why don't you order her to—"
"Sorry, but no matter how much I want her to stop, today is the day Sara-chan's duty is scheduled. The code Adel-san gives is to stay like this unless, the maid or butler is friends or something to the all of the guests," Akira explains.
"We are here," Sara shows them two decorated doors.
"That was quick!" Malin comments.
"Please open the doors for Harima Akira-sama and his guests…" Sara requests the butlers. The butlers open the doors.
Hinako explains to Malin and Kasumi, "Please enter formally. Chin high. Posture correct…"
"OK!" the two respond.
At the table large enough for forty, many plates, bowls, and utensils lay. Rose stands behind the chair to the left hand of the master's chair. Ayumi stands behind the chair beside Rose's. Akira walks properly to the chair beside the right hand of the master's chair. Hinako and the others follow Akira and split up. Malin walks to the chair to the right hand of the master's chair. Kasumi walks to the chair beside Akira's. Like a proper lady, Hinako walks to the chair beside Ayumi's. After about fifteen seconds, Adelheid with tired eyes enters the room. He notices the new faces as he walks to the master's chair. Adelheid takes his seat, and the others follow after him.
"…Let's eat…" Adelheid says monotonously.
"Itadakimasu!" Akira, Ayumi, Malin, Kasumi, and Hinako greet.
The first part of the dinner is mainly vegetable dishes. Although Rose had protested in the past, Ayumi has convinced her to bear with it for the night.
"I hate this…" Rose whines.
"Don't be too mean to the food!" Ayumi scolds Rose.
Adelheid does not seem to care about what is happening.
"Akira-san, is that the friend you were talking to Hinako about earlier this afternoon?" Kasumi asks Akira.
"Ee…" Akira answers.
"He does look very…angry…" Kasumi whispers.
"I think it's depression. We have to make this banquet-dinner thing a success so that his spirits can go up again," Akira explains.
"I think the force of his emotion is choking me!" Malin shivers.
"Maybe…I should have been the one sitting there…" Akira responds.
"I don't see how a banquet would raise his spirits, at all!" Kasumi remarks.
"Well, Adel-san likes formal things, I guess…" Akira replies.
"…BAKAna…(...Idiotic...)" Kasumi mouths.
"Huh?" Akira feels his cellphone vibrating.
"Nothing!" Kasumi reacts, since she believes that she may have spoken.
"Hmm…'Hu r dese guests of yrs?' It's from Nee-san…" Akira reads a message from his cellphone.
"'Ppl ive jst met 2day.'" Akira replies.
"'OK, wat r der names?''" Akira reads.
"'D blonde 1 nirest u s Shijou Hinako, a daughter of a rich family. D 1 2 my left s Malin. Dont tell her bt i think shes kinda cute. D last 1 s Todoh Kasumi. I think she h8s me! TT'" Akira replies.
"'OK, u rily invited any1 u cud find! BA-KA-na!'" Akira read.
"'NEE-SAN!!!'" an annoyed Akira replies.
After everyone has finished eating the first course, the butlers and the maids put dishes of spice— Akira's personal favorites. Everyone is given the plates, he requests.
A plate of spicy chicken is placed in front of Adelheid. "What is the occasion?"
"Sweet!" Akira forms a fist and smirks, as a bowl of spicy yakisoba is placed in front of him.
"Spicy!" Malin stares at the bowl of gumbo.
"…You have finally peaked my curiosity, Harima-san," Adelheid finally speaks.
"Ee?" Akira still has some noodles in his mouth.
"What is all of this for? Today is nothing special, is it not? …And who are these people?" Adelheid with a stare that almost sees the soul looks at Akira.
"Ee— Naddegutasai…(Weid a midit... [Wait a minute)" Akira slurps up most of the bowl in one breath.
"Akira-kun…" Ayumi shakes her head in embarrassment.
"Etto…(Um...) where do I begin?" Akira then stands, "I'll start with the introductions. Adel-san, this is Malin, a…person I met today…"
"Yoroshiku! (Nice to meetcha!)" Malin stands, then curtsies (somehow, that does not sound right…).
"This is Todoh Kasumi, a…um…interesting person! DON'T KILL ME!" Akira introduces Kasumi.
"Yoroshiku onegashimasu (It's a pleasure)," Kasumi stands, then bows.
"The last one is Shijou Hinako. If I recall correctly, she is wealthy but still a kind person," Akira introduces Hinako.
"Douzo yoroshiku onegashimasu (It is a pleasure to meet you)," Hinako stands, then curtsies.
"Guys, this is the owner of the airship, Bernstein Adelheid-sama," Akira introduces Adelheid.
"It's a pleasure…For what reason is this dinner?" Adelheid glares at Akira again.
"Well, this min-banquet-dinner thing is to boost your spirits!" Akira scratches his head.
"My spirits?" Adelheid asks.
"Yeah, so don't commit suicide!" Akira yells.
Due to that, all three guests slightly back away from Akira and Adelheid.
"ONEGAI! (PLEASE!)" Akira bows to Adelheid.
"Please don't, Onii-sama!" Rose stands and leans forward to beg.
"We don't want a great person like you to throw your life away!" Ayumi stands and almost seems to be crying.
"…Why would I commit suicide?" Adelheid asks after ten seconds of silence.
"You lost to those training robots! Which, in doing so, is pathetic, but I do not want to lose my Onii-sama!" Rose explains.
"So, I lost to the training robots. Is that reason enough for me to commit suicide?" Adelheid asks rhetorically.
"Of course not!" Akira slams his fist to the table.
"Akira-san, don't do that again!" Rose scolds.
"H-Hai...(S-Sorry...)" Akira apologizes.
"I am not thinking of ending my life," Adelheid says in an annoyed tone.
"Huh?" Akira reacts with a clueless expression.
"I may have lost to training robots, but I shall never think of such a way to die," Adelheid explains.
"So…" Akira is shocked.
"We shall just continue this dinner normally," Adelheid continues, "You do not have to act in such ways if you do not wish to, guests of Harima-san."
"Thanks! I was getting tired of keeping my chin up!" Malin sighs.
"Sorry about that!" Akira laughs in embarrassment.
"Great, so we were pretty much wasting our time, right?" Ayumi asks Adelheid.
"Yes, yet I am grateful to have people like you concerned about me," Adelheid answers.
"You even we wasted our time! Especially, the travel time!" Hinako titters.
"Akira-san, you shall pay for this!" Kasumi stands up and forms a fist.
"W-Now wait a minute!" Akira faces Kasumi, then backs up a little.
"Kasumi, you shouldn't—" Hinako tries to reason with Kasumi.
"URUSE! (SHUT UP!)" Kasumi slugs Akira.
Akira loses his vision. He hits on something hard, then hears a yelp. "M… A…ra…" is all he could hear. Akira finally blacks out.
A young Akira wakes up to find that he is in an ancient battlefield.
"Hen da ne…(Weird, isn't it…)" holding a scythe, a figure in samurai armor appears before him.
Akira jumps back, "Nano mono ga anata…(What are you?)"
"Ii desu. Watashi wa shinigami…(It's alright. I am an angel of death)" the figure speaks in a female voice and discards her armor.
"Nani? Nani! (WHAT? WHAT!)" Akira backs up, then feels something behind him. He turns to see another figure in samurai armor.
"Ore wa koitsu no atarashii inochi (I am this person's new life)," the figure speaks in a male voice, discards his armor to reveal a spear.
"Kiken! (DANGER!)" Akira jumps away from between the two figures.
"Aitsu wa ikite inai yo. Samayou seishin, watashi ga suite iitekudasai…(He is not alive. Wandering soul, please follow me…)" the shinigami extends his hand to Akira.
"Dekinai! Koitsu wa ore no shujin. Koitsu wa hontou ni ikite iru! (He can't! He is my host. He is definitely alive!)" the figure points his spear towards the shinigami.
"Nibui…(Pointless…)" the shinigami prepares to fight.
"Hayaku oeru! (End this quickly!)" the figure charges towards the shinigami.
...TO BE CONTINUED...
A foggy screen can be seen. The camera then focuses to reveal Mick and Kia at the stands of the baseball field.
"Don't ever do that again!" Mick scolds Kia.
"Do what? That was punishment!" Kia snaps back.
"Well, because of your 'punishing' her, Aisha went home! I'm suppose to be the cameraman, and you two are suppose to be the reporters!"
"We just need a replacement cameraman," Kia points towards the camera.
"Hello," a young female voice is heard off-screen.
"Thanks for filling in, Naomi!" Kia waves.
"It isn't a problem," Naomi replies.
"I don't even know how you were able to convince your antisocial classmate to fill in as cameragirl," Mick comments.
"Wanna know how?" Kia asks enthusiastically to dodge another long lecture from Mick.
"...Um...sure?"
"Well..."
One hour ago, at Room 1-B, Aisha's homeroom...
"OK! Guys, who wants to be my replacement cameraman?" Kia announces to the class after the teacher dismisses the class and leaves.
Nobody pays any attention.
"HELLO?" Kia shouts this time.
No response.
"FREAKS OF ANGEN'S MIDDLE SCHOOL! MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!" Kia explodes.
Still no response.
"FINE! BE THAT WAY!" Kia takes her bag and leaves.
At the hallway...
"Why doesn't anyone listen to me?!" Kia yells, as she goes to her locker.
"Let's see...I'll need my Pre-Algebra book, my history book, and my— WHERE'S MY SCIENCE BOOK?!" Kia searches her bag frantically.
"I'm dead! There's a quiz tomorrow, too!" Kia begins to lose hope after about five minutes of excavating her locker.
"Excuse me..." a red-haired girl with glasses taps Kia's shoulder.
"What do you want?! I'm a little busy at the moment!" Kia yells without even looking at the girl.
"Kia, you left your science book on your desk," the girl continues.
"That's nice. Now— WHAT?!" Kia turns to see the girl and the textbook in the girls hands.
The girls hands Kia the textbook.
"Thanks...do I know you?"
"I'm Naomi. I'm your classmate," the girl answers.
"Why haven't I noticed you before?"
"I don't speak in class very often. Neither am I called by our teachers very often..."
"Um...Naomi, do you want to help me with something?"
"Yes?"
"Be our cameragirl for the time being! Since you don't talk very often, you would make a lousy reporter, but you would be great as a cameragirl!"
"Sure..."
"All right!"
"Sometimes, I wonderwhy luck follows you..." Mick comments.
"It's my unique ability!" Kia boasts.
The camera's battery icon starts blinking red.
"...Kia, the battery is about to run out..." Naomi warns off-screen.
"WHAT?!" Kia explodes in shock.
"Wow! You freakin' forgot to recharge the batteries, when it was your turn today...Smooth move..." Mick gives Kia a noogie.
"OW! That burns!" Kia struggles.
Naomi continues, "The battery will die in 3...2...1..."
The screen turns black
Chapter 3 End
I feel sleepy...Talk about multi-tasking! I'm over here doing this and simultaneously studying for my semester's finals!
Review...Review...